Chapter Text
Nico was not prepared for the relief that flooded through him when the Iris message connected, the shimmering mist illuminating the top of his desk in the Hades cabin. Ostensibly, he was in here to write a letter to Hazel to catch her up on everything that had happened in the last week; Apollo’s return, storming the Tower of Nero, the aftermath of that all. In reality he’d been staring at a blank page for 15 minutes wishing he could just see his sister’s face. That had been when it had hit him — if Apollo really had succeeded with his trials, communications should be back to normal. He’d pulled a drachma out of his pocket and grabbed a crystal off the mantle in seconds.
“Nico?” Hazel’s voice came through as her image settled. She was outside somewhere, maybe on Temple Hill. “Hi Nico!!”
“Hey Hazel.” Nico said, blinking the dampness from his eyes, “It’s really good to see you.”
“You too! I was just thinking about you.” Hazel shifted and Nico could see she was sitting on the roof of the temple to Pluto. Their preferred meet up place. “Are you okay?! How are things in New York? Did Apollo make it there??”
“Yeah, um… yeah, he did.” Nico nodded, “It’s… been a long week.”
“Tell me everything.”
So Nico launched into his story about how he’d helped Apollo accomplish the last part of his quest, from his being called out in the last prophecy to his role in taking Nero down. When he’d gotten to the part about recruiting the trogs he had to take an uncomfortable detour.
“But I don’t understand.” Hazel said, “Why have you been looking for a way to get further underground? Did you know Lester would need it?”
“No.” Nico sighed, “I have my own reasons to want to get deeper.”
Hazel waited for him to continue, careful concern on her face.
“I’ve… been having a hard time lately.” Nico admitted, “Mentally.”
Hazel’s gaze softened and Nico had to remind himself that having people care for him was a blessing, not a weakness.
“It started in earnest after Jason.” Nico said, “But I think it’s been a long time coming… I’m — I’m still not recovered completely from Tartarus.”
“No, I’m sure that’s not an easy thing to come back from.”
“It’s not.” Nico shook his head, “It can make it hard to just…well, Mr. D calls it post-traumatic stress disorder.”
“Mr. D?” A slow breeze pushed some of Hazel’s curls into her face and she tucked them behind her ear.
“Yeah,” Nico nodded, “I’m talking to him about it… to wrap my head around it all.”
“Oh! That’s really great, Nico.” Hazel said, “I’m so glad you’re not trying to cope with this alone.”
“Thanks, though I can’t take full credit.” Nico looked down in admission, “I tried to do it alone…. And that’s what led up to the trogs.”
Hazel frowned, “Are these cave runners mental health gurus or something?”
“Nothing like that, no” Nico laughed despite himself, “For a while I was convinced that everything going on with me was telling me to go back. To go back into Tartartus.”
“Oh, Nico — no, you can’t—”
“I might have to.” Nico insisted, “There might be some unfinished business I need to take care of. Someone I need to help. I was trying to find the trogs so I could find a way down there without Dad finding out.”
“Are you sure?” Hazel’s tone was almost pleading.
Nico let out a slow breath, “Yeah. That’s why I’m talking to Mr. D. I need to know what’s in my head and what isn’t before I go down there. But I’m sure someone’s calling out to me, and I can’t leave them on their own.”
“When? You just finished all this stuff with Lester, does it have to be now?”
Nico shook his head, “No, I still need to sort some things out first, but… eventually. I won’t let the call for help go unanswered.”
“Of course you won’t.” Hazel smiled softly at him, “That’s not you.”
Nico ducked his head to hide the flush that threatened to surface. “Anyways… How have things been there?”
With that, Hazel launched into her own side of Apollo’s time as a mortal. Nico was fascinated by the strange zombie-like venom that they’d had to deal with, and made Hazel promise to tell him more about it the next time he was able to visit Camp Jupiter. Frank’s near death experience triggered another flare of anger, but Hazel had quickly talked him down. In fact, she seemed a bit more anxious about a different piece of news, hedging around it until Nico had finally asked,
“How’s Reyna?”
“She’s good. Made it out of everything just fine. She has a lot more free time now that she’s— uh” Hazel looked to her side, scratching the back of her neck, “You know what? This actually might be better coming from her.”
Nico scowled, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Hold on…” Hazel ignored him as she stood, the frame of the Iris message showing her shins as she called somewhere into the distance. A minute or so later two pairs of legs came into view and Hazel sat back down. This time with Nico’s friend at her side.
“Hi Nico!” Reyna said, a relieved smile spreading over her features. “Glad to see you’re doing alright.”
“Hi Reyna…” Nico said with a slow nod. Hazel’s cageyness had put him on edge, causing him to search for something wrong, something about Reyna that seemed… off. Try as he might though, he couldn’t find anything. In fact, strange as it was, she seemed… better. Lighter, more relaxed, more energetic. Nico twisted the ring on his finger nervously. “Hazel said there’s something you might need to tell me.”
Reyna glanced at Hazel a moment before understanding dawned on her. She nodded before turning back to Nico, “She’s right.”
“And?” Nico didn’t try to keep the apprehension from his voice.
“Well… Nico, I…” Reyna took a deep breath, “I’ve joined the Hunters.”
Nico’s stomach dropped as he stared back at the image of his friend. “You what?”
“I’ve become a follower of Diana.” Reyna said, almost apologetically.
“But… you…” Nico swallowed, “You can’t.”
“This isn’t like the last time, Nico.” Reyna said gently.
Nico blinked and forced himself to shake the memory of sitting on a cold log outside of Westover, being told the same thing before he knew what it meant. “I— Right.... Yeah, of course…”
“My joining the Hunt doesn’t change anything between us.” Reyna assured him, “I just… I needed freedom… Peers rather than a cohort. And the hunters, they give me that while still being able to make a difference.”
Nico took a steadying breath. She was right, the hunters had a lot of offer her. After the years of responsibility she deserved to make a choice just for herself. Nico had a much better appreciation of the courage it took to make that choice these days.
“I— I’m happy for you, Reyna.” He managed a small but genuine smile.
“Thanks Nico” Reyna said “I’m really looking forward to it, actually. I’m gonna miss being at camp though.”
“You’ll visit” Hazel said confidently. “And you’ll have great stories.”
“And I will share all of them.” Reyna assured her, then looked to Nico, “With both of you. You’re not getting rid of me that easily di Angelo. I’m going to be running immortal circles around you in your 80s.”
Nico chuckled, “I’m already in my 80s”
“You 150s then.” Reyna retorted.
“I look forward to it.” Nico said earnestly. “Really. Wait… What does this mean about the praetorship?”
“About that…” Reyna glanced playfully at Hazel
“Hazel??” Nico asked excitedly.
His sister nodded, unable to repress her grin, “You’re looking at the newest Praetor of the Twelfth legion.”
“That’s amazing!!” Nico cried, “Congratulations! It’s you and Frank now, huh?”
Hazel nodded, “and no— before you can ask— there’s no rules about praetor’s dating each other.”
Next to her Reyna chuckled. “I’m honestly relieved to be out from underneath that expectation.”
“You and Frank?!” Nico laughed, “Really?!!”
“Hey, that’s my boyfriend you’re talking about.” Hazel reminded them, folding her arms.
“No offense to Frank” Reyna assured her, “I’d turn down pretty much any offer. I even turned down Lester.”
“You what?!!” Nico and Hazel erupted in twin incredulity.
“He asked me out.” Reyna said through her own laughter. “I don’t know what he was thinking.”
“That’s hilarious.” Nico said leaning back in his chair, “Oh, I can’t wait to tell Will. The secondhand embarrassment is going to be unbearable.”
“Go easy on him, okay?” Reyna said, “We’ve all been through a lot the past couple of months.”
Nico sobered up a bit at the reminder and nodded, “Of course, I will. I’m really glad I got to talk to you both.”
“Likewise.” Reyna said, “We’ll have to do this regularly. Or maybe I should start sending you letters like Thalia did me.”
“I’d like that.” Nico said. “Whenever you have time.”
Reyna nodded, “I promise I’ll stay in touch, Nico.”
“Oh shoot!” Hazel said glancing over her shoulder as a horn rang over the hill, “I need to go assess the cohorts before evening mess.”
Reyna and Nico both chuckled.
“So much responsibility now!” Nico teased.
Hazel glared back at him. “You come talk to me when you’ve got a hundred or so legionnaires to lead.”
“No thanks” Nico said with an easy smile, “I’ve got enough to deal with here. But, I’ll let you go. It was really great to see you both.”
“Same.” Reyna said with a nod, “We’ll talk soon, Nico.”
“Talk soon.”
Nico slid his hand through the Iris message to dismiss it, leaning back with a sigh. Hazel was praetor and Reyna was joining the hunters? Even with prophecies and trials and voices to seek out, life didn’t slow down. Things were constantly moving, always growing. Maybe he was too. Maybe that was okay.