(Less Avengers in this update, more family bonding moments with Nixon)
By the time my alarm went off the next morning, I wasn't even sure where I was supposed to be going. Did I go to Stark Tower? Did I go back to the aquarium? I'd really like to go back to the aquarium.
"Dad, can you drop me off today? I have, something, going on this morning," Nixon asked as he walked by our bedroom. I opened my eyes to see him trying to adjust the sleeve to his light red button up. Ok, now I was awake. Nixon is like his mother, so why is he unconfidently stuttering an excuse?
Annabeth had to go to work early today so she was already gone, leaving nothing but a lipstick-stained kiss on my forehead. Dam. I used to try and wake up early so I could say goodbye or cook her breakfast, but I was TIRED! Instead of sitting in my own depression of missing Annabeth, I groggily got up and went to go find Nixon in the kitchen.
"What's going on this morning?" I asked suspiciously. A pink tinge spread across my son's cheeks and he tried to hide behind his hands.
"Nothing, just meeting up to study..." He trailed off. I put Annabeth's pre-made blue waffle mix in the waffle iron and raised my eyebrows.
"Does study date have a name?" I continued to prod. Nixon turned even brighter red. He didn't answer the question.
"Dad, can I tell you something?" Nixon finally spoke. He seemed more nervous than meeting somebody for studying should have made him.
"Nix, are you in any trouble?" I asked cautiously.
"Well, no,"
"Cuz I'm the king of trouble. So if you need help, just don't tell your mother and we can work something out-"
"Dad, I'm not in trouble." Nixon interrupted. If he wasn't in trouble, does that mean I am?
"Oh," I can't deny it, I kinda wished he was. I hadn't blown any toilets up for a year at least. I finished the waffles and stacked two onto Nixon's plate. He mumbled a quick thanks and took three bites before pushing his plate away. This made me suspicious. Now Nixon may have been a big smarty like his mom, but he had the got my appetite. I set my plate on the counter and sat down in front of him. "Ok, let's not make this awkward. You're worried about something. Your eyebrows crease together just like your mom's do when you're stressed," I said. Nixon mumbled another feeble excuse. I crossed my hands neatly on the table and waited.
"Dad I'm dating a guy," he suddenly blurted. I reached for my waffles.
"Dude you got me all worried for that? Thank the gods! I thought you'd got yourself in some serious Leo-like-doo-doo!" I scarfed down my blue waffles.
"That's it?" Nixon asked.
"Well, yeah. What'd you expect me to say?" I looked sadly down at my empty plate. He shrugged and was silent for a moment before launching into a rant about why he was actually worried.
"Yeah, good point. Anyway, I'm meeting him before school today. He said he wanted to tell me something so I stayed up all night freaking out about it and I even put on a button up shirt today because I'm worried but there hasn't been anything that should make me worried but I'm still worried but-,"
"Nix!" I interrupted him. His contorted face beamed up at me before he dropped it into his hands. This was worse than the time Annabeth's blueprint idea was stolen by her old boss. (She worked at some little company before moving on to create her own) "Meet me in the car in ten minutes, we're getting coffee and brownies at that one place your mom takes us to when she gets a new business deal," I ordered. I stood up, put my plate in the sink, and went to the bedroom to get dressed for the day. I got dressed in my aquarium uniform, then tried to remember if I was supposed to be going to meet the avengers today. Nick probably told me what I was supposed to do… Oops. #noregrets
Oh well, better safe than sorry (ignore how ironic that statement is coming from me). I grabbed my wallet, keys, ambrosia, drachmas, and riptide, before turning off the lights and locking the doors. Nixon was already sitting in the passenger seat by the time I got to the car.
We drove to the coffee shop in silence, Nixon nervously wringing his hands next to me. Now that he'd told me, he only seemed worried about whatever this guy wanted to tell him. I couldn't believe he was worried! In my life, I've learned to be a pretty accepting guy! Plus, my mother is the ultimate most amazing person.
"Dad, what do you think he wants to tell me?" Nixon asked.
"Well I'm not really very experienced at relationships, I've technically only been in one, so I don't really know much. But I do know you. Any person in their right mind, boy or girl, would be the happiest person ever to have you by their side. " I told him. I think Aphrodite may have been possessing me. The sad part? I'm not joking.
"You mean that?" Nixon bright smile reminded me of Annabeth, which really made me miss her. Dam, I couldn't even spend ten minutes without my wife.
"No, I was being completely sarcastic. Of course I meant it! Now, what's this guy's name? Tell me everything."
Nixon laughed at stared out the window with a familiar wistful expression that made me miss his mother. "His name is Alec Spencer. We met at the beginning of the year but we didn't start, you know, going out, until last week. He's so nice and sweet and brave. You'd love him, dad!" His smile was enough to make me like this Alec guy. We pulled up to the coffee shop and I parked the car. Nixon shuffled out his door and stuffed his hands awkwardly in his pocket.
"Can I get a hot chocolate for Alec too?" Nixon asked sheepishly. Where did the romantic side come from? Neither Annabeth nor I were very good at being the romantic type. Maybe he's been spending too much time with Leo and Calypso. Believe it or not, Leo was actually pretty good at that sort of thing. Why do you think Caly's stayed around so long?
"Sure thing." I ruffled his hair and he leaned into my side.
"GET DOWN!" Somebody screamed as gunshots echoed through the coffee shop. I grabbed Nixon and dove behind a table, pulling out my sword and getting my son behind me.
Maybe I should have gone to the Avengers tower today...