Judgmental (a Percy Jackson AU)

Your Brother and His Boo

Hazel liked her job. Iris was a good boss. She let Hazel take up to an hour for lunch breaks. When Hazel ended up sick with a cold, she insisted she take the day off. Now, Iris was letting Hazel give her brother and his new boyfriend a tour of the museum.

     Nico had gotten together with the guy who had taken him into the ambulance. Hazel had found that strange at first, but Will Solace not only looked chill — he acted chill most of the time. Like Nico, Will seemed to be one of those persons who was a shadow — someone who others tried to forget about. The main difference between the two men was that Will tried to act perky, while Nico let his face divulge his secrets.

      "This is a painting by Frank Zhang," Hazel said, gesturing her hand to the large canvas.

     The two men took in the scene of carnage painted before them. They were walking close together and even though they were not currently holding hands, there was s closeness between them. Seeing them made a lump form in Hazel's throat. She was so glad that her brother had found some happiness, but when she looked at Will, she wondered if he would be a shadow to Nico? Would he stay with him or would he be an apparition that leaves in an instant?

      "I've never heard the name Frank Zhang before," Will said. "Is he not a well-known artist?"

      "He's not an artist so much as Hazel's crush," Nico said in a deadpan voice.

     "Nico!" Hazel squeaked.

       "What?" Nico asked, his brown eyes widening so that he looked like a surprised screech owl. "It's true."

      "It is not!" Hazel insisted.

       "Then why did you go on a date with him yesterday?" Nico challenged.

      "I should never have told you about that," Hazel said, fanning herself. "Besides, it wasn't a date."

      "You just ate dinner together and then held hands at a park," Nico said. "That's totally not a date."

     Hazel's face burned. Unlike her brother, she had never been sunburned, but she imagined this was what it felt like. Embarrassment heated her cheeks and made her skin itch in discomfort.

      "And now I will show you a clay tablet from ancient Babylon," Hazel said, directing the couple over to the glass case to the right of the painting. "This was written by Sargon the Great's daughter, Enheduanna. She was an influential high priestess and wrote poetry."

     "Wow, it's amazing their writing has survived so long," Will said. "This is better kept than my Biology textbook in high school."

      "It is," Hazel agreed. "Enheduanna is also the first author we know of by name. She was really powerful. At one point she faced a coup, but she managed to get back her position."

     "That's cool," Nico said. "They never told us these interesting stuff in school. They just told us women had no power."

     "She was wealthy and had a powerful father, but she was important in her own right," Hazel replied. "Maybe we shouldn't look to the past to make ourselves feel better about where we are now, but instead for inspiration."

      "Okay, this is getting too philosophical," Nico said. "Can I please see skull jug? That's what we came here for."

    Hazel smiled and said, "Of course. Follow me."