Nico POV
I almost ruined things with will. I can't believe I let myself get that out of control. What he must think of me. It's been two days and I've barely seen him he's been so busy in the infirmary since the Stoll twins decided that Bengay was the fabric softener for the Ares cabins underwear. I can't stand being in here alone at night: I miss Hazel being here. The issues that Will healed the other night were unraveling every time I closed my eyes. The nightmares from Tartarus were ripping my head apart and the box I hid under my bed was calling me. I sat down legs crossed placing the black box covered in band stickers in front of me. Unlocking it I took Argento out. The only thing I had left from my mother. A 1925 barbers razor with a leather grip and silver Blade. Bandages and iodine followed.
I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy this. The ritual was half the satisfaction. Lining them up, finding the right area of skin, the droplets of blood. I pulled my bracelets off putting them in order around the box. Pulling Argento out I ran the blades full side across bottom lip as per the ritual. Light little cuts 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. The blood collected into a small pool on my wrist. Dripping down the numbness started to spread. Oh I needed this as much as I hated to admit it I needed to feel this. Will would be appalled. The thought hit my chest like a bettering ram. I had never had to answer to anyone not even Hazel. I grab the cotton ball and iodine and press it to my wrist feeling the sting. It was so sweet and so bitter at the same time.
I put everything away. Put on each one of my bracelets. How am I going to hide this from Will. I hurt myself and I'm seeing a healer what was my PROBLEM! It's like I'm just asking for misery. The knock at my door shook me from my self loathing. Walking to the door I could see him actually glowing on my porch.
"Angel! I have like 6 movies and I need you to pick one because we are totally doing the sappy couple thing tonight"
He looked so buoyant. So happy to see me. God damn him!
"I'm not watching ANY musicals or some weird Gay classic!
"Yeah cause Child's Play 3 is dripping with rainbows and sing alongs" he smirked sarcastically.
I grabbed three videos and turned inviting him in. The hills have eyes, child's play , Texas chainsaw massacre, nightmare on elm street, and ... half baked?
Holding up half baked "question mark?"
"Well incase the bloodbath wasn't your thing"
"The blood bath is yours?"
"Yeah I ugh have a secret guilty pleasure for gore and stoner movies"
"Really"
"Hey pot is medicinal! And I like creepy stuff I have an aunt that is very much into everything creepy and ghouley and it's rubbed off on me through the years."
I decided I had enough nightmares right now and the pot movie was the best option. Heading to my bed he brought over a backpack which he unloaded onto my bed. Everything terrible for you was a colorful mess of awesome all over my sheets. Chocolate, fonzis, twizzlers, kinder eggs, GOOD NEWS BARS!
"Sunshine where the fuck did you find Good news bars?"
" I went to the big house and used their secure internet line and ordered them. They are from the 1930s and I thought Hey! You never can get Angel to eat anything maybe something from when he was little might be the best bet"
I could feel tears burn behind my eyes. He went through all this trouble to get me to eat. He ordered 70year old candy to get me to eat. I have never felt as loved in my life than right now feeling the candy bar in my hands. Rustling in his bag he pulled out two glass tumblers and a yellow bottle.
"So I've been told I'm a huge stick on the mud. I kinda threw cold water on our last encounter so I thought I would loosen up a bit. Lemon Cello. The Aphrodite cabin has a stash of fancy liquors and I traded some healing services for it"
"Healing services ?"
"Yeah some light pimple removal and curling iron burn marks" laughing he poured us a heavy amount into the tumblers. Taking the glass I sipped the yellow liquid. It reminded me of Italy, my mother would let us sip wine and drinks as kids. It wasn't uncommon in Europe. Popping in the video we got comfortable on my bed as we picked our way through the candy and treats.
Wills POV
Feeling Nico relaxing against me eating junk food watching Dave Chappell become a drug dealer was one of my favorite moments of the year. I've never had this. I never dreamed it was possible. I had so many wins all within 15 minutes! Nico was eating! Nico was touching me! Nico was relaxed sipping illicit substances with me! I know it sounds really immature but hey I'm only 16 this was my idea of an amazing time. My arm settled over his shoulder and his hair was in my nose, it smelled like Cloves and fresh shampoo.
My body started to tingle. Not on the omg my crush is cuddling with me kind of tingle the something is wrong and you need to heal kind of tingle. Nico didn't know it but part of my powers include being able to sense where someone was injured and how. Nicks wrist was cut. A lot! Fresh. Emotion started to build inside of me. Nico was cutting himself. I stayed still figuring in my head how to handle this. Truth is I knew he cut himself before. On his examination some of those scars were just to clean to intentional. I also knew why he did it. Sometimes hurting yourself was a way of coping from trauma. Bringing the ugly to the surface and then watching it heal was like watching a problem come to light and then heal over and go away. Thing was that the problem never went away. Pausing the movie he got up to use the bathroom. Returning quickly he sat back down and I turned to face him. Turning toward me I leaned in and kissed him. His lips were soft and tasted like strawberry. He was wearing lipgloss? Must have just applied it in the bathroom. Putting his hands on my face I grabbed his forearm where I knew he was cut. Eyes popping out of his head he tried to pull away but I wouldn't let him.
"Will let go of my arm!"
"No baby I'm not going to let go"
"Will please!"
Desperation grew in his voice as I moved to pull his bracelets off. Tears welled in his eyes trying to smack my hand away. The great Nico Di Angelo could have flipped me and finished me in a matter of seconds. The fact that he didn't let me know deep down he wanted me to know. He wanted help. One by one I pulled the jewelry off his wrist exposing well cleaned cuts. Nico was sobbing now like ugly drooling snot bubble sobbing. Little Italian words of protest and shame escaped his lips. Pulling his wrist to my mouth I kissed each cut. Sealing each one. Realizing what I was doing the sobbing ebbed a bit watching on fascination.
"H-how h-how did you? "
"Can I show you something ?"
Nodding at me I got off the bed slowly. Undoing my pants he began to turn red along with the constant tears streaming from his face.
"I'm not doing what you think"
Pulling my pants off I pulled the leg of my boxers up so he could see the inside of my thigh. Holding his breath he scooted to the end of the bed looking at the jagged scars that littered my inner thighs. Grazing this tiny fingers over them he hugged my leg letting his tears roll over the savagery I had inflicted on myself. Pulling his face up I motioned for us to sit back on the bed.
"Your not alone Angel!" I said cupping his face.
"Why will why you?"
"Because I couldn't take hiding who I was. My mother didn't take my being gay the best even though she has finally come to terms with my sexuality it took a really long time"
"You thought you were sick too?"
"Oh yes sweets your not the only one that has struggled with this"
Nuzzling my pal I kissed his forehead
"Please don't hate me the nightmares were getting worse"
"Is that why you don't eat either?"
Shaking he came to a resolution in his face. He was going to finally tell me why he didn't eat.
"In Tartarus I practically starved. Every time the illusion on food came I would take a bite and it would turn into glass in my mouth. Or worse. Every time I eat something it feels like glass shards going down my throat."
I kissed him again. It took so much strength to admit that to me. Pulling away I pinned him down on the bed. Pulling his shirt off I kissed him all the way down his neck. I took my time kissing every inch of his torso. Hot tears falling as I kissed every burn and every mark that he or someone else has made. It wasn't exactly sexual. More emotional acceptance of who he was. Coming back to his face all the pain and humiliation he was experiencing came out in that kiss. Rough and strangled groans, digging his nails into my flesh as if he wanted to crawl inside me hoping I would heal him. We kept this up for hours until exhausted he fell asleep in my arms. Cathartic makeout session complete. Getting up to use the bathroom I decided I needed some help if I was going to get Nico out of this hole. I needed an adult. I need my Aunt Lee. In the bathroom I put the shower mist and glowed a bit to make a rainbow. Throwing a drachma in the rainbow I called my Aunt.
"Sunny! I'm so happy to hear from you but it's so late what's going on?!"
"Hi Aunt Lee! Hey I need your help with something!"
"Shoot kiddo"
I explained everything as much as I could to my aunt and she just nodded and smiled. After we disconnected I went back to Nico deciding it was to late to go back without the harpies catching me. Wrapping my arms around him I fell into a deep sleep with the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on.
Nicos POV
Waking up before Will was a miracle. I can't believe he stayed. He must have been emotionally exhausted after last night. I know I was. I'm not sure how he knew but part of me is so happy he found out. I hated hiding that from him and part of me felt lighter knowing that he knew and knowing that he excepted me. A loud knock came to my door. Who was here? Everyone was in New Rome this weekend. With my luck it was Chiron coming to jump down our throats for spending the night together no matter how innocent it was. Opening the door a woman was standing there with a rolling metal box. This was not just any woman though. She was in her early 30s and radiated cool in a way that could bring rockstars to their knees. 6ft tall with black and purple hair covered in tattoos. Her face though... was dazzling. Symmetrical flawless. Big Blue eyes that matched Wills.
"Omg you are too admirable no wonder he fell for you!"
Taken aback I couldn't make out any words
" Can I come in? Is Will here? " I stood aside and pointed her to the small living area on the front of the cabin.
"Will! Some lady is here for you" I shouted.
Making herself comfortable she broke out a bottle of peach wine and glasses out of her metal box. Pouring and putting them on the table will appeared on the doorway half naked and bleary eyed. Recognizing the woman his face broke into a shit eating grin. Running over she took him into her arms and swung him around like a rag doll.
"Aunt Lee! I'm so happy your here!"
"Of course I am i haven't been back at my old stomping grounds in years!"
"Nico this is my Aunt! The one who likes the creepy stuff!"
I was confused. Extremely confused. Why was she here? How did she get here?!
"Will your friend looks like he's about to explode from lack of info so you two just sit down and I'll tell him everything. I brought wine since you told me your sexy little friend here was Italian figured some good wine was in order"
"At 11am?"
"It's five o'clock somewhere and I only have enough for a glass each it's not like I'm getting you drunk but this may get emotional so I figured something to calm the nerves for everyone might be in order"
Emotional? Oh shit Will told her! The betrayal on my face must have been apparent because he had the look of being caught with his hand in a cookie jar splayed across his face.
"Ma'am I'm not sure what Will told you but.."
"Hold the ma'am shit you can call me Aunt Lee. "
"Ok Aunt Lee why are you here?"
"Well Nico my dear I'm here to help you with some of the stuff my nephew told me about. What he has yet to inform you of is that I to am a demigod"
"Really?!" I laughed out of nervousness. I wanted to run to recoil to throw this mad woman who knew nothing about me or my situation out of my cabin but she had this energy that she just radiated throughout the room. The feeling unfurling in my chest was familiar... family. As wild as she looked she reminded me of my mother. My throat swelled at the feeling. I haven't felt the presence of a mother figure in so long. Persephone was not maternal and Bianca was gone. Hazel was my little sister so I was the one looking out for her. This woman though made me feel as if I could spill every sorrow to her and she would just tell me everything was going to be ok.
"Well yes Neeks I'm the daughter of Thanatos! Death girl I guess you could say. I have a few very special powers that help in situations like these."
I started downing the peach wine. What was she going to do to me! Wow a daughter of Thanatos. The god of death himself. It was nice to know that I wasn't the only "death presence" in Wills life. Guys usually fell for girls like their moms. Guess will fell for guys that were like his crazy aunt!
" As the daughter of Death himself I'm here to teach you a few coping mechanisms and heal your heart a little bit." Coming over to me she laid her hands in mine and thoughts of my mother came rushing back to me. Pasta and sweet lavender perfume filled my nose. Memory after memory hit me. Both good and bad. She was giving me my mother back. Helping me get through her and my sisters deaths by reminding me how much they loved me and how they wouldn't want this life for me. The feeling of my mothers lips on my temple singing sweet Italian nothings in my ear. Warm S cookies soaked in coffee tickling my taste buds. When the memories stopped I realized I was sobbing. Pulling me down on the floor she held me. The weight of her arms and feeling of being held by a mother soothed me in a way that I had not realized I was missing. Cathartic sobs escaped me soaking the front of her shirt but she never once relented. Who knows how long this went on. Will was tearing up on the corner sitting in a big chair smiling watching us together. Pulling me up she lead me to the couch and Will followed suit sitting next to me.
"Well Nico I think the first part is done. Reminding those of the good times and the comfort of family helps heal what's broken. It's a special power of mine. I also have a lot in common with you! I can shadow travel with the best of them. That's how Will was able to keep you from fading. I walked him through a lot of the medical stuff for shadow travel. Don't worry if you just rest all that underworld energy for a month you will be good as new and shadow traveling your little heart out again. I promise" wiping my tears away I believed her. I needed to believe her.
"Angel my aunt is the one who got me through my self harm. She took me in when she realized how my mother was reacting. "
It all made sense. Aunt Lee was Wills savior and now she was going to help be mine.
"Now on to the coping!"
Rummaging through the metal box she pulled out a plastic box full of body jewelry and sterile needles.
"You my boy are going to get pierced today."
"What NO I am certainly not why would I do that?"
"Because sometimes Neeks you have to do something life affirming which is what you were doing hurting yourself. But there are safer and less crazy looking ways to do that. Like a new hair cut a tattoo a piercing. A little pain but in a safe way. "
The more she spoke the more sense she made. A piercing? Maybe. I never thought about that before. Looking at Will I asked the obvious question with my eyes
"Yes deathboy I have one. Well two..."
Looking down he pointed to his belly button. A small hole was there it just didn't have any jewelry in it.
"Where's the other one?"
"You will just have to wait til the third date to find that out" smirking out of the side of his mouth.
"Hey both of you throw some water on that conversation right now we need to see what would look best on our little cutie here"
"Snakebites" will said
"YAAASSS" lee screamed
"Snakebites?"
"Two lip rings here and here" indicating the points on her lips.
Excitement roiled in my chest. Yes I wanted to do this! Go big or go home right? Prepping the needles and implements on the table my hands started to shake.
"Don't be nervous Angel she's licensed." Then whispering "Her friend did my other one for me I thought it was a little to personal for her to do it"
I broke. Hysterical laughter escaped my lips and it felt sooo gooood!
Marking my lips she made quick work putting the gauges needles through the points in my mouth. It was perfect. The pain wasn't bad and it was cleansing. Plus sharing it with these two made them special. Two little black hoops were now in my lips. I looked at them in the mirror and joy broke across my face. Getting out a ball of rubber bands she placed it in my hand.
" The next time you want to cut I want you to do two things. First out one of these around your wrist and snap it. It's a very old therapy I learned years ago when Willy was going through this. Two I want you to Iris message me day or night. Besides you being important to Will you are also important to me. Technically we are cousins dear you are my family. But since I'm much older than you I want you to think of me as your aunt to. This goes beyond your relationship with Will. Even if you two never speak again I am your family now and I know sometimes it helps more to talk to a parent figure about what's going on."
Hugging me she packed up and gave Will and me a kiss goodbye. Part of me wanted her to stay. She felt like family. I had family now.
Sitting next to will on the couch I kissed him thanking him for bringing me a little peace. For giving me a piece of myself I didn't realize I was missing. The longer we kissed the more i realized he healed my new piercings while kissing me. Once he realized it to we both couldn't stop laughing. My stomach hurt from laughing. I couldn't even remember the last time I felt that way.
