After the little fiasco with Shade and Annabeth, Toby ended up playing some video game and Nico went out for a walk, and was accompanied by Shade. The two of them were silent and Shade ended up going back to the house and getting onto his laptop and Nico almost hoped he would run into a monster, a fight would give him something to do but monsters seemed to steer clear of this area.
Nico wondered if it was Slenderman who kept it that way, but didn't think about it much. Just trying to waste time so when he got back it would be as close to afternoon as he could make it. He did fairly well and when he got back and went into the house through the back door he found Hoodie packing sandwiches for the road.
"Need any help?" Nico asked and Hoodie smiled up at him.
"Sure m-mind filling those water b-bottles?" Hoodie asked pointing to a few water bottles next to him which Nico took and filled at the sink while Hoodie fit the last of the sandwiches into the bag with some fruit. Hoodie slung the bag over his shoulder and gestured for Nico to follow him with the water bottles which Nico did. Hoodie led him to where Masky was already packing the car. Toby was nowhere to be seen, probably avoiding getting being near the car as long as he could.
"Ahh there you are Nico. Where's your friend Shade?" Masky said, Toby had been right he seemed completely normal, if not a little more worried than usual.
"We're almost ready to go, you should get whatever you're bringing now." Masky took the water bottles from Nico.
"Okay, should I go looking for Toby and Shade too?" Nico asked relinquishing the bottles.
"Sure, last time I saw Toby was having a fight with BEN because he lost a video game and wanted someone to blame. Oh and tell him we've already packed his bag." Masky answered shrugging.
Nico left going up to his room to grab his bag before going looking for Toby. It was easy to find him. Nico just had to follow the sound of his voice as he was still shouting at the computer even though BEN seemed to have gotten fed up with it and left.
"Come on Toby, Masky and Hoodie are ready to go, we're just waiting for you now." Nico interrupted and Toby winced.
"Okay you go ahead, I'll just grab my bag and be right there." Toby said fidgeting nervously.
"Masky already got your bag, come on lets go." Nico reached out and took Toby's hand realizing that Toby was already shaking a little bit.
"Come on, I can help you get to sleep as soon as we're in there, it'll be fine." Nico gave Toby a smile. Toby nodded following Nico to Shade's room and then to the garage, he got in the car without any more complaint. Hoodie and Masky were already there, Masky in the driver side. As soon as Toby had buckled his seatbelt Nico drew out a thread of energy through the skin of Toby's palm this time and watched him slump against the door.
"What was that?" Masky said looking back at them curiously.
"Toby didn't sleep last night so he could sleep through part of the car ride." Nico said, it wasn't the full truth but his lack of sleep was catching up with him and he didn't want to explain fully. Shade then slid into thew back seat Next to Nico with his I-Pod and his headphones in. Nico settled against Toby as the humming of the car started and then the movement. It had almost lulled Nico to sleep as well before Masky's voice jolted him out of his doze.
"I'm sorry about this Hoodie, I know you didn't want to have anything to do with Jay again." Masky's voice was soft, Nico was pretty sure he was supposed to be asleep and not listening but he couldn't not now.
"He t-took you away f-from me l-last time." Hoodie answered equally softly. Nico kept his eyes closed.
"I know. I won't let him take me away from you." Nico had a feeling that him was not Jay, though he had no idea who else it might be.
"P-promise? Promise you won't f-forget me again."
"I promise. I will always be there for you. I love you."
"Thank you. I love you too." Hoody murmured and Nico had never heard him sound so sure of anything, his voice completely free of the usual stutter. They were quiet after that and after a few more minutes Nico really dropped off to sleep.