Feles sunt vera...
Some things never changed. Thalia's tree served as a constant reminder. Yet, he was the one being called to forgive.
So he returned to his former cabin in the early hours of January 28, feeling adrift. He cried in front of the altar, apologizing for his failure to live up to the standard.
Later, he carved his initials into one of the bed frames. He thought about it some more and carved 'Nico was here' into a different bed.
Then he remembered the airplanes.
Someone had noticed. Someone had been here during his sabbatical. The planes had been rearranged from their chronological order. He didn't need to wonder who had done it. The new Norwegian Blue MP-1269 model stuck out among the gray and white and camouflage.
He took them all down from the ledges and window frames. He wiped off the accumulated dust before stretching out and rolling one of the planes across the floor boards.
Will showed up after noon with a sandwich. He didn't say anything about how Nico had missed two meals today already. Or that he had obviously spent all morning playing with toy planes.
So Nico didn't mention that Will was wearing scrubs and had been working mornings in the infirmary since they got back to Camp Half-blood. He probably hadn't eaten anything yet either.
"I have to go to the store later. My mom wired me some cash and I still need to buy some textbooks. Do you want to come with me," Will asked.
"What," Nico responded, still feeling disoriented.
Will looked suddenly horrified. And then embarrassed. "Oh my gods! I forgot today was your birthday. I've been so busy lately."
Nico waved it off. "No. I don't care about that. Doesn't Chiron pay you?"
Will hesitated. "It depends on what you mean by paying me. My mom covers all my expenses and I get practical experience from the infirmary. Once I was old enough, I was allowed to decide what high school I would be going to."
"He pays Annabeth and he pays me. Why wouldn't he pay you? You're so dedicated."
"Because he doesn't have to. I'm in the internship program. Besides don't worry about Annabeth. She's in her first year of college and Percy isn't the most reliable person, you know? I'm sure she has a harder time teaching Holly and Laurel strategy than working with you. Anyway, do you want to go see a movie in a real theater for a change?"
"Not really. Maybe we could try watching something with the kids in the infirmary without Mr. D getting involved again."
Will didn't say anything.
A cricket started chirping ostentatiously.
Finally Nico said, "About my dad..."
"You screamed at Jackie last night that he wasn't your father last night and she was just asking if you wanted more lemonade.
"He's still my father. I just don't have my powers anymore. I'm only a legacy of Apollo now."
Will made a mental note of the way Nico fidgeted with the plane while confronting the issue. He spun the blades and the wheels and his eyes took on that distant look that he got when he was angry. "Yeah... we should probably leave if we're going to try to have movie night for the kids in the infirmary again. Hopefully it doesn't turn into another crisis.
"They're not toys," Nico fumed as they started to leave. "I spent hours putting each of them together."
"It's not weird," Will tried to assure him.
"Whatever," Nico snapped at him. He walked faster and Will hung back to let him deal with it.
"Oh good, you got me another box," Nico said, after dinner that evening.
Will tried not to laugh but Nico was already ripping through the wrapping paper. "It's the V-22 Osprey. Thank you, Will!"
"I saw you looking at it the other day. I'm not sure why you just didn't buy it then but I felt like I should get it for you."
"Nico," Hazel called softly. She stood just past the threshold. "I've been so busy with the Legion. I'm sorry."
My brother isn't the only one you saved from Tartarus, Kronos reminded them.
Nico flinched almost imperceptibly. Will glanced at him and elbowed him, reassuringly. Nico recovered quickly, telling Hazel, "That's okay. California is a long way and you're here now. I-" He suddenly turned pale. His eyes were dark but Will still reacted when they dilated.
"Nico, what's wrong," he said, panicking. But he instinctively grabbed Nico's wrist and searched for his pulse. The familiar rhythm reassured him.
"I never thought I would make it to sixteen."
Hazel broke the tension by dragging a wooden chair next to the couch. Will let go of his wrist and gave him another look. He stretched out and left just enough room.
"I want to watch something dumb. Like the first Jurassic Park," Hazel said.
"Yeah it's probably in there," Will said, lazily waving towards the movie cabinet. "I think the velociraptors are cool."
Nico rolled his eyes. "Those weren't velociraptors."
Will shifted enough to see him still sitting on the edge of the couch. "Who cares?"
"I thought you guys had DVRs" Hazel said. She turned out the light and started the movie.
"Chiron had them all removed over the summer. They were malfunctioning and he couldn't afford to replace them."
Will counted the minutes until Nico settled in next to him. He moved slightly allowing for more room and rested his hand in the middle of Nico's back. He closed his eyes and focused, feeling for the tension. He drew it out and let it fade. Nico relaxed, slowly, resting his head on Will's chest.