XXXVIII

NICO

Question: Okay, we know that a doctor can be as busy as hell and with that career of yours, how's your love life going for you, doc? Any special someone as of the moment?

Will: None. For now, I want to focus more on my career.

Question: So no dating then?

Will: Yes.

What the actual hades? Nico snapped the magazine close. Will Solace didn't want to date? Nico put down the magazine and rolled on his bed. He reached for his phone on the bedside table.

He texted Will.

Nico (23:15): According to the magazine, you don't want to date.

He lay on his stomach and put his phone on his chest. He stared at the ceiling. A moment later, his phone vibrated that surprised the Hades out of him. He wasn't expecting a reply instantly because he knew that Will was probably busy on his shift at the hospital.

Will (23:17): Maybe I changed my mind.

Nico was smiling like an idiot

Nico(23:17): Why?

Will(23:18): Because you are Nico.

Nico (23:19): So my name has some sort of privileges but perhaps care to elaborate your reply ?

Will (23:30): I just like your name.

Nico(23:31): I've never been grateful to my name until now.

Will(23:31): Haha

Nico(23:32): but seriously, I genuinely want to know you and I'm not rushing you or anything. . .

Will(23:34): I was just wondering, of all people why me?

Nico(23:35): Because you are Will

Will(23:40): Go to sleep, di Angelo. It's late. And I'm going back to my station. Good night.

Nico(23:41): Okay. See you tomorrow. Starbucks 4 pm. Right?

It was Hazel Levesque's much-awaited jewelry exhibit the next day so Nico invited Will to come and the blond doctor agreed. They decided to hang out at the Starbucks at least an hour before the actual exhibit.

Will(23:42): Right. See you.

And before Nico lost his courage.

Nico(23:43): I am considering this as our first date, Solace.

Will(23:44): Considered it as a date.

That stupid smile wouldn't leave Nico's face. He was still smiling as he fell asleep, phone in hand. Surprisingly, he had a dreamless sleep again. It was happening for days now.

"So I'm also going to work next week" Nico announced as he put down the tray of vanilla lattes with extra espresso shots on their table at Starbucks.

Will nodded in appreciation. He wore a royal blue coat that hugged his figure perfectly, underneath was a white Mandarin dress shirt tucked in black pants. A pair of sunglasses hung at the crook of his collar where the button closed up. Nico thought that a celebrity had landed in Starbucks when Will had walked in with sunglasses on. He was sure that he had stared dumbly at Will for a few seconds before he had snapped back to reality. Nico, on the other hand, wore a black dress shirt with the top buttons undone paired with a gray coat and black pants. His hair was tied in half ponytail as usual.

"Congrats. And where are you going to work?"

"Triumvirate Laboratories." Nico put one cup of coffee in front of Will.

"Wow." Will looked impressed. Nico flushed. "That's a big company and I've heard that it's hard to get a job there. You are going to work full time?"

Nico shook his head. "Only part-time. Besides, I'm going to start my master's degree at NYU this coming Fall."

Will nodded again. "That's like two months away. . ."

"That reminds, do you have any books related to pathology that I could borrow? I want to work on my dissertation early.."

"I'm sure there is," Will answered after sipping his latte. He put down his cup. " I'm going to look back at my apartment. What topic are you going to work?"

Nico shrugged. "I'm not quite sure yet. I was toying around with the idea of viral diseases concerning industrial deaths."

"That was quite a good one especially to those in the mining industry or factories, battling contamination and poisoning. Who knows because of your paper, there might be a discovery of a new strain of pathogens. . ."

"Yep, from that, new antibiotics can be developed to cure that. . ." Nico trailed off

Will suddenly chuckled. His dimple on the cheek appeared, and Nico was trying hard not to stare too much at it.

"What?" Nico asked.

"Nothing. We're talking something normal. . ."

"Normal?" Nico stared at Will. "Dude, we are talking about pathogens and antibiotics, is that an everyday topic now that people talk about?"

Will laughed. And boy, Nico felt damn proud of himself because it was like a big accomplishment to make this beautiful guy in front of him laughed. He wouldn't get tired of hearing his laughter.

"Okay, not really," Will conceded, sobering. "But it just shows how much of a nerd we are. ."

"I am not a nerd." Nico huffed crossing his arms.

"Okay, a dork."

"Dork?!"

"You just started talking about borrowing a book and dissertation you wanted to start early. You are a bona fide nerd... .and a dork."

Nico glared at Will. "I refused to accept that."

Will just laughed harder. "Cute."

And probably, Nico didn't mind the accusations at all.

After the cutting of the ribbon at the exhibit, Nico and Will started to look around the displayed jewelry until Hazel joined them. Hazel looked beautiful in a teal green fitted lace dress that reached her knees. Her cinnamon brown hair was in a ponytail. Nico rolled his eyes at Hazel's delight that Will had made it there. If Nico hadn't known better, he would think that Hazel was fangirling on Will. Will looked bashful though, so Nico needed a distraction. He asked Will to look around. There were still other displays that they hadn't seen after all. Will immediately agreed shooting a grateful glance at Nico before leaving.

Hazel sighed, almost dreamily looking at Will's retreating figure. "I like him."

"Obviously," Nico answered.

"For you, I mean."

"Yeah,"

Hazel faced him. "Seriously, why hadn't you met him, sooner?"

"Now, you should really be thankful that I've moved here in Manhattan."

Hazel hummed in response and looked closely at him.

"What?" Nico raised an eyebrow at her.

"I really wished you had met him sooner so I would be able to see your face becoming more brighter."

"Brighter," Nico echoed.

"No offense but I thought that your scowl was permanent on your face, but every time you are going to look at him, your face seemed to get brighter," Hazel said thoughtfully.

"Hazel." His face was hot. He needed another distraction. "You know what, where is Frank, isn't he coming?"

"Uhm, present," A voice said behind them.

The two turned to see Frank Zhang, Hazel's boyfriend, standing not too far from them. Hazel immediately ran to Frank and hugged him. Nico smiled fondly at the two. Frank was a veterinarian in Toronto, Canada. Because they lived so far away from each other and they were so busy in their respective careers, they hardly saw each other personally.

"I'm sorry. I'm late. Delayed flight sucks." Frank kissed Hazel's forehead. "And by the way, you look gorgeous."

Hazel blushed and pushed him lightly. "Frank."

Frank looked at Nico. "Hello, Nico. How are you doing?"

"Good and nice to see you again, Frank," Nico nodded at him. "I should probably find Will."

"Okay. Hey. Don't forget the four of us will have dinner okay?"

Nico groaned. "Alright."

He went off to find Will.

He found the blond doctor staring at the enclosed glass with jewelry inside. It was a bracelet made of braided cord, a combination of gold and black.

"Hey," Nico approached him. "So Hazel wants us to have dinner, is that alright with you?"

Will smiled at him. "Of course. I can run at the hospital a little late."

Nico nodded. "I'm sorry about Hazel earlier, she can be a little too... .enthusiastic at times. ."

The blond laughed softly. "That's an understatement, but she's nice you know. ."

"Just don't let her hear you curse. She didn't like profanity."

"Noted." The doctor said.

After the successful exhibit and a brief introduction between Will and Frank, they went to a fancy restaurant. They easily settled on one booth.

"Hello. Are you ready to order?" A waiter greeted them. He had brown hair and green eyes. The name tag read: Bryce.

oo00oo

Bryce Lawrence stood not from afar, looking at the four people sitting and eating in a booth. He had a menacing look on his face. That look was more directed at the dark-haired guy and the blond sitting next to each other.

"Nice to see you again, Will Solace and Nico di Angelo. It's payback time." Bryce murmured. A low growl escaped from him.