Pretty Things (A Pjo, HoO, & A Valdangelo Fanfic) ✅

Trentasei ~ Pretty Things

Iris ~

"Attention members of the Argo ||, we're stopping. I repeat, we're stopping!" Iris spoke in the loud speaker, her voice leaking excitement. She turned off the loud speaker, and let out a small giggle. "Today's the day." She whispered to herself, smiling goofily.

There was a knock on the door, and Iris jumped. Blushing to herself, she plastered on her goofy smile. 

"Come in!" She called, grabbing the hair brush that was on her cluttered desk. She stroked her hair, the prickles of the brush stabbing her scalp harshly. She winced, she forgot how sharp her hairbrush had become.

"Ready to go?" Nico asked, opening the door.

Iris stopped brushing her hair, the hairbrush hanging from a large knotted mass of hair. Feeling her face heat up, she looked over Nico. Since it was warmer weather, Nico wore a pair of grey shorts. His pale legs thin and slightly dirty. Iris smiled, looking at his shirt. It was over sized and the "short" sleeves going to his elbows.

Noticing her stares, Nico rubbed his neck. "It was hot, and I didn't have any clean clothes. So I had to borrow a shirt from Jason." He explained awkwardly. Iris let out a small laugh.

"You could have borrowed my clothes! They're all. . . masculine-y. . . anyway!" Iris exclaimed, walking over to a pile of clothes in the corner. "Take your pick." She demanded, "They're all clean." She further added.

Nico smiled playfully. "Only if I have to." He jokingly groans, (not so) secretly relieved that he could get out of the baggy shirt. Iris sighed in an equally playful manor as the son of Hades groan. 

Throwing off his shirt, Iris tried not to stare at Nico. His chest was a pale tan, and it seemed to have a few white scars. All varying in sizes, most going across his cheat and back. A single one located down his side.

Nico, noticing the stares, swallowed his shame. It was his body, he had to accept what had happened to it. It's battered, broken look. The scars from his demigod life. Even his ribs, which he swore he could see at least half of them.

He had yet to eat healthily again.

After Nico got his shirt on, he felt safer. His eyes going to his girlfriend, he plastered a smile on his face. "Ready to go now?" He questioned, his smile becoming real as Iris's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yeah!" She nearly screamed, jumping at the chance to own clothing that was "feminine" and to look how she felt on the inside. 

"Lets go!" Nico told her, pulling her arm towards the door. Dangling behind, Iris made no protest. 

At the table, 5 of the 8 demigods sat, looking at the couple as they made a small shortcut through the room. "Where are you guys going?" Piper asked, Hazel sitting next to her. Her golden eyes stared at the couple. Iris grinned widely at her. "Shopping, my fairest beauty queen." She teased lightly.

Piper sighed in annoyance, but a smile graced her lips nevertheless. "I told you not to call me Beauty Queen." She reminded Iris. Iris rolled her eyes, Nico adding a comment jokingly. "Yeah, you're with me now. I am the only beauty here!"

Iris burst out laughing, a few chuckled thrown from the others. "Love you too Neeks. But alas, I am having a secret affair with Piper!" Iris over dramatically exclaimed, Nico smirked. "Oh yeah? But why?! I thought we had something real!" His tone matching Iris's over dramatic tone from earlier. 

"Because I know that you and Frank lost your lemons together!" Frank blushed at Iris's comment.

"L-Leo, stop lying!" He stammered, embarrassed. Iris's mood dampened, she forgot she was known as Leo to him. A male demigod. 

Seeing Iris's hurt, Nico put his arm around her shoulder. "Come on, let go. We've wasted valuable shopping time." And with that, Iris perked up. The two leaving within seconds.

"You know. . ." Piper began, "I've always known Nico was gay."