Misery Loves Company

Uninvited Guest

A/N We've made it to 20 chapters 🎉

"Son." Hades' tone was commanding but Percy swore he heard a hint of concern.

"Father." Nico's response was void of any emotion, no hint of the anxiousness he'd displayed before Hades arrived.

"You failed to report to the council this week, the Gods are concerned. What is the meaning of this?"

Shit, Nico had missed a meeting with the Gods while he was trapped here. Percy was ready to throttle Will all over again. He sent a wolf glare to the offender who still had a dagger pointed at him.

And why the fuck was Nico meeting the Olympian Council?

"My apologies Father, I have been indisposed this week. I had a run in with some Arai."

"You know better than to kill an Arai, Nico." Disappointment leaked into Hades' voice, along with something akin to worry. Will flinched at the sound. Probably feeling guilty after getting them all in this mess.

"Yes, Father. There was an inexperienced demigod present, so I made the decision to take on their curse knowingly. I have a cursed injury and an unknown poison in my bloodstream - though I have my suspicions as to what it is."

Will looked surprised at that. Percy was still inwardly chuckling at Nico calling Solace an "inexperienced demigod."

"Your suspicions are correct." Hades said. Nico muttered a string of presumably curses in an impressive range of languages.

"Then there isn't a cure."

"I could send for Apollo, he could lift the Arai's curse. Though you did react poorly to his magic last time."

Nico didn't even consider the offer, responding quickly, "I already owe him from the last time, I don't want to be even more in debt to that jack-ass-of-all-trades."

Hades chuckled at his son.

"You could contact young Perseus, with his poison control and Annabeth's wisdom they would likely be able to create a cure-"

"No, I will not involve them in this." Percy and Annabeth glanced at each other, her grey eyes were swirling as they always did when she was trying to solve a puzzle. Hades audibly sighed.

Nico continued, "The curse will lift in three days, I will recover quickly after that. I apologise for the inconvenience this has caused."

"Very well, my son. You are still to attend the Olympian Council meeting next week, they are expecting a report. Along with the Death God council meeting in a fortnight. I expect the paperwork assigned to you from the past week to be completed as usual, Thanatos sent some too I believe. I also need you to contact An-"

Whatever Hades said was cut off as the shadow walls around them thickened, muffling the words. After a few moments the walls receded and Lord Hades could be heard once more. Whatever he had said, Nico didn't want them to know.

"Fail again and without contacting me and the Gods will be far less understanding."

"Yes, Father."

"Where are you currently? Hades questioned, Nico must have somehow blocked his location from the God.

"San Francisco." Interesting that he didn't say New Rome.

"That's risky isn't it? Awfully close to-"

"I don't intend to stay much longer." Nico interrupted, voice robotic and disinterested.

"Very well. Heal well, and of course I wish you every success with your Quest." The shadow walls around them pulsed at that, as if Nico hadn't thickened them in time to block out whatever he didn't want them to hear.