Always You - Nico di Angelo x Reader (Oneshots)

Growing

A/N - heyy it's your favorite author coming back with another cute post!

btw, the dude i had feelings for just got a girlfriend. so... moving on! 😀

If I haven't mentioned it before, I have loads of one shots inspired by tiktok tropes and from the books I've read.

So if you want me to recreate a dynamic you like, just shoot me a message along with a story recommendation!

That's all from me. Happy reading :D

P.S. - I might reuse the good ol' "Percy Jackson as Y/N's older brother" trope again. Just a tiny bit.

FP - favorite plant

- Third Person's POV -

You and Nico had arrived in Camp Half Blood at around the same time and at around the same age.

After Bianca had joined the Hunters and Percy left to go on his mission to save Annabeth, you and Nico were stuck without your older brothers and sisters looking after you.

Though there were not that many other kids your age, you and Nico didn't seem to particularly enjoy each other's company.

But hey, it was the best friendship you have ever had. It was nice having him around sometimes.

Nico was older than you and had an old soul to show for it. You often teased him for actually being in his eighties, and Nico didn't appreciate that very much.

"At least I look younger than you," Nico smirked, poking at your cheek as he sneered, "Grandma."

"Oh please," you rolled your eyes, "At least I don't walk around with a hunchback. I should give you a cane for your birthday."

In the middle of your bicker, Nico had accidentally knocked over a potted plant from your cabin porch, breaking it into pieces and snapping the fragile stem in two.

"Hey!" you protested, dropping to your knees as you began to grieve over the loss of your little buddy, "What did you do?"

Nico froze, looking guilty as tears began to well in your sweet eyes.

"I-I'm sorry," Nico immediately apologized, "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I'll get you a new one. I-I promise!"

"Save it, loser," you gritted your teeth, snapping at your only friend, "Get out of my sight. I don't want to see you anymore."

From that day on, Nico barely felt any connection with you. Though you still hung out during camp meals and training, your conversations were now only full of teasing and mockery.

Still, Nico appreciated the fact that you still chose to be with him. Perhaps it was just how you wanted to talk to him from then on.

However, your never-ending rivalry ended on that one, fateful day.

After the war against Kronos, you and Nico have struck a bond together. You looked over your differences and decided that it was time for a fresh start.

One day, Nico showed up at your front door on your cabin porch, smiling awkwardly as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Let's hang out," Nico said shyly, looking away to hide the growing blush on his face as he handed you a box, "I missed being best friends with you."

You arched an eyebrow as you peeked from behind the door, amused at Nico's antics as you took the gift in your hands.

"Oh, you softie," you chuckled, opening the present.

You gasped. Inside, there was a bracelet with lots of handmade charms that represented your favorite moments together with him.

A sword for your training.

A star for when you went out stargazing with him on the hill.

A paint palette for when Nico got you an art kit for your birthday.

And... a heart?

You didn't question it and just put on the bracelet, wearing it with a soft smile.

"I love it," you grinned, pulling Nico into a tight bear hug, "Thanks a lot."

Nico sucked in his breath, trying his best not to press a kiss into your hair. "My pleasure," he croaked.

As the two of you walked back to his came to play a few rounds of Mythomagic, you noticed just how nervous Nico seemed to be.

You were the only friend Nico ever had. The only person Nico ever wanted to be with. It killed him to never talk to you the same way again.

You gently tugged at his sleeve, smiling awkwardly at him, "I don't bite, you know."

Nico rolled his eyes, though there was no annoyance laced in his actions.

"I know," Nico chuckled, "Doesn't change the fact that you're the scariest person I know, though."

After giving him a good whack on the arm, you and Nico entered the cabin and sat on the carpet.

You looked around curiously at the choice of décor as Nico shuffled the deck, your eyes landing on a potted plant on his nightstand.

It was the same one Nico had broken all those years ago.

"An F/P?" you gasped, getting up to touch its delicate leaves. "How did you get one of these?"

"What? Oh, shoot!" Nico covered his face in disappointment, "That was supposed to be a surprise after you like me again."

You picked up the pot and sat next to Nico on the floor, poking his arm as you demanded answers.

"Okay, okay. It wasn't easy to get one," Nico admitted, his hands raised beside his ears in surrender, "And it was expensive. And took me literally four years to grow. So don't go crying about it too much-"

"You grew this?" you whispered, surprising Nico with the soft tone in your voice, "For me?"

Nico swallowed. Gosh, your eyes were pretty.

"Yeah," Nico replied, slightly breathless, "Since I broke the last one you had."

Suddenly, you burst into a fit of laughter, thumping at the floor as you shook your head.

"It was a plastic plant, you dummy," you giggled, earning a dumbfounded look on Nico's face, "Everyone knows I don't have a green thumb."

"But you were crying over it!"

"I was a kid, Neeks," you snorted, pushing him away playfully, "Kids get emotionally attached to all sorts of things."

"Gods," Nico groaned, "You drive me mad."

"I like you too, by the way," you said casually, picking up your stack of cards as you started the game.

Nico's jaw dropped.

He ought to make a plant charm for your bracelet soon.

A/N - see? Cute, right?

Okay, okay - I'll admit it. Maybe it's fun to have fluffy one shots over angsty ones every once in a while.

Alright! That's all from me. And don't forget, I'm still keeping an eye out for your requests!

1,070 words

See ya'll next week!

- FantasyDemiWitch