"Ready to go?" Will called to Nico.
Nico flung his bag onto the back of the pickup truck, then hesitated and turned. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"
Will shrugged. "A couple days in New York. Why not?"
"I don't know – what if we're needed here at Camp Half-Blood?"
"Hey." Will's eyes softened. "We're not at war anymore. We can enjoy ourselves a bit. And it's Christmas – or rather, Christmas Eve. Let's go!"
Nico shifted uncomfortably. Will had invited him to spend Christmas with him in New York City with his mother, and he'd said yes immediately. But he'd been on edge for so long, thanks to going it alone – there'd been the Titan War and then the war against Gaia, and he'd had to look after himself through it all. In peacetime, it was difficult to imagine that he could relax.
"Okay, I'm being silly," he sighed. "Let's go!" He grinned at Will, who beamed back.
They hopped into the truck. Will hopped behind the driver's seat. There were still a few weeks to go before his 16th birthday, so technically he shouldn't be driving. But Will was pretty tall, and he was pretty well built. He definitely looked at least 16. Besides, he was a demigod. Driving safely was the least of his worries.
Nico sat back as Will started the car and switched on the radio. He loved Christmas music. He loved sitting in a car without having to worry about monster attacks. He loved the way Will's muscled shoulders moved under his orange T-shirt.
Nico could be shallow once in a while, couldn't he?
"Let's go," he said again as the truck pulled away from Half-Blood Hill.
~~Page Break~~
"Come in," Mrs. Solace greeted them as she opened the door wide. "It's so good to meet you, Nico!"
"It's good to meet you too, Mrs. Solace," Nico smiled politely. As he stepped in, he felt hesitant. How much had Will told his mother? Did she know the nature of their relationship?
"Oh, don't call me that," Mrs. Solace scolded. "I can't allow my son's boyfriend to call me Mrs. Solace. Call me Andrea."
Nico felt himself turning bright red as Andrea went into the kitchen. "Would you like some cookies?" she called.
"Yes, please," Nico called back.
The three of them sat and chatted at Will's dining table. Nico couldn't help but glance around the Brooklyn apartment where Will had grown up. It wasn't very large, but it had a wonderful, family, cosy atmosphere that Nico had never known. Nico tried to imagine a little Will here, learning to walk, coming home from school, doing homework – being summoned to Camp Half-Blood.
"I was just so worried about you," Andrea gushed, pinching Will's cheek. "Fighting a war against the Earth Mother! That's my boy!"
Will squirmed uncomfortably. "Mom," he complained. "Not now, maybe?"
"Oh, sorry, dear. Of course you're right." Andrea winked at Nico. "Not in front of your boyfriend."
"Oh, gods, Mom." Will stood up as Nico began laughing. "We're going to head into Manhattan, okay?"
Nico and Will got dressed and bundled up – it was unusually cold in New York this year. They headed out and into the Subway, and stood for about twenty minutes crammed up between sweaty New Yorkers. Nico found himself gasping for breath by the time they emerged above ground again, now in Manhattan.
"Welcome to Fifth Avenue," Will said as Nico looked around. "You haven't been here properly, have you?"
"Not really," Nico admitted as he looked around. Last time he'd been on Fifth Avenue, it had been in total chaos – demigods, Hunters, Underworld zombies and Kronos' monsters locked in battle and mortals fleeing every which way in panic. Now, of course, the city had recovered from the damage, and Fifth Avenue was decked out with Christmas decorations. Wreaths and tinsel hung from the building façades and Christmas lights snaked underneath the windows, casting a jolly glow on the street. Traffic rushed past, seeming even busier than usual, and shoppers strolled up and down, grins stretching from ear to ear. There was a real sense of festive holiday cheer in the air, and Nico found himself smiling as he drank it all in.
The two of them strolled down the avenue. A born and bred New Yorker, Will had sworn to show Nico the city, and Fifth Avenue was a great place to start. As they strolled, they eventually reached Rockefeller Centre. The famous Rockefeller Christmas tree, its lights starting to come on with the sunset, stood sentry over the skaters below, slipping and sliding and laughing.
"I've never been skating before," Nico admitted.
Will's eyes widened. "You haven't?"
Nico shook his head. Next thing he knew, Will had grabbed his hand and was hauling him through the crowds of surprised New Yorkers.
"What're you doing?"
"Bringing to you a New York holiday tradition," Will grinned. "We're going skating on the Rockefeller Centre Rink."
They rented skates using the mortal money Will's mother had given them and then made their way onto the ice.
"Watch me first," Will told Nico, clinging to the side of the rink. He swept off, and Nico watched as he made a circle. He looked like a nymph of the ice, swirling gracefully between skaters, moving silently and almost unseen between them, making it seem as natural as breathing.
"Your turn," he called to Nico.
Nico hesitantly let go of the railing and began to make his way towards Will.
Suddenly, a skating child slammed into Nico's side. Nico wobbled and began to topple, bracing himself mentally for the impact.
Strong arms were suddenly around him, and Nico looked up as Will held him steady. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned eyes looking into Nico's. Nico felt a warm glow begin to fill him at the thought of Will holding him, and he smiled shyly.
"I am," he responded.
"Come on." Will took Nico's hands in both his own and began to lead him across the ice. "It's simple. Step, push – step, push – you can do it."
It took some time, but Nico was soon steady on the ice by himself. That, of course, didn't stop Will from holding his hands anyway as they skated together through the rink.
"Look!" cried one of the mortals, a hand pointed upwards. Nico tensed, wondering what could be descending from above. But it wasn't some sort of winged monster. Instead, it was –
"Snow," said Nico with wonder, holding out a hand to catch snowflakes.
Will smiled at him. "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas," he sang, deliberately badly, in Nico's ear. Nico laughed at the feeling of his hot breath against his ear. "Just like the ones I used to know…"
He suddenly let go of Nico, and Nico almost stumbled. Will was skating forward, and suddenly leaped into the air, landing back on the ice with a graceful pirouette and circling back towards Nico. "Where the treetops glisten / And children listen / To hear sleigh bells on the snow," he continued, taking Nico's hands again and leading him forward. Nico laughed again, and skated forward eagerly. Christmas carols were not his forte, but he loved listening to Will sing joyfully, putting on a deep voice.
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas / With every Christmas card I write," Will warbled as they circled the rink. "May your days be merry and bright / And may all your Christmases be white." He suddenly came to a halt, and held both of Nico's hands in his.
Nico watched as Will brought both of Nico's hands to his mouth and kissed them softly, letting his lips touch each finger, each knuckle. "Merry Christmas, Nico di Angelo," he whispered.
Nico's mouth didn't seem to work at first, but with a massive effort he stuttered, "Merry Christmas, Will Solace."
Will grinned, and leaned in, and then they were kissing. Nico drowned in Will's kiss, and mortals all around were whooping and cheering and applauding. But he didn't care about that. For once, he didn't feel like a son of Hades, hated and mistrusted. He was just Nico, and Will was just Will, and they were kissing.
And that was all that mattered.
