Child of Light(Sequel to Son of Death in Gotham)

12) Get Off My Back

Nico's plan to save Will wasn't turning out how he thought it would.

It started with the support.

Two days after his dream Violet still hadn't come back alive. They've held off on having a funeral for her because of her situation, but people have started giving Nico some nasty looks.

"It's not my fault that a daughter of literal death almost killed seven of our most powerful demigods, something had to be done."

"All I'm saying is that there was probably a better solution than stabbing the girl in the stomach with a soul sucking sword." Alex argued, these dead people really were bitches.

"You're only saying that because you were at no risk," He argued back, he had to take a moment to force the shadows back into place, "Do you know what it's like to feel everyone that's ever even slightly cared about you, even just a little bit, have their souls slowly be pulled from their body? Do you know what it feels like to have just lost one of the people you cared about most in the world to a goddess and then feel your sister, your last chance at having an actual family, slowly die? No, you don't, okay? So when you feel that we can talk. But until then, get off my back."

He turned around, storming out of the councilors meeting. People were bitches.

He was about to walk over to his cabin when he saw a group of people, standing by the door of the big house he'd just walked out of. The Waynes looked sad for some reason, Nico walked over to them, wondering what was wrong.

"Nico?" Bruce's eyes were narrowed slightly, he looked confused, "Did you mean that?"

"Mean what?" Nico was confused, had he said something to them? He didn't remember doing anything wrong, but he was really tired.

Damian scoffed, though he looked a bit disappointed too, "He doesn't even know what he said wrong. Some brother."

Nico looked at him confused, what had he done wrong?

Dick sighed, "Nico? You know we're your family right? I know you're really close to your friends and Hazel, but they aren't the only people that care about you. They aren't your only chance at a family."

Nico stared at him blankly, had he said that? His mind felt foggy.

Or Misty.

As soon as he realized this he punched himself in the face. Probably not the best approach, but he was done with Hecate's mind magic. It had already cost him too much.

"Nico?!" Dick immediately grabbed Nico's hand to stop him from doing that again, "What the heck was that?"

Nico shrugged, noticing some faces poking out from one of the big house's windows, staring at them with interest. Fucking nosy bitches.

"Nico!" Tim looked offended, Nico looked at him confused, what had he done?

"What?"

Bruce looked somehow even more concerned, "Are you feeling alright Nico? You just called up f-ing nosy B words."

Nico stared at him blankly, he'd said that out loud. Then he quickly shook his head.

"Oh, fuck. No, I was calling the people in the Big House nosy, a few of them were peaking at us through the windows. And I didn't mean to say it outloud, I'm so sorry."

Bruce raised his eyebrow, "Nico I think you're sleep deprived. You need some rest, the search for Will can wait a few hours."

Nico immediately jerked away from Dick's grip, "I'm fine. Will's the one being mind controlled, Hecate's just trying to get in my head is all."

Bruce still looked skeptical, "When was the last time you ate a full meal? Or got a good night's sleep? How do you think Will would feel if you worked yourself to death trying to find him."

Nico glared at him, "I don't care what Will thinks about me, as long as he's safe and healthy I'm fine."

Jason scoffed, "Don't care about what he thinks about you? Nico, don't lie to yourself, we've all seen the way you look at him. You're head over heels, you threatened a goddess to get him back, on the Styx."

Nico didn't respond. If he didn't acknowledge it then he could act like it wouldn't happen. He wouldn't care if Will hated him, as long as he was safe.

Right?

Right. He loved Will too much to put his own feelings first. He mattered more than something as trivial as Nico's health.

"Nico we're serious," Tim looked concerned too, "If you don't take a break soon we're going to have a problem."

Nico glared at him, but knowing them they'd probably drug him to get him to sleep. If he acted like he agreed with them then he could sneak off as soon as he got to the Hades cabin.

"Whatever, if it gets you off my back." He muttered, earning a few sad smiles.

"Good, let's go to the infirmary."

Before Nico could protest Dick had tossed him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and was carrying him to the infirmary. He couldn't be back in there. Not without Will at his side. He hadn't willingly stepped foot in there since he got back, despite people's objections and his substantial injuries. It was never worth it.

Yet here he was, being tossed onto a bed in that very infirmary.

"I can sleep in my cabin," He tried to argue, "This place is too light and loud."

Jason barked a laugh, "What, so you can sneak off again? Not happening."

Nico glared at him, considering if he had enough energy to shadow travel, when Kayla walked over.

"They finally got you in here." She smiled at him, but all the Apollo campers seemed slightly less cheery than normal. Finally some people that actually cared, "I've been asking them to find a way to get you over here forever. You need some sleep."

Nevermind, they didn't care enough if they were trying to get Nico to sleep.

He tried to reason with her, tell her that her brother's life was at stake, but she just shrugged.

"Will always told me that if anything ever happened to him to make sure that you don't die. He knew this would happen eventually, dads gift I guess, but I gotta follow through on that promise."

She brought a glowing hand up to his forehead and he slipped into unconsciousness.