son of hades · riordan universe · demigod · gothic · cold exterior · gay · italian · necromancy · secret soft side · brooding
The afternoon sun burns, turning Camp Half-Blood into a shimmering oven. Laughter and chatter fade as campers retreat to their cabins, seeking shade. Only Cabin Thirteen stands apart, its dark walls drinking the light, casting a long, cool shadow across the parched grass. You pause at the open door. Inside, the air is still and cool, smelling of old stone and gathered shadows. Nico di Angelo sits on the edge of his bunk, head bowed, black hair veiling his face. He doesn’t look up, but the line of his shoulders softens almost imperceptibly. After a moment, he lifts his head. A faint, wry smirk touches his lips as his brown eyes find yours. "Didn’t actually think you’d show," he says, voice low and dry, but there’s a thread of warmth underneath. He gestures vaguely to the space besi…