N i c o

Currently 17 years old

Nico still remembered the day Hazel was brought to their house.

It was stormy winter, with the wind howling and raining pouring down like there's no tomorrow since dawn. He sat up on his bed and force himself out the warm cover, pulling the curtains open in order to let the light in. The concept of his bedroom is black, black sleeping set, black walls; everything screams dread, just like this household. Then he heard someone knocks on his door.

"Breakfast is ready, better get down before Dad gets mad." The sound of his sister muffed through the door. He let out a groan and shut the door behind him. He had this feeling in his gut that today won't be an easy one; and he didn't know how right he is.

Dragging his sleepy body in the dinning area, he plumped himself next to Bianca, she shot him a glare and looked pointily at their mother. He didn't need to be a mind-reader to know that she is in mood, from the way she is stabbing her pancakes with her fork, he wondered what did his dad do now, and it's not even 10 in the morning.

The devil himself strode in the room; Nico felt like the temperature drops alone with his appearance. Nico was never the brightest person in the room; the only person who is gloomier than him is his dad. Hades is not the best father you want for a proper childhood. He noticed his father is fully dress, seems to be heading somewhere. Bianca raised an eyebrow but didn't pry. Where can he be going in this kind of weather? Interesting indeed.

"I have some business to take care, won't be back before 4." His deep voice boomed in the room, informing them in general. "Be prepared." He said to his wife specifically. Nico is surprised to find apology and regret laced into his voice. Then he is gone, the sight of his figure leaving the gate can't be more foreign.

By the time his father showed up again, the storm outside almost died down while the tension in the house is high as kite. Alone with the sound of two footsteps, he walking in the living room, holding a little girl in his hand. She looks a little younger than him, dark curly flowing around her shoulder but a little damped due to the rain. Her skin is the color of milk chocolate, makes her looks more like an outsider than she already is; since all of the D'Angelo's are pale as vampire.

As far as he concerned, Hades is not the kind of person who loves to do charity, in fact their family moto is 'Money is the only thing that can keep you alive'; so there must be some twist reason behind for the man to bring back a child.

The girl hide herself behind Hades' leg while the rest of the family stared at her, trying to figure something out. Nico and Bianca are confused as their mother, Maria, looked infuriate, lips pressed in a line, but didn't dare to spit a word before her husband make explanation.

"From now on, she is going to live with us. Treat her as family." The head of the house stared into their eyes one by one, telling them if they have something to ask, better be quick.

"And why is she here?" Maria asked in a firm voice.

"Her mother died."

"Huh, that whore? Good for her." She snickered; this is the first time Nico heard his mother speak with pure disgust. Ah, so the girl is a bastard child.

"What's your name?" Bianca spoke for the first time since the whole scene unfold in front of them. Nico can tell that Bianca tried her best to make her voice as soft as she could. The child turned her attention to his sister with her lips slightly opened and raising her head, she had been looking at the floor since she came in. Now he can see the color of her eyes, they are mostly brown yet circle with golden freckles,

"Hazel." Her voice is so small, he almost thought she didn't answer.

"Like your eyes." Bi chuckled.

"Yes." Hazel's face lighted up, she seems happy at the fact someone knows the origin of her name.

"Have you eaten anything today?" Hazel shook her head fiercely. "How about we head up to my room and I will get you some to eat? Do you like pancake?" She's about to nod her head but her eyes drifted to their mother, who is now have a rapid conversation with Hades. Maria noticed the staring and sighed after take a good at the child.

"We will have this discussion later." The woman said to the men, then she turned to Hazel and Bi, "Come on child, let's fix you something to eat."

The second day of Hazel-in-the-house is chaos. Maids busying cleaning up a room for her (she and Bi shared a room last night); Mom dragging the girl for shopping while Nico and Bianca are thinking of item that can be bought to decoration her new room.

He didn't quite know why is his mother so generous to Hazel, yes, he like the kid too. Pretty smart compare to the people her age and knows how to respect personal spaces, won't ask too many questions, an angel child indeed. But aren't those wives who find out their husbands' bastard will be mean to them? And Nico is positive that his mother didn't like, hated, Hazel's mother. So he asked.

"Is there any reason," Maria looked up from her book, probably about fashion or stuff, to her son. The surprised look on her face shows that he didn't ask things or talk to her often. "why you are nice to Hazel?"

"The kid is innocent, isn't she?" Nico cocked his head. "If you asked me do I hate his mother, the answer is yes. But Hazel didn't do anything, she didn't ask to be born." His mother said with so much sorrow and pity, it's a miracle that her voice didn't broke. He is impressed by the way Maria handle this whole situation; he would be disappointed if she treated Hazel badly but that's understandable.

They soon noticed the talent in Hazel, her brilliant skills at drawing and the intelligent. She asked their father if she could have someone teaching her to draw, to their surprise, he approved in a beat. The house has some of her paintings hung out, the atmosphere is less depressing with the touch.

Above that, Hazel started have similar tutoring schedule with Nico, and he like the company. She never says anything about his lack of enthusiasm compare to hers, his little sister knows this is just the way he is. He loves Hazel for the way they understood each other and except another person's flaw.

Nico would die for his sister, even if he needs to go to hell and bring her back.

Nico doesn't know what to think of Cal's boyfriend at first sight.

Though the two of them are the same age, he always views her as his little sister, like Hazel. After knowing Cal has trouble with physical contact, Nico and the boys always help her to get away from the shitty guys in town. As for the method, that's a story for another time.

The advantage of blending into the shadows is that you can take a good look at everything. While Percy is good at reading the situation, Nico is the expert at picking the details, especially the one people didn't want to be known.

So he watch.

He noticed the way how Percy and Annabeth held each other's glaze, they are drowning in their own world, a universe only enough for the two people and no more. The strange twist which used to be in his gut is long-gone, what replaced is a ghost-smile; Nico felt good about this change, it's rather a good one.

Then he put his focus on Cal and the boy who said his name is Leo, his background is clean according to Zo and Chiron, working at a workshop and all that family stuff. Cal is standing slightly forward than Leo, shielding him from the gang. Leo's hands ghosted above Cal's arm, in a distance which you can felt a person's heat radiate off one's skin; letting the person know your presence. Their body language spoken of how close they are and how much they care for one another. He respects her personal boundaries while she stays by his side.

Nico likes person who knows their place. As Thalia and Bianca kept bashing the guy with questions about his relationship with Cal, he sneaked to Zoë's side. She didn't move a hair as he came close.

"What do you think?" The sister asked with a low voice. Nico saw Chiron cast a glance at them when Zoë spoke then turn back to the main scene.

"As a mechanic or as Cal boyfriend?" He replied playfully.

"You know which one." She sighed.

"You saw the way they are around each other; this is by far the biggest smile I saw on her face and I know her since we were 9. He is like the only person who can gets near her besides you and not have a bleeding nose."

"That's shows how much she like him, how about the boy?" Zoë said with a tone Nico couldn't recognized. He knows she is not stupid; she saw the same thing he did. It's just she needs someone to say it out for her, and he happens to be the someone.

"He knows how her situation and respects that, he didn't touch her arm with her hand but let it stays a little above her skin. He can show her his support and fond for her yet not hurt her while doing it." He let out a chuckle. "I am impressed by his restraint; I bet Cal is the one who demanded him to held her hands or hug her at the first place."

"Yeah, it sounds like her." He heard her voice choked a little.

"Getting a little emotional?" He teased her and gave her a side look.

"Are you saying I'm old?" She faked-gasped. "It's just hard to see her growing up and all. I never imagine her bring a boyfriend or even a friend home you know." She said sourly. He hummed for response; Cal is always the most unpredictable one among them, but this is truly not foreseen.

Then the doorbell rang.

Everyone except Chiron and Zoë tensed up on the spot, the doorbell only rang for a handful of times, and the visitors usually don't come with peace. (Unless it's the delivery, eating is important after all.)

"I invited someone over; I'll get the door." They eased at Zoë's words as she strode pass him and disappear at their sight. Nico lets out a long sighed and settle himself in a chair; the number of individuals in this house is starting to get too much for his liking. After a few muffling sounds of Zoë and the new incomer speaking; they showed up with Zoë walking in the front of, blinding their view at first. Then Nico's world is turned upside down when she stepped aside, when Nico get to take in the look of him.

He couldn't tell you which is brighter, the color of his hair or the smile on his gorgeous face. Perhaps both? This beautiful person who just walk in has this perfect toothy grin and the blonde hair with the color of the sun. His skin is tanned in a flawless way, a mix of his pale one and Leo's Latin skin. He noticed there are small cuts on his fingers, making him wondering how he get them.

Nico didn't realize his mouth was hung opened until Hazel elbowed him in the ribs with a sneaky grin. It doesn't take a genius to gather the fact they are two people from polar sides; yet Nico felt the flip-flop in his stomach that he thought was long lost.

Shit.

"Hello folks, I'm Will Solace, my dad is Apollo, and I am here to do my job as your doctor!" He said in a cheerful voice and looked around the room. Greetings were exchanged all over the place, the sound of people talking felt like buzz in his ears.

And their eyes met; light blue as clear as sky meeting his pitch-black ones, neither of them moved away. He can sense his blush creeping up his cheek, his body shivering with a new kind of sensation. Quickly snapped out and reached out his hands.

"Nico di Angelo." He managed to speak calmly.

"You look like one." Will blurted out.

"What?" Nico asked. What do I look like?

"Angelo? You fit your surname." He elaborated.

"Ah. Oh. Yeah, thanks, I guess." Is he flirting with me?! Nico thinks his brain is about to overloading because he can't form a sentence more than three words. Hazel giggled next to him.

"Shut up." He murmured under his breathe.