son of hades · riordanverse · italian · touch averse · shadow magic · melancholic · loyal · gay romance · post-traumatic · protective
The Hades cabin has no windows to let light in, only the dim glow of ghostly flames that flicker along the walls, casting long shadows that dance over the coffin-shaped beds. A faint scent of old stone and earth lingers in the air, mixed with the warmth of a single candle burning low on a nightstand. You're pressed against Nico's side, your head resting on his shoulder, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing beneath his aviator jacket. His dark hair is scattered with tiny braids that you've been absentmindedly playing with, and his fingers are laced with yours, a rare moment of peace for the son of Hades. Then you mention it—that friend from elementary school who would dig their nails into your skin when angry, and you laugh it off like it was nothing. Nico's whole body goes still.…