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Chapter Text

Nico found himself face to face with the man he had tried so hard to run away from. The man who couldn’t save his sister, the man who took him in because of his guilt, the man who called himself “Batman,” and the man who Gotham City called a hero. He felt his rage rise up again, but there wasn’t anything that he could do. No matter how much he wanted to yell at him, no matter how much he wanted to hit him, he couldn’t. He was simply dreaming.

Around Batman were various superhumans (some were just human) who sat at a circular table and Nico didn’t know any of their names. He was grim and had his head in his hands. The other people at the table seemed concerned.

“Why did you call us here?” The man in a red and yellow suit with a lightning bolt questioned.

“It’s about my new son…” He said after a while of silence. Batman still didn’t look his companions in the eyes as he continued talking. “He knows I’m Batman.”

Each of them looked around confused. Nico wondered if this was a normal thing to do. Surely the other boys knew, so why did they look surprised for Batman to tell them? No, there was more.

“He freaked out and… he ran away.” Nico felt his mouth grimace. “I could’ve found him by myself if I didn’t realize that Wonder Woman was right.”

The woman dressed in gold and a flag leaned in. “So your son is a mutant? Without a doubt?”

“Woah woah woah.” A man dressed in red, blue and an s held his hands up. “I thought your entire thing was no mutants.”

Batman slammed his gloved hand on the table. “I didn’t know when I adopted him!” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Look, I realized a day ago that I wouldn’t be able to find him on my own. The way he got away from me was that he basically teleported. I hope it wasn’t on purpose… but I can’t help but think it might’ve been.”

The woman with the flag, Wonder Woman, spoke up again. “Why would you need our help? He’s your son and your responsibility Bruce!”

“If I just go after him alone I know he’s just going to run away again.”

“Then don’t go after him alone.” “S” man said. “Bring the boys.”

“No. This isn’t their concern.” Batman hunched over more. “Who will take care of Gotham without me and the boys?”

“Spoiler? The Oracle? The Signal?” Wonder Woman offered. “If you still feel like you’re short staffed then we can help you out.” The others around the table nodded in agreement.

Batman grunted. “I just don’t want them to go.”

“Why not?” “S” man questioned. He looked like he was getting frustrated, and so was Nico. Why wouldn’t Batman send “the boys,” whoever they were.

“Because they don’t know Nico’s a Metahuman, or a mutant. Or whatever he is. They don’t know he has powers.” He rubbed his hands over his face before continuing. “I don’t know how powerful he is, with or without stability. Who knows what damage he could do?”

“These are greatly trained team members that you basically highered. They have fought greater than a pre-teen with super powers.” The man with the lightning strike complemented. “You need to tell them this.”

“I know, and I will.”

“No, you need to tell them now. And you do need to bring them, Bats.” “S” man stated firmly.

“I will.” Before Nico woke up he heard Batman whisper the words, “in my own time.”

…

“You know, you shouldn’t be lying there on the floor like that.”

Nico blinked his eyes in a daze. He was hit once again with a wave of nausea from the lack of food in the labyrinth. He wished that he could just teleport again but he couldn’t. He didn’t know how.

The person who spoke to him glowed in the absence of light. The flashlight ran out of batteries before what seemed to be the first day passed. He didn’t know how long he had been there for, but it felt like months. Nico could see right through the man, quite literally.

He wore what seemed like a well made robe with a rope tied around it. The person had long hair that reached down past his shoulders and a pointy crown sat on his head.

Nico slowly moved to sit himself more up and held up a small dagger he had snagged from a dead body. What were they gonna do, tell him to stop? He winced in pain and acknowledged that he would not be able to defeat him in a fight. Nico was weak, covered in his own blood, and untrained. If this man wanted to kill Nico, he couldn’t stop him.

“Who- who are you?” Nico used his left arm to push himself off of the floor and onto his feet while keeping the knife somewhat level. He placed his left arm over his bruised ribs as he waited for a response.

“My name is Minos, and I would like to ensure your survival.” The man, Minos, bowed to Nico. The younger boy raised his eyebrow.

“I’m sure you want something from me too.” Nico flinched as he stepped closer to the person. No, the ghost.

He shook his head. “No, no friend. I just have a kind heart, and I hate to see another soul suffer.”

Nico wanted to be more cautious, but he didn’t have much of a choice. He was all out of options, and all out of resources. This Minos guy was all that Nico would get and the closest thing that he would get to safety.

“Fine.” Nico waved his knife around at Minos. “But if I suspect something is going on, something that you’re not telling me, I’ll leave.”

The ghost nodded without a word. Nico was pretty sure that he knew the young boy couldn’t run away. He couldn’t even fight off the lizard that stared at him from the wall.

“I imagine we’ll make formidable acquaintances.”

Chapter Text

“Just a little bit further.” The ghost led Nico down the dark corridor. Nico was surprised that no other creatures attacked him since he got there. He called himself Minos although Nico found it strange that he was named after mythology.

Nico forced himself to trudge on. He still felt fatigued even after Minos found a way to feed and protect him while he was sleeping. “Why are we going there anyway? Where are we going?”

“You’ll see soon enough, half-blood.” Minos turned around at Nico and gave him a quick creepy smile. He scowled in reply. “This place might help you realize who you are.”

“You mean what I am.” Nico sighed silently. These last few days (Weeks? Years?) were terrible and full of walking hopelessly around the maze. Nico was certain that Minos wasn’t sure which direction he was going. Maybe he thought that he could just throw himself in any direction and get where he was going. It was hard to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Soon enough a large tunnel stared down at Nico. He looked at it in awe, thinking this was surely the place Minos wanted to take him.

“I can’t go further than this.” Minos sat down near the tunnel. “Beyond this tunnel is the day, and the day makes it hard for us ghosts to be seen and heard. There is someone in there that can answer all your questions.”

“I thought you could.”

“I can, but I can’t.” The ghost mumbled something before continuing. “This man will tell you how to get your sister back.”

…

The man that Minos was talking about was strange. He had three shirts sewn together to make one large shirt. Of course there was his friend that was also equally as strange. He had a “don’t mess with Texas” shirt, but Nico was quite certain they were not in Texas.

The man, Geryon as he called himself, led Nico to a sliding glass door onto a patio. The other man wearing the weird Texas t-shirt called himself Eurytion brought Nico a large glass of water.

“I was told you could help me with something important.” Nico shifted on his chair uncomfortably. He didn’t know how to act, he knew this man wasn’t human. Everything and everyone he had met weren’t human.

“I can if you tell me-” At that moment Eurytion walked in with his arms crossed.

“There’s other children here and two monsters. They said they want to talk to you.”

“Sorry,” Geryon said. “If you’d excuse me.”

“Wait but we have important business to take care of!” Before Nico could finish the sentence both men were gone. He slumped back into his chair and waited for a second.

Nico would be lying if he said he didn’t feel like crying. This entire time had been so overwhelming. Mr. Wayne had been Batman who Nico had blamed for the death of his sister, he had some weird powers that lead him into a death maze, and the one person who was supposed to help him wasn’t going to.

Well he was going to have to. Nico got up from his chair and straightened his back to look more professional. He didn’t know how business deals went. Did he need a suit? Surely Geryon didn’t care.

Nico slid the glass door open to reveal two kids and two…monsters? They didn’t seem like monsters to Nico, but then again a lot of things that he saw didn’t seem like monsters.

There was a girl with long, curly blond hair that looked at him strangely. What made Nico almost flinch was the knife on the side of her belt. There was a slightly shorter boy with jet black hair and a gray streak in his hair that the girl also had. It reminded Nico of Jason. He didn’t like that reminder.

There was a goat man who had curly brown hair and slight horns that Nico could see poking out. And then there was the one that freaked out Nico the most. The Cyclops. He was shorter than the ones that Nico had to run away from, sure, but in Nico’s book that didn’t make him anymore dangerous.

Nico drew his knife. “Who are you?”

“I could ask you the same question.” He expected the streaked haired boy to pull out a weapon on Nico but he didn’t. Instead he just raised his arms up in surrender. After a second he closed his eyes slightly as if to get a better look at Nico. “Wait… you’re the boy in my dreams.”

“Thank you…?” Nico said confused, loosening his grip on the knife.

“No, I meant-”

“Let’s not quarrel, children.” Geryon called out. He looked like he was about to intervene but he backed out once he saw Nico was fully armed. Nico winced at the name calling. Surely after running away and defeating many monsters Nico was no longer a child. “Please put the weapon down, Mr. di Angelo.”

“Di Angelo?” The girl pointed her finger at Nico. “Wait, you’re the new Wayne! I’ve heard of you on the news. Nico di Angelo, right?”

The sea green eyed boy looked at the girl in confusion. “How?”

“Why don’t you introduce each other since you already know how ‘famous’ Mr. di Angelo is.” Geryon questioned as he got a very strange look that was meant to say “No way. I don’t want to know them like that.” “It would make this go a lot more smoothly.” He said with a shrug.

The Cyclops spoke first with a childish smile. “I’m Tyson!” Nico already started to forget his notion about all Cyclops being evil. He was sure that this one was an exception.

“I’m Grover.” The goat boy mumbled under his breath.

“I’m Annabeth.” The girl with the curly hair and the Jason streak said. Her hand was placed strangely on her knife hilt as if to say “one wrong move and you’re gone.” Nico wasn’t going to take any chances with her.

The boy with the green eyes spoke last. He shifted uncomfortably. “My name is Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon.”

Chapter Text

“Damian.” Dick said. He stood in the door frame of Damian’s room. He looked at his younger brother who was anxiously fiddling with a knife while sitting on the edge of his bed.

“What do you want?” Dick took that as an invitation to walk in and take a seat next to him.

“I want to talk to you about Nico.” He watched Damian shift uncomfortably when he heard his new brother's name. Damian looked down and his movements lessened. “Are you angry with him?”

“No.” Dick raised his eyebrow. “I’m seriously not. I know Nico didn’t choose to be here, but Father did.”

Dick straightened his back. “You’re angry at Bruce?”

“Yes.” Dick stopped for a second, waiting for Damian to continue. “I don’t understand. Why does he need more kids? Aren’t we enough for him?”

Damian pushed his head down further and tightened his grip on the knife until the whites of his knuckles were shown. “You think you’re going to be replaced, don’t you?”

His younger brother was silent for a while. “Yes.”

“You thought the same for me, remember?” Dick folded his hands in his lap. “And I’m pretty sure you felt the same with everyone else, right?”

“Yes, Grayson. I did.”

“And were you replaced?” Dick looked at him in questioning, waiting for a look to continue. “I know most of our family were here when you got here, but you have something that none of us have. You’re the ‘blood son.’” Damian chucked. “You have a special connection with Bruce that none of us ever will have. Nothing is going to replace that, Damian.”

He nodded and lifted his head to look at his older brother. “Do you think I was too harsh with him?”

Dick sighed. “Maybe. You still have a chance, though. With Bruce taking us to go get Nico, maybe you can get the connection with him. And maybe I can strengthen mine. He’s your brother now.”

“What if we don’t make it in time?” Damian wondered aloud.

Dick smiled confidently. “We will.”

…

Maybe DIANA PRINCE: I need to talk to you.
Maybe DIANA PRINCE: Again

YOU: I have a son to find. I don’t have time to talk

Maybe DIANA PRINCE: it’s about Nico

YOU: I’m on my way.

…

“What is it?” Both of them were in uniform and they stared at each other across the table. She held a thick book in her hands.

“I think I have an explanation of why you can’t track him anymore.” She walked around the table and sat next to him. Wonder Woman placed the book in front of the two of them and turned to the bookmarked page.

A dark red maze later on the page. Underneath was a mountain of small words. “This is the Labyrinth, created by Daedalus. It was to keep a creature called the Minotaur, but Daedalus was tricked and kept in there as well.”

“Thanks for the history lesson, but I don’t think this has anything to do with me or my children.”

“No, listen.” Wonder Woman hurried on. “The Labyrinth was also designed to keep all contact of the outside world out. Such as your tracker.”

“I don’t think you understand. That tracker is top technology made by the best. It should work anywhere.”

“You’re underestimating the power of the Labyrinth. It stops any electronic activity from coming in or out.” She sighed. “I think he’s in the Labyrinth.”

Batman nodded in understanding. “So, how would I hypothetically get in the Labyrinth?”

“There’s no sure way. There are many entrances throughout the world. You could walk through a door and just fall into the Labyrinth. Or, you could accidentally teleport there. Like your son.”

“Let’s say he is there. Let’s say you’re right.” Batman messed with the page that the book was open to. “I don’t like the thought that my son, my son who has gone through no training whatsoever, is trapped with something that could kill him in one second.”

“He has powers to protect him.” Wonder Woman said reassuringly.

“Powers that he doesn’t know how to control.” Batman slammed the book closed. “There’s got to be another place that he’s at. Maybe where he used to stay with his sister.”

Diana shook her head. “Then how would you explain the problem of the tracker?”

“That part doesn’t matter.” Batman shook his head. “Is the Minotaur the only monster there?”

Wonder Woman was silent for a while. She didn’t know how to answer without him reacting the same way. But she had to tell him the truth. “No.”

His face fell into his hands. “Does this mean you know what he is? Or do you think he’s still a meta?”

Honesty. “I think he’s like me. A demigod.”

Batman stopped and removed his head from his hands. “What.”

“Yes, Bruce I do.” Wonder Woman gripped on the book. “That feeling I got from the party was a way for the gods to tell me that he is like me. The way those people acted towards him was the same way they acted towards me when I couldn’t control my powers.”

“This is crazy.” Batman stood up from his chair. “You’ve lost your mind.”

“I know it’s a scary concept, but I truly think he is one.” She stood up as well, crossing her arms. “I’ve been right so far. Trust me.”

He was silent for a while. “Fine. I trust you.”

She looked at him questioningly. Diana didn’t believe him for a second, but she could work with it. “You can’t tell him that he’s a demigod.”

“Why not.” Batman asked in defiance. “He’s my son.”

“It’s for his safety. Once he knows that he’s a demigod the monsters in the Labyrinth will become ruthless. He could be easily defeated with his lack of training.”

“I don’t like the thought of my son being in danger. I thought this would be a way to have a child that didn’t have to suffer through the trauma that the others had. I finally had a do-over and I blew it.”

Wonder Woman sighed at his words. “He was born to fight. I was born to fight. If you don’t teach him how to, he could die.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know how to teach a demigod.”

“There is a place that does.”

“What is it called?”

“Camp Half-Blood.”

Chapter Text

Nico and his new acquaintances were led to a small trolley that toddlers would ride around in malls. He felt like his body was being forced into such a small crevice for so long that by the time he left the trolley its butt would forever be square.

They rode around each area, and the more Nico saw the animals the more concerned he had gotten. He was thankful that the others felt the same. Huge operation or not, each animal’s enclosure was either too small or untidy.

Of course, the others asked questions of their own. They asked about some dude named Quintus and scorpions, but that was all he got. To be honest, Nico completely zoned out. He was thinking of all the things that had gone wrong so far, especially with Mr. Wayne. Nico really needed to know who he was and who his real father was, and Geryon was supposed to have those answers. Though Nico was only being ignored, he was sure it was because of the newcomers.

Until he got hit with an awful stench. “What IS that?” He gagged.

“Aegeas owns these stables for a small monthly fee.” Geryon said proudly. The others expressed their feelings of disgust. “Don’t worry, they are flesh-eating monsters. They love these conditions.”

“I don’t think that applies to being flesh eating monsters.” Eurytion muttered as Geryon shushed him.

“The clients pay well, so it doesn’t matter what conditions they’re in, now does it?”

“What clients?” Percy questioned.

“A lot of people, actually. They love a good flesh-eating friend, I’ll tell you that.”

“You’re awful.” Annabeth declared aloud. Grover agreed and demanded that they were to be set free. “Those clients are working for Kronos, aren’t they?”

“Wait, Kronos? Like the Titan who ate his children, Kronos?” Nico asked. There was no way that a card game that he so loved, a card game that he admired, would actually be real.

“Yes, kid.” Geryon waved his hands in the air. “The Greek gods are real. Big whoop.”

“Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine?” Annabeth smiled sarcastically.

The trolley stopped and Geryon began to head toward the stables without another word. Nico felt his rage rise as the person who was meant to help him was leaving to help strangers. Strangers who got there after him. Nico angrily removed himself from his cart and stomped over to the three bodied man.

“I was told I could conduct business here and you haven’t even talked to me in private. Not one sentence.” Nico heard the grass crunch as someone walked toward him, but he didn’t care.

“You’ll get a deal, Mr. di Angelo, I assure you.” He said in a monotone voice.

“I was told you could help me. I was told that you could explain.”

“Ah, yes. The great, all powerful, all knowing Minos.” Geryon shook his hands in the air. Nico huffed out air. “You know the guy died right? Tell me, half-breed, why isn’t your little friend here.”

He winced at the nickname. “Because he can’t form in the daylight. Now I really think-”

“Minos? The pretty suspicious dude that’s been haunting my dreams?” Percy questioned aloud. He turned to Nico. “That’s who you’ve been talking to?”

“I’m not the only one in your dreams? I’m hurt.” Nico placed his hands over his chest dramatically. He let his arms drip back to his sides. “It’s none of your concern. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. Let’s keep it that way.”

“Well you see, one of my clients has offered a pretty penny for the likes of you five. Especially the little trident over there.” Geryon waved roughly in the other direction. “When I tell them where you all are, I’m sure he’ll pay me a bit extra for throwing in a bonus prize.”

Nico’s eyes widened and removed his knife from his side. He wasn’t confident that he would be able to defeat a three chested monster like him, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight. A dog pounced on Percy’s chest when he reached into his pocket.

“I would stay in the car, you four.” Geryon said without taking his eyes off of Nico. He realized that Geryon didn’t know that Nico had no training. Geryon thought that Nico was the danger. He was going to use this as much to his advantage as he could. Geryon looked at Eurytion. “Kindly take care of the boy.”

“I don’t want to.” Eurytion whined. When he saw the look that Geryon gave him he headed over to Nico before the boy could lift his weapon any higher.

In one flash of an instant, Eurytion grabbed Nico with speed. He struggled under the Texan’s grip, but he was too strong. Eurytion slung Nico over his shoulder like a sack. Nico hit and kicked as much as he could to get out of the hold while Eurytion looked as bored as ever. He picked up Nico’s knife and shoved it into his pocket.

“Now, time to contact our clients.” Geryon folded his hands. He looked amused as Annabeth protested. “Don’t fret, the payment does include you four and Mr. di Angelo.”

“Who is paying you?” Annabeth demanded.

“That doesn’t matter. Eurytion,” He snapped his fingers. “We should get going now.”

“Wait!” Percy held out his hands and Nico could literally see himself die because of the stupidity of a stranger. “Since you’re a businessman, I have a deal for you. I clean the stables, and you in turn let my friends and me go.”

“And if you can’t?” Geryon asked with a sadistic smile.

“You can make the deal with your…client.” Nico protests started once again. He didn’t need to be in someone’s debt. That was the last thing he wanted.

“I don’t need your help.” He kicked and tried to reach his knife. All Eurytion did was adjust his clutch on Nico and he lost hope in getting the weapon. “I can handle everything myself.”

Percy raised his eyebrows and turned to Geryon once again.
“My offer still stands. Do we have a deal?”

“Deal.”

Chapter Text

Diana removed the large Greek Mythology book from the table and got ready to leave. She knew that Nico was in danger, surely Bruce knew too. The scary thing was if Nico knew if he was in danger. 

“Is there any place I should look?” Diana stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her colleague. He looked desperately, the same way he looked every single time one of his kids went missing. 

Diana sighed. Surely the gods wouldn’t mind one little hint for him. It wasn’t like she was telling him where Mount Olympus was. “There is an area where some monsters have a hot spot of…appearing.” She waited a second. Diana waited for one of the gods to save her from this situation, but it was not to be. 

She handed Wayne the book. “Manhattan. I suggest looking there.”

…

Tim zipped up the last of his items and slung his backpack over his shoulder. It was mostly clothes with weapons sometimes being wrapped around them. Of course he had some on his person, but it was better to be extra safe than sorry.

When he got to the living room of Wayne manor almost everyone was ready, however Dick seemed to be taking his sweet time. No one was talking, including Bruce. Everyone seemed to know that this was a life or death situation. Tim hoped with all his heart that it wasn’t as bad as it seemed. 

Everyone gathered into the car, again in complete silence. Tim was pretty sure this was the longest time Damian went without verbally assaulting him, which probably meant he was as anxious as Tim.

They drove to a rental company and hopped into a ugly, beige, mini van. He knew the reason that Bruce had picked out such a generic car; they didn’t want to get stopped. When someone would see an expensive car parked at a gas station in Gotham, they would usually think of stealing it. They couldn’t risk that on their way to get Nico. 

The car ride was once again silent. He wished for the occasion not to be so grim. It had been a while since they had spent that long together without any problems. Why couldn’t today be that day? 

Tim watched Bruce carefully. He looked at each of the boys abnormally when they rented the car or when he had to interact in any way with them. Ever since he asked the Justice League about Nico, he had been acting strangely. Tim was sure that there was something that he didn’t know, something that Bruce was hiding from them. He just didn’t know what.

Why were they going to Manhattan? Why was Bruce being so secretive about the mission? Why were there so many holes in the story? And why couldn’t Tim make sense of it? Tim let those thoughts circle in his brain as he waited for Bruce to show any sign of something. After thirty minutes of waiting and Bruce showing him nothing, he gave up. 

He watched cars go by, trying to play the license plate game. At that point he had around a hundred for New York. Shocker. 

His eyes began to fall when night struck. They had been driving nonstop, from midnight to now. Each boy closed their eyes for what seemed like one at a time. He let his head rest on the window of the car, wondering what kind of mess his brother had gotten himself into. Tim felt his eyes reluctantly fall as the car rocked him to sleep. 

…

For once he didn’t wake up to an alarm, instead he woke up by himself. He was in a bed near his family, where they seemed to be in deep sleep. Jason was placed on the pull out couch, Dick was on one of the three beds, and Damian was sound asleep on the last twin bed. Bruce had slumped over the hotel desk with as a bit of drool came out of his mouth. He realized that Bruce must’ve carried each of them into the room. 

Tim slowly removed the covers and approached Bruce. The last thing he wanted was to wake him up. How was he going to get any answers if he didn’t?

He looked around the room for their bags. Each of them were slumped against the closet door. Carefully he kneeled down and cautiously unzipped the one that belonged to Bruce. Of course it was all black, what did Tim expect? 

When Bruce would stir he would stop for a second until he seemed to be in a deeper sleep. Once he had it open he began to remove items obnoxiously slowly until he reached to the bottom, where he found a large book. 

Pausing, Tim wondered why Bruce would push the book so far down. Why was Bruce hiding a book? He removed the book and stared at the cover. It had a library sticker and was named “Greek Mythology by Mick Miordan.” Weird name, but Tim looked past it. Why would the guy who met so many gods and still claimed that there was none be holding onto a Greek mythology book?

He turned to the book marked page entitled “Daedalus’ Labyrinth” with a photo and small words underneath. He read through the page carefully, and one sentence caught his eye. 

“…even if one were to fall into the Labyrinth with their cellular device on there would be no way to use it. Technology seemed to be obsolete when it came to exploring the Labyrinth.”

Tim found it strange that the author seemed to take the story as if he had been through the Labyrinth before. 

He remembered searching through the BatComputer for Nico. When he clicked on his profile, he didn’t even show. His pin had been removed from the map and would just show a black screen with what would’ve been his pin. 

Was it possible that Nico was in the Labyrinth? No, right? It didn’t exist…however there was a strong possibility that Bruce believed it to be so. 

It was a library book, so there was bound to be a date card. He turned to the front knowing it was more likely that Bruce was the one who checked it out. He looked at all the names until he reached the bottom.  Tim felt his eyes widen in shock as he stared at the paper. 

Diana Prince              |             1/2/25

Why did Diana, or Wonder Woman, give Bruce, the man who never believed in the myths this book? The woman who believed it and claimed it to be true. 

He closed the book as he tried to wrack his brain. By the time he had placed everything back into Bruce’s backpack and zipped it up he Tim could only come to two solutions. Bruce had lost his mind or…

Nico was truly trapped in a mythological nightmare. 

Chapter Text

The strange teenage boy named Percy managed to get the stable clean through waves and pure dumb luck. Nico watched as the so-called “son of Poseidon” confidently waltzed toward Geryon, sword in hand. “I made my end of the deal, now it’s time to fulfill yours.” Percy hollered.

“Mmh.” The monster huffed. “How did you manage to do that?”

“You know how.” He said with a smug smirk. Nico rolled his eyes and struggled against the ties that Geyron used against him. “Let them go.”

Geyron gave a sadistic smile. “You should’ve made me promise on the River Styx.”

The fictional river that ran through the Greek underworld? That River Styx? The one that would be in Greek story books for years on end? Either these people had lost their mind, or Nico had lost his.

“Kill him.” Geyron demanded of Eurytion.

He paused for a moment. “No.”

“How dare you?” The monster grumbled angrily. “I have given you a home to stay and food to eat! The only thing I’ve ever asked of you was to work! Should I fire you for your insubordination?”

“I’m sick of this. I’m not doing a single job until I get the recognition I deserve!” Nico silently gave props to the man, but he knew this was the wrong time for this to happen. They were currently tied up and in a life or death situation. All Nico could do was stare at what what happening. He had never felt so helpless.

“No matter. I’ll deal with you later and I’ll kill the boy myself.” With that the two of them began to fight. Percy used surprisingly skillful fighting skills while the three bodied beast used a pair of tongs. The “demigod” stabbed Geryon in the middle chest, and he crumbled to the ground.

“Agh!” His voice seemed rough and raspy. “Nice try, but I have three chests, therefore three hearts. You can’t simply kill me without the other two.”

Geyron tipped over the barbecue and the hot coals rolled out. He heard Annabeth muffle a scream and the others struggled as one got a little too close to Nico. It seemed like it was slowly burning a hole in his skin. Quickly he moved his leg away from the coal into an uncomfortable position.

Percy tried to stab him a couple more times, but it was no use. He stood there for a moment before making eye contact with one of the wall decor, a bow and arrows. Grabbing three arrows he knocked them back and fired, making sure not to put stress on the bow.

“They told me you couldn’t shoot.” Geryon fell onto the ground, flattening into a puff of golden dust.

Percy stood there for a minute with a look of disbelief on his face before untying each of them.

…

Eurytion offered for them to stay the night, but after that they had to leave. Before Nico could say no, the rest of them agreed to it. He felt like he was being forced to stay there by association, so he did.

For an hour.

Nico couldn’t help but feel like he was the odd one out when it came to the five of them. Sure, he was more human than two of them, but each of them seemed like they had some sort of bond with each other. Nico just was some stray who got caught in their wild goose chase.

He just thought it would be better if he left. He didn’t know them, and he definitely didn’t trust them. To them, he was just some snob that couldn’t stand living with some rich billionaire. Plus, how would he know if they ratted him out to Mr. Wayne?

Once he was sure that they were all asleep Nico creeped away from them and headed back to the maze. Sure, he was quite safer in a group with trained individuals, but he did trust them. That meant he wasn’t safe. In his mind, at least.

He sprinted out and around, struggling to find an indefinite area of where he could stay. Nico heard a few noises, and he knew it was Minos trying to talk to him. However, he didn’t want to hear it. He didn’t want to tell Minos that he didn’t get an answer.

That man didn’t give Nico an answer of how he could get his sister back. He didn’t even tell him what he was.

After a while of running Nico stumbled upon a small area of forest. He took a second to catch his breath before noticing that Minos was nowhere to be seen. Why hadn’t he followed him?

A campfire with four logs surrounding it stood in the clearing. A young girl, maybe 8 or 9, sat on one of the logs with a seldom face. Nico wondered where her parents were, where her family was. She shouldn’t be alone, so Nico did what he felt like he needed to do.

He sat on the log next to her. For a few minutes there was a comfortable silence between them as they both stared at the crackling fire.

“Why are you here, son of Wayne?” The young girl spoke like a Victorian child. She gave him a false smile, her eyes betraying her. “Do you feel pity for me?”

“You’re alone in the woods.” Nico looked down at his hands that had been scraped and scratched from the time he had been there. He could almost read her mind. “I’m no protector.”

“Do you have a home?” She didn’t take her eyes off of the fire.

“Not anymore.” Nico said solemnly.

“I’m sure you do.” The young girl smiled at the thought. “We all have homes that we have forgotten. Families that we have left behind.” She turned and looked at Nico, seemingly staring through his soul. “Who have you left behind?”

Nico didn’t reply, he refused. He knew the answer, but the moment he admitted it to himself was the moment he knew he would never be better.

“Or have you been left behind?” She kicked the ground with her sandals, sending grass flying. “Have you also been forgotten, son of Bruce?”

“I don’t want to be called his son.”

“Then why don’t you tell me your name, new friend?” Her face lifted as she offered him her hand. He gladly took it.

“I’m Nico.” He said with a gentle grin.

“My name is Hestia.”

Chapter Text

Tim turned to Bruce as snores filled the room. He knew he had to tell someone, he just had to figure out the right person. Dick would worry too much, Jason might’ve gone there himself, and Damian…? Who knew what Damian would do? 

He sat on his bed and turned on his phone, staring at his old text messages. There had to be someone that he could talk to about this. Even if he wanted to, it was well into the middle of the night. For a bunch of night vigilantes they seemed to love sleeping at night. They were all out like a light, but each of them knew they had to sleep lightly or it could be the end of their lives. 

Sighing, he texted the only person he could think of: Stephanie. The last text message was about going to Bat Burger, which was sent three days ago. His fingers hovered over the letters as he figured out what to say. 

“You know my new brother? Yeah well he’s trapped in a Greek maze full of monsters. Oh and he’s untrained.” That was one of his top contenders, which wasn’t good to say the least. 

Before he could even type it out, he heard a mumble coming from the other side of the room. “Drake, what are you doing?”

He sighed and turned off his phone. Just his luck. “Go back to sleep.” Tim replied, barely looking over his shoulder. 

“Not until you tell me what you’re doing awake at…2” He guessed the pause had something to do with Damian looking at the clock. Tim turned around to face the more annoying and obnoxious sibling. 

“That is none of your business. Sleep.” He demanded. 

“No.”

“You’re just a stubborn little prick, aren’t y-” Tim was interrupted by the sound of Bruce stirring. He lessened his voice into a light whisper. “I can’t tell you, okay? All you need to know is that it’s important to keep Bruce asleep.”

“Fine.” Damian sat upright in his bed and stared Tim right in his eyes. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll wake up Father.”

He sighed. “Whatever.” Tim turned his body toward his brother. “As long as you swear you won’t tell Bruce.”

Damian shifted to appear taller. “Of course.”

“Alright,” Tim mentally prepared himself for Damian’s disbelief. “Bruce has been lying. He thinks that Nico is stuck in some sort of maze based on the Greek myths.”

“So father has lost it.” Stoplight decided aloud. 

“I’m not so sure.” Tim crossed his arms. “There was a book Bruce seemed to have borrowed from Diana. Why would she give him a book about myths that he couldn’t care for?”

“Maybe she’s trying to convert him.” He replied with a dismissive shrug. Damian paused for a moment in thought before continuing. “It’s not the craziest thing that we’ve faced.”

“If we’re going in there to get Nico, if someone has Nico, shouldn’t we be prepared for what might come after us? We don’t even know what’s down there.” 

“We don’t have a choice.” Damian said with a sigh. “I would advise you not to message about this to anyone outside of this room.” He tilted his head toward Bruce. “It would be awful if that’s how he found out.”

“But this isn’t supposed to be kept from us! What’s so horrible about that place that would make Bruce think it’s important to keep it from us?” Tim let his head fall into his hands. 

“I would understand why he would hide it from you,” Tim shot Damian a quick glare. “But it’s questionable why he would hide it from me.”

“Hey Damian. Shut it.” He got up from his bed and grabbed his jacket. “I’m going for a walk. Text me if he wakes up.”

Damian rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Go. It’s not like you're running away from anything.”

“I’m not running.” Tim said, unconvincingly. He looked down at his shoes. Maybe it was too much for him. This kid was ten, older than Damian when he became Robin, but still. He was untrained and forced into a situation where he had to defend himself. What would happen if they were too late?

“Yeah, sure. It’s not like this is too hard for you to handle or something.” Damian waved his hand around in a circle. “Jason was right, you know.”

Tim paused, taking off his coat and throwing it on the ground. “What did Jason say about me?”

“He said you were the worst Robin.” Damian said, smiling. “He also said that when you’re mad you’re easily manipulated into staying.” 

“Oh I’ll tell you about being easily manipulated.” Tim backed down angrily on his bed. “Let me tell you about Jason.”

…

“Nico is a very fitting name for you.” Hestia said with a smile. “What are you doing wandering around the labyrinth alone?”

Nico sighed. The girl was kind and sweet to be around. He was glad she felt like she was receiving good company. “I guess the short version is that I ran away.”

“Again?” She clarified. “Why do you feel you need to run away so many times, Nico?”

He paused, turning his look to Hestia. “How do you know this isn’t my first time?”

The fire lessened but the warmth was still there. “Everything about where you belong. It’s my job.”

Nico looked at her strangely. “Do you really believe that you’re…the Hestia? Like the goddess?”

Hestia nodded grimly. “It’s surprising that when you’re the goddess of home, you can’t find your own way. Brothers and sisters aren’t the home you desire, so you search for another way. Nothing seems to be right, does it?” She looked into his eyes, almost seemingly at his soul. 

“I guess not.” Nico replied silently. “I’m sorry how they’ve treated you. I’ve heard so little about you besides your name…your MythoMagic card only has what you’re the goddess of on the back.”

She sighed. “I know, young one.” Nico found it ironic that he was considered a young one to the literal 8 year old, but he didn’t mention it. “It wasn’t my idea. I’m just surprised I have yet to fade. It makes me happy that someone remembers me.”

Hestia looked at the sky and looked back at Nico. “You best be going, young warrior. Remember, eventually you will feel differently. It’s what you do with the current state you’re in that matters.”

“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone.” Nico said, but he knew it was useless. If a goddess wanted to be left alone she was to be left alone. 

“You’re too kind.” Hestia sadly looked at the dying hearth. “Some things need to be changed, and you are the warrior to do so. You may not believe you’re a protector now, but soon you’ll believe otherwise.”

She waved her hands half heartedly and Nico appeared back into the labyrinth. He was unaware of how long he had been gone for. All that mattered to him that he had made a new friend, and he wished better for her. 

Chapter Text

Dick Grayson didn’t feel like he was dealing with this correctly. His brother was gone, Tim and Damian had become all whispery, and Jason was just completely nonverbal. Not to mention Bruce who was more broodier than normal. No one seemed to be answering his calls or texts, no matter how many times he tried. Bruce said that meant we were getting closer.

He watched his adoptive father look around at the dirt floor frantically. What was he looking for? Dick tried to get an answer from Tim or Damian but they wouldn’t even look him in the eyes. They definitely knew something and were terrible at hiding it. However, there was absolutely no way he was getting an answer from him anytime soon…

Bruce violently turned the wheel into the parking lot of McDonalds. The area looked as if Poison Ivy had one of the largest fights ever. Flowers surrounded the area, sprouting in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Large vines wrapped around the McDonalds sign on the building. The vines led to a small, flat floral blob. It was seemingly covering something, or protecting something.

He slammed on the brakes and almost flew out of the car. Bruce beelined for the vine-like blob, taking a switchblade out of his pocket. In confusion the others followed him, including Dick himself. There was something extremely wrong and they had no clue what.

Aggressively, Bruce attacked the vines. The moment he placed his weapon on the vines they retreated back into the ground as if they were waiting for him.

The plants slowly revealed a pre-teen, maybe 10 or 11. He had black hair and his eyes were closed, head covered in blood. He was gripping a bronze knife even in unconsciousness. Dick covered his mouth when he saw a smaller black knife stuck into his chest.

Nico di Angelo laid blooded on the floor and was barely breathing.

•••Two Weeks Ago•••

After his talk with Hestia Nico ran around the labyrinth like a lost puppy. Minos hadn’t appeared since meeting those strangers. It had almost come to the point where he had lost all trust in the ghost. Nico no longer wished to talk to him, and he wanted to keep it that way.

The ground rumbled and shook. The sound of laughter echoed off the walls and it seemed to be within his own mind. Nico knew that it was impossible, however there had been so many impossible moments since he had entered that he thought it could be possible.

“I’m…back…” The voice said in a sing-song toon. Nico felt his knuckles whiten as he gripped his knife tighter. No matter where he hid, what monster he had to fight (and almost lose), and no matter how many times he tried to remove his voice, it was still there.

That was when it all clicked. Annabeth had mentioned something about Kronos. He had read many things about him, one of them being that he ate his own children and was sent to Tartarus. They had chopped him up into dozens of little pieces. There was no way he was the one who was talking, right?

At that moment the labyrinth grew dimmer and Nico felt himself slow. A glowing silhouette appeared as it began walking towards him at normal pace. The closer he got, the slower Nico felt himself go.

“Hello,” The man gave him a smile. The glow lessened so Nico could see what he looked like. Blonde hair, yellow eyes, and a long scar stretched along his right eye. He stared at him with immense hatred through the false flattery of a smile.

“I know who you are.” Nico forced fake confidence onto himself. He couldn’t even move anymore, but his head was still at a normal speed. There wasn’t much Nico was able to do in the situation. He knew he was going to die.

“You remind me of one of my sons.” He said as his grin grew larger. Kronos walked closer, grabbing onto his grandson’s face. “Would you like to know who?”

“Eat sh-” Before Nico could finish his scholarly retort he felt his head become at the same speed as the rest of his body. Nico felt him push his head away from him in anger.

“You’re just as bad as the Jackson fellow.” If Nico could raise his eyes in complete surprise he would. He expected the titan to know who the others were, but not to reference them. “Yes, I know who he is. I know what he is…and I know what you are.”

Nico began to ignore the alarms that sounded in his mind out of pure curiosity. Minos couldn’t answer him, Geyron couldn’t answer him, and the titan of time could? He felt that as unfair, but he needed to know. Nico couldn’t stand the people labeling himself as “the Newest Son of Bruce Wayne” anymore. He didn’t want to just be a “Wayne” anymore. He wanted to know who he was…what he was.

“Ah…I see you’re somewhat interested. Tell me, Nico di Angelo, do you wish to join me? I can give you the answers you desire. The separation you so desperately crave.”

Nico thought to himself for a moment. He needed those answers and he needed to know what he was. Why was he this way? Why couldn’t he control his powers? Why does he even have powers in the first place?

His mind switched to Jason, Dick, and Tim. They had been so nice to him to the point that he possibly had taken it for granted. Nico wanted to be accepted. He wanted to be known, but this wasn’t the way. By accepting his offer he would be denying his brothers. That was something that he couldn’t handle.

Nico felt his head go into normal speed. Kronos wanted an answer now, and Nico was sure going to give it to him.

“Bite me.” The son of Bruce grumbled in reply.

The time titan roared in irritation. Time became one with Nico and he felt himself fall onto the ground. Kronos grabbed onto the collar of Nico’s t-shirt and viciously threw him onto the ground. Nico felt something in his bones break.

“You could’ve been great. You could’ve been on the winning side of the war.” Nico watched him unsheath a double edged sword. He pointed it at Nico. “But now you have chosen your fate.

“You die today, son of Hades.”

Chapter Text

Nico didn’t have the time to dodge anything that the titan would throw at him. He could barely move without pain sprouting throughout his ligaments. Looking only slightly up at the Lord of Time, he allowed himself to simply lay there. If this was how he was meant to leave this horrid Earth, so be it. If his father was truly Hades, then he would join his father and question him.

The anger within Kronos’ eyes was unimaginable. The fear in the demigod’s eyes was so large that his entire body began to shake. The (way) older man raised his sword and-

Nico found himself falling once again.

The screams only got louder the longer he fell. Darkness over threw him until the shadows seemingly surrounded his body. They pushed him through the darkness until he rolled onto what seemed to be a solid rock. Nico was quite thankful for the solidity of said rock, but he was frightened nevertheless. He, for once, wasn’t the reason for this. He didn’t have enough energy to even make himself travel.

Nico lifted his head off the floor and looked into his father’s eyes.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Nico di Angelo.” Hades said with an intimidating grin. The woman stood beside the man, smiling down at his harmed form. Nico assumed that this woman was to be Persephone, which meant she was his stepmother. That is, if Kronos was correct.

Questions racked his brain, but he couldn’t communicate any to them. His brain didn’t connect to his mouth, but luckily he was able to spit out one word. “How?”

Hades’ grin vanished into a serious flat face. “Is that all you have to say to your father? No ‘thank you for saving me, dad’? No ‘meeting you has been the best moment so far’?” He stood over his son’s severely injured body. “Do you have no manners, you imp?”

“I’m… no… imp.” He felt his lungs cry out in pain as he spoke. Nico pathetically tried to lift himself up, but he fell onto the cold floor once again.

“Well, you're acting like it.” Hades placed his hands behind his back as Persephone watched from afar. She had no facial expression, no reaction. “I am not one to rudely ignore someone’s questions, so I’ll answer you this. I am your father, I gave you those powers. Don’t you think I would have some control over the shadows of my own?”

“Why…”

“Still, no ‘thank you’?” His father walked up to him and grabbed his collar as if he was a little dog. Hades shook the boy, causing all his joints to fall into horrible pain. “You’re ungrateful, rude, and as I would say quite annoying.”

Nico wished he could say something. Nico wished he could explain that words were coming hard for him. If Hades was so powerful, wouldn’t he understand? Wouldn’t he know?

Hades grimaced and reached his free hand down for something. Unbenounced to Nico, Hades was reaching for a dagger created completely from the shadows. “Are you that disrespectful for you not to understand that I want recognition from my only son?”

Nico felt a sharp, terrible, deep pain rise from the middle of his chest. As Hades dropped him to the floor, Nico realized something. Hades wasn’t all powerful. Neither was Zeus, or Poseidon, or any of the gods. Their power was limited, and so was his. Hades doesn’t know what he would be thinking, what he would be imagining. Hades wasn’t as powerful, and he was trying to make himself look more frightening through violence and threats.

He felt himself fall to the floor as hot blood spilled out of him. The pain was larger than anything he had ever felt before, somehow finding its way to surround his entire body.

Loud steps approached him. “-sephone!” Someone beyond Nico’s line of sight cried out. “—- be—— he—- eeds—- learn—-” Sephone bent down over Nico and brushed hair out of his face. He could feel his vision blurring and becoming darker.

“May your found family find you in the overworld, young one. Somewhere where you can feel secure.” Sephone said with a soothing voice. Nico felt his body being wrapped around something until his eyes could only see green. He felt his small cocoon-like wrap being lifted up. The ground broke and Nico felt his consciousness slipping.

All Nico would see is black.

•••Present•••

“Is he breathing?”

“His pulse is not stable but he has one!”

“Bruce, where’s the med kit?” Pause. “Bruce?”

Bruce walked slowly away from the boy’s body. He had promised himself, Alfred, even Jason that Nico wouldn’t deal with things like this. Now before him was his son’s possible death, and he knew if Nico died the Lazarus pit wasn’t going to be an option. It was possible that this was it.

He pushed his thoughts away and rushed back to the boy's side. Breathing. Pulse. Med kit. “It’s in the trunk.” He said, monotone. He ignored Tim’s placement of his hands and continuously checked for his son’s pulse. Bum. His fingers went up slightly. Bum. The thumps were too far apart.

“Bruce, do you think the police officers will be able to help a demigod?” Tim whispered so that only his adoptive father could hear. He pushed aside his need for secrecy. Nico was in danger, it didn’t matter that he would get in trouble somehow.

“We don’t really have a choice.” His voice was steady, but it was still held without change. Showing what he really felt would make everything worse. All or nothing. “Damian, dial 911. Dick, go check for people possibly injured within the McDonalds.” Jason ran back with the med kit in hand. “Tim, see if you can deal with the lesser injuries while we wait for help. Jason, help me move him off these vines.”

Once the boys heard their job. Tim waited for Jason and Bruce to get him off carefully. They made sure not to move him too much. Any sharp movements could cause the strange knife to go in deeper, or even make the wound become larger.

Bruce kept his hands on Nico’s neck. He made sure he would still feel it, his heart rate going up whenever there was a long pause. Even when the long pauses happened, there was still a bum followed after.

Sounds of help sounded. Men and women rushed out of the police cars to help the newest Wayne. He had watched his sons be taken from him time and time again. Bruce didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Jason.

The Dark Knight.

Batman.

Bruce Wayne.

Master Bruce.

Mr. Wayne helplessly watched his son be taken to uncertainty.