Heroes of Olympus: The Aftermath of War

NICO

*Rick Riordan owns all of the characters*

NICO WASN'T OVERJOYED TO see Daddy Hades disturb his peculiarly wonderful dream last night. I mean, talk about bad timing, really. The god appeared in black jeans and a silver soul fabric polo (yes, quite literally), his numerous accessories enough to enslave thousands of insufferable ghosts, eyes as dark as oblivion. His hair was black and expertly made (was that gel?) to look stunningly attractive in the night sky. Similar to Nico, he also had a pale, lifeless complexion, which illuminated the glowing full moon from behind. Hades tapped his shined leather shoes on the mud, almost annoyed, and turned to look at his son with an awkward, but sincere, smile.

Good enough.

"Nico," the deity said, arms wide open. "I am glad to see you well an--and...happy."

The word almost seemed foreign and bitter in Hades's mouth, as if he didn't know how to process it, or had refrained from saying it for centuries. Nothing was particularly 'happy' in the Underworld, though, so the crack in his father's voice was understandable.

"Hey, Dad." Nico shrugged, waving his right hand lazily.

Honestly, he did seem particularly joyous these past few weeks. 'Redecorating, Redesigning, and Remodeling' (also known as Nico's updated version of the 3Rs) the Hades cabin had been very exciting and fun, not that he'd tell anyone, especially when it took his mind off the other bothersome things such as newly assigned missions, death-approved quests, tiresome training, the usual.

Rachel Elizabeth Dare, their [unactive] host of the spirit of Delphi, could barely be seen in Long Island Sound and had noticeably preferred staying beside Ella, the intelligent harpy who'd resided at Camp Jupiter to restore the Sibylline books. The rather annoying Will Solace became his friend as well, and (even if he didn't want to admit it, lest Jason freak out) a great shoulder to count on in times of trouble. Every other camper didn't ignore him anymore, which was kinda miraculous, but offered to help as much as they could with managing Cabin 13.

He was finally adjusting.

"Bothered by thoughts, are you?" Hades smiled, showing his gleaming, perfect white teeth. "Don't deny it, Nico. I know you've learned to call this place 'home'."

"Yeah," he confessed. "It's just so weird, you know? I don't even---"

Wait. Nope. He was definitely not going to start opening up to a dad who'd just miss the first thirteen to fourteen years of his life. Including his resurrected one, by the way. It was almost as weird as talking to a complete stranger.

"Nico, I know I've---" Hades began.

"You know what? Forget it." Nico sighed, holding one of his hands up before sitting on the grass beneath his feet. The air felt cool and very inviting, passing through his whole body, its presence basically a 'whirlwind'. The god sat down beside him and curled his arms around his knees like a toddler. He wasn't looking at anyone in particular, so Nico decided to continue.

"What do you want this time?"

"Nico, I---is it hard to picture me trying to spend some time with you?" his immortal dad asked, apparently crestfallen.

"Then you're here for no reason at all? Just stopping by to say a quick 'hi' and 'goodluck'?" he replied, having trouble to keep his voice steady.

"No...no." the deity shook his head. "I am also here for a favor, which is---"

"Knew it." Nico cut off, showing some anger between the lines. "What?"

"Damasen and Bob, the unlikely aids of war," Hades said hesitantly, not knowing how to break the tension. "I want you to give them something."

"Oh, great. Another rescue mission." he answered sarcastically, rolling his eyes and getting ready to stand up.

It was almost dawn and the nymphs were already up to begin daily gossips and duties. The trees and the flowers had already bloomed behind the humble, dissolving darkness to be displayed in arrays of sunlight; their forms too beautiful to be destroyed.

And, even if they did end up getting ruined by some abnormal dude, the misfortunate guy wouldn't want to mess with the nature nymphs unless he'd already signed up for suicide. So yeah, you get the idea.

Hades pulled something out of his jeans' pocket, much to Nico's chagrin, and handed it over to him. It wasn't made for royalty, just a four times folded piece of paper engraved with a big letter H. Curious, he started to unfold it properly and saw a messy circle labeled, "YOU ARE HERE" in a big patch of green. Huh. Weird. Afterwards, Nico realized that the circle had been pointing to a square somewhere above the patches all along, reading, "NYC: FINISH LINE."

A doodled-on map. He mentally facepalmed for not realizing immediately.

"Indeed," Hades agreed, probably reading his thoughts again. "Give the map to the Titan and the Giant. Surely, the Maeonian drakon will know what to do."

A drakon analyzing a vandalized USA map? Okay...that sounds realy wrong.

"Uh...where exactly?" Nico inquired. "And can't you give this to them yourself?"

"Whoa," the god stepped back in a sort of surrender gesture, holding his hands up. "I've broken too many rules already. I don't even know how to explain raising the dead to the Fates. And Zeus will definitely be mad."

"You're not saying...." he said, taken aback. "Isn't that Asclepius's thing?"

"I am aware that you are all too familiar with the god of healing," Hades simply replied. "But, my son, I can do may things that even Asclepius himself would not have accomplished. I can make souls suffer more than they can take. I can easily turn a blind eye and let them 'cheat Death' for awhile until I get bored. I'd gladly petition for some to make it to Elysium while playing those addictive UNO cards the mortals created. And, just as much, I can bring them back alive."

"Because you're the god of the Underworld," Nico nodded, immediately wanting to slap himself since the point was so obvious.

The morning air filled his lungs and made him completely warm. He liked this sensation, the feeling when you'd never lurk into the shadows and take life head on with light for company, its existence enough to boost your confidence and smack Octavian face first to the ground...except the son of Apollo was dead. Hades was already vanishing, his body taking form of a spirit in the air. Extra eerie like an oversized ghost.

"How am I going to find Damasen and Bob?" Nico asked.

"Oh, that part's easy," his father replied, grinning. "But before I go back, I want you to know that I...I love you and Hazel with 'all this old man's heart' can give, and that I am always here for both of you. Goodbye, Nico. Make me proud."

Hades snapped his fingers. Nico dissolved into the hungry darkness.