Reaching DOA Records

Hey guys! How y'all doing? I'm doing great. I don't really know why I'm in a good mood today. Just am. Maybe it's because I binged half of the Sanders Sides episodes on YT yesterday. We'll never know.

Anyway, let's get to the psych fact of the day: The right ear is better at hearing speech, and the left ear is better at hearing music.

Now why is that? I always put my headphones over my left ear and leave the right ear clear. It's so that I can hear my parents call out to me and still hear music. I never knew why I didn't put my headphones over my right ear and leave my left ear clear. Huh. I guess I know now.

Did that make any sense to you guys? No? Oh well.

Let's get to the chapter, my friends!

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Nico Di Angelo's P.O.V (First Person)

The Hades cabin was as dismal as ever, and that was just the way I liked it. Sculptures of screaming souls lined the walls, the ceiling had rubies and diamonds embedded in it, and there were three fountains in the middle of the room: each flowing with water from the different rivers of the Underworld.

The cabin was a little unsettling, considering the fact that the screaming people watched me as I slept, but it was nothing I couldn't handle. I took my backpack out of my drawer, unzipping it so that I could pack my essentials. I didn't have much, so I just packed a few clothes and some toiletries - nothing too fancy.

Just as I was about to head out, Hazel stopped me, leaning on the doorframe. She smiled, but the worry was clear in her eyes. I sighed, "Hey."

Her facial expression didn't change, "Hey. You're all packed, huh?"

I nodded, gesturing to the backpack that was strapped onto my shoulder, "We shouldn't be gone for long-"

Hazel cut me off, "Pardon my manners, I know it's not nice to talk over someone, but I can't let you do this, Nico."

I raised an eyebrow, "And why's that?"

She took my shoulders, "Nico, your shadow-traveling is getting better, but you're getting worse. I don't know how you don't see it."

I set my backpack down and guided Hazel to my bunk. We sat down, "What do you mean?"

Hazel's gold eyes basically pried into my soul, "Shadow-travel is killing you, Nico. The more you use it, the more you'll get used to it. The more you get used to it, the more risk you have of turning into a shadow."

I shook my head, "That doesn't make any sense-"

"But it does. I don't see how you don't understand." She took my hand, "Even if you don't understand, please promise me that, after this, you won't shadow-travel unless absolutely necessary."

My eyes softened, and I looked down, "That's not a promise I can make, Haze."

She stood up, her bottom lip quivering, "Then be careful. Will and I will take care of you as much as we can, Nico. But, it's up to you to decided whether or not you want to live."

With that, she walked out, her back straight and shoulders shaking. I stared at the doorway. How would I die if I got used to shadow-traveling? Shouldn't it be getting easier? I picked up my backpack again and started walking toward the Pine Tree. I popped some ambrosia squares into my mouth for extra energy.

I looked around. Camp was bustling with energy. People were shouting orders, training, and planning. I saw so many Apollo campers practicing archery and awful music. But, everywhere I looked, I couldn't find the one person I wanted to say bye to.

I sighed, "You-"

"Can win everything, Di Angelo. I don't understand how can be so morbid all the time," A voice said, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

I looked up, "Hey, Will. I didn't think-"

Will grinned, cutting me off again, "That I'd be here to say good luck? Think again, Neeks."

He slung an arm over my shoulder, "Don't call me that, Solace."

He shrugged, "It's not too bad of a nickname. Unless you prefer Sunshine, Sunshine."

"I hate you," I grumbled. Both of us knew that I didn't mean it.

He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah."

I smiled, "I'm just glad I got to bid you farewell before I left."

He snorted, "Bid me farewell? Okay, Shakespeare. I bid thee farewell, as well," he said, standing in front of me and taking a mock bow.

I sniggered and Will beamed. I wasn't going to see that until that again until the war was over. I sighed and kept walking, Will scrambling behind me. He frowned, "Really, though. Nico, it's too dangerous for you to shadow-travel in the state you're in."

I raised an eyebrow at him, "I'm fine, and I'll be fine. Besides, we all agreed that it'll be a one-way trip. Percy'll bring us back."

He grabbed onto my shoulders, and forced me to look at him, "You won't be fine. I thought Hazel talked to you about this! Shadow-traveling with so many people is the worst idea you've had in ages. You could die the moment you get to the Underworld!"

I stared at him, "You sent her to talk to me?"

Will scoffed, "Yeah, duh. She didn't know about your shadow-travel problem until I told her." He waved his hands in dismissal. "Look, the bottom line is: let Percy do the traveling. He has loads of ways to get better. You don't."

I rolled my eyes, "I'll find a way. Besides-"

Will stomped his foot, "No. No besides. You're not going to shadow-travel unless it's an extreme situation!"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "And you don't think us going to war is extreme?"

He fidgeted, "I do! But, that's not the point I'm trying to make here!"

"Then, what is your point?!" I asked him, practically resisting the urge to walk away.

He looked straight into my eyes, "I don't want to lose you, Nico." I didn't know what to say, so I stayed silent. He sighed and looked down, "There. I said it. You happy now?"

I blinked. Once. Twice. And then, I did something neither of us expected. I laughed. I laughed so hard that I snorted more than once. Wil pouted, "What's so funny?!"

I smirked, "The fact that you think that I'm going to leave you."

His eyes widened, "W-What?"

I processed what I had just said and sputtered, "I-I mean- um...Nope. There's no way to cover that up," I groaned.

Will smiled at me, and took my hand, "Hey. Come back safe okay?"

I swallowed and nodded to him. He hugged me for a second, and before I could hug him back, he let go, "I'm saying here the entire time. Camp needs healers, so if you need anything, I'm only an IM away."

I nodded again, "T-Thanks."

Before he walked away, he turned to me, "Love you, Nico."

I promise you, I heard someone squeal in the distance. It sounded an awful lot like Jason, but I couldn't be sure. As for me, I had no words. I didn't know what to say or what to do. Will just walked away, humming to himself. Once he was out of earshot, I groaned, "Why do boys have to be so difficult!?"

I mumbled incoherencies, as I walked to Thalia's pine. Percy and Thalia were already there, holding back laughs. Natasha, Clint, Steve, and Loki were talking amongst themselves so they didn't really notice me come.

Percy and Thalia stared at me. I furrowed my eyebrows, "What?"

Percy broke, "WesaweverythingthathappenedwithyouandWill!"

I raised an eyebrow, "What? "

Thalia smacked Percy's shoulder, "You weren't supposed to tell him!"

Percy shrugged, "Hey, you were the one who trusted a guy who's head is full of kelp."

Thalia just shook her head and looked at me, "What Kelp Head was trying to say was: We saw everything that happened with you and Will."

I rolled my eyes, "Which was nothing. Nothing at all."

Thalia sniggered, "Keep telling yourself that, Sunshine."

I groaned, "Sometimes, I wish I had different cousins."

Thalia scoffed, "I wish that all the time. Doesn't mean it'll come true. Tough luck."

Percy slung his arm over my shoulder, "You're stuck with us, Corn Boy."

I sighed, "Whatever, Perce. I'll ask Leo to make me new cousins. Robots seem like a good idea." Percy pouted, and I smirked, "But, that'll have to wait. We have a piece of a box to retrieve."

Percy grabbed Thalia's arm, "I could always vapor travel us there. It's not too big of a deal. I'll be in better shape than you, at least."

I glared at him, "We already agreed to this, and I'm not going back on it. I want to feel useful, Percy."

Percy stayed silent and gave me a sad smile. Thalia took Natasha's arm. Natasha took Clint's. Clint took Steve's. And Steve held onto Loki, who looked very annoyed. Thalia looked around, "Okay. All of us are ready. Everyone brace yourselves."

I nodded, closing my eyes. I took a deep breath, imagining everyone melting into the shadows. I imagined the shadows as my birthright. They wouldn't hurt me, and they wouldn't swallow me. They were only a mode of transport.

With those happy thoughts, we soon found ourselves outside of DOA records. I gripped my head, a splitting headache ringing through it. I felt faint, and a nap sounded good right about then. Thalia and Percy held my shoulders, making sure I wouldn't collapse. Percy gave me a few ambrosia squares and a little nectar, and my headache disappeared as quickly as it came.

I still felt incredibly fatigued, but it was a lot better. I sighed in relief, "Holy Hera. I will never get used to that."

"Will gave us some modified ambrosia. Specifically made for you and Percy with the help of the Hecate Cabin. It should kick in completely in a few seconds," Thalia said, putting the ambrosia and nectar back into Percy's pack.

She was right. In less than a minute, I felt warmth course through my veins. My limbs felt stronger, and I felt like doing 100 jumping jacks then and there. I smiled at Thalia, "Thanks. And what would Percy do with this stuff?"

Percy shrugged, "I don't know. Something about vapor-traveling draining my energy so much that I couldn't get to water. I didn't really listen."

Thalia snorted, "Big surprise."

I rolled my eyes and turned to the group of Avengers that had come with us. Natasha and Loki were on their feet and ready to ask questions - Natasha more than Loki. As for Steve and Clint, well, they looked like they needed a minute. Natasha raised an eyebrow, "DOA records? The Underworld is in a record company?"

To my surprise, Loki was the one who answered her, "You'd be quite shocked to see how many Greek and Roman places are in the guise of modern Midgard shops and restaurants. Very annoying if you ask me."

Percy nodded along with him, "Yeah. I mean, on my first quest we got stuck at this place called Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium. Apparently, it was home to an ugly she-demon I like to call Medusa. She fed us burgers and fries then tried to kill us. Burgers. And Fries. You don't just do that!"

Steve stared at him, "When was this?"

Percy gave him a deadpan look, "When I was 12."

Steve swallowed but didn't ask anything after that. I chuckled and assessed the entrance of the company, "Well?"

Percy frowned, "Well what?"

I rolled my eyes, "Are we just gonna stand here? We have work to do!"

Steve nodded, "Nico's right. File in, one at a time-"

Percy cut him off, "Or we can just do this." He walked up to the entrance and pushed open the doors, keeping them open for everyone to go in, "No plan necessary. That's not how we Greeks work."

Everyone walked inside, and Steve eyed Percy, "Noted."

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So yeah. Slow chapter, but I really wanted to add in Solangelo. There's always time for that. But they're at DOA records now! We'll catch up with the others in the next chapter, so until then my friends! See you soon!