a/n: ahhh this is kind of the chapter that sets up the future drama...we're getting very close to the end here; this one's a couple hundred words shorter than normal but the next few chapters (and the solangelo in this one) will more than make up for it
i know this seems like another really fluffy chapter, but stay with me, i promise it gets better next few chaps.
enjoy! tell me your thoughts on this chapter, i'd love to hear them and any feedback you've got!
. . .
Dating Will Solace, Nico realizes, is amazing.
They'll go on dates often. Sometimes they'll go out and eat and maybe watch a movie — cuddle a bit, but not too much; they take things slow — and sometimes they go to Nico's house, eat through his entire stash of ice cream (although Nico keeps the case rooms hidden and makes sure Will doesn't go there) — other times they'll be at Will's house.
Naomi Solace is his mom's name; he doesn't have a dad, Will informs him, but he'd been told that his dad was a surgeon — hence the need to follow in his footsteps. Miss Solace is super sweet and really accepting of Nico and Will; she trusts them enough to be alone and she's just overall so kind it really puts Will's personality into perspective for Nico.
One thing's for sure: every time Nico and Will spend time together, Nico ends the night with a goofy grin on his face. He loves that feeling.
. . .
Nico tries, he really does — to keep an eye on Queen Marie's grave, watch out for Octavian and Lawrence — who've been strangely absent for a while — while juggling Will, Jason, and schoolwork — not to mention the legitimate zombie murders out there.
So, realistically, of course he ends up lagging off and spending his free time with Will. Nico needs a break. Nico has worked so hard, he figures, he deserves this for the work he's done and the conclusions he's made. He has helped the Agency so much, damn it, so he will take his time off.
This is not the best choice, but Nico's smitten and he really just is so totally done with this spy thing.
Which gets him to his next dilemma: once the mystery is solved and the case is packed up, Nico and Will might have to separate as Nico leaves for the Agency. Of course, he'd still have loads of free time — this case is one of the very few he's gotten since his Minos mission, so perhaps he might get by here at Riverside permanently, but Nico's not really sure about that one and it worries him a bit.
He doesn't dwell on it. Nico isn't going to spend the end of the school year worrying.
And — sure, Jason's assisting on this case, so he's got some Agency stuff to do, but it's paperwork only since he's on a case, so he can pick up Nico's slack no problem.
There hasn't been anything on the grave front in a long time. It's nothing, at least for now.
Nico's not worried about that.
. . .
The dance is just amazing.
Hazel brings Frank — Nico doesn't like it, but he sighs internally and moves on; it isn't any of his business who she dates, even if she is a murderer — Lou Ellen and Cecil are somehow going together, Austin and Kayla are with each other because they couldn't find dates —
"We're half siblings, obviously we're not dating," Kayla explains to a befuddled Will.
Jason has brought his girlfriend, Piper McLean — Nico needs to stop thinking of her as Special Agent McLean, but old habits die hard — and the two look so hideously in love Nico'd be disgusted if that didn't make him a hypocrite — because he probably looks the same with Will.
Octavian is apparently taking Lawrence to the dance — and they look immensely uncomfortable with each other. Nico guesses they don't have any dates either.
Will tries to 'warn' him: "I have two left feet and I will be tripping all over you for the entire night, so just a bit of a fair warning if you don't want sore toes and would like to walk tomorrow — am I rambling again? I'm sorry, it's just, I've never had a boyfriend before and —"
"— Will." Nico places a reassuring hand on his shoulder. He hesitates for a moment, but finally Nico places a light peck on Will's lips to assure him even further. "It's fine. I don't mind. I mean, your eyes are super super pretty so I'd get stepped on a thousand times to keep looking at them."
Will has a blush dusting his cheeks — if it's from Nico's words or his kiss, he's not sure, but he likes it anyway.
Nico doesn't really like dancing and he grumbles a bit — but not too much, because this is Will, and Will Will Will — when it's time for them to slow-dance, and true to his word, Will steps all over him and Nico's a little bit sore, but Will is beaming the entire time, and that just makes everything worth it.
If this is what it feels like to be in love — yeah. Nico's whipped and he is totally in love, and he finds he doesn't quite mind it after all.
. . .
So he should probably expect it, but it all goes wrong soon enough.
After nearly three weeks off, Octavian and Lawrence — both! In the flesh! — return after school — on a Tuesday, as per routine — while Nico's with Will.
"Hey, di Angelo, how's your boyfriend?" taunts Lawrence.
"Better than you," Will says immediately.
Octavian scoffs. "That all you got?"
"Again, I got more than you," Will shoots back.
"Di Angelo," Lawrence sighs, "no need to bring your boyfriend into this. It's between us. You're just a freshie who doesn't know his place. Your sophomore buddy doesn't need to get into this, really." He looks at Will. "Or are you really willing to go this far for your boyfriend?"
"Nico is amazing and ten times the guy you'll ever be," snaps Will angrily. "How about you move the hell along and go harass someone who will actually take your —"
He's cut off by an angry — yet still infuriatingly calculated — punch to the face. Nico thinks Octavian might even have scratched Will with his long, nimble fingers — that are apparently better for more than just sitting there — he's smirking, the bastard, and Nico feels a rush of fury.
They can poke him around and make fun of him all they want, but going there with Will is crossing a line.
Nico rushes right up to Octavian and speaks. He doesn't raise his voice — he's not that kind of person, really. He prefers intimidation — and that's what he's about to do. He is about to instill such a fear in Octavian that it will burn through even Nico's white-hot anger.
"You really want to do that?" Nico hisses lightly and threateningly. The best threats, he knows, are the quietly scary ones — the ones where no one needs to raise their voice but the message is clear. "You really want to go there again?"
Octavian narrows his eyes at Nico. "Yeah," he says, "and I will —"
"No, you won't." Nico holds up a hand to silence him. "I'm well aware you're an idiota with nothing better to do, but if you mess with me or Will again — I promise — there will be consequences. As in — consequences your rich daddy can't fix." What he's going to say next is probably not the best idea, but it's subtle and shady, which will definitely leave Octavian and Lawrence wondering what he means and hopefully cow them into submission. "I know you're well aware of what I mean — so stay the hell away from us, or there will be grave problems for you."
A brief bit of shock appears on Octavian's face — and a minute later, Lawrence's — because who are they to say Nico's referring to Queen Marie? His words might be choice, coincidence, and emphasis — or they might not be.
And that suspicion, that shock? It's what Nico is banking on.
. . .
"What did you do?" Will asks Nico when they're at his house. Nico had had Jason go off to the pharmacy and get medical supplies, and currently Nico is dabbing at the small cut — Octavian apparently has sharp nails — at Will's forehead with some antiseptic and a cotton ball. "With Octavian? How'd you get him to back off?"
"Simply," Nico mutters, ignoring Will's hiss at the sting of the liquid on his wounds, "blackmail."
"You blackmailed Octavian?" wonders Will incredulously. "With what?"
"Let's just say I picked some stuff up," answers Nico vaguely.
"Oh, my goodness," Will gasps. "You realize how risky that was?"
"You're one to lecture me about risk." Nico rolls his eyes, although he'll admit he's still a little bit worried. "You went up there, and sure, it was nice and all and really brave and gallant of you to defend my honor or whatever, but it was a little bit too noble and look where that got you." He dabs a bit more antiseptic harshly onto Will's injuries — Will sucks in a sharp breath.
"Okay," he says softly and a little roughly, "you really can't do this, Nico."
"Oh, and you can?" Nico raises a brow at Will.
Will snatches the antiseptic bottle from Nico, and begins to dab at his forehead with dexterity, his nimble hands much more gentle than Nico's.
"I'm in training to be a surgeon," explains Will, "of course, you knew that — but well, it's advanced to a point where this is child's play" — he shoots a playful glare at Nico — "so yes, actually, I can do it better than you."
"I concede." Nico raises his hands above his head.
Nico's still incredibly proud — of his boyfriend.
It feels good.