To the reviewer Cookie, you're right. It's an overcooked reference.
I hope everyone enjoys the new chapter.
"No offense," Nico began as he stared at the newspaper in front of him. It was one of many that littered the room. "You're kind of a hoarder."
"I can be," Lupa admitted as she grabbed another box. There had been a closet in the back corner of the gym that was full of these old boxes that had old papers and files in them. They brought the boxes to Lupa's office to look through. So far, it was nothing worthwhile. "Most of them were from the year or two that I tried to expand into real estate."
"How does real estate tie into newspapers?" Nico wondered as he looked over the headlines. These seemed to be from ten years ago.
"I thought that I could find out where the market would drop by following stories in the newspapers," Lupa explained. "More crime meant that prices would drop, and anytime a store opened, I figured it would be important to keep an eye on. At some point, I gave up on the hobby and just stored all the newspapers away."
"So, recycle these?" Nico assumed.
"Some may have articles about my fighters," Lupa began.
"If I find them, I'll save them," Nico promised. Lupa gave him a small smile. The two moved through newspapers in a relative quiet. Nico finished off two boxes and put them to the side. He only found an article or two about the gym.
"We should just throw out all of the newspapers," Lupa finally decided.
"Are you sure?" Nico questioned. Lupa nodded. That made things easier as Nico checked all the boxes for newspapers and separated it into a pile of files and newspapers. Then, he started to carry the boxes to the recycling bin. Lupa helped him.
As they were making their way back upstairs, Lupa spoke, "How are things with Will?"
Nico almost tripped over his feet as the question was asked. Lupa steadied him with a small smile on her face, "Are you two official?"
"Um, yes. Yes we are," Nico confirmed after a moment. "I'm still trying to get used to dating someone. And being out, I guess. Reyna was the only one who knew for the longest time. Well, other than those at our high school..."
Nico shook his head before he could drift into bad memories, "I'm going to meet his mom in Rome, and I'm scared."
"You don't have to be scared, Nico. You are a wonderful young man," Lupa stated. Nico could not help the blush that came to his face. "Will is lucky to have you."
"Thanks," Nico said as he averted his face. He cleared his throat. The two of them made it up the stairs, and Nico smiled as he saw his best friend standing at Lupa's door. She knocked on it. "You're so weird."
Reyna turned her head to the side. A small smile touched her face as she saw Nico. It flickered as her eyes focused on Lupa. Reyna was holding onto a few papers in her hand, "It's not my fault that someone closed the door."
"It just shuts on its own," Nico defended as he followed Lupa toward the office. Reyna took a step back. "Did you bring me something good?"
"Nothing for you," Reyna smirked. She focused her gaze on Lupa, and she held out the papers. "No concussion. My shoulder doesn't need surgery. It just needs a few weeks of rest. The other paper is the anger management one and my therapist."
Reyna's voice quieted as she continued to talk. She cleared her throat and averted her gaze. A shrug left her as she looked at Nico. He picked up on the cue, "I can't believe I didn't have to drag you to the doctor."
"I can be an adult sometimes," Reyna said.
"Not really," Nico argued. Reyna rolled her eyes. Lupa took the papers and looked them over. Nico glanced at the papers as well. He was so proud of Reyna for taking the steps to visit a therapist and anger management. It was important that she stayed ahead of her mental health.
It would also be good for Reyna to have someone to vent to. If she could keep her anger in check, it would make her life so much easier. And maybe even selfishly, he was happy that he didn't have to worry about being snapped on. Reyna was a great person at heart, but she also had the tendency to let things get to her a little too much.
"So, um, yeah. Official paperwork," Reyna began. She cleared her throat and took a few steps back. "I should... go."
"Reyna," Lupa spoke up. She lowered the papers. Reyna glanced back at Lupa. "I don't want you to do any more training until after we are back from Rome. The same goes for Annabeth. You two have injuries that need to heal."
"Okay," Reyna agreed as she kept her gaze anywhere but Lupa's face. Nico wanted nothing more than to shake the two of them and tell them to work things out. And also to go to the house of Reyna's mother and take a swing at her.
"And, I am removing your suspension clause from your contract," Lupa continued. "I never should have added it."
Reyna looked like she didn't know what to say, so she just managed a nod. Nico moved closer to her to show that she was there for her. Reyna pulled her arm around Nico's shoulders and spoke, "You smell like mothballs."
"You smell like a jerk," Nico replied as he found Reyna's hand and squeezed it gently.
"Um, thanks," Reyna finally said as she looked at Lupa. "I..."
Reyna hesitated and looked down. She cleared her throat again and pulled at her collar. Reyna spoke, "I should have gone when you recommended it, but I didn't. I'm going now, though."
"If you ever need time off from the gym for an appointment, just let me know. Your mental health is just as important as physical health," Lupa stated.
"It's night appointments, but I'll keep it in mind," Reyna said. She glanced at Nico. "I'm going to go grocery shopping. Do you need anything?"
"I'll text you a list and call Hazel," Nico stated.
"Already on it," Reyna said as she lifted her phone. Her gaze moved to Lupa. "Do you still want me to come into the gym?"
"Take the rest of the week off," Lupa answered. Reyna nodded. "Get some rest as well."
"Yeah," Reyna muttered. She gently bumped Nico and turned down the hall. Reyna walked away. She had kept her arm to her side for most of the conversation, and Nico knew just how bad she was hurting. She had spent most of the day before in bed.
Nico moved his gaze back to Lupa. The gym owner watched Reyna leave, and when she noticed Nico's gaze, she averted her own. Nico cleared his throat and made his way into Lupa's office. She followed and sat the papers down.
"I had an idea," Nico began. Lupa glanced at him. "But, I don't know if it's a good one."
Lupa hummed in acknowledgment. Nico stared at the papers and tried to work up the nerve to ask. He finally looked at Lupa, "I stream games in my free time. Like me playing them and streaming it so people can watch. I have a decent sized following, especially because Reyna has been in a few of my streams.
"I'm not doing this to gain more followers," Nico said quickly. "But, I was wanting to do something like a twenty four hour gaming marathon and collect donations throughout it. I was wondering if maybe I could do it at the gym. And get a few others to appear in it."
"Play video games in the gym?" Lupa questioned.
"Yeah. I figured there are a lot of party games we could play, and I thought it would get more recognition being in your gym which would mean more donations. Reyna is going to be part of it regardless. Hazel is too. I just thought..."
"I like the idea, Nico," Lupa started with a smile. "We will have to work through the technicalities of it."
"Of course," Nico replied. "I have a rough plan I can show you."
Nico had been wanting to do this for months now. While he enjoyed streaming, he always felt like he could do more with it. Especially because anytime a member of the Wolves appeared on the livestream, it tripled his viewers. He figured by most of the gym members involved and the gym itself, they could get a lot of money for charity.
Nico was worried that Lupa would think he was just doing this for viewers. Thankfully, Lupa looked at him and smiled, "I can ask everyone who wants to attend and order a feast for everyone. We'll advertise the event on social media. Do you have a charity you want to donate to?"
"I do," Nico began. "A local charity for kids kicked out of their homes because they are LGBT."
"That's a wonderful idea," Lupa beamed. "I think I will try some games as well. The last one I played was at an arcade, but I am sure I still have some moves. I want to go against you first."
"You're on."