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When Mrs. O’Leary crashed Percy’s English test, he decided to not look the gift horse in the mouth.
While the rest of his class was laughing about the poodle, he grabbed his bag and dashed down the hall. The middle schoolers’ building was right beside his, so Mrs. O’Leary didn’t have to wait too much for whatever thing she was trying to summon him for.
He skidded to a stop in front of the classroom and opened it haphazardly, not bothering to knock and check. Percy’s eyes went straight to the back of the classroom, where Nico was obviously trying not to fall asleep.
“Um,” Percy stammered when the teacher cleared his throat, shocked at the intrusion. “Nico, we need to go, Grandpa’s fallen down the stairs.”
“What?” Nico rose up, “How did that happen?”
“Well, don’t waste your time here, go!” The teacher exclaimed. Nico grabbed his bag and with a very heartfelt thank you, they ran out of the school.
Mrs. O’Leary was waiting for them at the curb. Her tail started wagging excitedly when she saw Nico, so naturally, they had to take a five-minute break to pet her.
“Grandpa fell down the stairs?” Nico deadpanned, “Really? That’s the best you could come up with?”
“Well, sorry, my excuse wasn’t up to your standards, your highness. Next time, you could be the one to come up with something,” he huffed.
“What did you even drag me out for?”
Percy shrugged. “I don’t know, she just came to me in the middle of the test, and started barking. Figured it was business, so obviously I had to come get you.”
Nico nodded, deep in thought and then suddenly, walked five steps away from him. Percy stared at him bewildered as Nico started walking back and forth, with his eyes trained firmly on the ground.
“What exactly are you doing?” Percy questioned when it became obvious that Nico was not going to volunteer.
“A shadow’s been following me since the morning. Thought it was some monster, but now I’m thinking maybe not,” he shot a glance at Mrs. O’Leary.
Percy felt his mouth drop open in the realization. “The shadow following you, Mrs. O’Leary coming to me. Someone wants our attention.”
Nico hummed in agreement, still messing around with the shadow. “The question is, do we give them that attention? We can easily go back home, Sally would be waiting for us, anyways.”
It had been months since Nico agreed to stay at his house. It had been an uphill battle for most of the things, shopping, getting food, going to school, even getting his vaccination shots. But he’d gradually started calling Percy’s house, a home, and that alone was worth everything. Percy would have time to be sentimental later, for now, they had something dangerous in front of them. “Let’s go ahead and check it out. Mom would be fine for a while, and I don’t want to risk it following us home.”
“Yeah, valid. Let’s go meet our fan, then.”
They hadn’t expected to run into Thalia. Percy had caught her up on the situation, and when she flashed a look at Nico, he had promised to explain that later. It was obvious now that someone wanted the attention of all Big Three kids. It left Percy feeling on edge, worried about what was to come.
They also hadn’t expected to meet Persephone, who regarded them coldly as she handed out her orders. For the Lady of Spring, she looked dreary. Pale and flushed out, like the Underworld had taken her life source from her.
“Nico di Angelo,” she said. Her voice was so cold, and yet, there wasn’t a whiff of any emotion. “My husband’s son.”
“My Lady,” Nico replied, tense and ready to bolt at the slightest motion. Percy felt himself tense up at the nonexistent threat. As far as he knew, they hadn’t interacted a lot, maybe while Nico was living in the Labyrinth and becoming friends with Minos, but then again. There wasn’t any obvious sign of hatred or contempt in Persephone’s countenance, so maybe there would not be an issue.
“Do well, your father is counting on you.”
And there was the stupidity that Percy had been expecting.
Nico bristled. “How nice of a sentiment.”
Persephone raised her eyebrows, she still didn’t show any emotions outright, but the impertinence in Nico’s statement was hard to miss. Percy wondered if he should intervene, felt himself step forward just so, but then Nico shook his head just slightly, and Percy relented.
“My Lady,” Thalia said, her voice grave and stiff. If Percy didn’t know any better, he’d think that by the way Thalia was standing, angled just so to become a barrier between Nico and any threat, that she was being protective. “You’ve issued us your task, an impossible task might I add, is there anything else, or can we go and attempt to stop the thief?”
Oh, Percy was elated. Thalia was pissed off. She was being protective. Though how much of that came from the fact that she felt guilty about Bianca, Percy didn’t know. For now, he was happy to have someone else on his team for protecting Nico.
Persephone must have realized it too, because she didn’t say anything else, just waved her hand in a clear dismissal. They were daughters of Zeus, Percy noted. He wondered who would have been successful if they did fight.
He supposed he should count themselves lucky for not pissing off Persephone too much, in her own realm. But then again, they were far too needed in that situation to harm them at all.
Still, there was a look in the goddess’s eyes that Percy didn’t like and he felt himself tense all over again at the reminder. He’d have time to negotiate a promise later, for now they had to stop a thief and find a godly weapon.
***
Persephone looked as the children went on their way to correct a mistake of hers. She was prideful, but not stupid. She could admit where she had gone wrong.
She knew heroes too, knew that they’d go to her husband to report on her, that they’d extract some oath or agreement to limit the use of the weapon. Persephone was still the Queen, however. She would maneuver the situation to what she needed. Her husband wouldn’t be too mad at her, after all she was only trying to consolidate his base of power.
But, Persephone shivered slightly, he’ll be angry at putting his only demigod child in danger.
Then again, the child of Poseidon had looked awfully close and protective of the boy. He’d stop any grave harm from coming to the boy, she was sure. The question here though was, could she trust the son of Poseidon to keep Hades’ son alive?
No matter how close they are, no matter how much time they’ve spent together in that little camp of theirs, heroes were still mortals. Still greedy and egotistical. And Poseidon’s spawns were the most temperamental of them all.
“My Queen,” Hades’ deep voice broke her out of her reverie. “What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“My King,” she bowed her head in greeting, feeling a smile curl up on her lips as her husband sat beside her. She hesitated, very briefly, as she debated if she should come clean straight away. Ultimately, she decided to wait until after the demigods had succeeded. No use telling him about her mistake if she couldn’t even fix them first. “My servants inform me of the friendship between your mortal son, and the Earthshaker’s son. I am simply curious about that.”
Hades looked surprised. “there is a friendship between them?”
“Did you not know, my Lord?” Persephone asked, just as shocked that her husband did not keep tabs on his son.
“I admit, this is the first I am hearing of it,” he answered honestly. Then, as quick as the tides, his surprise turned into righteous indignation. “Why is the sea spawn befriending my child? Does he have any ulterior motives?”
Persephone couldn’t help but giggle. Her husband’s anger had never scared her, she knew he would never harm her. “No, my Lord. From what my attendants tell me, the sea spawn keeps your son in high regards. Though, I am not sure where your son currently lives,” she added, frowning slightly. She was a goddess, but she was not cruel. Though his trials were extreme, the child was still that, a child.
“Does he not live at the camp? I thought he reconciled with them?”
“I fear not, my attendants did not mention him living at the camp.”
Hades hummed, deep in thought and slightly disturbed at the idea that his son might not have a roof to sleep under. He was the Lord of Riches, his son should not have to go through such tribulations at such a young age.
“I believe I should summon him,” Hades announced and Persephone felt herself grow cold. She had not expected it. If he summoned the boy now, he’d realize that the child was currently in the Underworld.
“Wouldn’t your brother be upset?” she said, desperately hoping that Hades would change his mind.
“I simply do not care,” Hades stated. “He might have been fine with letting his daughter sleep without a roof, but my son has suffered enough.”
Persephone hummed, trying to project a disappointed air, her hand resting on Hades’ chest. “Our realm is finally calm, albeit for a short while. Would it be too bad if you contacted your child a while later?”
As expected, Hades tilted just so towards her. “I suppose not,” he mumbled.
“Let’s just enjoy the peace while it lasts, my Lord,” she spoke. It was not the first time she had to use her wiles to convince her husband of something, and it won’t be the last time either. It really wasn’t Persephone’s fault that the Lord of the Dead couldn’t say no to her.
“As always, you are nothing but wise.”
Persephone laughed. Her voice like gentle, spring breeze, echoing inside the realm.
***
On the other end of the realm, the three demigods struggled to find the thief and the missing sword.
Percy had gotten injured, could only be healed by a god, and it was making Nico scared and panicked.
Thalia held the flower in her hand before, but now it was given to Percy so he wouldn’t feel too useless as they tried to look for their target. Nico couldn’t help but check on Percy every minute or so.
If anything happened to him, what would he tell Sally? The woman had been nothing but kind. So patient, so loving. Had encouraged Nico to do everything he wanted to do. When they had figured out that Nico was Italian, she had bought home books on learning Italian from the library.
Sally was everything he hoped his own mother had been. He shouldn’t compare the two, especially when he had no real recollection of his own family, and yet. Every time Sally wished him good night and good morning, she was filling in the role he had craved so desperately. How would he ever tell her that he let Percy get injured on his watch?
No, he thought resolutely, it was simply not going to come to that. They were going to find the thief, then they’d deliver to Hades and demand that he healed Percy. It was his asinine mistake that had led to Percy being injured in the first place, the least he could do was fix it.
“You’ve got a scary look on your face,” Thalia observed from beside him. She spoke so suddenly that Nico startled a bit. “Woah, careful. Watch your step.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Nico replied. He missed the look of shock on Thalia’s face as he straightened up again.
“So,” she started speaking again, Nico sent a quick look back to check on Percy. “Why that scary look on your face?”
Nico scowled. “I don’t have a scary look, and anyways, you should be the last person to say that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Thalia asked indignantly.
From behind them, Percy huffed. It might have been an attempt at laugh, but Nico wasn’t sure. “It means, you have a resting bitch face. Actually,” he paused dramatically. “You have a resting murder face.”
Nico chuckled in agreement. “You really do, Thalia. If I didn’t know you, I would think you were a criminal or something.”
Thalia huffed. “I am not that scary.”
Nico and Percy exchanged a look. “Sure,” Percy drawled out. He looked at Nico like saying, can you believe this girl?
Nico held in another laugh. It wasn’t even that funny, but to see Percy behaving normally was some sort of reassurance. He looked in front of them again, missing the fond smile on Percy's face. All Nico knew was that they had to hurry. Percy might be feeling okay now, good enough to laugh or joke, but the poison in his system was wrong. They could not risk being slow.
He forged ahead, trusting Thalia to guard his back. He was the most familiar with the terrain anyways and after a moment of thought, he convinced Percy to hand him the flower.
“Nico, slow down,” Percy’s pained voice came from behind him, Nico stopped immediately and turned around to look at Percy. “I can feel water nearby.”
Thalia looked around, on high alert. She was supporting Percy as well, and Nico could not bear to look at his injured form for long. They were close to their thief, and, Nico realized, close to an exit as well.
“it’s probably an underworld river,” Thalia answered.
“It’s Lethe,” Nico added on. “This path leads to an exit, but you have to cross the Lethe to get there.”
“How did a demigod cross the Lethe?” Thalia asked shocked.
“He has help,” Percy came to the conclusion. “We already knew that. He probably freed some titan to help him out, or maybe the Lord of Time ordered him to. We need to proceed from here remembering that we are not just going against a demigod, but probably a Titan as well.”
In moments like these, it was easy to see why the camp looked at Percy for guidance. He was natural, Nico thought. He gave his agreement to Percy, Thalia doing the same. They didn’t have time to panic.
The end of their mission came with success, and as much as Nico hated to admit it, emotions.
When Percy had fell into the river in his weakened state, Nico had screamed. Thalia had to hold him back, despite how it looked like she wanted to jump in after Percy as well.
Then. Like a miracle, Percy came out of the water, panting with exertion to keep himself dry and afloat, as he lugged the now harmless Titan on the shore.
Percy had named the Titan of Light, Bob. Nico didn’t know if he should laugh or punch Percy. Considering how injured Percy was, he settled for laughing. Thalia started laughing too, when Bob looked at Percy’s injury, said ouchie and fucking healed it.
Sure. Nico thought hysterically, why not.
Now under no more mortal peril, Percy looked way, way better and Nico felt himself sagging from the relief.
He had held himself back when Percy re-emerged from the water. Too scared about hurting him more and accidentally, touching the water himself, but now. Now, Nico threw himself at Percy, with no hesitation about whether he’d fall or not. Thalia watched on, tears shining in her own eyes but she fought them valiantly.
“Don’t you ever,” Nico said wetly in the embrace. “Don’t you ever do that to me again! What would I have told Sally? How could I have told her about you getting hurt? Why would you do that to me?"
“I am sorry,” Percy replied, so, so, gently. Caressing Nico’s hair with one steady hand, as the other wiped a tear away. “I won’t do that to you again, you won’t ever have to tell Mom about me getting injured. But you know what I thought when I got hurt?”
Nico shook his head no, he didn’t know if he wanted to hear it, but knowing Percy, he would tell him anyways.
“I thought, at least it’s not you.”
That was it. That was the final straw. That was what made Nico start sobbing uncontrollably. The last few months had been whirlwind of emotions and recovery from him. He had started feeling at home in the Jackson residence, not even realizing when Percy’s house had become his home too. When Percy had become his family too.
The thought of losing Percy right when he had found him, was disturbing and horrifying and Nico needed it to never happen again. He had lost Bianca, he knew he could not go through that pain again. Luckily for him, Percy had no intention of leaving like that.
Thalia cleared her throat, and said, “Hey, losers, can we wrap up and get going already?”
Wordlessly, Percy opened up his arm in an answer. Thalia didn’t hesitate and joined the hug. If asked later on if she was crying, Thalia would deny it vehemently. But right then, in that moment, she wasn’t ashamed to admit to have shed a tear or two.
Finally, after what felt like eons, their ragtag and no longer injured group made it back to the Palace.
They had calmed down, and hitched a ride on the Erinyes. Bob the Titan had been very helpful and had cleaned them up, so they didn’t look like they had an emotional breakdown. They felt like it, for sure, but at least they didn’t look like it any longer.
Hades’ Palace was as threatening and scary as it always was. Nico confidently walked in, Percy and Thalia on his either side. The ghosts and skeletons bowed down in respect. The Ghost King was still growing into his title, but there was no doubt that he was the true Ghost King.
Inside the Throne Room, Hades sat. He looked unhappy. Persephone was sitting beside him, but she was sitting stiffly. Nico felt unbidden glee rise in him as he realized that Hades had found out about Persephone’s actions.
She wouldn’t be punished extremely, her husband’s ire directed at her was cruel enough for her.
"Nico,” his father addressed him. He was emotionless, as all gods were.
“My Lord,” he replied stiffly. Before he might have vied for his father’s attention and approval, but not now. He still wanted his father to acknowledge him, but the part of him that would have done anything for his approval had diminished greatly.
“What have you brought me?”
“Your sword, my Lord. That seemed to have been misplaced by my Lady,” he couldn’t help the snark. Nico didn’t regret it when he felt Percy huff in amusement behind him.
“And the Titan? Do you have any explanation for that?”
“Well, he is Bob,” Nico replied innocently. “I think he would be a great help in custodian matters.”
“Yes, Bob can help,” Bob chimed in happily.
Hades didn’t reply for a while. Thalia shifted uncomfortably behind him, and he wanted to reach out and say something, he started feeling uncomfortable too the longer Hades silent. He looked at Percy, who met his eyes, stepped forward, gently touched his shoulder. That was enough for Nico. That was all he needed to relax as much as he could and step back. He did the same sequence of actions for Thalia, and relaxed even more when she stepped up beside Percy.
He had a complicated relationship with Thalia, but now he felt cautiously hopeful, that he would be able to forgive her. But only if she apologized.
Persephone said something, and Nico completely tuned out the rest of the discussion. Letting Percy and Thalia handle it from there.
Nico had no idea what was being said and what oaths were being sworn. He looked around, letting his eyes study the different events carved into the walls of the palace.
“Nico,” his father’s voice broke him out of his daze and he looked towards the god, who was staring at him intently. Nico thought he saw concern on Hades’ face and then brushed the thought away. He must be truly going insane.
“Yes, my Lord?”
"Where are you staying?” Hades asked him.
What?
“I am sorry, my Lord?” For a scary second, he thought Hades was going to stop Nico from living with the Jackson’s. Percy must have thought the same because he was beside Nico in an instant.
Hades frowned. “Where are you staying?”
“With me, Lord Uncle,” Percy answered instead of him. Nico was so grateful.
“In the camp, you mean?”
“No, Lord Uncle. I mean that Nico is staying with me, at my house, with my family,” Percy answered slowly. Nico had no idea where this conversation was going, and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know as the severity of Hades’ frown deepened.
“But why?”
“Because I have no where else to go?” Nico asked more than answered. “I am sorry, my Lord, but is there a problem?”
“I suppose not,” Hades grumbled. “But do you have to stay with the sea spawn? I have so many palaces on Earth, I am sure you’d like one of the other residences.”
“I am sorry,” Thalia asked, scarily calm. “What did you just say?”
“I don’t believe this concerns you, Daughter of Zeus,” Hades answered loftily.
Then, in a scary second, Thalia and Percy seemed to have joined forces. They started speaking in turns, their demeanor getting progressively threatening.
“I am sure,” Thalia began. “But I did not just hear you say that Nico should rather live in a castle alone, over living with Sally, the best mortal on earth?”
“I definitely did not hear you say that,” Percy took over, “an eleven year old child should be living alone, away from society. Tell me, Uncle, do you even know when his birthday is?”
“Do you anything about mortal children? Do you know his last dose of vaccinations?
“Do you know his allergies? Do you know his school schedule? Do you know absolutely anything?”
“And please don’t tell me, you wanted to send a few skeletons to look after him? An eleven year old boy?”
“You really could not have meant that, Uncle. Percy and I must have heard you wrong.”
“Because if you truly cared about Nico,” Thalia hissed. “You would provide Sally with everything she needs to take care of two growing boys. If you cared about Nico past the fact that he could be the prophecy child, you would have stepped up earlier.”
“We are going to take our leave now, Uncle. Do heed our words and know, that Nico will not be leaving my home until he wants to. He is family and he is always welcomed.”
If this were happening to anyone else, Nico would laugh.
The combined might of the Big Three Children was always a thing of legends. He just never thought it would be used to convince a god to pay child support. Hades actually looked ashamed, Nico thought in amazement. Maybe ashamed wasn’t the right word. More accurately, Hades was cowed into submission and this was probably the greatest day of his life. There was nothing that could beat his godly father agreeing to pay child support with a disgruntled look on his face.
In shock, Nico bowed with the other two and made their way to the mortal world. He stayed quiet through the entire trip back home. Only chipping in when asked a question directly. The three of them decided to stop for burgers, and Nico still didn’t say anything. The other two didn’t press either, let him have his space as he processed everything.
Before they parted ways, he told Thalia to meet them more often and nodded in agreement with Percy when he said that she was always welcomed at their home.
They didn’t waste more time after that, heading home directly because Percy and Nico knew that Sally would be losing her mind with worry.
When the door opened and Sally hugged Percy to death, Nico thought nothing. That was expected. Sally always does that. But then, she grabbed Nico and hugged him just as tight. And that truly felt like coming home.
He went to sleep in his bed, in his room, with his family under the same room, but only after Percy and Nico recited the entire adventure to Sally. Leaving out the more dangerous details in unspoken agreement. After Sally had fussed over them enough and looked after any non-existent injury, they were allowed to go to bed, with another tight hug and a kiss on their cheek.
Nico went to sleep, knowing he had a family, knowing he was welcomed. He woke up to Percy talking excitedly about the child support cheque that just came in their mail.
He could live like this.