The Parenthood Drabbles

Camping

Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Rick Riordan or its characters.

Camping

In the style of Nico di Angelo and Hades

"My Lord," the fury said as soon as she burst into the throne room.

"Yes, Tisiphone?" He asked straightening up and recognising the monster's crude features.

"There is an intruder in the Underworld."

Hades frowned. "Surely not. I have not sensed any disturbances and no guards have reported anything."

"Well, my Lord, he's meant to be here."

Hades froze. "He..?"

There was only one person that could be.

He got up.

"Do excuse me, Persephone," he said inclining his head in her direction. "I will be back shortly."

••••••••••

The air around Nico grew warmer, which said a lot because the air pressure in the Underworld was cold. Not uncomfortably so, but the warmth was comforting- like when Bianca put another blanket on top of him as he slept. He let go of his knees and looked around. That's when he saw the man in black robes.

"I'm sorry," he said right away, "I know I don't have like, permission to be here -do I need permission? Is there like a form to fill out? - but I didn't know where to go and the shadows just came and grabbed me and- and-"

"Nico," he said. "That's what you go by, yes?"

Nico didn't know what to say or do. What else was he supposed to call himself? Had he had a choice at somepoint? Could he have picked something cooler? Had Bianca named him?

He just nodded.

"You're Hades," Nico said.

"Indeed." The god glanced at the tiny fire Nico had managed to start, and at the river Styx.

"And you are my son. I assume you know this." Hades said. "Or else I hope you have enough of a brain to have figured it out."

Nico nodded.

"Good," Hades said. "Camping by the river Styx is no place for you. Come with me."

He waved his hand and Nico's tiny fire went out. Nico frowned- it had taken forever to start it. A few souls had told him that it was impossible to start a fire in Hades.

"Where?" He asked.

"To the palace," Hades said. "It's much more comfortable."

Nico uncurled from his balled-up position and got up. He looked at the man for a few seconds, trying to figure out how he could possibly be his son.

"Are you going to stare, or are you going to come with me?" Hades said.

"Coming, sir." Nico said his military school instincts popping up again.

•••••••••••••••••••••

Nico's stomach was full. Food came to Hades' palace like it did to Camp Half-Blood, but the plates were onyx black with little shards of diamonds and crystals near the edge. He'd eaten five hot-dogs and a handful of Doritos and a lot of orange juice. He would've taken coke, but Bianca wouldn't have wanted him to eat something so sugary and with caffeine before going to bed. He even took the healthy kind of juice with pulp. For some reason it was okay to disobey his sister when she was alive, but when she was dead it just felt like cheating.

In the same line of thought he ate some carrot sticks.

"I assume that this room is good enough for the night," Hades said holding the door open. Nico looked inside. His own room? Wow, he'd never had that before. Sure, it was a little gloomy and there wasn't enough light coming in, but it still looked cool.

Nico nodded.

"Sir what do you mean 'for the night'? Are you going to make me go back to Camp Half-Blood later?" Nico asked in dread. No. He didn't want that. He didn't want to be anywhere near Percy again. Percy had broken his oath and Nico wanted to... to kill him. He didn't want to sleep on the floor of Cabin Eleven and he didn't want everyone to freak out because he was a son of Hades.

"No," Hades said. His face was hard. "I would never do that to you. You are free to go if you like, but I know that your welcome there would be... glacial. Small as you are, you deserve better."

Nico cocked his head and looked at him.

"Well, go in. I don't have all night." The god said, suddenly gruff again.

Nico obeyed.

"Goodnight," Hades said. He shut the door before Nico could reply.

•••••••••••••

Hades looked through the window.

"What are you looking at?" Persephone asked grumpily.

"Nico's back," he said. Which, of course, explained his wife's mood. She must have spotted him already.

"Good, I can turn him into coriander." Persephone muttered under her breath. He let that fly. "Where is he anyways?"

"Camping on the banks of the Styx," Hades said. "Something's bothering him, then."

"Good," she muttered under her breath.

"You'll have to finish supper without me, dear." Hades said getting up.

••••••••••••••••••••

Someone sat down next to Nico. He nearly fell into the Styx when he realised with a start that it was Hades.

"What's gone wrong in your little world?" Hades asked.

"Nothing," Nico muttered.

"Nothing doesn't usually have you camping out on the banks of the River Styx," Hades said. "Is it something about the battle at Camp Half-Blood earlier in the month?"

"No," Nico said gruffly. "I don't care for Camp."

"Suit yourself," Hades said getting up. "But something's bothering you Nico. Whether it's Camp Half-Blood, Bianca, Minos or the fact that Percy Jackson is still alive; just know that it's all for the better in the scheme of things."

"I don't care about the scheme of things. I'm me."

"Admirable self-preservation instincts," Hades commented, "But it's impossible to go far in life if you're the only one in the world still alive."

Nico didn't reply, he just balled up and starred out at the Styx.

••••••••••••

The War with Gaia had left the Underworld in a mess. Up was down and left was right and the guards seemed to have forgotten how to do their jobs. Hades and the other gods of death were overworked and busy night and day, but not too much so not to notice Nico, sitting on the banks of the River Styx again.

"For the love of the fates," Persephone huffed. "What is he upset about now?"

"This is the most devastating war in demigod history," Hades said. "Nearly half of the claimed demigods who are either legionnaires or campers are dead, most of the unclaimed have been killed by loose monsters, and there are still legionnaires and heroes dying of their injuries. It could be anything. I should go..."

He looked out the window some more, trying to pinpoint how to talk to his son once again.

Suddenly someone stepped out of the shadows and sat next to him, the Underworld's floor paving itself to gold under her feet.

She sat down next to him and cuddled, her head on his shoulder. Only one person could get away with that.

"On second thought," Hades said. "I think he'll be okay."