Nyra (Guest): My very first reviewer :) thanks so much for reading I appreciate it. And yes and no to tour question. I'm not going to totally ignore Trials of Apollo. I plan to use some of the character development, Like Nico and Will's relationship and Sally being pregnant (which is what Percy's suspicion in the 1st chapter had to do with). I also plan to address what Percy told Apollo, that no one had seen him for months and incorporate that into the story. You'll see :) (well hopefully if you keep up with the story). That's a great question. Thanks for asking.
Yass98 (Guest): I'm glad you like it and there will be more.
Elli (Guest): Yay! I hope you keep reading and thanks. I was worried it wasn't very good :)
AutumnMoonlightShine4: Please do come back and read!
Guest: Thanks for reading. I hope you see this
AACM25: I'm glad you like it so far and you're right, why would the Fates themselves want them to get involved? Hmmm
fangirling102: That makes me so happy
Sashi Hana: I appreciate that more than you know
Thanks for the reviews, favorites, and follows. Happy reading
-Kayla
Nico
A year ago, if you told Nico di Angelo he would have a thing for Will Solace, he would've laughed in your face. The son of Apollo? For the son of Hades? Maybe when Persephone started hugging him.
But here he was, sitting on Half-Blood Hill, under Thalia's Pine, with Will, who was stroking the head of Peleus, the dragon meant to protect the Golden Fleece that hung from the Pine, and he was sure his godly stepmother had no intentions of hugging him. She was more likely to turn him into a dandelion again.
Nico had come to break the news to Will about his recently assigned quest.
"So, what do you have to tell me that's so bad you agreed to be in the sun?" The son of Apollo joked.
Nico have him an unamused look, but otherwise ignored him.
"I'm going on a quest," he told Will, who stopped petting Peleus and turned to look at Nico.
"A quest?" He asked, though it sounded more like a statement.
Nico nodded. "Yes."
"An actual quest?"
"I just said that, didn't?"
"But..." Will began.
"But what?" Nico snapped in return.
"You just got back."
"Oh."
Sometimes Nico forgot that it'd only been a couple of weeks since Gaea had been defeated. Time just seemed to past so slowly to Nico.
"Yeah," Nico started "but this isn't just any quest. It was assigned by the Fates themselves."
Will gasped, as all demigods knew that the Fates were rarely seen. The last time anyone had seen them was before Grover Underwood brought Percy to camp. And that was more than 5 years ago. But for them to issue a quest? And one so important, they'd hand-picked the only demigod son of Hades? This was huge.
"Where to?" Will asked.
"Yeah... that's a long story," Nico told him.
The son of Apollo smiled. "I've got time, Sunshine."
Nico rolled his eyes and told Will the same story Chiron told him and Percy.
"Wizards?" Will asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Nico responded. "We're demigods. Are wizards really the most surprising thing you've heard about since finding out you were half god?"
"Actually no."
"But Hogwash?"
"Hogwarts," he corrected. "School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Is adding "school" behind it supposed to make it any less ridiculous?"
Nico cracked a rare smile at his boyfriend.
"How long will you be away?" Will asked.
"I'm not sure," he replied after a pause. "But it is a school, so more than likely a couple of months."
Wordlessly laying back on the hill, Will grabbed Nico's hand, pulling down beside him.
The two demigods sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, before Will interrupted it.
"You're going on this quest alone?" He asked.
Nico shook his head and hesitated before answering.
"I'm going with Percy."
"That's great!" Will responded enthusiastically.
"It is?" Nico questioned.
"Now you won't be alone and have to use any Underworldly stuff to get yourself out of the trouble you'll undeniably get into!"
Nico had never come outright and told Will about the crush he'd harbored for years on the son of Poseidon, but something told him Will most likely knew.
Somehow, he always had a way of knowing things, even when Nico didn't want him to, but he was becoming more and more okay with that.
In more ways than one, his relationship with Will contrast to his old crush on Percy.
Where Percy had messy black hair, Will had a blonde mop of curls.
Percy's eyes were a startling sea green color, much like the seas his father controlled, while Will's were a bright a blue not unlike the skies his father drove his sun chariot through.
Percy was muscular in a more obvious way, while Will was lean and fit with a body made for archery (despite being terrible at it) and healing hands.
And don't even get him started on Percy's obliviousness to everything, even when it slaps him in the face, while Will could pick up on Nico's mood just based on his breathing.
The only thing the two demigods shared being the fierce protectiveness of their loved ones, both being heroes in their own way. While Percy preferred his sword, Will was the best healer in the Apollo cabin.
Besides that, they both held striking resemblances to their fathers and the similarities ended there.
"Promise me something," Will blurted suddenly.
Nico turned his head to face the boy.
"Depends on what you want me to promise," Nico lied. He'd most likely do anything Will asked him to, except where color. And maybe even talked into that if Will smiled long enough.
"Iris message me while you're away," the blonde demigod said softly.
"Whatever, Solace," he muttered.
Will smiled and reached down to grab to Nico's hand. The son of Hades flinched and Will, looking a little disappointed, began to pull his hand away, before Nico clutched it a little tighter.
"It's okay," he said so quietly it sounded as though he hadn't said anything, but Will managed to hear him.
As the son of Hades and son of Apollo laid back on Half-Blood Hill, hand in hand, next to Peleus (who had fallen asleep, the morning past quickly, though they barely noticed.
And when Will began to hum horribly and off key, Nico rolled his eyes at him and tried not to smile. which was something he found himself doing a lot around the boy.
The son of Hades and the son of Apollo, Nico thought. Yup, definitely insane. But he cracked a smile anyway.
"Demigods!" Chiron said during dinner at the dining pavilion, stomping his hooves to silence the campers.
Quieting down, the demigods turned to face their mentor, all save Nico, who continued to stab at his barbeque and grapes with a fork.
Damned healthy food, he thought.
"Tonight," Chiron began, "we say goodbye to our summer campers." After he was not interrupted he continued. "And two of you will leave on a quest."
There was murmuring around the pavilion and Nico looked up.
"Nico di Angelo and Percy Jackson," Chiron said and the murmuring got even louder.
Speaking of Percy, Nico thought as he glared anyone dumb enough to stare at him. Where is he?
He hadn't seen the son of Poseidon since Chiron had issued them both the quest.
"We have all faced the hardships of war for the past few years and each one of you has lost either a brother," Nico glanced at the Dionysus table where Pollux looked down, having lost his twin brother Castor a couple years back. Not to mention the Hermes campers, who lost Luke. Even the Apollo cabin looked sullen. They'd lost more than one sibling over the years. As well as the Hephaestus kids, who'd not only lost Charles Beckendorf, but more recently Leo Valdez.
Nico looked down at this, as he still felt responsible for the hyperactive son of Hephaestus's death. Though, he couldn't shake the feeling there was more to his death than it seemed.
"A sister," Chiron continued, gazing at the Aphrodite cabin, who had lost Silena Beauregard the same time as Castor and her boyfriend, Beckendorf.
Nico himself had lost his older sister Bianca, but he tried not to think about that. At least he had Hazel now.
"Or, a friend." The old centaur paused, as everyone was silent for a moment, remembering their fallen loved ones.
"You have all faced these wars with a bravery and fearlessness that makes me proud to be your teacher. Let us pray that it is not needed again for many years."
There was no use in hoping there wouldn't be another war. Asking the gods not to have feuds, was like asking them to stop having children; it just wasn't realistic. The most the demigods could hope for was that it would be a problem for another generation, as they'd had enough loss for a lifetime.
"And to our questers, we wish you luck, as this is no easy journey."
The pavilion was silent at this.
"But this shall not dampen our moods, demigods," the centaur said.
"Tomorrow, we have our final Capture the Flag game of summer. With the Ares cabin," the Ares kids pounded their table at their mention. "Verses the Athena cabin," a cheer went up from the mostly blonde haired cabin. "Perhaps the opposing cabins shall stand a chance against the Athena cabin without their most powerful allies," Chiron said referring to Nico and Percy. There was laughter throughout the pavilion.
"To your cabins, demigods. Do not break curfew, as the harpies will eat you. Campers are to notify the Big House by noon tomorrow, if they plan to stay year round. As the harpies will, again, eat any unregistered campers. And to our questers, may the gods be with you."
With that, the demigods headed to their cabins, while Nico headed towards the Poseidon cabin.
Sorry it's so short and if it sucks. Did you guys enjoy it at least? If not, that's cool, too. Thanks for reading. It's 12:23 where I am now and I'm watching Maleficent for the second time tonight. I like it much more than the original story and the first Disney version. Question 2: What's your favorite Nico di Angelo quote if you have one? If not, favorite PJO/HoO quote? My favorite Nico quote would have to be "I am Nico di Angelo, son of Hades. I control the shadows, they do not control me." I thought it was pretty bad ass when he said it to Bryce, in Blood of Olympus. Oh and, "You're cute but your not my type." They're my favorites because they just show Nico letting go of everything he ever struggled with. Why are your quotes your favorite?
-Kayla