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Nico stood in the center of his empty cabin. He never liked to leave a mess when he left somewhere, not if he could help it. It had been barren to begin with, but now it looked unlived in. Fitting for the Hades’ cabin, to appear as if a ghost was haunting it, instead of the young boy inhabiting its walls.
Well, Nico was over this cabin –was over this whole camp. He didn’t know what he had expected after the Battle of Manhattan. For the campers to welcome a child of death after so much loss? For them to stop looking at him with disgust and mistrust? Or for Percy to look at him as anything other than a traitor? A nuisance? A child?
Stupid.
His childish naivety had gotten the best of him –hoping to be able to find a home in Camp Half-Blood. He didn’t know why he continued to try. Why he continued to try to force things to work here when Camp Jupiter had actually offered him some form of stability.
It’s not like Camp Jupiter was rolling out the red carpet and throwing him a feast, but at least they didn’t look at him as if he might sacrifice their children to his father.
And Camp Jupiter had Jason. Gods, Jason.
When Nico had left to ( stupidly ) convince Percy to take a dip in the Styx, Jason had been getting ready to go to Mount Othrys. He had been leaving to fight a Titan, and Nico hadn’t even checked in with him.
Having said his goodbyes to Hestia the night before, Nico called the shadows to him and focused on Camp Jupiter.
Nico stumbled on his re-entry to the world of the living. Maybe he should have given himself another day of rest. It didn’t matter so much now, he could nap in the apartment that came with his status as Ambassador to Pluto.
Nico came up to the Caldecott Tunnel, where a new probatio was standing guard. Frank Zhang lacked confidence, but was a nice enough guy. He was always slouching and curling in on himself to make himself smaller. Nico was familiar with the tactic, but it didn’t work as well for the son of Mars, as he was much bigger than Nico in height and stature.
“Ambassador di Angelo! You’re-you’re back, that’s great,” Frank stumbled through his greeting in surprise.
Nico nodded, not bothering to respond to the shock on the other’s face. So, his reputation as a deserter was even apparent to the new campers.
“Um, Dakota?” Frank called to another camper further inside the borders.
“Hey, di Angelo! Good to see you in one piece. I have standing orders to bring you straight to the Praetor.” Dakota clapped Nico on the back.
Nico couldn’t imagine why the Praetors would need to see him so immediately. He swallowed back the urge to turn and run. It’s not like he could be in trouble, he wasn’t even part of the legion.
“Yeah, sure.” Nico said following behind Dakota. His plans for a nap would have to wait.
As they entered Camp Jupiter, Nico couldn’t help but to look around for a tall blonde boy with a blinding smile. Nico felt a little disappointed that Jason hadn’t been the one to great him. Which was crazy, Jason didn’t owe Nico a welcome party or even an acknowledgement beyond his duties as Centurion.
It’s not like we’re…together. Nico thought stubbornly. Going on one date didn’t make them…make them boyfriends or anything.
Jason had probably been glad to have a reprieve from Nico. He had probably forgotten all about Nico and his stupid crush.
Something sharper than hunger gnawed at Nico’s gut at the thought.
Dakota deposited him in the empty Praetors’ office to wait.
“Glad to have you back. We’ll have to catch up when he’s done with you. I imagine you’ll want some privacy for this.” He gave Nico another pat on the back and a mischievous wink tossed over his shoulder as he left.
That didn’t soothe Nico’s nerves any. Before he could start spiraling, a loud crash sounded from out in the hallway and the door was being flung open by a gust of wind that pushed Nico’s hair out of his face as he stared open-mouthed. In the doorway stood none other than Jason, wearing Praetor robes and a furious expression.
“Nico di Angelo, you cannot just run off saying some cryptic shit about defending Olympus, and not come back for weeks, and then just stroll back into camp like it’s nothing! You didn’t send word or anything. I thought you had abandoned me. I thought,” Jason deflated suddenly like all the wind was blown out of him. “I thought you were dead,” He finished in a small voice.
Oh.
Nico hadn’t understood before.
He hadn’t understood, but he did now. He walked up to the other demigod and wrapped his arms tightly around Jason’s waist.
“I’m sorry.”
“Gods above, Nico, I missed you.” Jason threw his arms around Nico and buried his face in Nico’s rat nest hair. “I was so worried about you.”
“I missed you too,” Nico admitted against Jason’s neck.
Jason was practically lifting him off the ground with how tightly he was holding Nico. Nico felt him slump against him, the tension leaving him as he leaned back enough to cradled Nico’s face between his two (large) hands.
“Next time you’re going to be gone that long, I’m coming with you.” Jason stated, with no room for argument. His eyes serious and a stormy grey with flecks of green.
Nico hummed, not willing to get in a fight over it now. Later, he would be his prickly self and tell Jason off for being demanding. Later, he could be rational and remind himself and Jason all the reasons Jason could not go on quests with him. Most importantly being that Jason didn’t know about Nico’s little Greek secret.
What a solid basis for a relationship, di Angelo, lying. Great job. The one person who cares about you, and he doesn’t even know why he shouldn’t.
“Are you hungry? You must be starving if you traveled all the way from Mount Olympus. We could get something and take it back to your apartment? I know you’re exhausted.”
Nico nodded dumbly. He had never seen so much open affection and doting from Jason before.
“Food sounds great.”
After food was obtained and devoured, they were alone in Nico’s small apartment. He lay with his head on Jason’s lap, sprawled out together on the couch. Jason was reading above him, one hand continuously carding through Nico’s hair, softer and detangled after a shower. He was holding the book close to his face and had a furrow between his eyebrows that should not have been adorable. Nico felt the last of the tension leave his body, leaving him boneless. Fed, clean, and sleepy but not exhausted.
Nico tentatively laid his hand just above Jason’s knee. He could feel heat rising in his face. He was dozing on a boy’s lap. On Jason’s lap, no less. And Jason seemed perfectly content to let him. He had been attentive since the second he saw Nico. Not only that, but he had taken care of Nico with a smile on his face the entire time. As if making sure Nico didn’t die was somehow fun for the son of Jupiter.
There were important things Nico needs to ask. Boundaries he needed to renegotiate. Maybe secrets to tell. He especially wanted to revisit the abandonment Jason felt while Nico was gone. But he was a coward and couldn’t bring himself to disturb the relative peace. For now, he’d allow himself to feel at home on Jason’s lap, and finally let himself drift to sleep.