IF TIME STOPS 『nico di angelo x reader』

chapter 17: Just In Time

A knock came from the other side of the infirmary door, making both Nico and (Y/n) flinch in surprise. They both turned to door, just in time to see Connor's head poke out of the slightly opened doorway.

"Uh, hey." The brunette started off awkwardly, not moving from his place by the door. "Chiron, uh, said it was time, yeah."

"Huh? Time for what?" (Y/n) tilted her head in confusion. When Connor didn't answer her, she turned to Nico, about to ask what Connor was going on about but the look in face tells her that he was aware of what was going on and whatever it was, she was too scared to find out.

Are they keeping something from me? She gulped down her nervousness as she silently questioned herself, following the two boys out into the open. The question in her head didn't linger long though, she was far too distracted by the piercing stares that were being thrown her way.

No doubt they knew what happened during her fight with Annabeth in the arena this morning. There was no question that they were talking about her, probably saying things like how freaky it was that her appearance changed.

As they walked, with Connor and Nico at the front and her following from behind, she caught snippets of the camper's conversation as they whispered to each other and kept their distance from her.

A pair of girls from the Aphrodite cabin snickered as she passed by, "I heard that she turned into some kind of monster while she was fighting off one of the big seven."

"Oh yeah? How hideous was she to make all these people back off from the sight of her?" The other girl laughed as she whispered — quite loudly — back to her sister.

Sometimes she just wanted to shut her ears off completely but Daphne had completely trained them to hear sounds that can't even be heard by normal humans. No matter how many times she's heard the same things, she still can't get used to it and It's not like she can control when she can change her appearance also; heck, she hasn't even been able to grasp her own powers properly yet.

"I feel bad for Nico and Connor, I can't believe they have to be around her." She heard a boy tell his friend as she passed by.

(Y/n) was taken aback by that. Just being the overthinker that she was, she began thinking that what if they are just around her because they're being forced to? I mean, after everything that happened in the arena, why would they want to be with her?

Her thoughts seemed to cloud her mind, causing her footsteps to slow down. She stared down at her shoes, her emotions seeped inside her — a mixture of fear and anger dancing together around a fire. She was so engrossed with her thoughts, it shocked her to feel the sudden skin contact of someone's arm being draped around her shoulder.

"Is that what you think?" The voice next to her commented, pulling her closer to the familiar warmth of his body. (Y/n) looked up to see the dark haired boy throw a piercing glare towards the campers.

"Nico..." Her heart swelled in appreciation. When was the last time she was defended like this? She couldn't remember. She gulped down her tears as she thanked him, clutching onto his draped arm.

"Nico and I are with her because we want to be." Connor winked at the boy, flicking him hard in the forehead it left the boy with a red sore spot. "Mind your own business, Jin. Don't pretend you know everything, same goes to you all."

The look in Connor's eyes were so hair raising, no one dared to object. (Y/n) never knew he could look so threatening, it was so unexpected of Connor that everyone within the perimeter backed away. The two girls from earlier shivered and ran away.

Next to her, Nico laced his hand around hers protectively — an action so unlike him, it surprised everyone who was watching, even Nico himself. The look in his cold eyes had gone softer now as he looked down on the girl beside him. He's only known her for a day and he doesn't understand it, but something about her makes him want to know more. Whatever it is, its pulling him closer and he's letting it do so without a single complaint.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently, unconsciously rubbing small circles with his thumb on the back of her hand.

(Y/n) managed to give him a soft nod, a small smile playing on her lips, not really understanding why her heart was beating fast. "Thank you, both of you..."

Connor let out a sigh and ruffled her head. "Seriously...those people...I can't believe they said you were hideous! You're the prettiest one out of all of them!" He defended, shaking his fists to the sky.

Beside her, Nico couldn't help but crack a small smile in agreement. Connor catches sight of this and gestures towards the son of Hades, whose smile disappeared faster than a blink of an eye.

"See! Even Nico agree— Weren't you smiling just a millisecond ago?"

"No." Nico pulled (Y/n) away from the brunette, who followed in pursuit behind them while still going on about how he definitely saw Nico smile.

(Y/n) couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh, touched that her friends are still with her even after everything she's done, as she let both Connor and Nico lead the way.

"Ah, Chiron!" Connor greeted when he caught sight of the centaur by the porch reading a newspaper.

The centaur looked up from his article and responded with a kindly smile, his brown eyes glinting as they locked with (Y/n)'s. "I'm glad you three can make it, you're just in time for it."

Nico sighed, running a hand across his hair. "Just hurry and get this meeting over with, I'm too tired to deal with this." 

(Y/n)'s confusion came back, this time laced in panic. Meeting? Huh? Was there something happening? Am I in trouble? What are they hiding from me? She thought as she walked up the wooden staircase of the Big House. 

"Make it to what exactly?" She asked cautiously, wondering what was so important that both Connor and Nico's expressions  had turned grim.

Chiron turned to her as he opened the door, revealing all the senior counsellors from each of the cabins. She couldn't help but squeeze Nico's hand which was still laced around hers. "To the council, my dear."