The Rogue Emperor (A Riordanverse Story)

Chapter 12: Nico Learns Something About Love

Nico was as green on the boat as Frank was when they shadow traveled from camp to camp. Percy had once told him to never travel in one of their uncle's domains; Percy never flew, and Nico should never sail. Poseidon was a lot kinder than he could have been, but the whole ride, he was white knuckled holding the seat in front of him. While the others stood on the deck watching the waves and looking for dolphins, Livia and Augustus stayed back in the covered cabin to keep him company.

The couple sat on either side of him, sandwiching Nico in. People probably thought that they were parents comforting their teenage son who was sea sick, though Nico thought Livia and Augustus looked too young to be parents of someone his age, even if the empress had actually delivered her two boys as young has she did. 

Livia told him while they were still in the Underworld, that she wished she could've had another child, maybe a girl so Julia would've had a sister, but hadn't be able to carry to term with Augustus. The the one time she'd come close, she nearly died in the process. She admitted that she'd spent a lot of time in the Underworld before she'd become a goddess, searching for the soul of her lost baby. Livia had sheepishly asked if Nico took her hands, if he could sense the children she'd lost. He'd felt bad that he couldn't. 

Nico was sure that Livia didn't want his pity, but it was hard to not feel bad for her when she talked about everyone in her family dropping like flies. He knew that people died young from illness due to lack of medicine back in the day, but there seemed to be a lot of murder sprinkled in as well. Livia was surprised that she had lived so long, out-living one son, two adult grandsons, her step-daughter, and countless members that died as children. Nico could tell that she was trying not to come off as sad, but even after all these years, it had to sting.

The goddess wanted to be very vulnerable with him for some reason after retrieving Drusus. Nico had thought that perhaps she liked him more than the others because he reminded the empress of her sons, but he didn't resemble Drusus and he doubted he looked like Tiberius. She must like that he's Italian because she spoke to him in only in his native language in the Underworld. He didn't realize how rusty he was conversationally until that point.

"When was the last time you were properly in Italia, mio bambino? And I'm not talking about that quest to save the world business," asks Livia, gently brushing the hair off his sweat beaded forehead.

"Uh, 19-thirty something, right before total war broke out. Bianca and I were brought to the DC, then our mother died and we were put in the Lotus to keep us safe."

Augustus sighs. "It's a shame you are afraid to go back."

Nico scowls. "We aren't allowed because it's dangerous! We encountered more monsters than I could count and each of us could have died handfuls of times when I was there saving the world. I almost died in Rome at the hand of giants."

"What if you went with the intention of being a tourist? Maybe the monsters would leave you alone," states the emperor as he places Nico's hat back on his head and secures the strap.

"I'm afraid that's not how it works."

Livia taps her chin. "Then Gaius and I will take you when this is all over!"

He looks at them both suspiciously. "I don't think that would help."

"Have you been attacked by any monsters since meeting us in St. Augustine?" asks Augustus as he tucks a piece of hair behind Nico's ear.

"There's nothing for me in Italy, everyone I know and love is dead."

"What about William?" asks Livia taking his hand. He wanted to pull it away, but it was more comforting than he anticipated.