A/N: Um…..how long has it been? *glances at date and cringes* Well it's only been like five months guys okay? *shields self from rotten fruit*

Because I'm an American I get to have Thanksgiving break so I decided to write a chapter while I was at it. I'm a junior in high school so right now I'm kind of dying slowly. Not to mention deciding on a good word for I was a pain in the rear end. So here's your Thanksgiving gift! If you're not American here's a random Thursday gift!

Disclaimer: Do I still have to do this? I DON'T OWN IT

I is for Isolated

Nico had been alone for a long time.

It started when he was young. Even as a child, he'd always felt like an outsider. That was why he'd thrown himself into games. People talked to you if you played the same games they did, to compare strategies, to share inside jokes. To be friends for a few brief moments. Simple games like hopscotch to more complex ones like Mythomagic- Nico played them all, and kids spoke to him for it.

Having friends had always been a struggle for Nico. He had his sister, and he'd felt for a long time that was all he'd needed. She was the only person in the world who understood him. Maybe he'd never been able to connect with other children because of who his father was, or maybe it was because he simply didn't have a father for a long time, but Bianca had been his best friend because she was in the same situation.

But Bianca had always had a much easier time talking to other kids - at least, before the Lotus Hotel. So Nico tried to copy her. He tried to be happy and smiling and welcoming to the people he met, the way Bianca was. Even after they lost their mother, and went to the Lotus Hotel, Nico continued being happy after his sister stopped smiling, because now he knew she needed it. And Nico found Mythomagic, and it wasn't hard at all to be excited about that. But Bianca was never quite as happy as she once was, so he had to be happy for her.

Bianca was still the brave one, even if she wasn't happy. And that was why it was inevitable that she left him, first to be a Hunter, then to save her friends. And Nico forgot how to be happy and friendly and everything she had taught him, and he quickly turned into his childhood self.

Isolated.

I never realized how much being alone hurts, Nico reflected.

Will's breath puffed against his neck. "What are you thinking about?" he murmured, resting his chin on Nico's shoulder.

Nico shivered and pressed deeper into his embrace. "You know how you're always telling me that I'm a depressed loner?"

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking about how annoying you are when you do that," he commented, yawning.

Will snorted, his breath warming Nico's neck once more. Nico sighed, lazily turning his head to kiss his boyfriend's forehead. The couple lay in Cabin 13, the game of checkers they had been playing abandoned in favor of spooning on the bed when they both realized they were exhausted from training. Will absentmindedly intertwined his fingers with Nico's. "What are you really thinking about?"

Nico traced the archer's calluses on Will's palm. Will always complained about how archery ruined his hands, but Nico secretly thought the calluses added to his charm. "My sister,"

"Which one?"

Nico smiled. He liked being reminded that yes, he did in fact have a wonderful sister still in this world, even if Bianca no longer was. "Bianca,"

Will stiffened slightly, and Nico instantly turned around to face him. He was frowning. "What for?"

Nico kissed his nose, and the frown vanished. "Don't worry. It was more of a childhood nostalgia thing. I'm not mourning. Yet," he added as an afterthought.

Will grunted in understanding. "What do you miss about your childhood?"

"Just her and my mom, really," Nico replied. "I used to be really isolated as a kid. Bianca kind of forced me to be social."

"'Used to be', huh?"

"I'm working on it," Nico huffed. "You have to admit, I've been making a lot of progress,"

"That's true," Will smiled. "You don't turn bright red when I kiss you in public. It's more of a subtle rouge color these days,"

"Shut up,"

"And you cuddled with me for a good twenty minutes there. That's some kind of record for you," Will continued, eyes twinkling.

"If you ever tell anyone that I cuddled with you- especially that I let you be the big spoon- I swear I will tell everyone about that poem you wrote on my birthday."

"That's not fair!"

"Fire against fire, Solace," Nico shrugged. "All's fair in love and war."

"It's a good thing I love you too much, then," Will commented offhandedly, not seeming to realize what he'd said, before leaning towards Nico.

Nico smiled. "I suppose," he replied before Will captured his lips. He'd muster up the courage to say it back someday.

He'd been isolated for a long time, so he couldn't help loving the boy who'd set him free.

A/N: And…..scene! I enjoy fluff too much if you couldn't tell. Casually cuddling? Spooning? Nico being the little spoon? Nico giving his acknowledged boyfriend little forehead and nose kisses? Aaaaaaaaaargh *dies*

*resurrects* I think I compensate for my lack of an S.O. by making my OTP do cute things. Questions, comments, concerns, ideas, etc, etc….Review!

~ The Last Narnian