"Nico!"
The son of Hades blinked a few times. Shadow-traveling still had quite the effect on him. Blinking again, he wrapped his arms around his little sister. She was not Bianca, but she was still his sister. He had given her a second chance at life and he would not let anything happen to her. Not her.
"Hello, Hazel", smiled Nico softly. "How are you feeling? Is everyone nice to you? Are they treating you right? If not, show them to me and I will kick their asses."
The daughter of Pluto laughed softly, hugging him even closer. Her golden eyes danced in happiness. It seemed everything was alright. It seemed she was alright.
"They are nice. Especially Frank", grinned Hazel.
Was that a blush? Why would she blush? He frowned slightly. No, his little sister couldn't possibly be interested in that boy. Did that mean he would have to frighten him some more?
"You think you can bring me to Reyna?", whispered Nico lowly.
"You know, I start thinking that there is something going on between you and her", chuckled the daughter of Pluto and took his hand to lead the way.
"I... have a boyfriend, Hazel", murmured the Ghost Prince softly.
"You keep saying that. But you never introduced me to him", chided Hazel with a disapproving glare, giving him a half-smile. "I'll only believe that when I meet him."
Oh, he really hoped she already had met him. He really hoped to embrace his Sea Prince again today. The gods had send him here because it was their only lead. He needed his Percy back!
"I hope I get to introduce him to you soon", smiled Nico and nudged her. "You'll like him."
"I hope so", grinned the girl from New Orleans.
She paused for a second and her eyes trailed over into the distance. A figure neared them and Nico's eyes dialed at that. The boy ran up to them, smiling broadly and waving. His smile however died down as he saw Nico. He straightened and looked at him.
"Hello, Nico", greeted the son of Mars.
"Hello, Frank. I heard you get along well with my sister?", asked Nico kindly, glaring heatedly.
"Eh... Yes", nodded Frank, biting his tongue so he won't add 'sir' to it.
Physically seen, the Canadian was older than the Ghost Prince. But damn it all, that son of Hades was really scary when it came to his sister. Frank was seriously freaked out by the half-Italian.
"Well, you better be nice", glared the son of Hades.
"Of course he is. We're friends", grunted Hazel confused.
Nico rolled his eyes at that. She may not yet see it, but to him it was evident. That blushing and the little glances between them. It reminded him of back when he and Percy had been friends...
"Go off to train some", ordered Nico. "The two of you can use the training. One day you may face a real enemy. Worse than your little War Games."
"The Titan War is over", grunted Frank confused. "We live in peace."
"For now", murmured the Ghost Prince with a dark glare. "After the first World War was over, the world thought peace may last. And only all too soon, a war so much worse broke loose."
A minute of silence befell them before the two Romans nodded slowly.
"Yes, you're right", nodded Frank slowly. "Come, Hazel."
"Don't annoy Reyna too much, Nico", smiled Hazel and leaned up to kiss her brother's cheek.
The son of Hades chuckled darkly and watched how the two Romans ran off to the fields. Shaking his head at their childish freedom, he continued his way over to Reyna's place. He knocked hard and blinked surprised when a half-naked, glaring praetor opened the door.
