Yeah, the hiatus was pretty long this time, but I basically got sucked into all my old fandoms. I'm talking reading TRC while I wait for a coat to dry on my painting of WTNV on my cupboard level. But the good news is that I'm back now, in all my procrastinating glory.

"Why?"

"Hey, Nico, is that any way to talk to a customer?"

"Sorry, you're right. Do you want fries with your side of 'Percy-why-are-you-here-I'm-working, please-leave... To Go?"

"Aw, come on?"

He sighed, "How far away are Jason and the others?"

Percy started protesting. Maybe he just decided to drop in, why did he have to have ulterior motives, had Nico considered he was just trying to be a good friend. Nico shot him a look.

"Fine, fine, they should be-"

Leo barged in through the restaurant doors, making everyone except Nico turn in the direction of the loud Hispanic intrusion. Hopes rose that it wasn't too late to pretend that he didn't know these people. Maybe he could try and get some actual paid hours into this job for once. Emphasis on tried.

"When do you clock out, Zombie Dude?"

Hopes were crushed.

"Would there be any point in me telling you not to call me that?"

"Nope," he said cheerily.

Jason popped up from behind with a;

"Well, when are you off? We're heading off to your favourite."

Nico resisted the urge to reach up and fix Jason's glasses; they'd fallen lopsidedly across the bridge of his nose.

"I should be off in about an hour. Think you can keep Valdez and Jackson from burning down the centre 'til then?"

"No promises."

"Want us gone that badly, di Angelo?"

"Yes, Valdez. You're holding up the line."

He smiled apologetically at a woman and her two kids. Just an hour to go.

It was slow going, but eventually Nico clocked out and headed in the direction of the nearest Burger King. Jason and Percy were arguing animatedly about something, Leo occasionally looked up from his tinkering to contribute something unhelpful. Nico stole one of Percy's fries while he was distracted. Of course he noticed.

"Hey, you have your own!"

"But stolen food always tastes better."

Jason slid the take-out bag towards Nico. He stole another one of Percy's fries just for good measure. Not that Jackson noticed, he was too busy arguing with Grace.

"Zeus would totally beat Poseidon in a fight! He shoots freaking lightning-bolts, man. I mean, come on!"

"Do I even need to bring up how powerful the ocean is?" Percy cut in.

"Guys, why does it even matter?"

"Okay, Mythomagic Boy."

"He's got a point, di Angelo."

He muttered in Italian between mouthfuls of fries.

He swallowed a mouthful,"Besides, we all know Hades would beat them both to the ground. Ugh, this food is terrible," he said, as he shoved another two into his mouth.

"Right? Why do you insist on coming here? Aside from for the workers."

"Come on, Percy, it's not the workers. Just one of them."

"Ho intenzione di uccidere tutto di te nel tuo dormire."

"Mhmm, that's nice, di Angelo."

"Sooo...Anyone enjoying their food? I'm not."

"Real subtle change of subject there, Nico."

"They like to claim this food is edible. But I guess I'd be out of a job of people didn't carry on eating this garbage," a voice from behind them piped up.

Nico very smoothly froze in place and went an interesting shade of crimson.

Pssh, that's not Solace. It could be anyone and you're just freaking out for nothing.

He managed to turn enough to get a good view of a face that was more grin than actual face. Topped off with blindingly white teeth.

Yup, that was Will. He groaned internally.

"But hey, still not half as bad as McDonalds," he carried on.

"Oh really," Leo was smiling way too widely, "it's just your luck that this fine specimen of an Italian works right- ow!"

The flushed Italian in question kicked him in the shin. Too little, too late, Solace leaned in his direction.

"Really, you work there?"

He managed a nod, and Jason looked like he was going to throw him a friggin' party or something. He could just picture the printed banners now, Congratulations, Nico! You managed a nod at your fast-food worker crush!

"And you came straight from working at one greasy food-chain to the next. I guess I should count myself lucky."

He gave one more smile before walking off to another table.

Nico's mouth opened just a little.

"Did-did he- Was I just flirted with?"

Jason was shooting the back of Solace's head a glare, like it offended him or something.

"I think you just were."

"What was he even doing at our table anyways? Doesn't he have a job?"

Percy and Jason shrugged.

"Can I finish your drink?" was all Leo contributed.

translations:

Ho intenzione di uccidere tutto di te nel tuo dormire- I'm going to murder you all in your sleep

So I get that it sounds a lot like Croissants and Coffee, but I wanted to write this, so here you go.

Did-did I just kill Nico's love for McDonalds? *sits in the corner to think about what I've done*