Chapter Text
Ten Years Later
The air was thick and stuffy. Both from their surroundings and the tension that came with what they were about to do. No one spoke. Their eyes were trained on the king of Ithaca who held a lit torch. A risky choice considering his surroundings, but worth it none the less, as he was the only source of the light for the soldiers huddled together.
Nico could see little in the dim light of his torch, he’d angled it at the ground as well, in hope to keep their surroundings from catching flame.
The figures shrouded in shadow and the dim light he provided were tense, like a lion ready to pounce. And like at any moment, they would have to fight for their lives.
Soon they would be.
They were silent aside from the soft, tense breathing of them all. Nico met their eyes, glancing at their tense faces.
“Alright listen closely” He whispered as loud as he dared to be, “Tonight we make the Trojans pay”
The crew straightened, hanging on his every word.
“Ten years of war the killed us slowly….and now we’re going to make them pay” another pause, “Think of your families and your children, they’re growing old and yet you’re still here…do what I say and you’ll see them again” Nico said, his only thoughts being Will’s face. His hair. His hands. His eyes. Gods, his eyes. Soon. Soon he’d be able to hold his love again.
“Yes sir” the crew echoed
Nico took a breath and began to resite his battle plan. The crew nodded in understanding, suffocating them with nerves.
“3….2….1…ATTACK!” Nico commanded, and everyone fled the horse.
The city of Troy was strong and powerful, with well built walls and a strong well protected city nestled in the heart of it all. The night sky shimmered above them, bringing peace to the sleeping city. Nico would even dare to call it beautiful.
But of course those thoughts didn’t really last as Trojan soldiers tried to stop Nico’s soldiers as they slaughtered the sleeping Trojans in their path.
Nico adjusted his helmet, slashing through those who apposed him in a haze, his body on autopilot as his mind drifted to what would happen when this was all over.
Of the celebration what would surely follow their return home, the smiles and joy they would bring to the streets of Ithaca.
He could already imagine his first night back.
He would return home from the port with his soldiers, all of them tired and weary from the last decade of war.
Everyone would cheer as they made their returns and he would return to his palace with a smile and open arms.
Will would be waiting for him in the dining hall. A sunny smile on his lips, his wild curls a mess on his head.
Next to him would sit their daughter.
Nico could already picture the feeling of Will’s arms wrapping around him as they embraced. Oh how he would sob with joy, desperate to hold and be held.
After their tears would be shed and their smiles and kissing shared he would finally meet his daughter.
Though he’d never admit it allowed, the very thought made him nervous. Would she embrace him and call him father? Or turn him away in shyness?
The thought was disheartening but he wouldn’t blame her if that was her course of action.
How could you call someone father when you’d never known them?
Nico stabbed another Trojan, unwilling to dwell on the thought.
What would she look like, he wondered. Surely her eyes would be as blue as Will’s, just like when she was a babe, but would she be tan and freckled like the blonde or pale like Nico? Would she have Will’s long blonde locks or would her hair be dark like the night? And her mannerisms, who would she take after?
Surely Will, considering he was all she’d ever known, but still would she grow to pick up Nico’s little quirks and talents in her teenage years?
Nico couldn’t wait to find out.
Filled with more determination at the thought of his family Nico rushed through the now burning city, skillfully avoiding the blood and carnage. He reached the palace of Hector, standing tall amongst the flames in the burning night.
Carefully, he began to scale the stones with practiced ease. He was quick and nimble as he swung himself over the balcony.
He turned and let out a shout as a sword came swinging straight for his chest.
He closed his eyes and raised his shield in hopes to block the blow that would surely be his end, as it was sure to send him plummeting into the burning city bellow.
He braced himself but no blow ever came. He took a shuttering breath, lowering his sword and weapon. The air danced with electricity and a force Nico could only describe as overwhelmingly powerful.
Thunder crackled overhead.
Nico approached the palace, slowly eyeing the darkened hallways.
Nothing awaited him.
”What was that?!” Nico thought to himself as he entered the palace.
“A vision of what is to come” boomed a deep, authoritative voice in reply.
Nico jumped and turned to the window. No man stood waiting. Instead, an eagle had perched itself on the windowsill, their feathers wet as if it were raining. The bird was large, surely larger than any eagle Nico had ever seen.
Then again, this was no normal eagle. For those didn’t speak.
“A vision?” The king questioned
The bird eyed him, almost distastefully and almost wearily and then the booming voice echoed in his mind once more.
“Of what is to come. Cannot be out run, can only be dealt with right here and now”
Nico’s eyes widened and he straightened his spine. This was surely a god, surely Zeus himself. Now was not the time for timidness. Now was the time for action.
“Tell me how” Nico demanded
“A mission” the voice replied, “to kill someone’s son, a foe who won’t run, unlike anyone you have faced before”
Nico took a breath, straightening with pride, “Say no more. I know that I’m ready”
Nico forged ahead into the dark halls of the palace. The eagle followed, flying high against the ceiling. If a bird could look nervous, this one did.
“I don’t think you’re ready” the eagle replied, perching itself upon the doorframe. Nico glanced at it, almost confused before pushing the door open.
Inside there was no warrior waiting for him. There was no monster.
The room was dark and quiet. The air smelled of lavender. Nico blinked into the darkness, confusion buzzing in his skull.
His eyes adjusted and he inched forward, only to have the color drain from his face.
Awaiting him was no monster, no solider, no force of evil.
No, instead, awaiting him in the dark room, swaddled in smooth woven cloth, was an infant. Wispy, barely-there curls rested in a halo around the babe’s head, their little face in one of rest and comfort.
Nico didn’t speak. Didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.
’A foe who won’t run’
Bile threatened to spill from his throat as he gazed down at the little thing. They couldn’t have been older than his own daughter was last he saw her tiny features.
“I-it’s just an infant” Nico choked out, “I-it’s just a boy…….”
Nico dared to reach a hand into the cradle and gently brush against the child’s cheek. He swallowed. Oh how his heart ached for his own child. 10 years since he held her. 10 years since he’d seen her.
And Will……oh Will. Had Nico told when he was young and spry he would be away from his husband for 10 whole years he would have told you that he simply wouldn’t have survived such a thing.
He took a breath to steady the tears that were burning in his eyes. In some part of his mind he heard a voice scold him for such a thing. Warriors didn’t cry, especially not for their enemies.
Nico swallowed thickly, “What sort of possible threat does he pose that I cannot avoid?” he asked the eagle
The bird swooped in, landing on the cradle to gaze at the child with cold, unforgiving eyes.
“This is the son of none other than Troy’s very own Prince Hector, know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger” The bird said, “One filled with rage as he’s consumed by age, if you don’t end him now you’ll have no one left to save. You’ll never see your husband and child again, you can say goodbye to them both”
Nico shook his head, “But….but it’s just an infant. Just an innocent boy. There must….there must be a way to save this innocent life….”
“He will burn your house and throne” the bird says
Nico shook his head, “I could raise him as my own, make sure his past is never known”
“The gods will make him know”
Nico squeezed his eyes shut. This was too much.
“Please” he pleaded in vain
The Eagle gave him a firm steely gaze, “This is the will of the gods”
Nico froze, his blood turning to ice in his veins. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t do this.
But who was he to go against the gods?
To defy the will of something so much bigger than himself.
Slowly, he made his way to the cradle and peered down at the small infant.
The tiny life must have sensed Nico gazing at him, for he began to stir. Nico, gently, very gently, gathered him in his arms.
The infant stared up at him with wide, innocent eyes, unaware that he was staring up at his murder.
Nico cradled him to his chest, hoping to make this as painless as he could, so that the boy would not know fear. He figured that at the very least, he owed him that much.
Nico pulled his knife from its sheath, gripping the blade so tightly his knuckles turned white. He steadied himself, trying to keep his hands from shaking.
‘This is not Bianca’ he told himself, ‘this is must be done. For the gods. For Ithaca’
But despite what he told himself, he could not bear the sight of the infant. Could not convince himself he was not about to plunge a blade into his own daughter.
The room was quiet and dimly lit and Nico closed his eyes, to spare himself the sight of the child’s silhouette.
But as he brought the blade down toward the babe’s head he stopped dead in his tracks.
The infant did not cry.
No, no this was worse than if the child had decided to burst into tears.
Instead, the infant had woken and in the dim light from the window, the fires of the burning city of Troy providing them light, he stared up at Nico
He stared up at him and laughed.
A soft, baby giggle. Something Nico had not heard in years.
The knife clattered to the floor as chubby little baby hands reached up towards Nico’s face.
In his helmet, in the eyes of such a small child, he probably looked like Hector.
This child thought Nico was his father.
The mere idea nearly broke him completely. He squeezed his eyes shut, bringing the child to his shoulder.
He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t do this.
He had to.
He couldn’t.
He had to.
He couldn’t.
But then he thought of Will, standing on the shores of Ithaca, their daughter stood next to him. It should have been a joyous sight, a comforting promise of the coming reunion.
But Will’s blue eyes were filled with tears. Bianca’s dress tattered. Ash rained down on them.
Wait, ash?
Behind them, beyond the beach, his palace burned just as Troy was burning outside the nursery window.
’He will burn your house and throne’
Nico’s eyes snapped open, tears threatening to escape. He had to.
He had to.
He couldn’t.
The child made a soft noise as Nico adjusted him once more. He stared up at Nico once more, his wide innocent eyes sparkling up at him.
Nico stumbled forward, out onto the balcony.
The view, once beautiful, now smoldered in the distance. Ash and sparks curling upward into the clear night sky.
Nico swallowed, gazing at the infant one last time. With shaking hands, he covered the boys eyes, dragging them shut.
“Close your eyes. Spare yourself the view” he whispered to the baby.
No child should have to see their home burn, no matter how old.
He took extra care to make sure the child was swaddled up comfortably and securely.
Nico extended his arms out over the balcony, the infant held carefully over the railing.
A very long fall.
“Forgive me” he whispered, his voice breaking, “I-I’m just a man…….”
Nico didn’t watch.
He hoped it was painless. Hoped that Thanatos had caught the child before they could ever reach the ground of their burning city.
He didn’t dare look down, but carefully he retrieved a single silver coin.
He extended it carefully over the balcony and dropped it.
It wasn’t much, but he hoped it would be enough for Charon.
He figured it was the least he could do.
He turned, taking a shaky breath as he removed his helmet. The sounds of fighting died in the distance.
The Trojan war was over. Ten years of bloodshed was finally brought to an end.
“Will” he whispered into the now empty nursery, “Bianca”
He secured his helmet.
“I’m coming home”