"What about figurines? Didn't they also have those guys?" Leo asked, tilting his head slightly.

Nico paled. "Yeah, I'm getting to that…" The Hades statue in his coat pocket grew cold and heavy, and suddenly his mood turned solemn. "They were in the junkyard, and she… she took this." He pulled the small and stunningly accurate figure from his pocket and put it in Leo's hands.

Carefully, Leo turned it over and examined it. It was carefully and delicately made, and although it wasn't a machine, Leo had an appreciation for the little metal god. He wanted to say something serious or even nothing at all, but instead he blurted out, "You mean you didn't even have your dad's figurine?"

That earned him a signature Nico glare. "Don't ask questions you know I won't dignify with an answer," was all he said before moving on. "Anyway… there was a robot guarding the place—Talos, your dad's handiwork—and… it knew she took the statue. That thing was going to kill all of them, but Bianca—sh-she…" Nico stopped, burying his face in his hands muffling sobs. "Oh, gods, Bianca…"

"She stopped the robot, didn't she?" Leo marveled at how brave she was. He could picture the scene perfectly—the junkyard, the robot—even if he hadn't been there. Knowing his father's other inventions, he figured there was a control panel inside, and that would be the only way to stop it.

Unable to speak, the younger just nodded in response.

"Wow." Leo was stunned for a moment, before putting an arm around Nico. "What a hero, eh? You must be proud."

At first, Nico flinched and wanted to push him off, but it was then he realized how cold it was at four in the morning. Leo radiated heat like a furnace, and being in close contact immediately warmed him up. "Y-Yeah, I am proud," he sniffled, wiping at his eyes. "…I never got to say goodbye because I was mad at her," he mumbled, "but I… I saw her as a spirit. She said I got taller, and to forgive Percy… She told me she loved me."

"Of course she loved you, you're her baby brother," he teased, chuckling softly. "Geez, man—you're freezing," he commented, changing the topic. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't notice at first." It felt good to have someone else's arm around him, and he almost felt himself leaning into Leo.

"The temperature tends to drop at night, you know," he said nonchalantly, but he was thinking about how he'd promised Hazel to look after Nico. "Hey, don't take this the wrong way—I promised your sister I'd take care of you, and I've got enough to worry about, let alone a sick demigod, so…" Hesitantly, he wrapped both arms around Nico in a full hug.

"Leo, I hate hugs," he muttered, embarrassed. Half-heartedly, he squirmed in the older's grasp, but after a few tries just gave in. "Forget it. Gods, you're warm." Even in his aviator jacket, Nico could feel heat seeping in through the leather.

"Yeah, I get that a lot." Leo grinned, shifting his position and pulling Nico closer to him. "How's this?"

"Mm…" Nico felt his eyelids grow heavy, the cold no longer keeping him alert. "So… warm. You're like a… fireplace…" He went limp in Leo's arms, and even if the pyrokinetic wasn't the strongest guy out there, Nico was so thin he wasn't hard to support. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure thing, buddy," Leo answered. Up until this point, Leo always felt younger than Nico. Even if he was technically older, Nico was from a different era, decades before. He was forced to grow up on his own. He was a child of Hades, and probably more powerful a demigod than Leo'd ever be. But now? Leo realized Nico was just as much of a kid as he was, he just was much better at hiding it.

"I'm… a son of Hades… dangerous… angry… vengeful." He was slurring his words, making it hard to understand, but Leo listened. "I knew… about both camps… I tricked Percy… trapped him… in the Underworld… by accident. Do you think… I still deserve… trust?" Nico yawned, and Leo smiled.

"Oh." Leo whispered, remembering how he'd spoken about Nico at first. He bit his lip. "Percy would never hold that against you. He's a real good guy, y'know? He even forgave me after… well, let's just say I've done things I'm not proud of."

'Yeah, except that wasn't me,' he wanted to say. Leo shifted uncomfortably for a bit, before sighing. "If it helps… I trust you." It took a moment to get the words out—after all, wasn't it just moments ago that Leo was terrified of the kid he held in his arms now? "And even if you're a son of Hades, you don't seem too angry and vengeful to me. Your powers are wicked—in the good way." Leo couldn't help but think of his mother in the Underworld, which frightened him. Those were dangerous thoughts.

"Your mom…" Nico mumbled, as though he were reading his mind. "I can summon her… not now, too tired… but I can let you see her… one last time." Nico felt himself slipping into sleep, which was bad, because every time he slept, he had nightmares. But for some reason, he wasn't getting that feeling right now. Instead his mind filled with thoughts of Bianca and Percy, his father on Mount Olympus, and somewhere far in the back of his mind he remembered a mother's smile. These were all dreams, not nightmares, weren't they?

On the other hand, Leo's face grew pale. "I-I don't know," he stammered, "I don't think I could… Bro, I'm not sure I could handle… seeing my mom again… I just…"

"I get it. Don't worry, it's… it's tough to see them, I know." Nico cut him off, feeling himself being lulled into slumber. "Leo… Get some sleep."

"Ah… Will do, di Angelo." Leo nodded, before putting his arms under Nico and hoisting him up, carrying him into Percy's bunk.

"So, this is the kid who's in the legendary Percy Jackson's room, huh? Not bad. I think he might even deserve this room." Leo wasn't really sure who he was talking to—maybe Festus, but he was out of earshot, or a god, or maybe just himself—but talking just made him feel better. He flicked the light off. "Night, Nico."