Heir to the Throne

Chapter τέσσερα

Nico:

Xander walked over to this person who was supposedly his 'dad' and continued, "Theo, Dad these are my friends, you have already met Chase and Nina, that's Drake and that's Nico, the pain in my ass. Guys, this is Hale, my step-dad and Theo and yes they know all about me being a demigod and the man who's my father." I noticed how Xander said the last part with restrained bitterness but I chose not to make a comment, I can be nice to him in a while. 

So, no respectfulness even in front of the family, well good for me. I walked over to shake Mr. Hale's hand, "Hi Mr. Hale, it's so good to meet you and let me tell you it's a lot of work tolerating this man child that you have raised." I said while patting Xander on his shoulder.

Mr. Hale chuckled and looked between Xander and me, "I like this one Xander. It's good to meet you all but I have to go now, and-" I felt Xander stand a little straighter and his shoulders tensed "Xander you know why I'm here, its time, he's seven and he needs you now, I'll be back in a week to pick him up I know him staying here isn't safe either but I trust you, you're my son too and you have always made me proud, don't forget that."

Xander's eyes turned soft on hearing that and I could see how he relaxed a bit. He turned around and thrusted Nico into my arms. I flailed around and started to protest but he was already hugging his dad. Anyone who looked at the scene in front of me wouldn't see Xander as the big bad boy with a cold exterior, but rather a boy who was ready to break down in his father's arms after all the weight he had been carrying on his shoulders.

If nothing else this made me realize how little I knew Xander and the person he is, the demons he buries and the past that made him who he is today.

Xander:

I gave one final pat on the back and let my Dad go. "I'll miss you Dad." he looked back at me over his shoulder, "I will miss you too, son." And then he was gone. he might not be my real father but I learnt who a father was supposed to be from him not the one whose blood ran through my veins. After all he did, I don't think we'll even have a half-decent relationship but right now I had to focus on Theo.

I turned around and looked at Nico who was in an animated conversation with Theo. Theo was explaining something to Nico, his hands waving around and Nico was paying all his attention to him. It was domestic, the kind I craved. I felt something stir in my heart but I refused to pay it more attention.

"Theo, you know why you're here right?" I asked Theo breaking him out of the conversation he was in with Nico.

"Yes Bubba, you told me last year you'll teach me how to fight and defend myself when I turn seven because I should know how to protect myself and Dad, and I will need it. Oh, and also that it'll make me look cool." Theo said excitement dripping from his voice and I couldn't help but smile at him. He really was only seven and didn't even understand the severity of the situation.

I shouldn't have to teach him attack strategies and defense stances at such a young age. But after what happened I can't risk his life. He is my younger brother, my amigo, and I'm supposed to protect him, from this world, from my world.

Nico spoke up and interrupted my thoughts, "care to explain why there's a mini you in my arms right now and why does he have to learn how to fight at the tender age of seven when he can spend time learning basic laws of invention and physics?"

"I'll explain everything but please keep your nerdy brain away from my brother-"

"Awww but he likes me so much already, don't you squirt?" Nico interrupted again, and this time Theo giggled wrapping his arms around Nico's neck and enveloping him in a hug.  

I could do nothing but look at the exchange with my eyes wide and mouth hanging while Nico quirked an eyebrow at me. Oh god, they were already on nickname bases.

"Good luck with dealing with them as a team Xander, you're about to get your ass kicked," Chase spoke up. I had forgotten he was even there, "don't keep us waiting tell us why this lil' mouse is here of all places."

I couldn't tell them the whole truth. It still had me shaking if I thought about all that happened but I had to give them some kind of a version.

"Well, it's better if we sit down."

As everyone sat down, I started to speak, "You all know how a few years ago I left Olympus High, it was because my mother died. I...I had no one I could lean onto but Hale, was there. My mum married him when I was three and since then he has always treated me like his own. When I was five, I started showing a few abilities, I was much stronger than an average five-year-old, ended up breaking numerous baby feeders and Mum always used to say that whenever a thunderstorm hit, rather than being scared I always got so mesmerized and would sit beside the window and be enthralled by the thunder."

I took a deep breath. It was here that it always got hard.

"Anyhow when I turned seven I overhead Mum and Dad talking about sending me to school here, apparently this was where someone like me belonged. Legacy was supposed to be preserved and seemingly I was supposed to carry that legacy on. It's not like I actually care about the legacy of someone who never showed up all my life. Someone who-" I took a shuddering breath, "anyway, when I got here everything was good, I got to meet Chase and Nina and Mum and Dad would visit every chance they got. But then one day Mr. Isaac calls me and tells me that my Dad is coming to pick me up. I instantly knew something was wrong. All these years they never came to pick me up, they would rather stay here in order to keep me safe but wouldn't take a kid out of the safe walls of Olympus High. After finally coaxing out the truth from Mr. Isaac I got to know that Mum was kidnapped. And well, that's that. She died a few days later. I was there. She got roped into something that had nothing to do with her. She got sucked into the world of gods. Selfish, manipulative, bastards who never really cared about the consequences of their actions."

"From that day onwards I was always wary, so was Dad. That's why we decided that once Theo turned seven, I would start teaching him how to fight. How to protect himself and if push came to shove how to protect Dad too and here, we are now." I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

I looked up to see everyone's faces and saw Chase looking at me with consolation, while Nina gave me an encouraging smile to which I replied with a nod. Drake had an expression of equal confusion and awe while Nico still had Theo in his arms, who was fast asleep now cuddling into Nico. I looked up catching Nico's eyes and what I saw there had me rooted. His eyes were open pathways to what he was feeling right at that moment. He looked at me with acute curiosity and was that .... affection? Right at that moment I knew that he wasn't going to let me go after the things I had just spilled. He knew something was missing and I was scared of how easy it is for him to read me. I was sure Nina and Drake didn't figure out that I was eliminating details, but Nico did. I was almost afraid of what he'll have to say once everyone walks out of the lounge, someone who can keep me rooted just by looking at me with such intensity can undo me as easily. Only Chase knew the whole truth and I was fearful of how Nico would see me if he got to know the whole truth.

Nico's opinion mattered to me and I didn't know what to do with this realization.

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Hey y'all I was so nervous posting this chapter oh god, I'm looking forward to all of your responses and lemme know what do you think about Xander and Nico?
I'll be posting a chapter, you can say, with the names of the fathers of the main characters and what powers they possessed so that it's easy for y'all to know that which Greek god's son/daughter will inherit which dominate power. (Genes are always going to playing part in a person's personality after all) ;)
Byeeee see y'all soon!!