Chapter Text
He tossed and turned in his sleep, flipping from side to side, from his stomach onto his back. No dice. Nico sighed, sitting up and brushing his hair out of his face. Shoving his duvet off his pale legs, he stood and walked to his small makeshift kitchenette. Pale fingers gripped a cold glass of water as Nico shuffled onto the couch in the center of Cabin 13. He took a sip of the cool liquid, reveling in the icy feel traveling down his throat. He laid his head back and closed eyes.
Camp was much less fun now than it had been when the son of Hades had first arrived. Granted, Nico would never admit that he enjoyed being at Camp Half-Blood, but he’d been fond of it once upon a time. He remembered the rush of excitement of watching people duel with swords and climb a wall of lava. He’d been a kid then. Now, every time he caught a glimpse of a swinging sword, he saw instead the monsters in Manhattan, slain by Percy and the rest of the heroes. He saw all the people lost in every battle that had waged, every fight the camp’s residents had been dragged into. When they played capture the flag, Nico wasn’t running toward a banner, he was racing from the giants and that damned jar, from the ghosts he’d once befriended, from the creatures that had hunted him in Tartarus. Camp no longer felt like a retreat; it felt like a prison, guarded by the dark traces of Nico’s past.
Of course, Will made everything bearable. The son of Apollo flashed in his memory, the bright smile and tanned skin. Nico’s lips turned upwards as he thought of the boy. Gods, he was smitten. He couldn’t help it- Will was good, kind, gentle. He also didn’t put up with bull, which Nico could admire. He was equal parts witty and sappy, and the guy practically freaking glowed wherever he went like a ray of sunshine. His eyes, his freckles, his lips, Gods his lips-
“Where is Chiron?” A female voice demanded from right outside Cabin 13, ripping Nico from his thoughts. He set his water down on the coffee table and made his way to the window that faced the Big House. His thin hand reached for the heavy red curtain, drawing it back just enough that he could see the scene playing out before him.
Tyson the Cyclops stood outside the window, hands up in surrender. A blade was rested against his throat and there were tears forming in his eye. The holder of the blade was masked by the shadows, and Nico felt his face heat. Attacking Tyson was the equivalent of attacking an over-sized 8-year-old, and the Cyclops had only ever been kind to Nico, respecting his space and dislike of touching. Nico sauntered over to the wall beside his bed and quietly plucked his stygian iron sword from the hinges that held it. He returned to the window and faded into the unlit corner beside the curtain.
The son of Hades silently thanked the Gods that he hadn’t ended up in a pile of twigs. He had materialized behind the hidden figure and now stood behind her. She shifted her arm forward, pressing the blade further into Tyson’s jugular. He whimpered, tears now flowing freely down his cheeks.
“I’ll ask once more, Cyclops. Where is Chiron?” The female voice asked. Tyson’s chest heaved as he sobbed openly.
“Tyson doesn’t know! Tyson is just here to visit Percy and Annabeth and camp!” Tyson cried. The woman sighed, removing her blade from Tyson’s throat.
Nico waited until the silhouette looked completely relaxed before striking. The blunt handle of his blade cracked against the girl’s skull and she stumbled forward, cursing in Greek. Nico raised his eyebrows as the colorful words reached his ears, but soon remembered Tyson. He turned the six foot tall son of Poseidon and put a hand on his forearm.
“Go wake Percy, Tyson. Tell him it’s urgent.” Tyson nodded, and as soon as he turned to head to Cain 3, Nico felt a blade graze his side. He did his own cursing as he gripped his side. Damn girl, trying to get intimate with his organs. “Sorry to be a delusione ragazza, but dying isn’t on my immediate to-do list.”
“I don’t intend to add it to anyone’s to-do list if I can help it, bambino di morte.” Nico ground his teeth at the phrase. How dare she? Who in Hades did she think she was? Whoever she was, she was quick. While Nico fumed her blade came towards him in a blur. He parried the strike just like Jason had taught him. He spun, slinging his black iron towards her legs. She jumped back and struck down, trying to disarm the pale boy. Nico gripped his handle tight, lunging upwards with his blade. The iron split her upper arm just as her own blade cut into the pale skin of Nico’s shoulder. He hissed.
“Vuoi Morrie?” He ground out, the smell of copper filling his nostrils. “I know the owner personally. I’d be glad to arrange a visit.”
“No need, Nico di Angelo. Been there, done that.” She said. Nico held his sword defensively as the attacker stepped forward into the visibility of the moonlight.
She was beautiful, no doubt. The first thing he noticed was her outfit. She wore a long off-white chiton with gold trim along the bottom and brass broaches at her shoulders. A shimmering gold rope was woven around her waist, bunching up the fabric there. She had shadow-black hair that hung like a disheveled curtain around her shoulders. Her skin was a creamy beige that looked milky in the pale light. Her face was striking, with prominent cheek bones and intensely bright blue eyes. Her lips were painted blood red and pulled into a devious smirk. Her celestial bronze sword rested in her grip almost leisurely, as if she had the utmost confidence that Nico couldn’t possibly overtake her in a fight. The pale boy feared she may be right. Fight dirty, stay clean, his Father’s voice rang in his memory. Nico focused on the ground beneath him, feeling the dirt below and willing it to separate.
“I don’t think so bambino di morte.” Suddenly the girl was behind him, using her foot to propel him forward. The boot in his back sent him flying. He landed in a shadow and found himself in Cabin 1. A blonde was snoring heavily in the only bed, blanket pulled up to his chest. Nico moved forward and ripped the cover off Jason’s unmoving body. His blue eyes flew open and he sat up quick, almost knocking into the other boy’s forehead. Nico grabbed Jason’s hand and began yanking him from his bed.
“Woah, Neeks, where’s the fire?” Jason asked, pushing his glasses onto his face. Nico pointed to his door.
“Right out there, you deficiente.” He said, pulling the taller blonde towards the darkness that rested behind the huge statue of Zeus. Jason mumbled something that was lost as the two landed into Cabin 3. “Percy Jackson!”
“Wha-!” A body fell from the top bunk, landing hard on the wooden floor with a groan. Percy sat up, rubbing his head. “What the Hades, di Angelo? I was sleeping, quite nicely I might add- hey!”
Nico grabbed Percy’s elbow, hoisting him up with Jason’s help. He shoved them into the far corner that was full of shadow. The three landed in the middle of the grass that lay between the Big House and the cabins. The son of Hades looked around, searching for the mystery girl. He didn’t see her. He shook his head.
“She was here just a minute ago.” Nico whispered. Percy sighed.
“Who?” Jason asked, adjusting his glasses to rest at the top of his nose.
“I don’t know. She didn’t give details, just started throwing around her blade.” He answered quietly. He winced as the pain in his side and shoulder caught up with him. He swayed on his feet, catching himself before he fell. Percy put a hand on his uninjured shoulder.
“You need to go to the infirmary Neeks. Those cuts look bad.” Percy’s voice was full of concern.
“I will after we find the raging cagna running around here with the blade-“
“Now, now.” Said a voice behind them. All three boys jumped straight out of the darkness of the cabins. The girl from before followed them, sword raised. “No need to call names. Now, answer a few questions and I won’t kill you. And please cooperate, this is a brand new ionic chiton and getting blood out of the fabric is a nightmare.”