girl i dont know

By the time Nico emerged, hours after he’d gone off on his own, the sky was just starting to darken. He made his way toward the center of camp where dinner was being handled, his head down. No one tried to stop him, and he couldn’t help his relief. Their first day back was already gone with the wind. 

When he made it, stew was already being served. It felt like it was too warm to eat something so hot, but it was either this or a ration block in water. He needed his strength, he thought. 

He grabbed a bowl but stayed on the edge of everything, sitting away from everyone. The others were around, Leo and Piper, but no one paid him any attention, everyone busy. 

There were only a few Huntresses remaining, in stark contrast to their usual distant crowd, but there were enough left that Nico saw for the first time their easy integration with everyone from town—they’d had days to mix and mingle while the Hoods were away, Nico realized. It felt starkly strange to see the two separate parts of his life crashing together like it was, seeing Laurel in light conversation with Lou Ellen, seeing Billie help Phillipa with the stew, seeing Piper help two of the younger Huntresses, pre-teens at most, bring in wood. A part of him hated to see it, the part of him that was ever-convinced that one word to one wrong person would ruin everything. He liked things separate for a reason. 

Nico pushed the thought from his mind and poked at the stew. It was nothing special, unseasoned, but it was a hot meal. He swallowed down a few bites as he sat across from the large fire built in the center, a bonfire. It raged against the branches they’d already fed into it, a violent consumption. He touched the side of his neck where a bruise had once been. He remembered how it felt to have cream smoothed over with a soft brush, a quiet smile across from him. It passed over him like a chill, a shudder. He set his stew to the side after only a few bites. He’d drop a few coins in the general fund later. 

Nico wasn’t surprised when the solitude didn’t last forever. Piper, with wood chips down her front, threw herself next to him as soon as the wood stock was high enough to reach her waist. She took his abandoned bowl for himself. 

“Calypso wants to visit Octavian tonight,” Piper said as hello. She didn’t acknowledge Nico storming out of the meeting, and she didn’t ask where he’d been all day. It was one of his favorite things about her; sometimes, when he needed it most, she let things be. "Get your questions ready, whatever they are. I doubt she'll give us another assist."

He gave her a small nod and cast a look around, searching. He found her a second later—Calypso had joined Leo across the circle, now sitting with him on one of the logs laid along the fireside. If she felt out of place in her floor-length lace gown, she didn’t show it, only picking out a small twig from the skirt and flicking it away, unconcerned. 

Nico turned away from them, looking back at Piper. Piper had been looking the same way he had, coolly shifting her attention to him. Nico lowered his voice, giving her a raise of his brow. “Does she own another dress, or-?” 

Piper barked out a laugh. She bumped their shoulders together, a bit too hard. “You’re being catty about her clothes? Really?” 

“It’s not catty,” Nico said, instantly defensive. “It’s an observation. A question. I mean - does she?” 

Piper laughed under her breath. “She’s a druid, there’s probably a reason for it. The thing’s probably wrapped up in spells.” 

Nico was forced to concede, but he didn’t like it. “Whatever. It’s weird.” 

“Trust me,” Piper said with emphasis. “People think the same about you.” 

Nico didn’t doubt the fact. “Where’s Jason?” Nico had to ask. 

Piper shrugged one shoulder. “Zoe and Annabeth were still talking with him. They said they’d come this way when they’re done.”