Choices and Preferences.....
A few weeks before...
Max had called Nico and Bianca into his room, "Sit, have some hot chocolate.... Now, the reason I called you both here is to talk about the thing that is bothering you, that which is difficult to talk about." he gave a pause, hoping they would open up, without result.
Max continued, "Okay then, I'll start with Bianca, she is the 'elder' of you two." Max got an idea looking at her face, [I cannot just confront her directly about it, it would be unnecessary and cruel. I have to be direct in a roundabout way]
"You have a crush on someone don't you?" Max asked looking into her eyes for her reaction. A bit different to what Max expected, Bianca sighed, "I knew we had to have this talk at some point. Yes Max, I do like you. Very much so, but I have accepted my feeling although I would probably never act upon it."
She looked pained and started fidgeting with her fingers, "Its unfair you know, that you cannot hold affection for anyone else.." Max raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Eavesdropping now, are we?" Max became serious again, "Still what you heard was true. I will you about something that happened a few years ago, when I met Thalia on my way to join the Camp."
Max told them of the fight he had with the cyclops When it had almost killed Thalia something snapped within him, waking a deep power within. That was the time he had awakened his power over wood and trees. Max told them how he had connected with Thalia, with her very being.
Max, "...and when I looked into her eyes, it was as if I was suspended in space, the earth no more, the gravity non-existent. And then I was pulled towards something. And that was Thalia. It is like she is the world to me, I gravitate towards her, she keeps me grounded." He gave a deep sigh and looked at the sky with a small smile, "She is everything to me. I know its corny and some may even laugh. But it is the truth."
"My heart is not big enough to accept another nor can it be replaced. You see, it is so full it might burst. That's how much I love her." Max faced them again. "Now I know what is in your mind. You don't have to be afraid. You are among friends and family here, we would poor people to judge a person's choices and preferences. Nico, look at me... It is not wrong, it is perfectly alright and normal. Don't let anyone else tell otherwise."
Nico felt like a mountain was lifted of his shoulder. The bitterness did not go but the fear and shame that gripped his heart had released its claw, freeing him from the trepidation he felt for himself.
He realised he started tearing up with relief, he tried to wipe it off with little success. "Thanks..*sniff* Max.. I..*sniff*..." Max shook his head and gave the warmest smile, "You don't have to say anything Nico, I understand. Although I'm honoured that you would think of me that way, I would say the same thing I said to your sister."
"Y-you knew?" Nico asked wide eyed and his face becoming redder by the second, "since when?" "For the past year..I think." he replied shrugging.
The had talked for some time after that.
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Nico stopped reminiscing and came back to the present. He had a camp to save, a sister to protect, an army to raise.... and a brother... to make proud of. He squared his shoulders taking a deep breath and releasing it... he was ready, [bring it on].
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"This is the plan, I'm going to get Artemis out of there, hold them off as long as you can, She is going to be your backup." Max said and started turning into a human sized Peregrine falcon, he grabbed his axe in his claws. Max was about take-off when he paused turned around and rubbed his head on Thalia's cheek and neck. Thalia gave a soft smile and hugged him briefly.
Max took off and was streaming through the barren sky above the clouds, out of anybody's sight, he was going twice the speed of an actual falcon He was just nervous that Zeus would sneak-zap his feathery ass out of the sky, which was his domain. [Zuzu, I hope you are praying for me.]