The One That Got Away... (A Jasico fanfic)

Chapter 5

Jason pov

"Nico!" A limp, black clad figure was laying on the ground, being examined by Hades and Persephone, who looked up.

"Yes?" The albino had a deep, rich voice, and I decided that was where Nico  got his voice -  when he spoke Italian, at least. His cold eyes regarded me, reminding me of an angry cat.

"I came to check up on Nico... make sure he didn't jump into Tartarus..." Persephone was staring at me oddly.

"You're Jason, correct?" The goddess idly examined a small dandelion that had sprouted from nowhere. "Do you know why Nico wanted to go to Tartarus in the first place?" I shook my head.

"No, milady."

"Call me Persephone. As for poor Nico... well, you better ask his sister Hazel for that one." I didn't like the sound of that.

"Jason, what would you say to about a week or two in Italy with Nico?" Hades offered suddenly. Why would Hades want a son of Zeus to stay with his son?

Hades almost read my thoughts. "He will heal much faster in his birthplace, and he will be happy there. I rarely get to see my children be happy... and after all he's been through, I want nothing but his happiness. You better not break his heart, boy, or you'll have a personal reservation in the Fields of Punishment." Why would I break Nico's heart? I knew that he was way too fragile for that to happen ever again.

"Okay... but why me?"

"I thought I said this. I want my son to be happy. You make him happy. Understand?" Hades spoke slowly, like I was a five year old still learning English. "I think Nico has a thing for stupid boys."

Something clicked in my brain. "You... know? That Nico likes boys?" Hades chuckled.

"I've had my suspicions for a while now, but he doesn't know that I know. What a shame too, I could have matched him up with Will. He was a nice boy." I remembered snippets from Nico and Percy's conversation.

"Nico liked Will, didn't he?" Gods, Nico's crushes came and went like the wind. 

"Yes, I think, but only for a month or so. Why, are you jealous?" What? Jealous? Me? No way, I totally wasn't jealous. I mean, it was just Will, and I had no reason to be jealous. It wasn't like I liked Nico, right? Pffft. I didn't have a crush on Nico... right?

"Bit distracted, are we?" Persephone had been watching us, amused, this whole time. "As much as you both love Nico, I -"

"What?! I don't like Nico. I totally do not like Nico. Well, I do, but as a friend... I think..." Wow, smooth move, Jason. Way to go.

"Oh, stop being so conflicted and just go. You should like the hotel I booked; it's four and a half star, and you haven't lived till you've tried real Italian chicken alfredo..." Wind rushed past my ears as Hades and Persephone and the whole freaking palace dissolved, to be replaced by a huge lobby with a chandelier and faux torches and grand steps leading up to the elevator. Low murmurs and utensils clinking against plates seemed to take the fight out of me, relaxing me and soothing me - until I remembered something, or rather, someone.

"Excuse me, do you have a reservation under Nico di Angelo?" I asked the man at the front desk. This situation was much too similar to when I was checking Maganya Hotel to make sure Nico hadn't left for Tartarus.

The man looked at me like I had grown another head. "Mi scusi?"

Oh, shoot. I didn't speak Italian. Where the Hades was Nico?

"Hey, Grace, need a little help?" Nico had shadow traveled right behind me - or his father transported him here. Either way, I needed his help.

"Verremmo una stanza, per favore?" Dang, I needed to learn Italian. I wondered if it would sound as nice coming out of my mouth as it did Nico's.