Chapter Text
The camp grounds were trashed. The wind was fiercely blowing everything from rubbish to personal belonging around the demigod’s home. The ocean was roaring and the lake wasn’t in any better condition. The sun was virtually invisible between the overflow of clouds and influx of shadows. Campers could be seen rushing into cabins, and even a couple screams could be heard from younger campers who didn’t yet know rain was possible in camp let alone a storm of this magnitude.
Thalia, Percy, and Nico ran out from their respective cabins in such a rush that any campers that hadn’t yet retreated from the rain thought there must be a monster. Fueled by the trio’s anger and worry at the potential that their cousins were in trouble, the storm grew and the camp darkened until you could barely see what was happening.
As they met near the campfire, the little big three collapsed into eachothers arms; the dread they were feeling transformed into relief as they realised the others were ok. In the little light from the fire they checked eachother over for injuries, when they also noticed the tear tracks on the others faces. Immediately, there was the chaos of all three asking eachother what had happened and if they were ok. Slowly, the camp lightened as the shadows subsided and the clouds began to clear. The lightening stopped and the rain eased as campers began emerging from their cabins, eager yet cautious to discover the cause of such bad weather.
The campers start deliberating with their sibling over what could’ve happened to upset Zues so much before one-by-one they notice the powerful trio lying in a huddle by the campfire. They pick up on the melancholy tone and the unusual display of vulnerability, and they realise that it wasn’t Zues at all. Reactions range from in awe to scared to concerned by the display of such power and destruction. The trio didn’t notice.
The camp watches as in hushed tones with watery eyes the little big three check in on eachother.
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Meanwhile, the three cousins fuss over eachother. It’s chaos until Thalia, the (debatable) oldest of the three decides to put a stop in the talking over eachother.
“STOP. None of us can understand eachother right now.” She says with as much of a commanding tone she can manage while on the verge of tears and attempting to be quiet.
“Firstly, is everyone ok?”
Percy is the first to answer. “Yeah.”
“Yes” Nico follows with in quick succession.
“Are you?!” Percy questions looking into Thalia’s eyes, ensuring he’d know if she was lying.
“Physically yeah.” Thalia reassures.
“What the Hera happened?” Nico questions.
Percy is once again the first to answer.
“I was sitting in my cabin and I knew my powers were becoming out of control when I noticed the lightening and the sudden rush of shadows.”
Thalia shares her side.
“I was sitting in Father’s cabin when I noticed more rain than is normal when I create storms. I noticed the odd darkness as I was rushing outside.”
“What why were you in Zues’s cabin?!” Nico nearly shouts, worried as he knows how much his cousin hates her father’s cabin.
“I was having a moment and needed to be alone. Wait, what were you doing Nico?” Thalia retaliates.
“Uh, pretty similar to what you and Perce said. I was in my cabin when I noticed the storm on top of the darkness I already knew I was creating.”
“So we were all upset and alone in our cabins when we noticed each others powers at play and ran out to check on one another?” Percy offered.
“Yeah. That seems to be the case.” Thalia confirms.
“What why were you guys upset?!” Nico asks frantically, still shocked that the cousins he looks up to were this upset.
Thalia and Percy paused, unwilling to answer.
After a brief moment, Percy was once again the first to give in.
“Angst moment about not being the person people think I am and worrying that people would start to see though the facade?” He says this with a vaguely light voice, attempting to brighten the mood.
“What? Percy you don’t have to pretend to be someon you’re not. And you don’t have to worry about people finding out who you really are.” Thalia festires to Nico and herself, “We know who you are and happen to really like him.”
Nico now tries joking to lift spirits, “Yeah. He may get on our nerves but that’s because you’re our cousin. But at the end of the day, he’s a great guy and we’re lucky to have you.”
“Thanks guys.” Percy whispers with a small smile and watery eyes. “Wait yous aren’t getting out of this that easily. Why were you guys upset?!” Percy exclaims.
Nico and Thalia meet eyes, silently begging the other to go first. Thalia, a secret softy, gives in to her little cousins plea.
“I was doing a bit of self reflection on everything that’s gone wrong in my life, and how I’ve never really gotten a moment to collect myself and heal. Everyone just expected me to bounce back so easily.”
Nico led the comfort this time. “Thals, you deserve a break. You don’t have to act like nothing ever happened. Nobody expects you to. And if they do, tel them to come visit me and they can find out exactly why the children of Hades have always been feared.”
“Or they can find out how I have so much monster blood under my belt.” Percy adds helpfully. “Thalia, you’ve never had an easy life. And you’re allowed to admit that. You’re allowed to mourn you’re losses and heal from everything that’s happened. In fact, I’m sorry that you haven’t been able to already.”
Thalia offers a soft smile and swallows, “Thank you guys.” She pauses. Softly, she says “Nico, what upset you to bring out such shadows?”
Nico blushes slightly, he’d been hoping his cousins would forget about that part of this situation. “I just, I feel like I’m never enough for anyone.”
Nico begins to cry softly, and both of his cousins immediately wrap him in a hug. Muffled by his head being in Percy’s chest, Nico continues.
“Even after death I’ve come second to Bianca, here I’m barely considered a camper. I just want somebody to want me for me.”
“Nico, look at me.” Percy commands, releasing Nico from his grip before moving his hands to lift his younger cousin’s head.
“You are always enough Nico. Always. You’re dad cares about you, the campers don’t hate you and will love you if you let them know you. You’re friends love you. Will. And if you don’t believe me about any of them, believe it when Thalia says this:”
“We love you Nico. You’re our friend. Our little cousin. I know I speak for Percy too when I say this, but we don’t know what we would do without you. Nico, you’re enough.” Thalia says, the meaningfulness clear in her tone.
Nico let’s out a soft chuckle, not because it was funny, but because he was overwhelmed with the sudden burst of love and warmth that bloomed in his chest throughout his cousin’s speeches.
“I love you guys too” he whispers.
Percy and Thalia’s eyes meet over Nicos head.
“I love you, too kelp head.” Thalia says with a teasing tone, but Percy knew she was telling the truth.
“Yeah love you too pinecone face” Percy says in a similar manning, a grin forming on his face as he has an idea. “Just remember that in a moment.”
As he sees the wary look on Thalia’s face, Nico realises what Percy’s idea must be and leaps out of the way before Percy tackles Thalia to the ground.
The two elder members of the trio behave like small children, playfully wrestling eachother as Nico sits on the sideline laughing his ass off.
This is the last thing the crowd sees before they decide to just leave the trio to it.
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Chiron and Dionysus watch from the deck of the big house, having rushed out when they realised the storm wasn’t Zues’s fault. However, they refrained from interference when they saw the “little big three” meet each other, content to let them sort it out themselves for the most part.
As Percy tackled Thalia, Chiron turned to look at Dionysus. “Just like their fathers used to be.”
“And too damn powerful.” Dionysus grumbled.
Chiron turned to face the children once again. He smiled at the expressions of pure joy across the trio’s faces.
“I don’t think we have anything to worry about. They have each other. And none will let another cause harm.”
Dionysus wasn’t as convinced. “I’ve been told they used to say that about my father and uncles.”
“Yes. But these children are just that. Children. They have time to reign in their powers and learn. Besides, they are mostly mortal.” Chiron advised.
“If you say so.” Dionysus mutters as he stalks back inside.
Chiron scans his eyes over the camp. Past the daughter of Zues’s tree, past the campers returning to their normal festivities, and finally back to the trio, where Nico had been roped into the wrestling. Their laughter could be heard for miles. All was well.
Chiron watches with a profound fondness he hadn’t felt for a long time, and whispers to himself, “They’ll be just fine.”