Nico was incredibly lucky to find his room empty when he turned the door. "Jason must be jogging." He thought out loud, letting out a breath of relief. As much as he had really needed that talk with Will, he wasn't very excited about having to relate it to Jason. Plus, he was pretty sure Jason would blame himself for Nico's…breakdown the night before.
Changing would probably be a good idea, but he found himself hesitating. Pulling the hoodie over his head, his fingers wrapped around the hem of the shirt. Will's shirt was way too big on him, resulting in the soft fabric hitting his hips. The smell of Will clung to the cotton, which Nico found intoxicating. He would never take it off if he could help it, but he begrudgingly decided that he definitely needed a shower.
He grabbed his toiletry kit from its place next to his desk, and a towel that he thought was probably clean. When he opened the door, he nearly ran face-first into Jason's chest. Nico held up his hands in a defensive pose, "I promise to tell you about it, but let me clean up first." Jason considered him for a moment before frowning and moving to the side to let Nico through.
Nico appreciated Jason letting him by and turned to face him. "Thanks J. I'll make sure to tell you everything as soon as I don't feel gross anymore." Jason just nodded at him, but he could tell the corners of his lips had turned up into a half-smile.
The walk to the bathroom was short, and luckily there was no one really awake this early on a Saturday morning. The bathroom itself was not crowded, with only two or three other boys in there. Of course, just by Nico's luck, Octavian had to be one of them. "Oh Nico. Have a good time last night?"
The mocking tone in Octavian's voice washed over Nico as he ignored him outright. He only made it a few steps before the annoying boy's voice rose up again, "You and your boyfriend?" Nico could almost hear the evil, smug smirk on Octavian's face, and he couldn't help but turn to face the boy.
"Yeah. Me and my boyfriend. What about him?" Nico wasn't very tall, and his muscles weren't very defined, but his glare was notorious. There was a reason he was called the Skeleton King at camp. Octavian backed away from Nico only a small step before regaining his composure, using his height to physically overshadow the smaller boy.
"Nothing." Octavian presented, the tone of his voice and the upturn of his mouth leading Nico to determine something else was going on there. "Just find it interesting. Didn't know you were…well that way." The smile that played on his face now was one of antagonistic curiosity. He was baiting Nico and Nico was falling for it. He curled his fingers into a fist, digging his nails into his palm. Biting back his anger, he straightened his back.
"Yeah. Didn't really think you'd care. Well gotta shower now. See you around." It took every ounce of Nico's self-control to leave him there, to not punch him in his smug face, but he knew that in a fight with Octavian, he would lose. Not to say that he hadn't dreamed about it; it would be so satisfying to force his wicked grin off his face.
Octavian didn't protest, instead laughing as Nico walked away. He made sure his shower was quick, letting the cold-water splash against him to bring him back to his senses. That stupid boy knew exactly how to get a rise out of anybody. Nico had almost always been immune to his attempts, but now he had ammunition that he knew Nico couldn't dodge. The water was turned off as soon as he could manage, grabbing his towel and wrapping it around his waist.
He shook his hair out, running his hands through its length and letting it drip down his back. Thinking back on the night before, he knew he was going to need to brush it thoroughly to make sure all the gel and hairspray came out.
Brushing his teeth made him feel much better, after he realized that he hadn't brushed them the night before. Overall, he felt a lot better after his session of personal hygiene. He put some deodorant on and grabbed his clothes, realizing that he had forgotten to grab a new set. Groaning, he put a firm, secure hold on his towel around his waist and began to walk as fast as he could back to his room.
He arrived, unscathed, to find Jason in his bean bag chair, playing Call of Duty and sulking. "Uh J, could you…" Nico tried to swallow his embarrassment, but the words caught in his throat. Jason eyed him for a second before realizing what he was asking. "Oh yeah. I'll stand outside. Just knock when you're done."
He stood, avoiding Nico's eye. It wasn't that Jason would've cared, but he knew Nico cared so he avoided it. Nico didn't tell him enough how good of a friend he was. When the door was shut, Nico quickly pulled on a clean pair of boxers and some joggers. He also grabbed a random t-shirt from his drawer. The final touch was Will's way-too-big sweatshirt. He began to run his fingers through his hair before realizing that Jason was still waiting for him. Knuckles rapped quickly on the door to signify that he was done, and Jason slip back into the room, resuming his position in his bean bag chair.
The difference was that this time, Jason didn't start his game, instead making fierce eye contact with Nico. Background music from the pause screen of Call of Duty played quietly in the background, and Nico ran his fingers through his hair nervously.
"So what do you want to know?" Nico started, grabbing the chair from his desk and turning it so he could sit facing his roommate.
"Well for starters, what happened? You were fine and dancing one second and then the next you look like you're about to puke. I know it wasn't the liquor because no matter how drunk I've seen you you've never once hurled." It wasn't so much an accusation as a plea. Jason really didn't understand what had happened, and he had probably been worrying about it the whole night. The bags under his eyes and paleness to his face led Nico to believe that he hadn't slept much.
"You're right, it wasn't just the liquor. I…well when you said…I heard something that triggered my Bianca memories. I heard it and then it was like every bad thought I've had since she died attacked me at once. I told Will." His eyes darted away from Jason, knowing the guilt his friend must feel. He hadn't explicated stated what the words had been, but Jason wasn't stupid, and the hurt in his eyes led Nico to believe he had figured it out.
"Shit Neeks…I'm so sorry." He stood, wrapping his friend in a tight hug. The way the two were positioned made it awkward, but Nico reciprocated none-the-less. Jason had been a really good friend to him, and he knew his stunt last night must have terrified him.
"Its not your fault. Honestly it was probably one of the seven shots I did." A laugh escaped from his lips, but it was half-hearted. This earned a shoulder squeeze from Jason who then returned to his bean bag.
"The things I said to Will…I told him that I was a monster and that Bianca's death was my fault." Nico held up a hand to warn Jason not to interrupt. He needed to say this, and he didn't need Jason reminding him that it wasn't true. "Yes, I know, it wasn't my fault. Marty really punched that through to me, don't worry." The blonde boy seemed to deflate, a smirk playing around the corner of his lips.
"Anyway, I don't even remember having this conversation. He filled me in when I woke up. Man was that fucking surreal though. I woke up in his bed wearing his shirt and boxers. I was freaking the fuck out J." His smile was growing, fondly remembering waking up to Will's smiling face.
"And?" Jason asked expectantly, raising a suspicious eyebrow.
"Oh…no…nothing like that." Nico cleared his throat to get rid of the awkward coating those words had been wrapped in. "He was a real gentleman, slept on the floor and everything." He had to laugh at that, realizing how ridiculous he sounded.
"Wow really? I didn't get a chance to tell you yet Neeks, but I really like this guy. I've got a good feeling about him and from what I've seen, he's just really good for you." He shot Nico a full-hearted smile, the tension that had existed between them dissipating as the two smiled.
"He even made me breakfast this morning." Nico offered, not missing the mischievous gleam in Jason's eyes.
"I've just realized Nico, you, as far as I'm aware, have never had any…encounters before. Do you need me and Percy to give you the birds and the bees talk?" He was barely containing his laughter, earning a playful glare from the shorter boy. He grabbed the closest thing to him and lobbed it at Jason's head. It was just a balled-up shirt, but the blonde flinched like he'd been assaulted.
"Look I'm pretty sure that I can figure it out myself. Or I'm sure that Will can show me." The innocent look on Nico's face soon turned into a devilish smirk. Jason threw the shirt back at him, laughter in his eyes.
"Yeah I'm sure Will would love to do that." Jason deployed one of his signature eyebrow wiggles which just made Nico laugh harder. "Well let it be stated for the record that I approve."
Nico smiled back in appreciation; he didn't let many people into his life, so it was really important to him that his friends like him.
"I was thinking Neeks, we haven't hung out you, me and Percy in a while. Why don't we shoot him a text and see if he's up to lunch?" Nico bit his lip as he considered. He hadn't really hung out with Percy since Tuesday, and Will would probably be busy with his report anyway.
"Yeah that sounds great! I'll give him a call." He took out his phone, shooting Will a quick text about his change of plans before dialing up Percy's number. Jason stood in front of him so he could join the conversation. When Percy picked up, he put him on speaker.
"Yo, yo! You're alive then? Haven't really heard from you in days besides your streak snaps. What's up?"
"Hey Perce, you're on speaker with me and Jason."
"Oh J's there too? You know you can call me yourself you gargantuan dick. At least Nico pretends to keep in contact with me."
"That's really not fair Perce. You know I'm super bad at communication. Piper is up my ass about it enough. Besides aren't you busy being a housewife or something."
"Hey that's stay-at-home dad to you."
"You're not a father." Nico interjected, watching Jason crack a smile at his point.
"Yes, but I am a daddy." Both Nico and Jason groaned at the statement, yelling gross into the phone.
"So, what are you two calling about? More details on Nico's mystery man? Did you know he doesn't have a Facebook? Like what a weirdo."
"Hey don't call my boyfriend a weirdo!" Nico insisted, purposely using his new title.
"Oh that is a fun development. Your boyfriend huh?" He could almost hear Percy's evil grin through the phone. Luckily, Jason saved him from having more of that conversation.
"Anyway, we thought maybe you'd want to get lunch. We could hit up the all you can eat on Rt. 11?" Jason knew well that Percy would not turn down the opportunity to go to the Buffet.
"Amazing. Spectacular. Best idea I've heard in years. Annabeth is at some important study session anyway, so I'm totally free. What time were you thinking?"
Jason studied his watch, calculating how long it would take for him to be ready to go.
"Maybe 11:30?" Nico checked the time, that gave them 45 minutes before they had to leave. Plenty of time to absolutely destroy Jason in Call of Duty's gun game.
"Litty." Percy responded, earning another groan from Nico. He hated when Percy used slang like that.
"See you cool cats there. Gotta go get ready, it takes a while to look this good, but someone's gotta do it." With a laugh, his phone beeped to signify that the call had ended.
"Remind me why we're friends with him again?" Nico posed, catching Jason's eye.
"We like him or some bullshit like that." Jason paused before adding, "Plus he had a car before either of us."
"Why yes. That was it." Nico agreed, grabbing the second controller and sitting in his desk chair. "We have some time to kill. Unless you're scared of defeat."
"Oh, you're on death boy!" Jason responded, plopping back down into his bean bag and positioning himself to face the tv.
The time passed quickly doing this, Nico winning a majority of their games. Jason was way better at the campaign part of the game, but Nico thrived in the close quarters of gun game. His accuracy was insane on some of the more obscure weapons.
"You are the worst, you know that?" Jason bit out as their last game ended. Nico just stuck his chin up in a sign of his superiority.
Jason stretched out, earning a few satisfying cracks from his back before standing and grabbing his coat. "We should probably head out. Don't want Percy getting there before us, he'll pick that awful booth by the fish tank." The two boys laughed at what they knew was a true statement, and they gathered their stuff to head out. Nico pulled his bomber jacket over Will's sweatshirt, ignoring how dumb he probably looked.
"Want me to drive or you?" Jason asked, a smiling nipping at the corners of his lips. Nico just rolled his eyes and hit the boy on the shoulder.
"You know the answer to that is always you. Your car is fucking sick." Jason just laughed, grabbing his keys and opening the door. Nico did a quick once over to make sure he had everything and then followed the blonde boy out. He felt his phone vibrate and smiled when he saw that he had both a text and a snapchat from Will. The text was sweet, Enjoy your lunch! Wish I was with you instead of doing this report. Anyway, gotta get back to my thrilling life of human anatomy.
He laughed gently, opening the snapchat next. It was a picture of Will's desk with his laptop open and a pile of textbooks. The text read wish you were here, and then there was a bitmoji of Will offering him a bouquet of flowers.
Nico flipped his camera, sending back a shot of Jason's back walking away from him. On the picture, he placed a nice graphic that said Saturdays are for the boys and hit send.
He responded to the text next, Hope it goes fast. Anatomy is not so bad. Maybe you just need a more hands-on education ;P. He blushed very slightly at his implication but collected himself easily. After all, Will probably wouldn't even see it for a few hours anyway. He was really dedicated to his work.
Jason determined that it was nice enough out to drive with the windows down, so Nico took out a hair tie and pulled his hair back into a small ponytail. He hated when the wind blew his hair in his face. They argued over music selection for a minute before they mutually agreed to listen to the radio. It was only fair, since then neither of them had a monopoly on the type of music that played.
After a few tries, they landed on a station that was most of the way through Don't Stop Believing. The two belted out the last chorus and waited for the songs to change over. Nico shot Jason a victorious look as the next song that played was Panic! At the Disco's Death of a Bachelor. Jason went to change the station, but Nico swatted at his hand.
"Blasphemy. I know you're not the biggest fan of Panic, but Brendan Urie was my sexual awakening and it is a law that I have to listen to his music whenever its on." Jason's shoulders slumped as he sighed.
"You can't use having a crush on someone as an excuse to listen to music I don't like. Next thing you know we'll be listening to Percy's mix tape."
"Percy has a mixtape?" Nico prodded, with faux interest.
"You know what I mean asshole!" Jason argued, frowning at the road.
"Alright fine. If you let me listen to Panic, then I won't insist on changing the station every time your country garbage comes on. Deal?" Jason resigned to that offer, holding out his left hand for a quick shake before returning it to the steering wheel.
Nico contentedly sang along to the rest of the song, thriving in his small victory in the car radio wars. It seemed they had the same argument every time they were in a car together, and yet it never got old.
"Oh I forgot to tell you." Nico began, suddenly reminded about old arguments. "You'll never believe the wrong opinion Will holds."
"Does it have to do with your terrible taste in music?" Jason offered, earning a punch in the arm from Nico. "Hey I'm driving!"
"Yeah well that didn't hurt and you know it!" Nico stuck his tongue out before continuing. "No, he thinks the Office is better than Parks and Recreation."
"I have to rescind my approval. Nico you must understand, I don't need that kind of negative energy around me. He'll throw all of my chakras out of balance." That earned a laugh from both of them as they pulled onto the road where the buffet was.
The old shopping plaza looked super run down, with a closed K-Mart that had been abandoned on one end and some dodgy insurance company on the other. Sandwiched in between were a handful of small shops. One was a dry-cleaners, one a book store, and a salon. Smack dab in the middle though was the Holy Grail. Old Country Buffet had a neon sign flaring Open at them as they opened the door. It was decorated with gold statues and art from the far east, but the first thing that hit them was the smell. It smelled like Chinese food, but also had an undersmell of other things like broccoli that had been cooked a little too long and fresh-ish pie.
They had beaten Percy, but only by a few seconds, as he walked in as Jason approached the hostess to ask for a table. He smiled at the taller boy, his black hair falling half-hazardly around his ears. Nico knew he had a lot of information to fill Percy in on, but he also knew that the best way to do that with minimal interrogation was letting him eat first. This was going to be a hell of a lunch.