Hello again!

I got kinda sick, so please don't scold me for my way of coping with it. Crossovers make me happy.

~ΨΩΨ~

Part One of: Phoenix Arc

"I don't get it," Nico mused, stirring a ladle in the bubbling soup over the campfire before him. "With all of their stressing over this war and not having enough manpower, why are the gods just stepping back and leaving us to do all the dirty work?"

Gwillym rumbled a laugh, laying his reptilian head down beside the crouched knight. "They tend to let their offspring do the work, angel, before coming around right at the conclusion to clean up the mess and claim the win." He flashed Nico a dragon-grin.

Sighing, Nico plopped and leaned heavily against the warm body behind him, soup forgotten. It was a rather cold night, and he preferred his mate's warmth over the fire's. "So, we start fighting today," he said, voice dark. "Against the Lord."

Silence stretched between them, deafening even in the bustle of dragonfolk and human demigods alike running around just outside the spread of the son of Apollus's wings preparing for when dawn broke. Preparing for war.

Gwillym bumped his nose against Nico's side. "Angel."

Nico looked over.

The dragon's eyes were serious, so large and blue that Nico felt he was looking at the sky reflected in the ocean. "I love you."

Despite the threat looming in the air like a thick and heavy blanket, the knight managed a smile. "Yeah," he murmured, hand resting on his dragon's muzzle. The touch had become customary in the past months readying for this day. "Me too."

"Nico?"

Gwillym and Nico looked up in unison at the new voice, startled at the sight of long lost friends running over to them. "Hazel?" Nico gasped, jumping to his feet. "Anubis?"

Anubis slowed and stopped just before them, but Hazel kept running to catch Nico up in her arms, squeezing the breath from the man's lungs. "Oh my gods!" she cried out, tears already budding in her golden eyes. "You're alive! You're okay! Oh my gods, Nico! Oh my gods! What happened while we were away? Why did they let you outside of Faerok? Are you fighting in the war too?"

Nico laughed freely and displayed his neck to them, his lack of collar that had shown Gwillym's possession of him evident. "Will cut the bond," he said, grinning wide. So much more at ease than he was certain the two dragon-birds had ever seen him.

Anubis raised an eyebrow at the golden beast. "How so? There are so very few ways of getting around to that without Nico having to be killed or transferred."

Gwillym chuckled lowly. "Ah, but you see… hm, Anubis, wasn't it? Angel was never my slave in the first place. It was easier than expected to get the council to see reason on our part."

"Cheeky bastard," Nico growled fondly. "Easy my ass."

The dragon winked and butted Nico again with his nose. He looked back to the two newcomers, raising his head and crossing his forelegs leisurely before him. "Come. Sit. Angel here was just preparing some breakfast before this morning's activities begin. Weren't you, darling?"

Nico gasped at being reminded and practically flew to the pot over the fire. He sighed in relief when the soup seemed undamaged. "Shit. Way to give me a heart attack, you fucking dragon."

Gwillym flicked out his forked tongue, eyes amused.

The knight rolled his eyes, flicking a dismissive hand in his mate's general direction before returning his attention to the soup. "I hope you all like mystery meat. Truly, even Will couldn't figure out what this mush smelled like. And the vegetables are low-grade at best. Hopefully it won't be too bad for eating."

Anubis looked on the verge of laughter, examining the pot's contents with avid interest. "Are they trying to kill us off before we even step onto the battlefield?"

Hazel scoffed and lightly struck the god's arm with a hand. "Anubis! Where are your manners?"

Anubis laughed outright.

Nico smirked, then quirked an eyebrow up as a thought arose. "What are you doing here in the war camp, Anubis? I thought the gods abandoned us."

The god rolled his eyes. "I'm Egyptian, di Angelo. I was never one to follow the rules."

The group had a good chuckle over that. They all knew just enough to realize how much the god hated following orders, Egyptian or not.

"Ah." Nico grinned. "Of course. My mistake."

When the laughter died to contented silence a few moments later as though they had never been apart, the knight returned to the cooking soup, which was very close to being done. A sudden gasp made him flinch and burn himself with scalding liquid.

"Ow! Shit! What was—"

Hazel grabbed Nico by the collar of his shirt and yanked him to his feet. Her eyes were locked on his right shoulder. "What is that?" she questioned, pulling down the fabric just enough to expose the scar to the night air. Her golden eyes narrowed in confusion.

Anubis blinked and tilted his head before his eyes cleared with knowing. A small smile tipped up his lips. "Got yourself someone special?" he murmured lowly, voice laced with laughter.

Hazel's eyes blew wide. "You what?!"

Gwillym roared with delight, shaking out his mane of white feathers. His giant head poked in between the halfblood and his mate with mist puffing out his nostrils. He bent his neck to show off his own mark, made even larger with his change in size. It was a strange sight for Nico to wrap his head around. "We've been quite busy while you've been elsewhere," he said merrily, grinning. He nudged Nico gently in the stomach. "Haven't we, angel?"

Nico scoffed. "Don't make them think too far into the gutter, you stupid dragon."

A rumble came from the base of the dragon's throat, resembling a purr/laugh that he had adopted over the many months of them being mates. Nico's stomach butterflies fluttered at the sound.

"Why, I would never dream it, angel!"

"Cocky son of a bitch."

Anubis and Hazel watched their exchange with similar looks of amusement and joy.

Hazel clapped delightedly, bouncing on her heels. "Oh my gods, this is great! You're with him! You're mates!" She jumped up and down with enthusiasm, pulling Nico down into a tight hug.

"Can't—breathe," he coughed, suffocating. "Too much hair!"

Hazel pulled back with tear-streaked cheeks and started kissing Nico's face, each one feather-light and heartwarming. "Oh my gods, I'm so happy for you! You got with him. And after all your worrying that he wouldn't like you anymore. Oh, I'm so relieved!"

She held the stunned knight's face between her hands, the contrast between their skins prominent and even more so when she planted a light kiss on his mouth. "I'm glad you seem so happy, brother. I really am."

Nico melted inside. He held her hands to his face. "Yeah," he murmured, chest light. He blinked away the sudden moisture in his eyes threatening to bud up. "I am too."

Gwillym's breath caressed the back of the knight's head, ruffling his hair, and Nico felt him brush his muzzle up against his back. The man's mark tingled, radiating the warmth and contentedness that his mate was feeling.

Nico had never felt so loved.

When Hazel wrapped him up in her arms again, using his shirt to wipe away her tears, she turned her head to look back at Anubis. "Come here," she ordered, voice cracking from overwhelming emotions. She held out an arm for him. "Join us. Come on."

Anubis's eyes sparked with warmth, and he walked forward to lay his hands on the embracing two's heads. "I missed this family we had," he admitted softly, fingers knotting in their hair. The touch was soothing to the knight.

"Shut up and hug us," Hazel growled, sobbing and laughing at the same time.

So he did, strong arms bringing the three close together.

Gwillym sat back, watching with warm eyes on his mate as he was embraced by two old friends. He knew he couldn't join them if he wanted his human form to remain a relative secret to the manfolk milling around, probably watching the scene with confusion, but it didn't stop Nico's mark from aching with longing.

Nico sent feelings of love and appreciation Gwillym's way, and the mark heated up in reply with similar emotions. Never before had Nico been able to convey his feelings in such an intimate, wordless way. Not even with Bianca.

Someone cleared their throat.

A man stood there, with a war-styled buzz cut of black hair and a large, well-built body, if a bit on the heavy side. He seemed awkward about breaking up their little reunion, but his eyes rang clear his intended determination and purpose.

"Forgive me," he muttered before anything else, eyes flickering over the threesome before resting on Gwillym, who had raised his head upon the man's arrival.

"Zhango, son of Marrow," he greeted, tilting his head in respect. "I would have expected you to stand beside the queen of New Rome in such times. That is your designated duty as praetor, is it not? Why have you come to us?"

Zhango cleared his throat again, shoulders stiffening in authority. He seemed relieved at the new, relatively easier subject of discussion. "I come bearing news from her highness Reyna and the council of the elders. There has been a slight change of plans concerning the way we'll be fighting come dawn."

Extracting himself from the dragon-serpents' arms, Nico nodded to Zhango. "Continue."

Zhango blinked at him but didn't question his right to order the praetor around. He must have seen the mark still visible in the crook of Nico's neck, and the identical one on the son of Apollus's scales. "The Lord himself has called a temporary truce, but the only way this is to be managed is if he gets to speak with Gwillym, son of Apollus and other heroes of the wars this past millennium."

Anubis's eye twitched. "A trap."

Gwillym's chin rose, gaze thoughtful. "Most certainly."

"Even so," Zhango exhaled, looking strained. "It is the closest thing we have to getting close to the Lord. You'll just have to be on your toes and command the other heroes into doing the same. The majority will know you, son of Apollus, so I'm certain they'll listen to your words far more seriously than my own."

Other heroes, Nico thought, narrowing his eyes in thought. "Will Perseus Jackson of Olympia and Jason Grace of New Rome be a part of this group?" he spoke up, feeling dread settle in his gut like a stone.

Gwillym's head twitched, eyes hardening in recognition. Nico's mark burned furiously.

The knight already knew the answer before Zhango even answered, but watched as he nodded. "They shall."

Nico sighed sharply, grimacing. But even then, he looked at Gwillym. "I'm still going with you."

Gwillym didn't show any signs of surprise. Perhaps that was because his mate had drilled it in him that he would remain by his side the entirety of the war. He'd heard it a million times by that point.

Nico's mark ached nonetheless. "I don't like this," the dragon grumbled, trying to be stubborn. But it was no use. The feeling in his mark told the man that Gwillym had long ago given in to his mate's wishes, even if he hated it. "Even then, I know you'll follow regardless. Best you stay with me if you're going to go."

Nico smiled crookedly and nodded, just glad the dragon hadn't decided to suddenly chain him down and hope to leave him where it was safe. It had seriously been considered about two months back, when they had still been in Faerok.

Zhango seemed to see something in the sea of soldiers. "You!" he called, pointing and gesturing for the one he'd pointed out to come to him. A super tall and skinny blonde ambled forward, blue and white robes of a magic-user billowing behind him and somehow not being trampled on by the hundreds of people everywhere.

The wizard stopped just outside of their little posse, head tilted to the side and lips smiling easily. "Yes? Ah, yes, that's right. You're that prey-something guy from the nearby kingdom, are you not? Fai-something?"

"Zhango, son of Marrow," the praetor said, voice cutting sharp. Nico wondered what the 'Fai' part was all about. Zhango seemed to recognize it.

The wizard's smile widened goofily. "Hm, yes. Fai was your grandmother's nickname for you, was it not? Forgive me for being so short-sighted. I only recently did my research on the higher-ups of this war effort."

Hazel blinked. "Who are you?"

The lanky blonde raised his eyebrows, still smiling. He somehow managed to emit a feeling of hurt even in his amused appearance. "Why, my dear lady." He lifted his arms, did a spin, and bowed deeply to her. "I am known as many things. You, however, can call me Yuui. Yuui, magician of the North. It's a pleasure to meet you. Levesquelle, daughter of Pluton, correct?"

Hazel blinked, surprised. "Correct."

Yuui's sapphire eyes glimmered. "Wonderful." With a flirty wink, he turned his attention back to Zhango. "I have a brother back home by the name of Fai, you know. Passed away some time ago, but the past is in the past, as the saying goes."

"Getting to the point," Zhango said, ignoring Yuui's fake pout at having his try at small talk avoided like the plague. "Do you know where to find your leader, Master Ginryu of the North?"

Yuui's grin returned, only more mischievous. "I might," he purred, fingers skimming down his cheek to his chin in mock-thoughtfulness. "Why might you be wondering?"

Zhango paid no mind to the strange man's antics. "I need you to take these two, Gwillym son of Apollus and his mate, to him. Queen Reyna of New Rome and the elder's council of Olympia have decided that your master will be the one to lead the heroes to the Lord and would require the son of Apollus's personal assistance. Heard that your master's command brings out the strongest of his men's abilities."

Yuui winked and grinned devilishly. "Perhaps."

"So you'll take them?"

The wizard shrugged, stretching his arms languidly over his head. "Why not? I have nothing better to do. Decided to head on back to the master a few minutes ago anyway. Was just headed that way."

Zhango nodded with a stiff "good" before turning his attention back to the four still watching attentively. "Eat your fill and follow him to the master," he told Gwillym and Nico, voice stony. He nodded once to Anubis and Hazel. "Good day."

He left.

Yuui let out a low whistle. "How is it all the hot boys are born down south?" he whined, eyes half-lidded and following after the son of Marrow as he disappeared into the sea of moving soldiers. "I mean, for goodness' sake! Even Kuro-chan was born—" He seemed to catch himself, realizing that he was talking aloud. He grinned it off. "Sorry about that. I get too enthusiastic around beautiful people."

Nico backed slowly towards Gwillym, the hot brush of the dragon's breath soothing his nerves. If hot men were born down south, it seemed the loons were born in the north. Or that's what Nico was getting from the entire exchange, at least.

Eyes straying to the fire, Nico returned to the pot to try and salvage the soup before it could burn. The fire was thankfully dying enough to save it. "Let's eat, then, before something else pops in to burn this shit," he muttered, turning the attention to him.

Hazel jumped at the chance. "Where are the bowls?"

"Over there, in that open bag beside Gwillym's foreleg. Will, show her."

Hazel returned a few moments later with some bowls and spoons, handing them out to everyone but Will, who just laid there with his head on the ground, looking miffed about not being able to join them in eating.

Surprisingly, it was the wizard who soothed the dragon's worries. "I'll have Kuro-chan prepare you some leftovers from breakfast," he said, voice unexpectedly kind. "He'll have some pot-roast of some sort and icky sour fish for you to nibble on, don't you fret."

Gwillym's head rose. "This man has pot-roast, and fish? Who is he?"

"Oh." Yuui laughed. He waved a dismissive gloved hand through the air. "I meant Ginryu. I forgot you wouldn't know him by his name."

Anubis furrowed his eyebrows at the wizard, half-way reaching for the ladle to fill his bowl. "You're on close enough terms with the master of the North to call him by name?"

Nico didn't want to comment about how idiotic a name like Kuro-chan was, so he bit down on his lip and worked on filling Anubis's bowl with a proper amount of soup and turn to do the same with Hazel's. It was probably just a nickname. Hopefully.

Yuui's lips quirked up into a smirk. Handing Nico his bowl to be filled, he reached up and flicked open his collar with his other hand, exposing a white bite mark that almost blended in with the blonde's pale demeanor. A bonding mark.

Nico's eyebrows rose, but it was Gwillym who voiced his thought. "You're the Northern Master's mate."

Yuui looked about ready to giggle. He tucked his collar back over the mark. "For twenty-some years now, yes."

"How come I've never heard of this?"

"We try to stay discreet. Kuro-chan respects my comfort zone when I beg him enough, after all. I enjoy walking through towns without having to worry about being recognized, just as he would in his human appearance."

Nico nodded. "That makes sense."

Yuui smiled at the knight. "Doesn't it, ah…?" He blinked, frowning a bit.

"Nico," the knight said, handing the man his bowl of soup. "Nico di Angelo."

The wizard's eyes glittered. "Ah, yes! How could I have forgotten? You had a sister blessed by the moon goddess, did you not? Stories of you and she have travelled far enough to reach my ears, not even with the need for magic! Quite spectacular, I might say!"

Nico's back stiffened at the mentioning of Bianca, and the bump of a dragon snout against his spine said that Gwillym had noticed. He leaned against the dragon with a soft sigh, reaching to the ladle again to fill his own bowl with the glop.

"Is it true that you have powers linked with the underworld?"

Flinching violently and getting soup all over his trousers, Nico hissed and jumped into the dragon's cheekbone. Gwillym steadied him. "What the actual fuck?" he snarled at the wizard.

Yuui cocked his head all-too-innocently. "I sense something in your blood," he said easily as though predicting the weather. "Something from down below."

Nico hunched in on himself, feeling the familiar twist in his gut when shadows would normally start leaning towards him. "Why the fucking hell would you want to know that?"

The blonde's eyebrows rose. "I'm just curious. No need to get all feisty about it."

Nico shook his head, gritting his teeth.

Pursing his lips together, Yuui shrugged. He didn't look that disappointed. In fact, his face was completely unreadable behind his obviously-fake grin. The wizard turned to his soup in silence.

Hazel took that moment to return to their previous conversation. "I'm so glad you're here, Nico," she said genuinely, trying not to care about the stranger in their midst. She patted the knight's shoulder comfortingly. "I don't know what will happen with all of this, but as long as you're here, I'm certain things will turn out alright."

"It certainly beats sitting alone in Faerok, now doesn't it?" Anubis added with a knowing smirk.

Nico huffed and rolled his eyes. "I love you too, you big idiots."

Hazel's breath hitched, and more tears touched the corners of her eyes. She pressed her lips to his cheek. "We love you so much more, brother. So much that you wouldn't believe."

He kissed her cheek back. "I think I could believe it," he breathed to her, smiling lightly.

Gwillym chuckled warmly and bumped his nose against his mate, gentle enough to not spill the soup in his hand. "There, what did I tell you? You still have a family. And a mighty fine one, at that."

Nico just shook his head and smiled, looking back at the dragon. He kicked his muzzle with a gentle scuff of the boot. "Is that right? Shouldn't I be saying the same to you, dragon?"

His mate snorted, eyes tender. He lifted his head away from Nico's kicking range and nuzzled the knight's side. "I always knew of the loved ones in my life, angel. It's merely a gift that I can say I had more than I realized. I love you, Nico."

The man's smile softened. "Me too, Will. More than you realize."

Gwillym snorted a puff of smoke from his nostrils, haloing the knight's head with hot breath. He tilted his head suddenly, seeming to remember something. "Oh, and angel?"

"Yes?" He turned back to his quickly-cooling soup, eating what he could before they would have to leave for the war. They had already wasted a lot of time.

Gwillym's voice was loving, and Nico's mark warmed as an afterthought.

"Happy anniversary."

~ΨΩΨ~

Recap: Anubis and Hazel are dragon-birds or winged serpents, other known as coatyls. More specifically, Anubis is an Egyptian Serpent whereas Hazel is a South American Coatyl/Phoenix mix.

If you recognized Yuui (which I know one of you most certainly will), kudos to you.