Heroes of Olympus: After Gaea

Nico

Nico's and Jason's group arrived by Argo II, after they were picked up by Frank and Jason. When they arrived at Camp Half-Blood, he expected cheers for the Seven, like omg they saved a baby awww percy Jackson have my babies. He didn't expect any recognition for him.

Quickly, he fast walked towards his cabin. He never got to complete his escape to Italy with Will saving him from bleeding to death.

Will. How could he leave without Will Solace? Yes, Nico felt guilty, and he did really like Solace. But, he couldn't stay in camp. Especially now that some knew he was gay. Oh no.

People know he's gay.

Imagine the affection Will will be showing in public. If he kisses Nico on the cheek in the morning? He'd be called a fag, be more left out that he already is-

Nico needed to go. Before his secret spread to all of camp.

"Hey!" Nico turned around and saw Katie Gardner. Daughter of Demeter, Nico recalled.

"Hi." Nico responded shyly.

"Just wanna say that you're pretty awesome with what you do. You know, raising stuff from the ground. And you're the only demigod to survive Tartarus on your own. You're kind of a hero here."

"Hero?" Nico asked, arms crossed.

He thought Katie would be intimidated by him, but she seemed like the fearless type.

"Yep. We were all talking about you. Some of the people in my cabin crush on you as well." She giggled.

"Me? The girls?" Nico enquired. Why would someone have a crush on him? He was literally the face of death. Nothing was appealing about him. He hadn't had a tan, he wasn't tall, his hair wasn't trimmed, he wasn't bubbly, wasn't buff.

"No no, girls and boys alike." She told him. She turned around and saw flour flying out of her cabin window.

"Stupid Stolls. Ugh, we'll speak later, Ghost boy. It's cool to have you back though. I usually never see you." She waved and ran towards her cabin, cursing in ancient Greek.

"If you do anything to my cabin again, I swear to the Gods-"

Nico walked away, hands in his pockets.

It's cool to have you back though

You're kind of a hero here.

You're pretty awesome with what you do.

What?

It was confusing. He wanted to leave as he thought he didn't belong, but Katie said other. And Will. That was a very big factor.

Scrap what Katie said. No one else came to him anyway. Nico had never even spoken to her before.

He slumped into his cabin, eyes drooping. He decided that he needed to have a little nap before he would shadow-travel.

*

It was 12:03. Camp was eery silent as Nico woke up.

He looked next to him and saw his suitcase all packed up, as he never unpacked it. It would be so easy. What he wanted to do last time before Will saved him.

He knew he had to leave.

He decided to go to see Will once more.

He probably was out, practising archery like last time.

Why would he be out at that ungodly time? Didn't he work so early in the morning? Did Will Solace get enough sleep?