User blog comment:SayuriDarling/The House of Hades Official Discussion/@comment-4662873-20131011152546/@comment-4430596-20131014022200

The purpose of making Nico gay, in my opinion, is to make you understand part of the reason why he is so bitter. It also makes you see him as more of an outsider, since he's the only gay demigod that we know of. I don't think it develops his character, but it gives us reasons as to why he is the way he is. Also, in the HoH, I don't remember when, he mentions that after this quest, he is leaving for good. I believe him. I think Nico may be one of the few characters who doesn't get a happily ever after.