Chapter Text
Authors Note:
Was this fic totally a guilty pleasure? Absolutely. Will I be giving it a level of seriousness it does not need? But of course. I have no idea ages or points in the show where this is exactly, in my mind It’s when Nico is around 24 which I think places it in Season Eleven or Twelve of Supernatural and after the events of all the Percy Jackson books. (I think, pretend if I’m wrong) I’m not exactly following any solid time line. No major spoilers. Please consider visiting my Instagram, @dragonzartz ! I post a ton of fanart and funky drawings and sell handmade stickers <3
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Dean was pissed. Not at anything in particular, just annoyed at the general state of the world. Of his life. Of how everyone in his life seemed to be cursed and how in a roundabout way it was almost always his fault. But what else was new.
The hunter turned up the volume of his music as he drove, even if it already was at max volume it still wasn’t loud enough to block out every single thought. Every single memory of choking guilt. Dean was barely paying attention to where he drove either. He’d just found a long empty road nearby the Bunker and pressed his foot hard to the Gas. The way the Impala purred and shook as it reached such fast speeds sent an almost comforting amount of Adrenaline through Dean, starting at his fingertips on the wheel and moving up his arms to his head into an artificial high.
The landscape speed by him. Dark empty fields flying by. He barely registered things as they passed. Fields, trees, sign, more fields, kid, Even more fields. Seriously this area just seemed like mostly farmland- hold on. Kid? Dean slammed his foot on the breaks, his body surging forward. Taking a few breaths Dean blinked haze from his eyes.
He didn’t realize how far he’d driven until now. This road looped back around after a long while, and he’d driven for almost an hour and a half. Shaky hands readjusted his rear view mirror so he could see the limp form he’d sped past. It was almost a quarter mile behind him now.
“Fuck.” He hissed as he clambered out of the car and into the chilly, winter, night air. The stars above were mocking him with how beautiful they were despite his own current breakdown and whatever this kid on the side of the road had gone through.
Dean ran over quickly, crouching next to the kid who was laying on his side between dead bushes lining the road. The hunter wouldn’t have even seen him if the kid's arm wasn’t reaching out above his head and onto the curb. Dean rolled him onto his back, quickly analyzing the form.
He was in his early twenties if one had to guess. It was hard to tell in the low light levels but the boy was pretty pale. Which was worrying in itself if he wasn’t already bleeding. His eyes were shut but his eyebrows were knit together like he was having a fitful sleep. Black messy hair curled over his face, barely covering ragged scars and heavy eyebags. Dean would’ve guessed the kid was homeless or something, but he had on expensive looking jewelry. Silver earrings and rings and necklaces. The only cheap jewelry seemed to be a clay bead necklace and two rubber band bracelets. Even the boy's Aviator jacket looked expensive, even if it looked as though it had been worn every day of this kid's life.
Then the boy moved and grunted, pulling his limbs in shakily. Dean sucked in a breath and tried to look as unthreatening as possible. He pushed the boy's chest back down gently when he tried to sit up.
“Woah woah slow down, you’re bleeding. What’s your name kiddo? Why are you on the side of the road?”
The boys' almost black eyes locked in on Dean's face, a dark history hidden behind them. Blood was dripping almost peacefully down his face from the crown of his head, leaving a scarlet trail across his visage.
“My name is Nico DiAngelo.”
Dean nodded carefully as Nico touched the blood on his forehead delicately.
“What… happened..” The boy frowned, looking out into the field like Dean's presence meant nothing to him.
“We can figure that out in a second. Stay still.” The hunter grunts before rushing back to his car and going through the back seat until he found the first aid kit that the brothers carted around. It was basically empty. Slowly Dean remembered how he’d used up most of their resources at a recent Vamp nest. Great.
He managed to bring back a bottle of water and a towel to the boy, who had of course moved into a sitting up position when Dean was gone. Least he didn’t run off. Dean kneeled next to Nico and wet the towel, pressing it carefully to the kid's wound.
Nico winced. “What- ugh. I feel sick.”
“You probably have a concussion kiddo, with a cut like this. You still don’t remember what happened?”
The boy opened his mouth to speak before deciding otherwise. Like it was a story he wasn’t willing to share.
“Who are you? Why are you helping me?”
Dean paused. Why was he helping this kid? Logically he should just drive him home now, or to a hospital or something. The hunter was technically a wanted criminal- even if he was presumed dead. Still, if this kid watched much news a few years ago, it was a big risk for him to stick around like this. Still he felt… obligated. Dean seemed to be a curse on everyone he knew, but maybe if he could just help this kid, it would be proof there was still hope.
“Do I need a reason beyond not wanting you to die on the side of the road?” He deflects. “I’m Dean Winchester, by the way.” Wow. Really smart. Use his real name- genius really.
Nico huffed and narrowed his eyes. The kid clearly had some form of trust issues, Dean couldn’t blame him. The boy pulled away from the towel. The hunter only sighed.
“Sorry I don’t got anything more helpful kiddo. I… I live ‘bout an hour from here with my brother. I got better first aid kits there if you want? Or uh- I can just drive you home. Of course.” The hunter found himself stumbling over his words.
Nico frowned deeper. “…where am I?”
“Uh. On the side of the road in Lebanon.” Dean rubbed the back of his neck. Kid didn’t even remember where he was? Actually Nico was still looking at him blankly. Surely…? “Uh… Lebanon? Texas?”
“Texas. Maledetto inferno.” The boy Grumbled.
“…what did you just say-?”
“Nothing. I… if you’ve got better healing shit at your place let’s go there.” The boy was barely coherent through mumbles. “My home is nowhere near here- if you can even call it that.”
Dean winced. Kid was all alone out here. And it sounded like the Hunter was right about him living on the streets. If a boy who clearly had trust issues was able to trust Dean of all people enough to get in his car, drive an hour away to a place he’d never been, all while injured and weak? It was a massive sign that this kid needed help. Epically with how he stumbled and almost collapsed as he pushed himself to a standing position. Dean immediately scrambled to his feet, slipping an arm under the boys to hold him up.
“I don’t need help.” Nico grumps.
“Clearly. My car is almost a quarter mile down the road. Let me help.”
When Dean got the boy to the Impala he set him up in the back seat, making sure Nico held the towel to his head despite his protests. The boy looked at the vehicle quietly, pulling his lanky limbs close to his chest.
“…I like your car.”
“Thank you.” Dean couldn’t help but beam. “You comfy? It’s a long ride.”
“I’m fine.” Nico mumbled. He pulled off his jacket and laid it over him like a blanket. Underneath the jacket he had on a black tee with a skull on it and ripped skinny jeans. The hunter sighed at the combat boots on the leather seats, but these seats had absolutely seen worse and this kid was in shitty condition so he bit his tongue.
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The car bounced as it climbed up the bunkers gravel driveway and into the garage. Nico had fallen asleep after a few quiet minutes. Dean thought about waking him up, since there was a good chance the boy had a concussion, but Nico had looked so exhausted he didn’t have it in him. Now the bumpy brought him out of his rest with a few annoyed grunts.
“Hey kiddo… pulling in now. We can patch you up, then you can go back to sleep. Kay?” Dean glanced at Nico in the rear view mirror.
“Alright. I'm not that tired though.” Nico yawned.
“Course.” Dean couldn’t help but smile softly. “Need help walking again?”
“I’ll be fine.” The hunter still made sure to stay nearby in case the boy stumbled again. They walked through the bunker, Nico giving the strange weapons multiple strange looks. Dean rambled some bullshit explanation about being a weapons collector and sat Nico at one of the tables.
“This place is massive.” Nico frowned.
“Mhm.” Dean hummed as he searched for a properly filled first aid kit. It wasn’t where it normally was which meant he would have to wake up Sam. Great. “Wait here alright? Don’t touch anything.” Nico hummed in response, pulling his feet up into the chair with him. The older man gave him a hesitant look before moving towards his brother's room.
“Sam. Sam!” Dean hissed as he knocked heavily on the tallers door. After a while a disgruntled Sam Winchester opened the door, long hair sticking up in the back where he was laying on it.
“The hell do you want Jerk?”
“Where’s the first aid kit bitch?”
Sam rubbed his eyes, more awake at the question. “You’re hurt? What happened?”
“I’m not hurt. I just… found someone who was.”
“…Pardon?”
Dean shifted on his feet. “I found this kid on the side of the road passed out. He’s got a bad cut on his head that I was gonna patch up.”
“…so you’ve taken in another kid. And brought him to the bunker.” The other raised an eyebrow.
“I- I do not take in that many kids!”
“Yeah. You do.”
“Shut up! Do you know where the first aid shit is or not?” Dean rubbed his eyes in exasperation.
With a roll of his eyes Sam pushes past and into the room where Nico was. The kid looked up as the two entered, scoffing at Sam. The taller one didn't respond but frowned as he went to the cabinets on the other side of the room.
“What?” Dean looked at the kid.
“Nothing. Just didn’t expect your brother to be a hundred feet tall.” Nico huffed lazily, laying the side of his head on the table and wrapping his arms around his knees.
“I’ll pretend like I didn’t hear that.” Sam hums, tossing the first aid kit across the room where Dean barely caught it. He pulled up a chair in front of Nico.
In the light of the bunker it was much easier to see the boy. He was definitely pale, but there were beauty marks littering his skin that Dean hadn’t been able to see before. The scars that he had previously noticed were more ragged than the hunter thought. Especially three long ones across the boy's face. Like a monster scars. Dean tried not to read into it.
“I gotta disinfect it. It’ll sting.” Dean mumbled as he sorted out the items he would need.
Nico frowned. “Just a bandage will work.”
“Kiddo, that's a bad cut. It needs to be disinfected. Hell any worse and I would insist on stitches-“
“Just a bandage is fine.” Nico snapped. The room went quiet.
After a moment Sam sat across the table from Nico. He tapped on the aviator jacket which was folded on the table.
“This yours kid? Can I look at it?” Sam asked slowly, pulling Nico’s attention from Dean. He gave his older brother a grateful look as he took out the disinfectant.
At Nico’s nod Sam pulled the jacket closer to him and looked at the various patches decorating the fabric. He ran a finger over the messy stitching.
“These are really cool. You collect patches?”
“I guess. I’ve had that jacket since I was like… ten.” Nico mumbled, distracted enough that he barely winced when Dean started on his cut. “Only thing that stuck with me. Guess it just kinda made sense to decorate it.”
“That’s really cool.” Sam gives a gentle smile before tapping a larger patch on the front of the jacket. It was a neon orange with the letters CHB on it and a darker orange detailing on the edges. “What’s this one?”
“Oh. Um. It’s a camp I go- er. Went to. Camp ha- Camp… Horse… back. Camp horse back.” Nico paused between words.
“Oh so a horse riding camp? That’s fun. I’ve only ever ridden a horse once in my life.” Sam continued to distract the boy as Dean started cutting a bandage so it would fit the cut without sticking to Nico’s hair. “You a good rider you think?”
“Animals don’t really like me.” Nico pouts.
“Oh. Uh. What’s this one?” Sam pointed at a small dark gray patch on the shoulder of the jacket that had a black symbol on it. Kinda like a trident but without the middle prong, a dot in its place. Nico shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“Er. Old story my dad told me? It’s uh…. Protection… symbol.” The way he said it made it sound like he wasn’t sure. Dean glanced at the symbol. If it was a protection symbol he didn’t recognize it.
“Ah.” Sam hesitated to find another topic to talk about. Dean was almost done bandaging, but there were only a few patches left. One a rainbow flag, one a varying stripes of blue that Dean didn’t recognize (though Sam seemed hesitant to bring that up), and an Italian flag.
“You’re Italian? Or just appreciate the flag?” Dean picked up the conversation.
Nico frowned, as if realizing that Dean had successfully cleaned and disinfected his cut when he wasn’t looking, before mumbling his response.
“I’m Italian. Grew up in Venice.”
“That must’ve been really cool.” Sam smiled.
“Don’t really remember it.”
Sam ran a hand through his hair, finally fixing his bed head. “Oh? How old were you when you came to America?”
“I think I was four.” Nico hummed, pulling away the second Dean was finished.
“I could never imagine going through that at such a young age.” Sam chuckles softly as Dean stood and stretched.
“Like I said, I don’t remember it much.” The boy rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well. We can talk about it in the morning. We got plenty of guest rooms if you wanna crash for the night.” Dean rolled his shoulders. He was feeling pretty exhausted himself. “You can borrow some of my clothes to sleep in. They’ll fit better than anything else.”
Nico gave a small nod in response. Despite claiming he “wasn’t tired” the kid looked like he could pass out at any second.
Dean got Nico changed into an old gray t-shirt and sweatpants for sleep. They were definitely oversized since the kid was a good seven inches shorter and much skinnier than the hunter, but it would have to work. Nico basically collapsed into the bed of the unused room, a relieved sigh escaping him.
There was a pain in Dean's chest. Half of him was scared that he dragged this boy into a shitty life simply by being around Dean. The other half was hopeful that he’d finally found something he didn’t ruin.
“Night kiddo. I’ll make us breakfast in the morning.”
“…mmkay…” Nico yawned before burying his face into his pillow.
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The sizzle of bacon consumed the air in the bunker's kitchen, the smell drafting down the halls. Dean hummed to himself as he cooked. He’d never admit it but cooking was almost a safe space for him. Cooking, driving, and drinking. The pinnacles of comfort.
Sam was sitting nearby on his computer, investigating some new case. Dean wasn’t paying much attention when his younger brother was rambling.
“It’s pretty late in the morning. Kids still not up.” Dean noted.
The other didn’t even look up when he responded. “He looked exhausted last night. I wouldn’t be surprised if he slept all day.”
“…then his breakfast will be cold..” The older brother frowned. Sam snickered behind him. “Shut up. Bitch.”
“Jerk.”
There was a quiet shuffle as Nico walked into the room, slumping against the doorframe with a wild bed head.
“Speak of the devil. You like bacon and scrambled eggs?” Dean grinned, serving up plates.
“Mhm. Thanks.” The kid yawned, sitting across from Sam. He still looked just as exhausted as the night before.
The three ate mostly in silence. Dean would’ve much preferred talking, hated being left alone with his thoughts, but Sam was immensely focused on his computer and therefore not paying attention and every time Dean tried to start up a conversation with Nico the boy was either too tired to respond or insisted on swallowing his food before speaking.
“We should leave by the end of the day Dean.” Sam hummed. Dean blinked. He was not paying attention.
“…what?”
“The… job? It’s in Washington. We should drop Nico off at his home before we go.” Sam raised an eyebrow.
Nico seemed to focus more on that, swallowing his current bite of food and clearing his throat before he spoke. He ran a hand through messy curls.
“Couldn’t I just… stay here..? I don’t uh. Well I don’t really Have a home…”
Dean and Sam went quiet and shared a look. No way were they just gonna ditch this poor kid. But… they certainly couldn’t just leave him at the bunker with the number of weapons, spells, and incriminating shit laying around. So what? They were going to bring him on a hunt? Surely that’s immensely worse.
“We can’t just… leave you here Nico. We could be gone for a while depending how long our job goes.” Sam says hesitantly.
“Then take me with you. I won’t get in the way.”
“I… our jobs are kinda… dangerous kiddo.” Dean manages carefully.
Nico narrowed his gaze. “What do you do? I can be helpful, I swear it on the- I swear..”
The brothers share another look, this time a mental fight over who was going to break it to the kid that the worlds scarier than most know. Dean ultimately lost this battle and sighed.
“Listen… uh… Me and Sam.. we Hunt things. Bad things. That hurt people. And I don’t mean like bears or anything- I mean Vampires. And werewolves. And ghosts and demons. Monsters. They’re… monsters are real.” Dean paused, waiting for a reaction.
Nico’s eyes widened slightly. He looked down at his plate, mentally turning over what the hunters were telling him. He pulled his jacket, which he must’ve put on over his pajamas this morning, tighter.
“We don’t want to put you in danger kiddo-“
“I can protect myself.”
“…what?”
Nico looked up, a cold determination in his eyes. “I… I know how to fight pretty well. I can take care of myself. You wouldn’t have to worry about me. Just… I don’t really have anywhere else to go right now.”
Another pang of hurt in Dean's chest. This kid really knew how to manipulate him. He gave his younger brother a look. Sam gave a heavy sigh.
“…damnit. Alright. But you got to do whatever we say okay?” The younger hunter says sternly. “I have no idea what kind of monster this is yet so it’s even more dangerous.”
“It’s probably just a ghost or something.” Dean hummed through a mouthful of food.
“You.. don’t ever listen when I talk. None of the signs I listed to you were ghost signs.”
“I was cooking. I can’t work and cook at the same time.” He waved off his brother's annoyed grumbles.
“Monster… signs?” Nico questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah.” Sam ran a hand through his hair. “Out in Washington there’s been a bunch of kids disappearing. Nothing connecting the kids at all really, but they all went into comas for two days exactly prior to disappearing.”
Dean frowned. “That’s not much to go on.”
“I figure we should talk to the parents first. Then the hospital where the kids are held when they’re unconscious.”
“Maybe it’s a Shtriga.”
“The hell is that?” Nico huffed.
“Goes through siblings, feeds off childhood youth.” Dean hummed. Nico didn’t even seem too horribly phased by the realization of monsters being real.
The boy frowned and picked at his plate. He had eaten only half the food given to him before seemingly losing interest. Dean tried not to be concerned. He stood up and flashed a grin to the boy before changing the topic.
“Come on, let’s find some clothes that fit you for the hunt.”
“Can’t I just wear my normal clothes?” Nico sighed.
“There’s a very high chance your clothes will get wrecked. It’s a messy job. Don’t want you to screw up your jacket.” Sam gave the boy a sympathetic smile. “I’ll pack the car and meet you two out there.” Dean nodded.
Dean packed his weapons bag as he waited for Nico to get changed. They managed to find some clothes that fit- though Dean had no clue where they came from. Maybe it was old clothing from a deceased man of letters. Or something Claire stashed in the bunker. Both were very likely.
“I feel ridiculous.” Nico huffed as he walked out of his room.
The outfit was more simple and less accessorized then what Nico had had on previously. Where before Nico had a black T-shirt with a skull on it they had found a plain black V-neck. They’d found black jeans too that weren’t tight and ripped like the old pair that would be easier to move around in. Nico was still annoyed over not wearing his aviator jacket though so Dean managed to find him a gray, flannel jacket that was almost hoodie material. It would be warmer.
“You look good though.” Dean grins. “I couldn’t find anything dressy. There were no suit jackets that would fit you, so we’ll have to buy something along the way.”
Nicos nose wrinkled. “Why would I need to get all dressed up?”
“Sometimes it helps to look more professional.” The hunter shrugs. He looked over to see Nico putting up the hair that always fell in his face into a small ponytail. “You and Sam with the long hair. I don’t get it.” Dean scoffed.
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“This is good music Sam! Come on you love this shit-“
“The music is fine Dean it’s the Volume- my ears are bleeding!”
“It’s not that bad. The kid’s fine with it. Right kid?” Dean grinned into the back seat where Nico was fidgeting with the knife the brothers had given him.
“I could not care either way. Though it is remarkable your hearing isn’t worse.”
Dean gave a huff and relented, turning down the music a bit.
“How much longer is this drive? I feel like it’s been hours.” The older hunter complained.
“Bout another hour. It’s not that bad.” Sam hummed, turning down the music even more. How were they related?
“That’s because you’re playing passenger Princess.” Dean scoffed. “Even Claire at least lets me play music full force.”
Nico- who had barely been paying attention- huffed a response. “Who’s that? Some girl of yours?”
Sam laughed. Dean basically choked in surprise. “Wha- fuck no! She’s like your age! No shes.. she’s the daughter of a friend of mine..”
“Right. Friend.” His brother teased. Dean elbowed him hard, only causing the Impala to swerve slightly. “What? You know I’m right.”
Nico raised an eyebrow. “What… am I missing here?”
“Deans in love with his best friend and won’t admit it.”
“I am not!”
Nico laughed quietly in the backseat. The shorter man glared at him through the rear view mirror. Then decided to change the topic.
“What bout you kiddo? Any girls?”
“Ew, gross Dean.” Sam huffed.
“It’s small talk!”
The boy had flushed at the question and picked at his already chipped black nail polish.
“Actually. Uh. I do have a… significant other.”
“Yeah? She good to ya?” Dean hummed. Sam glared at him for some reason.
“…he is. Yes.”
The car went quiet.
“Oh. Guess I sound a bit like an asshole then.”
“Just a little.”
Another long pause. Was the air of the Impala always this stifling? Dean would need to fix the AC. It was always finicky but now he felt like the air was too thin-
“Would it help to say that Dean's supposed best friend is fully a man?” Sam said bluntly.
“Sammy!”
Nico laughed and the tension in the car disappeared. He wasn’t offended. Thank god. Even if the price was Dean flushed a much deeper red shade then was probably healthy, it was worth it to see the kids smile. Nico hadn’t really shown any sign of happiness since the brothers took him in. The boy let a soft grin rest on his face as he watched out the window.
“Guess that answers my question then.” He hums.
“…what question?” Sam frowns.
“The two of you are flannel clad monster hunters who live in the middle of nowhere Texas. Wasn’t quite sure if I was gonna get shot down for having a boyfriend or not.” Nico shrugged.
“Whatever makes you happy kid. We ain’t got no say in your life.” Dean huffs.
“I… thanks. I’ve actually kinda struggled finding people who support it in the past so.” The boy picks at his nail polish, black flakes coming off in pieces.
Dean hesitates before pushing the topic. “What do you mean..?”
“Just… where I grew up.. well I guess not where more.. when.”
“What?”
“Dean!” Sam interrupted “You missed the exit!”
“Fuck-“
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The thrift store smelled kinda like mold. Or just old people. Dean always struggled with separating the two scents. Either way, they needed to find Nico a suit of some sort, and the brothers were never going to turn down a good button up if they found one.
The case was going dangerously cold. It was clear something was hunting and hurting these kids, but Sam and Dean were really struggling to find it. The first morning at the motel, they learned more about what the kids had in common, but it didn’t relate with any lore They could remember.
Youngest kid to disappear was seven, the oldest was seventeen. Big difference. Sam did find- after almost four hours of research- that all the kids had diagnosed learning disabilities. ADHD for most, Dyslexia for a few. More than half of the thirteen children had single parents, but since there were plenty with two parent households the hunters wrote that off as unimportant.
When they interviewed the parents they always just dodged questions. Dean guessed it was because they found it weird that two FBI agents were just dragging around a grumpy kid in flannel. Hence the need to buy Nico a suit before talking to the hospital, which Sam had claimed would provide information to figure out the case.
“What about this one?” Nico said entirely plainly as he stepped out of the dressing room. Dean looked up from where he was checking out a pretty damn perfect leather jacket.
Nico must have magic thrifting powers. He’d managed to find simple black slacks, black dress shoes, a black vest, and a dark grey button up to go underneath. He actually looked pretty fucking good. Dean stepped over and touched the fabric to see how cheap the material was. Nico grumbled something about not touching him and pulled away.
“That seems really high quality.” Dean raises an eyebrow.
“Er. I guess. Found it on one of the racks.”
“I would presume as much. Come on, let’s grab Sam and we can check out.”
Nico hummed in response and went to get changed out of the clothes. Dean searched for his brother, only to find him looking through flannels, like they didn’t have enough. Eventually- after a very very brief argument over how many red flannels Sam really needed- Dean managed to get everyone to the check out. There was a bored looking girl behind the register with shaggy pepper and salt hair. She glanced up and started scanning items.
“Twenty eight dollars.” She sighed.
“Great. Sam?”
“…what? I don’t have money.”
Dean looked over at his brother. “What? Why the fuck not?”
“Because you always have a braggy amount on you.” Sam huffed.
“No I don’t! And I used up the money I grabbed this morning for breakfast.”
“Well there’s the problem if you weren’t such a foodie then we’d have cash!”
“I can’t believe you-“
With a heavy sigh Nico slipped past the arguing brothers. They didn’t even notice him move. Neither did the Girl at the register either apparently as she looked just as surprised when the boy flushed and mumbled something about covering the cost. The Brothers went completely silent when Nico gave the girl a black credit card unlike any Dean had ever seen. When the bill was paid the boy rolled up the clothes and stuffed them in a paper bag the girl provided.
Where the hell did this kid get a credit card? Dean felt like he was in a very confused daze as they all walked back to the car. Nico collapsed into the backseat with a happy exhale. He’d gotten used to laying down and sleeping comfortably in the back while they drove. The brothers clambered into their respective seats and paused.
“…where did you get a credit card?” Sam broke the silence.
Nico didn’t answer for a moment before blinking tiredly at them, like he hadn’t realized he was being spoken to.
“Mm? It’s mine if that’s what you’re asking.” He yawned, folding his arms over his face.
“We weren’t accusing you of thievery.” Dean huffed. “But you don’t have a job or anything? Where are you even getting cash to just… cover bills with ease?”
“It was twenty eight dollars.”
“Still.”
Another long silence. Nico, Dean had learned, wasn’t much of a talker. If you got him started he could go for hours, but it seemed like the boy quite enjoyed just listening. Whether that be to the silence of air or to the usual bickering between the brothers.
“My dad.” The boy mumbled into the quiet.
The hunters shared a stunned look before turning fully to see Nico.
“You have a family? You said you didn’t.” Dean pointed out.
“Are people going to think we kidnapped you?” Sam followed up.
If Nico had a family…. What did that mean? Clearly not a good one. Dean found him bleeding alone on the side of the road. But… any family was better than none. Better than two screw up hunters. Why did Dean ruin everything he touched? He brought this boy into a Hunt. When the kid had a family! People who need him people who-
“I have A dad.” Nico grumbled, breaking off the older brother's train of thought. “And he’s not winning dad of the year or anything. I haven’t even seen him in person in like… I dunno. Since Spring. But he’s uh. I guess he’s pretty wealthy, gave me a credit card that can cover like…. Everything.”
Oh. That was…. A bit better. Enough to quell Dean's anxieties.
“As for people thinking that you're kidnapping me, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“You sound confident.” Sam scoffs sarcastically.
“Guess you’ll just have to find out.” Nico hummed back before letting himself fall asleep to the sound of Dean starting the car.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
A bright light broke Dean out of his dreams. Everyone was so drained after talking to the parents and going shopping that they all just agreed that sleep would do them better. The motel they’d ended up in was one of the better- though had the brothers known previous to getting rooms that Nico had a loaded credit card from a semi shitty dad they would’ve splurged.
The motel didn’t have any rooms with three beds. Normally Sam and Dean would just force someone on the couch, but the younger was too tall to fit on the smaller couch and the older still had pretty bad back pain from a werewolf hunt a few weeks back. The thing threw him out of a window, it was honestly a wonder that Dean wasn’t hurt worse. Either way they decided to just get another room and let Nico have his own space.
The hunter blinked at the light, recognizing it as the front door opening. Instinctively he grabbed the knife under his pillow and held it out. The shadow of a figure at the door froze as he blinked away sleep.
“…Nico…?” He whispered in a gruff voice. Sam was still snoring in the other twin bed. “Is everything okay kiddo?” He sat up further.
The boy hesitated at the door. He looked… wrecked. Exhausted. Of course, Nico always looked tired, but it was more so than usual now. His hair was messy, the bags under his currently darty eyes darker.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you. I… can I sleep on the couch..?”
“The.. yeah. Course buddy.” Dean said slowly, watching the tension melt away from Nico’s figure. The boy slinked through the shadows like he belonged there, if Dean hadn’t been facing the door he probably wouldn’t have woken up. “…you… struggle sleeping when people aren’t around. Don’t you? That’s why you always sleep in the car. And why I could hear you pacing all night when we had separate rooms in the bunker.”
Nico was getting settled as he processed the question. He laid on his back and stared at the ceiling.
“Yeah. Bad memories. Nightmares. Thoughts get too loud to sleep when I’m alone.”
“…well if you ever need to talk about it, I’m always here kid.”
“I.. Thank you Dean. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
Dean waited to see if the other was planning to confide in him, and soon Nico’s breathing turned softer and slower as he began to fall asleep. Fighting exhaustion Nico continued to talk in a mumble.
“I had a sister. We were close, like you and Sam. Kind of. She.. she died a while ago. When I was 10.”
The hunter took a breath. He knew what it was like to lose family.
“I’m sorry. What was she like?”
“…her name was Bianca. She was kind. Maybe a little blunt at times, but she always tried to be nice to me. Which is saying something as I was an annoying ass kid and she was basically my guardian. I… dream about her a lot. I guess. Sorry, I’m not good at talking.”
“You’re doing fine. She sounds great.”
“Yeah. Yeah she was.” There was a long pause. Nico didn’t say anything else. When Dean crept out of bed to check on the boy, he found him asleep on the couch. The hunter draped a blanket over Nico before returning to sleep himself.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
Something about the hospital felt wrong. Stifling. Dean tried to talk to multiple nurses for directions, but each one gave him a nervous look and ducked away with mumbled excuses.
“What the hell is going on?” The hunter huffed, relenting to find the way himself.
“No idea. It’s like these people are scared of us.” Sam frowned.
The two finally made it to the room where the victims were. They were grouped together in case it was a virus of some sort. The children all looked deathly pale, their veins the only color in their skin. They all had too heavy eye bags. Of all the kids who had gone missing- there were only four in the hospital at the moment. Three of which were scheduled to disappear tonight, provided the pattern continued.
“Can I help you?” An older man walked up to them, speaking with what may have been a French accent. He must’ve been a doctor based on the way he was dressed. He was clean-shaven. And walked like he had a stick up his ass. He was tall as well, not as tall as the brothers but still tall. His face was almost hawkish with its sharp features. What was most off putting about the man was his differently colored eyes, which seemed to pear through them. One brown, one blue.
Nico suddenly stood straighter by Dean's side. The hunter gave him a wary look before turning back to the doctor.
“Er- hello sir. I’m Agent Greer, this is Agent Ehart.” Dean motions to his younger brother as he pulls out their badges.
The doctor doesn’t even bother to glance at the badges, instead leaning down slightly to Nico’s level, an uncomfortable grin on his face.
“And the young man here?”
“A trainee. He’ll be sitting in. Sir, we have some questions.” A surge of protectiveness went through Dean at the way the doctor looked at Nico. Especially when the boy took an uncomfortable step back, his heavy breathing just loud enough for the brothers to hear.
“Of course of course. I am Dr. Thorn. I’m in charge of these… poor children here.” Thorn hummed. Nico gave a choked noise.
Dean and Sam shared a glance and their plans took an immediate turn. They had to get the boy out of here.
“Right. Well Ehart here can uh. Ask away. Me and our trainee will look around.” Dean gave a forced grin and didn’t wait for a response before leading Nico away.
The boy shook slightly under Dean's grip on his upper arm. When they were out of the room the plan was for the hunter to ask what went wrong, but Nico kept pulling. Kept walking towards the exit. Dean scanned his face and the words he had meant to say got stuck in his throat. The kid wasn’t scared.
He was angry.
“Kid, wait wait. What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong?”
“You and your brother have to leave. If Thorns back- he- fucking hell. Thorn’s a monster.” Nico looked up, a seriousness so deeply in his gaze that it almost frightened the hunter.
“Slow down. The doctor? How do you know?”
“Because this isn’t one of your cases- it’s one of mine! Now get Sam and-“
There was a loud crash and screams. The duo both looked over their shoulders. The first thing they saw was multiple nurses running to lock themselves in patient’s room, hiding. Then they saw Sam get thrown Hard into the room, the taller Winchester sliding across the floor until he was about seven feet away. Just like the kids he was deathly pale, veins too visible, dark eye bags. But unlike the kids- or at least what was easily seen of the kids- there was a clear mark on the side of Sammy’s neck. Lime green tendrils snaked up his skin from the wound. Sam was fighting for consciousness.
Before Dean could even surge forward to help his brother the doctor's voice seemed to envelop the room, suffocating and making everyone freeze. Nico widened his stance and kept his eyes on the door of the room they’d just left. Dean didn’t keep his eyes away from his brother, but tried to listen through anger flooding and ringing in his ears.
“I almost didn’t recognize you my dear. How you have grown since we last met! Tell me. What has my favorite student been doing since we last spoke?”
The lights flickered. The more conscious hunter finally pulled his gaze up as Nico snapped back. The familiarity between the two scared him. Not to mention Nico spoke with the bravado of an immortal warrior.
“Favorite student? I strongly doubt that saying that you tried to kill me. Or was that just special treatment?”
“Oh if only you would’ve joined the cause I wouldn’t have had to push you towards that fate. How long has it been? Ten years? Longer?” Thorn finally walked out of the room. Dean immediately aimed his gun at the man. Monster. Thing? It didn’t matter what Thorn was, as before the hunter could shoot there was a *woosh* and the gun was knocked out of his grasp. “Things must’ve gone horribly for you dear if you’ve brought mortals to fight me. Not to mention you look horrific.”
….wait. Mortals?
Nico grimaced and had the audacity to step between Dean and Dr. Thorn.
“I’m doing fine actually. Better than before at least. And to be fair, had I known you had lowered your standards so much to target undiscovered half-bloods, I would have come by myself.”
“By yourself. Sounds about right. No one quite liked you, did they? Nico DiAngelo, all alone in the corner playing his little card games.” Thorn tilted his head and a smile crept too far up his face. Teeth too sharp. “Tell me Dear, how is Bianca? Or did she have the sense to abandon you as well?”
At his sister's name Nico seemed unable to contain his anger any longer and charged towards the doctor, swearing in Italian as he dodged another too quick to seen projectile. From what Dean could tell it was coming from behind Thorn.
“Here’s the thing Thorn-“ Nico grinned as he reached his hand out straight to his right. The temperature in the room dropped drastically, everyone in the room now able to see their breath. Instinctively Dean looked around for ghosts. The lights flickered again and the shadows seemed to grow and reach out towards Nico until they formed a dark, swirling abyss in his outstretched hand. Then they took form into a long blade. The hunter was practically frozen in shock. “-When we last fought I was no more than a kid. And now? I am So much more than that.”
Dean watched as the boy seemed to dance around the floor of the hospital, like an acrobat performing a routine. With each practiced flick of Nico’s sword the sound of a *clang* resounded against the metal. As they hit the ground for just a split second Dean could see what seemed like poisonous stingers. Their tips were covered with the same lime green color that was currently in his brother's veins.
Right. Sammy.
In the confusion Dean almost forgot about his brother, but he snapped his gaze away from where Nico was getting close to a close to panicking Dr. Thorn to where Sam was groaning in pain. His brother must’ve pushed himself to his hands and knees when they weren’t looking, but the effort had him panting and gasping for breath. Dean rushed to his side and made the younger brother lay back down on his back.
“Hey hey hey- okay- shit you’re fine. You’re fine.” Dean mumbled to himself more than to Sam.
Sam was looking paler by the second and there was a worrying cloudiness to his eyes. The poison, at least what was visible of it, had begun to crept up over his jaw.
“What is it? How.. how do I help?” Dean managed to choke out with a clear shakiness to him. The clanging of Nico’s sound continued to sound behind him, but by now it was more background noise than anything else.
“No… clue…” Sam grunted. Fuck. He was in more pain than he was showing. “…I… he still looked human when… when he uh… fuck…” When Sam trailed off, panic flared through his brother.
“Shit shit shit! Stay conscious, Sammy, please. We’re gonna figure it out I swear-“
There was another loud crash as Nico was thrown into a nearby table. Dean cast him a worried look just to see the boy with a shaky grin. Blood was trickling from his, what looked like broken, nose to his mouth where it stained his teeth a sickening crimson. Before Dean could split his rising anxieties between the two, Nico fully melted into the shadows of the desk and disappeared. Then the clanging of sword fighting picked back up.
What. The. Fuck.
Dean was pretty sure he was hyperventilating. He wasn’t this anxiety ridden since… well. Definitely a while. At least since he was Hunting with his dad alone and Sammy was in college. Now? Now he was on his knees at his brother's side as poison was slowly killing him and a young boy that he brought into this damn hunt as a way to quiet his own damned insecurities. And apparently said kid was some sort of inhuman powerful being! The way he teleported through the shadows reminded Dean of demons, but his overall presence seemed to scream ghost.
He didn’t have time to worry about it- Nico hadn’t killed him yet so the boy must’ve been trustworthy to some degree. The hunter pulled his brother's limp body up, wrapping Sam’s arm around his neck and Dean's arm held tightly around the other's middle. Unfortunately for Dean his brother was massive so it was a slow go to drag him out of the hospital and to the Impala. They’d barely reached the parking lot when the glass of the front door from which they had just exited shattered, someone having been thrown through it.
The brothers quickly recognized what must’ve been Dr. Thorn, but they didn’t get a long look before the man seemingly changed in front of their eyes. He grew larger until he was in his true form- his face still human, but his body that of a huge lion. His leathery, spiky tail whipped deadly thorns in all directions. The monster leapt back into the building and into what could only be assumed to be battle.
Sam shifted in Dean's grasp and instinctively the older brother held him tighter in concern. The younger’s glassy gaze stayed fixed on where the monster once was.
“…manti….manticore…” he recognized with a mumble that could barely be considered English with how weak it was. “…anti…venom….” Then he slumped over.
“No no no no no- Fuck!” Dean cursed, leaning his brother against the car before rooting in the trunk. They had to have anti-venom! It wasn’t until he searched the entire trunk and glovebox of the vehicle before he found it.
He held Sammy’s shoulder as he administered the treatment. He wasn’t sure if it was to comfort the unconscious hunter, or to steady his shaking hands and blackening vision. Dean blinked away the dark spots in his view that usually came with Anxiety attacks. This really wasn’t the time.
Dean managed to get his brother into the passenger seat and turned back to the hospital briefly. He didn’t want to leave Sam’s side but Nico was in there with a manticore apparently- even if the kid was some magical monster himself it felt wrong to leave him. Sammy was looking better anyway. The anti-venom worked fast thank god, color had returned to his brother's face and his breathing was steady. Even if he did pass out upon being placed in the car.
The moment of hesitation ceased when Nico stumbled out of the front doors. He was covered in blood and limping pretty badly. Dean was about to run out to him when the boy looked back inside, said something, and snapped his fingers. Dean couldn’t explain it but it was as though the world shifted. The air felt thin for just a moment and the world had gone silent. It reminded the hunter of a gun going off too close to his ear. There was a silence and ringing at the noise of something so powerful going off, a pause as time recalibrated itself.
Then the sound of Nico limping his way towards the car sliced its way through the silence, and everything seemed… normal. People were gathering outside the shattered glass of the hospital by now, doctors and patients limping through. Dean heard whispers of a deranged patient. He pulled his thoughts away from the building and hurried to help Nico.
“You gonna explain what the hell just happened kid?” He hisses, propping the boy against him as they walked, just as he’d done his brother a few moments ago.
As he waited for a response he surveyed Nico’s wounds. The worst was a chunk missing in his upper left leg, looked like it could be from the monster taking a swipe. Or a bite for that matter. There was another more shallow wound on his left side that was definitely still going to need stitches but wouldn’t get the kid killed immediately. The one that worried Dean most was a stab wound on Nico’s right shoulder. Of the skin he could see the skin was a sickly lime green snaking away from the wound. The boy has been poisoned. And they didn’t have Anti-venom anymore. Dean bit back the anxiety attack that had been demanding attention as the boy answered.
“Later. Focused on not dying right now. My.. my jacket, it’s in the back seat yeah?” He was panting, and his voice sounded raw, but Nico also sounded so serious and stern that he could pass off as okay, even in this state. It was something Dean rarely even saw on the most experienced hunters.
“Your- yeah yeah it… kid you’re bleeding out and you- you look like you got poisoned. We- I don’t have any more anti-venom we need to get you to a hospital without monster doctors okay? It’s.. it’s gonna be okay it’s-“ Dean wasn’t sure who he was reassuring.
When he picked Nico up, promised to take him in until he was healthy again, there was a part of him that knew it was for selfish reasons. It was to prove to himself that he could help people, that not everyone he cared for died. What did it say about him if Nico died right here? Because he agreed to take the boy on a hunt? Kid barely looked like he could legally drink and Dean just had to get involved, just had to inflict him with this stupid curse he seemed to be born with that kills everyone he’s ever cared about.
“My jacket. Please? Then we can talk.” Nico coughed blood into his arm, staining the sleeve of his suit.
Dean seemed to go numb, simply nodding back. He couldn’t force himself to speak. He helped Nico sit leaning against the car before grabbing the jacket from the backseat. The hunter stepped over carefully, not wanting to disturb the boy’s peace. Nico had his head leaned back against the dark metal of the impala and was taking deep breaths, muttering in a different language. Italian, the hunter supposed. Sat down beside the boy with shaking hands, holding out the jacket.
Nico seemed to refocus. He laid the aviator jacket out across his lap and went through it until he found a ziplock bag with some sort of granola in it. He took out the snack and took a fair sized bit from it. Immediately Nico seemed to sigh with relief as his muscles untensed.
The older man finally managed to get his wits enough about him to speak, but instead found himself speechless as he watched the boy's wounds begin to heal. Not completely- but enough. The wound on his leg closed enough that he wouldn’t bleed out, but probably still would need stitches. The claw mark on his side basically disappeared all but faint scars that would eventually fade. Even the green of the venom shrunk back until all that remained was a clear piercing scar.
“How did you…” Dean blinked before questions and panic overtook him. He expressed it as anger, it’s what he was taught to do. Pushing himself to his feet and pacing frustration poured out of him in a half yell. “How the hell did you do that!? If you had some miracle fucking cure then why is my brother passed out in the Impala right now? And that- that fucking monster how did you- you fucking turned into shadows right in front of me- what…”
Nico winced away at the outburst and Dean's anger simmered into guilt at the sight.
“Just… shit. I’m sorry okay but… what are you?”
The boy took a breath and started putting the magic granola bar away. Then he pushed himself onto unsteady feet to meet the hunters gaze with more ease.
“My… cure.. wouldn’t work for your brother. Nor for you. If it did I would’ve gladly shared. And the manticore, Dr. Thorn, was an old.. enemy of mine. For lack of a better word. As for what I am…” Nico trailed off, his dark eyes leaving Deans green for the first time. “…perhaps we can wait until I can tell Sam as well. It would be terribly inconvenient to explain twice. But I do swear that I mean you no harm. I’m just… Nico. Okay?”
He hesitated. Clearly the boy didn’t want to hurt them, with that sword (which is now seemingly gone) Nico could’ve easily slit their throats in their sleep. Among other things. Dean nodded after a moment and they stood in silence. The tension seemed to choke the both of them. Without speaking they clambered into the Impala and began the drive home.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The bunker seemed too calm for the impending conversation as the three sat around the map table. Sam was fully conscious for the first time since passing out and was slowly drinking the tomato soup Dean warmed up for him. Dean couldn’t stop his leg from bouncing as he watched Nico. The boy had sat across from the two and was spinning one of his rings on his finger, a silver one shaped like a skull. He’d gotten changed back into the clothing that Dean had found him in, with less blood this time.
After a moment the silence seemed to push the older brother to speak.
“So. You said you’d explain. So, explain.”
Nico winced and watched his ring. “I haven’t lied to you, if that’s what you’re thinking. Little fibs now and then but the important things are true. My name is Nico DiAngelo. My home is far from here and it’s not even technically a home. I don’t have much family. My father and.. and my sister. Hazel.”
Dean paused. Hazel? Wasn’t… so Nico had two sisters? The hunter had been told about Bianca in trust that he could- Dean didn’t want to bring her up around his brother and break that trust. Even if the boy was keeping secrets this whole time.
“What I.. didn’t say…” Nico hesitated again. He looked like he was ready to bolt. “I’m not just some Kid. I don’t think I ever was. I.. my father he’s… tiralo fuori, Nico… okay. Okay. What do you two know about Greek mythology?”
The brothers share a glance.
“A bit.” Sam shifts in his seat, holding the bowl of food close for its warmth. The venom seemed to lower his body warmth a lot. Even Nico with his miracle cure needed the heater on higher during the long drive. “We’ve hunted Greek monsters and gods before. Read up on enough lore to not be stupid.” Sam continued. Dean decided to leave out that most of what he knew was from Clash of the Titans.
“Hunted gods… sure. Okay. Right. Well uh… okay. You know about Hercules? Perseus? The like heros of Greek Myth?”
“Yeah. Demigods and stuff.” Dean huffed. “What does that have to do with what you are?”
Nico shifted in his seat. Silence fell over the room. It took the Winchesters a second to catch on.
“What?!”
“You’re a- but how-?”
The boy flushed in embarrassment and waited for them to go quiet again before continuing.
“My official title is Nico DiAngelo, Son of Hades, Ambassador of Pluto, and king of ghosts. Mouthful. I… the Greek gods are still very prevalent. Mostly in Manhattan honestly, they follow western culture- it's complicated to explain. All that’s really necessary to know is that the god Hades is my father and my mother was mortal. Half blood, demigod, whatever you want to call me, that’s what I am. A half human with a shitty family life.”
“Shitty family life is really a nice term for it.” Dean huffed. The boy seemed less worried since the brothers didn’t immediately try to kill him. “So you’re father just decided one day in the twenty-first century to go have a kid with a mortal?”
“I can’t believe that it’s Hades. That’s not some small god. That’s… the The god of death like that’s massive.” Sam leans back, a hand on his head.
Nico paused before correcting. “Uh. Actually my father is god of the dead. The god of death is Thanatos. It’s complicated. And actually he and my mother got together in the early twentieth century. Once more, complicated.”
They all paused again. Kid looked no older than twenty five.
“I was born in 1930.” The boy winced. “I was trapped in this weird time loop thing for like sixty, seventy years.”
This was getting too… well. Complicated. Dean supposed he was warned.
“Okay. Okay.” Sam rubbed his eyes. “So that’s the whole… son of hades bit, which I guess explains how you seemed to personally know a manticore and the whole dark magic thing?”
Nico nodded. “Yes, Dr. Thorn was the very first monster that attacked me. Or at least the first I knew was a monster. He had stalked me and my sister for a full year, planned to basically sell us to his boss. My powers were weaker when I first faced him, nonexistent even. I needed to be saved by someone I now would say is one of my closest friends, don’t tell him that.” The demigod finally stopped fidgeting with his ring and seemed to relax. “Since then my powers have grown greatly. I can commune with the dead, raise and control the dead and skeletons, control shadows, and travel through shadows. Course there’s some draw backs but.”
“Drawbacks?” Dean frowned, becoming concerned. Nico had used quite a lot of magic back there, was he expending his soul or something?
“Er… yeah… any time I over use my powers I become completely exhausted. Consumes all my energy. Occasionally I’ll pass out or get a bloody nose, nothing too serious. And… well… there’s the small risk of me fading into shadows forever provided I overuse my powers- but I rarely do that anymore so it’s fine!”
“That is not a small thing!” Deans eyes widen.
“Oh shush my boyfriend is already on my back about it.” Nico huffs, blowing his bangs out of his face. “I don’t need everyone babying me about it.”
“Does your boyfriend know what you are then?” Sam raised an eyebrow.
The boy froze once more before nodding slowly. “That… may of been another small lie. You asked about the patches on my jacket.” The brothers nodded in agreement when he didn’t continue. “Right. Well for one, that protection symbol? That’s actually the symbol for hades. And… the orange one, and the purple one…?”
“The camp one. Yeah. Camp horse back or whatever.” Dean frowned. He didn’t even see the purple one earlier but now he could. A rich purple circle with gold lettering.
“Well. It is a camp. It’s actually kinda where I live.” Nico hesitates. “Camp Half-blood. A safe haven for all demigod kind. There’s more of us than you’d think.”
The brothers pause again processing. It was strange to think of One half god running around, the idea of an entire camp of them?
“…and… the purple..?” Sam asks hesitantly.
“Camp Jupiter.” Nico swallows. “A camp for all Roman demigods. And where New Rome is. Kind of like a whole hidden city.”
A long silence.
“…god I need a drink.” Dean grumbled, leaving to make coffee before this conversation continued. Sam didn’t even bother to tease him when he returned without beer. His brother knew that Coffee was the current substitute as Dean tried to quit his drinking problem.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The car pulled up to the curb quietly, no one quite sure what to say. It felt too soon to say goodbye, but looking up at the pine tree atop the hill it was too late to drive back to the bunker. When Nico finished explaining as much as he could without completely breaking the brothers' minds, they agreed the kid couldn’t stay with them. As much as they wanted him to, Nico lived in a different world than the hunters. To be fair the demigod agreed. He explained that he had people waiting for him.
Sam said his goodbyes at the car. He kept it brief. A quick “Maybe we’ll see you around” and a thank you for the celestial bronze weapons Nico had lent them. Dean watched quietly. He’d grown attached to the kid. It was kinda pathetic how much so.
Perhaps the hunter saw a bit of himself in Nico. The boy reminded him of his own younger self, cockiness hiding fear. “I’m fine” being a constant state of mind. Had the half-blood not ensured this camp was relatively safe approximately twenty times Dean probably would’ve insisted he stay and become a hunter.
He was brought out of his thoughts by Sam patting his shoulder as the other brother got in the car, giving them some privacy. Part of Dean wanted to huff about how he didn’t need privacy with a twenty something kid he found, but even he couldn’t lie to Sammy. It was clear he’d taken Nico under his wing.
The demigod gave him a soft, barely there grin.
“Guess this is it then.”
Dean hesitated, trying to keep a straight face. “Yeah. Guess so… You’re sure-“
“Camp Half blood is safe. ‘Least it’s the safest place out there for me.” Nico promised once more.
“Right.” The hunter glared down at his boots. “Right.” It was stupid. He had no reason to get attached to this boy, yet he had. Maybe his brother was right, maybe he did adopt too many kids.
“You’re a good person, you know.” Nico pulls his attention from his boots. The half-blood was looking up the hill like he was speaking without recognizing how much it meant to the hunter. “Didn’t have to take me in and shit. Probably made your life a whole lot more complicated.”
Dean laughed weakly. “Trust me, my life’s always been complicated. Knowing that there’s half gods out there fighting monsters I can’t? It’s a little comforting. Other than the fact that most of you are children.”
“Competent children.”
“Still.”
They stood in silence again, searching for words other than goodbye. Maybe Nico had gotten a little attached too. He suited the hunter life. In moments like this, Dean always found it strange how the world just seemed to keep going. How he might never know if this kid he found on the side of the road is safe beyond this point in time, but the breeze still chilled them and the road still carried a stray car past them. The hunter pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket that had his number on it and handed it to Nico.
“Provided you come across a monster that ain’t one of yours.” He came up with the lazy excuse. “Or if you just need someone to listen.”
Nico gave another soft smile. “I don’t have a phone, but I’ll call. Swear it.” He took the number and tucked it into the pocket of the Aviator jacket Dean had gotten used to seeing.
They shared a sarcastic salute before Nico started walking up the hill, not looking back. Part of Dean knew it wouldn’t be the last time he saw the boy.