Sitting at Hades' cabin table alone in the Pavilion, Nico picked at the cold pasta on his plate. Disinterested as always, his dark eyes loomed cloudy.

In an almost ironic way, the one place he still had left to actually call home was anything but. Kids were mean here, to say the least.

Ares' cabin were competitive and brashly harsh towards all newbies, sure, but they never seemed to stray away from the Italian boy. Wherever Nico went, no matter who it may be, he seemed to always attract suffering. That was one of the only consistencies in his life.

The other being you.

Best friend, best acquaintance, most tolerable sunshine, whatever you'd wanna call it. That's what you were to him. Sure, he'd never say it, but he did appreciate your company.

These thoughts scattered when a tray thumped down in front of him, stirring his pensive expression. It was strictly forbidden for children of other gods to sit at each-other's tables, but you were never one for rules, anyways.