Sun-kissed Angel (a Solangelo fanfiction)

Chapter 2: Death dropped by

Nico

Nico wasn't expecting any visitors... especially not Death.

Nico was used to being alone. Before, it was just him and Bianca. Now, Camp Half-Blood accepts him with open arms. He wasn't sure how to react. Nico stood as passive as a rock as Jason introduced him to the other campers. Some are old faces, the others unfamiliar to him. He only managed a curt nod.

Jason elbowed him. "Could you smile a little? It wouldn't hurt you know."

"I'm too tired for a smile," Nico replied.

Jason shook his head. "You just get tired when Will is not around."

Nico gave Jason a pointed look. The son of Jupiter punched him in the shoulder, which seemed foreign to Nico.

"I see," Jason said. "The doctor does a lot more than curing you. He's healing you here."

Jason pointed his left chest, where his heart is.

A smile escaped Nico's lips. "Shut up Grace."

Jason raised his hands in mock surrender. "As you wish."

"HEY!"

They turned. It was Lou Ellen. Jason waved at her.

"I'm not talking to you. I was talking to him," Lou Ellen said, and pointed Nico.

Nico hid his surprise. "...Me?"

"I'm asking you to be on our team for the chariot race," Lou Ellen said.

"What race?" Nico asked.

"She is referring to the chariot race on friday," Jason said.

"I thought it's Capture the Flag every friday?" Nico asked.

Lou Ellen slung her bags on her shoulder. "It's time to try something fresh... So... are you in?"

Nico hadn't been asked to be in a team before. Well, he was not a team player anyway.

"Uhh.. Actually, Nico agreed to be my teammate," Jason said.

Nico looked at him. "I did?"

Jason gave him that just-play-along look.

Nico cleared his throat. "Oh... Of course I did... Uhh... I'm sorry," Nico said, the apology sounded foreign to his ears.

Lou Ellen raised her brows at Jason. "You lucky b*s***d."

She turned to Nico. "No worries. I'll team up with the Nike campers instead."

"Good luck with that," Jason said.

Lou Ellen wriggled her brows, like the two of them shared a known secret.

"See you around Nico!" she said and walked away from them.

Nico gave her an awkward wave.

Once Lou Ellen was out of earshot. He faced Jason.

"You didn't ask me about the chariot race," Nico said.

"Oh I don't need to. I know you'll agree," Jason said.

"You're getting ahead of yourself Superman," Nico mumbled.

Jason's confident pose was replaced with disgust.

"That endearment sounds horrible if not from Piper man. Don't. Just don't," Jason said.

Nico suppressed a laugh.

Jason stared at him. "Did you just..."

Nico pursed his pale lips and looked away.