Chapter Text
Hazel was probably the only person that would refer to Nico Di Angelo as a ray of sunshine. Or at least as a beacon of hope. She wasn’t ignorant to the way everyone jumped or slightly recoiled at his presence. How their smile, when it reached him, was pulled slightly too thin. The way they eyed him when he wasn’t looking.
She didn’t see him like that, though. She knew deep down he was a sweet boy, but she was fully aware that she only knew the half of his story. There were a lot of things still left unknown between them.
Bianca Di Angelo. A name that was troublesome between them. It had been spoken to her in many ways. Sometimes quietly, sadly, the few times Nico had opened up to her. She had heard it spoken in a tone dripping with anger, when he was enraged with the circumstances. She had heard it said casually, accidentally misspoken in place of Hazel’s own name. Many different ways, but all left a pang of a dark emotion in her chest. Sadness and sympathy for Nico, of course, but also, a slight jealousy, almost longing. She wished she could be what Bianca was for Nico. A sister to rely on, to confide in.
From the brief stories she had heard from Percy, Nico had previously a bubbly young boy before Bianca’s death. Hazel desperately wished she could be a refuge where Nico could be that inner kid again. Maybe they could both be joyful together. I mean, Hazel had never had a sibling, even before she had died. And now that she does, she couldn’t help but feel a bit disconnected.
That wasn’t to say they hadn’t had their own history. He was her brother fair and square. Some of the most meaningful conversations she had ever had had been with that boy. She had memorized his mannerisms, the spoke,the way he twisted with his silly skull ring, the way he tapped his foot when he got mad like some dorky cartoon character.
That was the side of him that only she ever saw. He wasn’t always some broody emo boy like everyone thought he was. He was more than just his trauma. Unbeknownst to the crew, Nico told some of the funniest jokes, and he could make a mean cup of peppermint hot cocoa. Gods, don’t even get him started on mythomagic. He had talked Hazel’s ear off on more than one occasion.
Aside from Frank, obviously, Nico was one of the people on the crew that she was the closest with. That’s why when Jason and Leo had even mentioned not saving him from those stupid giants, Ephialtes and Otis, she was fuming. She was protective of him, to say the least. It might only be a year difference, but Hazel was technically the older sibling, and she was determined to live up to that.
Hopefully, one day, he would trust her enough to tell her everything. She knew- or, she was worried, that there would always be just something slightly lacking between them, like a part of the story she wouldn’t hear. And she couldn’t lie, it hurt. Nevertheless, Nico meant the whole world to her. She owed her life to him.
He was a beacon.
The first time she set eyes on him, he had extended his hand, offering his help. He was the one that dragged her out of the underworld, the one that put her back in the light.
He was the only one that could help her. The only one that might understand.
Hazel got to her feet, hands still slightly shaking as she padded to her door, opening it quietly. Every creak of the floor made her wince. Coach Hedge would flip his lid if he knew she was up. Plus, she didn’t want to accidentally wake up any of the other crew. She knew how tired they were.
She made her way quietly to Nico’s room, knocking softly on the door. To her surprise, he opened it quickly. Nico looked down at the older sibling, and Hazel noted the dark circles under his eyes. Had he not been sleeping?
Honestly, she wouldn’t be surprised. Nico had been through a lot the past couple of days. For Hades sake, the past couple of years. It was impossible to ignore the sudden pang of guilt in her stomach. Why was she coming to him with her problems? They seemed very minor now, compared to his.
“Hey,” Hazel said meekly, “Can I come in?”
Nico must have seen the tears in her eyes, because he nodded without a word and let her in, shutting the door behind them.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked quietly, voice slightly raspy. Hazel nodded in response.
“Yeah. Bad dreams.” she confided, sitting down on his bed and wrapping his blanket around her. “You too?”
He shook his head, “Just couldn’t sleep in general. I doubt my dreams would be good, though.”
Nico lingered standing up, before he finally moved to sit down at a desk chair that he was lucky enough to have in his room. The way he posed himself was dorky, with one leg tucked under the other. She couldn’t help but crack a weak smile.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at her. Even if it was a bit silly, the way he sat was unnaturally still, as if he were pretending to be a statue.
“Tell me about your dream.” He said quietly.
Hazel wouldn’t meet his eyes, instead staring decidedly at the floor. “Asphodel. Again.”
Nico nodded, waiting for her to speak more. Hazel’s found it hard to meet his eyes as she took in a shaky breath, attempting to recall the events of her dream. It took more of a toll on her than she’d like to admit. Her stomach constricted with anxiety just from the thought of the way those agonizing wheat stalks lulled in the wind.
“It just won’t leave me alone. Any of it. The memories, the… imagery, the emotions…” she began, lip quivering, “I just don’t know what to do. I feel so helpless, and I have practically no time to think about any of it since this quest is so ‘go, go, go..’”
An exasperated sigh left her as she tried to collect her thoughts. Nothing would get better if all she did was keep rambling.
“I was hoping… I don’t know. You’re just the only one who could kind of relate to this sort of thing. I mean, you’ve been there in person. You know how draining it is.”
Nico’s stoic features softened slightly in understanding as he nodded again, lips quirking down in a ghost of an empathetic frown.
Hazel’s hand moved down to grip her knees, looking down at her hands. Small scrapes and scars littered her hands, and her nails were chipped. She sniffed slightly, wiping away hot tears from her cheek.
After a few moments of silence, she met Nico’s gaze again. He was never one for eye contact, and she knew that, but it was obvious he was trying to keep it, for her.
“I’m glad you came to me.” he said softly, “And, yes, I do understand. More than you know.”
Hazel sighed once more, nodding. Just being in the presence of her brother was calming. That creeping feeling of loneliness wasn’t crawling up her throat anymore. Even through his dark and gloomy state, he radiated calmness. They might not have everything under control individually, but it was nice to be around someone who understood.
They shared a moment of comfortable silence, sitting across from each other.
It was nice to have someone to rely on.