Let’s make this VERY clear: I was NOT happy to go to the infirmary. Got it? 

Not. At. All. 

Even as Percy said, “Nico, why do you look...not grumpy?” 

I. WAS. NOT. HAPPY! 

 

I stood in the doorway of the infirmary, unsure what to do. I may or may not have been biting my lip a little too hard. 

I swear, that Solace kid can smell injuries, because as soon as I tasted the blood on my thin lips, that’s when he appeared. 

“Nico!” He said, smiling. “I’m glad you actually came!” 

“Umm...” 

“Yes, Death-Boy, people can be glad when they see you.” 

Fury bubbled inside of me. “Stop calling me Death Boy!” I snarled. It caused a few people to look over at us, but nothing more. 

Will raised an eyebrow. “Okay, sure, whatever. You need to rest, c’mon.” 

So I followed him to the very end of the infirmary, where the empty beds were. Will nodded one of the curtained cots. “Sit. Rest.” 

I sat on the cot. 

Will glanced over at me again. “Go to sleep, Nico. You need to rest.” 

“I am.” I said. 

“Okay,” he said slowly, “how do you usually fall asleep?” 

“After shadow travel.” 

“Well, you’re not doing that.” 

“Then I guess I can skip the resting.” 

“Okay, okay. Just lay down, I have to check on my other patients.” 

I shrugged. “Okay.” 

I laid down for a few minutes, and after a while, my mind finally processed that this bed was very soft and comfy. I rolled over on my side and closed my eyes, drifting off into sleep. 

 

When I woke up, I felt a little better. I groaned and rolled over to my back and tried to sit up, but I failed. I winced and looked up. Will Solace was watching me as if I was an interesting experiment. 

“What did you do to me?” 

His eyes twinkled in amusement. “I cleaned your battle wounds with nectar. You weren’t asleep for that long.” 

I thought for a minute. Huh. I guess sleeping isn’t that bad. “How long?” 

“About thirty minutes.” 

“Hooray.” I said dryly, “New record.” 

“Nico, how long do you usually sleep?” Solace asked, taking out a clipboard. That kid must live on clipboards. 

I thought for a moment. “Well, sometimes, when I sneeze, my eyes close.” 

He nearly dropped his clipboard. “Nico!” 

I fought the urge to grin. It’s too easy to piss this guy off. Then I looked down. “Gah!” I exclaimed, “where the f*ck is my shirt!” 

He raised an eyebrow. “I had to clean your wounds, bro.” 

I cringed. “Please do not say that word. I had enough of that torture on the Argo || with Jason and Percy.” 

Will cringed too. “Yeah, that was pretty weird when I saw them talking like that the other day.” 

I chuckled, then I stopped and cleared my throat. “My throat’s kinda dry...” I said, unsure what else to do. 

“Oh, sure.” Will went over to a station on the other side of the infirmary and got a cup, filled it with a liquid (probably water, but you never know), and brought it over to me. 

He tried to feed it to me. 

“I can hold a cup, Solace!” I snapped. 

I gripped the cup with both hands, wincing a bit and chugged the whole thing. 

Will took my cup and walked away, writing something on his clipboard and he went to see some other patients. 

I woke up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat, gasping for breath. I can’t sleep. I will never try that ever again. My breathing slowed, but I noticed it was more ragged than it usually was. 

I heard a rustling, and Will Solace rushed over. “Hey, Nico, it’s okay,” he said, “What’s wrong?” 

I hugged my knees. “I’m fine, Solace.” 

He seemed to be about to retort, but instead he gently asked, “Did you... have a nightmare?” 

I didn’t answer. 

“What was it about?” he pressed. 

I shook my head and whispered, “T-T...” I shook my head again “I-I'm fine.” 

Will gave me a look I couldn’t decipher. “You idiot.” he finally sighed, shaking his head. “You’re not fine.” 

I took a deep breath. “Can I just go to the restrooms?” I asked hopefully. 

Will frowned. “Well, sure, but I'm going to escort you. I don’t want you escaping or shadow-traveling before you’re ready.” 

 

Did I mention I hated Will Solace? I didn’t? Well, I do. 

He couldn’t leave me alone. The guy has a serious problem with personal space. Although, it could be worse. He could’ve has bad breath. Or he could’ve been hideous. 

He was annoying all the way to the bathrooms, reminding me every five seconds not to shadow travel and acting like I was a f*cking dog. 

 

The rest of the day was pretty normal. Solace acted decent, and he didn’t act like I was a dog too much. He was actually kind of funny. Not that I laughed, or anything like that. 

 

That night, Will let me go to the campfire. But he made me sit somewhere next to him so he could make sure I was okay and stuff. 

 

I huffed and sat next to Will, hugging my knees. 

He glanced at me while he led everyone into a rousing, off-key version of “Count On Me” but didn’t say anything. 

+ + + + + + + + + + + 

After everyone left, I may or may not have tried to sneak off, and so Will grabbed my arm and dragged me back to the infirmary. 

January 4th, a long time ago. 

 

 

One night, a long time ago, on a mountain's side, there was a woman lying on her back in her small house, panting heavily. Three people were standing over her. 

"Ianira, you're exhausted, you've just given birth and need to rest." Said a young woman, brushing hair off Ianira's face. 

Ianira, the woman, nodded "Take me to the chair" She whispered in a raspy voice. 

The woman who was previously speaking picked up Ianira and deposited her on a cushioned lounge chair and pulled a blanket under her chin. "Thank you, Lada." Inira whispered. 

Lada stayed by Ianira's side even when the other two people moved into the next room to talk. 

“Who do you think the father is?" Asked the woman. 

“Not sure, but we need Ianira to tell us." 

"She is very weak, Nathan. She might not make it." The woman whispered. 

Nathan took his pipe out of his mouth and glared at the woman. "Well, if she dies, that kid," He growled waving the pipe toward the doorway "That kid ain't stayin' here." 

 

 

Meanwhile, Lada, in the next room, was rocking Ianira's 

 baby daughter in her arms. "May I see my child?" Ianira rasped. "Of course," Replied Lada, holding the baby out for her to see.  

Ianira lay her head back down after looking at her daughter for a minute or two. "I may very well die any minute," She whispered "I just want to give my daughter her name." 

“Yes Ianira" Lada murmured. 

"I want her name to be memorable, to leave a mark, sound strong." Ianira murmured, staring at the ceiling as if she could clearly see the heavens already. "Her name shall be Xiomara." She whispered. 
 
 
And with that, Ianira left her sweet Xiomara with Lada and her foul parents, Julian and Nathaniel Watchers. 

I crouched at the back of the infirmary. 

“Oh, come on, Nico! you were doing so good, and you just had to mess it up!” Will whispered behind me. 

“Well, you’re more than welcome to stay here, William.” I snorted. 

Will sighed but said nothing more. 

I waited until I was sure there was absolutely no one in sight, then I bolted for the cabins. Will followed. 

I slowed to a walk at the Hades cabin and opened the door. 

No one was there. Good. I left the door open for Will as I made myself comfortable on my bed. Will sat on the floor. 

“So, you’re Italian, right?” Will said. 

I stiffened. “I guess.” 

“Speak.” He came to the edge of my bed and acted like a puppy begging for food. “Pleeeeeease!” 

I glared at him. “Sei un idiota” 

Will’s face scrunched up. “Did you just call me an idiot?” 

I picked up a book. “Maybe.” 

“Okay, tell me something else then.” 

I glared at him and finally said, “sta 'zitto, idiota.” 

He scrunched up his face again. “Huh?” 

I looked back at my book and muttered, “Sei un idiota ma sei carino.” 

“Huh?” 

I threw my book at him. “I said shut up, idiot! I’m trying to sleep!” 

“But you were just—ugh, fine.” He sat down with his back facing me. 

After a few minutes, I got bored and fell back onto my bed with my head dangling off the edge. I turned my head to Will. “So. What's your special power?” 

He turned to me. “I thought you were sleeping.” 

“Whoops.” i said dryly. 

“Fine. I heal.” 

“Liar. You're hiding your power.” 

“How would you know?” 

“I’m smart.” 

“Fine,” he muttered, “I’ll show you, but not here.” 

I raised an eyebrow but followed him outside. 

He went into the forest and a little bit deeper until there was very little light. He stood there for a second. “Please don’t tell anyone," he said. 

I shrugged. “Okay.” 

Will took a deep breath and let it out. Suddenly the sun seeped into the trees—wait, no. That wasn’t the sun, it was-- “Solace?” I asked incredulously. 

He was glowing! I don’t mean like, attractively glowing, I mean his skin was radiating sunrays. He was f*cking glowing. 

“I know, I know,” Will sighed, “it’s a stupid power.” he sat down and put his hands over his face. 

I looked at his glowing skin again. I couldn’t help it. I started giggling. Then laughing. And soon enough, I was rolling on the floor, laughing and snorting so hard that my sides hurt. 

I heard Will saying my name and trying to figure out if I was having a seizure. I also felt him trying to calm me down before the harpies came to eat us. 

Eventually I stopped laughing and I sat up while wiping the tears off my face. I couldn’t stop grinning, though. “No wonder you haven’t shown anyone,” I chuckled, “They’d all want you to be their personal lamp.” 

Will blinked. “Wait, you don’t think it’s stupid?” 

“Why would I? It's hilarious.” 

His golden face-glow turned into more of a cranberry face-glow. 

I shook my head, still grinning. “You can stop that now,” I said, “I do not desire having a heart attack from laughter. That would ruin my reputation.” 

Will got an evil look in his eyes. 

Well shit. I thought, I'm doomed. 

Will lurched forward and grabbed me around the waist and (oh gods, do I have to tell this part?) he started tickling me. 

I would like to say that I wasn’t ticklish, but I was. I was very much. 

“No! No, William, stop!” I said between laughs. “Please! Gods help me! Go to hell!” 

William eventually stopped. “Sorry, what was that?” he asked, grinning. 

“I said go to hell, you f*cking idiot!” 

“But I'm not ready to meet your dad!” Will said, falling back. 

“That-that’s not wat I meant, and you know it!” I growled. 

“Whatever,” Will rolled his eyes. “Let’s just get out of the forest before angry harpies come kill us.” 

He turned off his glow-light, and I reluctantly let him help me up. 

Marinette groaned and sat up. “Why does the world do this to me?” she moaned, “I feel like I only slept five minutes!” she looked up and rubbed her eyes, “Tikki, how long was I sleeping?” 

“About five minutes, Marinette.” her kwami said with a yawn. 

Marinette groaned and fell back onto her bed. 

 

Adrien’s eyelids drooped as the car drove towards his school. 

“Adrien,” Nathalie’s voice sounded, “your father could not come to breakfast this morning, he has—” 

“Let me guess, another meeting?” Adrien said grumpily. 

Nathalie nodded. 

She was silent for a few minutes. “We’re here.” 

Adrien nodded and yawned. 

 

Marinette trudged into the courtyard to Alya and Nino. “Hey guys,” she yawned. 

“Girl, how much did you sleep last night?” Alya asked. 

“Last night?” she yawned, “Oh, none, but this morning I got five minutes. More than most days, am I right?” 

“Are you okay?” Alya mouthed. 

Marinette nodded. Then her eyes began to droop again. 

“Come on girl, let’s find you somewhere to sit,” Alya said. 

“Yeah, yeah,” she yawned, then she passed out and fell forward, but Alya caught her. 

“Woah, girl, how much have you slept this week?” Alya said. 

Marinette stood back up and shook herself and shrugged at Alya. “Not much,” she yawned. “I’ve never been much of a heavy sleeper. I don’t fall asleep right away.” 

“Hey guys!” Adrien walked up to them. 

Marinette waved with a yawn and collapsed on Alya again. 

Alya got a glint in her eyes. “Hey, Adrien, can you take Marinette to the nurse and tell the nurse that she hasn’t gotten much sleep this week? I'll tell Mrs. Boustier why you’ll be running late.” 

“Sure,” Adrien said. He put Marinette’s arm over his shoulders and supported her and walked her to the nurse’s office. 

*Scene change* 

Adrien walked into the nurse’s office with Marinette and deposited her on a bed and waited for the nurse. 

The nurse walked in. “Adrien, what a surprise! What seems to be the problem?” 

“Marinette didn’t get a lot of sleep this week, and she kept passing out.” 

“Oh dear,” the nurse said, “well, why don’t you get back to class and when she’s better, you lend her some notes, okay? She seems very tired.” 

“Okay, sure,. Adrien said. 

{I didn’t know what else to write} 

 

Adrien looked at his messages. He clicked on one from Natalie. “Adrien,” it said, “your father cannot come to dinner tonight, and he wishes for you to come straight to your room after school ends.” 

Adrien sighed and sat down. “Fathers aren’t supposed to do this to their children.” 

 

Marinette walked out of the nurse’s office. “Thank you, madam!” she said behind her. And walked into the courtyard. 

Suddenly she looked up and saw Adrien, and an akuma was flying towards him. 

“Adrien!” she yelled while running towards him “Look out!” 

She got close enough and she tripped, and her bag spilled and went flying. The akuma hit a paper fan and it and turned purple. 

“Marinette!” Adrien yelled. 

“Princess Justice,” Hawkmoth said in her mind. She spasmed and kicked, trying to get Hawkmoth out of her head. 

“Don’t let him get in your mind, Marinette!” Adrien said, “fight it!” 

“Go Adrien!” she choked out, “take my earrings to Alya! They're too precious to me!” 

Adrien, in a panic, took out her earrings and put them in his pocket and ran for the classroom. 

“Princess Justice,” Hawkmoth continued, “you want it all to be right, for the bad guys to get what they deserve and the good guys to live in freedom and happiness. I give you the power to reward those who are good and punish those who have crossed the line. You can force those baddies to tell the truth, and in return, you must give me Ladybug and Chatnoir’s miraculous.” 

“Help.” she whispered one last time before she was overtaken into his control. 

 

Adrien burst into the classroom. “Marinette’s being akumatized!” 

“What?!” Alya cried. “Are her earrings okay?!” she ran to Adrien. “What happened?” 

Adrien brought out the earrings. “They-they’re fine. B-but Marinette—” 

“Needs help, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do! Chloe, you’re Queen Bee, can you contact Chatnoir?” 

Chloe stood up. “Of course, I—” 

They were interrupted as the wall collapsed and a shadow walked into the room. 

She had jet-black hair that flowed to her waist, light gray skin and her eyes were covered with a veil. On top of her head was a simple silver Chinese tiara. Her face held no emotion, and she wore a scarlet Chinese gown. 

“Marinette?” Mrs. Boustier asked. 

The newcomer smirked. “There is no Marinette!” she cried, “Only Princess Justice!” she danced to Mrs. Boustier. “Have no fear, you have done no wrong to me, you are an amazing teacher. Although,” she tapped her chin, “where were you when Lila lied about me cheating?” she zapped the woman with her fan. “Tell me why you believed her over me.” 

“Lila was very convincing,” Mrs. Boustier said as if in a trance, “she acted innocent.” 

Princess Justice tapped her chin with her fan thoughtfully. “Hmm,” she said, “You may be of use, sweet angel woman.” she zapped her again and she turned into a floating silver form. 

Princess Justice turned to the class. “Now.” she said, “where is Lila Rossi?” 

“Marinette, I never did anything to you, why are you like this?” Lila cried. 

Princess Justice roared with outrage and ran towards Lila. 

“Stop Marinette!” Alya cried. 

Adrien gave Alya the earrings and snuck out of the room. 

“This is bad,” Plagg said. 

“No time to lose, we need to rescue her!” Adrien said. “Plagg, claws out!” 

 

*Long story short, Alya gave Chat Noir the ladybug miraculous and he turned into Mister Bug again (he didn’t merge them) and they defeated Princess Justice, I’m not too creative, blah blah blah* 

 

Princess Justice’s form melted, and she turned back into Marinette. 

“Wha- where—” her eyes widened. “I let him take control of me! Oh no, I hurt people, didn’t I?” she covered her face in shame. 

“I’ll take her home,” Chat-bug said to Reyna Rouge. 

“Wait!” Reyna said, “I need the earrings back, I need to give them back to Ladybug!” 

“Oh, of course,” he said, then he ran to the nearest covered area and came back as Chat Noir. 

He held out a hand, “come on, Marinette,” he said gently. 

Marinette looked up and took his hand. 

Chat Noir did whatever that Pole-vaulting stuff is called and deposited her on her roof. “Make sure to sleep,” he told her. 

“I’ll try.” 

 

FIN 

I woke up in my bed. Finally. Wait. Since when did I get in my bed? And when did I fall asleep? 

“Good morning, death boy.” a voice said. 

I groaned and threw my pillow toward his voice. “No.” 

“What?” his voice sounded amused. 

“Go away.” 

“Why?” 

“I’m tired.” 

Will was silent for a moment. “Umm, if you want me to go, you should, you know, probably unclench my hand.” 

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “What are you—” then I stopped. 

Will’s hand was inside of mine. Shit. 

I felt my ears burning. I let go of his hand. “I have strong grip. Sorry.” I muttered. 

Will shrugged. “It's fine. Your hands were smoking in your sleep, so I ran over to you and tried to heal them, and when it stopped, you wouldn’t let go of my hand. You were holding on real tight, and your face looked really upset and stuff, so I just let you hold onto my hand.” 

I scrunched up my face. Why would I do that? Then realization hit me like a bus. I covered my face in my hands. No. No. I hadn’t... this had nothing to do with her... right? 

“Hey, hey, Neeks, you okay?” He asked. 

I looked up at him and made myself choke out the words. “I- dream- I dreamt about-“ I broke down 

“About what, Neeks?” His gentle voice broke through my stormy thoughts.  

“B-Bianca, m-my sister,” I sobbed. 

Will said nothing. He just opened his arms to offer me a hug. I accepted. 

 

I don’t know how long we sat there, me crying on him, but it was a long time. Eventually, I drew away and wiped my eyes. “Thanks,” I muttered, looking away. 

“Nico, look,” Will’s hand cupped the side of my face. “You are amazing, and I'm sure your sister was too, but i’m also sure that she wouldn’t want you to be so burdened about her death. She seems like an awesome sister, and I know she would want you to be happy. Don't act like you’re alone all the time. It makes people who care about you worry. It makes me worry. It-it makes me feel useless.” 

I felt another tear fall down my cheek. 

Will’s thumb brushed it away. “Do you understand?” 

I nodded as more tears slid down my face. 

That’s when I surprised myself. I kissed him. 

Then I promptly shoved him off my bed. “You are so annoyingly cute.” I pouted. 

He crawled back on and kissed me back. 

We sat there for a long time. 

THE END 

I have always wondered if I was like a drop of water, Identical to the others.
Floating around without reason.
Impossible to find something new. 

Mama said that I was like a lion, protective and proud. Mama said a lot of things.  

She loved words. Words were her weapons; words were her power; Words were her friends . . . And words were also her downfall. 

My favorite word she taught me was love. It made me giggle when she teased me, it made my heart swell. It also reminds me of her.
Don’t get all sympathetic on me; yes, she died, but she’s in a better place now. A place where you didn’t have to watch your mouth or move from city to city in search of help or just one honest man. 

Words create and words destroy. 

I’m not sure what they do more of to me.

Words.