Sorry for not updating yesterday, I was super busy. Anyway I think some people will enjoy this chapter- we get a little bit of Nico! And we get to see him and Hazel getting to know each other better- also, protective Nico is wonderful.
Replies:
Undeath9087: I mean, they are- we aren't for this chap- but hey it's something I think people will like. And yes, yes he did. He's just there mentally like 'Oh shit he needs to die. Wait- oh shit if Percy finds out she may have a break down!'
weirdhead: Let's face it she is not respectful.
JjlovesPJO: Yeah, Annabeth was harsh, she was hurting and she lashed out- when she realises how wrong she was she'll be feeling very bad. As will Rachel. And yeah, Grover and Frank are the two teddy bear friends I think.
Not Anyone: I mean, he definitely could.
thompmil000bcye: I have a fair bit quite precisely planned and the rest more roughly planned but I cannot give exacts I'm afraid. As for your suggestion, we all just really have it out for her huh? Just make Percy suffer.

Nico didn't really know Hazel. They hadn't exactly talked much in the very short time they'd known one another- but he could appreciate how protective she seemed to be of Bianca.

And when they finally came to a stop it was in Hazel's rooms, and she let Nico in, giving him a sidelong glance as she sat on her bed.

"I wasn't sure if you'd defend her too." she said after a moment. "She- she never really talked about you. I didn't even know we had a brother until Percy came to camp and from what she said- I figured you wouldn't-"

"I didn't-" Nico hesitated before sitting down next to Hazel, "I said some horrible things to her. Things I never should have said. I was upset and grieving and- and I was angry at her. I regret it now. I regretted it after I'd calmed down but I couldn't take them back and I was too stubborn to try. Besides I- I thought she didn't care about me."

"She did." Hazel said quickly, "The one time she talked about you- she seemed so sad Nico-"

"We've had a rough past."

"Can you-" Hazel hesitated, "Can you tell me about it some time. I want to understand." she let out a breath, "and I need something to distract me and stop me from going back there and strangling Jason-"

"Yeah, I got the urge to do that too." Nico let out a laugh despite himself, shaking his head, "He's a good guy I think but gods he was a fucking asshole then."
he paused, "I'll tell you more about Bianca and I if you tell me more about you. Deal?"

"Deal." Hazel said after a moment, "But it's not all good."

"Neither is mine and Bianca's story." Nico reassured her. "Want me to start?"

"Yes. I'd like that."

"Let's see. I don't remember my childhood too well- I never felt the need to push for the memories. I was born before the Great Prophecy was given and Zeus- he wanted us dead to stop it from being us. Dad saved us, but he couldn't save our mom. After that he dunked us in the Lethe to erase our memories and dumped us in this casino where Zeus wouldn't find us."

"Bianca sort of told me about the casino." Hazel nodded slowly, "She said she knew how it felt to be out of time. It's strange-"

"If he's being extra annoying Leo calls me old man. And if he sees me with Will and he wants to piss me off he'll call me a cradle snatcher."

That made Hazel giggle. "That's just the sort of thing Sammy would do."

"Sammy?"

"He was my best friend." Hazel shifted, "He was related to Leo we think- it was so strange when Percy showed me a picture of Leo- he's the image of my Sammy."

"Huh." Nico smiled, "Leo might be annoying sometimes but he's a good guy so if your Sammy was like him he was probably a good friend."

"Yes. He was." Hazel nodded, a sad smile on her lips, "I do still miss him."

"Of course you do." Nico nodded, "It must be harder for you than it was for us- we didn't remember anything so it made the transition easier." he paused,
"For me anyway."

"When you got out of the casino yes?"

"Yes. I met Percy in there and she mentioned me to dad. Who really likes her- honestly I think other than his own kids she's definitely his favorite. He decided to send Bianca and I to her but-" Nico shifted Bianca- after Alecto told her she was taking us somewhere safe she bailed on me." he admitted, "That- it did a lot of damage. I don't know what would have happened if- but mom and Percy didn't even hesitate. I must have been super annoying back then- I- I was terrified of being abandoned again. And when I did meet her again she'd joined the hunters. It wasn't a happy reunion but we did end up talking- Percy honestly helped with that a lot. All she ever wanted was for me to be happy. I don't think I'd have forgiven Bianca if I didn't have Percy."

"Oh." Hazel winced, "I guess... I guess with the history your relationship with Bianca was already pretty complicated huh?"

"I mean- I love her." Nico stated quickly, "and I don't- I mean I sort of get why she did it even if it hurt me a lot at the time. Things worked out well for me- probably better than they did for her- she- she spent a lot of time obsessing over her memories and finding out what happened to our mom."

"I guess it makes sense, you can't blame her for wanting answers."

"Yeah." Nico gave Hazel a strained smile, "But I did blame her for doing it a few days before the war broke out."

"Oh." Hazel blinked, "That-"

"And dad wasn't willing to leave her alone in the Underworld because back then she'd not had so much training as I had and Kronos was attacking. Which meant he was late. A lot later than he should have been. And at the time I- when Percy died-" he let out a breath. "Listen. I love Bianca. I love her with all my heart I do. But she abandoned me when I needed her and that scarred. Percy-" he shook his head. "She... Percy... Percy is more of my sister than Bianca is. It might sound unfair but Percy took me in. She loved me and helped me whenever I was hurt or upset. She defended me and protected me and helped me grow up. I owe her so much more than she'd probably ever realise and- and she died. And I felt her die and after the shock wore off I was angry. I was so angry and I- I lashed out. I blamed Bianca for delaying dad- because maybe if he'd have come sooner- maybe if he'd have been there before then it would have never gotten as far as it did. And I know it was stupid I know that it wasn't fair." Nico shook his head, "I know that the prophecy- it was always going to end the way it did but I was just so angry and I said some really cruel stuff. I actually told her that I wished she'd been the one who-" he shook his head, bowing it, his voice was thick with shame.

"I-" Hazel swallowed hard. "That- that's horrible. All of it. What you-" she shook her head, "It makes sense- that you care so much about Percy. That- I won't say I understand it because I don't. I don't think I really can. But I know it must have been horrible for you."

"I did apologise later. I tried to fix things but- it seemed like she was pulling away and then- she didn't show up for Estelles birth when she promised to and I got angry, said some bad things again. And now-"

"Now you know that she didn't show up because she'd rescued Percy and just gotten threatened by Hera." Hazel finished, grabbing Nico's hand and squeezing. "She'll forgive you for what you said Nico."

And Nico shot Hazel a sidelong glance, a slight frown on his lips.

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"Because she loves you."

"I hope you're right." Nico let out a breath. "What about you." he asked after a moment, "I told you about Bianca and I. Now you have to tell me about yourself. Don't worry- whatever you say I won't judge."

And Nico listened- he listened as Hazel, slowly at first, started to explain her childhood to him- she talked about her mother- who Nico decided he really didn't like, about Sammy, about the other children around her.

She talked about her curse- and she flinched when Nico laid a hand on her shoulder, relaxing after a moment and leaning into his side.

And she told him everything- Nico felt a rush of protectiveness as she told him about how she'd been treated, how Gaea had manipulated her mother, and he silently vowed that he'd personally sock Gaea in the face for daring to hurt her like that- he might not have known Hazel for long but it was clear that what had happened had weighed heavily on her for a very long time. And when she told him about her judgement he felt the urge to beat up the judges- if anything her desperation to protect her mother should have been more reason to send her to Elysium, her mom could have gotten asphodel on her own but Hazel's courage and selflessness should have gotten her Elysium- she should have met Percy there- but no she'd spent years on the fields.

And it was strange- Nico was used to being the little sibling- and it was different with Estelle since she was still a baby. But now- now he was pretty sure that if anyone tried to hurt his new sister he would tear their souls from their body without one flash of guilt.

They spent some more time talking after that. Nico told her stories about being a part of the Jackson family- and Hazel told him stories about her time at camp- which lifted the mood some.

And then there was a knock on the door, and when Hazel called for whoever it was to come in Leo poked his head around the door.

"Hey baby bro, Hazel. Just so you guys know Percy and Frank are off with Grover finding Phorcys. I figured you guys would like to know. And just for the record Pipes and I tore Jason a new one when we got him alone. He didn't mean it like that-"

"It sure sounded like he did." Nico's expression darkened, "I get he's your friend but-"

"I know." Leo held up his hands, "Jason is not doing so hot right now- he's being a dumbass again. What with his memories being back and everything with the Romans he's starting to feel like he has to be the big brave leader guy and he's terrified of screwing up. Don't worry he was Put in his place."

"Put in his place?" Hazel's voice was hesitant, "Do I even want to know?"

"It's more a private thing." Leo shrugged, "Jason... he doesn't want to be a leader but he feels like he has to and he struggles with it. Which makes him say and do stupid things. I just reminded him that I got us through the quest to save Hera, that Annabeth and Percy have both led their own quests- that Luke and Thalia are both here and they've led quests- he doesn't need to do the big leader guy thing. It's not expected of him anymore."

"Did you tell him that Greeks don't choose their leaders because of their daddy but because they earned it?"

"Hey-" Leo gave Nico a look, "That's not fair and you know it."

"He was implying that we should leave Bianca to die, that she was a traitor-"

"He didn't mean it like that. He had doubts. Stupid doubts but he doesn't know her the way some of us do."

"Hmph." Hazel scowled, "If he ever dares even think anything bad about our sister again I will kick his ass."

"And I will back her up." Nico added. "I don't care if he's your friend Leo. Bianca fucked up a lot but- she's been trying. It's going to be hard enough for me to make it up to her as it is. I'm not letting anyone say anything bad."

"Of course." Leo nodded, "Listen I'm on your side guys."

"Good." Nico gave Leo a small nod. "Thanks."

"Not a problem." Leo paused, "Also- just gonna say, no matter what else happens, we stick with Percy right?"

"Of course." Nico nodded.

"I will too." Hazel spoke up. "It wasn't nice- there was so much tension when you walked in- and- she's been through a lot. I know she's been struggling with things." she admitted. "You'd think that if they loved her they'd take it easy on her-"

"Hah." Leo snorted, "Annabeth and Rachel are hurt and Thalia is protective of Annabeth- as for Luke... I don't know what happened there but clearly he's upset too."

"Well whatever happened, we stick with our sister." Nico declared. "Jacksons stick together."