Nico

(Trigger warning: talks of trial, abuse, and panick attacks)

I wake up to whispering and I hear a click of a camera and I open my eyes and everyone was in the room and I noticed my Dad taking pictures of me and Bia

"Too loud I'm going back to bed." I mumble and curl up to my sister and she laughs and everyone does too

"Sorry babe sadly you can't." I hear Will and I groan and sit up

"Fine you get to carry me." I say and I hear a giggle and I look and see his Mom

I immediately sit up straight and get down and fix my hair

"U-uh hey Mrs.Solace." I stutter and Will chuckles at this and she pulls me in in a hug

"Call me Naomi dear, thank you for treating my son right." She says and I slowly hug her back

"Its nothing he deserves everything." I whisper and and I turn and he smiles

"Thank you, now go let him carry you." She says and I laugh and walk up to Will and lean my head on him

"Alright so I have some news, good news. The pizza delivery girl came forward a wrote a statement. And, her car has a security camera on it which by the way, caught everything." Dad says and I froze

"Wait seriously?" I ask and he nods and continues

"Plus with that video of her hurting you.  The trial is not going into her favor. The lawyer says when we show those videos in court. That there is no doubt the jury will vote in our favor." He said and I falter

"Will....will we have to be there?" I ask slowly and he nods

"I tried to see a way for you to guys stay out of the court room. But, they need each of your statements. Even Wills." He said and Will nods

"I have no problem with it." Will says and so did everyone else

"Yeah, whatever helps the case." Bianca says and I swallow

"Will they show the videos during this time?" I ask and my Dad sees my face and sighs

"Yes son. Everyone in the courtroom has to see the videos. It helps the case" He says and I nod slowly

Great. My whole family gets to see me crying and getting beaten.

Will grabs my shoulder gently but I pull away and walk out of the room taking deep breaths

Nico di Angelo calm down

I walk out of the hospital and start pacing outside and I spot my Dad's car and get in the back and hug my knees to my chest as my breathing picks up

No no no no

The tightness in my chest increases and everything around me feels like it was going to come in on me and I can't hear anything

I close my eyes tightly rocking myself and I feel something touch my shoulder and starts tapping in intervals of 4

1...2...3...4, repeat. 1...2...3...4, repeat.

I start mimicking it tapping on my knee. Bringing my focus to that and soon my breathing calmed down and I become aware of my surroundings

"Hey are you alright?" I hear I look and Leo is next to me and I sigh nodding slowly

"I...I'm okay." I say and he nods and rubs my back

"You wanna tell me what happened there?" He asks and I take a shaky breath

"The idea, of you guys watching the video of Persephone beat me. Terrifies me." I whisper and he seems to understand

"You know we wouldn't judge you right?" He asks and I nod and sit up

"I know that, but it doesn't mean I want you guys to see that side of me. Weak, vunrable. I've barely been with Will for what? 3 months? He shouldn't, have to already deal with all this drama from me." I state and Leo sighs at that

"Nico...I understand what your saying I do. I've been with Jerome for like a month and he also is involved with this drama but it has proven how much he cares, I know it's scary. But no matter what we are here for you. If anyone messes with you, they mess with all us." He says and I sigh and smile at him then hug him tightly

"Thank you." I say and he hugs back then we pull away

"No problem, that's what best friends are for." He says and I rub my hand down my face

"Though, that doesn't help the fact I don't want all you watching" I say and he sighs then taps his chin

"I've been to court before. Don't question why, it was for running away from foster homes, but I think you have the right deny who can and cannot have in the courtroom, unless they are part...of....the case...yeah never mind. We are technically evolved because of the shooting never mind, new plan!" He says and I snort and lean against the car door looking up

"...I could have you guys watch it before the trial. As much as it would suck, it would get the...hard part out of the way." I suggest and he looks at me

"Nico no matter how many times we see that video none of us are gonna get use to seeing it, besides they might have confiscated the video for evidence." He said but I sit up

"Not from my phone. Look...I'd rather you guys see it with me first, then a room full of strangers...we can get all the emotional stuff out of the way so when the trial comes we are ready." I say and Leo hesitates

"Nico are you sure about that?" He asks and I nod

"Bia gets to go home tonight. After I talk with my Dad about something we can go in my room and I'll play it." I say and hug myself tightly

"Well no matter what we're here for you." He says I smile at him

"You not cracking a joke? Being serious? Is this the real Leo?" I say and poke him and he rolls his eyes and laughs

"No I'm a holograph." He jokes and I laugh at him

"Will almost came after you, but I convinced him to stay with his Mom." He says and I sigh

"Thank you actually, he honestly needed to stay." I say and Leo gives me a thumbs up

"Well, we should go back inside." Leo suggests and we hop out of the car

"How did you know how to calm me down?" I ask and he rubs the back of his neck

"I have a history with panic attacks. And I hated when people would get in my face or try talking to me. And one day in a foster home, my foster brother caught me in a episode and did that to me. I calmed down a lot quicker and he gave me space. It gave me something to focus on that was subtle and not over bearing." He explains and I smile

"I like that actually, it worked." I said and he grins.

"See? I'm just that good." He says and I roll my eyes

We head back inside and I see my Dad upfront filling in some paperwork in a chair

"Go on ahead, I actually want to speak to my Dad." I say and he nods and runs on to Bia room

I walk up to my Dad taking a deep breath and he glances up

"Hey Soldatino, you feeling okay?" He asks setting the papers aside and I take a deep breath

"I could be better." I admit and he pats the bench and I sit next to him

"I know it's scary, I know this whole situation is scary but we will get through together." He says and I lean my head on him

"I should have told you. We could have avoided all of this." I whisper and he sighs

"Don't blame yourself. Your a kid, things happen. But, why didn't you?" He asks worried and I sit up more

"You were happy, you haven't been that happy since before Mama died. I didn't want to ruin that." I state and he grabs my shoulder gently

"No matter who is involved I stand by my kids. Forever and always. What makes me happy is you and your sisters being happy." He states and I hug him tightly and he hugs back

"Ti Amo mio soldatino." He whispers and I smile

"Ti amo Papa." I whisper back and he pulls away and sighs

"Anything else you need to tell me?" He jokes and I laugh nervously rubbing my arm and he raises an eyebrow

"Actually...." I start looking down at the ground ashamed and he puts his hand on my shoulder

"What is it son?" He asks and I sigh and look at him

"I obviously wasn't taking Bianca....getting shot very well as we know...and....I uh I...I was gonna...was planning getting your spare gun and was going too shoot myself..." I whisper and I hear his breath hitch and I flinch away waiting for the yelling and I hear him take deep breaths before clearing his throat

"Soladatino, look at me." He whispers and I slowly look up and he had tears in his eyes

"You have to know...that is not the way to go. Look Bianca is alive, so imagine her hearing you are gone. Who would have found your body? Me? Will? Hazel? I would have lost my son. Bianca and Hazel would have lost their brother and Will would have lost his boyfriend." He said grabbing my arms and I take a shaky breath

Too much crying today.

"I already told Bianca...she convinced me to tell you...I think I should get help...I want to.....because if this is my reaction to every severe situation...that's scary." I whisper a tear slips down my cheek and he pulls me to him closely

"When we get home I'll set you an appointment with a therapist. I will be changing the combination to my safe and will be only giving it to Hazel, Bianca, and Percy until further notice." He says and I nod understanding

"And Nico?" He says and I look up and he smiles at me

"I love you, telling me is very brave and I'm proud of you." He says and I hug him tightly and he hugs me back and rubs my back

"I love you too. Thank you for being there Dad." I say and he squeezes me tighter

"I will always be there." He said and I hear footsteps and I glance up

Will was standing there and he was smiling at the scene and we pull apart and my Dad wipes his eyes

"I better get back to the paper work for Biancas release. You kids get her ready." He asks and I get up and grab Wills hand

"Everything alright?" He asks and I hesitate and sigh

"It will me...I will tell you just not right now." I say and he looked curious but nodded

"I can respect that. Come on let's get your sister home." He says and I take a breath of relief

She gets to come home..

I walk in and she is braiding Hazels hair laughing with Percy and Jason at Leo who was doing dramatic stances and telling jokes

Thalia was recording the whole the thing and Jerome was covering his mouth trying not to laugh while Frank stared at Leo very confused

To think, I thought about leaving all this. My family, friends, everything.

Bianca looks at me and smiles and I take a deep breath

I could never do that to her

We join them and soon Dad comes in and we are able to leave and go home

I stare out the window as we head home thinking about what's to come

The next few weeks are going to be crazy...but I know we got this. She cannot win

I turn to see Bianca asleep on Thalia shoulder and I look back out the window

Not ever

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The next chapter will be the trial. So there will be a time skip

Anyways until next time, I love y'all!

Peace!