PARENTHOOD // PERCICO

chapter eight - shock

Nico was in the middle of helping Jason make a bottle, watching as he fumbled with trying to screw on the lid. Hell, he was even finding a certain calm in the scene despite his life having been turned upside down.

"It's just like any other bottle lid, I don't understand-" Nico said, in awe at how he was having so much trouble with a lid.

"I think I'm just nervous," He mumbled bashfully as he finally got it on there, smiling triumphantly as he did so. "See, got it." He said, and Nico hummed.

They then moved to the couch and Zoella, who had already been suckling on her bottle while Jason struggled, just watched everything with wide eyes. Nico took the bottle from Jason while he grabbed his daughter from the bassinet that they had moved into the living room for the time being.

"Okay," Nico said softly. "Just hold her like this," he leaned forward and moved Jason's arm a bit, still managing to feed Zoella by holding the bottle up with his chin. "And then make sure her neck is supported," He explained, "and then don't hold the bottle straight up. I'm not sure why to be honest, but you're just supposed to hold it at a slant."

Nico watched as Jason moved the bottle. "Oh, not too much, you don't want her to drink the air, that's also bad."

Jason moved the bottle again, looking at Nico for approval. "Yeah, there you go," He smiled. He then leaned back a bit, giving Jason some space, and that's when he felt it. Something painful. Something that made his stomach drop and his heart race.

His breath got caught in his throat and it felt similar to a panic attack. He looked down at Zoella and she looked fine. He then looked at Jason who seemed to have felt it to, considering not even a second later, wary eyes met Nico's.

"You felt that, right?" Jason asked, looking around as if whatever just happened was because something was in the room.

"Yeah," Nico said, doing the same, despite knowing it wasn't because of something in the room. "Should we get Reyna?" Nico said, knowing she would probably know more than they would.

"I don't think we should leave," Jason said, looking back down at the blonde baby in his arms. "It doesn't seem safe."

Nico sighed. "Yeah," He looked at Zoella. "Take her," It almost hurt for him to actually say it, but he had a feeling. He knew something was wrong, so very wrong, and he knew he had to figure it out.

"Wait wait, why?" Jason asked, taking Zoella in his arms.

"I got a feeling," Nico mumbled, grabbing his sword and heading out the door.

And he ran, literally ran, to where Reyna would be. He didn't get distracted, he was rude to a few too many people as he rushed through crowds.

"Reyna!" He called out, rushing into the building, bursting through the doors. "Reyna - have you seen Reyna - wait Thalia - what are you doing here?"

"My brother got someone knocked up," She said. "It's a big deal, plus Arte-" She stopped herself like she wasn't supposed to say that part. "Where is he?" She said, quickly changing the subject.

"My house." He said shortly. "Have you seen Reyna?"

"Annabeth's office," She answered, going towards the way Nico just came.

"Thank you!" He called out, rushing to where Annabeth often spent her time when she was at Camp Jupiter.

"No, thank you!" She called out, breaking into a jog.

Nico kept running until he remembered he literally has the power to fucking shadow travel. He hadn't done it, by his own free will, in such a long time he forgot he could do it. He rushed to a dim corner and focused on where he wanted to go.