NICO
He was perched on the yardarm, on the top of the foremast, alone with his thoughts when the winds carried Lord Hermes upon the Argo II.
For a god to be this close to the Ancient Lands, there had to be trouble. Especially when the Greek and Roman counterparts of the gods were fighting each other to regain control.
Hermes stood on the deck in a dark blue business suit. He was tossing his caduceus from one hand to another. The snakes Martha and George were complaining about how this ship didn't have rats and how the tossing about hurt.
Nico climbed down the mast to the god. Hermes smiled at him.
"Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades!", he said smiling but it looked strained, "I'm actually here to help you out"
Before Nico could question him about it, Leo and Piper came on to the deck.
"Holy Hephaestus! Is that a god on my deck?", Leo asked, his eyes wide open. Piper looked shocked, too stunned to move.
"Lord Hermes!", Piper squeaked.
"Uh, Leo", she said, nudging Leo, "We should go call the others.
Without another word, Leo turned, towing Piper away with him.
Nico could hear them explaining to Hazel and Frank.
"Hermes, not Herpes!", Nico could hear Leo cry out with exasperation, "Piper please tell them!"
"Mercury in Roman, I guess", Hazel interrupted thoughtfully.
Hermes smiled at Nico again. He making him uneasy but he dared not disrespect a god.
"Lord Hermes, what brings you here?", Nico asked, doing his level best to sound calm.
"Maybe we should wait for the others to come", Hermes replied casually. The ocean air ruffled his curly hair and Nico could see the corner over his eyes crinkled. Hermes looked strained.
Just then, Annabeth and Leo skidded to a halt in front of Hermes.
"Annabeth", Hermes nodded at her serenely.
"What-how ar-", Annabeth stuttered, "How can you be here?"
"My two forms have been reunited for a while", Hermes replied, "I'm here to take The Athena Parthenos, the satyr and the female roman praetor to Camp Halfblood."
Hermes looked at Nico, "You're free to come with us."
Nico bit his lip, thinking back to his meeting with Cupid.
Nico looked around and caught Jason's eye. Jason looked worried about Nico. But that was impossible because why would anybody worry about Nico?
Hazel walked over to Nico and hugged him. Nico felt a familiar but long forgotten rush. Was that how it felt like when Bianca hugged him? This was what a bit of love felt like.
Hazel stood on her toes and kissed his forehead.
She had seen his decision in his eyes. "Stay safe, Nico"
She stepped back and Frank put an arm around her.
"I'll come", Nico told Hermes.
Hermes clapped his hands and a huge white and good cloth appeared. It had a beautiful golden owl embroidered on it.
Just then Coach Hedge burst onto the deck.
He let out a battle cry, "Who're we killing today?!"
He stopped, when he saw Hermes. "Oh..."
Hermes waved his hand and the cloth flew over to Reyna whose hair hung out loosely from her braid, her dark eyes wide.
"Cover the statue, Daughter of Bellona", Hermes told her.
Nico had always got the impression that she was a calm and composed but strict and determined praetor, but right now she looked shocked.
She grabbed the cloth and hurried off to cover the statue.
"I'm ready to go!", Coach Hedge announced, waving his baseball bat.
Jason walked upto Nico and hugged him, even though Nico had specifically asked him never to touch him again. "You'll do the right thing", he said softly so no one except Nico could here. He was too shocked to respond so he stood limply while Jason hugged him.
Frank shook his hand and so did Leo.
It looked like Leo had thought of some comment but he thought better than to say it aloud.
Piper patted him on the back. "Good luck"
Nico smiled harshly. Good luck to a son of Hades. That was as funny as Zeus dancing around in his underwear.
Annabeth came over next, this time her eyes did show concern but Nico was sure she thought he'd somehow fuck up the Athena Parthenos.
"Take care, Nico", she said touching his arm. He had a hard time not jerking his arm away.
The others were saying goodbye to coach Hedge when Percy walked over.
His curly hair was ruffled and his sea green eyes looked strained and sad, totally unPercy like. He gave Nico a sad smile and Nico's heart did a somersault in his chest.
"Am I allowed to give you a hug?", he asked.
"I'd rather you don't", Nico replied through gritted teeth. Percy always had to make things so hard.
Percy looked hurt. He chewed on his lip and Nico tried not to notice.
"Okay then", Percy said shaking Nico's hand, "Be careful, please"
Nico walked over to Hermes, not looking at Percy again and just then the Athena Parthenos came flying back to the deck, the cloth covering it had apparently sprouted wings. Reyna jogged behind it, flushed.
After the girls had finished hugging Reyna and everybody had said goodbyes, Hermes clicked his fingers and the four of them and the Athena Parthenos vanished into thin air.
They stood in front of the Big House in Camp Halfblood, where Chiron was standing on the porch giving out orders to The Apollo and Ares cabin.
Before Chiron could possible see them, Nico whispered urgently to coach Hedge and Reyna, "Hey, I need to leave, now".
And before either of them could ask him anything, he had shadow travelled into the woods of camp Halfblood.
He appeared at the spot where two years ago Percy had found him, Juniper and Leneus.
Nico found a comfortable boulder and sat on it.
Before he could even get too comfortable, he heard footsteps. But the sound was muffled as if the foot was padded. The sound was so soft, most people would've missed it. Even demigods.
He turned around and saw a huge hellhound a few metres away from him. Nico stood still, waiting for the hellhound to make the first move.
The hellhound harmed happily and started licking Nico, making him fall flat on his back.
"Mrs. O'Leary?", Nico asked, laughing, after what seemed like a decade, as the hellhound drenched him with her saliva.
After Nico managed to stand up straight, Mrs. O'Leary gave him a solemn look. She shoved her head against Nico, urging him to sit on her.
Just then the sky rumbled and there was a flash of lightning. Reyna must've restored peace among the gods.
Mrs. O'Leary shoved her head at Nico again, this time more urgently.
"What's up, girl?", Nico asked helping himself onto her back.
As soon as he sat, Mrs. O'Leary shadow travelled away.
He found himself in front of his father's palace.
Fear clogged his throat. He didn't want to see his father. What if Hades had found out about his feelings?
"Uh, girl, I think you got us to the wrong place", Nico squeaked.
Just then the doors of the palace flew open and Hades stood in black jeans and a black t shirt that said, "Scary just got sexy". He looked younger than Nico had ever seen him before.
Nico gingerly got off the hellhound's back and walked upto his father and knelt.
"Come in, Nico", Hades' rich voice rumbled. "Seems like we have a lot of catching up to do"