Reyna's POV
I looked around, wondering where that son of Hades could be. Taking a quick look around the newly modified Camp Half-Blood, I must've looked pretty stupid, considering I didn't know where anything was. Nico was supposed to give me a tour, but I guess he's-
"Hey Reyna," a familiar voice whispered into my ear. Before I could recognize who's it was, I had judo flipped the speaker and hand my foot on his throat, steel-tipped toe first. After a moment or two of surprised silence, I heard laughter from beneath me. Curious, I decided to look down at who I had just flipped...
and nearly had a heart attack.
Staring back up at me with those obsidian black eyes, olive pale skin, and surprisingly ripped forearms, Nico Di Angelo was a sight to behold. He was wearing his signature aviator jacket, but was also sporting some leather sparring gloves, which somehow brought the look full circle. Despite the fact that it was blazing hot outside, he wore long black pants, a skull-and-crossbones shirt, yet didn't sweat.
I need to ask him how he does that, I thought, a giddy smile crossing my face. Offering him a hand up, I took my toe off his Adam's apple and gave him a bone-crushing hug, though not one as good as Tyson. "Jesus Reyna," Nico chuckled, wincing a little as he pulled away, "I know you hang out with Tyson a lot, but don't start taking after him now."
Seeing me laugh, he seemed to smile even broader.
Offering me his elbow, I chuckled, wiping the tears from my eyes, and intertwined my arm with his. Leaning on his arm, we walked around together, with him giving me a tour of camp. We got some strange looks from the campers as well as the members of my envoy, but I couldn't have cared less.
I was happy.
Well, as happy as a demigod can hope to get. As he continued giving me the grand tour of Camp Half-Blood, he kept springing up jokes and memories of his, which always put at least a smile on my face. When we finally reached the beach, the sun was setting. As the sun hit the horizon, the sky exploded into beautiful shades of the rainbow's colors. Gasping, I held Nico's arm and pointed excitedly at the beautiful colors. Smiling, I laughed as he told him the different shades of reds and purples, the effects of spending time with his half-sister becoming evident.
Suddenly, his mood seemed to dim, as did the sun. When it set, I could tell he was bothered by something. So, I whispered a place to his year and held onto his arm lightly. Smiling weakly, he closed his eyes and shadow travelled himself and I there. Hearing the ghosts scared me, reminded me too much of my past, so I accidentally let out a little whimper and gripped his arm tightly. When the voices stopped a moment later, I loosened my death grip on Nico's arm.
"I still can't believe you persuaded me to bring you here," he grumbled, kicking up a bit of sand. Opening my eyes, I was face to face with water. Watching the sun glisten off the waters of the Adriatic Sea, I couldn't help but laugh at my crush's comment. "Hey," I said, pushing him a little, "I said if you didn't want to come here you didn't have to take me." Grumbling something like "As if saying that actually gives me a choice," he fussily stomped over to a beach chair and threw himself down heavily.
Albania was quite beautiful in the morning hours, before the tourists flooded the beaches.
"Do you even remember what happened here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as I shrugged. "Why don't you tell me?" I suggested, winking at him as best I could. Smiling, he patted the beach chair next to his, which I ran over to with haste. Before I sat down though, I threw myself on Nico's seat, which somehow withstood both of our weights. Smiling at him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and sat in his lap, eager to be reminded of the first time I began to like him.
After a second or two of glaring and scolding from Nico, he looked off to the horizon and began to tell me. "We were barely out of the Pantheon, yet we were already in deep trouble." he began, stealing glances at me occasionally. "You, Coach Hedge, and I were already tired and low on food, which still confuses me. As soon as I shadow travelled, I passed out and fell on top of a girl. However," he added, gauging my reaction, "I didn't realize my lips were puckered. So, when I fell on top of that girl, I accidentally kissed her in the process."
Relishing the memory, I reached over and gave him a small peck on the cheek, "And I would've made her pay for that if you hadn't stopped me from getting to her." I added, sighing a little. "Yeah," he retorted, worryingly holding my hand, "but if I can help keeping someone from dying, I will. Dad already has enough on his plate as it is." Frowning slightly, I look him directly in the eye and stated "See, this is the side of you more people need to see. The gentle, loving, funny Nico I know, not that edgy facade you put on."
In mock hurt, he put his hand over his heart and said "How dare you! I have no facades to speak of! I act as I feel. And you," he continued, making his way closer to my ear, "always make me feel better." I couldn't take the tension anymore, so please, don't ridicule me too badly. In fake frustration, I kissed him. On the lips.
But the best part was: he kissed back.
After about a minute of kissing, I pulled away to get some air. As I gasped, Nico took that opportunity to close the distance with a hug. Before I could do anything, he said something I've been wanting him to say ever since that day so long ago.
"I love you Reyna."
For a moment, I was too stunned to respond. Then, I smiled and kissed his forehead. "I love you too Death Boy" I responded, a red tint beginning to crawl its way onto my face. Not long after, we were back in camp, worried people would wonder where we were.
If anything, we were the ones left wondering what happened.
The camp was in ruins. The Big House was charred to a crisp and the cabins were reduced to rubble. The lake had evaporated somehow and there were swaths of the forest in flames. Worst of all, the Athena Parenthos was smashed, leaving only the bottom half of her standing. As I looked around, I saw no bodies, but that wasn't exactly reassuring. Certain monsters didn't exactly leave bodies in their wake.
Then Nico stumbled.
I went over to him and helped him up, worried something had happened. Before I could do anything more, he muttered "This is all my fault" before collapsing on me. Barely holding up, I slowly made my way to the infirmary, which wasn't looted or burned down for some reason. There, I came face-to-face with one of the few gods I despised.
"Apollo," I growled, holding Nico protectively. "What do you want?" Grimacing, he stared me dead in the eye and said "I am not here for you, Roman. I came here to help repair the camp and-" "-find any clues as to where your sister is." I finished, my gaze softening. As his hardened, I raised my one free hand submissively. "I have no quarrel with you, nor do I plan on making a new one. Or," I added, gauging his reaction, "bring up any old ones. " Apparently fazed by me bringing it up, he stared at me, a pink tint creeping up his cheeks.
It may have been rude, but I laughed wholeheartedly at his reaction.
"Reyna, leader of the Twelfth Legion, laughing? That's the last thing I thought I'd ever hear." he said, apparently over his embarrassment. As he let out a little chuckle, I gently punched him in the shoulder. "Hey, while you're here," I asked, eyeing his reaction, "could you heal Nico? He just passed out when we got here and I don't know what's happened to him."
Grimacing, he took Nico from me and said "I'll see what I can do, RA-RA." I frowned, wishing people would stop calling me that. Apollo simply smiled and flashed away, a son of Hades in tow. As soon as they left, the world went dark and I lost consciousness.
HI GUYS!
I'm so sorry this update took so long to do. I was originally going to have someone else's POV, but then this idea popped up and I scrapped my old idea.
Thank you guys for being so patient with me, I know it's hard. *hugs all of you tight* and thank you so so much for liking my stories somehow.
Talk to you weirdoes either in the comments or the next part!