My Better Half [Nico x Percy]

Chapter 5

"Nico?" Dad called out in disbelief. Now, I know that my past with my dad wasn't so good but it didn't matter at the moment. I ran up to him and flung my arms around him. 

I had no one. No one but my dad. Both my sister and my mother were dead and I didn't want to burden Hazel or any of my friends by sharing my problems.

I sobbed into my dad's clothes as he rubbed my back, shushing me. After I had calmed down, he pulled me away from him and looked me in the eyes. 

"Nico, what's wrong?" he asked. 

"I'm fucking gay, dad! I love Percy but I know I will never have him. I didn't know what was happening and I.. I just kissed him! He's going to think I'm a freak!" I wailed, sobbing all over again.

I honestly didn't know what to expect from my dad. I didn't know wether he was going to be disgusted with me or if he'd finally take in his role as my dad. I knew well enough that the Gods didn't have time to look after their kids, no matter how much they'd like to do so, but I just needed someone. A family. 

"Nico, you're not a freak. No one should be called a freak or just because of their sexuality. If you love Percy then let it be. You can't help it. If he thinks you're a disgrace or doesn't love you back, he's just too blind to see that my son is, in fact, wonderful regardless of your sexuality." He said, softly, lifting my chin up with one of his bony fingers.

I can honestly tell you, I had not been expecting that. Maybe a pat on the back or even a 'it's going to be ok' at the most. I guess I had underestimated my dad's love for me. 

"You don't think I'm a disgrace?" I looked up at his through my eyelashes. I felt like I was 12 all over again. Dad chuckled. "Nico, I know I haven't been the best dad and that I haven't given you  much attention but that doesn't mean I'm not proud to have you as my son."

I managed to crack a smile. Suddenly, Dad pulled something out of his back pocket (I did not know that Gods had back pockets) and handed it to me. It was a silver necklace with a skull covered in silver rhinestones.

 "It's not just any necklace. I've realised how much your friends at camp mean to you. If.. If anything should go wrong, and you feel someone's life slipping away, just blow on it and imagine the person in your head. However, you can only do this once and when you do it, you will feel very, very tired. Even more tired than when you shadow travel so be careful about when or where you do it."

"Dad, I-i.." I was at loss for words. He smiled warmly at me. "Consider this an apology for being.. bitter towards you." 

"Thank you" I whispered. 

"Now, go, Nico. Be strong.." his voice and figure faded away as I am engulfed into darkness.

***

I woke up in my bed, squinting because of the sudden brightness that flooded through my eyelids. I had almost thought that everything that had happened yesterday was a dream until I felt something in my hand. The necklace. The rhinestones shimmered under the sunlight. I slowly stood up from my bed and walked over to my mirror that hung on the opposite side of the room. 

Slowly, I hung the necklace around my neck and smiled slightly. 

"Thanks, Dad" I said to my reflection in my mirror. The skull seemed to grin at me as if to say 'no problem, kid'. I took a quick shower and changed into some decent clothes before I left my cabin to get myself some breakfast.

Sitting down at my usual table, I saw Hazel coming over with a worried look on her face. 

"Nico? Where were you yesterday? I couldn't find you anywhere since I last saw you at breakfast!" she panicked. 

"I went to Dad" I shrugged. 

"You went to Hades? What for?" she cocked an eyebrow.

"Percy.. he knows" I mumbled. 

"What? But how? Nico, you're confusing me" she frowned. 

I took a deep breathe. "I was practicing sword fighting and he came into the arena and I mumbled something but he took it the wrong way and we started yelling at each other and then.. and then.." I paused to take a breathe "I kissed him so I ran away" I finished. "Now, he's going to think I'm a freak" I mumbled.

"Hey, if he thinks you're a freak for liking him, I'm seriously going to be shoving some gold nuggets up his ass" she fumed. I chuckled and ruffled her curly hair. 

"Thanks for your concern but I don't think I'd like to have a friend who poops gold nuggets for a week" I laughed. It felt good to laugh.

Still, I couldn't help but take a quick glance at Percy who sat at another table, chatting away with Frank. I have to admit, it kinda hurt to see him act as if nothing had happened. If he thinks you're a disgrace or doesn't love you back, he's just too blind to see that my son is, in fact, wonderful regardless of your sexuality. My dad's voice spoke in the back of my head.

***

I sat on my bed, replaying the scene with Percy over and over in my head. I know, I know. It's really cheesy and girly of me but it was my first kiss and I couldn't help but wonder if he had really kissed back because he wanted to  or if he was just caught up in the moment. 

I held the small Mythomagic figurine of Hades.

"Hey, Bianca. Guess what? A lot of things have happened these days.. I've been starting to come out of the closet now and I accidentally kissed Percy. Yeah, I've been having a crush on Percy but I really don't know what he thinks about it. Oh and Dad isn't such a douche anymore." I smiled down at the figurine.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my cabin door. I quickly shoved the figurine into my aviator jacket's pocket. 

"Come in" I said before the door swung open. 

It was Percy. 

I sat on my bed, frozen as he approached me. 

"Look, Nico. I'm really sorry for yelling at you yesterday. I was really worried about you when you disappeared.." he rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at me.

"Uhm.. yeah.. I'm sorry too" I mumbled. 

"So.. we good?" he asked. I nodded, forcing a smile. 

"Oh and uhm.. the kiss.. You were just really angry right? I mean it didn't mean anything, did it?" he asked. 

My heart clenched at those words. Huh, so it had meant nothing to him. He kissed back only because he was so caught up in the moment. 

"Uh sure, whatever" I grumbled, clearly kinda pissed.

"Oh good" he grinned. "See you!" he was soon out the door. I flopped back onto the bed and sighed. He'll never love me.