Third-Person PoV:

Nico dragged his battered shoes through the grass as he made his way to the beach. For some reason Percy had asked to meet him there after they'd finished their session with Hecate, he just wanted to sleep some more gods dammit! He was still recovering from Tar-down there and his overuse of shadow travel, his pride sunk a little as huffed and panted up the small hill to the beach. Nico leant onto his knees as he reached the top, his throat felt tight as he greedily gasped in gulps of air.

"Want a drink?" He blearily glanced up to stare at the bottle of water offered in front of him, he grunted and shakily took the bottle in front of him and proceeded to guzzle it down.

"Sorry man, I kinda forgot how hard it would be to climb the hill now." Percy sat on the ground, leaning back on his hands.

"You probably just saw the sea and forgot about the need to breathe."

"Perhaps, thanks for coming."

"Yeah, whatever... What did you want to talk about anyway?" Nico slumped onto the ground and turned his eyes to look at his theoretical cousin.

A gentle breeze washed over them and the scent of salt was lifted up into his nostrils, the faint chatter of the campers splashing about from the lake could be heard in the distance. Some dryads walked out from their trees to converse about gossip that they'd heard from other dryads in Brazil, apparently, some significant grounds to indigenous people in the Amazon Rainforest had been cut down.

"I wanted to apologize."

"What?"

"I'm sorry for strangling you before we went to the River Styx last summer."

"What?"

"I-it was wrong of me to do that to you regardles-"

"Why are you apologizing?"

"It was wrong Nico."

"N-no it wasn't! I-I tricked you! You had every right-"

"No, I didn't, you were just a kid, it's not like you would've known. All you knew was that your dad just wanted to talk to me before we went, perhaps about how to do it safely and anything I would need to know."

"We were all kids Percy. We are still kids being forced to make adult decisions, I don't think any of us could've known better, the vast majority of adults in our lives are terrible role models."

"True, who are we to know if our actions were even right when there's no-one to correct us but ourselves. I've-we've been pretty shitty to each other over the years and I think it about time we talk about the problem."

Nico's limbs seized up.

"A-about Bianca?"

"Uhh yeah-that's if you wanna talk about her but we-we can talk about other-"

"No, no you're right we do need to talk. I probably shouldn't have put that pressure on you, how old were you 13?"

"14."

"You were 14, what exactly could you do compared to a grown man, I think I just saw you and thought of you as the hero that was unbeatable and nothing could stop you. So I was sure that you'd protect her."

"But you were 10 Nico, how were you to know the real reality of being a half-blood? I can't mistake you for that, I should have told you that I couldn't 100% guarantee her safety as everything is out of our hands the minute we step beyond those borders."

The son of Hades let out a brash chuckle. "You probably should have. I gotta thank you for not saying about me being a son of Hades until it was obvious."

"I what?"

"You never said anything about me being a son of Hades to the gods."

"You were young Nico, and just lost your sister, besides the prophecy was most likely to me and I didn't want you to go through what I went through with the gods. It's not exactly a nice feeling to have them debating whether to kill you after you help them."

"You must have really understood how they appreciated you. No better reward than death amirite?" They stared at each other for a few seconds and then burst out laughing.

"I want to apologi-"

"Kids are impressionable, especially when they feel lost, betrayed and hurt, no hard feelings man." Percy gently patted his shoulder. "I also have something to give to you, I've never really found a good time to give it to you cause half the time we were trying to kill each other."

Percy placed something soft and green into his lap, Nico looked down and gasped.

"Sorry it took me so lo-" He was cut off as Nico lunged and pulled him into a tight hug, his bony arms tightened around his waist and held him close as his body shook. The son of Poseidon awkwardly patted his back.

"Thank you…" His voice was no louder than a whisper.

"Uhhmm no problem."

Nico quickly withdrew and held the hat close to his face. "Don't expect any more hugs from me though." He grumbled, using the sleeve of his aviator jacket to wipe away his tears.

"You both alright?" They startled as Will worked his way up the hill.

"When did you get here?"

"Just now actually." Will chuckled as he reached them he glanced between them, his brows furrowed as he focused on Nico. "You've been crying, what happened?" He brushed away the few tears that lingered on Nico's cheeks. The dark-haired boy gently pushed away the blond's hand and sniffled.

"We finally talked about our issues with one another and apologized is all."