Chapter Text
A lot has happened since Tartarus. Nico could tell you things he never thought were possible to change, and yet they did.
One of these things was his relationship with his father, Hades, Lord of the Dead and King/God of the Underworld. His father had always sneered at him, called him a disappointment...said he should have died instead of his sister. (He couldn't blame him. He thought so, too.)
But, suddenly, it was all different. Hades greeted him warmly when he came to the Underworld. If Persephone threatened him with turning him into plants again, his father would frown and make at least one objecting comment.
They had family dinners. Family. Dinners. And that's not what Nico called them! That's what Hades called them. Since the first time he had asked Nico to join.
His father also called him son an awful lot lately. Nico, honest to the gods, didn't know how to feel about that. It's not like he could remember ever being called that in a fond manner.
Life was getting weirder by every day that went by. But it was also getting better, lighter, brighter.
Since Bianca's death Nico hadn't felt so at ease. Yet, he was nervous today.
Hades had sent him a letter asking if he wanted to spend the weekend at the palace, he had his own room after all.
Nico was a little confused, to say the least, but due to the steady relationship he had with his father as of late he didn't want to make the God mad by denying him.
Besides, he had stayed in the Underworld before. No big deal.
Though, Hades had never invited him to stay. So that was a first. But that wasn't why he was nervous. Sure, he wasn't certain why his father wanted him in the palace for the weekend...but he had had weirder requests from people before.
And from finding out that you are demigod, to becoming the Ghost King and being turned into a plant without having serious serious trauma, not even his Dad at his angriest let him loose his cool.
But now he had seen the deepest pit of the Underworld. Nico had looked at it directly and he will never forget the absolute terror it was, as if going through it wasn't already bad enough.
He wasn't sure if he had PTSD in the beginning, but he was more than sure he had it now!
He had nightmares. Many and horrible ones, no one at Camp knew. Well, almost no one. Will did, his boyfriend had been more than worried when he confessed it to him.
Will new, and no one else was supposed to. But now he was going to stay with his dad for two nights. Friday evening till Sunday. Nico doubted his dreams were going to stay friendly.
He didn't want his Dad to see him as a disappointment again. PTSD and ADHD was already bad enough, he didn't want to add self-esteem issues and depression to the list as well.
When he Shadow Traveled into his dad's realm he gave a sigh of relieve as the cool air filled his lungs for the first time.
He despised summer. It was hot and his dark clothes didn't make it any more comfortable. The only good thing he could think of was that Persephone wasn't here.
Maybe that's why Hades had called him? He felt lonely?
Yeah, right! Good joke, Neeks! That's it! The God of the Dead felt lonely and wanted his son here to comfort him! That's gotta be the reason! , Nico thought, dryly.
He made his way to the palace, where the skeleton guards bowed their heads and let him enter without further ado. Immediately afterwards he went to the Throne Room, the only place he could be sure his father would be.
His father sat on his throne, elbow on the throne's armrest and his head balanced on his palm. He looked quite bored. When his son entered the room his eyes widened and he sat up immediately.
The God cleared his throat.
"Nico, my son, I was wondering when you would appear."
Nico kneeled. "Father. I am sorry for the delay, but I had...urgent matters to attend to."
He felt red creeping up his throat. Urgent matters, was actually making out with Will, since they won't be seeing each other over the weekend. And they both wanted an unforgettable 'See you on Monday!'. His head still bowed, the son of Hades looked at his father through his eyelashes.
Hades arched an eyebrow. "These 'urgent matters' wouldn't happen to be a certain son of Apollo, hm?", Hades smirked at his son, who snapped his now very red head upwards and started sputtering. As much as he enjoyed seeing his son so flustered, Hades still had a job to do.
He stood up and and shrunk down to a reasonable size and moved down towards his still kneeling child.
"You may stand.", the God said in a dismissive tone. "We have a lot to discuss, my son." Hades watched his son get up, his embarrassed face quickly taking on a much more confused expression.
"Father - ?", Nico began. Hades stopped him with a snap of his fingers. It wasn't magic or anything, just his father's ominous presence.
"Times are changing, I am sure you have noticed. The gods are...corresponding with their children in a more suitable manner. Many have seen the error in their ways and -", he paused for a moment, gazing into his son's eyes. "I have come to realize that I have not been treating you as you deserve, either."
Nico opened his mouth to say something, but Hades stopped him again. This time by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"No. Just listen, Nico.", Hades shook his head. "I suppose the main factor - well, one of the main factors - was the reputation my offspring have of losing their sanity. Especially my sons. You were such a happy child, so loving and beloved at the same time. You were so innocent. I am truly sorry you had to grow up all on your own after you sister passed away."
Hades watched a shadow pass over his child's face. When his daughter's soul had appeared before him, he was shocked. But her fate had been different than most of his children's; she died a hero. Nico had been bitter, so very bitter. Maybe he still was.
He squeezed Nico's shoulder.
"I was afraid you would end up like many of them. I have to confess your...development was what truly drove us so far apart. And I have come to realize, quite some time ago actually, that it was all very much my fault."
"Father, really I'm -"
"You turned out to be so much like me.", Hades went on. "I suppose I couldn't handle it as much as I thought. Rather than trying to help you I pushed you away, and the more we became alike, the farther I wanted you away..."
He sighed and searched his son's face. Nico was confused, confused and hurt, he could tell. He may be a demigod but he was still a child.
A very hurt child, that spent most of his life alone and being turned away by almost everyone he knew. And his own father, the last family he had when Bianca died, ignored him and called him a disappointment every chance he got.
Gods really should not have children.
Hades teared his head away from his child's hurt gaze. He could do this. It was the right thing to do.
If Poseidon was able to have a reasonable relationship with a few of his offspring, he should be able to achieve having an even better one with his only son.
"Nico, child. From now on you shall not kneel when you enter my domain. You are my son, my flesh and blood and a Prince of this realm.", he squeezed his son's shoulder and was surprised, rather pleasantly, that Nico grabbed his hand and squeezed back.
"You have no need to kneel before me. I may be a King here and a God in the eyes of mortals, but to you, I am your father. And I will start acting like one."
"Y-yes, Father."
He looked at his son and something in his chest felt like it had just tucked at his heart. Something still didn't feel quite right.
The God had been thinking about this moment for weeks now.
How he would phrase things, what he would be saying and how Nico could be reacting.
He had expected anger, hurt, maybe even tears (of hurt, of joy, he couldn't tell you), but he was not prepared for the blunt confusion on the boy's face.
Nor for the weary glint in his eyes.
Hades wasn't sure what it meant. If it was directed at him or at something else, but he was sure of one thing.
His child was tired. In more ways than one.
Nico's shoulders sagged. His eyelids dropped slightly and the Underworld God grabbed his rwo shoulders in an effort to steady him as his knees buckled.
Apollo's chariot must have disappeared beyond the horizon, then.
It was definitely time for his child to go to bed.
Gently, Hades led his son through the Palace.
When they arrived at Nico's room, the demigod gave a drowsy smile and a quiet 'Good Night', before disappearing into the dark depths of his chambers.
His father stood outside the door for a while. He would have to wait a few hours until his son was well rested.
Gods had no real need for sleep, so Hades would just have to entertain himself for some time. Alone. Again.
He had no idea how long he stood in front of his son's door, but it must have been enough time for Nico to fall asleep.
He barely made his way around the corner of the halway and immediately turned back around.
Because that's when the screaming started.