Ch. 7: Strange, I thought, how you can be living your dreams and your nightmares at the very same time.
Camp Half-Blood stood as empty as Pompeii in the days and weeks and years following the eruption of Vesuvius. The stables held no pegasus. No naiads splashed campers from the lake. The climbing wall spewed no lava and shook no campers from its heights.
A dusky twilight hung over the grounds, withered strawberries still clinging to desiccated vines. The cabins stood pristine and solemn under a stormy sky. No thunder or lightning plagued the deserted camp, but dark purple clouds hung over the expanse of fields and woods.
"Nico!"
The voice of Bob- Iapetus- boomed across the expanse. In the quiet, the sudden noise hurt, and Nico clapped his hands over his ears. When it had faded, Nico lowered his hands.
"Bob?" Nico's voice sounded muffled. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "Bob!"
Again, the titan's voice called out, "Nico! Friend!"
Nico ran through the camp, throwing open doors, shouting, "Is anyone here? Hello?" The inside of the cabins showed no signs of life. However, full hampers and personal belongings showed that the campers' presence had not been erased.
Still, Iaepetus' voice cried for him. "Nico! Help us!"
Nico stopped to catch his breath with his hands on his knees, panting and gulping in great mouthfuls of air. A cold wind picked up and blew through the camp, whipping dirt and debris up into the son of Hades' face.
He brought up his hands to block the worst of the sudden gale and choked back the panic welling inside of him. "Where are you? Bob!"
Bob didn't answer. A voice whispered-like leaves caught in a spider web in a slight breeze- echoing across the camp.
"Nico."
It came from everywhere and nowhere. Nico turned in circles, trying to pinpoint from where the voice came. The oracle, maybe? No. She was in Paris. Rachel was far and away. She wasn't due back for several months yet.
The windows of the Big House were shuttered as if warding off the deep gloom that had fallen. That left the dining pavilion as the only place Nico had not searched. As if sensing the demigod had discovered where he needed to go, the wind stopped as suddenly as it started. The silence grew until, feeling as though he would flatten under the pressure, Nico began to walk-and then run- toward the dining pavilion, his heart threatening to beat out of his chest.
Nico halted abruptly as soon as he entered the building. The missing campers all gathered in the enormous hall, but- something was wrong. Nico frowned. Each camper faced away from him, standing at attention to the dais raised at the end where Chiron and Mr. D usually sat. Shaking, Nico made his way to the head table, weaving around the demigods and naiads, satyrs and dryads. Finally reaching his goal, Nico climbed the steps before taking a deep breath and turning around.
Each inhabitant of Camp Half-Blood looked up toward him, faces expressionless and staring. However, they weren't blank- not like the dolls and masks that filled vendors' carts during Carnevale in Italy. No. The faces were filled with life- the last vestiges of intelligence and emotion right before being snuffed out by death.
Nico searched the crowd. There- Nyssa standing next to Miranda Gardner. And there- Lacy holding on to her older brother Mitchell's arm.
Nico's eyes darted over the crowd, recognizing camper after camper, identifying satyrs and dryads and naiads until his eyes found him- Will.
The voice hissed, "Nico."
The son of Hades whipped around, but no one stood behind him. He turned back to the assembled residents of Camp Half-Blood again but recoiled in horror. Their skin cracked and peeled, bits of flesh drifting into the air and floating like ash. Umber and purple energy crackled beneath the sheaths of their mortal bodies.
The wind picked up again. Nico stumbled backward, crying out in pain as his ankles hit the legs of the table. The earth began to shake, and cracks formed in the floor of the pavilion. Campers dissolved into dust, their remains caught by the wind and scattered out and over the camp. Purple light shone through the widening fissures in the ground.
Nico steadied himself and ran, dodging crumbling demigods and creatures until he reached the outside of the dining hall. He sprinted toward the edge of Camp, heading for Half-Blood Hill and the old pine tree where Peleus guarded the Golden Fleece. Several times Nico tripped and fell, choking on the ash of the dead. He scrambled to his feet more times than he could count and kept on, feeling that dark and horrid energy reaching toward him, groaning and hungering for another addition to its all-encompassing destruction.
A sob built in the back of his throat as the tall pine tree came into view. His relief was dashed as the remnants of Peleus pulled apart in the wind and purple energy soaked into the ground. Pine needles fell from the tree like rain, and the Golden Fleece smoked and faded until it, too, was dust.
Nico slowed and felt the energy close in on all sides. He screamed into the gathering storm, "What do you want from me!?"
As if swallowed by an undertow, everything went deathly silent. The voice- the whispering voice- uttered one word before a roaring wave of oblivion overtook Nico, and everything ceased to be.
Listen.
Nico gasped, his eyelids flying open. He stared at the ceiling, chest heaving until- quite suddenly, he kicked his feet free from the tangle of sweat-soaked sheets and dashed for the waste bin by his desk. He fell to his knees and retched, bile splattering against the sides of the small can.
It was several minutes before he could breathe normally again. He slumped against the desk and kicked his legs out in front of him, gasping in air.
It was just a dream. It was just a dream. It was just a dream.
His shoulders shook as quiet sobs wracked his body.
Gods, it was just a dream! Please let it be just a dream.
The need to fade into the shadows seemed to overwhelm Nico.
He swallowed convulsively, trying to gain control over his breath. He pushed himself to his knees and pulled open a drawer in the desk, rifling through his belongings until he found a sheet of paper. He sighed, remembering the small box he had left behind at camp. With trembling fingers, he pulled the sheet out and sat down, scanning the paper quickly.
Emergency Kit:
Opposite Emotions
Change of scenery
Change of temperature
Smell
Grounding
The list was short, and the corresponding objects had been left behind in his haste to pack for the Waystation. Frustrated by his lack of foresight, Nico crumpled the paper and tossed it back into the drawer. He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the side of the desk.
Breathe in for a count of four.
Hold for a count of four.
Exhale for a count of four.
Hold for a count of four.
Breathe in for…
Nico continued to breathe in counts of four until the shaking of his shoulders and hands subsided. Then, slowly, Nico began to focus on the dream.
It was always the same, more or less. The deserted camp. The dying children of the gods. The destruction of the earth.
Could it be Gaea? No. She remained defeated, her forces scattered and demolished.
The Triumvirate? Absolutely not. The emperors were gone for good, their souls- their souls nowhere to be found in all of existence.
Kronos? Nico snorted. After everything that had happened, the Titan Lord seemed the most minimal of threats he had faced in his short life.
But what then? And where? For all Nico knew, Bob languished in Tartarus with Damasen and anything else that ever regenerated and was reborn from the pustules below the Underworld.
The son of Hades opened his eyes and stared at the dustmotes lazily drifting through the air, illuminated by the light of the full moon.
Ash. All that we are returns to ash.
Bile hit the back of his throat, and he curled around the waste bin once again. After heaving for several minutes, Nico wiped his mouth and stood unsteadily.
Change of scenery. That, at least, I can do.
He stumbled toward his door and carefully cracked it open, peeking into the hallway until he determined the coast was clear: he didn't want to run into anyone.
He followed his feet to the staircase and began to descend before freezing: voices came from the kitchen. A voice that rumbled like quiet thunder: Olujime. A low and cocky question: Lityerses. Hissing replies: Sssssarah. They must have just come back from patrol.
Nico turned back the way he came and padded down the hallway, passing his and Leo's rooms once more. He kept his gaze to the floor, lost in a sea of thought- ideas and hypotheses coming and going like flotsam drifting on the tide.
The hallway seemed to stretch on, impossibly long and straight. Nico had no idea how long he had been walking when he reached a staircase containing five narrow steps leading up to an equally narrow door.
Nico climbed the stairs and pushed gently on the door as if pulled by some invisible force, feeling it swing open under his touch.
A small balcony stood fully encased in the bright light of the moon. A cool breeze-refreshing and bright and oh so different from the ominous gale from his dream-caressed his face. He closed his eyes and let the pale light wash over him.
"Nico?" A soft and gentle voice called his name. He wrenched his eyes open in panic and reached for the shadows, feeling them instantly answer his call. Even with the light of the moon shining down, he could tell he was hidden entirely- the sounds of the world muffled by the sighing moans and fleeting whispers of the darkness.
Calypso. It was just Calypso. She stood before him, washed in grayscale from the shadows covering Nico's eyes. He let the shadows drop and collapsed to his knees. Calypso hesitated before him, unsure of an approach.
That familiar gnawing ate away at him, clawing from the inside. Will's voice echoed through his mind- "You can't keep doing this, Nico. It's going to destroy you, and...and you don't even seem to care!"
Nico smiled weakly up at Calypso. "Sorry. I...didn't mean to disturb you. Give me a second, and I'll leave."
Cal frowned and crossed the balcony, kneeling when she reached the demigod. "What's going on? How did you find this place?"
Nico shook his head, unsure why she was asking. "Just went for a walk."
"Do you need help up?"
In response to the offer, Nico groaned and pushed himself to his feet, panting. "I'm fine. Sorry, again." He turned and began to leave when, unbidden, his talk with Dionysus made him pause.
Why not now?
Nico turned. "I'm...I'm sorry to ask, but…."
Calypso smiled from where she still knelt. "What is it?"
Nico leaned heavily into the doorframe. "Can you please help me? Like you did before? With the shadows, I mean."
The ex-goddess stood immediately and crossed over to him. Cal pulled his arm around her shoulders and helped him to a small bench lined with white flowers whose faces tilted upward to the moon. Nico could not recall having seen them before but, yet, the plants looked so familiar.
Like before, the two of them sat: Nico slumped back against the bench, his hand held between both hands of the daughter of Atlas. The breeze smoothed the creases from Nico's forehead and welcomed him to indulge in a small respite from the world. He felt like he was floating on a soft light before Cal's voice drew him out.
"All done." She sounded exhausted, and Nico immediately felt guilt hit his stomach.
"I…" he cast about for what to say. How many times could he apologize in one night? In one hour even. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to...I shouldn't have…." He broke off with a sigh and stared dejectedly at the ground.
Calypso smiled wearily. "Shouldn't have what? Asked for help?"
The demigod nodded.
"Nico…" Cal looked up at the moon but didn't relinquish her hold on Nico's hand. "I know how easy it can be to feel like a burden when you're not at your best. But…" She turned her gaze on him and asked, "Isn't that what friends are for? To help in times of need? I know we've just really met but, well, I'd like to consider the possibility of us being friends. Wouldn't you?"
Nico bit his lip and didn't respond.
Calypso sighed. "I'm not a fan of asking for help either, you know. After being on that island for so long...but, sometimes, I can quiet that feeling of being an inconvenience by flipping it. What if it were one of my friends? Needing help? They are worth being kind to. And, so, I try to be kind to myself where I can. I come up here, and I garden. I plant, and I nurture and cut away the dead things that are weighing my flowers down. I do what is needed."
She patted Nico's hand and set it back in his lap, smiling. "I understand it can be hard and that there are days where it feels like there's no forward motion at all. From what I've heard about you, you have the biggest heart and so much patience for everyone but yourself."
"Sometimes," Calypso stood and walked over to a small table that held small pruning scissors and a watering can. She wrapped her hand around the handle of the can and lifted it, water sloshing against the insides. "Sometimes, you will be an inconvenience. That's just...how it is. All you can do, then, is trust your loved ones to love you enough that they'll deal with that. And that's hard. But also kind of the point of having a family."
The pitter-patter of water sprinkling the plants filled the night air pleasantly.
"I don't mind being inconvenienced by my friends now and then- I like feeling useful. But it means that when I have to call on them to help me, I don't feel as burdensome. Relationships are reciprocal. You constantly put yourself out for people. It's okay to need help in your own turn."
Calypso fell silent and pulled back her watering can. She reached a finger out and gently traced a brown and wilting petal; several dried and dead leaves sprouted from the dying stalk.
Nico swallowed thickly and asked, "What are those?"
The ex-goddess set the watering can back down on the table and picked up her pruning scissors.
"Moonlace."
A memory clicked for Nico, and he spoke up. "You...you gave one to Percy, right?" Nico stood from the bench and joined her.
Calypso nodded with a sad smile. "I gave him a bit of Ogygia so he wouldn't forget me in New York." She clipped the dead flower at the base of the plant.
Nico watched her work in silence before offering, "Can I help you?"
She glanced over and shrugged. "Sure. There's another set on the bottom shelf."
Together, the pair worked in silence as the moon tracked across the sky, slowly giving way to the first rays of the sun. The flower blooms began to close against the light. Finally, Nico and Calypso returned their tools to the table and retreated indoors, stifling yawns.
"Thanks for your help with the flow-flowe-flowers." Calypso spoke through a large yawn. "We had too much rain last week, I'm afraid- some of the Moonlace developed root rot. So I'll be pulling and replanting the ones I can save." She glanced at Nico out of the corner of her eye. "You...wanna help?"
Nico considered, staring at the floor as they walked. "Well," he looked up at Calypso. "That's what friends do, right? Help each other out?" He gave her a small and somewhat unsure smile.
Calypso beamed at him. "Yes. Friends." They got to Nico's room and halted outside of the door. "I'm on patrol tonight. What about tomorrow?"
But Nico was already shaking his head. "I go tomorrow. Sunday?"
The ex-goddess nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Now," Cal held a hand over her mouth as she yawned again. "I'm going to go take a quick nap. See you later, Nico." She turned, starting to make her way down the stairs.
"Calypso, wait!" The girl turned, and Nico continued. "What did you mean earlier? When you asked how I even found the balcony?"
"Oh," Cal sounded surprised. "I just thought it was interesting. I'm the only one with a key to that door- I found it a couple weeks after moving here and feeling...overwhelmed." Cal shrugged. "I guess it's not so much of a surprise. Even if you didn't know you needed help, the Waystation did." Calypso winked and left.
Nico stared after her with a soft expression on his face, not hearing the snick of a door opening behind him.
"Oh, uh, good morning?" Nico turned around. Leo stood in a rumpled red t-shirt and pair of cargo pants, one hand still in his unkempt curls. "Didn't figure you for an early riser." The son of Hephaestus scratched his chest before grinning. "Care to accompany me to breakfast?"
Leo's good mood was contagious, and Nico felt himself smile in return.
"Give me a second."
Leo nodded and peered closer. "You okay, bro? You look drained."
Shrugging, Nico opened his door. "Just didn't sleep so well."
"Ah," Leo bobbed his head up and down knowingly, following Nico into his room. "You normally have a hard time sleeping?"
"Eh," Nico, in a wild moment of transparency, decided to be honest. "Usually. More so, lately. Nightmares."
Leo's fingers played a rhythm against the cargo pants he wore. He watched as Nico pulled a set of clean clothes from the dresser. Nico set them on the bed and reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it midway up his chest before freezing. His startled eyes met Leo's, who watched him nonchalantly.
"Uh, Leo?"
"What's up?"
"Do you mind?"
"What?" Leo looked confused for all of a second before he realized he was staring at Nico as the other boy attempted to undress. "Oh-schist-uh, yeah. I'll, uh, just go. Right." Leo hastened to the door, running into and knocking over Nico's chair in the process. "Ow! Schist. Yeah, sorry." He turned the chair upright and hurried to the door, calling over his shoulder: "See you down there!"
Nico dressed in a hurry, eager to get down to the kitchen for reasons that eluded him. As soon as Nico was decked in clean clothing, he hastened down the stairs and into the kitchen. Remembering what Emmie had said about fending for themselves, Nico grabbed an orange from a fruit bowl and glanced at the table. Only Leo and Lit sat at the table, glaring at each other. The son of Hades could feel the tension in the air and warily sat down.
He began to peel the orange bit by bit when he spied a cup of what looked like coffee in Lit's hand. Following his gaze, Leo grinned. "You want some coffee?"
Leo jumped up from the table without waiting for an answer, abandoning his bowl of cereal. He grabbed a mug from one of the cabinets. While Leo poured from a pot in the corner by the fridge Nico had overlooked, Lit turned his attention to the newest inhabitant.
"So. Any ideas on dinner tonight? Emmie wants us to use up the eggplants. I guess they're about to turn." His voice, while not as deep as Olujime's, held to a lower baritone.
Nico shook his head. "Haven't the faintest. I don't even know what they have on hand."
"We." Leo sat down again and pushed a mug of coffee across the table to Nico. "You live here now. I wasn't sure what you wanted in the coffee. Cream and sugar are on the table."
Nico nodded but reached for neither, picking the mug up and sipping from it carefully.
Lit continued talking as though Leo wasn't there, tearing a roll into pieces and dipping it into his coffee. "I have to warn you now. I'm not nearly as good at cooking as I am with a sword." He grinned and winked at Nico.
Leo snorted. "So, you suck a ton at cooking as opposed to just being normal bad?"
Lit tossed a piece of the roll at Leo. "Shut it, Commander Tool Belt." He smirked as Leo glowered. "Anyway, I don't have any ideas."
Nico popped a slice of orange into his mouth thoughtfully. "Are we allowed to help ourselves to stuff in the garden, too?"
The son of Demeter nodded, "As long as you don't over pick and you harvest right. You give me a list, and I can grab it for you. If we have it, I'll get it."
Nico half-smiled. "Thanks."
Lit raised his mug in acknowledgment before pushing out his chair. "I'm spending the day with Livia today. We're gonna be taking off next week. She'll be spending a month in New Rome. Anyway," Lit saluted the two demigods. "See you later."
Nico watched Lit go, aware that Leo glared at the other demigod's back as he retreated.
"So."
Leo looked at Nico. "So what?"
"What was all that about? You guys looked like you were about to cut each other."
"Lit thinks he's an all-knowing 'good' friend." Leo scowled and pushed his cereal away, pillowing his head on his crossed arms. "He has corn for brains. It's only been a few days."
"A few days? What do you mean?"
Leo shook his head and moved so that when he spoke next, his voice was muffled. "Since me and Cal."
Nic felt a slight twinge in his chest, and his excellent mood somewhat fell. "Oh." He thought about the time spent with Leo the previous day and struggled to push it from his mind. "You...wanna talk about it?"
Leo shook his head but then sat up and started, "I don't know. I just…I feel dumb."
"Dumb?" Nico raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Leo slipped down into his chair, his head resting on the hard back of the headrest. "I mean, I thought that I'd feel worse. For longer." Leo focused on the ceiling, refusing to look at Nico.
Nico popped another orange slice in his mouth and remained silent, letting Leo take his time to talk.
"I don't know. Maybe Cal was right. Maybe it was just circumstance. Otherwise, I wouldn't be feeling…." Leo's hands drummed against the top of the table, and he trailed off.
"Feeling what?" Leo started as if he had forgotten Nico was there. He shifted so that he was sitting upright in his chair once more.
He scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly. "Nothing. Just. I've had a good couple of days, that's all. I wasn't expecting it."
And again, Nico felt a small thrill of disappointment. "Oh. Well. That's good, I guess. Mr. D said that volunteering and focusing on stuff outside of yourself can help, so that could be it." He smiled around the last bite of orange and swallowed. "Just remember: go at your own pace. It took me a while to get over-"
Nico ground to a halt, his eyes flicking away from Leo, who sat forward, his interest piqued.
"To get over what?"
Nico shook his head and stood up, pushing his chair out in the process. He gathered his shredded orange peel and carried it over to the compost bin. "Nothing. Forget I said it."
Leo crossed his arms at the table and narrowed his eyes.
You should just tell him. He's told you about Cal. Maybe you can tell him about Will.
Nico smiled at Leo. "I just think it takes everyone their own amount of time to get over changes in relationships with people. No matter how much they might wish to alter those timelines."
Leo's scowl softened. "Yeah. I suppose so." He stretched his arms above his head and grabbed his cereal plate, also leaving the table. Depositing them in the sink, Leo grinned at Nico. "Well, if you get bored today, I'll be in my room. I have some projects I have to work on."
Leo left the kitchen and made his way over to the stairs, disappearing before Nico could tell him to have a good day.
Nico glanced around the empty hall.
What am I supposed to do with myself?
He walked to the fridge to take a gander at what the Waystation had on hand. To his dismay, it was woefully understocked.
Emmie mentioned that Jo does the shopping on Mondays. So maybe they're just out of stuff closer to the end of the week?
The son of Hades rifled through the cabinets and pantry, pulling various components out to set on the counter. All in all, once he had brought out what could be useful and what he could actually use, only olive oil and red-colored mozzarella sat on the counter. Nico sighed and put the two ingredients away. He spied a notepad sticking to the fridge and ripped a piece of paper off before pulling a pen from a drawer containing an assortment of junk next to the silverware drawer.
Needed:
5 tomatoes
Basilico
5 heads garlic
Parmigiano
Nico looked over his list and nodded, satisfied that the dish, while simple, would be a welcome addition to dinner that night if not outright enjoyed.
He jotted down a few additional vegetable requests for a salad to go with the main dish but then set off toward the stairs before stopping.
Where is the elephant enclosure?
Nico stood at the base of the staircases, looking lost. He had just decided to ignore and bypass the staircases and go through the doors directly under them when the central entrance opening behind him caught his attention. Jo moved out from the doorway, frowning.
"This isn't where I wanted to go." She smiled as soon as she saw Nico looking lost. "And that would explain it. Whatcha looking for?"
Nico stared at her in puzzlement.
"The Waystation. Remember? Has a way of taking you places where you need to be or are needed." She crossed over through the Grand Hall and clapped Nico on the shoulder. "I was leaving my personal workshop, which would have set me closer to the rooms, but I guess the station had other plans. And you look lost." Her eyes shut when she smiled. "So, where were you trying to get?"
"The elephant enclosure?"
Jo beamed. "Right then. If you go past the staircases, the hall will branch off. You want the one on the left. Only hall that leads there. If you're ever really lost, you should be able to open almost any door, and the station will help you. Unless it disagrees with where you need to be. Then you might be held hostage for a little while."
"Ah," Nico wasn't particularly thrilled at the thought of not being able to leave if a somewhat non-sentient being deemed it necessary that he remain. "Thanks for the tip."
"Sure thing! See you around, Nico." Jo walked off, humming under her breath as she climbed the staircase to her and Emmie's room.
Holding the list of vegetables tightly against his chest, Nico followed the directions Jo gave him. Once he reached the door, he raised his hand and knocked. A loud trumpeting sounded from beyond the door, and he heard Lityerses' laughter.
"Come on in!"
Nico pushed open the door and entered. Lit stood underneath the raised trunk of an elephant which held a large quantity of thin and supple branches lined with leaves.
Lit didn't glance in Nico's direction but raised a finger in warning to Livia. "Don't you dare Liv. Don't even-" The elephant relinquished her hold on the foliage and let it rain down around Lit. "-think about it." Although his face was stern, Lit's eyes shone with mirth. He turned his attention to the son of Hades.
"Hey, Nico. Figure out what you want to make?"
Nico nodded and crossed to hand Lit his list. The son of Demeter took it and scanned the items. "I...don't recognize a couple of these. Basilico? You mean basil? Easy enough. We have tons- Calypso has a special way with herbs. Might have to go to the store for the-parmesan? But the rest we can grab from the garden. Should be easy."
Lit folded the list and shoved it into his pocket. "I'll grab those once I'm done here. If you really need the parmesan, you can ask Jo for a bit of the grocery money and go to the market. It's not a far walk."
"Where exactly is it?"
Lit studied Nico for a moment before answering. "Actually, Leo's not doing anything today except working on some stuff for the station. You should see if he wants to go with you."
Nico nodded and turned to go, but Lit continued talking. "Be careful with him, okay?"
Nico halted and turned. "What do you mean?"
Lit shrugged and stopped to pick up one of the branches, He offered it to Livia, who tugged it out of his hand with her trunk and gently placed it into her mouth. "He doesn't really know what he wants right now."
Nico shook his head. "I still have no idea what you're talking about. I literally just got here this week."
Lit held up his hands as if calming an agitated animal. "All I'm saying is, you and Leo seemed to have clicked pretty quickly-"
"We've met before. We spent time together on the Argo." Nico could feel the scowl creeping up over his face. "It's not like we're strangers."
"But," Lit crossed his arms across his chest. "You were both in different spaces before. Trying to save the world brings some people closer together and shoves others apart." Lit sighed and dropped his hands. "I'm just asking you to be aware of what he's going through right now, alright? That's all I wanted to say." Lit mimed pulling a zipper closed across his mouth and throwing something away. "I won't say any more on the matter." He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at Nico. "Unless, of course, you hurt him. Then we'll have some real words. Or swords. Your pick."
Nico sighed in frustration. "I don't understand what you're getting at, Lit." He shook his head and turned to go, "I'll see you later. Don't forget- I need five heads of garlic." Nico waved a hand over his head and left without a backward glance.
What was that about?
Nico trudged back the way he had come, his good mood from earlier in the day almost entirely gone.
It's not like we're strangers. We're not.
Nico thought back to the group conversations aboard the Argo and the couple of late-night discussions he had held with the demigod. But, Leo had always been so preoccupied after coming back from Ogygia the first time. Before that...
He shook his head, angry with himself.
It doesn't matter what you thought on the ship. That was before Calypso. And besides, after the war, you had Will. Get over it already.
But try as he might, Nico couldn't shake the memories in the back of his mind that had led him to believe that maybe, after the war, he and Leo might pick up where they had left off.
Nico shook his head again and stormed through the hallway.
Nico had been lost in the hall for several hours. Try as he might, no matter which direction he went or what different branch he turned down, Nico wound up back in front of his and Leo's doors.
I just need to find Jo to ask about the money and go to the store. Is that so hard?!
Nico tried to leave his mind blank, noticing different paths in the corridor ahead. As he approached them, he made a last-minute decision and dashed to the right...right back to his and Leo's rooms.
He growled in frustration and punched the wall before turning and sliding down it. He scowled at his feet.
I will not give in to a house- a station! I am in control of myself.
But, after several more back and forth trips up and down the hallway, Nico was forced to give up. Hair escaping its tie and resignation written on his face, Nico knocked on Leo's door.
A tinkling sound, like pipes ringing as they clanged against each other, came from the other side of the door along with a muffled curse. The voice called, "Who is it?"
Nico's scowl deepened. "Nico."
Then there came a thud followed by a, "Don't come in!" Nico raised an eyebrow but did as he was asked. He stayed where he was until the door opened a crack, just wide enough to fit Leo's head.
"What's up, man?"
Nico's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing in there?"
"Nothing. Definitely nothing." Leo smiled sheepishly and came entirely out of the room, making sure the door clicked behind him. "What's up?"
The son of Hades sighed. "I need help, and the Waystation won't let me get it." At Leo's confused expression, Nico continued. "It keeps shunting me into this hallway, but I need to see Jo to get some grocery money."
Leo grinned. "It must have known you needed me. Jo gave me the grocery money. She wanted me to do the shopping on Monday because she has to go into the city for parts. I was going to go on my way back from Dayspring." Leo held up one finger. "Give me a second, and I'll be right back out with it."
The son of Hephaestus opened his door just wide enough for him to slip through and disappeared, shutting the door in Nico's face. Several seconds passed, with more thuds and crashes coming from inside the room. When Leo reappeared, he had a scratch on his forehead and a smudge of grease on his cheek.
He raised an envelope for Nico to see. "Got the money."
Nico reached for it, but Leo pulled it back. "Now, hold on a second. Do you know where the store is?"
Rolling his eyes, Nico said, "I'm sure I can find it."
Leo clicked his tongue against his teeth. "I'm sure you'd be able to find it eventually...one day...maybe. But, if I come with you, you won't get lonely!"
"I'm not lonely."
"Okay, you won't get lost."
"I won't get lost."
"You won't have to carry everything yourself?"
"I'm only getting, ah...parmigiano."
"Alright, alright, alright." Even though Leo seemed to concede the point, he grinned and stuck the envelope into his own pocket. "I'm still coming with you."
Nico's sigh was drawn out and long-suffering. "Fine. Let's go."
Leo beamed and jogged to the stairs, eager to leave the Waystation. He glanced back over to Nico, who pinched the bridge of his nose. "You coming, Ghost Boy?"
"Ghost King," Nico grumbled. "How hard is it to say Ghost King?"
Either Leo didn't hear him, or Leo ignored him. Nico was sure it was the latter. He slowly walked over to join Leo. As they descended the stairs together and entered the Grand Hall to leave, they crossed paths with Lit. The son of Midas held multiple eggplants in his arms. He raised an eyebrow at Nico before turning his attention to Leo.
"Don't come back too late, Leo. Remember Nico, and I need to make dinner." Lit smirked as Leo glowered.
"We're only going to the store, you moron."
"Well, like I said this morning-"
"Are those the eggplants?" Nico stared at the vegetables in Lit's arms. "I...I wasn't expecting so many."
Lit glanced down at the nine large eggplants. "Uh, well, I figure between me and Olujime and Jo, there won't be too much leftover."
Nico moved forward and began to pick up the eggplants one by one, turning them this way and that before placing them back in Lit's arms and examining the next. "Mannaggia a me. Mannaggia a me!" His face became more and more dismayed. "There's way too many! I don't know what to make with all of this!"
Lit stared at Nico with wide eyes. "Uh. Well…" His eyes shifted to Leo for help.
Leo tried to smooth things over with Nico. "Well, you don't have to use all of them, dude. We can just compost the rest?"
Nico glared at the two demigods. "That's a waste of perfectly good eggplants." Nico crossed his arms and stared at the eggplants as if they were to blame for every evil thing in the world. Finally, he nodded his head as if coming to a decision.
"A mali estremi, estremi rimedi." He grabbed Leo's wrist and turned, pulling the son of Hephaestus toward the door. He called over his shoulder to the son of Demeter. "I'll be back in one hour, Lit! Peel and slice the eggplants. All of them."
Lit stood dumbfounded but found his voice to shout, "Cut them how?"
"Disks, Lit. Cut them into disks." Nico yelled back to the Cornhusker and pushed the door open with one hand, still dragging Leo behind him. "And soak half of them in water and salt, capisci?"
Nico stormed out of the Waystation, grumbling under his breath.
Here, Nico. Have some eggplants. Have some more eggplants! Oh, did I mention we have eggplants?
Leo wisely chose to stay quiet as he let Nico pull him along the street. It wasn't until halfway down Meridian that Nico stopped quite suddenly and dropped Leo's wrist.
"I, uh...I don't know where I'm going." He looked sideways at Leo, a delicate blush staining his cheeks as he bit his lip.
Leo turned in the opposite direction and kept walking. "This way, Ghost Boy. Needler's should have what you need."
Silently, Nico let Leo lead him the right way.
"So," Leo finally broke the quiet. "Whatcha got planned for the rest of the eggplant."
Nico shoved his hands in his pockets and answered quietly, "Melanzane al cioccolato."
"Melan what now?"
"Melanzane al cioccolato. We eat it during Ferragosto. We're a few weeks late from when it's traditionally made for the festivals, but...I think you guys will like it. Maybe? If not...well," Nico gave a slight smirk and looked at Leo, "You better eat it, at least."
Leo swallowed heavily. "Uh, sure?"
After close to twenty minutes, the pair had made it to the market. Another ten, and they were back out, their arms carrying several bags.
"So, should I be afraid of the ingredients you got?" Leo looked at the bags suspiciously. "Like...are you planning on putting chocolate with the eggplant, or is it just for me since I helped you out and everything?"
Nico smirked. "You'll just have to be patient and wait like everyone else." Nico's smile turned genuine, and he softly said, "Thank you. For the help."
"Don't mention it, Ghost Boy."
Rolling his eyes, Nico huffed, "Ghost King, Leo." But the words had no real bite.
Once back in the Waystation, Nico shooed Leo away and called for Lit.
"Did you peel the eggplant?"
"Yes."
"Are they sliced?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Did you-"
"Nico, they're right in front of you."
"Ah. Right." Nico grabbed the eggplant disks soaking in water and salt and shoved them into Lit's hands. "Take these. Pat them dry and line a quarter of them in a pan for me, okay? It should be a deeper casserole pan. Can you brush them with olive oil?"
Lit nodded, eyes wide, while Nico rummaged in the cabinets until he found a cutting board.
"Are there any knives?" Lit pointed a finger to the side of the fridge to a magnetized knife rack. "Thanks." Nico grabbed a utility knife, basil, and garlic before setting up on the counter across from Lit. The two worked in silence: Nico chopping and mincing ingredients while Lit carefully lined the pan.
"Grab me the salt, would you Lit?" Nico set about combining the chopped ingredients, spices, and olive oil before handing it over to Lit. "Go ahead and spoon that onto the eggplant."
Nico sliced the mozzarella into medallions and then worked his way onto the tomatoes. He handed Lit the platter of cheese and tomatoes. "Layer the cheese and tomatoes on, then start over with the layers. You should have enough for three to four."
Nico crossed to the oven and checked inside before turning the oven on to preheat. "As soon as you're finished, go ahead and put it in for thirty minutes. Okay?"
Lit nodded, a serious expression on his face.
"I'm going to start on dessert. Once you get that in, let me know, and I'll have you candy some oranges."
Lit stared at the son of Hades. "Where did you even learn all this? Was your mom a chef or something?"
Nico shrugged. "My family had a personal chef. I used to sneak away from history lessons and watch him in the kitchen." He smiled faintly. "He taught me some things after he realized I was already picking some of it up here and there. He even let me help him when my grandfather was away for business."
Nico brusquely set a pan onto a burner and set about heating it up before frying up slices of eggplant. As soon as each piece was lightly fried, he set them aside on a plate and paper towel.
Lit started on the last layer as Nico beat eggs together in one bowl and combined flour and cinnamon in another.
"Done." Lit wiped his hands on his jeans and joined Nico in front of the stove. "What can I help with?"
"Wash your hands again, and then mix a cup of sugar with lemon zest."
Lit did as he was told while Nico fried the eggplant medallions a second time. He laid them back onto fresh paper towels and said to Lit, "Sprinkle that on these now, and then we'll set them aside, and I'll teach you how to candy orange."
Lit watched, mesmerized, as Nico walked him through dicing and simmering the oranges in sugar before combining them with pine nuts to chill in the fridge.
"Alright. The millefoglie is finished." Nico pulled the casserole pan from the oven and toed the door of the oven shut. "How much time before dinner?"
"None." Lit grinned at Nico. "The vultures are already circling."
As lively as Nico had been unobserved, he became quiet and withdrawn as the others made their way to the kitchen in twos and threes. Calypso came down the stairs and smiled at Nico as she filled her plate.
"It smells delicious. Thanks, Nico."
Lit protested, "I helped too, you know." Calypso rolled her eyes so only Nico could see and took a seat at the table.
Leo was the last one down, but the first one finished. He asked, somewhat trepidatiously, "So, do we get to find out what you did with the rest of the eggplant?"
Nico nodded. The son of Hades got up and showed how each of them could help themselves by spooning chocolate sauce onto the plate and then layering the orange and pine nut mixture on top before adding another layer. Finally, he topped the whole thing off with more chocolate and pine nuts. "I'm sorry the chocolate sauce isn't homemade. I didn't think I'd have enough time to make it right."
The group waved away his apologies, and he brought the first helping to Leo, who took a massive bite of the dish. He tilted his head side to side before swallowing. "Not bad, Ghost Boy. What is it called again?"
"Melanzane al cioccolato."
As the group sat around joking and laughing, eating chocolate eggplant, Nico smiled. For the first time in months, he felt at ease.
"Strange, I thought, how you can be living your dreams and your nightmares at the very same time."- Ransom Riggs