Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Past the blood and bruise
Past the curses and cries
Beyond the terror in the nightfall
Haunted by the look in my eyes

It was raining, something quite common in Gotham. Bruce and his children where on the top of the agreed building, he honestly didn't knew what to expect, asking for help wasn't something he usually did but this case required it.

"She's late." Said his son, Damian.

"Chilax, demon brat. There's been only two minutes." Answered Jason.

"There." Said Duke Thomas, well know by the people of Gotham as Signal. It was rare seen him on the night shift, but he wanted to be part of the conversation.

On the distance, a figure could be seen. Black hair, blue eyes and a suit red, blue with a gold crown adorning her head. Wonder Woman was flying straight at them.

"Where is the other one?" Said Robin "She was supposed to bring the help."

"Just wait, Robin." Said Nightwing "We'll see what she says."

Diana Prince landed in front of them, sword and lasso well placed on her hips and a smile on her face.

"Huh, I almost forgot the gotham's weather. Is he not here yet?"

"Who's he? Diana. You were supposed to bring your expert." Said the dark knight.

"I prayed for him, I thought he was already here."

"You prayed?" Said Red Hood said skeptically "You said you talked to him."

"No, I said I would get him."

"And where is he?"

"He's there." Said Orphan, in her tone of voice as low as ever.

Diana was waiting for something, rather someone other than who came to. His hair was pitch black, olive skin but pale, like he haven´t see the sunlight in a lot of time and the darkest eyes she ever seen, he was tall and slim, always wearing black. She only have seen that boy, man now, once in her life, and she didn't like him and she knew neither did he.

In one of the blackest corners was Nico di Angelo. The rain was pouring down his face, he was leaning and had a smirk on.

Diana gripped the hilt of her sword.

"You." She said.

"Me." Said the son of Hades.

"You weren't the one I asked for. I wanted Perseus."

"Well, I am the one you got." 

There was tension in the air, the two demigod where just looking at each other. Until Nico rolled his eyes and disappeared into the shadows, but his voice could still be heard.

"I know you asked for my cousin, but he is tired of runnig erands, so when he said fuck off, dear Hestia turn to me."

He appeared again, only on the opposite side.

"And, well, I owed her a favor, so I couldn't say no, even If I wanted to."

 The shadows shallow him again.

"And trust me, when she told me it was you, I wanted to leave this to someone else."

"Who is he, Diana?" Asked Batman.

"His name is Nico di Angelo, better called The ghost king. He is a child of the underworld."

"Oh, you flatter me."

He said emergin from behind of Red Robin who jumped a little for the surprise, Nico just smiled at him.

"You make me sound like some villain or monster."

"Are you not?"

He just keept smiling.

"You asked for a hero, I am the one you got, deal with it. Or, please get rid of me, tell Hestia you don't want me because believe me, I would rather anything than work with you, every single demigod in the world would."

Diana inhaled, weighing her options before clenching her jaw and resigning.
The hand on her weapon fell.

"Fine." She said.

"Good. Now, tell me what is wrong."

That's when Bruce stepped forward.

"We notice a great activity of monsters around the city."

"It's Gotham, monsters like here, the environment helps them to camouflage, that's why there's no demigods in Gotham."

"Yeah, we know that." Said Tim "But in the last three months we notice a more activity, they appeared to follow something."

"Or someone." Said Jason.

"We haven't been able to follow the trail, it's like something is blocking our sight."

"The mist." He turned to the daughter of Zeus "That's something you could have done."

She deflected his gaze and his smile grew bigger.

"No shit, you don't know how. Oh gods, this is gold." He laugh.

"You know how to help or not." Said Duke.

He turned and face him, he looked above him.

"D.T" he started to look around "D.W, D.G, J.T, T.D, C.C, B.W. Wow, a lots and a lots."

"What? What was that? That wasn't what we asked you." Said Red Hood.

"He said our initials. Why?" Said the Batman

"I know a lot of things, your identities are something you cannot hide from me. And it surprise me that you cannot see through the mist, that tells me that is stronger for some reason."

He rubbed his hands together and then put them palms up. He closed his eyes and then snapped his fingers.

"Va bene, è giusto." He said.

"Was that all?"

Nico nodded.

"She could've done it, if she knew how."

Diana turn away embarassed. 

"Ok, if that was all..." said Nightwing but Nico interrupted. 

"I need to see your evidence."

"No." Said Diana "I only needed help with the mist, we are fine from now on."

"You don't know how to control the mist, you don't know how the monsters act and hunt like demigods do."

"I am a demigod."

"Yeah, but you don't know anything about them. You have never been chase by those creatures you don't know how they think, and am not gonna have a bunch of mortals running after those things without proper info and weapons. You just have one sword, you were going to kill them all by yourself?"

She didn't say anything, that make him smile.

"How haughty of you."

"We are not gonna kill them." Said Batman.

"You don't have a choice. Listen, I can explain you everything but I really don't wanna catch a cold with this rain. Just tell me the coordinates. Just so you know, every minute Diana and I are here we are attracting more monsters."

It was like a staring contest, not a lot of people could tell they stared directly at The Batman and won.

"Fine." Spat the superhero "You'll go with Signal, he'll fly you there."

"I will?"  "No." Said both at the same time.

"The children of Hades can't fly." Said Diana

"Not without a permit before, but we don't have time for that." 

Tim, tired of the situation that his father put them in said the coordinates to the demigod.
Nico smiled, that smiled reminded Jason of the Cheshire cat.

"I'll see you there." He disappeared into the shadows.

"We must go, he could be already there." Said Diana

"You don't trust in him." Said Cass

Diana stopped her tracks.

"The children of the underworld cannot be trusted. They only care about what they want. Just like their father. Nico...I don't know him well, I just saw him once, but I can only trust in Hestia's judment." 

"I hope you are right." Said Batman before jump.

Nico arrived to a cave, a very modern cave. There was a big screen, it showed a lots of files, footage and videos of the monsters, he decided to wait to the vigilantes to arrive and explain everything. 
He realized he wasn't alone. Thanks to a fake cough.

"Mister di Angelo, I presume."

"Yeah, a plesure." He extended his hand and the butler shook it.

"Would you like some tea while you wait?"

"That would be lovely, thank you."

The oldman gave him the cup and both of them sat in a comfortable silence until Nico decided to break it.

"So, Mister Pennyworth, how is working for a superhero?"

Alfred didn't flinch when the man say his last name, Bruce have already told him that he somehow knew their identities.

"I will put him in just one word, exhausting."

Nico let out a little laugh.

"Yeah, I imagine it must be. What I don't understand is...why a father would let his children follow this type of life?"

"All of the children, even Master Bruce, experienced traumatic events in their lives that forced them to seek justice for themselves. We knew that if we didn't let them, we didn't teach them..."

"But even with all the training, you lost. The case of Jason Todd was a big disaster on the underworld. And it was not just him."

"Those, Mister di Angelo, are my biggest regrets."

Nico lower his head and took a sip of his tea.

"If you don't mind me asking a question, Mister di Angelo."

"Not at all."

"You seem to despise Miss Diana very much. Why?"

Nico drank the last of his tea and look up.

"You can ask her that."

That's when the others arrived.

Chapter Text

Boys only want love if it's torture

Don't say I didn't, say I didn't warn ya

Bruce was nervous about leaving a complete stranger in the batcave alone, so he send Alfred to watch him. He listen the question the oldman asked.

He listen to the answer.

He was a paranoic man, he wasn't going to deny it. He had a plan for everything and for everyone. Even for his closest friends. Even for Diana.

He wanted to know the full answer to the question.

When they arrived he found his butler with the son of Hades, drinking tea. 

He looked like a normal guy, a emo normal guy. He was tall and slim but he could notice the muscle under the black clothes, he appeared to be at least 19, his skin was pale like he hadn't been in the sun in a while, Bruce thought that being the son of the god of the underworld maybe it was it.

He eyed him, suspecting that he might have seen the files on the computer. 

"Relax, I wouldn't even try to go through that monstruosity."

"Hey, it's don't call her like that. It's a beauty."

"Okay...?" "Don't be weird replacement." Said Jason and Nico at the same time.

"Let's get to the point." Interrupted Diana.

Red Robin took off his gloves and sat on the computer.

"About three months ago we noticed an unusual activity in the monsters, they began to meet in small groups, never more than three, they have been changing course constantly but always south of the city. As if something attracted them."

As he spoke he was showing the footage and the dots in the map. The videos showed monsters following, reuniting and talking. 

"It is another war, isn't it?" Said Diana "That's how they behave when they are about to go to war."

Nico analized the images before speaking, he clenched his fists.

"No. This is not a war. I have to see; you've been tracking them, right? Take me to them."

"No."

"I have to see if there's a pattern. If there's the it is then maybe is the beginning of a war and I have to speak with Chiron, If it's not then it's something else and I would have to bring a Satyr."

"Why would you need a Satyr?"

Nico didn't answer, just went to look straight at Batman.

"Take me to them."

Everyone turn to see the next move od the dark knight.

He nodded.

"You will stay back, you won't act by yourself and you won't kill none of them." Said with severity.

Nico raise his palms in defeat.

"Whatever. But, just for you to know, you are not my boss."

That got on the bat's nerves.

"If you don't so as I say then you can't be in my city."

Nico pursed his lips.

"Just let's go, we're wasting time." Diana said.

"Oh but you can't come."

"What?"

Nico sighed.

"Let me remind you about a little thing; demigod scent. You and I together are a bad combination."

"What scent?" Asked Duke.

"Our blood have a scent that attract monsters, depends on your godly parent and powers on how strong you smell." Explain Diana.

"Diana's father is Zeus, she smells like ozone, mine smells essentially like death, sulfide, it's harder to them to identify me, not impossible just...more difficult."

"You can go with Oracle. See everything from the distance." Said Nightwing. 

Wonder Woman made a face.

"Fine." Muttered.

Nico smiled just a little bit.

Something that surprised Nico was how the vigilantes went just jumping from rooftop to rooftop. 

He took advantage of the night to follow the bats, a little impressed by the physical abilities of the mortals.

Red Robin was the one guiding them, he was following him until he saw something. With bright neon letters an establishment said.

"Monster Donnuts." 

"Wait." He told them "There."

"What." Said Red Hood "You want a donut?"

"No, monsters can disguise, some of them even start food chains. That's one of them. I bet that there are monsters inside right now."

Just as he said that a cyclops walked through the doors.

"Bingo. Come on, if he hasn't fed hes gonna be hungry."

They follow him, since Nico had lifted the mist they could see the creature for what it really was. 

It was disturbing.

"Those things have been always around Gotham?"

"Around everywere. Always and forever."

They stopped following him once Nico noticed that the Cyclops was starting to smell. He vanish in the shadows for a moment, just to make sure he wasn't smelling him.

He returned when the cyclops moved on.

"Where is he going?"

"He is following a scent. Maybe a satyr."

He stopped in an alley.

"There." Said Nightwing 

From among the garbage cans a bright red mane stood out, but that was not what impressed the vigilantes. A small pair of wings could be seen.

"What the fuck." Said Nico

The girl was looking in the junk, maybe finding something to eat.

"Do you know who she is?"

"No. She...those wings. I haven't seen anything like this before."

The cyclops aproach her, Bruce wanted to jump in that moment but he waited. The girl noticed the sound of the monster, she looked young, around twelve and forteen years. She seem scared.

Nico expected for the girl to draw a weapon, to attack, but she seemed paralyzed. Just watching scared as the monster got closer and closer. But when he heard the words of the monster he was the paralyzed one.

"Demigod, sweet and delusious demigod. Aren't you a bit far frome home little godling?"

"No. It can't be." Said Nico

She the moved, she tried to fly but he grabbed her feet. That's when Nico intervened. He jumped, the building wasn't so big so it was just a few feet; he took his sword out and cut off the hand of the cyclops, it turned to dust and the girl fell to the ground. 

"Ma hand." Said the cyclops "Who gave you the right?"

Nico didn't reply.

He attacked again, stabbing his leg so the monster fell on his knee giving him the chance to stab his eye and with that the monster was gone.

"What you just did?" Said Red Robin

"I send him home." He turned to see the girl, she was shaking and looked scared.

"Hey, who are you?" Asked Nico "Are you okey?"

The girl didn't reply.

"I gave you explicit instructions, conditions about you being here. You cannot do that." Said Batman

"You couldn't do nothing, you guys don't have the proper weapons."

He approach the girl, noticing that she looked scared at his sword, he made it disappear, raising his arms to look less threatening. 

"Hey, I am not gonna hurt you. I...we are here to help."

By the way the girl was looking at him he started to think she didn't understood him.

"I think she doesn't speak english." Said Nightwing 

"Tune es Romanus?" 

"Quello?" 

That, that lenguage made his blood frezze and his heart race. 

"Sei italiano?" 

"Ero di Fasano, mio padre mi ha portato qui e mi ha abbandonato, dove sono? Non capisco niente." 

It was a long ago since he spoke to someone in his own lenguage. He was about to reply when Nightwing made a mistake, he approached too fast, the sudden noise and speed scared her, causing the girl to hit the hero right in the chest, her hand lit up in a red hue. 

With all the shock Nico tried to approach the girl but was pushed back by Robin. 

"Aspettare. Non è quello che pensi, siamo qui per aiutarti." He yelled, but the girl was already flying.

He turned around to see the vigilante.

"What the fuck?"

Dick Grayson was fine, at least he appeared to be.

"What did you did? She scaped!"

"What? She did something to him!"

"I already have her! She is a child, living in the streets, we are going to have to track her again, that if a monster doesn't find her again."

"Hey I'm fine." Said Nightwing "We can go after her." 

"We need to take you to the cave, we don't know what she did to you."

"But...I...Eh..." he started to babbling 

"Big bird?"

" I just...I feel...god, I feel hot."

Nico moved closer to examine him, noticing that sweat was beginning to accumulate on the man's forehead. 

"What is happening to him?" Asked Duke

"I don't know. Tell me more, what do yoy exactly feel?"

Dick stared at Nico's eyes and suddenly he felt the urge to kiss him.

"Gods above, you are so gorgeus. All the demigods are as hot as you? Come on I can show you incredible things."

Nico was perplexed after the answer, he moved away from the hero watching his brothers rush when they noticed that Nightwing was going to throw himself towards him.

"What is happening to him?"

"You know what is happening? You babe, that body is so turning me on, come on get closer."

"God, this is disgusting. Not even Ivy's pollen makes him say that shit."

"Oracle." Spoke Batman to his come "Send the car ASAP. We need to take Nightwing to the cave."

"Already on it."

"Oh great, I love being on the car, car sex is thw best you are gonna love it."

"Ok, this is going too far." Said Duke

"Yeah, same." Said Nico but immediately realized something "Wait, are you horny?"

"Like an oven."

Nico felg something inside him, something that made him want to throw up. A memory arose in his head, one so far away that it seems that it was in another life. A rescue, a trip, a confrontation. A particular god. 

"Eros." He said "That child, she was a child of Eros."

Right now, he hated Hestia.

Chapter Text

Matches burn after the other

Pages turn and stick to each other

Wages earned and lessons learned

But I, I'm right where you left me.

He hated this. He hated this city, he hated the gods, he hated Diana, he hated Hestia for drag him to this, he hated Percy for turning down this job.

He hated the horny Vigilante in front of him trying to get in his pants.

"Come on, please, please babe. This is starting to hurt."

"Where is that fucking car?" He asked trying to get away from Dick.

"Just 2 minutes." Said Batman.

"Good. I'll see you in your damn cave." With that he vanish in the shadows.

When he appeared he saw Alfred again.

"Did you record it? Have any footage?"

The butler nodded and went to the computer, he looked into it 'till he found the footage of the alley. Nico approach.

"She has wings."

Nico didn't respond. He waited until everyone got there to talk, he hated have to repeat things.

Diana was the first one to arrive, she had a serious face. A red hair in a wheelchair came with her.

"Who is she?" She asked but he didn't responded.

Barbara got close to the monitor, seeing the caption over and over again just like Nico.

"She must be like thirteen."

"She can't be older than fourtheen." Said Diana "The gods wouldn't allow it."

Nico laugh.

"You know nothing." He mumbled.

Diana didn't reply, she didn't want to start an argument.

Barbara could feel the tension rising between the two of them, she really didn't want to be right there and now but she didn't have a choice.

The batmovile arrive, frome inside the rest of the batfamily emerged. Hood and Signal were carring an unconscious Nightwing. 

"What happened to him?" Asked Oracle.

"We'd knock him out. It was starting to get disgusting."

"What happened?" Said Bruce, it didn't sound like a question, it was more of an order.

"She has to be a child of Aphrodite." Said Diana "It is the only explanation."

"It could be. She's the goddess of love, right?"

Nico rolled his eyes.

"No. Children of Aphrodite can't do that."

He got closser to Babs.

"Frezze it there."

Barbara pause it.

"Children of her don't have wings. There's other god of love that can fit into this."

"Oh no shit. Cupid?" Said Jason

The name made Nico shiver, he remeberd that time in Rome with clarity.

"It could be him." Say Diana

"I need to confirm with Chiron, but I would say that it is the most accurate option. Wings, Italian and those powers."

"The god of love is Italian?"

"Horny powers." 

Said Jason and Tim at the same time.

Nico glared the Red Hood.

"Yeah, as far as I know he's been living in Italy for years now. I don't think he's here tho."

"Why? She said that her father brought her here."

"That doesn't mean he stayed."

"But how could he leave her on her own?" Said Duke

"Well, that's how they work."

Diana clenched her fists.

"You shouldn't speak about them like that."

"There's no many gods who have earn my respect. I will speak of them as I please."

"Still..."

"I will not discuss this with you. Let's focus. If we don't find her she'll become monsters food."

"I'll set the alarms for any kind of monster congregation." Said Tim 

"And I will set the cameras for any facial matches." Said Barbara

Nico nodded.

"Then I'll go tell Quiron and the others. Call me when you find anything."

"Here, this will send an alarm." Bruce handed him some sort of device with a button and a flashing red light.

Nico just stared at it.

"I can't take it."

"What? Why?"

"It's tecnology, we cannot use it. Here." He throw a bag with drachmas at the Dark knight. "Diana can tell you how to use it. Call me when you find something. ASAP."

He then proceeded to fade into the shadows.

"Well, he's..." Said Jason 

"A Dick." Completed Duke

"Why does he hate you so much?" Asked Damian 

"I...I persuaded his sister to join the Hunters of Artemis."

"Oh..."

"What's that?" Said Duke

" It is like a cult that hates men." Said Tim

"It is more than that. They tolerate men, but once you join you cannot have interaction with men for the rest of your life." Said Jason

"So he can't see his sister anymore and for that he hates you?"

Diana denied.

"It's not just that. His sister, Bianca, she died on her first quest."

"Oh..."

"But you didn't kill her." Said Bruce

"Yeah, but he doesn't think that way."

"Well, but he said that everyone hated you, it's because of it?"

Diana thought about saying what she knew, she knew they hated her for the war. Wars. Wars where she didn't fought.

She knew thats why they hated her.

"I...I think so."

She fixed her sword on her hip.

"Well, I'll see you later, I have business to attend."

When he arrived to camp it was almost lunch time, he knew that Will would be in the infirmary. 

"I would like to make an appointment to see the handsome and incredible Dr.Solace." He said

The blonde look up, meeting those dark eyes and smiled.

"You're back."

Will approach and hug him, he embraced the warm that the boy gave him. Then he saw his blue eyes, he could stare at them forever.

"How did it go?"

He sighed.

"There's a demigod in Gotham."

"Shit. Then we'll have to send a Satyr..."

"No, I don't think that's the best option. There's to much pollution and shit. And..."

"And?"

"It's a child of love."

"Aphrodite? What is she doing in Gotham?"

"I don't mean Aphrodite."

"Then who..." his face changed, he grabbed his hand. "Oh."

"Yeah. Oh."

"Hey, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. We can send anyone else."

"No. It has to be me."

"No. It doesn't. You don't have to do this, you don't owe him nothing."

"I don't, but I..."

"Nico. He hurt you. He's everything that's wrong with the perception of love. If anything he is the toxic love personalization."

"I know but, it's not that child's fault. She must be thirteen at least and, hear me out. She has wings."

"What?"

"Yeah. And she have this...horny powers."

Will laugh.

"Haha Nico, cut it out."

"No, I mean it."

"What?"

"Yeah. She barely touched one of the sidekicks and suddenly he was the horniest person on earth. He even tried to..."

"To What? He did something to you? Because if he did I'm going to..."

"Nothing happened. I ran before it could get any weirder."

Will passed a hand through his hair, gold as the sun, like sand on the beach.

"You don't have to do this alone."

"I'm not alone, I have super cousin." He said with sarcasm

Will laugh but it sounded hollow.

"Yeah, the greatest demigod of all the time. Super helpfull."

"Trust me, I don't like this more than you do but..."

"Yeah, I know. Just... be carefull, ok? Last time at least you had... him. And if anything happens promise me you'r gonna call or I'll drag you'r sorry ass back to camp myself, you got it?"

"Cristal clear."

He leaned for a kiss, the blonde replied gladly.

"I have to go to Chiron. Fill him in."

" 'kay, see you at dinner, doctor's orders."

Nico laugh and nodded.

He got out of the cabain, there were campers running around, none of them pating any atention, he was used to it. After the wars any prejudice towars Hades kid's almost went away, nobody treated him any different, but he wasn't the type of person who socialized with everyone, not at least after Bianca's death.

As he walked he past cabain one, memories filled his head, another eyed blue blonde, his cousin. The first person who really understand him, he could remember the moment Lester (or Apollo) confirm his death, he had felt it, he just didn't want to believe it, in that time he felt cursed, like if everything or everyone he touch was meant to die, maybe it was an Hades thing, being surronded by death.

But then, Will came. He was used to the shadows, to the dark. 

During the second war he almost fade into one, he felt them calle for him, they welcome him and, this is something he never told anyone before, he wanted to go. He wanted to be part of the shadows, they were the only ones that wanted him, until Jason came. Jason could see him.

And then there's Hazel. His name means angel but his convinced that she is a real one. 

She loved him, he was his brother, and the moment he put his eyes on her he knew he was going to do anything in his hands to protect her.

He was loved. 

He was loved.

He was loved, right?

He saw Chiron and Mr. D playing on the porche.

"Ah, Nico. You'll join us?"

"And kick you'r ass? Always."

"I May tolerate you, diAngelo, but you cannot speak to me like that."

"Yeah ok...oldman." He mumbled, Dionysus acted like he didn't listened, but he could see the smile on his face.

"How all it went with dear Diana?"

Nico sighed.

"Yeah...'bout that. There's a demigod in Gotham."

Chiron and Mr.D looked at him, the centaur was surprised. 

"Is it?"

"Yep. And it's not just that, she is a child of love, and I'm not talking about Aphrodite."

Dionysus raised a eyebrow.

"I didn't even knew he was on town."

"Yeah, it was a surprise for me too."

"Ok then, we'll send a satyr and..." said Chiron

"No." He interrupted "I'll go and end this. Hestia asked me, I have the link to the...vigilantes. I'll end this."

"Nico, you have history with...him. You don't have to do this."

"I know, but I'll do it."

Mr. D knew about what had happened with Eros, Nico knew he was worried about him.

"If you think you're ready, then go ahead."

The son of Hades nodded in gratitude.

"Good. Now if you excuse me I'll go anywhere that it's not here."

He went to his cabain to change his clothes, doing so he could see the mitomagic figure, his father, Hades.

He was terrified of the day he couldn't remember his sister. Her face, her voice, her laugh.

It was something human to forget things.

Sometimes he wished he was like a god, remember everything.

Bianca changed something in him. He would never admit this out loud, but for a time he hated her.

He hated the way she abandon him.

The fact that she gave up on him.

He was a child.

But then he grew up, he could understand Bianca, and he regret it, he regret those thoughts. He missed her, he wished he could go back in time.

He could only do right in the present.

He had felt so much hate, he wanted to leave it behind him.

As he took off his shirt a rainbow appeared on his room.

Chapter Text

This ain't Hollywood, this is a small town

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down

Now it's too late for you and your white horse

To come around.

Jason craved love.

Since he was a child he wanted to feel loved.

His mother loved him, he knew that.

His father...he didn't knew if monsters could love, love isn't supposed to hurt.

But, then again, all the people in his life had hurt him in a way or another.

Dick

Tim

Damian

Bruce.

Bruce took him in, he gave him a place to sleep, a place to belong. But then, it all went down, he died and came back, full of anger, revenge and he felt hate torwards his own dad, because that's what Bruce is, a dad.

And he had hurted him.

When he came back, everything was blurry, he doesn't remember much, fights, guns, screams; but there was something the he remeberd vividly, an emotion that burned his insides and he could still feel the ashes.

Hate.

So much hate.

Then, the fog cleared, and he looked around, the blood soaked his suit and the eyes of Bruce reflected fear, but when he saw more he could see regret, love, even yearning.

His heart ached.

Jason craved love.

He was loved, he knew that, he had felt it.

But then, why it hurt so much sometimes to love?

He barely could feel it thanks to the pit.

He wanted to remeber how it felt.

How it was before it hurted.

They had information about the girl, so they called Nico.

"Toss it." Said Tim

"Where?" Said Jason

"Throw the rainbow."

The older looked at him, confused. Tim just shrugged.

Jason sighed and threw the coin.

"Ehm, Iris, goddess of rainbow, could you show us Nico di'Angelo?"

The image transformed, the colors changed and turned and then there he was.

He wasn't wearing any shirt so they could see his torso, his scars.

"Wow." It was a slip.

Nico looked at them annoyed.

"What?"

"Eh, we... ahm..."

"We have info 'bout the girl." Said Jason.

"Ok...go ahead."

"Her name is Fiammetta Mabilia, born in..."

He couldn't go on because Nico started to laugh.

"Are you being serious? Fiammetta?"

Tim looked confused at his brother.

"Yeah. That's her name."

"Oh for Hades. Why the gods like to put shitty names? You know what it means? Little flame. So original, Eros."

"Uhm."

"Sorry. Continue please."

"She's thirteen years old. Born in Italy and was report missing after a car accident where her mother died."

"How long ago?"

"Four months."

Nico sighed, he ran a hand through his hair. This gave Jason an opportunity to see him better.

He was thin but built, he could identify some shapes on the scars, arrows, burns, swords. Nico appeared to be almost Duke's age, he felt pity and anger for the fact that there were people outside that could hurt someone in that sense.

It was awful. 

What type of situations Nico had to go to get those kinds of scars?

"Then how long that child is been here?"

"We haven't figured that out yet." Said Tim

"Well if the activity of monsters increased three months ago maybe Eros waited one month to get her here."

"You think he's here too?" Asked Jason

"It's not likely. Gods don't tend to stay with their children. Maybe he just drop her in the U.S so she could get to camp."

"But how did she make it without anyone seeing her wings? And that's other point, how does she have wings? Other demigods have wings too?"

Nico sat on his bed. His room was barely visible but the vigilante could see black wallpaper and clothes on the floor.

"We...uhm, well, there isn't other children of Eros here, or Cupid for that matter. And 'bout the wings, it is not common but it can happen. We demigods tend to have some similarities with our godly parent, eyes, hair, nose, but sometimes there are mutations."

"So, her wings are mutations?"

"I think so, yes."

"Ok, but do you think anyone could notice?"

"The mist in Gotham is...thick. If it's strong enough to fool Diana then I don't think that it's likely to someone notice."

"Fine. We'll search for her in patrol tonight."

"And by tonight you mean..."

"Uh, midnight." Said Tim

" 'key, 'll see you at midnight."

"What? Wait!"

But Nico didn't answer, the call had come to an end.

Tim and Jason looked at each other.

"Shit, B is gonna kill us." Said Jason

"And why am I going to do that, Boys?" Said a voice behind them.

"Shit." Mumbled Jason

As a clock Nico appeared at midnight. 

"Well, how do you do this?" He said

"Everyone has their area, each of us will search there." Said Tim

"You'll go with Red Hood." Said Bruce, he had his cowl down since Nico knew their identities.

"I don't need a babysitter."

"My city, my rules. Besides, you cannot use tecnology if we fund her or you there's no way of communication. You will go with Hood."

Nico clenched his jaw.

"Fine."

" 'kay, let's go. I hope you can keep up." Said Jason 

He went to his motorcycle and put his helmet on.

"Yeah, I'm not gonna go in...that."

"Then how do you plan on transport?"

"Tell me where you go. I'll see you there."

"Nope, I'm no gonna have you running around unsupervised. So..." he threw a helmet at him "you take it or you stay here with Alf."

Nico growled, he put on the helmet and got in the bike.

"I'm not gonna touch you."

"Oh you wish."

He started to drive at an insane speed.

Nico could barely see anything of the city, everything was blurry the only thing he could actually see was the sky, black and polluted sky.

Jason stopped in an Alley, between his fingers he had a device with a kind of button, he pushed and behind a dumpster a kind of door opened.

"Get down. I'll just leave this here, we'll continue on foot."

Nico rolled his eyes, he got off the bike, leaving the helmet too.

He looked around, Gotham sucked, but this appeared to be the worst part of the city.

"Crime Alley." Said The Red Hood.

"What?"

"This, Crime Alley. Is where we are."

"It seems like a... an appropriate name."

"Yeah, wait 'till you see the action. Come on."

He took a kind of grapping hook and shoot it to the top of the building. Jason extended his hand to Nico.

"Eh, yeah, no. I got my own way, thank you."

He ran threw one of the darkest points of the alley and commanded the shadows to take him to the top, he arrived at the same time as Todd.

"Great trick."

"Yeah, it comes handy sometimes."

From the top he could see a lot of the city, it was dark but the moon light made it a little easy to see.

"Why here?"

"Crime Alley is where street rats are. If you wanna hide, this is you place."

"You think she'll show up?"

"I hope so. Since you lift the mist I've seen a lot of those monsters, they are...something I don't wanna see every day. "

"Once you know there's no turning back."

"Come on. The main goal of patrol is find her but it's still patrol."

The Vigilante jumped to the other bulding, the son of Hades grinned as he started to run an jump.

"Patrol means jumping from rooftop to rooftop?"

Jason smiled.

"Why? Can't keep up?"

Nico smiled and ran.

It was 3 am, he had watched Hood stop a mugg and a attempt of rape. This city was really fucked up.

He followed the vigilante, keeping an eye for any sign of the demigod, he searched for any sight of red hair or a set of wings.

He saw a pair of kids, they were being dragged by a man.

"Hey, look at this."

Hoo approach.

"Oh fuck no, no with children."

He let himself fell, landing besides them; the guy draw a gun, the children scream.

He shoot twice but didn't land once, Jason grabbed the man's arm, he pull so hard that Nico could hear a crack, the guy dropped the gun causing another shot that almos hit one of the kids but landed in one of the streetlights.

Another guy emerged from inside the bulding and went to help his "parner". While other tried to grabbed the children.

The son of Hades knew he couldn't intervene but the children where so scared and vulnerable. He got down using the newly form shadows.

One of the kids screamed again. He kicked the guy sending him to a wall then using his elbow punched him so hard that the man fell to the ground and didn't move anymore.

"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you. What's your name?"

The girl appeared to be older than the boy. She had tears in her eyes but she still put herself in front of the boy.

"Bo-bonnie. Pleas don't hurt us."

"I'm not. Is he your brother?"

She nodded.

"Grab him and hide. I'll search for you. Go!"

The girl took the hand of the child and ran to the end of the alley.

Nico heard another gunshot it was aimed on his direction, he dodged at time, he draw his sword and turned around, there was another men. Younger than the other two, he looked scared and his handes were shaking. 

The moment Nico layed eyes on him he looked like he was about to pisse himself; he shoot again but Nico stopped with his sword, he approached fast to him, slashing the gun with his sword, he then grabbed the man from the back of his neck and severely slammed him against his knee, leaving him unconscious.

He saw Red Hood, he was punching one of the felon, there was blood on his hands already and the face of the man was not longer recognizable. It was evident that the man was unconscious but Jason was still hitting him.

"Hood. I think that's enough." He said but there wasn't an answer.

"Red Hood." He said again. Nothing.

"Hey, I said it's enough." He put a hand on his shoulder, quickly he was being slammed on the wall. Jason was choking him.

He saw it then. Red Hood wasn't wearing his helmet, he could see his eyes, yes they were covert by white lenses but there was a green glow behind them.

Toxic green.

"Red Hood." He said coldly. "I don't think you wanna fight with me. Pull yourself together. I am not an enemy."

Jason soften his grip. Green slowly fading away.

"Just like that. Yeah." He let him go. Nico gasped, filling his lungs with air and rubbing his neck.

"I...shit. Nico...I..."

The Ghost King raised a hand.

"That doesn't matter right now. We have other things to worry."

"What are you...?"

Nico turned around and took a couple of steps towards the alley.

"Bonnie? You can come out now. There's no danger."

Jason approached when he saw a little girl emergin from behind a dumpster with another kid.

She saw him and ran towards him, she hugged him.

"Thank you! I knew you would come!" 

"Are you guys ok? Any wounds?"

The little boy denied.

"I knew you'd save us. You protect the Alley we all know so."

Jason looked at Nico but the younger one wasn't looking at him, he looked...hurt while watching the kids.

He turn on his comm.

"Oracle, tell the cops to come to my location, I let them some scum."

"Copy. On their way."

"What are your names? Do you guys have where to crash?"

"I'm Bonnie, he's my brother Nate. We don't have anyone, those guys...they wanted us to..."

"Hey don't worry. They canmot hurt you anymore. I'll take you somewhere safe, ok?"

The girl nodded and hugged him again.

"I'll take them to a shelter nearby. You..."

"I'll follow you from above." Said Nico

Jason nodded.

"Come on kids."

Bonnie let him go and then ran to Nico.

"Thank you so much sir."

The other kid, Nate, hugged him and her sister followed after.

Nico felt like if he was just had been hit by one of Thalia's lightning bolts, he couldn't help the tremor that took hold of him. Those kids, the remembrance make him want to go home amd cry.

B and N.

Bianca and Nico.

Bonnie and Nate.

Two orphans alone in the world.

"I...there's nothing to thank. Go with him, he'll take care of you." Said as he patted their heads.

When they let him go he stepped back until he felt the familiar cold of the shadows envelop him.

He was on the rooftop again and as he had told Jason, he followed them to the shelter. 

He couldn't stop the thought, his sister, Bianca had chose to reborn, what if that was his sister? What if she was just reliving a stage of her life?

It was selfish. Thinking that everything in her sister's life, the important moments went back to the pieces in which she had taken care of him.

Something in him wondered, is that little girl gonna abandon his brother too? Is she gonna die? 

Why? 

Why was this happening?

Why him?

He heard the grapping hook.

Jason landed besides him, thanks to the moon he could see him better, his neck was red and had a haunted look on his eyes. Something, regret, born imside of the vigilante.

"Hey I...I'm sorry for that. I didn't..."

"Pit's rage."

He felt his heart cry.

"You know."

"My father and Thanatos told me about you once. A vigilante...a mortal heroe who came back to life. Did you did it willingly?"

"What part?"

"The Lazarus pit."

"No. I was dragged there."

Nico walked to the edge of the bulding, he hoped to see those children again, he fekt his heart cry.

He hated it.

But he missed his sister, it wasn't untrue that he searched for her in everything that he could.

He searched Jason too.

"You don't have to apologise. I know what kind of shit that fucking pit can do."

"Still, I..."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"What?"

"Being a heroe. Those kids addmire you. Do you enjoy it? Go out every night, save people. Diana seems to love it. I've saved people too and all I think is that there's a lot of shit in this world. I don't want to deal with that crap. I have fought so hard to have the life I have."

"Do you enjoy it?" Said Jason.

Nico smiled.

"I had a friend, his name was Jason. He wanted to be someone, he wanted to help. Do you know where he is now? That is the fate that this kind of life gives you."

Jason didn't answer. He felt like he didn't want to know. He had seen the scars on Nico, he believe that he had fought before, but he had scars too.

"I know the risks." He laughed "I've live them. And you know what? I don't regreat it. Not a sigle thing."

Nico nodded. 

"It's gonna sound ironic but, I don't understand death. I just...one moment you have it all and then..."

"Everything is gone."

Jason sighed; he checked his watch. Five am. Time to go back.

"Come on. Time to go."

Nico nodded.

When they arrived where they left the bike the son of Hades stopped walking.

"Hey I... well...I could take it out."

"What are you talking about?"

"The rage. Well, the side effects of the pit. I...I can take them out."

"Are you talking serious?"

Nico nodded.

"That would mean no more rage, hallucinations, the voice in the back of your mind. But also no more stamina, strength, speed, regeneration..."

Jason considered that possibility, a world where he doesn't have to restrain himself, where he wasn't afraid of himself.

A world where he could feel like a human being again.

A world where he could feel.

But also, losing all of his abilities seemed dangerous. Counterproductive.

"I..."

"Why don't you think 'bout it? You don't have to answer right away."

Jason nodded.

"Thank you."

"I don't think the others found something, isn't it?"

"They would've called."

" 'kay. I'll go home then. I need to sleep or else my doctor is gonna kill me. Ciao."

He disappeared in the shadows. 

Jason craved a lot of things.

He craved a family.

He craved love.

But, was it worth it? Being able to feel it was worth it the things he would have to do? It would hurt?

Chapter Text

Come back, I'll be with you someday

I'll be right here on the ground

When you come back down

Will Solace considered himself being a warm person. He liked to take care of others, the people he loved, sometimes he felt the urge of it. He didn't know if it had something to do with his father or in how his mother had raise him.

He loved Nico diAngelo. He didn't like it when he went too far using his powers, unlike other demigods Nico's powers didn't recover by being on his element, he only could sleep and heal.

Being the head counselor of the Apollo cabain meant he took after all the injured, it was a tiring job but he liked some parts.

He waited there for his boyfriend to arrived, time passed, nothing, Will waited at the Pavillon for his boyfriend to arrive, time passed, and nothing.

"Hey." He said to Clovis when he saw him. "Have you seen Nico?"

The son of Hipnos let out a yawn and nodded.

"Yep, a little while before. He's still sleeping."

"Sleeping? But its 2pm."

Clovis shrugged.

"Time doesn't matter in dreams."

Will snorted.

He decide to grab some food and wake up the son of Hades. When he got to the cabin he opened de door and could see his boyfriend, the place was a mess, clothes on the floor and his bed wasn't made.

As Clovis had said, Nico was sleeping. His face was covered in a small layer of sweat thanks to the warm weather and he was only wearing a shirt.

"Nico."

No reply.

"Babe." 

There was only a grunt.

"You have to get up. Its past 2pm."

Another grunt.

"You have to eat. Come on, brought you breakfast."

Nico just rolled so he was layin om his chest.

"Nico. If you don't get up now, I'm gonna eat your bacon."

It only took that.

The son of Hades lift his head and snached the plate out of his hands. Will laughed.

Nico eat all the bacon in the plate, leaving the eggs untoched, then he drank half of the orange juice.

"I would say good morning if it weren't for the fact that it currently is 2pm."

"Then good afternoon my love." 

"Yeah, good afternoon. What time did you returned last night?"

Nico grunted.

"More like this morning. We finished patrol at 6am. Seriously, those people don't know the word sleep." He left himself fall on his back. "And we found nothing."

The son of Apollo passed his hand through the black hair of his boyfriend, the boy closed his eyes.

Sometimes Will saw Nico as a black cat, for a long time black cats were considered bad luck, they were casted away, stoned, drowned and kill to prevent the bad omens.

When they found out who was Nico's father they all thought the worst. Included Will.

He was a kid, a child, scared for his life, scared of the war, scared of dying. Michael had calm him down, he always knew how to calm him down, he always was his favorite sibling.

Then he died on that bridge.

His sibling died and now he was head counselor, and Percy Jackson was dragging him across the battlefild to cure Annabeth. After he killed his brother and a lot of other demigods from both sides.

He felt ashamed of that thought, now in the present he didn't blame Percy anymore for that. But in the moment he had hated him for what he did, he was fourtheen after all.

Fourtheen and taking care of everyone.

He was bright and warm as the sun, yes. But the sun was always burning out.

"What are you thinking?" Said Nico.

Nico was like a cat, he hurted people when he felt threatened, he bared his teeth and ripped with his claws. But once you gained his trust, he was the sweates thing in the world. 

Will couldn't think how someone could hate him or just wanted to hurted him.

Nico was the son of the shadows but he had light in him. He craved light, and Will was minded to give him all the light that he had.

"That I love you." He replied.

The son of Hades smiled, he grapped his arms around him and cuddle with him.

"I love you too."

He really loved Will.

He really did, with all his heart. He would do anything for him, anything, without hesitate.

He wanted to give him the world. Everything he wanted.

Sometimes he wondered if that made him a bad person, but he didn't actually care. He just knew that he was in love of Will Solace.

The blonde sighed.

"I have to go to the infirmary."

Nico gripped tightly his waist.

"Noo." He wined. "Stay."

"They need me there." He said fighting to get free.

"No they don't. They can managed without for a couple of hours."

He hugged him and hid his face in his golden hair.

"You know what? You win."

He left himself being embraced by his boyfriend. Nico was always cold, but he didn't care.

He was afraid of a lot of things, but the bigest of them was losing Nico to the shadows; he saw him before, in the war. The son of Hades was fighting while struggled not to disappear into the shadows. 

He was afraid of waking up one day just to find him gone.

Sometimes, when they sleep, he gripped him tightly whit the hope of being drag with him to the shadows. That's how much he loved him.

Will didn't knew how long they slept, but when a rainbow light hit his face he wanted to punch whatever it was. He opened his eyes just to find blue ones a lot like his.

"The fuck?" He said.

"Erm...hi?"

He sat and passed a hand threw his face.

"Wich one are you?"

"That doesn't concern you." Said a child behind the guy.

"You must be Robin then."

"I apologise for him. Ahm, we are searching for Nico?"

"He's sleeping, unlike you guys he isn't an addic to fight crime Vigilante that doesn't sleep for more than 30 minutes."

Dick was taken back before the hostility of the blonde guy.

"Hey! He chose this by himself, and if you don't remember we are looking for one of your kind."

"He didn't chose any of this! He's doing this as a favor for Hestia and I don't care if you guys have saved the world a couple times, if something happens to Nico I will haunt you all and..."

"Babe, what are you doing?"

Nico's voice sounded sleppy.

Dick was surprised to see how the guy face changed. The threat and anger in his eyes were replaced by love and caring. 

"Nothing, love. Everything it's fine."

"Yeah? Cause' it sounded like you were threatening some superheroes."

Nico let out a yawn before turning towards the Iris message. 

"What is it?"

"Ehm, we...ahm. Diana had an idea, she's coming today to help with the search. She believes that we could find the girl tonight but she wants to discuss it with all of us."

"Great! Wonder bitch will be there. I'll go now, gotta see if Javier didn't kill someone while I wasn't there."

He approach him and kissed the top of his head.

"See you later, don't die. Love you."

Nico let out a yawn.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Said Dick

"Yep, he's great isn't he?" Replied with a smile.

"Yeah, a real sunshine."

Nico laughed.

"Oh you got no idea. Anyway, what time do you want me there?"

"Forthy five minutes. Can you make it?"

"Yeah. See you there."

He didn't want to go, didn't want to hear anything Diana had to say, but he wanted this to end so he could go back to his life.

He finished some of the food Will left and changed his outfit.

He got out of the camp walking, entering the forest of Long Island, enjoying the sound of the birds, the smell of the trees and the descending heat of the sun on his skin.

In some time, when the summer ended, Will and him were going to go to New Rome, start a new life. Honestly, he was following Will, the guy was ready to start his studies in medicine, as if he needed it. He was scared of it, yes, he had been in New Rome a couple of times, but never live in it. He was scared of remember him, of being haunted by the ghost of Jason, haunted by the what if's.

Thanks to the shadow of a tree he travelled directly to the bat cave, there they were.

The four sons of the bat.

The daughter of Zeus.

And The man of steel.

Nico never expected to meet him, he was afraid of it, it was a joke, yes, but among his friends the figure of Superman meant something else after Jason's death.

For some reason he expected to find blonde hair, cristal clear blue eyes, almost electric; the scar on his upper lip, the same height, the tatto on his arm.

When he emerged from the shadows Clark detected at the first step.

His eyes noticed him and he was sure he could hear his heart too; pumping against his chest, he wondered if he could feel it break when he saw him.

Black instead of blonde.

Blue dark eyes insted of electric clear blue.

Taller.

No tatto.

No scars.

"This must be him." He said.

His voice, just like everything, wasn't the same.

Everyone turn to face him, he watched them carefully, the only one who watched him with some kind of reconition or emotion was Red Hood.

"Mrt.Kent." He approached to him. "A real pleasure to meet you." He said while doing a small bow.

That impressed all the observers.

"How he gets that while us just mockery?" Mumbled Tim.

"Well? What am I doing here?" He said without taking his eyes out of Clark.

"I thought about something..." said Diana "One of Superman's powers is to see through to thing, like an X ray. If he flies over the city scanning everything maybe we could find the girl. With your permition, Batman."

The dark knight didn't reply in the moment. Thinking about Diana's plan.

"And then what?" Nico asked.

"Then I'll call you and you can go for her." Said Clark.

"I." Nico interrupted "I will go for her. You guys already fucked it up once. I don't need a second. If this is gonna end tonight it better be quick and smooth."

"You won't do such thing." Diana said

Nico looked away from the man of steel to now look at her. 

"And who do you think you are to give me orders?"

"I called the favor! Therefore you have to listen to me!"

"Yes! You called, but haven't done anything more to help the situation! And as far as I know I'm here to help them and Fiammetta, there wasn't anything about you comanding me. We've been in this like a week and this is the first time you show your face!"

"I have my own city to take care of! Not all of us can be just sitting on our asses blaming everyone and wating for the next prophecy to pop up!"

All of the presents, specifically Tim, could sense that Diana had hit a nerve.

"I think it would be better to calm down and..." Tim started, but the sound of Nico's laugh made his bones chill.

"Sitting on our asses, eh? That's what you think we do?" 

The shadows in the room seamed to change, the cave grew colder.

Even Diana knew she had fucked up, but her pride didn't allow her to step back.

"The demigods, we have to help the world, that's our destiny, our debt. Chiron has spoiled you. You all could do so much great if you follow my lead and help the world."

"We own nothing to anyone." He said in so cold voice that scared "No child should be in debt for existing. No all of us are like you, we can die, we can be tortured, we can be maimed, you stay young because of the godly blood in you, we don't grow old because we are killed thanks to that blood."

"It shouldn't be that way, I'm sure the gods wouldn't let that happen if you had more faith if you..."

"That doesn't work!" He yelled this time "Stop living in your fucking bubble of privilege! We aren't you! We are not the favorite weapon of fucking Zeus! Worship them doesn't work, building fucking temples doesn't work! Ask your brother about it. They don't give a single fuck."

"Your brother?" Said Clark "What is he talking about?"

Diana was taken back.

"Come on Diana, tell them. Tell the the truth about your so dear gods."

"I think that's enough." Said Dick.

But Nico didn't stop.

"Tell them, come on Diana. Tell them how they work."

"Nico." Jason said.

Diana's hads let out some sparks.

"Tell them what happens when you work for them. When you help them."

"Shut up." Diana mumbled.

"Hey stop!" Yelled Dick but the son of Hades hadn't had te reaction he expected yet.

More sparks.

"Do they even know about your sister?"

"Shut up."

"You get your pride on being Zeus's prodigal daughter but you are not the only one."

"Shut your dam mouth!"

"And what about him? Huh?! Where is he? You didn't bother to go to the funeral. You don't care, just like your father."

The response, Nico did saw it coming, he just didn't dodge it.

Sometimes, that masochistic part of him still arose to punish himself, for what? He didn't always knew.

He felt the shock, the numb in his joints, his arms, his legs, the way his teeth collided with each other, so hard that he thought they would break. 

He cough, the ground under him felt confortable, but after all that teasing he needed to his damn façade.

"Diana!" Bruce yelled.

"It's okay." He mumbled.

"Clark, search the city, call on the comms if you find something." 

The man of steel, clearly disturb by the actions of his partner, got out of the cave to perform his task.

"Diana, come upstairs with me."

Jason was the first to come up to him, he had decided to start calling him Todd on his head to avoid the memories.

"Are you okey?" He said.

Nico relied on him to get on his feet while nodded.

"Yeah, a lot of altercations with her sister prepared me for this. Much alike if you ask me."

"You didn't have to attack her like that." Said Dick.

"Well, I was feeling a lit suicidal today. Besides, I didn't tell lies."

"Jason. The one you told me about, it was him right?"

Nico sighed.

"Yeah, the son of Jupiter, roman form of Zeus. Diana's brother. My cousin."

"You smell like a burn toast." Said Damian

Nico laughed despite the pain in his ribs. 

"Thank you."

"What happened to him?" Asked Tim

"He died fulfilling a mission for the gods, helping Apollo in...well, a bunch of crap. He knew he was going to die and he help anyways, that's the kind of person he was. And the gods didn't care, they just like to dispose us like toys."

He then looked at the place Superman was a little ago.

"We just to joke about...him being a blonde superman. He could fly and honestly it was all our argument about it in the moment."

He took off his jacket so he could see if there was more damage but there was nothing, he decided to take a square of ambrosia to cure himself. 

"But yeah, then we saw it, the predisposition, the need to help, heroism, loyalty, humility, humanity. They look nothing alike but they are similar. He was the best of us if you ask me."

"And why is that Diana's fault? He didn't kill him." Said Damian.

"I know that this could be a little difficult too understand, but not all of us could pick this kind of life. It was imposed on us, a "debt" like she called it."

Dick thought about it, ehatever it was, each of them had chosen that life. Had chosen the pain and fight, the children of the gods hadn't.

"She supports that sistem. A system based on abuse and neglect, a system where we are nothing more than weapons ready to be used. Yes, we are part god but we are also human. She doesn't see us like that. We are soldiers for them."

Jason find himself looking at the memorial, "a good son, a good soldier." He hated that word and thanks to that he understand a little bit how Nico felt.

"Masters, it appears that Mister Kent had found something."

"About fucking time." Nico mumbled.

He was ready for anything that may happen this night.

He was ready.

Was he ready?

Hate and love, two sides of the same coin. Two forces that coexisted despite everything. 

He could hate and love, he could sink on his little world where he was loved by his boyfriend, he could hide from the superheroes that seemed to hate him.

He couldn't be prepared for everything.

Not even for the gods.

Chapter Text

And now that I'm grown, I'm scared of ghosts

Memories feel like weapons

And now that I know, I wish you'd left me wondering

God rest my soul, I miss who I used to be

The tomb won't close, stained glass windows in my mind

It was an abandoned bulding near the docks, yeah, a cliché.

There was a lot of monsters outside, two cyclops, one dracaena and three hellhounds.

He kind to expected to see them fighting to eat Fiammetta's body, but that wasn't the case.

They were in did fighting, struggling to get in.

"What's happening?" Said Diana

"What are they doing?" Asked Damian 

"They're trying to get it." Nico responded "It doesn't make any sense."

"What?"

"I mean, there's six monsters, one of them with fucking wings and other two can basically teleport. So, why aren't they enjoying fresh demigods meat?"

"Look." Said Jason "Focus, there's something around the bulding...it seems...pink."

"Pink? What are you..."

"He's right. Look." Damian said.

Nico focused on the edge of the construction.

In camp, the magic border could be seen, a kaleidoscopic veil that was barely noticeable. This one, like Jason had said, was pink.

"Magic?" Bruce said

"Yeah, it's like the magic border on Camp. It keeps any monster and mortals outside. Only gods can make them."

"Your saying that there's a god in there?" 

Nico clenched his jaw, he was afraid of the answer.

"Maybe Fiammetta's dad stuck around."

Gods, please no. 

"If he is or not doesn't matter right now, we have to eliminate those monsters and then look for the entry of the barrier."

"You and I can handle the monsters, they can search for the entrance." Said Diana

"Yeah, but how exactly would we do that?" 

"Look around, where they are would be a good place to start, there's have to be something that it's linked to the barrier, if you destroy it then we can all cross. Use your senses, it has to give you a feel of power."

He was sweating, not because the monsters, no, that was the easy part. It was the Eros part that concern him.

He felt a deep feeling of repulsion.

He really didn't want to face him again.

"How we face them all?"

Nico extended his hand and she, hesitating, took it. In a second they were on the opposite rooftop, they could see the others from afar.

"What is it like?" He told her, watching the humans.

"What thing?"

"To chose the fighting. Chose to be a hero."

She thought for a second, remembering all her exploits and adventures, all the deaths and victories.

"Glorious."

Nico sighed and pulled out a batarang.

"I don't think your friend would mind. The fastest way to attract them is if they smell blood."

She undertood what he meant. She took her sword and both of them with a smooth movement cut their palms.

It was almost instantaneous the way they approached, the dracanea was the first to get to them being the smartest of all.

"Blood of Zeus." She said.

Diana waited for the monster to launch at her, her sword ready in her now bloody hands.

She felt the impact, claws trying to digg on her skin, the sound of her wings giving her more strength to try take her back. Nico draw his sword, slashing one of her feets.

Diana took advantage and stab her in the gut, leaving just golden sand.

She didn't wait this time, she ran to the edge and left herself fall into the monsters gathered at the base of the building.

"Gods, this supes. Always making big great entrances."

He disappeared in the shadows and in a blink of an eye he was fighting side by side with Diana.

A part of him, the kid with eight years in the world war two who heard the stories of a super hero helping the people to be free, helping soldiers and rescuing people was excited, Bianca and him loved her, they looked up to her that's why when she said to Bianca that the greatest honor she could take she accepted.

That was the moment Nico started to hate her.

A pile of golden dusta was all that the monsters left, the daughter of Zeus hadn't been as useless as Nico thought. 

His heartbeat raised and he felt himself much nervous than before.

"Listen. Eros is not gonna help us, his selfish, he only enjoys caos. Don't try to bargain with him. Let me handle him."

"We'll see, the other haven't found the entrance."

Nico looked at her directly at her eyes, she realiced now that ther were the same height. He seemed nervous and that worried her, what kind of god could Eros be to have the son of Hades like this?

"I only say that to keep them busy, I don't need an entrance. I will only drag you with me because I care for the child. You understand?"

Diana nodded. Nico reached for her hand and the next second they were inside the ware house.

Tim was used to be alone, when he was a child he was left for days without company, for some time he thought that he was going to be alone for ever; that it was his fault that everyone in his life abandon him.

Then, he was seen, Batman saw him, for once in his life he was being use full, he could help people, being Robin gave Tim something to cling, Robin gave him a spotlight. Then Batman disappeared, and he was Robin no more.

The hate that he had felt for Dick and Damian had plague his heart like some diseased. He loved Dick like a brother, but he had trade him for Damian in a heartbeat, and just like that he was a little kid without no one to turn.

No Bruce, no Dick, no Jason and definitely no Damian.

Red Robin was born.

He had everything again.

But there was a problem, he felt love, a kind of love that he was supposed to feel for a girl, his parents once said that every boy was supposed to love a girl, that's how it was.

He saw girls and like them, he considered them attractive, he had love a few. But he couldn't help to stare at the boys too.

He knew it was wrong, but when he was young he couldn't help but feel a little attracted to Dick, he thought it was just admiration.

The Bernard arrived.

The guilt he had felt was embarrassing, the first time he kissed him he had cried for hours, he didn't knew what to do, he didn't knew what to feel. He knew it wasn't wrong, but he couldn't help to feel like this.

It took him a lot of time to realize that love another boy wasn't wrong, that he deserved someone to love.

He had hate himself in the past, now he loves his boyfriend and loves himself.

His family loves him.

That's all that matters.

"Hey guys, look at this." Jason's voice dragged him out off his thoughts.

He was pointing to a lightbull on the side of the building. 

"I don't see anything." Said Tim.

"Look carefully. There's a..." Jason began.

"Glowing light around it." Damian said.

"A pink glowing." Batman's voice sounded deep and low. "A good hiding spot, no one sees a lightbull so closelly."

"What do we do now? I don't see Nico and Diana."

Jason, without hesitate pull out one of his guns, aimed and shoot, crashing the lightbull in a instant.

Something happend, the glow disappeared, and for a moment he felt drawn to get in, something inside of Tim wanted to get inside.

"Do you guys feel that?" Said Dick.

"Like something precious that my soul has waited to have it all this time?" Said Jason.

"Yep." Answered Tim.

"Let's go." Said Bruce.

It was dark and damp, but strangely warm, it smelled like wood and lime, odd, it smelled like Bernard.

Once they reached the center of the building they saw something incredible. 

Diana with an arrow in her stomach, Nico with an arrow in his shoulder, holding his sword through the abdomen of a guy with white wings who could only be Cupid.

The guy, was laughing, a sound so cloying and deafening but at the same time threatening.

He felt drawn to it, but it also felt so much fear.

He fell, he was almost drowning, he heard something fall behind him.

"What the fuck?" It was Jason. "I...I why? What?..."

Another sound.

Damian was on the ground.

"What is this? I...don't understand."

The laugh stopped. 

Chills went down his spine.

He wanted to cry.

"Welcome, so mighty vigilantes. What a lovely day to be alive, isn't it?"

Tim wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

Chapter Text

Til we were dead and gone and buried

Check the pulse and come back swearing, it's the same

After three months in the grave

And then you wondered where it went to as I reached for you

But all I felt was shame

And you held my lifeless frame

Hope can be something that a person can hold on for a lifetime.

But, what is that fuels hope?

Obsession?

Guilt?

Love?

A person can love so much that it can be their doom, is it love's fault? 

Who is responsable for it?

Is it our who we felt so much?

Sometimes Nico felt a lot, so much that it felt illegal, he didn't want that.

He wondered if that drowning sensation would disappear one day.

The moment he set foot on that place he wanted to banish in the shadows again. 

It appeared be empty, but they knew it wasn't. Their footsteps were the only sound before Diana decided to speak.

"Thank you for bringing me even though you hate me. I know you seem to know Eros better than me, but I still think that if we explain everything to him he..."

"I don't hate you."

Diana stopped.

"I can't stand you, to be honest. But I know hate, and I don't hate you."

"I thought that... well, you know, Bianca..."

"Don't say her name. You don't get to. I don't hate you for her choices, I have come to make amends with it. But you don't get to make conclusions based on my sister's death. You don't get to decide how I feel about it."

She felt a chill dow her spine, something in her wanted to make things right.

"What is it then? It's because of the wars? The quest? What?"

"It's the gods."

He stood in front of her. She could see his almost black eyes looking at her, there was hate in them no matter what he said. She also knew hate, she recognize it.

"They watch out for all of us. Why can't you guys understand? We demigods are a blessing to this world."

Nico was fast. He took her by the shoulders, strong grip on them, diggin his nails on her skin.

"You, are the only demigod on this fucking earth who believes that. Don't you wonder why? I don't hate you really, I hate what you believe. What you stand for. That's what I despite. Gods are no perfect. Not even my father or yours."

"My father has never meant harm."

He laughed. A bitter sound.

"Is that what you think?" He let her go, gripping his fists. "Not even when he killed my mom?"

Diana felt something, a pang in her heart, a tingling in her spine, her mouth dry.

"What? That...no, that can't be right."

"Well, it is. He killed her, he shot a lightning bolt at her in an attempt to kill Bianca and me. He killed her, but first he hunted us, you know how that is? I don't remember them anymore Diana. Their laughs, my mom's face. I was ripped from my homeland, years went on where I didn't hear my own lenguage. All thanks to your dad. So you don't get to tell me they're perfect. Not to anyone and specially me."

She bit her tongue, that couldn't be right, couldn't? The gods were perfect, they only seek truth and justice. Why would his father hunt an inocent family?

"There's got to be another reason. My father..."

"Shut up."

"Nico..."

"No, really, shut up, I hear something."

"What is love...

Baby, don't hurt me...

Don't hurt me... no more"

He "welcome" them with a song.

"I know this tune." She said.

"Everyone knows this tune. It's a great hit."

"What else can I say, it's up to you

I know we're one, just me and you

I can't go on"

They followed the voice. It was melodical, almost havenly.

They saw him, Diana thought it was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen in her entire life.

He had ashy blonde hair and blue eyes, in a certain light, he looked like someone who had been the love of her life. But something was off, the wings, the body, and the eyes had some malice in them, something didn't felt right.

"Don't let the beauty distract you. He's a demon desguise as an angel."

Suddenly he wasn't flying anymore, he was right in front of them.

"Oh, il mio bellissimo amico, why use such hard words?"

Nico bit the inside of his mouth, his breath was heavy and he clenched his fists so hard he felt his skin crack open.

The first time he saw Eros, his hair was pitch black and his eyes were the most beautifull shade of sea-green, for a moment he felt scared that he would see him like that again.

But he wasn't in love with Percy anymore. 

Blonde and blue eyes.

"Don't call me like that."

"I must say, you two have a similar type, what is it with the blondes these days?"

"What is he talking about?" Said Diana.

"He takes the form of the one you are in love with. Same as his mother."

"I miss the other one thou." He flew to a spot on the roof where some boxes were. Nico noticed the figure of a girl, apparently asleep.

He alerted Diana about it.

"Yeah well, things change."

He really wanted to leave, he couldn't do this, he didn't want to. For some reason he wanted to cry.

He had grew up, he accepted himself, he wasn't scared of his feelings anymore, so why he felt like this? 

He knew, some part of him knew Eros had hurted him in ways no one had. 

And that made him want to cry, why? Why him? hadn't he done a lot already?

Why love was like this?

"Yeah, that's what I've heard. I'm so sorry about your friend. So handsome was him."

There was mockery in his voice. 

Nico saw red.

He took out his sword, he launched towards him, embedding it in the wall behind the god.

Eros laughed. 

"Did I hit a sore spot?"

He went down, Diana put herself between them, trying to calm everything. 

"Lord Eros, I think you know why are we here. Could you give Fiammetta to us? We will take her to Camp, she will be safe."

His demeanor changed, even his entire form changed. 

Red eyes, black hair, the most white skin she had seen.

He was more beautifull now.

"And what makes you think I would want her in a place like that?"

"We thought that you where heading there, then why bringing her..."

"Fuck it, I won't play your games this time."

Nico twisted his ring and his sword returned to his hand, he disappeared in the shadows expecting to see the girl next but the god was faster, he shot an arrow that made him fall, if it wasn't for Diana he would've crashed directly into the ground.

"Are you okay?"

He nodded.

"Don't worry about me, go for Fiammeta." He grunted. 

He got up, his shoulder hurted but he didn't care. He was pissed.

Diana jumped, hitting Eros with her shield, the god shot more arrows at her. Nico knew he had to distract him so she could take the demigod away.

"Why don't you stop being such an ass and just for once in your live do something for someone who isn't you!"

Something shifted in the air. Diana couldn't tell what exactly but she felt it.

Arrows started to fly everywere, with her shield she dodged all she could while Nico banished on the shadows, trying to strike Eros.

There was a clash, the son of Hades was on the floor with an arrow on his shoulder, she dropped her shield and ran after him.

Eros started to laugh, behind a golden light a bow appeared on his hand and he strung it; a golden arrow appeared and then Diana felt a piercing pain on her stomach.

"EROS STOP THIS!" Nico yelled as he watched.

The god walked towards him, he took it by the neck, forcing him to stand up.

"And what are you gonna do about it, boy."

His voice, once so delicate and almost angelical turned into a raw growl.

With his other hand he took Nico's hair, trailing down from the top to his cheek.

"Well, not a boy anymore, aren't you?"

Nico felt something, some kind of fear that he hadn't felt in his life. This was a god, he could do anything to him...anything. 

"What..."

"Oh, you have turn into a very beautifull man." He purr.

Nico grabbed his hand on his neck.

"Eros..." he mumbled with a hint of fear in his voice.

"Fiammetta is the first halfblood that I had in some time, but imagine this...the power of a child of Hades and me..."

Nico wanted to throw up. He digged his nails into the god's hand.

"Fuck you! You disgust me!" 

"I can make you want it, after all, you have seen what my daughter can do." 

He felt desperate, he reached for his own hand and twisted his ring, quickly he drove his sword into the gods stomach.

"Don't you ever dare to lay a hand on me again!"

Eros laughed.

"Welcome, so mighty vigilantes. What a lovely day to be alive, isn't it?"

"What"?"

Nico turned and saw them.

"Leave them out of this."

The god took one of the edges of the arrow and drove it deeply into the demigods shoulder. Nico screamed and let go off his sword, he could see the ichor gushing out off the wound.

"You have to get out!" Nico yelled.

"Oh but why miss all the fun!"

The sword disappeared, the god approached the heroes.

"What do we have over here?"

Dick knew gods were beautifull, but what he saw was the most fantastic being on earth, red hair, green eyes, he knew the god was supposed to be a man but the image flickered between a female figure and male.

Damian didn't knew how gods were, but there he was, standing, or well, in presence of one. Black hair and blue eyes, some of the most common combinations of the world, but somehow in him made him look completly gorgeous.

Bruce Wayne was a man that believed in almost anything, he relied on cience but he wasn't as closed minded as some pictured him. He knew gods were capable of erase an entire country if they wanted, he knew how vicious could be the god of love. But once he saw him he couldn't help but frezze. The image flickered between a woman and a men, black hair and blue eyes that swiched to green. 

Jason had felt a lot of things in his life, out of all his siblings, he knew he could feel the most without saying something; for some time he thought he knew love, maybe just from the books he likes, but this time he saw him face to face, the face of love. His hair appeared to be made of fire, not orange, pure red, two orbes that resemble emeralds. He didn't knew why every time he blinked the form changed, first a man, then a woman, what he susppected scared him.

Tim knew love, he loves Bernard, he had loved Stephanie, he didn't knew what to believe about the god of love. When he layed his eyes on him he was confused, it swiched from blonde to black hair, the only constant was the blue eyes but even those weren't the same, first clear blue eyes and then deep blue. He didn't knew why but he thought that maybe the god of love couldn't be so bad, could he?

"Are all of you queers? santi immortali! What are the odds."

He approach them, Jason and Dick were besides each other, make it easier for the god to kneel down and take their faces.

"Oh you two are a wonderfull case! In love of the same woman! A red head! Oh but she isn't the only one isn't she? Is a kind of fetish you guys have?"

"The fuck are you talking about?" Growled Jason.

"Oh, you, don't you see it? Or maybe I should copy the tattos."

His image changed a little, a tatto of a green serpent appeared on his left shoulder. Jason frezzed, he was just like Roy Harper, his best friend.

Eros laughed, the first laugh they had listen was melodical, this one was just vicious.

"An archer, I like it." He then turned to Dick "Oh but you aren't any better are you? Also the best friend, a...how do you call it? Oh, right a speedster. My my, but hey don't feel bad, all your family is in the same ehmm...situazione difficile."

"Lord Eros! Please! We've just came here to help your daughter, stop this!" Yelled Diana while trying to get up.

The god of love laughed again.

"But why stop all the fun? we haven't arrive to the best part!"

He then walked towards Bruce and Tim.

"Don't you feel guilt? You both have partners but are in love with your other partners, ah but who wouldn't fall in love with the man of steel? Or well, the clone as well."

Bruce felt, for the very first time in ages, the urge to cry, he prayed whatever there was out there that Clark wasn't hearing any of this. He never wanted any of this, he knew he loved Selena, she drove him crazy but he loved her.

But Clark...

In the moment Bruce met Clark, when he really met him, that noble and kind boy scout he couldn't help but felt something, his heart warmed every time he said something so gentle and nice and he just wanted to be near him and hope to catch some glimpse of hopeness that he radiated.

He didn't wanted to lose that.

He couldn't. 

"What...?" Tim mumbled. 

Eros rolled his eyes.

"Argh, why are you guys so difficult? Honestly I am starting to get bored."

His eyes, once green or blue, were red now, his hair appeared to be a shade of black darker than before.

When Damian felt his eyes on him, he backed up, just a little. 

The god approached, he reached for his face and gripped his cheeks.

"You, you are...hah! My my!" Suddenly he was the happiest man alive "Hey angel! Look at this! He's just like you! Like you all some years ago!"

Behind him, the son of Hades felt a chill s ran down his spine.

He sat down, his shoulder in pain and dripping blood.

"Eros" He said in barely a whisper "If you do this..."

Damian could see the gods teeth, sharp fangs extremely white.

"You, little vigilante, keep a secret, don't you? As it seems you shouldn't be afraid, come on I'll let you say it."

"Eros!" Nico growled. 

"I don't know what are you talking about." Said Robin.

"Ow, come on! Say it." His voice dropped lower "I'll help you, his name is Jonathan, isn't it?"

For a second Damian felt as if someone had hit him in the face. He wanted to disappear.

"Don't you dare threaten my son!" Growled Bruce.

Before the Bat could do something Nico di'Angelo acted first. His sword chopped one of the god's wing. And the beautifull man yelled.

"I told you not to do this! I will not let you do this to them!"

He was angry. The earth started to shake, some parts of the ground even opened. Hands, some were more bones than flesh, grabbed the ankles and feet of Eros. He kept stabbing the god, ichor creating a river under his shoes.

"Why!?" He yelled "You were supposed to help your daughter! You know? For a fucking second I thought you would do de right thing and help us, but I guess I was wrong."

For one instant he let himself cry.

"Why!? You...you are love, then why are you so vicious and wicked? Why did you did that to me? Why hurt them all?"

The pain made him stop. He fell and dropped his sword.

The gods wing had started to heal. 

"She's magnificent. She doesn't deserved to suffer in this world, she doesn't deserved to be alone." He didn't move, just talked. "Why keep all that love inside just to let it die." 

Damian felt the weight of those words in him. Maybe the god was right.

"I...don't want her to die." He said finally. His voice, once melodious and sweet was raw and low, barely above a whisper. "Is what halfbloods do, don't you? I don't want her to die in some other gods name."

The cracks on the ground closed, letting the god go.

"Then why bringing her into this world?"

"I felt alone."

He let out a sighed. He snapped, the arrows disappeared.

"She will be safe at camp. At least safe as she can. I can promise you that." 

"Love can take all the forms." He said, turning to see the heroes.

He then stood up, with some trouble he flew next to the sleeping girl. 

"Ragazza mia, sii forte. Sei potente e sei amata. Non importa cosa credi o cosa ti dica chiunque, io veglierò sempre su di te. Puoi affrontare qualsiasi cosa ti capiti. Ti amo." He kissed her forehead and went down.

His wounds were no longer bleeding. His eyes conected with the son of Hades.

"Take care of her. I'm not planning on having any more children in this century." 

"Fuck off."

It was the first, maybe the only one, genuine smile that Nico ever saw from him.

"Prenditi cura, angelo mio."

Nico felt it, the heat and the small flash of light that indicated that the god's true form was going to show.

"EVERYONE CLOSE YOUR EYES!"

In a second the god was already gone. Nico got up and approached Damian, he extended his hand, the Vigilante took it recluntatly.

"What was that?" He felt a little burn on his cheeks.

"A gods true form." He responded while helping Tim "If a mortal were to see that it would burn them instantly."

"But what was the other thing?" Jason said "We couldn't even stand."

"Being in presence of a god is not nothing, they give off an aura of power that not every mortal can bear."

Dick felt some more fear inside him, if they couldn't even stand in front of a god how could they face a threat like this if need it?

Nico walked towards Diana, she was on her back, breathing heavy.

"Hey, your doing good?" He said.

She nodded.

"Pull it out." 

He did and help her got on her feet. He approached to see the wound, it was deep and bloddy. 

The piece of ambrosia on his pocket started to be havier than before, maybe this was the right opportunity to make things right. To do better.

"Here." He said to her "This will heal faster than it'll heal me. Take her to Camp. I will help the others."

Diana looked at him unbelieving, surprised.

"What? But that's why you stayed. To help her get Camp."

"I know, but maybe I thought you would want it. After all, I was just supposed to help."

She looked at him before eating the ambrosia. Her wound almost closed up.

Nico smiled, he whistel.

"I just called your ride, go with Quiron, you will have to get her to the infirmary until she wakes up." 

Diana nodded and flew where Fiammetta was, she looked so peacefull, unaware of what was going on.

Suddenly the shadows appeared to be darker, swallowing all kinds of light around.

"What is happening?" Said Dick.

"The ride is here."

A massive black dog materialized in the middle of the room, her red eyes were looking all around.

"There you are sweetea." He mumbled "Everyone, this is Miss O'Leary, she is the only friendly hellhound that exists."

"She is magnificent." Damian said.

Nico smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, she is." He turned to see Diana "She will take you."

Diana grabbed Nico's hand.

"Thank you." 

For an instant he thought if he was doing the right thing, maybe not, but there was no backing up now.

Diana disappeared with the child of love in her arms.

He turned around, he saw the five heroes in front of him. 

He had heard about their feats, saving the earth, even the universe, they had faced a lot kinds of threats but Nico knew the one that weighed more was the one inside them. He talked with Jason, he knew the anti-heroe had a lot of feelings trapped inside him, rage and anger, but now thanks to Eros they all knew something that made him feel exposed.

They all felt like that.

Nico knew. He understood and shared the feeling.

"We should go." He said to them. "I need to make sure none of you has any side effects for meeting a god." 

"Side effects?" Said Dick "Wha-what do you mean?"

"Well, you felt it, didn't you? Are you still feeling weak?"

They all looked at each other, obviously not wanting to adress the words of the god.

"Come on then, let's return to your cave."

This time he went in the car with them. The ride was silent, everyone was locked on their own minds, Nico knew the god's words weighed in them.

He knew how they felt, he knew the pain that stalked them as if was an open wound.

"What is gonna happen to her?" Dick asked. Being the first to dare break the silence. 

"Well, she has being claimed so she's gonna be in the infirmary for a check up before being sent to Eros cabin. Then she will start training."

"But she's like thirteen, she's still a child." Tim said.

Nico looked at him, frowning, like if he had told a weird joke or something like that.

"Weren't you even younger when you were Robin? Or even your brother over there, he's like sixteen? And I even heard the first Robin started at fucking nine."

He looked at them, trying to understand them, analyzing their faces one by one. Until he saw it.

"Do you...wait...what has Diana told you about us?"

They all looked back at Bruce.

"You are warriors of the gods. Meant to fight for them."

Nico bit his tongue. He couldn't blame them for having been misinformed, it wasn't their fault. But still he couldn't shake the feeling of being unconfortable, they saw him like a weapon, he knew it, he had seen that look.

"That's...well maybe it is what we are. A child army." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "My sister died at twelve. Fighting. I was ten when I was fully dragged into this world. We've had even younger demigods. We have to train, fight, not for the gods, well, at least not always, but for survive."

He let it sit for a moment. 

"You did get to choose." He said to them "Whether it was due to moral duty or burden you did get to make a choice. We didn't, we were... we just...born. Those monsters out there don't care if we are five of twenty one. When we get claimed or our scent start to show our normal life just dies."

They arrived the cave. He got out of the car as soon as he could, being there reminded him of his father's realm. He would never admit that, in that moment, he seek some kind of confort in the shadows.

Damian was a proud person. Being raise with his mother he learned to never talk about his feelings, they made him weak; after living with his father he knew his feelings were the thing that kept him fighting and going, but still it wasn't easy just to open up and talk about them.

But there was something burning inside him, something that just felt like busting.

"Eros..." he threw "What he said..."

Nico looked at him. His eyes were the darkest he had ever seen, they showed how worried had been thanks to the presence of the god. But when the son of the bat spoke they appeared to be softer.

"Damian that's something we should just ignore." Said Tim "We don't know how his powers worked, he could've tricking us." His voice was a little shaking.

Jason lighted a cigarr, everyone expected to Bruce to say something but nothing happened. 

"Tim is right Damian we shouldn't rush..."

"He outed me when I was twelve" He interrupted. 

Nico's voice made Dick turn right were his younger brother was.

He knew, fuck, they all knew, in that family didn't matter if you liked boys, girls or fucking aliens, but they all knew that Damian hadn't being raise with the same values as them. It had been a long way of progress to make Damian feel confortable with his interest and who he was, Nightwing was so scared that his brother locked himself away again.

"I...was ripped from my home at a young age, I actually grew up in the 30's, I got trapped in a place were the time is always the same. When I got out the times were so different but, well, I had been teach that boys couldn't love boys, that being gay was a sin, a crime." He took off his jacket "I had a crush in a guy, I didn't want to admit it. When I met Eros he was just like him...until he wasn't. He made me say it. In front another person."

For a moment he wished Jason was there. He bliked, eyes sky blue, a scar above the lip, golden hair.

Bruce could only imagine being put in that position, the only person he cared about growing up was Alfred and he knew he wpuld always loved him depise anything, no matter who he loved.

He had never cared about what the tabloids and news said about him.

The only moment he felt fear was when Dick told him he liked men too. He could live in a world were people hated him for being who he was, but Dick? He never wanted to let his son feel the hate, the fear.

He tried to imagine Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian, Duke, Cass, even Stephanie being on Nico's position.

He never wanted his kids to have to go through something like that. Never.

"After some time and...well therapy" He laughed "I learned to accept myself, I not gonna say that Eros helped me or that he did me a favor. But he showed me things about me that were hidden and I think that made me realized that I had to face the situation instead of just pushed it deep inside and bury it."

"Why keep all that love inside just to let it die." Said Jason.

Suddenly that sentence made sense.

"Wise words. Poor execution." 

He took out a canteen and pour the golden liquid left on his shoulder. His wound healed a little bit.

"I'm not gonna tell you that he did the right thing because he didn't, gods, Eros over all don't know limits. You don't have to do anything about it. It's something just you know and just you will decide if you act."

The lights flickered and the shadows appeared to be thicker.

"My ride arrived."

He face them all and made a little bow.

"Believe it or not, it was truly a pleasure working with you. If you...ever need help." He said while looking straight to Jason "Give a call."

The giant dog materialized again in the middle of the room, on top of her was a blonde guy, Dick and Damian recognize him as Nico's boyfriend.

He got down, walking towards him without even looking at any of them, and then he hugged him.

"Well hi tesoro." Nico said.

"Hi love." He analized him, checking for any serious injury "How you doing?"

"Everything chill, they seem to be fine so ready to go home."

Will smiled at him, Nico knew that he could always find the sun as long as Will smiled at him, no matter where they were.

"Heroes, hello and goodbye." Said the son of Apollo.

Both demigods got in the giant dog's back and in a blink they were gone.