Shadows

Chapter 17

A/N Just saying, I don't own PJO or the bats. They belong to Uncle Rick and DC. Hope you like it!

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The greeting was filled with tension. For once, the fates had shown me some favor, and given Percy amnesia. I couldn't imagine what this would have been like if he had known who I was. Would he have felt betrayed like that time I took him to my dad? Or would he have understood if I told him about father's orders. It doesn't matter. We have a more pressing situations.

Right now, I'm sitting on the roof of Pluto's shrine, waiting for Hazel to get out of a flashback. I know from previous experience that rushing her wouldn't work. Gold, diamonds, rubies seemed to melt out of the hill and roll onto the roof. It littered the roof, covering any inch that wasn't already covered by Hazel and I.

"You did it again." I told her softly.

"S-sorry."

"Don't be. What happened?"

"Mother's apartment. the day we left for Alaska."

I understood. Flashbacks... something that I too experienced, very rarely, from before the casino. Being a child of the past and a child of hades was definitely hard. I was grateful that at Camp Jupiter there was no separation based on godly parents. At least not as much..

Hazel and I talked a bit longer, before dinner.

Percy asked questions. I avoided any related to us knowing each other. He appears to havenot remembered anything, except 'Annabeth'. And I wasn't about to tell him. I learnt not to interfere in the Gods' plans. And Dad told me not to... I'm ten bajillion percent sure that one of the crappier gods is behind this. Just... which one? 

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Don came around, bringing trouble by mentioning Percy satyr empathy link [well, faun, in his opinion]. What an annoying faun. I don't know why Hazel likes him so much, honestly.

The war games were fun to watch. As an ambassador, and not an actual camper, i didn't get to play, but I did enjoy spectating. They were almost as the Capture the Flag games at CHB. 

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[the next day]

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Last night was eventful, to put it simply. Long story short, Frank, Hazel and Percy won the games, Mars showed up and issued a 'prophecy'. Frank is the son of Mars [extremely surprising, I must say. Always thought he'd be a son of Apollo, with his archery skills]. Percy, Frank and Hazel are going on a quest against a giant. Diana and Dad were right, the Giants are rising again.

I was a part of the senate meeting today, obviously, as the Ambassador of Pluto. I basically relayed all information I had on the Giants from both Diana and Dad, and got evil-eyed a lot.

I wished Hazel good luck on her trip before shadow travelling into the apartment building that Alfred was picking me up from.

My plan worked, and the ploy went smoothly. Alfred was asking me about the sleepover, and I told his it was amazing. That my sister and I had some McDonalds, and we caught up and watched the Hunger Games. My plan for today included learning to play that game of Tim's. Despite already failing at it- he refuses to give up. And doing some acrobatics with Dick, despite not really wanting to go flipping through the air. Sounded fun. ]

That is until I realised that I needed to leave Bruce's place. To go to Tartarus... that could take weeks, if not months. Annabeth even mentioned during one of the mythology classes that some demigod scientist person said it took nine days to reach the bottom of the Pit. So I needed to leave. A pity.. I had come to enjoy the presence of these idiotic mortals. Oh well...

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As soon as we [Alfred and I] reached home, I was interrogated by Bruce to make sure everything was alright, got pat down, inspected, etc.

Which of course I easily passed. It honestly was just a sleepover for me- I didn't get to play in the games, after all.

I tried to walk up to my room as inconspicuously as possible- Bruce could tell if something was up the second he saw anybody. Slipping in, I locked the door, taking out my fateful neverending duffle bag, and filling it with my clothes and necessary supplies. not my art book, though- it would get totally trashed in Tartarus. My drawings were much safer here, definitely.

I tore out some paper from my tutoring books, and wrote a note. Well two, because I needed one for Diana as well.

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To Diana- Hey. I'm leaving. Look at this! I've become so much better at Greek, right? And I forgive you for the B [We both know I deserve an A]. I'm visiting my dad. And... my Big old Step-Grandad T. He left the doors open again. You should visit your family too. They must miss you, after all these years. [see you soon. eventually. hopefully.] - Nico di Angelo, your favourite [and only] student.

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I had to sort of code this message, because knowing Bruce, I'm sure he'd open and read and translate the note. Most definitely.

The bats... What do I write? Writing is hard... I should keep it simple. Maybe I'll leave them a drawing too...Nah. I'm already leaving my book behind. That should be enough. Knowing they're going to go through that too-

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To Bruce and everybody else:

Hey... I'm sorry for leaving like that. Don't get worried. It's personal shit. Don't look for me either. I'll come back. Most likely. It's important. And I can't tell you what it is about, but I'm going to my... village. I think I may visit dad while I'm there. Anyways, thanks for letting me stay at your place, don't mess with my drawing book. I'll be back. Eventually.

- Nico

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Seemed alright. I wasn't going to write anything sappy. I-I might be venturing to my death, but I... No. I'm not attached to them. I was simply staying at their house and eating their food and playing caped crusader with them because I knew their identity. It's not like we were actual family...

Oh screw it.

PS. I'll miss you guys.

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A/N Okkkaaaayyyyy. First chapter in a long time. Sorry, I was trying to find a non cliched way for him to leave to go to Tartarus, and obviously, DID NOT FIND ANY. So, sorry about that. And the humongous wait. To be fair, I was swamped with schoolwork. I had my exams recently, and my PSAT soon. Hope you guys like this. And if you did, check out my other book, Maelstrom [About Percy, but female. Also a DC fic, but a little different...].