Nico liked being high up. He loved the feeling of the wind, the freedom of the sky and the adrenaline and balance being the only thing keeping you from falling. It felt like flying and Nico never fell. Even as a small child he had been a climber, clambering up to the highest branches of trees; despite the fact Bianca had always scolded him afterwards. After Bianca's accident Nico had found that if you go high enough no one would come up after you. The higher up you were, the easier it was to be alone.
The top of the radio tower was definitely not the safest place and Nico knew he'd get yelled at if caught, especially if Hazel found out; she could get pretty terrifying when angry. But Nico knew he wouldn't get caught. Everyone was busy at the 'getting to know eachother game night'. Nico had taken one look at the crowded room, full of large, violent kids sent off by their rich parents in the vain hope they would come back as less of a brat, and walked straight out. Hazel would probably have a go at him later but he didn't care. Sitting around and getting to know some of the kids he had seen seemed like the dictionary definition of hell to him. In the situation Nico was in he didn't really care if he fell. In a way part of him wanted to.
So he had grabbed a book and made his way to the highest point of the ship. He had watched the bright lights of Amsterdam grow smaller and smaller for a while, until they had been swallowed up into the horizon. It was too dark to read properly but Nico had sat there, alone with his thoughts and the wind. Alone was a good place to be, even if his thoughts were sometimes painful. But there was something about the chilly wind and the sound waves sloshing against the moving hull that calmed Nico, making him forget about the pain he usually felt.
And it had been peaceful for once. Until the elf-like, overly-cheerful guy he was sharing a cabin with had come along and shattered the peace.
Okay, the guy, whatshisname (Nico was rubbish with names), didn't exactly know Nico was there and hadn't actually said anything, but his general presence sort of ruined the whole alone feeling Nico had be luxuriating in. And once he realised Nico was up there he would inevitably start a conversation, which Nico dreaded.
The guy (Liam or L-something) had stopped for a moment practically underneath Nico and was watching the sea, just like Nico had been doing. He was still standing like he was about to walk off but he was frozen in thought, staring across the black water. Nico didn't know how the guy could wear only a t-shirt in the biting wind while Nico was freezing in his aviator jacket but he didn't look cold. Curiosity took the better of Nico, drowning out the annoyance he had felt moments before and he leant over to see the expression on the boys face, just to get a glimpse of his mood.
His book (a battered copy of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) slipped of his lap where it had been sitting, forgotten and tumbled to the deck, hitting the ground a meter away from the boy. The way the startled boy jumped was comical. Nico felt a mixture of laughter and panicked embarassment bubble inside him. The guy looked up, his expression now wide-eyed and suprised. He squinted into the darkness and spotted Nico. Recognition and amusement replaced the momentary terror in his face. "Hey, you up there. I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to drop books on me regularly, I mean we are room sharing," he joked. Nico sort of wanted to laugh but the embarressed panic feeling silenced him. The jovial smile slipped from the boys face to be replaced with a flash of disappointment. It was so easy to read the boys feelings on his face, he was an open book; the complete opposite to Nico who was closed off even when he was happy.
The boy quickly covered up his disappointment with a friendly question, "So why are you up there instead of at the meet-and-greet?" Nico sighed inwardly and braced himself for the polite conversation he'd have to take part in. "Didn't seem like my sort of thing," he replied in his best flat and unwelcoming voice. Still the boy persisted in not getting the message. "Yeah, I know what you mean. There are several people in there I'd hate to get on the wrong side of. But some are pretty cool- you should come and meet some of them. I'd be happy to introduce you if you want." Not a chance in hell, thought Nico sarcastically. He really did not want to have to socialise with other equally messed up kids but he kept his facial expression blank and his voice cold. "I'd rather not. I'm alright reading up here thanks." The boy shrugged, his attention already fading away from Nico.
He leant down and picked up Nicos book from where it had landed and glanced at the cover. Gesturing to the book he shouted up, "You want this back?" Nico nodded, the realising that the boy probably couldn't see him clearly, swung down onto the deck. He held out his hand for the book and the boy handed it to him. As Nico went to climb back up to the radio mast the boy called out to him. "Hey. It's getting dark and if you're going to read you might want this." He said holding out a torch he had just pulled from the yellow tool belt he wore. Nico took it, suprised at the gesture. The boy then pulled out a packet of mints from the belt and offered one to Nico, who declined with a shake of his head. Nico stared at the boy who gave him a cheeky grin, "Toolbelts are pretty awesome for holding stuff. You never know what you'll need or when." Nico nodded mutely and the strange wisdom. "Thanks for the torch," he said as the boy- whathisface- turned to go.
The boy glanced over his shoulder and shrugged, "It's nothing. Good book by the way." With that he was gone. Nico climbed back up to his previous spot, feeling slightly confused by his roomate.
Maybe this cruise wasn't going to be as awfully boring as Nico had expected.