As Nico walked off into the impending darkness, he felt a warmth inside his chest that hadn't been ignited in what felt like eons. The constant aching loneliness of his world no longer seemed as overbearing, and it truly felt like something had changed in the way he viewed everything.
Nobody would have ever guessed that he would reach a point one day where he consistently spent school nights eagerly awaiting the new day to come. That he would reach a point where not every single day was a mindless repetitive chore. That it was possible for him to ever feel safe baring the most vulnerable, emotional parts of his very soul to another human being once more.
By the time Nico left the subway station, the sun had already set below the horizon, cloaking the streets in chilly darkness, as the lone sound of shoes gently scraping against the sidewalk accompanied him home. It was a very pleasant night, with all seemingly at peace, a gentle evening breeze following Nico home. Normally, after hours of human interaction, he would have noticed the draining effects of introversion taking its toll on his body. But for some reason, tonight was different. His steps were lighter, his mind sharper, his breathing steadier than ever before.
It finally felt like he had found somewhere he truly belonged.
As Nico mentally recounted the events that unfolded during the event full day, a small but genuine smile crept back onto his face. It felt like he really was living in a dream. Never in his life did he expect such a kind-hearted, interesting, angel of a person to even take interest in him, much less want to pursue any kind of relationship with him, platonic or otherwise.
The unexpected burst of confidence on the couch might have just been the best thing that Nico had ever done. Look where it got him.
The telltale fluttering of excitement filled Nico's chest again, his small smile breaking out into a giddy grin, unseen in the darkness, as he finally walked into his house. It was eerily silent as always, the smallest of sounds echoing through the large foyer.
But for once, the isolating atmosphere was the last thing on Nico's preoccupied mind.
The warmth of Will's hands in his own, the way he absolutely glimmered in the presence of the smallest amount of light, the contagious laughter, smiles, and joy that the other boy brought him all played themselves over and over in Nico's mind as he ascended the stairs towards his bedroom.
As he passed Hades's bedroom, he could make out the faint shape of two sleeping figures bundled together under king-sized blankets, and the corners of Nico's mouth raised once more, knowing that he wasn't the only one today that had gotten to spend quality time with someone he loved.
Wait. Nico paused, blinking in the darkness. Love? No way. It's way too early for that. I'm already thinking 200 steps ahead of where I actually am right now.
But, you know, that doesn't completely rule out the possibility in the future, Nico added as he kicked off his shoes in the hallway outside his bedroom.
He shut the door quietly behind him, so as not to disturb his sleeping parents, flicking on the light switch as he did so. Nico sharply inhaled with a hiss as the sudden deluge of light from the ceiling light filled the dark room, and headed towards the bathroom to get ready for the sweet, alluring call of sleep.
Switching off his bedroom light at an abnormally early hour, Nico flopped onto his bed, undressing from his daytime wear and sliding under the covers with newfound hope for the future in his heart.
He wrapped his arms around one of his many pillows, squeezing it tight to his chest as he thought of a certain someone before his conscious drifted into a well-deserved slumber.
That night, Nico slept soundlessly but dreamlessly, with nothing plaguing his mind. No more nightmares about being swallowed by the darkness, of watching himself being left behind, of being confined with no way out. The darkness of his mind that once was his prison had become a source of safety.
A source of solace.
The comforting warmth trapped under thick blankets held Nico in a soothing embrace, even as the sun threatened to peek in from around the edges of his bedroom's blackout blinds. As he slowly felt the drowsiness dripping away from his consciousness, the telltale buzzing sound of his text messaging app sharpened his senses.
Nico, who would normally groan and toss his phone onto piles of clothes on the floor, immediately jerked awake, unlocking his screen to see if it was a message from Will.
Much to his delight, it was.
Today 14:36
Hey, are you doing anything today? I'm bored.
Dad took the girls out to their art classes today, and I'm out of shows to watch.
Come give me some recommendations? ;)
Nico felt his pulse start to pick up from the lazy rhythm of sleep as he thought about spending another day together with Will. The possibilities were endless – the whole world was at their disposal and all Nico had to do was respond-
"Nico, are you awake yet?" Heavy footsteps and a gruff voice from outside Nico's bedroom door startled Nico out of his momentary daydream. "Don't forget that we're going out tonight with Persephone for my early birthday dinner."
Fuck. Nico's high spirits dropped, the hopes that he would be able to see Will again completely shattered.
"Yeah, I'm up," Nico replied begrudgingly, sinking back down into his sheets, unable to hide his disappointment.
"Our reservation is for 5:30," Hades continued from the other side of the door, "So you've still got some time before we need to go, but make sure you're ready to go by 5."
"Yeah Dad, got it." Nico asserted, gloomily but in a much louder voice than normal, as he pulled his blankets back over his head.
Nico heard his dad's footsteps begin to head back down the hallway, before turning back around and stopping in front of his door again.
"Did you have fun yesterday?" Hades asked quietly. "Sorry for falling asleep before you got home, I wanted to ask you how things went."
Nico inhaled slowly, remembering the flow of conversation and Will's teasing tone right before he stepped out the door, and exhaled, the pleasant memories bringing a small smile to Nico's face again.
"I… did have fun," Nico said after a pause, finally with the resolve to respond to Will's text.
"I'll come back and check on you at a quarter to four if you haven't come downstairs yet." Hades continued on the first topic, not pressing Nico for further details. "There are leftovers in the fridge from lunch if you want to eat something before dinner."
"Thanks, Dad," Nico said sincerely, pulling his phone out from under the blankets as he heard Hades respond with a curt "Mhm," before walking away.
Today 14:42
i cant today, going out later for dad's bday dinner
maybe next time? sorry.
Nico sighed wistfully at an opportunity lost, but still hoped that there would be another chance in the near future for some more one-on-one time with his favorite blonde. Maybe sometime soon he'd have to take Will up on his offered dinner date.
But that was a question for a later time. He put down his phone and flicked on his ringer, anxious for Will's reply.
To his surprise, the "ping" of a text notification instantly went off, and he flipped his screen over to see a text from Will.
Today 14:43
It's okay! Don't worry about it
I'll see you at lunch tomorrow, right?
I want to introduce you to my friends, but only if you're okay with it?
Nico stared at the screen and felt his heart start racing, the idea of meeting new people daunting and unfamiliar, even if they were Will's friends. But a lot of things had changed recently, and none of them would have happened if he had stayed in his comfort zone.
He gathered his resolve, and with slightly shaking hands, responded to Will's proposition.
Today 14:45
yeah sure, im down!
lmk where to meet you and ill be there
Nico smiled at the series of ecstatic texts sent by Will, before leaning back in his bed and quietly wishing for tomorrow to come faster.
Thank you all for bearing with me as I leave midterm season and approach finals! I'll see if I can squeeze in one last update before my first final on the 15th, otherwise I'll be back around the first week of December with a new chapter!
