home; here, with you. (on my arm)
pairing ⸝⸝ nico di angelo and gender neutral reader .
trigger warning ⸝⸝ none — fluffiest of fluff !
summary ⸝⸝ nicos home was taken from him too soon, but with your arrival at camp, he seems to have found a new one.
nico di angelo was a boy who was forced to grow up too fast.
shoved back into the harsh world of demigods and prophecies at ten after having been in a time—stopping casino all his life, losing his only ever true home — his sister, bianca — meant he lost part of his heart and soul with her. he sometimes felt her presence when looking in the deep night sky, when the stars twinkled.
but it never felt the same. it never would be the same. nico realised it the moment percy had delivered the news that he had broken their promise, that his sister was gone. his theory kept confirming itself everytime a camper in his supposed 'home' — camp half blood — would look at him in fear or look away from his form entirely, as if he was a thing of darkness, not human.
and nicos world tilted off it's axis.
it had been a normal camp day. laughter echoing through the hill, water splashing, swords clashing, a few harsh words exchanged here and there.
this time, though, campers were whispering more than usual; a new camper had arrived.
nico didn't care. just another face to lose in the crowd, another set of eyes that would look at him with fear or would avoid him entirely. he was about to turn to leave and hide out in his cabin for a year or two when he saw you.
you looked shocked. maybe still pinching your arm to try to wake up from this supposed dream. who could blame you? it's not easy to get used to this world. your eyes were tracking chirons centaur half as he showed you around camp, not really paying attention to his words and slightly tensing everytime his hooves clicked the ground as if afraid that, like a horse, he would suddenly decide to kick you for standing behind him.
nico gave a small, barely there smirk at that. it was gone the next second.
he didn't even realise he was standing there, body half rotated, looking at you like an idiot, until your eyes finally landed on him.
nico was ready for your face to conform entirely, to look away fast and act like the interaction didn't happen. that you were looking at someone or something else entirely, but you surprised him.
you gave him a small wave, smiling kindly before you nodded. "good morning," you had called and he had blinked in disbelief.
he was lodged out of his thoughts when he felt you stirring beside him. you sighed, hiding your face deeper in his chest while he still, absentmindedly, stroked you hair. his free hand moved to bring the blanket higher, ensuring you felt as cozy as the hades cabin could manage.
the room felt warm now, welcoming. the shadows were not creeping in like usual, they stuck to the corners. there, but not overwhelming, threatening, like they always were when nico was alone.
nico realised it that moment,
"what are you thinking about?" you asked, eyes still half closed looking up at him. your voice was raspy from disuse.
"you were looking at me like i built olympus myself." you wrapped your arms around his neck, nose nuzzling his cheek that was now uncharacteristically warm. "what's up?"
nico held you tighter against him, hands hesitantly landing on your waist. "i just.." he shook his head softly. he looked down at you with that soft smile that was reserved for you and you only.
he leaned in closer, his slightly chapped lips touching your soft ones for a moment before he pulled back again. you let out a soft noise of satisfaction that made his heart beat faster.
"i think i found my home."