XL

WILL

Will's fingers flew on the screen of his phone as he made his way out of the lobby of JHH. His shift had ended and he was about to head home. Will tapped send.

Will (8:18): Hey...

Nico (8:19): Hi . .. What's up?

Will (8:20): Just checking . . .

Then Will's phone suddenly rang. He almost dropped his phone when he had seen who was calling.

Nico.

Will stared at his phone. His poor heart was beating abnormally again. If Will hadn't known better he would diagnose himself to have arrhythmia. It was the reaction he would have every time he would receive a text or call from Nico. They had been texting and occasionally calling for three weeks now. Still, Will couldn't believe that Nico was only one text or one call away. He didn't need to do some drastic measures every time he would miss or want to see Nico unlike before.

Will answered it and held the phone against his ear. "Hello"

"Good Morning."

Will wasn't breathing. His heart was doing Macarena in his rib cage whilst trying to jump off from the said rib cage. All because of Nico's low and velvety voice.

"Y-Yeah, hi. . ." Will bit his lip, looking down on the floor. He stopped walking. He needed a moment to compose himself. His world felt like it was spinning too fast. The white tile he was staring at seemed whiter than before. Everything was so bright and clear and he was ascending. Though, it wasn't like Will had intentions of coming down to the ground when he also didn't want this kind of feeling to end.

"Solace this is the third time you've said that I've noticed. Checking what?"

Will hooked his left thumb on his jeans' pocket, eyes still on the floor.

I want to check that you haven't disappeared again. That you are here, that this is real, and I am not dreaming anymore.

"Oh, you know, the usual, checking if you're still alive and breathing. Or you are still in one piece. How about your health? Is your health okay? As a doctor, it's only natural to be concerned about that." He rambled stupidly. He was aware of that so he couldn't help but wince. Lame, lame, lame!

"Seriously?"

Will sighed, this time he clutched the strap of his leather body bag slung across his shoulder. "If you want a shorter version, how are you?"

And Nico laughed on the other line. Damn, damn, damn. Yep, this is real. Will closed his eyes savoring the lingering feeling of hearing Nico's angelic laughter.

Nico spoke. "Solace, we've just seen each other yesterday and talked to the phone last night. You sounded like we've never heard about each other for ages."

"Well, a lot of things can happen in almost 12 hours . . ."

Nico continued to laugh but it was softer this time. "Well, if you want to know how I am doing, look up."

"Huh?"

"I said look up."

Will looked up

His breath hitched as he saw Nico di Angelo standing not from afar. He wore a navy blue shirt and black jeans. One hand was holding on the strap of a black backpack slung over his shoulder.

"How long were you standing there?" Will said through the phone, still staring at Nico.

"Just now."

"Why are you here?"

"Just so you could have the evidence that I am alive, breathing, and in one piece. Satisfied?"

Will couldn't help but smile. "Satisfied."

He hung up and approached Nico.

"Don't you have work?" Will asked as he stopped in front of Nico.

Nico rolled his eyes. "I deserve a day off."

"Lucky you."

"And unlucky you, a day off seems not to be in the doctor's vocabulary."

"Exactly."

"And because you are very busy you've forgotten something."

Will frowned, racking his brain for something important about Nico that he stupidly had forgotten but his brain produced nothing. "Okay. I'm an awful person, what is it that I've forgotten?"

"Yes, you are awful and hopeless. You just said last night that you are going to help me with my research today. Plus I was going to borrow the pathology book you said you have, right?"

Will groaned burying his face on his hands. He spoke in a muffled voice. "I'm so sorry. I forgot. I'm a horrible person."

"Hey, hey." Nico pried Will's hand from his face. "It's fine. I understand. But are we still up for it?"

The blond peered at him. "Of course, I promised."

"R-right" Nico stammered.

"Right. Let's go to my humble abode." Will clasped Nico's hand involuntarily, which surprised the latter.

"I wish we could just go poof like before," Will said absentmindedly as they passed the revolving door still holding hands. Nico was trailing behind.

"What?" Nico looked up at the blond.

"I said we are going to walk home, is that alright? It's not that far from here." Will said.

"Yeah, I don't mind . . . "

Will gazed closely at Nico. He opened the door of his apartment. After a year, Nico was stepping into his home again. He would admit that he had another agenda for bringing Nico in his apartment. Aside from the promise of helping Nico with his research and letting him borrow his book. Even if the chances were slim that Nico's memories would come back, Will wanted to remind Nico the little things they had used to do or go to the places they had used to go when they were still together. Hence, Will brought Nico to his apartment. As far as Will's knowledge was concerned, his apartment was the only place Nico had been at when he was still a death angel.

Nico looked around and paused to look at the frames hanging at the wall.

"I know it was kind of small . . ." Will started and closed the door behind. He leaned back at it. His hand at the doorknob.

"But it feels like home. . . "

Will's head snapped at Nico's direction. Nico was looking back at him from across.

"It's cozy. . ." Nico said. He paused for a bit before speaking again. "I felt nostalgic . . . even though it's my first time here, right?"

No, it's not. But Will didn't answer. He didn't want to lie to Nico as much as possible. He had decided to stay by Nico's side again and he didn't want to bury their past with lies and excuses anymore. Maybe, he would tell Nico about them someday soon. Although he still didn't know how to explain things to him. For now, Will wanted to do this slowly and not to drop everything in Nico's face at once.

Nico shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm being weird."

"No, you're not. Sit while I prepare everything."

Two and half hours later, they were sitting on the floor next to each other in front of the coffee table. Their backs were against the couch. Nico's laptop was open on the table, together with books and several pages of paper scattered across. A bowl of mixed Skittles and M&M's and a plate of half-eaten sandwiches were placed under the table. They were discussing things smoothly when Nico absentmindedly reached for the M&M's under the table, but instead, he got a hold of Will's thigh. Will yelped in surprise. His knee jerked hitting the surface of the table and rattling it in the process.

"Oh my gods! I'm so sorry!" Nico was horrified.

Their faces were as the same shade as a strawberry.

"I-I was reaching f-for the M&M's. . ." Nico stammered. "It wasn't... "

He was cut off by Will's sudden laugh. Will held Nico's upper arm reassuringly. "It's fine. You know what, we could take a break."

Will stood up and stretched out. He groaned when his bones popped. He flopped down on the sofa behind him. Nico followed suit, sitting next to Will and rested his feet on the table. Then there was silence but not an awkward one.

"You know. .If you didn't get any award for a research paper that you started working on early. I am going to strangle you." Will suddenly said staring at the empty space.

"Thanks. The last thing I needed was pressure."

Will faced Nico as he angled his body towards him and propped his elbow on the cushion. "Seriously, why are you so intent on starting early? Your class is still two months away."

Nico rested his head at the backrest of the couch. He stared at the ceiling. "It's just that, I want to divert my mind from other things instead of . . ." He paused.

"Of what?" Will asked softly.

"Thinking of the past that I can't remember."

"I'm sorry. . ." Will said and he meant it. As much as Will wanted to say something, he couldn't. Not when he didn't even know where to start.

"It's nothing." Nico dismissed. "It's not your fault."

No. I think it is because I am supposed to be saying something but I just don't know how to say it.

Will reached for Nico's hand. The latter looked at him inquiringly. Will kissed softly the back of his hand. Nico's breath was caught in his throat.

"W-Will. . ."

Screw it.

In one fluid movement, Will straddled. Nico's waist. Nico was frozen in his spot.

Will leaned forward and kissed Nico's forehead. Nico's eyes fluttered closed. Then Will proceeded to kiss the tip of Nico's nose until the blond's lips hovered above Nico's.

"Nico. . ." Will whispered, his name was like a prayer on his lips. "What if your past is in front of you?"

Nico's eyes opened wide and before Nico could say anything, Will effectively shut him off with a kiss and their eyes closed. Nico responded, wrapping his arms around Will's waist and pulling him closer to him.

Will couldn't help but remember the last time they had kissed. The last time had been bittersweet and tragic. It had been a farewell kiss. When he had thought that Nico was going to be gone for good. Will deepened the kiss as if reminding himself that Nico was there with him again, and he wouldn't disappear this time.

This is real. Will thought like a mantra as he trailed kisses to Nico's cheek until Will reached Nico's ear lobe and nibbled it. Nico groaned. Will smirked. He knew very well the spots that would make Nico weak to the core. So, Will continued the kiss down to Nico's jaw, relishing every second that he was able to touch this man at last.

Will had lost count how much he had longed to be this close to Nico ever since that fateful day at the café. Will made his way down to Nico's neck, biting and sucking, marking every inch of Nico's skin. The blond made one last kiss on Nico's neck then he moved up to look at Nico's angelic face, lips were swollen and eyes closed.

Nico slowly opened his eyes when he had felt the loss of contact. They stared at each other as the air hummed with a familiar energy. Their breath labored. Their hearts beat fast and in sync. The words that were supposed to be uttered but forgotten. Because at that moment, nothing else mattered but just the two of them holding each other.

Will wanted to tell him that even if the whole goddamn universe conspired to erase Nico's memories, there was something else that would always remain. Will wanted to tell him that it was something that they had both carved in each other's souls and etched into their bones. It was something that could never be taken away, just buried there somewhere deep within. And if you just look hard enough, you would see it. You would see it in his eyes, in his smile, and in the way he held you. Instead of saying all of it, the blond gazed at Nico bearing all the forgotten tales of their past, and their stubborn love that had kept them together all this time.

Nico might not fully understand all of it but it was there, and Will was sure that he could feel it.

They were so caught up in their little bubble that they didn't hear the keys jamming into doorknob from the outside and the door opened. Two figures came in holding paper bags. One of them cleared his throat.

The two on the sofa jumped away from each other like there was a sudden built-in spring on the sofa. As one expression says, they looked like deer caught in a headlight, blushing and embarrassed

"D-dad! Austin." Will said flabbergasted.

"Hello, son." Apollo Charleston looked bemusedly between the two. He wore a steel brown coat and dark blue plaid pants.

"Dad, I told you. This wasn't the right time to come. We should have called first," Austin said. He was in his usual signature cornrows woven like DNA helix. Contrary to their flamboyant dad, he only wore a t-shirt and jeans. He tried but failed to hide a smirk.

"We've never done that before." Apollo glanced at Austin.

"Well, you should have at least ring the doorbell!" Will sputtered indignantly.

"We've never done that either." Apollo gazed back at Will. "You usually don't care about that before. Okay, clearly we're interrupting something here."

"Yes!"

"No!"

Nico and Will glared at each other. But Will was defiant and crossed his arms.

"Well, we're just about to drop these souvenirs from London." Apollo cleared his throat again. "We can come back later-"

"No, sir!" Nico said wide-eyed to Apollo. "It's fine really. . ."

Apollo smiled at him. "You're Nico, right? Long time-"

Will seemed like he was transported magically in front of his father. He hugged Apollo. "Dad! I miss you!" He shouted. Then he whispered in Apollo's ear. "He's got amnesia so please don't tell anything." Will pulled apart from his father who was looking at him bewilderedly.

Will just smiled and proceeded to hug Austin. "You've grown a lot, kiddo!"

Austin scowled pushing Will away but affection was visible on his face. "I'm not a kid anymore"

Then Will faced Nico. "Nico, this is my father Apollo and my brother Austin. I've talked about you to them so they know you." This was not entirely a lie because Will had said something about dating again when they had a skype session last time. He just hadn't gone into details.

"Nice to meet you sir and Austin," Nico said politely.

"Well, do you have food at least, we're starving." Will raised an eyebrow at his dad and brother.

"Are you sure, you're starving for the food?" Austin muttered. Will heard him and kicked him in the knee. Austin just grinned hopping on one foot.

Apollo spoke. "Yes, we have. Nico, you should eat with us."

Nico had no choice to oblige when Apollo's tone sounded like he couldn't refuse at all.

oo00oo

Meanwhile, at the NYPD...

"I'm giving you three more months, if you didn't finish the Python syndicate case, I'm sorry, but I will kick you out of the case. You've been handling this for a year now and the progress is too slow." Captain Brunner said to Percy Jackson and Jason Grace. Captain Brunner had a scruffy beard and thinning hair. He sat behind his desk while Percy and Jason were standing in front of him with their heads bowed. Captain Brunner was lenient to them. So the last thing the two detectives wanted was to disappoint Captain Brunner.

"We're going to do our best to solve this case, sir," Percy said.

"That's what I wanted to hear. One last chance for both of you. Now go and solve this fast." Captain Brunner said.

The two detectives dejectedly went out of the office. Jason closed the door behind. Then he dragged Percy in the corner, out of earshot from their fellow officers.

Jason faced him and spoke in a low voice. "We should use Code Aquaman and Code Blond Superman."

Percy's eyes widened in surprise. "But you're the one who said that we should fight fair here. What happened to your principle, man?"

"This isn't going to be the first time we've used that in an investigation. And screw that principle if this case is going to be taken from us. We've invested a lot in this case including our lives remember? We couldn't just let this go after all this time. All we need was to catch the big boss and case solved."

"And you think if we used the codes, we're going to catch the big boss instantly?" Percy said as he air-quoted the word codes.

"There's a big possibility. We just need to take all the chances we have, especially now. There's going to be another raid in two weeks that will possibly lead to our target. That's the perfect time to use the codes."

Percy exhaled. "All right. Let's do that. Honestly, I'm getting tired of this stupid case and if I catch that big boss, I'll chuck his head in the Hudson River."