Note: Italy fic!
April
Nico tried not to let the warm weather get to him. It was strange that how, a year ago, Nico would have done anything to keep winter away, to make time stretch on forever so he could stay in America, but now he was trying to cling onto the icy season for the same reasons.
It was April. There was less than a month before Will had to return to America.
Over the last year, Nico had gotten so much closer to his boyfriend. It was practically habit now to take the bus over to Will's dorm, race up the steps, and spend the evenings talking about nothing in particular or going out with their arms interlocked or taking advantage of the fact that Will's roommate rarely stayed in the room.
Over the last year, Nico had fallen so much more in love with the American. It was ridiculous – pathetic, really – how dependent he had become on seeing Will's smile or hearing his laugh. It was silly, but Nico was even in love with being in love. He never thought being in a relationship could be so fun, so fulfilling. Then again, he'd never had someone like Will.
And, somehow, it was a mutual feeling. Will was every bit in love with Nico, and it sent him over the moon.
But, in a month, Will would leave Italy and return to the US, and who knows what they would do then. Nico still had a year of university left, and Will was graduating and off to med school. So far, they hadn't mentioned Will's departure and Nico was getting flashbacks from last winter.
They kept themselves distracted with the remaining sights to see and keeping busy with school, friends, and dates. Still, as the spring semester wore thin, the heavy feeling lingered, settling in his head and refusing to budge.
There was one major event keeping the panic dammed up, however.
Okay, we just boarded the plane! We'll see you and Will in ten hours. DON'T FORGET US. –Jason
Nico rolled his eyes at his phone and replied quickly as Will pulled on a hoodie. "Are they on their way?" he asked and sat down beside Nico on his bed, hand idly resting on Nico's knee.
Nico hummed in affirmation. "Unfortunately."
Will laughed and shook his knee. "Aw, I don't think I've ever seen you this excited!"
"Shut up." He waved Will away. "I am not."
"Yes, you are. You're practically shining."
"Maybe it's the lamp. High wattage lightbulbs."
"Mmhm. Sure." Will nudged him. "It's all right. You don't have to act all reserved around me, you know."
Nico cracked a smile despite himself. "I guess I have missed them a little."
"Just a little, though," Will teased and laughed when Nico swatted at him.
"God, do you ever shut up?" Nico laughed back, failing to sound threatening in the slightest.
Will just winked and pulled him closer. "It's a quirk," he said and, in a failed attempt to hit him again, they both fell right off of the bed, laughing.
…
At nine-thirty, Nico and Will took a bus to the Marco Polo airport. He was fine during the commute, happily accepting a Torrone from Will and chatting about idle things like the weather and what they should have for dinner. He was all right as they approached the entrance to the airport, shaking his head fondly as Will pointed up to sky at a landing jet and waved enigmatically to it as if the passengers could possibly see him. It was when they stood in front of the gate Jason told them they would be coming through, that Nico felt a sharp pang.
The next time he would be here, he realized, he would be saying goodbye to Will. Presumably for a long time. Will was oblivious, already talking to the older couple who were sitting next to them about their travel plans. "No way!" he exclaimed. "I'm from New York! Where are you guys staying? I could tell you all the best places to go."
Nico's heart twisted again and, trying to seem nonchalant, he stealthily held onto the back of Will's hoodie, just so that he could remind himself that Will was still there.
It was just after ten when their flight landed and Nico felt a surge of excitement when Will smiled at him and said that they should go meet them at the gate. Nico didn't let himself get nervous or self-conscious as he held onto Will's hand in the airport. People looked, sure, but instead of shying away like he usually would have, it only served to make Nico raise his chin a bit higher.
They heard the group of Americans before they saw them.
"LAND!" a familiar voice cried and Nico turned in time to see Percy Jackson, looking quite green, gesture to the floor and looking as though he had just been saved from a burning building. "Oh, man, I'm never going on a plane again."
"That'll be a problem when we go home," Annabeth Chase reminded him, patting Percy on the back comfortingly.
"We could take a boat?" Percy posed pleadingly.
Jason Grace came into view, holding several bags all along his arms. He grimaced. "No way. I get sea sick way too easy. Plus it's faster by air."
"Whatever," Percy muttered dryly. "Let's just find Nico and Will so I can kiss this horrible place goodbye."
"We're right here," Will called over to them.
Five pairs of eyes immediately fixed on them and brightened. They hurried towards each other and Nico found himself being pulled into a tight, bone-crushing hug from Jason, bags slipping from his grip. "Nico!" he piped happily. "Aw, dude, I missed you so much!"
"Can't breathe," Nico choked out and Jason released him only for Piper McLean to hug him next. One by one, even Leo, they all hugged Will and him or ruffled his hair and excitedly asked how they were and how their year had been. Both of them decided to ignore the innuendos, winks, and nudges coming from Leo.
"Fine, fine," Nico replied hurriedly, "but we have a bus to catch so…"
"Right!" Leo clapped his hands together and bounced on his toes. "Boungiorno, ladies," he called over to a small group of young women, who didn't seem to have heard him.
"The bus stop is a down a block," Nico said. "Just don't wander off," he added with a glare at Leo, who just grinned cheekily.
Nico led the way out of the airport with Will at his side and his friends following behind him. "This way," he instructed and turned left onto the sidewalk.
"Oh!" Annabeth exclaimed, pointing at a building. "Look at those buttresses!"
Percy peered over the top of his sunglasses. "Pardon?"
Leo's neck snapped from turning so quickly. "What?"
She rolled her eyes at them and threw a look to Nico that clearly said, "Help me."
"Hey, guys, watch the cars!" Jason scolded as he shuffled along behind them, holding the majority of the luggage and looking not unlike a pack mule. "Watch where you're going!"
"Yes, Mom!" Piper teased.
Nico was already feeling the beginnings of a headache, but it was all rather worth it when, as they stood waiting for the bus to arrive, Will wrapped an arm around his shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world and there was not a single peep or jab about it.
…
If their own voices weren't enough to wake the neighbors, the music probably did it. Nico didn't entirely worry about it. Bianca's parties were much worse, after all. Besides, it felt kind of nice being the host for once, to be involved in the party instead of staying holed up in his room with his desk pushed against the door so no drunken partygoers stumbled inside.
Instead, Nico was in his backyard with his friends, occasionally running back and forth to make sure that no one knocked over his stepmother's flower pots or that his father's office door remained locked and shut. They weren't home – thank God – but Nico would like to keep the collateral damage to a bare minimum.
Percy was lying in the hammock with a wet towel over his eyes, still looking green. Annabeth was sitting beside him and googling jetlag cures on Nico's laptop. Piper and Will were playing against Jason and Leo in an impromptu volleyball game. Nico didn't have a net so they tied together a bunch of pipe-cleaners and hung them up along the trees. Hazel and Frank came over about an hour earlier, and they were almost instantaneously accepted into the group. Bianca was lounging with a drink in hand, happy just to sit and enjoy the weather.
"Heads up!" Will shouted and a moment later a volleyball bopped Nico right on the head and he dropped his drink, cursing loudly.
Will jogged up with a smile and looking too close to laughter for Nico's liking. "Is the week over yet?" Nico asked dryly as he handed the ball back to Will.
Will just laughed and kissed the top of his head apologetically. "Why don't you play with us?"
"I'll pass," Nico muttered. Besides, it was hot and maybe Nico was ever-so-slightly enjoying the spectacle his shirtless boyfriend presented.
"His little arms couldn't even hit the ball over the net!" Leo shouted tauntingly.
Nico knew he was being baited but it worked. He tossed up the ball and spiked it right over to where Leo stood. Leo caught it with a barely audible, "Oof!"
"What was that, Valdez?" he called back.
Will whooped and somehow Nico got roped into playing two more games.
The sleeping arrangements were tight. The girls shared the spare bedroom and Bianca's room while the boys camped out in the living room.
"Man, this place is great," Percy said as they picked out their spots to sleep. "I don't wanna leave."
"I still want some real gelato," Leo yawned out.
Nico tossed a pillow at him. "You'll get gelato tomorrow. Just go to sleep."
"And here I thought Jason was the Mom of the group," he retorted.
Will grinned. "Does that make me the Dad?" He pointed at Nico. "Iron my shirts!" Nico kicked him briskly in the shin and grinned triumphantly as Will hopped in pain.
"Hey, Will, by the way, when you get back to America you need to check out that new place on campus," Jason said. "They have live bands there all the time."
Nico froze in the act of locking the back door as a cold feeling grew in his stomach.
"Oh yeah. My friend, Cecil, was telling me about that place."
"Yeah, they just opened at the beginning of the semester and I swear to God their coffee is perfect," Percy interjected. "They're also hiring, bro, if you wanna get away from Mickey D's."
"Don't tease me," Will muttered. "Nico's spoiled me with the food over here. It'll be twice as awful working there now."
As they talked away their plans for the upcoming fall, none noticed as Nico crept past. He felt out of place, unwanted, like an interloper. He knew it was dumb to feel that way, but that didn't make it any easier. Will would be leaving – they would all be leaving – and Nico would remain in Italy. There was a pang he couldn't get rid of as he thought about the inevitable departure.
A few minutes later, Will came into Nico's room with a yawn. "Man, I'm tired," he announced before plopping onto the bed beside him. "And I think my shoulders got sunburnt. Do you have any – Nico?" Will peered up at him. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Fine."
Will's bottom lip pushed out but Nico didn't let it affect him. He stared blankly up at the ceiling with his hands folded across his stomach. Will reached over and lifted one, batting it from side to side in order to gain Nico's attention. "Nico…"
"I'm fine, Will. I'm just tired," he snapped, tearing his hand away and turning onto his side and ending the conversation.
He could feel Will's stare on him and burrowed under the covers, ignoring the slight guilt as Will let out a sigh and did the same.
…
The bags underneath Nico's eyes were the subject of interest at breakfast. "Didn't sleep well?" Annabeth asked sympathetically.
"Fine," Nico said as he poured some juice, avoiding the look Will was giving him. He changed the topic quickly. "What do you guys want to do today, anyways?"
"Gelato!" Leo demanded immediately, slamming his fists onto the table and disturbing his bowl of cereal.
Percy blew his nose into a tissue. "A run to the pharmacy would be awesome. I think I'm allergic to Italy."
"You can't be allergic to a whole country," Annabeth protested. "But, I'm fine with anything as long as we get to check out the museums this week."
Jason pulled a map out of nowhere and spread it across the table. He started pointing to some places as though he was planning out a strategic attack. "Right, well, if we take the bus at noon to here we can get some decongestants for Jackson, ice cream for Leo, and still have time to sightsee."
"Thank you," Percy mumbled nasally.
"It's not just ice cream!" Leo scoffed. "We're talking real, creamy, authentic Italian gelato."
"Calm down," Piper laughed, "we'll get your ice cream."
"It's not—!"
"Anyways," Jason interrupted loudly, "Nico, what do you think? Nico?"
"Huh?" Nico blinked over at his old roommate. "Oh. Yeah. That's fine with me. It might be quicker to take cars but parking one would be hell let alone two."
Leo raised his hand. "I'll drive! Italians drive on the other side of the road, right? I got this."
"We drive on the same side as you, idiota," Nico muttered, "and you are not driving anything."
In the end, they took the bus. There weren't enough open seats for all of them so Percy jokingly perched himself on Jason's lap while Piper and Annabeth laughed and asked them how long they'd been together.
"Hear that?" Will nudged Nico. "I think we have competition."
"You're freaking heavy," Jason choked out.
When they reached a drugstore, Percy let out a dismayed groan. "Everything's in Italian!"
"Wow, it's almost like you're in Italy," Nico muttered so only Will could hear him.
"Here." Annabeth plucked a box off of the shelf. "That'll work."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "You know Italian?"
"Percy, we met in Italian class."
"Oh yeah."
The next stop was gelato for Leo. If it got him to shut up, Nico would happily buy out the whole cart.
"Well, how is it, Leo?" Piper asked as Leo shakily raised a spoonful to his mouth.
The moment he tasted it he seemed to freeze.
"Leo?"
"It's everything I thought it would be," he sang and everyone laughed. Even Nico felt his lips twitch as he shook his head.
The rest of the day was spent walking around the city; shopping, taking pictures, and every once in a while Nico would point out an old famous sight or building and Annabeth would light up and launch into a long lecture. Nico hadn't realized how much he had missed his American friends until they were all grouped together for a photo. Will squeezed in with them while Nico manned the camera. As soon as he took it, his chest constricted again.
They're all going to leave, he reminded himself, and suddenly he didn't very much feel like going shopping and eating gelato. Will attempted to ask him what was wrong, but Nico brushed him away each time.
It was late when they returned home. Nico was exhausted. "I should just become a tour guide," he muttered. "I've been doing it so often."
Leo snorted. "I can see it now. Tours di Angelo. There'll be a big sign, 'WARNING,'" he said in an awful impersonation of an Italian accent, "'these tours are to die for!'"
"I sound nothing like that!" Nico snapped while the rest roared with laughter.
"Nico, I love you," Will choked out, "but that sounded exactly like you."
"Traitor."
"So, tomorrow's beach day?" Piper asked before an argument could break out. "I didn't pack my bikini for nothing, you know."
"Seconded," Leo called.
"You packed a bikini, too, Leo?" Jason teased and Leo just winked at him in response.
"Lido di Venezia isn't far," Nico said. "We'd have to leave early and take the ferry."
"Beach day!" Percy cheered weakly. "The sea air will clear my sinuses right out!"
"Gross," Will muttered.
They sat around and talked for the rest of the night. They played games, watched a movie or two, and just hung out. Nico let his worries slip to the back of his mind for a bit, enjoying the weight of Will's arm around his shoulder as Jason and Percy made a show out of arm wrestling.
When neither seemed to be winning, and they just sat there with their hands clasped, arms shaking, and faces going red with exertion, the rest grew bored and wandered to the kitchen. "Does anyone want pizza rolls?" Nico asked as he pulled a bag out of the freezer.
Percy let out a dismayed groan and glared at Jason. "Dude, just lose so we can eat."
"No way, bro, you give up."
When the oven timer went off, Jason and Percy were in the kitchen. "Who won?" asked Piper.
"It's a tie," they answered together and grabbed a bunch of pizza rolls.
"Will, remember when you first started working at McDonald's and stole us a bunch of apple pies?"
Will scoffed. "I didn't steal anything! I paid for them."
"Aw, man, weak."
"Oh my God!" Piper interjected. "Who were you dating at the time?"
"Ugh." Will grimaced. "Let's not talk about her."
"Who's this?" Nico raised an eyebrow. He wasn't upset, just curious. Will had never mentioned any exes before.
"Yeah, Will dated a freshman a year or two ago." Percy nodded. "Whatever happened to her?"
"She transferred." Will grabbed another pizza roll. "That's all. No big drama."
"Where did she transfer to?"
"Someplace west. I think she went to California or something like that." He shrugged. "Too far. It never would've lasted like that."
Nico glanced up to find that Will was avoiding his gaze. His eyebrows furrowed. What had Will meant? Too far? He wasn't very well-versed in his American geography, but he was pretty sure that California was a hell of a lot closer to New York than Venice was. What the hell did that mean for them?
It never would've have lasted like that.
Nico dropped his pizza roll back onto the pan and wiped his hands on his pants. "I think I'm gonna go to bed," he announced.
"What? It's still kinda early!" Leo protested with a full mouth.
"Yeah." Nico was careful not to look at Will. "I'm just tired."
"Everything okay?" Will asked gently.
"Yeah. Fine. See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight!" the rest chimed while Will silently watched him go, a frown on his face.
"You guys okay?" Nico heard Jason ask.
"Yeah," Will muttered. "You don't think he's upset that we were talking about my ex, do you? Maybe I should talk to him."
Sure enough, just a few moments after Nico closed the door to his room, Will opened it again and slid inside. "Nico?"
"Will, I'm fine," Nico muttered in exasperation. He just wanted to be alone for a bit, and he didn't want to see Will while these negative thoughts were stirring around in his head and reminding him that, come May, he wouldn't get to see Will anymore.
"No, you're not." Will sighed as he closed the door and stepped further into the room. "You've been… distant."
"You know how I am with PDA," he dismissed. "Seriously, Will, you can go back out there."
"Not until you tell me what's bugging you." Will sat down beside Nico on the bed. "I mean, you've been acting weird even before they mentioned my ex." Nico visibly tensed. "Did that bother you?"
Nico could sense he was about to get emotional. He kept quiet and stared at his feet.
"Nico, talk to me," Will pleaded. "Please?"
Nico blew out a long exhale, trying to keep himself steady. "I guess I'm just… thinking too much…"
"About?"
He bit his lower lip. "About you leaving." Will nodded, signaling to continue, and took his hand comfortingly. "And they were all talking about plans for when you go back and then you mentioned your ex." He wrinkled his nose. "It ended because the distance was too far."
Will's face became stern and he nudged Nico until he finally met his persistent gaze. "It ended because we didn't have a connection strong enough for it to last with that much distance. We only dated for, like, two weeks before she decided to transfer. We broke up pretty quick after that. You and I dated for two months," he laced their fingers together, "but I already knew way before that that we could handle the distance. No matter how much it sucks."
Nico squeezed his hand. "And what about when you go leave?"
"What about it?"
"What happens then? With us, I mean."
Will was quiet for a moment. "I don't know," he admitted lowly.
Nico sighed, frustrated, and pulled his hand away as he stood up. "That's all you can say?" He started to pace back and forth. "You don't know? Have you even thought about it at all?"
Will watched him. "Of course I thought about it."
"And? Not one idea stuck? Merda!" Nico laughed and his voice cracked. "Do you… do you want to break up?"
"No!" Will answered immediately and was on his feet. He stopped Nico's pacing by placing his hands on Nico's shoulders. "Look, Nico, I don't know what we're going to do in May. But we're going to figure it out, okay?"
Nico felt himself relax into the American's hold. "Okay," he echoed, accepting Will's offered embrace wholeheartedly.
"Don't scare me like that," Will said into his hair. "I thought for a second you wanted to break up."
Nico held onto Will tighter. "I don't," he promised. "I really, really don't."
He could feel a smile against the top of his head before Will pushed a kiss to it. "Then we won't." They were still, silent, for a long time before Will spoke again. "Oh, and, by the way, why haven't we ever gone to the beach before?"
Nico groaned into his boyfriend's chest. "Because I hate it."
Will's laugh probably scared everyone in the kitchen.
TBC
A/N: Yoo welcome to the "Spring Break" chapter that was supposed to be uploaded a month ago ahaha (sobs). Anyways, this arc got long so I decided to split it into two parts! I finally worked out a main plot line for this AU (sobs harder) and I'm really excited for you guys to see where it's going! B)
And, as always, thanks for sticking with me! :3