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Nico didn’t remember deciding to shadow-travel—only the way his lungs had refused to work as he ran from Camp Half-Blood, and then the cold pull of darkness as the Underworld swallowed him whole.
When the shadows finally let him go, he found himself deep in the Fields of Asphodel. Maybe part of him had meant to come here, or maybe the Underworld itself had simply answered the grief screaming inside him. Either way, Nico wandered, barely registering the way his boots sank slightly into the dusky soil.
They seem so sad, thought Nico as he moved between the silent figures. The people stood still as statues, rooted to the ground by vines, forever condemned to this place. At least Nico need not worry about his sister wasting away in Asphodel. Not that he had found her yet.
After leaving camp, Nico had ended up on the run and then at an odd ranch. He ran into Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, and Grover. Luckily, Percy had been able to help Nico summon Bianca's ghost, but Bianca hadn’t stayed. She had just told him to stop holding grudges (forgive Percy) and let her go. His sister had even hinted at wanting rebirth, much to Nico’s annoyance.
So here Nico was, roaming the Underworld like it was a playground. There wasn’t much for him to do here. It was rather boring. He could go visit the Fields of Punishment to add more to his trauma collection. Nico could check out Elysium, but seeing happy people reunited with their loved ones was either going to piss him off or make him more depressed. Neither was a good option, especially with how out of control the son of Hades’s powers were. They reacted to his feelings, and well, Nico’s feelings were as chaotic as the sea.
So wandering Asphodel was the general consensus.
It wasn’t that interesting. Just rows of people, rooted to the ground by their regret, which was physically shown by vines. Brown vines. You know, because it was the Underworld. The people didn’t speak or move. Nico was sure that was a part of the punishment. How sad.
Despite the people looking dead or far away in their heads, one girl didn’t. Her golden eyes reflected a dozen emotions, and she felt familiar to Nico… almost like family. The young girl—twelve, if Nico were to guess—felt eerily similar to himself and Bi… Bianca. Curiosity nipped at Nico as he walked closer to the child. Before he could get closer, a cold hand settled on his shoulder, causing him to yelp in shock.
“Young Prince,” said Thanatos. The god winced as he removed his hand from Nico’s shoulder. He hadn’t meant to startle the little one, only get Nico’s attention. “Your father has asked that I take you to him.”
Nico nodded, glancing at Thanatos with intense dark eyes.
“The girl,” said Nico as they began to walk away from the Fields of Asphodel, “who is she?”
“A soul that has chosen to skip the judgment lines and stay in Asphodel,” explained Thanatos, calmly. “This is no place for you, Niccolo. You are much too young to be wandering the Underworld alone, especially in places like this,” Thanatos declared in a scolding yet quiet tone.
“But—”
“No,” interrupted the god. “I would deal with your reckless behavior myself if I didn’t know that your father was going to.” The god paused before looking Nico straight in the eyes. “Be warned, I won’t wait for Hades next time,” vowed the god.
Nico nodded, heart thumping painfully against his chest at Thanatos’ words. He knew without a doubt that the god meant that.
“Good. Now, in there are your father’s chambers,” said Thanatos, pointing at the door they had stopped in front of.
Nico nodded, dipping his head in thanks since the god had taken the time to guide him. The demigod watched, slightly mesmerized, as Thanatos gave him one last look and vanished. A black feather floating towards the ground was the only proof the god of death had even been there to begin with.
Exhaling softly, Nico’s hand, now shaking slightly, wrapped around the door handle. Gently, the demigod pushed it open and then walked into the room. He closed the door behind him with a soft click before turning to survey the area — or well, the room — that he was in.
He flinched when a person appeared right in front of him.
“Nico,” whispered Hades as he pulled his child into a hug.
Nico gasped at the sensation. It had been so long since he had been given a hug, and never had Hades given him one. In the god’s defense, this was the first time Nico had met him — or well, remembered meeting him. His father’s arms were strong, but not overly buff or bulky. They easily wrapped around Nico’s body and held the child securely, but not too tightly.
The ten-year-old whined slightly when his father broke apart from their hug and scooped him up. Nico gripped Hades’ shirt tightly as the god moved over to the bed and took a seat. Nico was then promptly moved to a different position: sitting in Hades’ lap.
“Oh, my angel,” said the god softly. “Ω, αγάπη μου, αγοράκι. Ανησύχησα τόσο πολύ, Νίκο (oh, my darling, baby boy. I was so worried, Nico).”
“Sorry,” Nico replied, dark eyes watery as he glanced up at his dad. His heart squeezed at his dad’s words and actions. Everything was too much and yet not enough. This is what he had longed for — comfort after losing Bianca. But this was also Hades, the god of the dead. Surely Hades could bring Bianca back if he wanted to, and more importantly, where had his dad been before this?
Nico both craved his father’s comfort and affection and wanted to scream and rave at the god. The tug-of-war going on in his mind and heart was exhausting. Extremely exhausting.
“You just disappeared from camp, Niccolo. Not to mention you somehow managed to hide your presence from me and evade my servants at every turn.” Hades paused. “What were you thinking?” demanded the god, tone turning more strict and forceful. “You jeopardized your safety by leaving the camp, not to mention your reckless actions lately.”
“How do you know what I have been doing?” Nico questioned coolly, his tone taking on an angry and hostile edge.
“Despite you hiding your presence from me, I was able to have my servants follow you — though you evaded them well too,” explained the god.
“So you’re spying on me?” sputtered Nico indignantly.
“You are ten, Niccolo,” replied Hades sternly. “You are a child — my child. Of course I am watching over you.”
“Oh, and didn’t that not extend to Bianca?” Nico shouted angrily, eyes looking mutinous. The child sneered at the god before him before yelling as he was flipped over his father’s knee. Despite having no memories of Hades nor any prior interactions, this position didn’t feel new at all.
“Hey, no—stop!” Nico exclaimed as his dad pulled his clothing down, effortlessly baring his behind. “Dad!”
“I see we are past the point of discussion, which is fine. I will let my hand help make my point,” declared the god in an ominous tone as he landed the first spank.
“Oww—Daddy, noo,” cried Nico as the first swat landed squarely in the middle of his backside. All of the demigod’s previous defiance was gone.
“Yes,” retorted Hades as he landed another firm spank. He wasn’t being too harsh and didn’t plan to make the spanking long, but Nico’s actions could not go unpunished. The god had hardly wanted his first time with Nico to be like this, but the child was obviously in dire need of a lesson. It hurt the god so to spank his little angel. Every one of Nico’s cries tugged at Hades’s heartstrings.
“Oww—Papa, I am sorry—ahh.” Nico cried, squirming in his father’s grasp as his bottom began to burn. “No more, please.”
Hades simply couldn’t bear to keep going. The god landed three hard smacks in the middle of Nico’s bottom — causing the demigod to let out a wail and kick his feet — before stopping.
Hades quickly fixed Nico’s clothes and pulled his baby boy to sit upright in his lap. Nico sobbed, clinging to his dad tightly as all the emotions trapped inside of him burst out.
“Don’t leave me, Papa,” begged Nico, eyes half closed, face red, and nose running from crying. “I’m sorry, I was bad.”
“Oh, Nico, my little angel,” gasped Hades, heart aching at his little one’s words. “You are not bad at all, my love. Naughty sometimes, as all children are, but not bad. You’re my good boy, and I am not going anywhere. I promise,” vowed the god as he gently began rocking his son back and forth. “Let it out, little one. Papa has you now.”
And so Nico did. He let out all of it. The pain, the rage, the hurt, the fear. No feelings were held back, because Nico was no longer alone. He had his papa to help him every step of the way.