A Lofty Choice

Chapter 29

Nico and Yelena were walking together towards the house.   "There is a lot of sadness and anger radiating off you."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay," Nico said.  

After a few minutes of silence Yelena asked.  "Aren't you going to push me for answers?"

"I don't like it when people do that to me so why would I do that to you?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Nico said.  

Yelena sighed.  "You know you seem like a good kid.   Your parents must be proud of you."

"Mom's dead and my dad doesn't care if I live or die.   That's a whole other story."

"Who needs parents?   They only abandon us anyway?"

There was a lot of melancholy in Yelena's voice.  

"Before you go assuming they don't care about you push more.  If they don't you can join the party and join me."

Yelena looked at the boy who was younger than Percy.   "Since you don't have a mom I am adopting you."

Nico narrowed his eyes at her mistrustfully. "Don't give me that look.  That's disrespectful to your mama."

"This is why I never join Percy on his crazy adventures," Nico muttered.  

It was too late for Nico now.  Looking at the skulking figure of the boy reminded her too much of her younger self.   Except this time she would not let them turn this generation into a monster.   She would thrive and be above that. Yelena had a small smile on her face.

Nico was wondering why the heck she would say that. Was she that desperate to have a family that she picked lonely son of Hades? He didn't understand her and didn't want to. Nico believed once she picked up the pieces to her broken family she would stop calling herself that. She would move on and forget about him like all the others. It was just a joke. She didn't mean it.

The others joined Yelena and Nico.

Percy and Nico went into the corner walking as the others talked. Percy looked at Nico's grumpy face. Percy had a feeling that something upset Nico. Yeleana could be very honest and that was something that worried Percy.

"So what did you two talk about?" Percy was trying to be casual to Nico. Lay it on him nice and easy and hopefully not receive back lash.

Nico didn't answer at first instead he continued walking. Finally he turned and glared at Percy.

"Yelena is apparently adopting me." The tone of his voice said this is your fault, Percy.

"Congrats bro," Percy said. Percy laughed slightly and walked a little faster.

Nico turned and glared. The look said "This is your fault."

Percy shook his head and was thinking. "Yelena was upset," Percy said. Nico wasn't surprised by this revelation.

"About what," Nico said. Was he really interested in getting into another drama?

"I think it was at my mom, Natasha, not Sally."

Nico nodded. Yelena had said "your parents must be proud of you," with a wistful look. She was far away stuck in her trauma. Then she had said "Who needs parents? They only abandon us." That alarming statement was something he would say.

So yes, Nico figured something happened. Being rejected by the only family you know is one of the reasons people cling onto other people. Once Yelena gained a family she would reject him. Like all the rest, everyone was repelled by him. He was a son of Hades. He was meant to be alone. Not even Percy's meddling could change that.