HADES
"NICO!" the God of the Underworld bellowed.
Nico silently appeared in the shadows of the courtroom.
"You called," Nico said, stepping into the firelight.
Hades turned toward Nico.
"What is this I hear about you and a certain daughter of Zeus?"
"Depends. What have you been hearing?" Nico asked, defensively.
"That you've been...been...seeing her!" Hades spluttered angrily.
"Of course I see her," Nico said exasperatedly. "I see her everyday at Camp."
"That's not what I mean and you know it!" Hades yelled.
"Yes, I've been seeing her. Is that a crime?" Nico retorted.
"Yes. And I forbid you from ever seeing her again."
Hades turned away from Nico, thinking that the argument was over.
"No."
Hades spun around to look incredulously at Nico.
"What did you say?" Hades demanded threateningly.
"I said no. I'm not going to stop seeing her."
"You dare defy me?"
"Yes. I dare because I love her and there is nothing you can do about it," Nico said with finality.
Hades laughed.
"Love? What do you know about love? You're a seventeen year old boy. You know nothing about love."
"I know about love. I might know everything, but I know enough. Love is taking a sword for her. Love is holding her hand when she's sick. Love is trying your best to keep anything from hurting her. Love is surviving Tartarus because she was the only thing that kept you sane. I know enough about love to say that I love her and know that it is the truth."
Hades and Nico just stared at each other angrily for a few seconds. Hades opened his mouth to argue some more.
"Love is wanting to hide her and your children so that your brother does not destroy them," Nico said quietly.
Hades halted in his tracks and stared at Nico dumbfounded. After a few seconds he straightened and turned away from Nico.
"This will never be brought up again. Now leave before I change my mind," Hades growled almost kindly.
Nico bowed to his father and stepped back into the shadows to return to Camp Half-Blood.