'Freedom'
Rachel stared at her computer with the most vacant expression on her face. To be honest, she wasn't even registering that there was anything to see. The light from the screen was the only thing that illuminated the college dorm room, casting a harsh shadow of Rachel across the opposing wall. Books were open all around her and paintings were all over the walls. A plethora of Andes Candies wrappers littered the floor and desk, and paint was smeared into her red hair and across her forehead.
It was her fault; it was the Oracle's fault. Rachel had been dragged from her paper to make ridiculous predictions, and that stupid oracle had ruined her project sculpture by turning her model of the statue of David into a man grappling with a snake. She'd had enough of the control that the oracle had over her. She was tired of being a medium for the gods, and she was tired of following Apollo's rules. She finally broke from her trance and got to her feet. She pulled open the door to see Nico on the other side. He had a hand in his pocket, and the other fist raised to knock on the door. He looked like he was going to say something but thought better of it. He stuffed his hand back into his pocket and blew a few strands of black hair out of his face.
"Hey Red, you busy?" He asked coolly. That was one of the many things that drew Rachel to Nico so much. He was so blasé. Nico didn't care if she was in old sweat pants and a University sweater, or the most expensive Vitali gown on the market. He was always open to just sitting around and watching a bad horror movie, and he never complained about day old Chinese. Even more important though, was the fact that it was always her he chose to spend his time with. He always offered her to tag along even when it wasn't really her type (which almost never happened) and he had the most impeccable timing to show up when she really needed it, and tonight, she needed it.
"No. Honestly, I'm up for anything except for sitting here the rest of the night." She grabbed her sweater and closed the door behind her. He glanced down at her.
"Weren't you working on a paper?" She rolled her eyes at him as they walked down the stairs.
"Since when have you cared whether I was really busy or not?" He chuckled low in his chest.
"Good point, Red. So, I found something earlier that I thought you might be interested in. You'll need that sweater." She pulled on the garment self consciously and attempted to smooth her hair down. He laughed out loud then and grabbed her hand to stop her.
"You're wasting your time. Where we're going, it won't matter." He released her hand and held the door open for her. She sneered.
"Since when have you been such a gentleman?" He shrugged.
"I'm a prince, that's what we do… M'lady." He did a ridiculously extravagant bow as she passed. He looked funny doing it because Rachel knew Nico for who he was, but with the long black double button coat and shining black curls, she would've believed he was a prince. 'Well,' she thought, 'in a way, he was a prince.' He tossed an arm around her shoulder casually, pulling her to his side. She looked at him, confused; though she was sure she was blushing against her will.
"Shadow travel, hold on." She wrapped her arms around his chest as she felt the ground dissipate. When she felt them stop, she pulled her face from his chest and looked around. Rain flew at them with the velocity of bullets and stung her face like ice. It was black all around them except for the passing light of a light house off in the distance. Wind roared in her ears and she could hear the hungry churn of a violent ocean somewhere below. They were standing on a cliff, staring out at the stormy ocean. Rachel flung her arms open wide and embraced the cold rain and roaring wind. This storm was violent. It was raging and wild and untamed. This storm was free from pattern and control, rules and structure.
Rachel laughed as she felt the wind buffet her back into Nico who held his ground as he caught her so they wouldn't fall to the starving sea. Somehow he always knew what she needed. He brought her candy when she was working too hard to eat, he brought her an excuse to flea when someone was getting particularly hands-y with her, and he brought her freedom when she desperately needed it. It was simple things like making her stand in a storm that made it clear to Rachel that Nico knew her better than anyone else in the world. This must have been why the gods assigned him to be her guardian.
Nico knew what she needed; he always knew what she needed. He even knew how to give her freedom, and that's all she could ask for.