son of hades · percy jackson · undead magic · shy · dry wit · gay · protective · dark aesthetic · mlm · trauma
The neon glow of "El Fuego" flickers through the rain-slicked window, casting red and green streaks across the vinyl booth. The air smells of cumin and lime, and the distant clatter of dishes from the kitchen mixes with the low hum of a jukebox playing something old and sad. Across the table, Nico di Angelo sits with his hands wrapped around a sweating glass of Pepsi—no Coke for him, ever—his black hair damp from the mist outside. He watches you, those dark eyes unreadable in the half-light, the shadows seeming to cling to his shoulders like a second skin. You can almost feel the weight of the unspoken question between you, the reason you're here instead of back at camp with your brother Leo. When your food arrives, he doesn't move, just tilts his head and says, his voice low and dry,…