Author's Note: This story takes place during September of 1945, right after the end of World War II.
In one of Uncle Rick's books, he mentions Nico, Bianca, and their mother came to America after Italy was no longer a neutral nation and joined the Axis Powers. Italy joined forces with Hitler in June of 1940, and since Nico's mother passed away right after they moved to America, he must have been eleven years old in 1940.
Five years later, Nico is a sixteen year old boy attending Dalton Academy in New York City. In this story, Maria and Bianca never died, which will be explained in more detail as the storyline progresses.
Warning: Since this story takes place in the 1940's there will be chapters which contain racism, homophobia, discrimination, etc. I promise the content will not be too graphic, but it'll still be there.
Chapter 1: Sugar, Are You Rationed?
Nico di Angelo was a lot of things. His mother raised him to be a polite and proper gentleman, his older sister taught him how to play classical music, and his father showed him how to be a real man. The dark haired boy could take a little lady by the hand and teach her the Big Apple or the West Coast Swing in under an hour. He could run his fingers across a piano and play symphonies which have been adored throughout the ages, such as Mozart, Bach, or even Beethoven. He could defend himself in a scuffle or stand up for a lady in need, like every chivalrous man should.
The only thing Nico couldn't do was be himself. After years of being breed for success and greatness, Nico knew he could never reveal his true feelings to his mother. It would crush her dear little heart. Poor Bianca, the teenage girl wouldn't be able to handle the unsettling news either. Hazel would most likely burst into tears and completely break down. And his father… He didn't even want to get started on how his father would react.
Nico felt unshed tears welling in the corners of his glassy eyes. He clenched his hands into fists and clung onto the lavish sofa. Nico bit the inside of his lip until he eventually drew a bit of blood.
The chocolate eyed boy would not allow himself to cry. He just couldn't! There were currently men overseas, including his own father and older cousins, fighting against the goddamned Nazis! What kind of man would he be if he allowed himself to cry right now, when there were prominent men in life or death situations fighting to maintain his freedom?
The Italian boy brushed a lock of black hair behind his ear. He slumped his shoulders and swung his feet back and forth, unable to concentrate on the bigger picture.
Just don't think about it, Nico told himself. Focus on more important things like keeping the women in your household happy, or the fact that school will be starting soon.
"Nicolo, Bianca, Hazel!" his mother, Maria di Angelo, screamed from somewhere within the 1920's inspired mansion.
Nico's ears instantly perked up at the sound of his mother's frantic voice. Ever since his father, Master Sergeant Hades di Angelo, traveled to Europe to continue the Allies' battle against the Axis Powers, his lovely mother hadn't been the same. Her normally warm smile no longer displayed a true sense of happiness, but a fake feeling of despair hidden behind a pretty face. Her laugh was still there, but it never reached her soft green eyes. Not anymore.
But now, in this joyous moment, her angelic voice was radiating throughout the massive mansion in a way it hadn't spoken in nearly forty months. Nico bolted from his position in the parlor and bounded up the stairs. His mother's cries were coming from his father's office.
"Mother!" Hazel hollered, sprinting into the office which hadn't been entered since her father's departure. She felt a painful tug at her incomplete heart.
After Hades left, no one dared to enter his personal space, not even Maria. No one would say it out loud, but the office remained unused because they all wanted the room to always be associated with memories of the master of the household. Hazel's curly golden hair bounced against her shoulders as the young girl desperately tried to regain her breath.
Seconds later Bianca darted into the room, a dark look coating her light brown eyes. She stared her mother up and down, terrified that she'd finally snapped.
"Are you alright, mother?" Bianca questioned slowly.
After their father departed for Europe, Maria became extremely depressed. Half the time she locked herself in the master bedroom, convinced her husband was never going to return from the war. She forced the three children to rely on the maids for solace.
"I'm more than alright, dear," Maria stated with a small smile playing at her lips.
The thirty five year old woman had tears of joy streaming down her olive tinted cheeks. Without a word, she thrusted a telegram into Bianca's hands. Her green eyes looked at her oldest daughter expectantly.
"Go ahead, dear," Maria beamed. "Read it for everyone to hear!"
"My dear beloved family," Bianca begun. "It is my absolute pleasure to announce that on this day, September 2, 1945, the Second World War has officially come to a definitive end. Japan has surrendered and is no longer a threat to our society's freedom.
My brothers and I shall be returning on the first flight to the states in a matter of hours. The news of America's victory is to be announced worldwide on radio and television stations any minute now. Please tell the maid service to prepare a feast for my brothers, my troops, and our fellow comrades, Perseus Jackson, Jason Grace, Leonardo Valdez, and Frank Zhang."
Yours truly,
Hades di Angelo
The group of children were speechless. Nico had to bite his tongue to prevent his tears from spilling down his cheeks. Hazel was the first to crack. The fourteen year old girl threw herself into her step mother's arms and wept uncontrollably. Maria wrapped her arms around Hazel's thin frame and pulled her closer, cooing comforting words into her ear.
Bianca, who normally masked her emotions just as well as Nico, launched herself into her mother's arms and began to cry as well. Nico was then pulled into the group hug by his sisters and together the family stood, ready to finally be reunited.
~Page Break~
"Will!" his mother, Naomi Solace, cried from the upstairs office. "Darling, come here!"
The blonde haired boy left his bedroom and practically bolted into the home office. When he saw his mother, she was holding a telegram to her heart, and her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
Will felt his heart drop.
"What's wrong?" he inquired, taking a step closer to the sobbing woman. He pointed a perfectly tanned finger at the telegram. "D-Did something happen to dad? Is he okay?"
The woman's smile grew wide and she took her youngest son into her arms.
"He's comin' home tonight, baby! Your papa's finally comin' home from the war!"
Will squeezed his mother tighter and spun the petite woman around in the air. The blonde haired woman playfully kicked her legs and laughed a genuine laugh so beautiful it nearly brought Will to tears.
The cobalt blue eyed boy knew how much his father's return meant to his mother. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, his two older brothers, Lee and Michael Solace, were killed in combat. Naomi never fully recovered from the lost of her two eldest sons.
That was why she placed so much extra pressure on Will. On Mondays and Wednesdays, he had five hour piano lessons. On Tuesdays and Thursdays he participated in his academy's soccer league from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. After both his soccer practices ended he would attend cram school from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Fridays he did classical ballroom dancing and calligraphy. He spent the entire weekend catching up on homework, studying, or attempting to relax his nerves.
"Tonight, put on your best suit!" Naomi declared. "Once your father gets home, we'll be attending a dinner party at the di Angelo's mansion in celebration of bringing our troops home!"
"What should I wear?" Will asked.
"Something dapper," his mother grinned, pursing her plump pink lips. "The di Angelo's mansion is inspired by 1920's culture. What your wore to your Uncle Jeffrey's wedding should be splendid! Just get yourself all dolled up!"
The thin woman sauntered out of the room, her sun filled smile never falling, and danced towards the master bathroom to prepare herself for the night's events.
Will smiled. He missed seeing his mother look so happy.
~Page Break~
After greeting his father upon arrival, and exchanging several heart wrenching monologues between each member of the family, the Solaces were off to the di Angelo's dinner party.
As the limo driver sped down the road, Will peered out the window and watched the autumn leaves shrieval onto the cold fall ground. His two little sisters, Kayla and Darcy, sat on either side of him.
Tonight Will was clad in a vintage 1920's black suit, a dark blue silk undershirt, a black fedora with matching dark blue trim, designer cufflets, a one of a kind golden handkerchief, a fancy dark blue tie, and wonderfully crafted black dress shoes. In his left hand he wielded a cane with a sun etched on the top.
When the Solaces finally arrived at the di Angelo residence, the mansion was already booming with activity. Even from all the way down the two mile long driveway Will could hear the classic 1920's song Young and Beautiful playing through the wind.
"Will you still love me when I'm no longer young and beautiful," Kayla sang beautifully, gently nudging Will and giggling.
"Oh, you're absolutely hilarious, Kayla," Will sarcastically remarked.
"Will you still love me when I have nothing but my aching soul?" Darcy added, hiding her laughter behind her tiny hands.
The blonde haired boy laughed.
"Of course!" he exclaimed. "You lovely ladies will always be beautiful to me!"
Kayla flushed red and Darcy fanned her face.
"That's my boy!" his father, Apollo, said proudly. "Talking to the ladies like they deserve to be talked to! A real gentleman!"
"We raised him perfectly, didn't we?" Naomi reflected, raising her chin and rolling back her shoulders.
"It's still a surprise you don't have a girlfriend, son," Apollo noted.
Will chuckled and awkwardly shrugged his shoulders.
"None of the girls in Texas were really my fancy," he defended. "Maybe I'll meet a pretty little filly in the city, and then I'll bring her home to you and ma."
Or maybe I'll find a nice boy and keep him hidden away for as long as we both shall live. If ya'll ever saw him, you'd flip your wig!
"And me and Kayla!" Darcy yelled.
"I'll make sure she gets ya'lls seal of approval," Will reassured the ten year old girl.
"Just don't get too doll dizzy," Apollo said. "I don't need no son of mine on active duty!"
Will blushed as the driver pulled the family's sleek black limo in front of the di Angelo mansion and opened the door for the five members.
"Thank you so much, Charles," Naomi smiled, and she genuinely meant it. Charles may be a loyal butler, but he was much more than that. He felt like family.
"Any time," Charles said. "Shall I take a powder or remain here?"
"Take a powder, Charles. We may be a while."
"Okay children," Naomi started. "The di Angelos are a very important family in New York's upper class society. I expect everyone to be on his and her best behavior so we can be graciously invited to their next blow!"
All the children did was nod their heads as they entered the extraordinary mansion. The five separated and Will wandered around aimlessly, looking for someone his age to introduce himself to.
He suddenly spotted an angelic looking young man dressed in an all black tuxedo, a black fedora with a unique skull pattern, and a matching skull cane. He wore gold and silver jewelry all along his fingers, wrists, and fragile looking neck.
The pretty young man looked up and made eye contact with the cobalt blue eyed teenager. Will felt his breath hitch.
Dear lord. He's a dish!
Without thinking, Will wove his way through the crowd and managed to come face to face with the handsome stranger.
"Hello," Will said in the most steady voice he could muster. "This is quite a killer diller party!" he raved over the loud music.
The young boy smiled. "Indeed. The 1920's atmosphere helps ease my mind."
"Mine as well," Will agreed. He extended his hand and looked at the shorter boy expectantly. "My name is Wilhelm Solace, but my friends call me Will."
The dark haired boy raised a perfectly arched dark eyebrow.
"So you consider us friends, Mr. Solace?"
The blonde haired boy blushed a deep shade of red, unsure of how to respond. The pretty teen wrapped his fingers around Will's and shook his mitt firmly, holding on for a few seconds longer than necessary.
Oh. Ohhh.
Will wasn't stupid. He could spot a urningtum when he saw one.
"Why not?" he smiled mischievously. "You're quite charming, if I do say so myself. I'm sure anyone in here could see you're a total dish."
"You flatter me too much," Nico insisted, his ears glowing pink. "My name is Nico di Angelo."
"Aha!" Will cried. "My mother has been raving about your family all day long!"
Nico bashfully hung his head and wrung his hands.
"I'm sure they will get along quite well."
Will took a step closer to the shorter boy, thankful that the music was able to protect their conversation from curious partygoers.
"Sugar, are you rationed?" Will whispered into Nico's ear.
The Italian boy blushed so hard he couldn't handle the sensation.
"Will," he whispered. "What are you trying to say?"
"Honestly? I think you're a doll, and I'd love the chance to take you out into town."
"I'm terribly sorry, you must have the wrong impression of me. I'm not… I'm not a fag. P-Please do not mistake me as such!"
And with that, the chocolate eyed boy pushed the taller teenager aside and stomped away, leaving a dejected Will Solace behind. Nico didn't dare glance back. The whole idea was much too painful to bear.
~Page Break~
Nico felt like a total mess. For years he had been praying for a handsome young boy to completely sweep him off his feet, and when he finally got his wish, he pushed the other man away!
You're never going to get a boyfriend that way! Nico chided himself. Do you want to be alone forever, or do you want to give a seemingly sweet guy a chance? Besides, he's not too hard on the eyes, either...
The Italian teenager stormed into the back patio and hid in the rose garden. At least nobody would be able to find him in there.
Once he was far enough inside the maze of red and white flowers, Nico let his knees fall beneath him and plummeted to the ground. For years he'd always repressed his emotions, hidden his true colors from the rest of the world, and chose to live a life that wasn't really his.
I'm such a fraud. I act like the perfect son, but none of it's real. What everyone sees on the inside is completely different to what's truly on the inside. If people knew what I was really like, would they still admire me? Or would they cast me aside?
For the first time in over five years, the young man allowed himself to cry. He was so fed up with pretending to be someone he was not. He knew he wanted to give Will a chance. He knew he wanted to open himself up to the opportunity for a relationship. Sadly, he wasn't able to put his family's reputation on the line. He would just have to set aside his own personal happiness like usual.
End of the first chapter!
Honestly, I have no idea where this story came from. I was listening to "Kiss Me," by the one and only Ed Sheeran, and then BAM, this fanfic was born!
I used a lot of 1920's and 1940's slang in this chapter. Here is a little dictionary to help you understand:
Mitt: Hand(s)
Doll: Someone who is cute
Fancy: Having a crush on someone
Blow: A party
Flip your wig: Lose all sense of control
Doll Dizzy: Girl crazy
Active Duty: A sexually promiscuous boy
Take a powder: To leave
Dish: A cute boy or girl
Killer Diller: The best, ultimate
Urningtum: A homosexual
Sugar, are you rationed?: Are you going steady-dating somebody-AKA the cutest freaking line in this whole chapter.
Any suggestions for where you guys want this story to go is greatly appreciated. I have no idea where I'm going with this, so any direction would be great!
~The OG Judicorn