A Year for Us

A Visit From Father

Nico di Angelo did not sleep. Not unless it was immediately necessary, which it was not. He'd practically just been released from the over-sanitized prison that was the infirmary, and the gods know he slept plenty there. Against his will, he might add. Those stupid children of Apollo, giving him sleeping draughts. Not even the dreamless ones, oh no. It was hard enough for him to wake up from nightmares, he didn't need the help of magic keeping him inside of his terrors. And he'd said it. But they wouldn't listen. It wasn't until Jason said something-until Jason had to say something, because he was outraged at what he saw in the son of Hades when he visited. He had reason to be, Nico agreed.

Jason had seen him fresh out of the jar, trembling and wide eyed, but that was nothing compared to this. He was shaking like a leaf, eyes darting everywhere, curled into himself, mumbling in Italian, crying. Once Jason had managed to calm him down a little, Nico had started sobbing. He screamed and he cried and Jason shooed away the stupid healers and their stupid sleeping draught. Nico screamed and cried until his throat was raw, until he didn't have a voice left, until he wore himself down to exhaustion. Jason stayed, one hand on Nico's lower arm, and the next time Will Solace stepped into that room he wished he wouldn't have. Jason was furious. How dare those children of Apollo trap Nico in his mind like that? Nico left the infirmary that day, and Jason stayed in the Hades cabin for a few days afterwards.

Nico scanned cabin thirteen, a force of habit from years spent on guard. Hazel was in the bed next to his, which they'd moved to be right next to his. Two beds became one big bed, and they had talked until Hazel dozed off. Nico loved Hazel, was proud to be her older brother, but he missed being a little brother. Missed having someone to look up to and be supported by. Now he was the someone to Hazel. His half-sister was halfway on his part of the put together bed, and he had taken to absent mindedly stroking her hair and face, mumbling lullabies he remembered from a different life, mumbling anything that came to his mind, and then there was another voice.

"You're a good older sibling."

Nico whipped his head around to find his father sitting on the edge of his bed. He went to speak, but Hades cut him off. "No, I have come to do as any good father should. The new year is almost upon us, I have come to give my children gifts," Hades gave what Nico could only guess was a gentle smile. He halfway remembered a time when that smile was ever present. When days were spent walking along the canals and eating gelato. Before Nico realized it, Hazel was awake. "Nico..? Is everything oka-o-oh... Father," and then she was sitting up next to him, and Hades had a look in his eyes like he was conflicted. Nico pretended not to notice.

"You children...you've been through so much," Hades spoke again, the look turning...sad. "I can not erase the past, but I can make the future better. My children, I promise you a favor. Anything. Food, money, a car, anything. Say the word and it's yours. I'm so sorry for all that we have done to you, for all that you've seen, for your pain. I promise a favor, anything, and a special place reserved in Elysium. Where you shall forever be happy."

And then he was gone. No goodbye, no time to say thank you, just...gone. Hazel and Nico exchanged a look.

No one went back to sleep that night.