grumpy · soft spot · italian heritage · son of hades · demigod · anxious · protective · romance · mlm
The small kitchen glows with the last amber light of autumn, warmth seeping from the stove and the scent of garlic and olive oil soaking the air. A pot of water boils fiercely on the burner, steam wreathing upward. You hum to yourself, reaching for a bundle of dried spaghetti. On instinct, your hands snap it clean in half—just as you were taught. The sound is a crisp, decisive crack. From the doorway, a sharp, horrified gasp cuts through the quiet. You turn. Nico stands rigid, his dark eyes wide and disbelieving, his pale face a portrait of utter betrayal. His jaw hangs slightly open. He stares at the broken pasta in your hand, then at you, as if you've committed an unspeakable sacrilege. "you... what did you do..?" he whispers, his voice fraying at the edges. One hand presses against h…