When Worlds Collide

132) Weird Names Are Kinda My Specialty

A/N: giving this to you guys early since I've been ghosting you lol

Nico took a deep breath as he readied himself for what he was about to do. He had done a lot of stupid things in his life, but this might take the cake.

"Are you sure about this?" Will asked, not out of doubt, but more for making sure that Nico was ready not only for this, but for everything that would come after. "There's no going back."

Nico looked up at Will, giving him his best attempt at a reassuring smile despite the nerves and gave a nod. "It's the only way."

Will smiled at him, pride clear in his eyes. "Good luck."

Percy and Annabeth walked into the room, most likely having just finished a very similar conversation. His cousin slung an arm around his shoulder. "He won't need it."

Jason, who was sitting in the windowsill, stood up and joined in the cousin half hug half headlock that Percy had Nico in. "Plus, he's got back up."

Hazel walked in at that moment, Frank following close behind, and looked at the trio with a raised eyebrow. "What am I walking in on?"

"A murder," Nico muttered before shrugging the two bigger guys off of him.

Hazel walked up to him and fixed his hair that had gotten ruffled in the 'hug'. "You nervous?"

"My odds of being shot on national television have never been so high, but other than that," Nico said with a nervous laugh.

Hazel just smiled lightly at him. "You are going to do great. We got your back."

Nico smiled at his sister, giving his best attempt at a confident nod.

"It's time," Bruce said as he stepped into the room, his face a mix of sick with nerves and glowing with pride.

Nico nodded to his dad before looking to the other demigods in the room. "Can you give us a second?"

The group nodded to him, Will grabbing his hand and giving it a quick squeeze before following the others out.

When it was just Nico and his dad in the room, the demigod let his mask of neutrality crumble. He felt his hands shaking and his chest tighten. He didn't know what to say, because he didn't know what he wanted to hear. He could ask if Bruce thought he was doing the right thing, but if the man said no then he would loose his nerve. He could ask for help, but there was nothing his dad could actually do to help in this situation. Bruce couldn't do it for him or protect him from what came after. He couldn't tell Nico that it was going to go well, because the odds were stacked against him. What he was about to was all but begging the fates on bended knee to smite him— and Bruce couldn't stop that from being true. Nothing he could say or do would change anything about the situation.

"I am so proud of you," Bruce said with a sad smile. "You've come so far in the last year and no matter what happens today, I am so unbelievably proud."

"What if I die," Nico said, his voice barely a whisper.

"You won't."

"But if I do-"

Bruce grabbed Nico by both shoulders, his grasp both firm and soft at the same time. "You won't, but if you did, we would still see each other again. We have an entire after life."

Nico gave a nod, the words calming him more than he cared to admit. "If the gods even give me an afterlife after this," Nico muttered, only half joking.

Bruce just hugged him tightly. "I'd storm Olympus and fight them all if it meant seeing you again."

Nico snorted at that, pulling away from his dad and smiling up at him. "I'd pay to see that."

"Are we going, or did I put on this stupid outfit just for you to wimp out?" Thalia asked as she stepped into the doorway.

Nico looked to his dad who gave him a nod, the fear in his eyes replaced solely with pride, before the son of Hades looked back at his cousin. "Let's do this."

~~~~~~

The group appeared in a grand lobby to the sounds of weapons being pulled out.

"Drop the weapons," Nico called, channeling as much confidence he could muster as his voice filled the room. "We come in peace."

The head of security approached them, though he made no signal to tell the guards to put their weapons away. "You can't come here uninvited-"

Nico held out a handful of lanyards from his pocket, passing them to the man.

The man looked at them in silent shock as he scanned them, probably looking for proof that they were fakes.

"Pericles?" The man said, reading the name off one of the lanyards.

Percy raised his hand. "Present."

The man did not find that amusing. "Telesilla?"

Thalia just nodded at him.

"Julius?"

Jason gave a small wave.

The man looked like he hated his life. "Hortensia?"

"Hi," Hazel said.

"And I'm Demosthenes," Nico said casually. "Now, can we go?"

The man glared at him as if he wanted to tell his people to fire, but instead he just handed the passes back and grunted, giving a signal to lower the weapons. "No weapons allowed."

Nico put the lanyards in his pocket and began leading the group past the man. "We left them at home, don't worry."

"What the fuck is with their names," the man muttered as they walked away.

As soon as they were out of war shot of the man, Percy snorted.

"I really thought that man was gonna shoot us."

Nico stopped in front of a grand looking door, muttering, "there's still time," as he kicked it open with a loud bang. 

A/N: Sorry for ghosting and also that the chapter was short, but this is one of the last chapters and I am prepping stuff. Also! Fun fact time!!!!!

The names I gave all the characters are very specific and I am now going to explain them because I think it's really cool. So, in case you didn't know by now, Nico's fake name is Demosthenes, which was the name of a greek orator who believed that Greece should remain it's own independent country, while still being willing to make alliances with other countries. Pericles was a greek politician and general that brought on what was later known as the Athenian Golden Age. Telesilla was a greek poet, but was also credited for defending Argos from Cleomenes and his Spartan troops after their defeat of the Argive men. Julius was (as I am sure nearly everyone knows) was the pontifex maximus and changed the politics of Rome. Hortensia was a roman orator and the first woman to practice law. 

Vote. Comment. Tell me my fun fact was cool (I think it was very cool).