That song... Soldatino is what she called it... Bianca sang it to him before she was reborn... He memorized the lyrics. Every time he thought of the song, it reminded him of her. Right now, he's sitting on his bed, twisting the skull ring on his finger. He remembered the song, and started humming it softly, before he knew it, he was singing softly.

"Close your eyes. I know what you see. The darkness is high, and you're in ten feet deep. But we've survived more terrible monsters than sleep. And you'll know I will be here to tell you to breath."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"Tu sei il mio soldatino. La ragione per cui vivo. Non ti scordar di me. Io veglierò su di te."

He got up and paced around, imagining Bianca there, singing to him, comforting him as he tried to sleep. He imagined Bianca stroking his hair as he fell asleep in his lap when they were little. He remembered her singing it to her when they were little, before they met Percy and Annabeth and Thalia. Before his world turned upside down and the gods and monsters in his Mythomagic game became real.

"Stumbling lost, the last choice of all that you meet. It's the cost of ruling those 'neath your feet. Paths you've crossed. And trust you're trying to keep. You're exhausted, listening for a voice that can't speak. Ma nico mio caro."

His breath caught and he took a few minutes to calm down, not noticing the blonde that had just walked in. He wiped away a few stray tears before continuing.

"Tu sei il mio soldatino. La ragione per cui vivo. Non ti scordar di me. Io veglierò su di te."

He sighed softly and played with his ring again. The blonde leaned against the door quietly, listening to him.

"So you run. Through shadows you roam. Seems undone by the love you thought you could own. He's just one of many you might call home. And maybe someday the bitter will fade from your bones. Fade from your bones. Ooh."

He smiled softly, knowing that has come true. The blonde that he fallen in love with had helped him with that.

"Eri il mio soldatino. Ora un principe oscuro. Ma anche per te, c'è una luce. Che ad un'altra vita ti conduce."

A few tears fell as he smiled softly. "Nico..." The blonde said softly, going over and wrapping his arms around him. Nico cuddled into his chest, letting the tears fall. The blonde held him close and comforted him. He wasn't Bianca, but he was just as good, maybe better.

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Dg22: Don't kill me!