Nico was currently obsessed with Murder Mysteries. He didn't even know what it was until Percy showed it to him. He had watched movies, like Clue and read lots of Agatha Christie. He just got his hands on Murder on the Orient Express and spent all morning reading it. It wasn't like he had anything else to do that day. Everyone was busy, and he didn't have any training. So he sat curled up in his cabin with a cup of tea, a good book, and too many blankets.
Nico preferred being alone sometimes. He enjoyed the company of his friends, but he needed time for himself too. So while all the couples were on dates, and his single friend was working in the infirmary, he sat by himself. He blasted piano music from an old CD player the Stolls "got him" for his birthday. He read for what felt like a few minutes but was actually hours. Before he knew it he was walking around the camp asking if anyone had a flashlight he could borrow.
He caught a glimpse of Percy and Annabeth sitting on the beach, smiling and talking. They looked really happy, and Nico was happy for them. The bitter twinge he would have felt months ago wasn't there. It was almost like it didn't exist at all.
Now Nico was good at keeping his cool. He wasn't afraid of the dark either, but with all the murder he'd been seeing he kinda freaked himself out. He found himself jogging to the nearest cabin, Apollo's, and begging for a flashlight.
"The camp has electricity you know." Will said after stepping out onto the porch.
"They haven't gotten around to getting it put into my cabin yet. And all I'm trying to do it read not become a light house."
"Well step inside! I'll look for one. You look freaked out everything okay?"
"Yes." Nico sat down on an empty bed and resumed the chapter he was in the middle of. He thinks Will might have at some point tried to make conversation, but when he responded with 'What was that, I was trying to catch a murderer' he gave up. A few minutes later Nico was handed an orange flashlight with a smile. The corner of his own lip twitched up a little bit but not very much.
"Thanks. See you tomorrow or something like that..." He said turning his eyes down to the book again.
Will smiled, "Or something like that. Don't stay up to late" He warned. Nico almost called him out for mother hen-ing, but he was so sincere.
Without another word Nico went back to cabin and closed the door. He read for another good two hours before his eyes started to swim. He put the book in a safe place and went to bed.
The next day when people questioned him why they hadn't seen him he only replied with 'I was reading'.
To Will, Nico di Angelo was a puzzle. He was so content just watching others do what they love that it's almost like he forgets there are things he loves doing to. He also cuts his own hair, as Will has noticed. He didn't own a single colored shirt. Even surrounded by his friends he tends to stay to the side. Trying his hardest to never be the center of attention.
It was cute.