CHAPTER SUMMARY

Nico faces the consequences of being outed.

BEGINNING NOTES

Word Count: 3029
Content Warning: Violence (mild)

I do use the word "fag" repeatedly in this chapter. Just a warning.

This one is a little over my usual 3K cap but whatever 29 words don't count. Besides, after the last two short chapters I don't think anyone's going to complain here.

And all the characters are owned by Rick Riordan.

Credits at the end.

All of us stayed up the rest of the night, hoping for some message from Bianca. But there was nothing.

I did tell them about our fight, not the Will stuff, but how I'd forced Bianca to actually take a look at herself and face some stuff she probably didn't want to. We agreed it make perfect sense why she'd want to run after that. No one said it, but they all knew now that it was my fault she was gone. Papà couldn't even meet my eye. I know we hadn't spoken in months, but it still hurt like hell.

Thalia did mention Jupiter's as a possible place Bianca ran off to, but we also thought that someone would've told us that she'd gone on the trip. The truth was, that was only a guess. She had a lot a money saved up. She could've gone anywhere.

I didn't eat or sleep the rest of the weekend. I didn't touch my phone, which was still blowing up with messages from Octavian's video. Saturday night, some drunk kids egged our house. I didn't give Papà any explanation.

As soon as the twenty-four-hour mark came, Papà and Persephone went to the police. I couldn't bring myself to leave the house. The police decided to keep Bianca disappearance out of the news so they could do their investigation without the press interfering. Papà came home pissed. "That's the damn point!" I heard him shouting. "It would be trending nationally! The public would find her in a day! Damn town, trying to protect its reputation before its own citizens!"

For the first time in a very long time, I agreed with him.

Hazel tried to get me to go to school on Monday, but I wasn't ready to face the world. How could I, without my sister? It was hard enough before. Now, with the death threats and the harassment, it was impossible.

On Tuesday, I got sick of waiting for news that would never come. I snuck out of the house around noon, when anyone who knew about the video would be at school, and went to the Field of Mars to blow off steam. Ares didn't give a shit that I was playing hooky as long as he got his membership fees. I hacked at dummies for hours, screaming and kicking. What did I care if I got strange looks? I'd gotten used to that over the years.

The sun was setting by the time I got out of there. I was almost home when the first rock hit the back of my neck. "Hey, fag!" the guy shouted. It was Ethan Nakamura, the Titian's latest recruit.

I didn't say anything. He must've been waiting for me since he was so far from his gang's territory. That spelled trouble.

"You listening to me?" Ethan spat. "I'm talking to you, dick!" He threw another rock, bigger this time, enough to leave a mark. I walked a little faster.

"I'm talking to you, fag!" Ethan shouted. The next thing I knew, his hand was on my shoulder, and he was spinning me around. I felt his gun pressing into my stomach. I froze.

What the fuck? He was pointing a gun at you? Why?

He's crazy.

"Careful now," I said, "I'm one of Alabaster's best customers. You wouldn't want Kronos to lose his billionaire customer, would you? He might pop a bullet in your ass."

"Your ass is what you should be worried about, fag," Ethan snarled. Out of trees came at least five other guys, all as built as Bryce. In fact, I'm pretty sure Bryce was one of them. "See, people don't like it when you lie about their friends."

I scoffed, acting braver than I felt. I was hyper aware of the gun still pointed at my stomach. "So, that's what this is about. Octavian has a hit out on me, huh?"

I don't remember what happened next. Not a shock, 'cause I was hit in the head a lot, and you don't tend to remember things when your brain is basically mush. There was a lot of screaming for me to admit Octavian never hit Hazel, more cussing, calling me "fag," that shit.

The gun never went off, right?

Aw, you sound so concerned, it's almost like you love me!

Beats me why.

Nah, he never fired. Don't think he has the guts to pull the trigger without one of his gang buddies pointing a gun at his head. But they beat me up until I couldn't stand. I was on the road, laying on the pavement, crying as they kicked me. "Admit you were lying!" Ethan shouted.

I could beg them to stop, I could cry like a baby, but that was one thing I couldn't say.

Ethan grabbed my shirt and said, "We're going to beat you to death if you don't say it."

He clenched his fist again, ready to deliver the final blow that would definitely knock me out. I knew he wasn't lying. They'd leave me on the road until a car ran me over. And with Bianca gone, who's going to care? I thought.

Umm... Hazel?

Don't mess up my self pity with your useless facts.

A huge rock hit Ethan right in the temple, as precise as an expert marksman. Not even Bianca could've made that shot. Ethan collapsed. I heard warning gunshots and someone shouting, "You wanna get some, punks!" The boys scattered.

"Let's get them out of the road," a familiar voice said. Gentle hands cradled my neck and lifted me off of the pavement.

"Will?" I croaked.

"I saw Ethan's livestream," Will whispered. "I grabbed Ares. I couldn't let them hurt you."

Ares dragged Ethan to the grass. "Get him in the car, there's a first aid kit in the backseat. I'll deal with these cowards." I could hear the excitement in his voice. He really did love his fighting. Then, he ran off in the direction Bryce and the others had gone.

The backseat of Ares' van looked like it was wrapped in human leather, but it was more comfortable than the road. Will sang while he worked on me with the first aid kit. His voice was deep and scruffy like a country singer. It was beautiful.

"You're a really good singer," I said.

Will laughed. "You should hear my mom. She could've gone pro if, you know, things turned out differently."

"I hate people," I told him. "The world's unfair and stupid and it needs to die."

"Don't say that," Will replied. "That's what they want you to say. Don't let them win. Think about the good things."

"Like what?" I asked.

Will swallowed hard. He cupped my cheek. "If all that hadn't happened in North Carolina, I never would've met you."

He kissed me, and the world faded away. His skin was burning hot, but it burned in the best way. But I felt his tears hit my cheek, so I pulled away and said, "Whatever's wrong, it's okay. I'm not mad at you for taking Bianca's money."

"I realized that," Will said. "But nothing's changed. I can't redo North Carolina. I have nowhere left to go."

"You're going to leave me stranded, then?" I questioned.

"No!" Will cried. "No... I just can't be your boyfriend, but I can still be your friend."

"I- I don't want that," I forced myself to say. "I tried being friends with you, but I like you too damn much to keep things that way. Will... if we can't be together, I have to cut my losses." It was the hardest thing I'd ever had to say.

Will's eyes clouded with grief. "I get it. You're too busy waiting for Percy Jackson," he said bitterly.

"That's not what I said!" I protested. "Will, don't you get it? I've spent six years in love with the guy! I don't- I can't- I can't do that to myself again."

"It's okay, you don't have to explain." Will told me. "You don't love me back. You love him. It's how things go. C'est la vie."

I opened my mouth, I wanted to say something, but it was no use. It didn't matter how Will took our conversation. I'd made up my mind. My sunshine was already gone. I pushed myself up from the seat. "I'll walk home. It isn't far."

"I can't let you do that," Will said. "Let me take you home. Please." He kissed me again, lightly on the lips. "Just a few more minutes."

As always, I couldn't resist a thing Will said. Arm over arm, he helped me hobble to my front door. Without a word, I let go and put my hand to the doorknob. I turned back to drink him in one more time. The way his blond curls fell into his blue eyes, the way his pink tongue licked his chapped lips. Will. My Will. One last time.

He was crying. So was I.

"Bye, Will."

"Bye, Nico."

I walked inside. I counted to one hundred. I made it to fifty before I fell on my knees and screamed. The tears wouldn't stop. The world disappeared again, but this time it wasn't in a good way. It was like I was ten years old again, back in the hospital, knowing everything I lived for was gone forever.

I hugged myself, hysterical now. Every part of me hurt, my body, mind, emotions, and soul. "Bianca!" I screamed as loud as I could, as though she could hear me from wherever she was. I screamed her name over and over again, until my face was red and my throat was raw.

Someone grabbed me and pulled me close. They hushed me and rocked me on the ground like I was a baby again.

"Mamma?" I whispered. I was delirious.

"I know, I know, I miss them too," Papà whispered. "We'll find Bianca, Nico. She isn't gone." I opened my eyes. I realized he was crying. His eyes went over my bruised and bloody body and tattered clothes without a hint of anger. "What happened to you?" He asked, horrified. You might even say... concerned. "Who did this?"

"Papà..." I whispered. More tears leaked out. I buried my face in his chest as I cried. He rubbed circles on my back, trying to comfort me. "They beat me up," I admitted. "Papà, I'm gay. I'm..." I couldn't go on.

"Shh..." he said again. "Everything will be all right. You'll always have me, do you understand? I'm not going anywhere."

"I haven't had you in years!" I protested. "After Mamma died, I needed you, and you sent me away!"

Papà took a strangled breath. "That's what you think? Nico, before Bianca woke up, you were all I had left to live for. After you said you were ready to die, I couldn't risk losing you too. You're the light of my life, my pride and joy, my son. I love you, I always have, and I always, always will."

I cried even harder. It hit me, how could I have been so wrong for so many years? He couldn't be lying. "I'm so scared..." I whispered. "I..." Bianca's words from so many months ago came back to me. I'd never known what I really wanted before, but, in that moment, I realized that, deep down, I'd always known what I needed. "I just want my family back together again."

Papà tenderly kissed my hairline. "Me too."

I woke up, curled in a ball, in Papà's bed the next morning. The sun was already up. I guess he thought it was better I didn't go to school with everything that was happening. I had to agree with him.

Papà was still in his pajamas, on his laptop. He was seething with anger. Persephone sat behind him, looking over his shoulder with her lips pursed. "You have to calm down, Hades," she was saying. I decided to snoop a little. I closed my eyes again and pretended I was asleep so I could eavesdrop.

"Look what they did to my son!" Papà hissed. "You should've seen him last night, bleeding and hysterical. No one, no one does that to Nico and gets away with it. And the gall to livestream it publicly on Twitch for everyone to see... it's already national news. Seven thousand hits, the Today Show said, and not a single person called the police. It's infuriating!"

"Twitch has taken down the video, at least," Persephone said.

"And it's already been reposted," Papà shot back. "Doesn't the press realize they're giving Kronos exactly what he wants? National fame, and all he had to do was humiliate my son."

"I know, Hades, but there's nothing we can do," Persephone told him. "The Titans are too powerful for the police to take down, and the video outing Nico isn't against the law. We could pressure the superintendent to expel the boys, but-"

"That's not enough!" Papà roared.

"Shh! You'll wake him up!" The doorbell rang. "I'll see who that is," Persephone said. "You take a minute and calm down. We can't do anything productive without a clear head."

"I'll bring down Kronos for this," Papà vowed. "I don't care if I go bankrupt. The Titans will be gone by our wedding, I swear you that. It'll be my gift to myself."

I heard Persephone walk away. I pretended to wake up. I heard Papà close his laptop. "Good morning," he said. "You fell asleep here last night, Persephone and I didn't want to risk moving you with your injuries."

"Do I have to go to the doctor?" I asked.

"Do you want to?"

"Not really."

"Then I'll let it slide."

"Thanks." I sat up. "I guess I'm not going to school today."

"You are not going there ever again," Papà said. "I won't have you bullied and maimed while the administration turns a blind eye. Twelve hours, and those kids have yet to be punished in any way."

"I'm not gonna argue with that," I admitted. I felt a little like a coward, running, but I also wasn't in the mood to get my face punched in. And if Papà was serious about bringing down the Titans, going to school with members of the gang probably wasn't the smartest idea in the universe. Besides, who did I have there for me anymore? Bianca was gone, whatever Will and I were was over, and Percy-

"Will you wait a moment-"

"Get out of my way, Thalia!"

Papà's door slammed open. I jumped backwards. There was Percy Jackson in all his glory, fuming mad with his eyes trained on me. Persephone, Hazel, and Thalia were close behind, trying to slow him down.

Papà stood, throwing everything he had at Percy. It was enough to make the poor guy flinch. "Think very carefully about what you're going to say to my son, Jackson."

"I'm going to tell that idiot what he needs to hear," Percy snapped. It was pretty impressive. No one could stand up to Papà like that when he was death staring.

If you're wondering where Nico gets his from... there you go.

"You're ignoring my calls, my texts, snaps, Facebook messages, Discord messages, Insta stories, Tumblr asks; I fucking joined Skype for you! Goddamn Skype! The website for grandparents who don't know what a goddamn iPhone is! Why the fuck do you even have a Skype in 2019?! It's like having a fucking MySpace!" Percy took a deep breath. "Okay, sidetrack. But still! Why?!"

"Don't you curse at him!" Persephone snapped. "I don't like cursing in my house."

"No, Persephone," I said, calmer than I felt. "It's okay. I want to hear what he has to say."

"You're damn right you do." Percy stomped to the side of the bed and grabbed me by the shirt. "Seven goddamn years being your friend, and you think I'm going to throw you out like trash over a damn crush?! Are you absolutely shitting me?! You and Bianca go fucking radio silent like this... do you have literally no faith in me at all?! I'm pissed, di Angelo, I thought you were better than that!"

I gulped. "You're... not mad I'm in love with you?"

"Why the fuck would I be? You can't help how you feel." Percy dropped his hand from my shirt. "Uh... sorry, man. I know you don't like people touching you."

"It's okay," I said slowly. My head was spinning. You're not mad I'm in love with you, echoed around in my head. I'm in love with you. That had been true for seven years, but now that I'd said it out loud... I realized... this wasn't what love felt like. Will was what love felt like. Percy... Percy was just a crush I'd been holding onto for so long I'd never realized... "I don't have a crush on you anymore," I thought out loud. "Oh my god. I... Percy... I don'tlove you. Oh my god! I don't love you!" Without thinking, I stood on the bed, jumped in the air, and pumped my fist. "Yes! I don't love you! You hear that, Jackson! I. Don't. Love. You!"

Everyone stared at me, blinking.

"You are a crazy little shit," Thalia muttered.

"Yeah!" I laughed. "And proud!"

My cell phone (still on silent) lit up with yet another call from a private number. But why should I care? I wasn't in love with Percy Jackson! I hit accept, ready to tell off whoever was about to start cussing at me.

"This is Nico di fucking Angelo. And yes, "fucking" is my middle name. My dad's pretty out there."

"I resent that," Papà said.

"Did Mr. di Angelo just tell a joke?!" Percy cried.

"Shut up, Jackson!" I yelled. "Sorry, my friends are pretty rude," I said into the phone. "I bet you ten thousand dollars you can't get through this conversation without saying 'fag.' So, what'll it be?"

"I just saw the videos... I'm so sorry, Nico... I love you..."

"Bianca?!" I yelled into the phone. "Bianca, hello? Hello? Where are you? Bianca?"

The phone line went dead.

END NOTES

Wow, I just made myself cry. Huh, who thunk it?

This week's beta commentary:
STORY: As always, I couldn't resist a thing Will said... knowing everything I lived for was gone forever.
MELODY: And, of course, "Praying" by Ke$ha came on while I was writing this section, and now I'm crying.
STORY: "Bianca?!" I yelled into the phone. "Bianca, hello? Hello? Where are you?"
LUNA RAIN: I'm sobbing now so thanks for that
MELODY: Ke$ha made me cry. I make you cry. It's the circle of tears. (And it moves us alllllll)

Credits:
Author: Melody Rose (Tumblr bianca-the-huntress)
Beta Readers: Jojo (Archive of Our Own bannedfrompencils), Luna Rain (Tumblr peppermintlove1), Oli (Tumblr paradoxicalpsychic)

Please comment so I know what you think! See you next week!

COMMENTS

Guest

:How does it feel to be so f*** brilliant?

Don't feed into my ego, it's big enough!

AquaEclipse

OCTAVIAN, YOUcue violent cussing*

That about sums it up.

Crazypony4

Nico and Hades reactions were perfect. Hope you write about Bianca's journey on lax. Also I'm not mad at Bianca. She did the best she could do to help her family.

I'm glad you thought so. And of course I will get back to Bianca! Just not yet ;)

I don't know what to think anymore. I'm feeling just as overwhelmed as Nico is feeling right now. also sorry it took so long to read.

P.S. formerly Fenikkusu94))

Don't worry, I don't care how long it takes, I'm just happy you read it! And you don't know what to think anymore? Get ready for that in bucketloads as we reach the finale.

The Goode Ravenclaw

I was so happy when Nico beat up Octavian, but now I want to. HOW DARE HE HUTT MY LITTLE BABIES IT'S NOT RIGHT IN THE SLIGHTEST DEGREE TO OUT SOMEONE AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO AT HIM NOW THAT IS NOT OKAY AND AHHHHHHHH.

OCTAVIAN YOU HORRIBLE HUMAN BEING DON'T TOUCH MY NICO!