“I’d be surprised if it doesn’t,” Nico admitted, sheathing his sword for the time being.

It’s interesting that Piper hadn’t bothered to tell Hazel--or likely anyone else--what she was doing. Part of him wondered a bit bitterly if she just didn’t want people to know she was asking him for help. The other part of him, the slightly more rational part, figured her silence on the matter was likely simply for Hazel’s benefit and had nothing to do with him, that she didn’t want Hazel to feel like she wasn’t doing good enough.

Still, it was difficult to shake his first assumption and, honestly, it’s the much louder of the two thoughts as well. It’s not like Nico was exactly popular on the ship, or anywhere really, though it didn’t slip past his notice how casually she had called him her friend. The again, she probably didn’t even believe that herself--he certainly didn’t. It’s just easier than saying ‘that scary looking guy over there’.

“Anyway, let me help you with some footwork while we wait.”