Heroes Of Olympus Quick Stories

Big Brother Duty

The giant bird/monster basically plucked Hazel from the Argo ll's deck.
"Hazel!" Three voices screamed. Nico, Leo, and Frank all stared in horror as Jason, Piper, Percy and Annabeth held off the last of the sea monsters.
Hazel panicked. She swung her calvary sword at the bird repeatedly, slashing for its wings. They rose higher and higher above the deck.
"Hazel!" Nico wailed. "No, Hazel! Don't-"
But it was too late. Her sword struck the bird's wing, and it squawked in pain, releasing Hazel.
Only as she sped toward the deck did she regret her decision. She felt her heart leap to her throat. Her body rolled and she was facing the stars. The last thing she thought was that she hoped she would make it to Elysium this time.
Then, her head snapped on the deck and there was instant darkness.

Am I dead? Hazel thought as she slowly regained consciousness.
She had to be. There was no way she could've survived that fall. But she was unsure when a voice spoke.
"I'm so sorry Hazel." She heard him say.
Nico? She thought. She tried to open her eyes but found that she couldn't move. At all.
"I shouldn't have left you, Hazel." Nico said, choking up. "That stupid bird took you from me and I didn't...I couldn't... I was too distracted to save you."
Nico grabbed Hazel's hand and put it up to his face. She could feel tears there.
Nico! She wanted to cry. You didn't do anything wrong! Don't blame yourself!
"Hazel, please." Nico cried. "You have to be okay. Please, Hazel. You can't leave me. Not after Bianca."
Hazel felt her heart flutter a bit. Nico never mentioned Bianca. Even when he'd first brought her back from the Underworld, he had called her "Bianca" several times.
And no matter how tired and miserable she felt, Hazel refused to leave her brother without a sister. Again.
She mustered all her might. All the strength she had left, she put into moving a finger, or open an eye.
"H-Hazel?" Nico asked, his voice filled with hope.
Hazel felt like she was trying to scream, but all she got was a moan.
"Hazel." Nico squeezed her hand. "Frank! Frank, come in here!"
Hazel heard footsteps immediately.
"Nico?" Frank's voice asked, filled with worry. "What's wrong? What happened? Is Hazel alright?"
"She moved!" Nico replied.
"She moved?" Frank asked.
"Her hand. She moved it. And then she moaned when I said her name. Watch." Nico squeezed Hazel's hand again.
"Sis?" He said. Hazel felt herself nearly cry. He'd never called her that before. "Hazel? Can you hear me?"
Hazel strained to speak.
"Nico..." She breathed hardly. She heard commotion at the sound of her voice.
"I'm right here, Hazel." Nico replied. He squeezed her hand again.
"Nico I..." Hazel felt the words already drain her energy, but she wanted Nico to know she was okay. She opened her eyes and had to blink several times before she could see clearly.
She was back in her cabin on the Argo ll. Nico was sitting by her bed, in a very uncomfortable looking chair. His eyes where red rimmed and they had deep, dark circles underneath them, like he hadn't slept in days.
He probably hasn't, she reasoned.
Nico was looking at her, his eyes full on concern and hope. His hair was tousled everywhere. In her doorway, Frank was standing, looking over her with worry.
"Hazel?" Frank asked tenderly. He walked over to the bed and put his hand on her arm.
"Frank, Nico, I... What happened?" She asked.
"You fell back to the deck really fast and Jason had to slow you down with the wind. But even then, it only slowed you a little." Frank said. Nico spoke next.
"Hazel when you hit the deck, your head cracked the wood pretty hard." He said. "How are you feeling?"
In all honesty, Hazel felt miserable. Her head was pounding, her back and tailbone were sore, and her eyes were crossing already.
So, of course, she lied.
"I feel fine." She said.
"You're sure? I can't get you anything?" Frank asked quickly. "Food? A glass of water?"
Hazel really didn't want anything. But she knew getting her something would make Frank feel helpful.
"You know what, I am a little thirsty." She said. Water couldn't hurt her, but she didn't want food at the moment.
"Right! I'll be back!" And Frank rushed out of the room. Hazel smiled tiredly and turned her head over to Nico. He was watching her closely.
"Hey," she said drowsily.
"You don't feel fine, do you?" He asked, seeing right through her lie.
"No," she admitted. Nico stood and laid a hand on her forehead.
"Hazel," he said, a little concerned. "You're burning up."
"I'll be fine." She said. Nico moved to the night table and grabbed a damp cloth. He came back and put it on her forehead. Then he rolled her blankets down to her waist.
"Better?" He asked once he was finished.
"Much," Hazel sighed. "But Nico, you need to sleep."
"So do you." He retorted.
"I will, when you do."
"I'm on big brother duty, Hazel."
Hazel chuckled. "I relieve you of duty to get rest." She closed her eyes and felt sleep tug at her mind.
Nico laughed softly and took her hand again.
"I'm always on big brother duty."

Big brother Nico is my FAVEEEEE!