So one thing Iād really like to see (but honestly donāt think I will) is Percy and Nico really reconcile. I know they had this little āclear the airā moment when Nico admitted he had previously had a crush on Percy, but to be honest that was never really the problem with their relationship.
Percy is a great character who I do love and love to route for, but it always bothered me how terrible he was to Nico. I realize Nico tricked Percy ONCE in an attempt to get information about his mother (shortly after he lost his sister no less) but even made Hades promise not to hurt Percy. He also more than made up for it (apologizing, leading Percy to the Styx, convincing his father to raise an army of the dead) and Percy continues to bring it up and tell other people about it, giving them a bad impression of Nico before even meeting them even though Percy knows Nico already has issues relating to others and making friends.
Heās just such a nice character but seems to have no empathy towards Nico (Literally choking him after Nico tricks him, admitting to Nico he doesnāt think heāll ever fit in at camp half blood, considering throwing bread at him so Nico would stop groaning after going through literal hell and being locked in an airless jar for weeks, etc.) Meanwhile Nico keeps doing Percy massive favors and consistently fighting by Percyās side. He goes through Tartarus, leads the remaining 7 to the doors of death, Shadow travels the Athena Parthenos to camp even though it might kill him, etc all for Percy and for camp half blood, even though neither have ever accepted him. Percy will take his aid but never treats Nico as a friend. ļæ¼For most of the books not only does Nico have a crush on Percy but Percy is really his only connection to the living world, the only human interaction he really gets. Itās just kind of tragic to see him treated this was by a character thatās usually kind and sociable.
It doesnāt seem like Percy realizes heās doing it and Nico doesnāt seem to realize Percy is mistreating him. I want it called out in world as a point of self reflection for Percy and a point of self worth and healing for Nico. I like the idea of them being genuine friends after all this time but I really canāt see it without that realization and acknowledgment.
Sorry about the rant š
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