Disclaimer: I do not own PJO
It was a week before Christmas. The campers were enjoying the first day of Christmas break at Camp Half-Blood. It didn't snow very hard at CHB but it was enough for them to build snow men and make snow angels. Percy was there too, with the promise to his mom that he'd be home for Christmas. Most of the campers are out enjoying themselves, all but one person.
For the past two hours, Nico has been in his cabin writing something on a paper, erasing, writing again and finally giving up and throwing the paper into a waste bin, and then he got a new one and the cycle continued. Now the waste bin was full and some of the papers were spilling to the floor. Somehow, he can't seem to make it right…
Percy was walking back to his cabin after building a snow castle. He was passing by the Hades cabin when he heard something or someone slamming a table inside. He got curious so he carefully uncapped his pen. He stealthily entered, expecting for trouble but all he saw Nico staring wide-eyed at him and quickly hiding something. Percy entered, ignoring Nico's unwelcoming glare.
"Hey!" Nico said indignantly. "Ever heard of knocking?"
"Hey, it's almost Christmas! You should chill out a bit," Percy said, seating himself on Nico's bed.
"I'm doing something. Go bother someone else." Nico opened the door for Percy but Percy didn't move.
"Busy with what? What was that thing you were holding, anyway?" And without waiting for a reply, Percy went to the desk what Nico had hid but Nico beat him there, blocking Percy's view.
"Fine, fine," Percy said. "No need to be like that." But he saw the waste bin. He pretended to walk around, observing the room while Nico fixed his desk. Then he took one of the many identical looking crumpled papers from the waste bin and and quickly read it. It was a birthday card for Nico's dad, Hades.
"No way, Hades has a birthday!?" Percy exclaimed. Nico quickly turned and snatched the paper from Percy's hand. "Mind your own business!" He growled, and he hid the waste bin from Percy.
"Why do you even bother giving him a gift? He doesn't even care about you."
Nico sighed. He knew that this will all just get worse for him if he doesn't answer. "Fine, I'm going to tell you… But you must swear on the River Styx not to tell anyone, GOT IT?"
"I swear on the River Styx not to tell anyone about your secret… whatever it is. Explain?"
Nico sighed again. "What would you feel if no one ever celebrated your birthday?"
"…So you're giving your dad a card," He stated. "I understand, more or less, about the birthday part but why a card?"
"What can I do? Throw a party?" He said sarcastically. Then, Nico had a brilliant idea. "Yes! A party!" He went to his desk and started scribbling his plans. Percy went to his side and looked at what he was writing.
"Oh no, you can't be serious!" Percy said.
"Why not? 'It's Christmas anyway.'" He quoted, in a horrible attempt to mimick Percy's voice.
"Because he's way richer than you?" Percy said, matter-of-factly. "Besides, why a combined birthday and Christmas party?"
Review! I'd really appreciate it. :)