Chapter Text
Nico really hoped that Hazel hadn’t realized he had no idea what he was doing.
He wasn’t even supposed to be in the Fields of Asphodel. He had only entered them after he had lost hope, after he had searched Elysium for the soul that no longer waited for him. The only soul he had wanted to save. Finding Hazel was a complete accident.
Even so, he wasn’t turning back now. Nico had entered the Underworld in search of his sister, and he wasn’t leaving without one, even if she wasn’t Bianca. And even if she was technically a child of Pluto.
Nico had no idea how this would work on a physical level. It’s not every day someone just came back to life. Hazel died decades ago, would she even have a body to return to? What state would it be in? Would she be able to heal from whatever had killed her?
As they neared the exit, there was a noticeable change in the air. Sneaking a glance at his new sister, Nico could see that Hazel was already so much more alive than she had been in the Fields.
“How did you die?” Nico asked. Maybe it was insensitive, but he needed to know. Hazel seemed reluctant to tell him, but he got what he needed. Resurrection Bay. Alaska. The land beyond the gods. Fitting, in a way, since Nico was sure the gods would not approve of what he was planning.
“Let me go first.” Nico said. He’d need to see the state her remains were in, make sure he’d be ready to help in whatever way he needed to. He was not truly sure this would work, but it was their only shot.
“Please don’t leave me!” Hazel choked out. Nico turned and saw the fear in her eyes. Fear she had hidden so well up to that point. But now he could tell what she was really wondering: had Nico had given up on her already?
Nico wasn’t normally one for touching others, but in that moment he reached out and held her arms. It was odd, since she didn’t have a physical body, but he gripped Hazel hard to steady her.
“Hazel. I am getting you out of here. But I need to prepare for you to come to the other side,” Nico assured. He slipped the cheap watch off his wrist and handed it to her slowly. It was odd to see her handling it; the watch was more solid than she was. He prepped a timer on it. 10 minutes.
“When this timer goes off, you come through. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.” Nico instructed.
“What if it doesn’t work?” Hazel asked fearfully. Her desperation was palpable. It was a sentiment Nico shared, but he knew in that moment he needed to be the strong one for his little sister. Bianca had always been strong for him.
“Then I’ll find another way. I’ll be back for you. I promise you, Hazel. On the Styx. I will do everything I can to bring you back.” Nico declared. Even in the Underworld, where storms of lightning weren’t possible, thunder rumbled around them. Hazel sucked in a breath, another sign of how close she was to being alive again. She nodded. Nico set the timer and stepped back.
“See you soon, sis.” Nico quipped with what he hoped was a believable smirk as he stepped through back into the land of living.