Chapter 124: Father (Not really) Son talk.

"I need your help." Nico stated, his fingers moving nervously and fiddling with the Rubik's cube Enychta gave him for his 11th birthday, he has been playing with this special Rubik's cube that has 100 sides ever since he got it, it was enchanted by Enychta so every midnight it would completely disassemble and move randomly, so in the morning Nico could complete it. He has been doing this for a year now and is so good at it he can do it without even looking, but now he was fiddling with it and not solving one bit. Enychta, who was sitting by the window of his bedroom that he shared with Luke and Pruno, looking down at said two who were outside, near the trees, practicing their newfound hobby: Painting. It was good seeing them find something good that they enjoy doing as much as Enychta enjoys cooking and baking.

"Do you want this to be private?" Enychta tilts his head looking back at the shy twelve years old boy who nodded, Enychta smiled gently at him and placed his hand on the back of Nico's neck, speaking softly in Italian to him, since it was one of the languages Nico was most comfortable with:

(A/N: Warning, pretend this is written in Italian because I can't write it in Italian...)

"So, tell me cub, what you need? I'll help you." Enychta kept the gentle smile in his lips as Nico sighed a little, Enychta could smell his nervousness and anxiety, making him frown a little but not enough noticeable so Nico would feel guilty or something, it happened before when Nico ate something he made for Luke, he frowned and Nico felt a little guilty, it was fine after but Nico isn't keen to making people angry at him due to his childhood that was spent fearing for his life- Now it's fine, he has been training a lot with Pruno since Pruno learned more about Death Magic, or Necromancy with Persephone and Hades, making it possible for him to raise the dead, Nico met his father alongside his sister, they had a long chat with Persephone as well which incredibly heartwarming and cute how Nico started considering her a mother (In his eyes, Eny's more of a big brother figure)- but nowadays he is taking people being mad or a little angry about him more calmly.

"I..." Nico stopped, he took a deep breath and sighed, rinse and repeat. This was one of the exercises Luke taught Nico when he would get too anxious, it helped him when his PTSD acted, even though in Luke's case, it got so much better that he hasn't gotten a case in two whole years. There's some triggers that makes him instinctively flinch or tense, but that is something normal considering he was abused by his mother.

"I want help figuring out something..." The awkwardness of the situation was getting thicker, Enychta could smell the little guy's shame, he quickly had an arm around his shoulders as he slowly spoke: "Okay, shoot it. You don't need to feel ashamed, pup." Nico already knew Eny liked to affectionately call him, Annabeth, and Bianca pup or cub, sometimes he calls them his "little monsters", he is used to it, but being called a pup still makes him embarrassed... It's like he is being compared to a dog! (He knows Eny doesn't compare him to a dog, but still makes him think about dogs). "How did you know when you were gay?" Enychta took a second and tilted his head before answering: "I'm not though." Nico stopped, froze and looked at Enychta with wide eyes, as if to ask 'what the f- you're taking about?' But Rny just chuckled as his big hands rustles Nico's black hair, making it a mess.

"I'm Pansexual, It means it doesn't matter the gender of the person, think of it as colorblindness but for gender." Enychta enjoyed the surprised expression on the boy's face, he never really asked about sexuality to Enychta or anyone else, so he didn't really know much about it. "But you're with Pruno and Luke though?" Nico's confused voice made Enychta's chest rumble with his laughter as Nico rested his head there, like a lion cub lying on top of his father and gazing at the stars- "I still am Pansexual. Just because I'm with Luke and Pruno, doesn't mean my sexuality changed. I already explained that i am part monster, right?" Nico nodded, huffing through his nose. "Well, i think it's because of my monster side or maybe because of Aphrodite, whatever one is the answer, i have only eyes for the two of them. It's like everyone else is a desert, and they are the water for my thirsty self." Making sure to use water as an example, Enychta managed to put an innuendo there while Nico didn't even notice it, Enychta sighed, it would've been fun if Nico was older and caught the Innuendo... But oh well. "So, who was your great gay awakening?"

Nico blushed hard, making Enychta bark out a laughter, throwing his head back and hitting the pillows of the bed, they were lying on the bed now, there were times when Bianca and Nico would have nightmares, so they would sleep with Pruno, Luke, and Him, he normally was the bed and Nico and Bianca slept on top of him, and now was no different as Nico rested his head on him and mumbled so low that Enychta almost didn't caught the little "Solace..." At the end of the phrase.

"Wait, Will Solace? The blondie son of Apollo? The Healer? I can't believe my cute goth boy fell for the literal ray of sunshine. Pruno will die when he hears about this." Enychta smiled wickedly as Nico had a horrified expression, he turned his head away to probably hide his blush, but Enychta could smell his embarrassment and it was light, almost non-existent, the happiness he could smell though, was almost overwhelming! But it was true though, Nico got a taste for goth colors after seeing that Enychta preferred black over other colors. He chuckled mischievously and said to Enychta: "I'm not the one who can only turn into black monsters... Or who also only wears only black unless is forced to wear something else." That's also true, Nico has at least one or two white shirts on his closet.

Alongside a certain leather jacket he received from Eny.

Enychta made an exaggerated 'oof' as his head hit the pillows and a chuckle escaped his lips, he whispered: "Touche." The grin in his face lowered when he asked: "Cub, do you want this to be a secret between us?" Nico blushed, a little shy as he nodded, making Enychta say: "Alright... Now... What do you think about some food? Wanna help me cook? You gotta get a man by his stomach first." Enychta smirked while Nico rolled his eyes with a happy tiny smile in his face, they went down and Nico almost set the kitchen on fire...

So yeah, Nico is terrible at cooking by the way. But don't worry, he'll learn a how to not set the kitchen on fire.

Is it a Fatal Flaw for the children of the underworld Gods and Goddesses not being able to cook? If yes, them Enychta would be the odd one out.