Nico was lying on the cold floor before his father's throne. His eyes lazily staring at the feet of his father. He didn't bother looking up. His hair falling over his eyes. He laid there before a voice spoke.
"Good morning, Nico." The lack of emotion in his father's voice chilling.
Nico attempted to speak but found himself unable to. Hesitantly meeting the eyes of his father. Hades held his gaze.
"There is a gift you shall recieve soon, accept or reject it if you will." He said impatiently tapping his foot.
His eyes full of disapproval. Gesturing Nico to stand up, he looked at him with gaurded eyes, making his son uncomfortable. Before ending the conversation he says, "I am truly sorry, yet it is my final decision to carry on with it."
A slight furrow in his eyebrows appeared before being waved off and waking up with a start. His breaths heavy as he sat up. He was outside, at the back of his cabin. Questioning if be was alive or not, he wondered why he wasn't turned into a midnight snack.
Emptiness radiated off of him, feeling lost and found at the same time. His confusion for the emotion left him dumbfounded. Standing up slowly, walking towards the strawberry feilds. His name was called in the distance. As he sent a fleeting glance in the direction of the call he frowned. Nobody was in sight. He heard his name called again, there was no one in sight.
As he continued forward he noticed a golden haired boy running towards him. He caught his breath as he stood beside Nico. Holding up a hand in signal for him to wait. Once catching his breath he smiled at him widely.
"How are you holding up? Are your wounds all healed up?" He asked shyly.
Nico tilted his head in confusion before shrugging. Content with his answer he hugged him softly. Nico's eyebrows rose up at the sudden contact.
"O-Okay." He said patting his back awkwardly before he was released.
Will smiles at Nico, as people start coming towards the feilds he smiles and waves goodbye. A small smile plays on his lips as he watches Will walk away. Staring at him in wonder.
The rest of his day was normal, he practiced his sword fighting skills, arts and crafts and went to canoe lake. There wasn't a disturbance once in his day. At the time for dinner he offered a portion of his food to the gods.
He glanced over towards the Apollo table where he sees Will laughing along with his siblings heartily. The sight making him happy but sad all at once. He looked at the seet across from him, imagining Bianca sitting there with him. What it would be like if she had joined Camp Half Blood. If she had survived.
Nico looks back over towards the Apollo table to find Will meeting his gaze. He smiles at him and waves, Nico waves shyly before returning his attention towards his food. The campers finished their dinner and songs, everyone retreating back towards their cabins.
He walked towards cabin 13 staring at the ground. Sighing as he entered his cabin, he laid on his bed. Soon after a knock came from outside of his cabin. He listening for a few moments he realized the sound was coming from thr back of his cabin. Picking up his sword he cautiously made his way towards the back of thr cabin. He jumped back when he saw a face pressed against the window. Will Solace was smiling at him unabashedly through the other side of the window. Nico took a step forwards and opened the window.
"You shouldn't be here." Nico stated calmly.
"I know, but can I come in?" Will asked shyly. "I don't want to be eaten, and it's past curfew." He says.
Nico tenses for a moment before opening the window fully and letting him climb inside. He quickly shut the window and walked back towards his bed. He stands tapping his foot on the ground impatiently.
"So?" Nico prompts him. "There has to be a reason you came here."
An expression of confusion washes over Will's face before he smiles. "Just checking up on my friend."
Nico rolls his eyes and ushers him back towards the window. "Well, I'm fine. Now leave."
Will frowns before nodding and walking back towards the window. "Don't get eaten." Nico says before opening the window to let Will sneak out.
"Right." Will whispers with a hint of sadness in his voice before climbing out and running towards his cabin.
Nico sets his sword down before laying down on his bed. He falls asleep soundly, yet his dream isn't one to enjoy.
Nico stood before Hades. He was the same as before, ten feet tall, looming over Nico. His gaurded gaze cold. Nico looked up at him slowly, he had never been one to read emotions, yet he could see a hint of worry in his fathers eyes. He waits for his father to speak.
"Hello, son." He says addresing him. "I am aware you may not remember any of this, that is for your own good. But I must try to warn you.
"This gift can be a curse, may it break you or fix you is up to the choices you make. I hope I made the right decision. I just hope you will do well at least."
Nico furrows his eyebrows as he looks at his father in confusion. "I-I don't understand." He gasps, suprised by his ability to speak.
"Maybe not now, but all I wish to tell you is this. I have made the decision to offer you a gift. It can become a curse or a blessing. Try to heal."
Nico tries to ask what was his father speaking of. Why every sentence was like a puzzle. Why nothing makes sense to him. Why he was summoned at all, it is rare for it to ever even occur.
His father waves him off and Nico awakes in his bed. He shakes his head and stamds up, ready for a new day. Feeling slightly confused by something nagging at the back of his head. He shakes it off and continues getting ready.
