Magnus had seen a lot of things in his lifetime, and more in the past century than he'd care to admit. Shadowhunters just tended to attract and pursue trouble, which usually resulted in their shorter lifespans when compared to mundanes. But this, this was an outlier for even the Shadowhunters.

Magnus and Maryse had stayed back in the Institute while the troublemaking group and the strange boy went to confront Valentine to save one of his friends. Maryse was still upset about being forced to let Nico go, at least the others were adults now and Maryse couldn't be held responsible for their actions. But Nico was just a teen, too young to be going on raids of all things. Honestly, Magnus agreed, but there was nothing they could do, the boy would've gone either way. It had been about an hour since they departed and they had yet to receive word since then. The sun had sunk below the horizon in their absence.

However, having Nico standing shirtless at the door, with two massive, black, feathered wings on his back was not something Magnus could have ever predicted. Oh, and he was injured. Nico just stared up at Magnus for a moment, letting the warlock take his appearance change register.

"Magnus quit staring and take me to the infirmary." Nico huffed, leaning into the large doorframe, nursing his ankle.

Mangus blinked, then carefully took one of Nico's arms and lead him through the Institute to the infirmary. Magnus brushed against one of the feathers on Nico's back and found they were slick and smooth. If Nico noticed, he didn't say anything.

"Magnus, who was at th-" Maryse cut herself off when she saw him stumbling around the corner with the winged teen on the way to the infirmary.

"A little help would be appreciated Maryse," Magnus groaned, attempting to force himself out of his own shock.

Instead, the woman just gapped. "You.. you have..."

"Yes, yes. I have wings. What a development! Infirmary," Nico sassed.

"Mayse, could you prep the infirmary? It's possible that the others are also injured," Magnus started, but Nico cut him off.

"You might also want to call someone, Lou is seriously injured."

Maryse gave a distant nod and walked off ahead of them. Magnus and Nico continued their limp to the infirmary. Mangus saw that she had pulled out four cots and just about every piece of medical supplies she had. She pulled her phone away from her ear, and he wondered who she had called to help.

Maryse directed Magnus and Nico over to the cot closest to the door. Magnus watched in deep interest as Nico pulled his wings in close to himself, the oil-like feathers absorbing the light around him, becoming a near silhouette, the individual feathers nearly indistinguishable if not for the sheen they had. He had seen few colors so dark, and Nico's sword was one of them. He began comparing Nico to when Simon had the gall to summon Raziel. Nico sported no gold but was cast into pure obsidian, like the shadows he could control. If the fallen angels hadn't become the demon princes, would they have had feathers and wings like this? Magnus was honestly transfixed, questions bubbling up in his mind and he watched Nico get himself situated.

Magnus eyed the remains of Nico's shirt that had been turned into a bandage for his wing, it was difficult to tell through the dark fabric how much blood had already soaked through it, especially since Magnus assumed Nico had actually flown from the construction site where Valentine had been lurking.

"Mrs. Maryse? Who did you call to help Lou?" Nico asked.

Maryse looked up from where she was sorting the medical supplies. "Catrina Loss, she's a warlock who specializes in healing."

"Good call," Magnus agreed.

"She can be trusted?" Nico asked.

"Definitely," Magnus confirmed, "We'll let her handle Lou when she gets here, in the meantime, Nico, explain."

Nico frowned, "Not yet. The others will have questions and I don't want to have to go through this twice."

"Can you at least tell me why the hell you have wings?" Magnus asked, exasperated. He could tell Maryse was seconds away from punching on the boy herself.

"I've had them the entire time," Nico huffed.

Magnus gripped the bridge of his nose, feeling his age for once, "Fine, be like that. At least list to me your injuries so I can heal you before your proper interrogation begins."

Nico smirked in victory before beginning. "Sprained my ankle, a shit ton of bruises and cuts, probably a few bit marks mixed in with those, oh, and the knife I took for Jace my wing. The stab wound is really the only one of concern, I have something that will take care of the rest of my injuries."

"Why did you take a knife for Jace?" Magnus asked, utterly confused. He didn't think those two got along in the least from the way they glared at each other the whole time. Let alone enough for Nico to take a knife for Jace.

"Bad timing, it's also how I sprained my ankle. Turns out landing while holding another person is a bit difficult."

Magnus sighed, "So you accidentally took a knife for Jace?"

"But he still owes me one either way."

Magnus dropped the conversation with a wave of his hands, "Second thing, you mentioned having something to help with your wounds?"

Nico nodded, and rummaged through his gear belt, pulling out a plastic bag and a flask. Magnus eyed the not-lemon-squared cautiously, only for his eyes to widen as Nico opened the bag and popped a small square into his mouth.

"I thought you said that stuff was dangerous!?" Magnus yelped, getting Maryse's attention from where she was organizing medical supplies for Catarina.

"Not if you know what you're doing," Nico huffed, then unscrewed the flask. Magnus watched as he took a swig on whatever was in there, and it didn't smell like booze.

"What's in the flask?" Mangus demanded.

"Nectar," Nico said, then rolled his shoulders, stretching them and his wings.

Magnus was about to push for more answers when Nico let out a pleasant sigh, and his wounds started miraculously healing. The numerous cuts and scratches, and a particularly uncomfortable-looking bite mark all faded away into pale scars. Magnus just watched in awe.

Nico brought his knee to his chest and unzipped the boot protecting his sprained ankle, rolling it around once it was free. He still winced at the movement.

"I have about another hour before my ankle heals, but I'll still need stitches in my wing. Ambrosia and nectar won't heal what he stabbed me with. It helps but not much," Nico stated, and something clicked then for Magnus.

Ambrosia and nectar, together, rang a bell. Greek mythos, the food and drink of the gods. He side-eyed Nico for a moment. Nico's sword also had an ancient greek design to it.

"I guess that means I get to be the one to do your stitches," Magnus noted.

He got up and grabbed the needle, thread, and alcohol to disinfect the wound once he was done, and filled a bowl with water, which he heated with a quick spell. He grabbed a washcloth and then returned to Nico. Magnus was grateful the Institute decided to stock up on mundane medical supplies, even if it wasn't used very often when a warlock was around, or if the injured were Shadowhunters. It was still good to have on hand and to teach reckless Shadowhunters(read Jace)to be cautious. He still intended to heal the wound with magic, since it hadn't affected Nico when he had healed his other bite marks from his first attack, but he wasn't taking chances.

Magnus was aware of Nico's gaze, and Maryse's from across the room, as he untied the impromptu bandage around his wing. It was stiff with blood, and he eyes the wound with a critical eye. Definitely a stab wound, and a deep one too. Nico was also right, the ambrosia and nectar didn't seem to be healing this would like his other ones, but he could see the inflammation going down and the blood flow slowing, but not slow enough to be stitched closed easily.

Magnus raised a hand to the wound and directed his magic toward it. He just wanted to slow the bleeding and heal what he could. Catarina was much better than him at this, but there was probably going to have her hands full once the rest of the group arrived any minute. Magnus felt resistance against his magic, something slowing him from stopping the bleeding. He pushed back, and Nico winced. He turned to him, pausing for a moment. When Nico nodded, he proceeded to push back. The bleeding slowed and then stopped, and that was all he could get.

Magnus pulled his hands away from Nico's wound and the washcloth and dipped it into the water, then began cleaning the wound. Nico winced once, then relaxed, but held his injured wing stationary, and he wondered if there was any strain to the action, like holding your arms out for an extended period of time. But Nico didn't make any comment on it.

Magnus rang out the cloth into the water and had to do a double-take. Nico bled red, but there was a sheen to it like a metallic paint had been added to his blood. That secondary color was gold. He went back to work, and began with the hooked needle, pinching, then stitching the taut skin on his wings back together. Strangely enough, the skin underneath the feathers was also dark, not pale like he would've expected. More of a charcoal-black, and easily lighter than the light-absorbing darkness of the feather, but it still didn't sit quite right with him, an uncanny feeling in his gut.

Nico dropped his wing once Magnus cut the thread, and gave the wing a gentle stretch, letting him witness the length of the limb, which brushed up against the wall by the head of the bed before bringing the stretched in towards himself for investigation. Satisfied, Nico ruffled his feathers then let his wings settle comfortably on his back. Then he stood up and began walking out of the infirmary with a limp to his gait.

"Where do you think you're going?" Maryse demanded, sounding very much like a mother for once.

Nico raised an eyebrow and stopped to look at her, "I'm going to go get my shirt," then left the room without waiting for an answer.

Magnus sighed and looked at the bloody water with a golden sheen to it. The only beings he knew with gold blood were angels. But perhaps Di Angelo wasn't actually angel adjacent. Weren't the Greek gods supposed to also bleed gold? Weren't there Greek gods with wings?

Magnus began to clean up, and with a motion of his head, summoned Maryse closer. He gestured to the blood in the bowl. Her eyes widened and she glanced to where Nico had exited, she was tense for a few moments before letting out a long sigh.

"He better have a good explanation for well, everything" Maryse groaned.

Magnus couldn't help but agree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nico sat on the bed in the room where he had changed a little more than an hour ago and thought deeply about his next actions. He pulled out his phone and checked the messages. He only got messages from one person, he didn't have anyone else's "number"

You have permission to tell this group of Nephilim as long as they swear not to spread it to the rest of their organization. You may also remain in contact, but more demigods are not to be intentionally involved in the shadow world than absolutely necessary. Good Luck.

Nico sighed in relief, thankful that he wouldn't have to continue lying, it was getting tedious to keep everything he had and hadn't told them straight. They wanted an explanation, and they would get it as long as he could get them to swear by the River Styx not to tell someone who didn't know already.

Nico made another attempt to put away his wings, but it was a lost cause, his stitches pulling at the movement. He sighed and eyed his shirt uncertainly. Well, this was complicated. It took Nico more time than he would care to admit to figure out how to fold his wings to get them through the holes in his shirt, and if he widened the hole in the process, that was no one's business but his own.

Nico also needed help. He knew he did, and Lou needed it more than he did. Nico walked into the bathroom connected to the bland room and set the facet on hot, filling the air with steam. He angled the light to refract off of his silver dagger in just the right way to create a shining rainbow in the air, then pulled out a dracaena. It wasn't too late, no later than 9 pm. The funeral would have finished up by then.

"O Iris, Godden of the rainbow, accept my token and show me Will Solace of Camp Half-Blood."

It took a moment, but soon enough, Will's face appeared in the mist, lit by a lamp as he organized medical supplies in the infirmary before turning in. He looked somber and upset. Nico knew the most likely cause.

"Will?" Nico asked, hesitantly.

Will's head snapped up towards him, his blue eyes wide in a mixture of worry and irritation.

"Neeks! What the actual Hades?! Where did you run off to?! You missed the funeral enterily!" Will hissed.

Nico hung his head guiltily. "I'm so sorry, Will. I... I found Lou. Rachel gave a new prophecy. And-and... Lou is really hurt Will. I need help. Your help," Nico confessed.

Will's gaze softened, and he let out a sad sigh. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Then you're going more in-depth about the whole prophecy thing too. Where are you right now?"

Nico told him the address, then added on, "Will, there's something else too."

Will paused, allowing Nico to continue, "There's going to be an attack on camp tomorrow around sunset."

Will's expression hardened, "Who is it this time?"

"A man by the name of Valentine Morgenstern, but it gets worse."

"It always gets worse."

"He's being back by Tar-" Nico cut himself off, he couldn't bring himself to say the name, " by the Pit. He's after me, Annabeth, and Percy. He wants to capture the camps to use them as an army." Nico explained, but felt like he was still leaving something out, but couldn't remember exactly what.

"Just another Tuesday, huh?" Will sighed.

"Just another Tuesday," Nico confirmed with a slight nod.

"Alright, see you soon, sunshine," Will said and then ended the Iris message.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jace's mind was reeling from all of the unanswered questions he had. Several things Valentine rubbed him the wrong way. What exactly was Nico, and apparently Lou? Who are Percy and Annabeth that Valentine mentioned? What was in Long Island that he planned on torching? Probably the camps containing armies that he had mentioned. What was meant exactly by 'son of Hades'? It frustrated him to no end, and Jace knew better than to let Valentine get inside his head to mess with him, except it wasn't him that was being messed with, which was somehow worse. He was after Nico, and he couldn't allow that. Especially after the stupid emo kid had taken a knife for him, intentionally or not.

Jace practically burst into the infirmary like a demon out of hell. Alec was right on his heels, panting for breath, with Lou Ellen barely conscious in his arms. After Nico had flown off, they had gone as quickly as they could back to the institute, but couldn't risk taking a portal or any faster means of travel in case it worsened Lou's already dire situation.

Catarina Loss also had wonderful timing and made it to the front door at the same time they did. She took one look at them and Lou in his arms then let out a long, tired sigh. The blue warlock knew she was in for a long night. Again. Jace let her inside as they quickly made their way to the infirmary and he was directed to set her on a cot that had been set up in the room. Catarina immediately zoned in on her work, to take in those surrounding her. Clary, Simon, and Isabelle split off to go clean up and put weapons away, and would probably be joining them for Nico's interrogation in the infirmary shortly.

Jace scanned the room and found Nico sitting cross-legged on a bed, his shirt now replaced and lost in his own thoughts. His wings rested loosely on his back, and the t-shirt bandage was gone from them. He looked significantly better than when he had flown out of the stairwell. His ankle was no longer trapped in the boot but was still in the makeshift brace. He was focused on Catarina and Lou, watching her work with an absent look on his face, while Alec helped the best he could. With a huff, Jace approached with a strong strut and plopped himself onto the edge of the bed, snapping Nico back to attention.

"You understand you have a lot of explaining to do, you know that?" Jace said.

Nico gave him that same flat look, "Yeah..."

"By the way, thanks" Jace commented, not making eye contact with Nico, who was now staring at him like he had grown a second head.

"For what?"

Jace shrugged, "You took a knife for me. An odd knife, actually, what was with that knife?" Jace asked, getting sidetracked.

Nico blinked, then pulled out the knife from his belt, handing it to Jace, who just looked it over. It had a soft glow to it and was made out of sort of bronze, that much he could tell. Overall the knife was plain, he just didn't know why it glowed.

"It's celestial bronze," Nico answered his unspoken question, "You can keep it if you want, it'll probably work on pretty much everything except mor-mundanes."

Jace's eyes widened, "It won't work on mundanes? At all?"

"Nope," Nico confirmed absently, "It'll pass right through."

Jace looked up from the blade to where Nico was staring, watching Catarina work on cleaning Lou's wounds so she could properly treat them while Alec handed her the things she needed. Don't get him wrong, Jace felt awful about what had happened to Lou, but he did have his priorities straight most of the time nowadays. However, Nico's involvement with Valentine was clearly much deeper than he had made it out to be, so deep that Valentine seemed to be solely focused on the teen instead of his usual fixation. Valentine himself hadn't seemed right either. Not exactly fully within his own mind, where had the calm and scheming man Jace had known gone?

"Are you ready to explain yourself now?" Jace proclaimed loudly, drawing the attention of the others in the room except for Catarina who started muttering irritably under her breath while shifting through supplies.

"Sure thing just-" Nico was cut off from a commotion in the hall.

"NICO!" an unfamiliar voice shouted, bursting into the infirmary.

A golden blonde with sky blue eyes stood in the door, dressed in formal black that didn't suit him, a heavy-looking satchel on his side. Jace spotted Simon and Clary chasing after him in the hall, stopping a few steps away after the unfamiliar teen had suddenly stopped. He met Nico's eyes, clearly upset with Nico about something. He gestured around the room, not breaking eye contact.

"You left a few things out," he huffed, crossing his arms.

A sheepish smile spread on Nico's face, the first smile Jace had seen from him.