Look! A third update! Ain't ya'll lucky? (Mostly because the last two chapters were short as fuck, so have this one!)

This iiiiissss after Nico and Lou meet.

I forgot to reply to reviews! D:

To zantarak- (Chapter 15) YES, THAT'S WHAT I WANT, LOTS OF YELLING! I AM WORKING ON THE FRAZEL BABY, I EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TO WORK OUT EVERY OC LEGACY'S BIRTHDAY, HAHA, LOTS OF THE FUCKERS! AS FOR THE JASPER CONVERSATION, I DON'T THINK I'M READY YET! T.T

To RandomFanAuthor- (Chapter 15) Can't go wrong with Solangelo! And (Chapter 17) the rest of that Reyisa babysitting is just a disaster, I don't imagine either of them are very good with kids! ^_^ AND IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE MY HOUSE, I WILL NERF GUN YOU. With love, obviously. The ToA rewrite begins with a different thing, I'm hoping I can post it within the next few day!

To HoO Fan- (Chapter 14) I am going to do as many as I can! But the ToA rewrite will be running alongside soon, so keep an eye out :D

Sidenote- I know this isn't really a shipping chapter, buuuuuuuut I'm just gonna pile all my one-shots here now, it's easier! Sorry! ^_^

"Here." Louisa held the stick out, the flames crackling. Nico made a face. "Dude, it's just a bit of rabbit. I had this all the time when I was on me own." He took the meat tentatively, sniffing it before nibbling at it. "Ya need fattenin' up, kid. Get some colour in ya face."

"I can fend for myself, Louisa." He replied curtly. She hummed dubiously, wiping her hands on her trousers. Treetops rustled overhead in a night-time breeze, glimpses of stars between the layers of leaves. Branches creaked, bushes rustled, twigs snapped, in the movements of the forest. Her bow leaned against her leg, set there while she cooked the rabbit for her companion.

Hardly a month, since he had fallen from the shadows, onto her head. But the change in him had been significant. While his skin grew paler, his clothing grew darker. Shadows circled beneath his eyes, his hair was in need of a cut. He had lost weight, lost whatever remained of his childish spark. She could hardly draw a smile from him.

It wasn't as if she expected him to remain unchanged. He had lost his sister, for gods' sake. How could he experience such pain and not change? He carried grief and anger, he was bitter and frustrated. His sister died unfairly, in a cause that had left him alone, falling victim to a broken promise. He did not expand on this Percy, nothing beyond his cowardice and his failure. Forgiveness was not an option.

Nico took a bigger bite of the rabbit, tearing a strip away with his teeth. Louisa picked up her bow, checking the string. "How…" Nico began, clearing his throat. He chewed a little more, swallowed his mouthful. "How long were you on your own?"

"I dunno, uh… I ran away from the home when I was… five? About four years out here." She shrugged a shoulder.

"Four years?" He echoed quietly. Louisa inclined her head, listening to the woods around her. "How are you still alive?"

"I'm cool."

"No, seriously. How?"

"I will throw you inta that fire." She pointed at it, flipping him a warning glare. "Rewind that attitude, young man."

"I'm older than you."

"Not biologically. So, bleh." She stuck her tongue out. Nico wrinkled his nose, working his way through the last of the rabbit. Louisa tested the string of her bow, sighing. "What's the plan then, cuz?"

"I don't know. What do you think I should do?"

"Come home."

"I have no home."

"Our offer still stands."

"And I appreciate that, but I… I can't. I… I need to find my own path."

"To where?" Louisa demanded. Nico threw the stick into the flames, sighing.

"You won't understand." He said quietly, rubbing his hands together.

"Try me." Louisa challenged, meeting his gaze steadily. Obsidian eyes glinted coldly, willing her to be quiet. Louisa didn't blink. She had had worse stare downs.

Nico bunched his jaw, casting his gaze down to the flames, warming his hands before them. Louisa shifted where she sat, withdrawing an arrow, examining it as she spoke. "Wanna know what I think?" He grunted discontent. She ignored him. "A kid out of time, out of place. Ya find one home 'n' it don't go the way ya thought it would. Then the unthinkable happens 'n' now ya don't have a home or friends or family."

"Shut-"

"Correction," Louisa continued calmly, "ya won't let yaself have a home or friends or family. Ya may not want ta stay at that camp, I get that. Ya may not want to be around people, I get that too. But I ain't gonna sit here 'n' tell ya what ya can 'n' can't do, ain't my place. It's your life, kid, you get ta decide what ya do with it. Just… I'm here ta help. If ya need food or a slap or even somewhere ta stay, I'm here. Don't forget it, OK?" She bumped her knee against his. "Now try 'n' sleep. No pun intended, ya look like the dead." Nico glared at her. Louisa raised a brow, nocking her arrow and rising. She turned to begin a walk of their perimeter.

"You're wrong." His voice drew her back. "Name one person that would want a son of Hades around."

"Me."

"You don't know who I am."

"'N' ya don't know who I am." She half-turned, settling a level look on him. "However bad you think you are, however repulsive or unwanted, however hated you think ya are…" Nico stared at her, noticed the tensing of her shoulders, the lowering of her eyes at memories untold. When she spoke again, her voice was toughened, distant. "I'm worse." She met his gaze once more. "Now go to sleep. I won't be far if ya need me."

"Why… why are you doing this? Why are you helping me?"

"'Cos I didn't have anyone ta help me 'n' I know what that's like. Now sleep. Don't piss me off."

Also, question- I finished Tyrant's Tomb and, without giving any spoilers, Rick's canon does not go with my canon, soooooooo should I keep the thing that Reyna did at the end or should I change it to suit my canon? Aaaaand how would ya'll feel if I did two versions- one where Jason is NAPPING and one where he's AWAKE?