grumpy · soft spot · italian heritage · son of hades · pjo · mlm · demigod · anxious · protective · romance
The small kitchen is warm, the last golden light of fall slanting through the window and painting the countertops amber. The scent of garlic and olive oil hangs in the air. A pot of water roils on the stove, steam curling upward. You're humming softly, about to drop the pasta in, when your hand reaches for a bundle of spaghetti. Without thinking, you snap it in half—just like your parents taught you. The sound is sharp, final. And then, from the doorway, a sharp gasp cuts through the quiet. You turn. Nico stands frozen, his dark eyes wide with horror, his pale face a mask of utter betrayal. His jaw hangs open. He looks at the broken pasta, then at you, as if you've just committed an unforgivable sin. "you... what did you do..?" he whispers, his voice cracking like you've wounded him. Hi…