See a person
Persephone looked at Nico di Angelo and saw a betrayal. A broken marriage. A bastard.
She couldn't believe that her husband actually had the nerve to let Nico stay here. And even provide a room for him!
Persephone did all she could to make him miserable. Turning him into a flower, taking away his photos of his mother and sister, burning them right in front of his tear filled eyes that looked so much like Hades'.
Hades never reprimanded her for it, and she knew that she could continue doing it.
Making him eat cereal, walk Cerberus and water her plants, Persephone could never figure out why the boy smiled when she poured more of the cereal she knew he hated into his bowl. She could never imagine why he could laugh happily racing Cerberus barefoot in the garden.
So she stopped making him do things. Just left him alone and prayed that he would disappear.
Until one day she simply couldn't ignore his presence anymore and complained to Hades. Telling him about the burned photos and chores.
'The boy won't be happy down here with me. I can't help doing those things either. Just make him go away. Please.'
'You burned the photos? I thought Nico threw them away himself!' Hades rose, fury blazing in his eyes.
It was then Persephone knew that Nico hadn't breathed a word about her to Hades.
Line break
'Mama, non, non, I didn't mean to! Bianca, stop! Please! I'm sorry! I promise I won't ask you for anything ever again! Don't leave me! Mama! BIANCAAAAAAAA!'
Sighing, Persephone got out of bed. Hades still snored softly beside her. Persephone wondered how he could sleep through that every night.
Persephone made her way down the corridor to his room. Opening the door, she was startled to find Nico thrashing and turning in his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks.
'It's not my fault…'
Persephone shook the boy gently, starting to have a whole new view of him. 'Wake up, di Angelo.'
His eyes snapped open, hands instinctively reaching for the dagger he kept under his pillow. He stopped when he saw who it was, but didn't let his guard down.
'I'm sorry if I disturbed you.'
Persephone shifted a few centimeters away from him, giving him space to sit up.
'What were you dreaming about?' she couldn't help but ask.
'Mama and Bianca.' Fresh sobs took the boy, making him momentarily forget who he was speaking to. 'They…they were blaming me. They told me that…that…t…I…I killed them!'
Nico can't hold it in any longer, burying his head in his skinny arms and sobbing uncontrollably.
Unaware of what she was doing, Persephone suddenly found herself pulling the boy closer to her, hugging him and letting him spill it out.
'I…I…didn't want to!' he wailed. Persephone rubbed his back gently, his tears wetting her dress.
But they held on.
The next morning, Hades found his wife and son curled up together in bed, sleeping soundly. Letting a smile grace his face, he turned away to deal with the stupid traffic in the Underworld.
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Making a child eat cereal was a mother's action. Having a pet to care for was delightful for a child. Persephone finally understood. Nico di Angelo was naught but a child.
Persephone looked at Nico di Angelo and saw a person. A child. A son.