[A/N] Here's chapter 13 for my reader's pleasure, so please enjoy it! Oh and do me a favor and review!
[DISCLAIMER] I don't own PJO and I never will.
"Aren't you going to thank me?" Hades asked smirking triumphantly, Nico scowled at his father and snorted.
"What for, I coulda' taken her." he said taking out his cigarettes and lighting one, Persephone who had been standing in the doorway glared at her 'step-son' but said nothing.
"You were doing pretty good before I saved your sorry ass." Hades stated sarcastically, Nico glared at his father taking another soothing drag off his cigarette.
"What is it this time?" Nico asked his father knowing this unplanned family reunion was for his father's benefit not his own. It was Hades turn to scowl, he would of been offended by his son's lack of tact if it didn't remind him so much of himself in his younger days.
"No how have you been father, no thanks for saving me father, no respect for my home," Hades droned on causing Nico to start daydreaming.
"Can we get to the point?" Nico asked after what seemed like forever, cutting Hades rant short, he heard Persephone laughing as she finally made her presence known coming to stand next to Nico. Hades eyes briefly flared red before he too chuckled, Nico finished his cigarette dropping it on the rug and grinding it under his foot to put it out. Persephone's eyes widened in shock at his irresponsible actions, she was on the verge of picking up where her husband had been cut off when Hades spoke.
"You're a rebellious little shit ain'tcha!" he drawled his tone venomous but a fond smile on his face. He had always hated that rug, it had been a gift from Demeter and it was much to nature-y for his tastes.
"If you say so." Nico said noncommittally scratching the back of his head and looking everywhere but at Persephone who was still fuming. Hades ran his fingers through his hair obviously frustrated.
"Persephone! Leave us!" Hades nearly shouted, the abrupt change in his personality startling Nico. Persephone was unfazed glaring at her husband and his son one last time before leaving. Nico was so busy looking around for the best escape route possible that he failed to notice his father walking closer to him. He only realized it when he was directly in front of him and his hand was resting comfortingly on his shoulder.
"They don't want me to tell you." he whispered conspiratorially his eyes shining with something like madness "They want to brush it off and say it's impossible." he continued his voice still a whisper "They want to keep it a secret, but I won't have anything to do with it." he finished dramatically his voice never growing louder than a whisper, Nico looked at him confused.
"Who's-" he started not bothering to whisper but was quickly hushed by Hades "Who's they?" he whispered more serious now.
"The Gods of course." he whispered in answer, looking over his shoulder as if Zeus himself would materialize. Nico nodded his head showing his comprehension of the situation so far.
"It's about Kronos, he's back isn't he?" he inquired in a barely audible whisper, Hades smiled proudly at how quick his son caught on.
"Not yet, but he will be soon." Hades whispered gravely his face showing his weariness at the prospect.
"Should I try to get a quest?" Nico asked in hushed tones his father's paranoia becoming his own. Hades shook his head negatively, before Nico could ask why Hades cut him off.
"You can't." Hades whispered shaking his head "Prophecies involving Kronos are being blocked by something." he added in response to Nico's confused stare. A knock sounded at the door startling both of them, neither moved.
"Take those you trust and go to the grand canyon." Hades hissed quickly continuously looking around the room for any sign of another god listening in. "One of my," he paused looking for the correct way to phrase what he wanted to say "associates will meet you there, he'll tell you what you need to know." Nico nodded his understanding, grim determination written across his features.
"Take this with you." Hades said holding out a black backpack with the DOA records logo on it, Nico took it without question smiling gratefully. Hades waved his hand in an arching motion and the shadows moved to consume Nico forcibly pulling him in and spitting him out somewhere else. Another more urgent knock sounded at the door causing Hades to scowl.
"What!" he shouted at the offending door, his eyes flicking side to side. The door swung open revealing Persephone, she walked cautiously into the room.
"You told him, didn't you?" she asked him accusingly her voice a whisper, Hades smirked before shaking his head.
"I swore to the river Styx that I wouldn't," Hades said somewhat scornfully before pridefully adding "he already knew." Persephone smirked at her husband.
Wherever his father had sent him it was dark, dusty, filled with cobwebs, and cramped. The ceiling was barely an inch away from his nose, a wall on his right and above him, and some black curtains hung down on the other sides, he chuckled realizing where he was. A knock sounded at the door to his cabin and he crawled out from underneath his bed to answer the door.
"Nico are you in there?" Percy called through the door before knocking again, the door was opened by Nico, who was for some reason covered in dust and cobwebs, and holding a black backpack. He beckoned Percy in who was followed closely by Annabeth.
"Where have you been?" Annabeth asked, her tone angry yet motherly, Percy stared blankly at Nico waiting for his response. They had of course heard the outlandish rumors spreading around camp and they (Annabeth) had been concerned.
"Kronos is reforming." he said brushing off her question and moving about the room gathering the meager possessions he had brought with him. Annabeth and Percy's eyes widened comically.
"How do you know that?" she asked him, her curiosity at his statement overpowering her anger at being ignored.
"My dad told me," he said holding up the backpack and showing them the logo "he also told me to take those I trust and go to the grand canyon." Annabeth and Percy looked at each other, Percy was grinning at the prospect of another adventure and Annabeth couldn't help but smile because of his grin.
"I'm in, I just gotta go pack real quick." Percy said exuberantly, letting go of Annabeth's hand, and opening the door before running to his cabin leaving Nico's door wide open. Nico smirked pulling out his cigarettes and lighting one, he knew Percy would jump at the chance for another adventure.
"Are you going to tell Thalia?" Annabeth asked causing Nico to almost drop his lit cigarette, she smirked.
"Tell me what?" Thalia asked peeking in through his still open door a smirk tugging at her lips. Annabeth chuckled, knowing he would have no choice now.
"I'm going to go pack." she said making her exit, Thalia looked at him quizzically as she stepped further into his cabin.
"We're going to stop Kronos from reforming, are you in?" he said quickly, hoping she wouldn't ask questions.
"Hell yeah, I'm gonna go pack." she said almost as eagerly as Percy, she flashed him a grin before turning away and jogging to her cabin through his still open door. He smirked, that had gone much better than he had expected.
"I'm ready to go." Percy said striding into his cabin not bothering to knock, but at least closing the door after himself this time. Nico who had been reclining on his bed sat up giving Percy room to sit. Percy decided to say nothing and wait for Nico to start the conversation, he didn't. Thankfully after what seemed like forever, but was really only a few minutes, a knock sounded at his door. Nico made no move to get it so Percy stood and walked forward to open the door, it was Annabeth.
Nico did his best to ignore the couple chatting away happily on his bed but sadly the occasional piece of their conversation would float into his ear. He scowled hearing something that sounded remarkably like 'No, I love you more.' he cleared his throat noisily. An incriminating blush spread across both their faces.
"Let's get this show on the road!" Thalia exclaimed barging into his cabin, the door bouncing off the wall and swinging closed of its own accord.
"Speaking of which, how are we getting to the grand canyon?" Annabeth asked hoping he already had a plan. Percy and Thalia looked at Nico for his answer.
"Shadow travel?" Nico asked answering her question with a question, Percy's face visibly paled. Thalia smirked noticing his face, Annabeth nodded her head in answer to his question.
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