Chapter Text
Hades had never been one for more direct hands-on parenting – good or bad – like his brother Zeus liked to practice. Instead, he often lurked in the background, watching his children and subtly guiding them down their paths. It had worked well since ancient times.
But right now, Hades was facing a dilemma. Of his two children with Maria, the boy seemed determined to cross his plans whenever possible. Nico’s entire personality seemed to have changed since the day he left the casino, growing quieter, more mature and at the same time mischievous and chaos-causing. Gone was the innocent, almost hyperactive little child with a borderline manic obsession with Mythomagic. While Nico still possessed the cards and figurines, they were neatly stashed away in a cardboard box in in his room at Sally Jackson’s apartment.
The lord of the Dead couldn’t explain this sudden shift in behaviour and personality, no matter what reasoning he attempted. He had noticed how his brother’s son had almost seamlessly integrated the two of them into both his own family and camp, grown especially close to Nico within an unusually short timeframe.
Hades watched as Nico decapitated a straw puppet on the camp’s training ground, skilled with the blade beyond his years. His moves were angry, bleeding a faint desperation to get stronger and it looked like the body couldn’t quite keep up with the warrior within, lacking strength and reach. It reminded Hades of that one ancient Greek hero whose actions had gotten him de-aged by Hebe, leaving him unable to fight properly.
The light sheen reflecting of the weapon reminded Hades of the blatant and brazen thievery he had been witness to. Nico had held no hesitation as he had strolled through the palace, heading straight for the treasury and leaving as if out on a stroll. The weapon matched him well, Hades had to admit however, suited his fighting style and statue.
“You good there?” a boy, from the looks of it a son of Apollo, interrupted the training session and Nico just send him a silent glare. Apparently adapt at reading his son, the camper merely shrugged. “You’re murdering a lot of innocent dummies here.”
A bitter laugh escaped Nico as his sword arm fell to the side. “We’ll make new ones next summer anyway,” he scoffed. He took a deep breath before sheathing his blade. “I’m just …” he fell silent in search for a word before finishing, “Fucking pissed.”
The blonde kid shifted his weight, crossing his arms in front of his chest with a considering hum. “At yourself?”
“At myself,” Nico hissed, still not turning to face him.
“For allowing the manticore to snatch Bi –”
“Steal my sister from right under my nose!” Nico whipped around to him.
Apollo’s son shrugged. “Nobody noticed,” he pointed out. “And hey, you’re the younger sibling here, protecting the others is not your job.”
“Try telling Percy that.”
“Touché.”
Hades swallowed a laugh. From what he had seen of the boy, Percy took any slight against his father and paternal siblings seriously, ready for revenge at a moment’s notice. Nico, however, had never struck him as that kind of demigod. He seemed strangely worried and protective about his older sister but so far, their father had chalked that up to them being among themselves in the casino, with no one else to rely on than each other. Now, he doubted that was actually the case. Something else was going on.
“She’s back, though. Fine and unharmed.”
Nico heaved a sigh. “Yeah, I know … It’s just … someone should have noticed, should have helped her.”
The other camper hummed quietly. “Maybe,” he said. “But it’s the same with Annabeth, right? Percy and Thalia were right there and she still got ‘napped.”
With a grumble, Nico nodded in defeat.
Hades chose not to listen any further, instead checking on his daughter. She had left the camp with his niece’s huntresses, currently travelling along a river winding its way through a snowy forest. She seemed fine, being taught the way of the hunt by her fellow hunting sisters. While it aggrieved Hades that his daughter had chosen to serve his niece instead of staying with him, he respected her choice. And in the depth of his mind, he only muttered to himself, Sooner or later all paths end with me. Bianca would come home to him eventually. It was only a matter of time. And if Hades was anything, he was patient.
As both left the training grounds and headed towards the big house, Apollo’s son eventually splitting off and walking back towards the cabins, Hades silently kept watching, observing this son of his, unusually strong with his powers and yet holding a tighter grip of control on them than any of his ancient siblings Hades had personally taught. Nico seemed to be fully aware of his godly parent and both of his cousins at camp shared this knowledge. Bianca, meanwhile, was unaware of her heritage, never displayed any powers. Hades weighed the pro and cons of claiming his children.
For one, it would bring clarity to both of them, even if one already knew. It would make it easier for him to sneak some assistance or guidance their way. If danger befell them, he could more easily interfere, since he was just a parent concerned for his child. It was an argument the others had used before, to little, if barely any backlash.
However, it could also bring the danger of Zeus interfering again, attempting to kill his children like he did before, which had ultimately cost Maria her life. He would have to explain how and why he hid the children, why he was pulling them back now, what he was hoping to gain from such an action.
Hades paused in his thoughts. To whom do I owe justification of my actions? My children are under my jurisdiction. They are not oath-breaking children, born before it. Leaning back on the couch he was lounging on, his gaze lifted to the ceiling and he exhaled slowly. “I have grown way too accustomed to deferring to the little brother,” he realised.
“It keeps the peace,” Persephone offered, appearing in his view from above, standing behind the couch.
“And what does peace ever offer me?” Hades scoffed bitterly.
His queen hummed, rounding the couch to settle down. “Aside jabs and scorn? Aside ignorance and arrogance towards you and your realm?” Her gaze rested on the floating screen showing Nico entering the Big House. After a moment, she pointed out, “It leaves you with a veil of secrecy hanging over your actions and domain. Our king,” she spat out the word in disgust, “has no idea of what is going on here, no clue what you could be planning, what powers you hold.”
“I am not planning on invading Olympus, however,” Hades sighed. “Say, should I?”
He didn’t elaborate further but Persephone seemed to understand, nonetheless. Silence reigned as she watched Nico and Percy squabble and joke about banishment over their unsanctioned quest. “Was it really one?” she muttered.
“Hm?”
“An unsanctioned quest?”
“Unlike Poseidon gifting Percy a ship for the sole purpose of crossing the Sea of Monsters, there was no such backhanded permission here, was there?”
Both silently deliberated but Hades couldn’t think of anything. Nico had snuck into the attic in order to get the prophecy, neither of the duo had bothered asking Dionysus or Chiron for a few days of leave, nor had they bothered even telling anyone they had left in the first place.
“Come to think of it,” Persephone began and he put his own thoughts on hold, “Poseidon knew. Did he not bring three of them back to camp?”
“Yes. Nico, Bianca and the satyr.” Hades watched his son for a moment before he huffed. “Poseidon would never stand in his son’s way. He is one terrible enabler.”
His wife chuckled. “He understands that the child needed to be rescued. He knew there would have been no stopping his son.”
“True,” Hades allowed. “They are truly father and son.”
“Nico seems rather similar to you.”
He blinked, looking over at her. “No?”
“Yes.”
“How? I am not that reckless?” he tried defending himself, pointing at the screen.
His queen only smiled softly. “There is plenty of points to be made,” she smirked.
“Tell me.”
“I do not believe I will,” she giggled.
Hades grumbled, gaze shifting back to the gathering children that had now begun discussing the quests. He exhaled and snapped his fingers. “No use deliberating,” he muttered, watching as his symbol burned above Nico’s head.
Persephone leaned forward, watching the children closely. “They are rather unsurprised, the two of them.”
“Percy seemed to have known since the day he met them. I am still not sure how he knew there were in the casino.”
“You could ask him.”
“Do you truly believe he will answer?”
The queen laughed softly, shaking her head. “He will weasel his way out of your questioning. If you attempt using force, this boy will just call his father.”
Hades grumbled but had to agree. Percy unashamedly made use of his connection to his father whenever it suited his needs.
“The reaction is good. Much better than the last times. No outright hostility. Just surprise, some wariness over here,” Persephone observed, pointing towards Athena’s prideful daughter and the boy next to her.
“Good,” Hades murmured, carefully hopeful that perhaps this time, his children wouldn’t be stamped as the enemy despite never doing anything wrong. Most of the time, he conceded, reminded of the second World War.
“The other one?”
Hades changed the screen to display Bianca, making a note to himself to properly reimburse Iris for his increased usage of her powers to watch his children. The girl still peered above her head while Thalia was grinning, clapping another girl on the shoulder, arguing that it made them even with the camp.
“Looks fine, too,” Persephone judged and he nodded.
A few days full of Poseidon’s not-so-subtle teasing followed, the god mockingly complaining about how Hades stole the already quasi-adopted son of his. The Lord of the Dead recognised the playful ribbing for what it was, however, and didn’t rise to the bait. Had it been a few years ago, perhaps even months, it would’ve have gone differently. The teasing would’ve easily escalated into a serious argument.
It angered Hades a little that Nico could only stay in the Hermes cabin despite being officially claimed, sharing the problem with children of the minor gods. They all lacked cabins at the camp, forcing the Hermes cabin to house them. The god wondered why the camp hadn’t built a home for all of these campers instead, a house for the unclaimed and children of the minor gods. Nico had been spared the Hermes experience, however, pretty much from the get-go, as he had just migrated to the Poseidon cabin without neither Percy nor Poseidon complaining about it. The former was easily understandable, given their close relationship, the latter highly unusual. Poseidon didn’t allow anyone to stay in his cabin for an extended duration, even if they were long-term lovers of his children.
While he was partially thankful that Nico could live there, it gnawed at him, too. What irked him most was that his brother’s cabin was heavily veiled in his power, not allowing anyone to spy on the occupants. It made keeping an eye on his son difficult, sometimes. Persephone had called him a lurking stalker when he had complained and he had grumbled to himself for the rest of the day.
So, when he caught Nico shadow travelling to New York, he seized the opportunity and changed his son’s location of arrival from Sally Jackson’s apartment to a nearby restaurant.
Nico blinked as the shadows fell away, looking around with a quiet frown. “Did I get it wrong …?” he began but trailed off as he made eye contact with his father.
“You did not,” he reassured. “I would like a word.”
“Just one?” Nico asked, tilting his head, the ghost of a mischievous smile flickering over his face.
Hades took a slow, deep breath. “I see my nephew has already gotten to you.”
His son just laughed, dropping down on the chair opposite of him. “What’s up?”
Swallowing a comment about the casual and nonchalant attitude his son had in front of his godly parent, Hades chose to just lay blame for that onto Poseidon and his interactions with the boy. “I wished to speak with you.”
Nico opened his mouth before freezing and slowly closing it again. “Okay,” he said carefully, had clearly intended to say something else but changed his words at the last second.
Hades narrowed his eyes at him and Nico silently blinked back at him. Choosing not to press the issue, he picked up the menu card, eyeing the dishes available. “This is supposed to be Italian cuisine?” he muttered.
“It’s the American version of Italian food?” Nico shrugged. “I’ll take that one,” he pointed at one of them. “But only if you’re paying.”
When Hades raised an eyebrow at his son, the boy just shrugged again.
“Do I look like I have money?” he huffed, demonstratively raising his arms to display his oversized Aviators jacket.
“I do believe your cousin is forcing an allowance onto you,” Hades dryly pointed out and Nico shrunk into himself a little.
He hissed lowly to express his disapproval as he searched for a counter.
“Fine, fine,” the god relented. He waved over a waitress lurking nearby and gave up their order. As she left, he turned to study Nico and mentioned, “I happen to know that your current mortal guardian has offered to buy you a jacket that fits but you denied her.”
“Ugh,” Nico made, pulling a face. “Are you stalking me or something?” he grumbled in half-jest.
Hades blinked, unsure how to respond. Should he tell him that Persephone accused him of the very same thing or keep quiet?
“I’m kidding,” the boy waved it off after a beat of silence. “I know you’re super busy. Who’s got time for stalking their kid?”
“… right,” he simply agreed and left it at that. “How have you been?”
Nico tilted his head, silently studying the god. “Recently or in general?” he asked.
“Both?”
“Bi getting kidnapped wasn’t nice,” his son muttered, falling back against the backrest of his chair. “I was …” He hesitated, turning his head to stare out of the window onto the busy street outside. “I was scared I’d lose her.”
Hades tapped a finger on the table as he deliberated. “When I became aware of the manticore’s movements, of his attempt of getting a hold of a child of my brother’s or my children,” he began, watching his son carefully, “I tried sending the two of you a warning.”
“That weird-ass dream about the lion and the scorpion?” Nico tried, furrowing his eyebrows as he tried to remember.
“I do not know what shape it took for you.”
“Wait, you don’t?”
Hades shook his head. “I do not design an entire dream to give to you, Nico,” he explained quietly. “I just send some general words of warning.”
“Do you think Morpheus creates these dreams, then?”
The god paused, gaze sweeping out the window. “It is possible,” he allowed.
His son remained silent in thought. “Then,” Nico suddenly grabbed the table’s edge and leaned forward, “Do you think he could’ve manipulated the warning you tried sending Bi?”
“Why would Morpheus –?” Hades’ eyes widened in a sudden understanding. “He is siding with the Titans.”
Nico nodded. “Like Hecate,” he added.
“Hecate …” Hades rubbed his chin. “That is a problem.” The waitress bringing their food paused the conversation. Only after she had left did he ask, “Do you know of anyone else who has sided with the enemy?”
Nico, already digging into his food, paused in his eating. As he chewed he considered the question. “Percy once mentioned some sea deities siding with the big O,” he said.
Hades nodded. He waited patiently as his son kept thinking and naming a few. While this was not exactly what he had meant to discuss, it was important information, nonetheless. Especially Morpheus turning on them was a dangerous situation as this god could influence any warnings the gods tried sending their children.
Perhaps, once dinner was over, he would accompany the child back to the apartment he was living at. He was curious to meet the woman that had both father and son, as well as the children of his brothers, gushing over her. He owed her thanks, too, for taking in his children who had been without a place to stay outside the camp.