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Nico hated this feeling. Not knowing what was going to happen. He was waiting for his father, Hades.
Hades had asked him to meet him in the Underworld. Sure he and his father had gotten on way better terms. Some might even say their Parent-Child relationship is superior to the ones in Olympus. Except for Percy and Posidan of course.
That didn't mean Hades was the Father of the year. It also definitely didn’t mean Nico was your innocent goody two shoe perfect son, but they have their difference and they work around them. And by working on their issues they actually just ignoring and overlooking the things they don't agree on or not bring up anything that would probably start a fight.
But, when Hades asks him to meet him in the underworld, it shocked him. Ask, not tell, ordered around, or just wave his hand and shadow travel him down here no he asked. That's why he was sitting on a leather couch outside of one of his father's main offices.
Hades was in a meeting with Thanatos. A long meeting. Very long.
Nico lied down on the small sofa he was sitting on, next to the huge wooden doors. Who knows how long it been.
Trying to tell the time in the Underworlds was literally hell. Minutes could be hours, hours could be minutes, who knows but it was taking forever. Nico though as he put his arm over his face to cover his eyes. He thought back to the past weeks, he had done nothing bad. Well, nothing that would make Hades need to talk to him.
The enormous wooden door open with a laughing Thanatos looks back into the room.
“Yep, I was an idiot for thinking it might work, but hey can stop a man from trying. Remind me to take you out for a drink and we can rediscuss my-” He glanced at Nico and smiled, ” Hello child, how long have you been here.”
“Hey, Thanatos, don’t worry, not long.” It was a small lie.
” What are you and father talking about?” Nico pried as he sat up from the couch.
“That would be none of your business, son.” Hade's voice came from inside the room. “Now come in we need to talk.”
Nico got up and walked to the door slowly. Thanatos put his hand on Nico's shoulder and leaned down to whisper in Nico's ear. “Good luck.” He patted his shoulders and left snickering to himself.
“Nico?” Hades asked again.
Nico opened the door slightly and looked into the room to see his father sitting in his chair reading some papers.
“Father.” Nico greeted as he stood next to the two chairs that were in front of Hade's desk. “You wanted to talk to me.” Hades glanced up, “Nico do no look so … what the word um...uptight. You're not in any trouble if that's what got you so worked up.”
Nico nodded in understanding but stood there. Clearly in discomfiture. Awkwardness filled the silence and both father and son stared at each other. Nico looked down at his shoes finding them much more interesting than anything or anyone in the room.
A second later, Hade's cough trying to get his son's attention. “Nico the reason I called you is that I wanted to us to talk about this,... us, our... family,” Hades stated and he got up from his desk and walked over to his coat hander and got a black jacket. “Why don't we discuss this over something to eat it is around time for your lunch right?”
Nico thought this over he was hungry. He ended up skipped breakfast this morning when he got the message to meet his father. He was to work up thinking over what he did wrong to eat.
He's probably going to get an ear full from a blond hair freckled doctor with a great smile later. Nico smiled a little. No stop thinking like that, he's your friend and just your friend. Nico thought to himself.
“Look father I- “
“You like that restaurant with the yellow m sign, right? We can go there if you like.”
“Okay.” 'Note to self you can always bribe Nico with certain food.' Hades thought as they walked out the door
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(Hades P.O.V.)
Nico and I were sitting in the corner of the room of that fast food restaurant he loves. Nico seemed to really enjoy his chopped up fried potatoes and whatever else was inside the little red box. I was drinking a coffee Nico got for me. It was to sweat for my taste but I didn’t tell that to him.
Will is definitely going to give me an earful. Nico thought as he stuffed some more fries in his mouth.
“So Nico you know I wanted to talk to you about us. As in you, me, Hazel and Persephone. ” I mumble the last part.
“Persephone is not my family.” Ah, so Nico heard that. No, I'm not here to fight stick to the plan.
“Look, Nico, I'm not going to argue with you about Persephone at least not now. Now that you spend all your time at that camp I thought why not get more use to my home being more of your home.” I tried to explain.
But how am I suppose to explain that the reason why we are here is that I don’t want them to make you think I’m some heartless evil crook.
“What I want is to be more constant in your day to day life. I want to be better at being a regular father to you.” I ended up going with the truth, just not the whole truth.
Nico started coughing on the soda he was slurping.
Nico look like he didn't know what to say, “Um, what do you mean you want to be a more ‘constant’ in my life. Like you live with me in my cabin or... .”
“N-no Nico I'm not going to live with you, I mean I want to see you more. As in having breakfast or dinner together, as a family. Like what we are doing right now. And I want you to be able to talk to me about stuff in your life. How you're doing. Winning those silly little games you play at camp or that blond boy you been dating that you sometimes talk about in your sleep what was his name Bill or was it Well.”
Nico's face turned bright red, “DAD!” Nico's face turned even redder after he said that.
He called me...he... my son, my little Nicky just called me... just wait… wait did he really. I can’t even think straight. He barely even started to call me father a few weeks ago now, now he just actually called me dad. I don't think any of my children have ever called me that. The closes thing they ever called me was father.
Nico was hiding his red face in his hands. “I am sorry I-I shouldn’t have… I-I'm sorry my lord I- should… I should just lea-” Nico started to get up. Why is he studdering is he scared? Why would he be scared of me I am his…
“No, No, Nico it’s alright, it fine actually. No, Nico took a seat. This is exactly what I was talking about being more causal around one and other I don’t want you calling me my lord your my son and father is fine but it still very formal and look all I want is for us to be closer and- ” I know I'm rambling but I don't know how to explain this, “I'm just a little shock, you took me bit by surprise but -”
Nico sat back down and look at the table, he looks lost of appetite. “Why don't we change the subject,” I suggested.
A little bit of time pass with nothing but silence. I open his mouth to talk, but Nico interrupted.
“He's not my boyfriend,” Nico muttered as he grabbed a potato stick and looking out the window.
Hades mind stop thinking for a sec to look at Nico. Wait, what oh, oh my poor child “I’m sorry I didn’t know. I just assumed he was since your preference, are males." Nico's eyes widen as he stared at his father, 'gods, of course, he would say that out loud in public.' Nico wanted to melt into the floor.
"Also when we do talk you're always talking about that boy or at least mention him. Did he not return your, um affection?”
Is this the right word to use? Should I even be asking him this? I am not prying, I am his father and this is stuff I should know, right? Hundreds of question where filling in my head.
“Hmm, No I mean, I haven’t even really ask.” Nico murmured.
“What?”
“I haven’t asked him,” Nico replied
“What do you mean you haven’t asked him I thought you had feeling for this boy. Persephone was telling me about how she noticed you change your attitude when you talk about that boy. I also noticed that your mood has changed as well. Even Hazel tells me you happy when around him. It's obvious you have very strong feelings for this boy why have you not ask him to court. ”
"Courting like marrage?!”
“No your way too young, I mean to court, you know,(What's the dam word) um to be dating. Do I have to ask him for you? Is that what people still do?”
“NO, absolutely not, we don't, I,” Nico's face started to heat up again as he lowered his head, he signs and confess “Will and I are just friends, really good friends and I don’t, I don't want to mess that up. If I tell him that I have a crush on him.... and he delines it's going to be awkward a-and what if he thinks I'm disgusting” Nicos voice got smaller.
“Nico if this Bill-”
“Will.”
“Will, if Will is just as you have talked about him, I do not believe he going to think of you as disgusting. Having these types of feelings for the same gender is perfectly normal Nico. And if anyone tells you otherwise-”
“I know, I know.... dad you told me that before.“ Nico started fiddling with the ring I gave him.
“Yes well as I was saying if this Will is how you describe him then there's really only two ways he can react. He is going to either decline and still be your friend or he will agree and go out with you. But I truly do believe he will still be your friend in the end. ” False I am sorry I can not be sure what that human boy's reaction will be.
“I don't know maybe, your right, I should...," Nicos face filled with thoughts.
"I should ask him, I will ask. I will ask Will out.” Nico smiled slightly at the pun, that was so stupid, “Tonight during the campfire, I’ll ask him to meet me away from everyone else and then I'll ask him.”
“Adda boy, come on Nico I’ll go call Jules-Albert to take you back to the camp.”
“Okay,... oh wait what did you mean by spending time together or something like that? ”
“Hm, why don't we discuss that over dinner in the Underworld, how does this Sunday sound?”
“Yah the sound nice. Thanks for everything, dad.”
"Of course now let's get you to camp"
"Okay," Nico said with a genuine smile. They both got up and started walking out.
Ah, today my little Nico is going to ask out his first boy.... wait.