IF TIME STOPS 『nico di angelo x reader』

chapter 23

"Are they still looking?" I asked Percy as I chewed the cereal I was eating, not bothering to look away from my bowl of food.

"Yep." Percy hummed, biting into his oven made bun without looking at the campers who seemed to be staring daggers at our table of two.

Ever since I revealed my true identity and gave the whole camp the permission to say my true name without releasing any monsters or whatever — (I mean, who would have even thought that one of my godly parents in another time line really said hey, what if I put a padlock spell on my child's name so monsters won't pop out from Tartarus?) — I also stopped shape-shifting since there really was no use for it anymore.

Which meant that I've been walking around in my real appearance for weeks now and yet, it seems like everyone else asides from Percy still couldn't quite get used to my appearance. I can't blame them though, it's not everyday you see a girl naturally born with purple eyes and white hair so to them I probably look like a complete alien.

I sighed, setting my spoon down as I leaned back to stretch. "They should just take a picture or something, it'll last longer." The back of my head was itching with the way they were burning their stares onto me, I tapped my finger impatiently against the table and resisted the urge to turn around to glare at them.

Percy snorted as he helped himself to a spoonful of soup. "You should tell them that."

I dropped my head against the the table, my cheek pressing on the hard wooden surface as I let out a puff of resignation. "But I'm too lazy to tell them off." I whined.

Without much warning, I felt a warm hand on top of my head. The sudden touch startled me momentarily, making me jump in my seat out of surprise. I looked up and met an unmistakable pair of dark eyes.

All of a sudden, I felt the pace of my heart beat fasten. Just staring at those eyes of his felt as though they were pulling my heartstrings. 

"Should I tell them off in your stead?" Nico asked softly as he ruffled my hair with his hand. His gaze held mine as he lightly twirled a finger around my hair. His eyes held its usual cold gaze but his voice felt seemingly warm, and I could just make out a ghost of a smile playing against his rosy lips.

"Oh..." I felt my breath hitch against my throat the way it always does whenever I see him. My face felt hot as I found myself staring at his angelic features, leaving me at a loss for words.

Nico tilted his head as he continued to look down at me, his perfect eyebrows furrowing in question. "What's wrong?"

I stared at him in response, studying the way his features had become more evidently replenished after days of resting. I've always thought of Nico as beautiful but looking at him from up close on a day when his cheeks weren't sunken and eyes weren't rimmed with dark bags? Beautiful wasn't even a word close to how sparkling he looked.

"You know...you're really pretty." I squinted my eyes, unconsciously speaking out my thoughts. "It's like you're practically sparkling in my eyes."

Percy spluttered out his drink and Nico coughed against his sleeve, looking absolutely taken aback.

"(Y/n)?!" Percy choked out, wide eyed. 

"Oh, uh, thanks?" Nico looked away as he rubbed his neck lightly, a slight flush spreading across his cheeks. I stared at him, surprised by his reaction. "...I should, uh,...get back to Hazel." He added, fumbling over his words as he muttered a goodbye before walking towards his table.

"...Percy...did you see that?" I covered my mouth as I stared into the direction where my gloomy looking friend disappeared to, the image of him bashfully blushing ingrained in my mind.

I took hold of my brother's arm and shook it, without taking a single glance at him. "Percy, Percy, did you see that?" I turned to my brother for an answer, who only managed to nod and look like he was ready to throw up his breakfast. I never knew that the Nico Di Angelo could look so shy. 

"What the hell, that was insanely cute."

———

"You didn't answer this page," Annabeth motioned to an unanswered page of my textbook, Demigod Guide for Dummies: Practice Workbook, just as I has plopped down on her bed.

"Do I have to?" I complained, lying my back down against her bedsheets. As a demigod who had very 'laxed expectations of this camp, I never would have thought that there would come a day when I would have to learn greek history in pure greek and as a girl who has no absolute desire to spend my days studying...well, I was absolutely mind fucked.

Annabeth sighed exasperatedly, rubbing her temples the only way she does whenever she gets annoyed. "Yes, you have to."

"Don't wanna, my brain's tired of thinking." I rolled on her bed, plopping on her pillows face first.

As much as I hate to admit it, my relationship with Annabeth has somewhat become less colder and much better now that the misunderstandings have been cleared and because she was assigned to teach me everything. Although it still doesn't justify the fact that she spread groundless rumours of me - which was apparently very unlike her - I could act like an annoying brat towards her anytime I want and not get scolded.

"Fine." She crossed her arms against her chest, a perplexed look plastered on her look. "But just so you know, you'll need this."

She pointed at the book.

I raised a brow, "Yeah, but, it makes me feel like I'm an elementary level school student."

"You are though?" Annabeth tilted her head, another sigh of exasperation coming out of her mouth. "In terms of knowledge, your level is of an elementary student. You've never been to school have you?"

I pouted, clutching Annabeth's pillow in arms. I couldn't deny that, after all I spent most of my life running away in the woods with Daphne. But as a substitute for a school, Daphne taught me. She's the reason why I managed not to be a total dumbass in this life, so doesn't it at least count?