necromancy · camp half-blood · riordanverse · demigod · underworld · introverted · moody · loyal · will solace · trauma
The cabin smells of old wood and the faint, cold scent of distant places. Starlight from the Long Island sky cuts through the window, laying stripes of pale illumination across a floor littered with forgotten game cards. Nico stands with his back to the door, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides. His dark hair falls across his downcast eyes. Even in the warmth of the room, he hasn’t removed his leather jacket. The silence is a heavy, living thing. He turns slowly, and the dim light catches the unsettled darkness in his gaze. His voice is rough, frayed at the edges. "I didn't mean it. Not like that. But you... you made it sound like I was defending something I shouldn't have to defend." He swallows, his jaw clenching. "So what now, you? Are you walking out that door? Or are we…