A New Start- A Solangelo Fanfic

Recap

Nico

In the distance, the Romans were picking up there gear and toting it across the field. On the other side, so Nico heard, a fleet of black SUVs waited to transport the legion cross-country back to California. people Nico guessed that would be an interesting road trip. He imagined the entire Twelfth Legion in the drive through lane at Burger King. He imagined some hapless monsters terrorizing a random demigod in Kansas, only to find itself surrounded by several dozen carloads of heavily armored Romans.

"Ella the harpy is going with them, you know," Jason said. "She and Tyson. Even Rachel Elizabeth Dare. They're going to work together to try to reconstruct the Sibylline Books"

"That should be interesting"

"Could take years," Jason said. "But with the voice of Delphi extinguished..."

"Rachel still can't see the future?"

Jason shook his head, "I wish I knew what happened to Apollo in Athens. Maybe Artemis will get him out of trouble with Zeus and the power of prophecy will work again. But for now the Sibylline Books might be our only way to get guidance for quests. "

"Personality", Nico said, "I could do without prophesies or quests for a while."

"You've got a point." He straightened his glasses. "Look Nico, the reason why I wanted to talk to you... I know what you said back at Auster's place. I know you already turned down a place at Camp Jupiter. I - I probably can't change your mind about leaving camp half-blood, but I have to—"

"I'm staying"

Jason blinked. "What?"

"At camp half-blood. The Hades Cabin needs a head counselor. Have you seen the decor? It's disgusting, I'll have to renovate. And someone need to do the burial rises properly, since demigods insisted on dying heroically"

"That's - that's fantastic! Dude! Jason opened his arms for a hug, then froze. "Right. No touching. Sorry."

Nico grumbled. "I suppose we could make an exception?"

Jason squeezes him so hard Nico thought his ribs would break.

"Oh, man," Jason said. "Wait till I tell Piper. Hey, since I'm all alone in my cabin too, you and I could share a table in the dinning hall. We can team up for capture the flag and sing-a-long contests and-"

"Are you trying to scare me away?"

"Sorry. Sorry. Whatever you say Nico. I'm just glad."

The funny thing was Nico believed him.

Nico happened to glance towards the cabin and saw somewhere waving at him. Will Solace stood at the doorway of the Apollo cabin, a stern look on his face. He pointed to the ground at his feet, You, Here, Now.

"Jason," Nico said, "would you excuse me?"

"So where have you been?" Will demanded. He was wearing a green surgeon's shirt with jeans and flip-flops, which was probably not a standard hospital protocol."

"What do you mean?" Nico asked.

"I've been stuck in the infirmary for, like, two days. You didn't come by. You didn't offer to help."

"I...What? Why would you want a son of Hades In he same room with people you're trying to help? Why would anyone way that?"

"You can't help out a friend? Maybe cut a bandage? Bring me a soda or a snack? Or just a simple 'how's it going Will?' You think I could stand to see a friendly face?"

"What.. my face?"

The words simply didn't make any sense. Friendly face. Nico di Angelo.

"You're so dense," Will noted. "I hope your over that nonsense about leaving Camp Half Blood."

"I... yeah. I did. I mean, I'm staying."

"Good. So you may be dense but you're not an idiot."

"How could you even talk to me like that? Don't you know I can summon zombies and skeletons and-"

"Right now you couldn't summon a wishbone without melting into a puddle of darkness, di Angelo," Will said. "I told you no more Underworldly stuff, doctors orders. You owe me at least three days rest in the infirmary. Starting now."

Nico felt like a hundred skeleton butterflies were resurrecting in his stomach. "Three days? I-I suppose that would be okay."

"Good. Now..."

A loud whoop cut through the air.

Over by the hearth in the center of the common. Percy was grinning at something Annabeth had just told him. Annabeth laughed and playfully slapped him in the arm.

"I'll be right back," Nico told Will. "Promise on the river Styx and everything."

He walked over to Percy and Annabeth, who were both still grinning like crazy.

"Hey man," Percy said. "Annabeth just told me some good news. Sorry if I got a little loud."

"We're going to spend our senior year together," Annabeth explained, "here in New York. And after graduation..."

"College in New Rome!" Percy pumped his fists like he was blowing a track home. "Four Years with no monsters to fight, no battles, no stupid prophecies. Just me and Annabeth getting our degrees, hanging out at cafes, enjoying California..."

"And after that..." Annabeth kisses Percy on the check. "Well, Reyna and Frank said we could stay in New Rome as long as we like."

"That's great," Nico said. He was a little surprised that he meant it. "I'm staying too, here at Camp Half-Blood."

"Awesome" Percy said.

Nico studied his face- his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on.

"So," Nico said, "since we're going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at the camp, I think I should clear the air."

Percy's smile wavered "What do you mean?"

"For a long time", Nico said, "I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know."

Percy looked at Nico. Then Annabeth, as if to check that he heard correctly. Then back a Nico. "You-"

"Yeah", Nico said. "You're a great person. But I'm over that, I'm happy for you guys."

"You...so you mean—"

"Right."

Annabeth's grey eyes started to sparkle. She gave Nico a sideways smile.

"Wait," Percy said, "so you mean-"

"Right." Nico said again. "We're cool. I mean, I see now...you're cute, but you're not my type."

"I'm not your type...Wait. So-"

See you around, Percy," Nico said. "Annabeth."

She raised her hand for a high five.

Nico obliged. Then he walked back across the green to where Will Solace was standing.