A/N: Hey, it's Anjana here. It's so unfair that Akela gets to put this story on her profile. I mean, she's already got some stories there, while mine is empty. Grrrr.

But still, here's another chapter.

It was a regular Saturday. Nico had gone out to get some cup noodles, because he was kind of broke, and cup noodles was all he could afford.

He was passing by the park, when he saw her.

She was a demigod, no doubt. He could sense that easily. But that wasn't what made him notice her.

It wasn't the fact that she was really beautiful, although she was, with straight, waist length black hair, high cheekbones and smooth, chocolate colored skin.

It was her eyes. They were golden. Just like Hazel's. They brought back memories of when his sister had hugged him, smiled at him, laughed with him. Gods, he missed Hazel so much. Did she miss him? Did she think about him?

Nico shook those thoughts out of his head. That's your old life, he reminded himself. He would have just moved on, but at that second, the girl with Hazel's eyes turned and looked at him. And her eyes hit him like a ton of bricks.

They looked shattered, broken, sad. Like the girl had nowhere to go. Like she didn't belong anywhere. Nico knew that look. He saw it whenever he looked in a mirror.

Without thinking, he walked over to her.

She gave him a small smile. "Hey."

Nico got straight to the point. "You're a demigod, right?"

"Yeah."

"Come on then." He said, and started walking back towards his apartment.

The girl caught his shoulder. "Wait!"

He spun around. The girl dropped her hand. "What are you doing?"

What was he doing? Nico didn't know himself. "It's dangerous for a lone half-blood."

"And your point is?"

"I'm taking you to my house."

"I don't even know you."

Good point. "I'm Nico di Angelo. Son of… Hades" Not after what happened, he thought, but kept it to himself.

"Riya Favio, daughter of Thanatos. But still, why should I trust you?"

Nico smiled his signature creepy smile. "I should hope you won't trust me. I'm not the most trusting person myself."

"Then why…"

Just then, their conversation was cut off by the arrival of a hell hound. It leapt at them. Nico pulled out his Stygian Iron sword and slashed at it, making it explode into dust.

Their situation got bad when a whole pack of hellhound appeared, surrounding them, advancing slowly.

"The whole of New York, and all these hell hounds have to pick us!" Riya exclaimed.

"Probably sent by my father." Nico said, gritting his teeth.

"Your father? Hades? Why?" she asked, pulling out a Stygian Iron knife.

Nico winced. "Long story. We had a… very one-sided fight."

"Um, hope you don't mind me asking, but why?"

Nico glanced sideways at Riya.

"Tell you later, maybe. Now let's get out of here."

He grabbed her wrist, commanding the shadows to close around them. Seconds later, they landed in Nico's bedroom.

Riya yanked her hand out of Nico's. "Really? After all this, I'd say you're trying to murder me or something."

Nico laughed. "I just saved your life."

"My life was put into danger because of you, apparently." She retorted.

"True." Nico said, sitting down on his bed.

"True? That's all you can say? I'd like an explanation, please. What happened with your father, and why am I sitting in your room. And actually, you didn't save my life. I could have shadow travelled myself. So explain." She said in one breath.

"Okay. Calm down." Nico muttered.

"Oh, I'm calm. Right now. But I'll be freaking out soon, you better start talking now."

"Well, it's kind of like this. Your eyes, they reminded me of someone. My sister Hazel. And then, when you looked at me, I saw that look in your eyes, like you had nowhere to go, so… Wow. That was cheesy. I didn't mean…"

"Yeah, I get it." Riya said. "What about Hades?"

"Um, can we not go into that? I don't tell my secrets to people I don't trust."

"Nico, considering that I'm in your room, holding a dagger while your sword is two feet away from you on the floor and I can kill you any second, I'll say you trust me."

Nico scowled. "You can't kill me any second."

Riya's knife whizzed past Nico, missing his ear by an inch.

"You were saying?" Riya smirked.

"So now you are trying to kill me."

"Hey, you're the one who brought me here."

"Oh fine. I'll tell you, if you're so insistent." Nico grumbled.

"Yeah, that would be nice. Sometime today, please."

"Gee, you're impatient. Okay, it all happened because, well…" Nico took a deep breath. I hope you'll be happy, Jason, he thought.

"Yes?" Riya said, tapping her foot.

"I'm gay." Nico blurted out.

Riya smiled. "Really? Who's the lucky boy?"

"Lucky boy? Seriously, Riya?"

"Do I know him?"

"How the Hades do I know? Probably, he's really famous. It's Percy Jackson."

"The son of Poseidon? The guy with sea-green eyes who's really cute and…"

"Riya!"

She grinned. "Sorry, just teasing you."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't. I… well, I'm not exactly comfortable with my sexuality."

"Fine. No problem. Do you really hate his girlfriend? Annabeth?"

Nico stared at the daughter of Thanatos. "Why are you not freaking out?"

"Should I?" Riya asked.

"Well yeah! I just admitted that I'm gay! The retarded son of Hades! Oh, by the way, feel free to call me a freak and throw me at a wall now. That's what my incredibly supportive dad did, when he found out from the biggest jerk in the world. I'm talking about Cupid, though my dad is a close second." Nico ranted.

"Whoa, calm down Nico. I'm sorry. Is that… did Hades really do that?"

"Yup. The conversation went something along the lines of, 'How could you shame me like this, you stupid, weak, foolish freak! Here, I'll just strangle you and throw you at a wall, and then kick you till you fall unconscious! Because you're gay, even though you can't control your retarded feelings!' Great idea, dad. Feeling the love here." Nico was pacing up and down his room now.

"Oh gods. That, is the most horrible thing I've ever heard. I thought my mom was a bitch, but your dad is worse."

"Oh cheers."

Riya grinned and put a hand on Nico's shoulder. He didn't pull away.

"Well, you won't be alone now. I'll stick around with you."

A/N: Aw, I really like Riya. She's based of a friend of mine and Akela's. Personality-wise, I mean. I doubt anyone really has golden eyes. :P

Review! I really appreciate it!