Nico di Angelo x Reader

Ac•cept•ance {Part 2}

There was a sound of a camera. Startled, you and Nico broke out of the hug, looking around for the source of the noise. Nico drew his sword. "Who ever is there, come out right now," he said.

Two campers stepped out from behind the trees. You recognized one from the Aphrodite cabin. She held up a camera in one hand. "Don't move a muscle and surrender your flag," she said, somewhat triumphantly. "I got a picture of that hug and I'll post it and tell everyone that you're a couple if you don't hand over the flag."

You felt Nico tense behind you, but in a split second, he regained his posture. It was so fast you thought you imagined it. Then Nico laughed. It was a fake laugh, empty and not humorous. "We got you right where we want you."

It was the camper's turn to be surprised. "What do you mean? You're bluffing! There's no way out of this!"

"We hugged on purpose, it was all part of the plan," Nico continued. What plan? You thought. He didn't mean what he said? "We knew there would be people like you walking around, so we used the hug as a way to lure you...into a death trap."

"A-A-A death trap?" The Aphrodite camper asked, frightened. She backed up and hid behind her partner.

You were scared now. Was Nico just using you to win the game? Did he not mean what he said about actually caring about you?

"Don't worry, he's bluffing," the camper's partner told her. "The girl with him looks as confused as we are."

"That's because she wasn't in on the plan," Nico said. "If I told her, it would be less convincing, wouldn't it?"

"You're sick!" the camper told Nico. "You toyed with her feelings."

"All is fair in love and war," Nico said. One second he was beside you, the next he was in front of the campers, knocking the weapons out of their hands and taking their flag. He picked up the camera and deleted the photo of the hug. "Let's go," he told you, "We're all done here."

💀⏳TiMe ~•~ LaPsE⏳💀

"Did you mean what you said?" You asked Nico after a minute of silence. He gave you a questioning look.

"Was it your plan all along to lure them in?"

Nico gave you a seriously look. "I was bluffing. Was it that convincing?"

Tears filled your eyes.

"Did I do something wrong?" Nico asked concerned.

"No, I'm okay," you sniffled. "I just... I'm not used to people caring, and when they do I always lose them. I've learned to stay away and I guess I... I push them away, or they leave me so... I've always thought I brought bad luck with me. You could say my fatal flaw is a lack of self-confidence."

"What I'm really trying to say is, thank you. That is, if you'll accept me."

"Accept you?"

"Acceptance," you recited from memory. "It's one word, three syllables, four vowels, and six consanants. The way I am using it is the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group."

"You memorized that?" Nico asked. You nodded. Did he think you were weird? "(Y/n), if you want to be accepted, you first have to accept yourself. I learned that sometime ago."

"A-A-Accept myself?"

"Stop blaming yourself for everything, because it's not your fault. If something bad happens, blame the fates. If it thunderstorms, blame Zeus. But life isn't about blaming, if it rains, look for rainbows. If it's dark, look for stars." Nico said. "Not to sound cheesy or anything," he said, sheepishly.

"N-Nico," you stuttered.

"Yes?"

"Can we be... f-f-friends?" You asked, your heart racing. Or maybe more, you thought. But having another friend was a milestone in your life. You were willing to give it another try. A another chance at love, friendship, loyalty, acceptance.

"Of course." Nico said.

You smiled for the first time in forever. It hurt a bit to smile, since you hadn't smiled since...Well let's not think about that.

"Now let's win this thing, together."

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...One month later

Sure, you and Nico didn't win the game, but you had won something else that day: friendship. After the game, you had been hanging out with Nico everyday and getting to know him.

Right now you were at the Hades Cabin watching (your favorite TV show). (Which was another reason to live!) Nico was looking at you with concern since you were crying at a (favorite ship) moment. "(Y/n), are you okay?" Nico asked.

"I'm not! It's just so sad, (Favorite ship) are perfect for each other, but they'll never become canon at this rate!" You grabbed another tissue and blew your nose.

Usually Nico would sigh at your silly fangirl moments, but today something was off. "Um, (Y/n)," Nico said with uncertainty.

"Yes? Please don't tell me you ship (NOTP)."

"Don't you think that," Nico swallowed hard, "we would be more perfect together?" His face flushed a light pink. "Do you want to be my g-girlfriend?"

We're you dreaming? Was this real? Nico sighed, probably waiting for rejection. "I'd love to!" You said, happily giving Nico a bear hug.

Nico was the first person to really accept you. He was your first real friend. You really opened up to him for the past month and discovered a whole different happy side to you.

"Thank you," you told Nico, "for everything."

"For wha-"Nico started to say, but you stopped him by giving him a kiss. You didn't want to hear any of the 'for what' nonsense. Nico was surprised but he returned the kiss.

Sadly the kiss ended because the both of you couldn't stop smiling. You thought about how your life went from completely empty to filled with joy. Just one person, Nico, could give you love, joy, peace, friendship, loyalty, and acceptance. He was truly an angel, come to deliver peace, love, and happiness.