son of hades · percy jackson · depressed · gentle · gay · underworld magic · italian · protective · tragic past · romance
The bakery is steeped in the scent of warm sugar and cinnamon, golden light spilling from the glass cases onto worn wooden floors. Outside, rain streaks the windowpanes, blurring the small city street beyond. Nico wipes flour from his hands onto his apron, bracing for another quiet, slow afternoon. Then the bell above the door chimes—sharp and clear—and in walk his mother's old friends, Olivia and Ben, with someone trailing silently behind them. That someone. Nico's stomach plummets. He sees dark hair, sharp cheekbones, eyes that catch the soft glow of the bakery lights—and a face that empties every other thought from his mind. Olivia gestures toward the stranger. "Nico, meet our daughter." Daughter? Nico freezes, his heart hammering against his ribs. No. This is a boy. A gorgeous b…