It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine!

by Slythery

Nico Di Angelo was normal. As normal as a halfblood could be anyway. But then, he discovered his family, his chosen family. Not some half-bloods he was forced to trust while on a life endangering quest, not a god and a mortal, not a dead ghostly sister and another sister that had died years after he was born. Not a prophecy. But monsters, killers, they were his family.

1. Chapter 1

Nico finds the Slender's forest for the first time :)

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Nico was young when he'd first found his home, wandering in the forests of Italy, his mother had taken her children on a picnic and he'd gotten lost, separated from Bianca after running too far away. He adjusted his coat, the small fabric thing that held only his mythomagic cards and barely kept him warm, he admired the trees, feeling unusually small from the large canopy over top him. He kept going, fearful but trying to push away the battling feelings of curiosity and exhaustion, which slowly increased among his walk. The leaves crunched underneath him and shadows bent towards him, menacing yet inviting.

"Bianca!" He called, looking around the trees. He frowned, frustrated at the forest for looking the same with every turn he took. A chill ran up his spine, and in the shadows he thought he saw two golden glowing eyes. Instinctively, he ran, silent but desperate to get away. His breaths were heavy, his skin clammy and cold. How had it gotten so cold? It was only the fall, it shouldn't be this cold. He fell over a root, tumbling down onto the forest floor with years in his eyes and a cry of pain. He'd only scraped his knee, but it still hurt.

"Bianca! Mama!" He sucked in a breath, cradling his knee close and searching through the leaves to collect his box of cards and his few figurines of the gods.

"Hey, kid, you ok?" Nico flinched, eyes wide as he searched for the voice. He didn't speak much English, but he understood enough to know they were asking about him, speaking to him. He bit his lip, considering answering. He was about to speak, to answer, but the words died in his throat when he saw someone step out from behind a tree.

The individual was taller than him, clearly older as they knelt down in front of him, moving slowly and showing their hands as a sign of peace, the more Nico looked, he realized it was a teenager. Baby blue eyes shined as they looked at him, hidden under brown hair that almost matched his own. Nico's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, since the teen looked nothing like any of the other kids he'd seen around the small Italian town he'd grown up in.

Eventually, he nodded, letting the teenager get close to inspect his leg. After a few minutes of silence, the older boy grinned at him and gently patted his injured knee. It was only a little scrape, nothing too bad.

"I can help you get cleaned up, if you trust me enough to let me carry you to my place."

Nico shook his head, knowing well enough to realize the possible danger. Bianca would've scolded him if he said yes, but he needed help getting back to his family.

"Only if you help me get back to Mama." The teen huffed softly, as if amused while thinking of the terms.

"Sure kid, Let's get going." The teen stood, holding a hand out to Nico to help him up. The small boy took it, his small cold hand slotting perfectly in the hand of the older boy.

"I'm Nico, what's your name?"

"My friends call me Jeff. Nice to meet you, Nico."