They're so annoying." Nicholas complained as Hades just slumped in his throne, looking bored. The God of the Dead always wondered why he even bothered to have children in the first place.
"Nick, why do you have to come here to complain? Go to your mother. She knows how to deal with...bickering. Better than I do, at least." Hades wouldn't really admit aloud that he had compassion for his children as it would ruin his stoic demeanour which he was known for, and he would like to keep it that way.
"Mama likes Nico more than Bianca and Bianca more than me." Nicholas replied to which Hades just scoffed and slumped even further into his throne. He always hated the fact that Nicholas always visited him, though he secretly liked the fact that one of his own children bother to visit him. It was when Nicholas discovered his powers (shadow travelling, to be precise) when he was seven and used it to his advantage to visit his dad in the Underworld. And when he never bothered to leave, even when his dad practically screamed at him, Nicholas just stayed and asked him questions about the Olympians or just played with Cerberus.
"...leave. I do not have the time to deal with your constant fighting with your siblings."
"Well, how'd you deal with yours?"
This comment made Hades perk his head up, he was not particularly fond of his brothers, let alone talking about them. Hell, he wasn't fond of anyone in that matter, but that was just all a wall. By now, his fists were clenched up and the God of Riches was losing his patience.
"Go back home."
"But—ok, dad." Nicholas sighed before slipping into the shadows and returning to his house in Venice. He stood in the middle of the hallway that connected the kitchen to the living room and raised an eyebrow as he saw his mother and his siblings wearing their coats and holding their suitcases as they make their way to the front door. Maria turned around and spoke up.
"Perfect timing, Nicholas." She said as Bianca walked over and handed him his suitcase which had an 'I Love Ferrari' sticker stuck on it.
"Where we going?" Nicholas asked, his curiosity growing as it mixed with his irritation that he felt almost all the time.
"To a hotel."
"Why?"
"I'll explain everything on the way."
"They're coming, aren't they?" A silence passed by as the di Angelo household looked at each other, knowing that Nicholas was referring to the children of Poseidon and Zeus who were, at that time, members of the Allies while the children of Hades were soldiers for the Axis.
Looking back at Nonno (who had returned from the pub exactly five minutes ago) and Nonna, Nicholas spoke up. "And what about Nonna and Nonno? Aren't they coming with us?"
Maria opened her mouth to speak, but nonno cut her off as he loaded a shotgun.
"Your grandmother and I will be staying here. Don't worry, we're prepared if they come."
Nicholas nodded before walking out the front door with the other three, not bothering to give them goodbye hugs or even bothering to say goodbye at all.
***
"How long will we be here?" Nico asked. He was sitting in Maria's lap and was looking up at her while Bianca laid down next to Nicholas on the single bed that the four of them would have to share.
"It's only for a few days." Maria assured her youngest child, earning a scoff from Nicholas before Bianca nudged him.
"Nick."
"What?" The ten-year-old boy turned to look at her. "For all we could know, we would be stay in this hotel for weeks."
"Gosh, you're so cynical." Bianca remarked.
"Exactly! C-cynical!" Nico chimed in.
"You don't even know what that means." Nicholas retorted, but didn't even bother to look at Nico as he felt the scolding look of Maria on him.
"Don't bully your younger brother, Nicholas."
"Exactly, Nick." Bianca said. Nicholas grumbled and crossed his arms as he stared at the ceiling.
