chapter 19: possessive

Hoa didn't remember falling asleep, but she did remember waking up with Nico.

She squinted. By now, it was dark outside judging from the lack of light from under the curtain. She rubbed her eyes a bit as she asked, "how long was I out?"

"I let you sleep while I handled it with Perseus." Nico looked at her coldly. "Now get up, we're doing a summoning tonight."

She was frustrated that he went from kind and caring one second to a cold-hearted dickhead in the next. "Why?"

"Apparently Bianca has been giving him our whereabouts. We're going to confirm that tonight."

Hoa slowly rose from the bed, walking over to the dresser and grabbing a new change of clothes. "'Kay. I'm changing, so either leave or turn around."

Nico slowly turned around, facing the other way. She slid off her pants and replaced them with a new set of black jeans. She worked on her shirt as Nico said, "Hurry up, I'm using the restroom."

"Wait—"

Too late. The bathroom mirror revealed her form, clad in jeans and a bra. She instinctively covered her breasts and turned away, blushing furiously.

"Nico di fucking Angelo!" She gritted her teeth. "Why would you—"

"Sorry, sorry, I'll use the other one."

He swiftly left the room, but Hoa caught the smallest smirk on his face. Groaning, she tugged on a random shirt before tugging Nico's black hoodie on top, which was too big for her.

She trudged downstairs, where everyone was discussing plans for the summoning.

~•~•~

As Hoa walked down the stairs, she heard voices.

"Are we sure about this?" Grover asked nervously. "I mean, Bianca didn't show up for Nico at all, what makes you think she will now?"

"She will," a determined Percy said, his eyebrows knit. "She sent me to look after you, so of course she'll turn up."

"What about Hoa?" Nico asked.

Cue the confused silence.

"...What about Hoa?" Annabeth asked.

"She looked after me just fine, why do I need you?"

"Because these people are the people who taught me everything," Hoa said, walking down the stairs. "And they can teach you too."

Nico huffed, not even sparing her a glance. "Like what? Teach me what?"

"Fighting, using your powers, anything else I'm missing?"

"Survival skills, archery," Annabeth offered. "Greek language, Greek myths, how to kill certain kinda of monsters—"

"Thanks Annie." Hoa turned back to Nico. "See, they can help you. Just trust them this time."

He gave her an unwavering glare, but his eyes softened when his gaze traveled to her wrist. "...Do I have to?"

"At least trust Annabeth for things—Percy only has to teach you about your powers."

Nico looked down under her gaze. "Fine."

Hoa clapped. "Great! Now that's covered, what were we talking about before?"

"The ritual," Grover offered. "Is it safe?"

"I mean, we didn't die the last time, so you should be fine."

"...That's not exactly reassuring, Hoa."

She smiled. "If I didn't die, you for sure won't die. Don't worry about it!"

"That's what everybody says in horror movies before they die," Percy said, an eyebrow raised and a slight smirk on his lips.

"Well, Perce, this ain't a horror movie. This is real life. You'll be fine."

"...I'll trust you because you're Hoa."

"Aww, thanks Percy." She held her hand out and he grinned, doing their secret handshake.

Annabeth shook her head with a smile. "Serious father-daughter vibes."

Hoa cringed. "Percy as my dad? Never."

Nico tugged her arm, hugging it tightly and glaring at Percy. Something passed in Percy's eyes as he glanced at Annabeth, and it was clear they were thinking the same thing.

Nico put his hand on her shoulder, making her blush. She patted his arm awkwardly, making Annabeth giggle a bit.

"What?" Hoa asked.

She waved her hand dismissively, smiling. "Nothing, nothing. What were we talking about earlier?"

"I don't even know."

"Don't we have a ritual to prepare for?"

"Right!" She looked back at Nico. "So, do we need food again?"

Nico nodded against her, which was more like nuzzling into the crook of her neck. "Yeah, Eurytion offered root beer, I think."

She pouted. "Coke was better. At least I got to drink the leftovers."

Suddenly, everyone's eyebrows rose, prompting Hoa to turn around and see Nico smiling.

"What?" she asked them, confused. "Have you not seen him smile before?"

Just like that, Nico's smile disappeared, replaced with a flushed look that he buried his face into her hair. "No, they haven't."

She gasped. "Wait, y'all haven't seen him smile?"

Wait, but he always smiles around me! What?

They all shook their heads. "Nope," Grover said.

Hoa furrowed her eyebrows as Nico hugged her from behind. "Really?"

Percy pointed. "He never holds anybody like that, not shows affection like that."

Nico gripped her tighter at Percy's words, a small squeak escaping her lips. Annabeth smiled at the pair's interaction. "You two are good for each other. I approve."

"What do you mean approve?"

"What do you think approve means?"

Nico and Hoa's faces turned red as tomatoes as they pulled apart and refused to look at each other. They stood back to back, still touching but not acknowledging each other.

Nico grasped for her hand and grabbed it, squeezing for a second. Percy noticed this, smiling and whispering to Annabeth.

"Nico, you're being clingy," said Annabeth.

"That's fine."

He turned back around, hugging Hoa from behind and resting his head on her shoulder. "So, when's nightfall? We should do it as soon as it gets dark."

Percy nodded, his game face back on. "That's true. We can't really use technology, so we won't know exactly when, but it's like 5 or 6 right now. It should be setting soon."

"Great. Hoa, let's go." Nico gripped hand tighter as he dragged her away to their room.

Her eyes widened. "Wait, what? Uh, okay..."

~•~•~

"Right! I get it! We're, no, you're, setting ground rules for Percy and I."

Nico gave her a glare after he set her down on the bed. "Correct. Can you recite them for me?"

"Is this necessary—"

"Yes."

She groaned. "No hugging, no kissing, no flirting, no dating, and stay at least 6 feet away from him."

"Thank you."

"I don't see why this is necessary, we're literally just friends. No need to be possessive."

Even though it's really cute...

Nico sighed in annoyance. "Look, I just don't want you getting hurt."

"He doesn't hurt anybody intentionally. Just give him a chance."

"He's the Son of Poseidon—"

"And you're the Son of Hades."

They held a staring contest before Nico finally relented, lowering his gaze. "Fine. Just no dating."

"Thanks, Neeks."

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hi im madi, your loyal author ♥️

another filler chapter, im sorry :(

and nico being like this is kinda giving yandere

also, muse recently came out! its a jax x reader (from tadc), go check it out!

anyways

how was the chapter?

also, what are some questions of your own?

anyways, tysm for reading this crappy book! 😃