Chapter 27
A
black head of hair poked out from under a warm, blue blanket. Nico
sighed contently before rolling over on his stomach and burying his
face into the extremely comfortable pillow. When his hand dropped to
the mattress, he scrunched his eyes for a moment before cracking one
open.
He
was alone. Luke was not asleep, or even in the room. Nico let out a
yawn, stretching his feet beneath the covers. A glass of water and
some aspirin sat on the nightstand beside him. But, besides a dry
mouth, Nico felt fine. He made a face as he tried to wet his mouth,
as it tasted like a mix of cotton and something that had died.
The
boy sighed and sank beneath the covers, currently not capable of
moving. Luke's blanket and pillow were amazing. He was still in the
clothes he had changed into last night, though he had never really
doubted that anything was going to happen.
He
had been honest with Luke last night when he had said that he didn't
think the blond would try anything without his permission. Luke
probably would, but not without consent. There was just something
there, something holding the blond back.
Nico
blinked his eyes open, and stared up at the ceiling. He really did
not want to be productive today; the bed was just too comfortable.
But Luke was nowhere to be found, at least not in the room. Why
hadn't the blond woken him? And why did he always wake up alone in
bed? Well, except for when he had stayed with Will, though the blond
had still not met his expectations of waking up next to another guy.
Was
it too much to ask to wake up next to someone the next day? His
experience with Percy had, of course, been the most disappointing.
And the events that followed him after waking up that morning had not
been enjoyable, either.
“Oh
fuck!”
Nico
blinked, his eyes now wide. What was that? He slid his legs out of
the bed and sat on the edge, an eyebrow raised. He could barely make
out some voices in the living room.
“More,
dammit!”
Okay,
so it definitely did not sound like an average conversation. The
voice sounded like Luke, though. And, from what he could make out of
the other voice, it sounded like Percy. He heard Percy chuckle at
something before a loud moan rang out.
Nico
crept towards the door, letting it slowly open. He was instantly met
by the sounds of moans and heavy breathing. It was definitely Percy
and Luke, though. Had the manager dropped by? Should he be
investigating this?
He
could hear the shower running behind him. Octavian must have come
back, he thought. But what was going on in the living room? He
hesitantly shuffled down the hallway. What he found was definitely
not what he expected.
On
the TV was a video, of Luke and Percy. The green-eyed young man was
pounding into Luke at a relentless pace, the blond moaning and
begging for more. Percy smirked, a hand gripping Luke's throat. The
raven haired young man had his other hand digging nails into the
blond's hip.
“Goddammit,
Percy, harder!”
Nico
blinked in surprise at the video. Nico thought Luke had said he was
the dominating type. This video seemed to say differently. He quirked
an eyebrow and turned, freezing on the spot.
Luke
sat on the couch, completely naked. And, for the first time, Nico saw
Luke's erection. As predicted, the blond was above average. He had a
hand around his arousal, stroking himself. But the most surprising
thing was what the blue-eyed Lost Boy was doing with his other hand.
He had a dildo, currently penetrating himself with it.
Nico's
entire face felt hot, nearly as red as a tomato. “Um, morning?”
The
blond froze, turning a dark, lustful stare on Nico. “Enjoying the
show, brat?”
Nico
rubbed his arms, shifting his gaze away from the nude form of Luke.
He cleared his throat, feeling his own arousal beginning to form.
“Um, what are you doing?”
Luke
grunted. “What does it look like I'm doing?” Much to Nico's
dismay, the Lost Boy went back to work on himself. “Are you just
going to watch, or you going take care of yourself?”
“Uh,
no thanks, I'm good.” The raven haired boy rubbed the back of his
head. “You have a sex tape?”
The
blond shrugged, sliding the dildo into him again. “Just for my
enjoyment.”
Nico's
face turned darker as his eyes landed on the video again. “Is, uh,
Percy always this...aggressive...in bed?”
Luke
chuckled. “Why don't you go find out?” He grunted and nodded to
the space next to him on the couch. “Sit.”
The
youngest Lost Boy pursed his lips. This was a little uncomfortable.
He hesitantly made his way over and sat down, refusing to look at
Luke. He blew out a breath, drumming on his lap awkwardly.
“Still
uncomfortable with all of this?”
Nico
shrugged. “Still a virgin.” He sighed and shifted uncomfortably
on the couch. “Why are you watching this, anyways?”
The
blond shrugged, not stopping in his self-pleasuring. “Why not?
Percy is good, even through memories.”
Nico's
brown eyes unconsciously found their way over to stare at Luke
stroking himself. Until he had gotten to the hotel, he had never
really seen another guy naked before, and now he was seeing plenty of
male anatomy. Luke's head fell back in a moan. Nico blushed and
looked away when he realized the blond was watching him from the
corner of his eye.
The
raven haired boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Luke let out a
loud moan, which was soon followed by his climax. Luke slumped on the
couch, pulling the dildo from himself. The blond let out a breath and
ran a hand through his hair, his chest still covered in his seed.
“Can
you hand me that?” Luke asked, pointing to the other side of Nico.
Nico
just blinked for a moment. Luke arched an eyebrow and Nico shook his
head before turning around. A towel sat on the arm of the couch. Nico
picked it up and handed it to Luke, who began cleaning himself up.
“Um,
thanks for letting me stay.”
“You
said that last night,” Luke mumbled.
“I
know, but I just wanted to thank you again.” The boy cleared his
throat and looked away when Luke stood up, receiving a very close
view of Luke's firm ass.
The
blond shrugged. “Don't worry about it.”
“The
blanket was, uh, nice. And warm.”
Luke
smirked and let the dirty towel drop to the floor, plopping back down
next to Nico. He leaned back on the couch, letting his head rest on
the back. With his foot, Luke kicked his boxers up to him before
sliding them on.
“It
was a gift.”
Nico
blinked. “What?”
The
blond sighed and turned narrowed eyes on Nico. “The blanket. It was
a gift from my grandmother.”
Nico
quickly nodded. “I'm guessing you got along with her?”
Luke
watched Nico from the corner of his eye in silence. He let out a
breath and ran his hand down his chest, wiping some of the remaining
sweat off. “Yeah, she was a great woman.”
“I'm
sorry,” Nico whispered.
Luke
shrugged. “Don't worry about it, not like you killed her.” The
blond leaned forward and picked up a cup of coffee from the coffee
table, but remained hunched over when he was done drinking. “She
was really good to us, but that's ancient history. It's not something
you need to concern yourself with, brat.”
Nico
pursed his lips. “I'd like to hear it, though.”
The
blond's icy blue stare turned on Nico. “That was me saying nicely
that I don't want to talk about her.” Luke's eyes pierced through
Nico as the boy shifted on the couch. “You can go back to your room
now.”
Nico
nodded awkwardly and stood up. Luke turned the sext tape off and
shifted it over to TV. Nico stared at the blond one last time before
disappearing down the hall. As he was about to enter Luke's room, the
bathroom door opened, revealing a nearly naked Octavian.
The
blond's hair clung to his face, his blue eyes being hidden behind
some of his bangs. A towel hung from his hips, one pale hand holding
the fabric up. Water dripped down his torso until it reached the
towel. And Octavian's icy blue gaze fell upon Nico in a blank stare.
“Good
morning, Nico. I assume you slept well?”
Nico
swallowed and nodded. “I suppose.”
There
was a coldness in the blond's eyes as he smirked and nodded. “Good,
I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure you quite enjoyed my brother's bed and
hospitality.”
“We
didn't do anything.”
The
blond shrugged. “I would never imply such a thing, Nico.” He
tapped a finger to his lips. “Oh dear, I meant to tell you
something, but I seem to have forgotten of it. Silly me.”
Nico's
brow furrowed. He didn't like this. It didn't take a genius to figure
out Octavian was not happy about Nico's overnight stay with Luke. “I
didn't ask to sleep in your brother's room. Your brother was nice
enough to bring me up here.”
Blue
eyes were rolled as the blond walked down to his room. Nico huffed
and followed after him. “Whatever. Perhaps you shouldn't have had
so much to drink. I don't see why Will couldn't have brought you up
to his room.”
Nico
frowned as Octavian opened the door. The slender blond had a much
cleaner room than his brother. The floor was spotless, the bed was
perfectly made, and his nightstand and dresser were completely
organized. A single picture of Luke sat on the dresser. There was a
bookshelf near the closet, filled to the brim with books. Next to it
sat more books, stacked perfectly. But what caught Nico's attention
the most were the stuffed animals.
A
bear was on the bed, leaning against the pillows. There was a large
lion in the corner, like it had come out of some carnival game. A
small dog sat under the blond's TV, and to finish it off, a penguin
sat on top of the bookshelf.
It
was curious, Nico thought. He had been in the blond's room once
before, but it was under very awkward circumstances. He had been a
little preoccupied with his blushing and the fact that Travis and
Octavian had been in the middle of sex. Nico had not taken the time
to really look at the room.
“And
why are you mad?” Nico demanded. “You're the one who offered me
the wine in the first place.”
Octavian
unfastened his towel, his back to Nico. “Correction, Will offered
it to you first.” Much to Nico's dismay, the towel around the
blond's waist hit the floor, revealing the Lost Boy's pale ass.
Nico
cleared his throat, keeping his eyes on the back of Octavian's head
as the blond bent over to slip on a pair of boxers. “And, like I
said, Luke and I didn't do anything. Why does that even matter?”
The
blond turned around with a dark look. “I could care less if my
brother had sex with you. I hope he fucks you into the ground, until
you're too sore to move. It's not about what he does sexually.”
“What
the hell is with brothers and dating around here?”
Blue
eyes were rolled in a sigh. “I am not in love with my brother, you
stupid little twit. Please go take your theories about incest down
the hall, to the Stolls.” Octavian turned his back on Nico again,
this time heading into his closet. “Now then, please show yourself
out.”
Nico
flung his arms up. “What is wrong with you?” He shouted. “I get
your brother, he's the tough love kind of person. But you, I just
don't get you. At least your brother has people's best interests at
heart when he's an asshole!”
Octavian
turned his head towards Nico, fixing him with a deathly glare. “Get
out of my room,” the blond growled. “Have fun in your own
self-destruction, fucker.”
Nico
huffed and slammed Octavian's door behind him. Luke stood in the
hallway, eyebrow raised. “Problem?”
“Your
brother's an asshole,” Nico mumbled as he shoved his way towards
the door.
Luke
just chuckled as the door to the suite was slammed. Nico sighed and
headed for his room. He needed a shower, a nice long one. He slowly
opened his door, poking his head inside. It was quiet. Was Percy
still there? Did he sleep in the Lost Kids' rooms? Doubtful.
As
far as he could remember, he had often seen Percy coming out of the
Lost Kids' rooms at night. So, Jason had probably slept alone last
night. Nico supposed it was the downfall of not sleeping in Percy's
room. At least he could say he had slept with Percy. Jason just had
emotionless sex.
Nico
sighed and gathered up some clothes to change into before heading to
the bathroom. He made sure to lock the door, not wanting to have any
more experiences like that one time. He turned on the water and let
it warm up before stepping inside the glass box.
He
did need to find Percy, though. After last night, Nico felt there was
some damage control that needed to be worked out. The problem was he
didn't know what the issue was. Percy seemed irritated with him, but
he just didn't know what he had done. It couldn't have been the
alcohol, could it? Percy had offered him some before. Though, that
had just been the one time. Every other time, Percy had blocked him
before he had even had the chance to respond.
But
that couldn't have been the problem. Percy had seemed irritated
before Nico had drunk. So what was it? If this was Percy's way of
getting him to back off, he could pick a nicer way to do it.
Nico
sighed and turned off the water, reaching out for his towel. After
drying himself off, he slipped on his underwear and headed back to
his room, clothes in hand. He sat down on his bed and slipped on his
pants and shirt. His brow furrowed as he stared at the clock on his
nightstand.
It
was still early, so Percy would probably be in his office. If not
there, then probably in his room. Nico jumped off his bed and slipped
his shoes on, grabbing his wallet and phone on the way out the door.
After
a quick ride up one floor, Nico was greeted by some shouting. Rachel
stormed around the corner, her face red. She glared when she saw Nico
standing there. “Hey, Rach..el. Rachel. Hey, Rachel,” Nico said
nervously.
“Stupid,”
she mumbled. She shoved Nico into the wall. “I know I told you
better than what I saw last night. What the hell was that?” She
huffed and shoved past Nico, stopping in the door of the elevator.
“Why are men so stupid?”
“I,
uh-what did I do?”
Rachel
turned to glare at the boy. “You were an idiot! You asked for
advice, so I gave it to you. You wanted Percy, and then you do
something stupid! I told you to be yourself, and what do you do? You
freaking do the complete opposite of what I told you to do!”
Nico
swallowed, taking a step back. “I was just trying to act like an
adult,” he muttered under his breath.
Rachel
actually came out of the elevator to smack Nico upside the head. “And
what could possibly make you think that what you did was the solution
to that?” She shouted.
Nico
pursed his lips, dropping his head. Rachel narrowed her eyes at him
before looking over Nico's shoulder. She huffed and turned around,
storming onto the elevator. Nico blinked at her as the doors closed.
What had just happened?
He
turned around to see what Rachel had been staring at, only to find
the person he had been looking for. Percy had his head out of the
door across from his suite, an eyebrow quirked in curiosity. Nico
wandered down the hall, staring at the door strangely.
He
had always wondered what was behind this door. As it turned out, it
was another suite, possibly the same size as Percy's. Nico stood in
the doorway, next to Percy.
“Don't
mind her, she just had an encounter with her father earlier.” The
manager rested his arm on the doorway, just above Nico's head. “So,
you were asking Rachel about me?” He grinned down at Nico.
The
boy narrowed his eyes before turning back to the suite. “What's
going on?”
The
green-eyed young man shrugged. “Just making sure everything is in
order for Gaea. She stays in here when she visits.” Percy sighed
and played with some of Nico's bangs as he watched Leo direct some
maids around. “As it turns out, she will be coming a little earlier
than expected.”
“When
is she coming?”
Percy
blinked down at him. “Christmas. So, a month away.”
Nico
swallowed, his face losing some color. That was quite close, and he
was not sure he was ready to meet the infamous woman just yet. And
that also meant that her real son, Kronos, would be here as well. And
after all that Nico had heard about that young man, he knew he did
not want to meet Kronos any time soon.
Percy
chuckled and brushed Nico's bangs to the side. “So, what did you
and Rachel talk about?”
Nico
let out a breath and pressed his back against the doorway. “What's
the fun in telling? Besides, surely you already know, seeing as how
you know everything that happens in the hotel.”
Nico
was not sure if mocking was the way to go, but Percy didn't seem
irritated with him at the moment. The manager just grinned and leaned
closer to the boy. “Oh? Well, if I had to guess, I'd say it was
concerning my mood as of late. Possibly some advice on how to reel me
in?” Nico blushed when he received a wink from Percy. Percy's thumb
was brushed over his cheek. “Don't worry, Nico, you're still cute
and adorable, especially when you blush.”
Nico
pouted as he stared up into Percy's eyes. “But you're upset with
me.”
The
young man shrugged. “Why would I be upset? What's there to be upset
about?” The raven haired manager tilted his head to the side.
“Drinking? Will? Luke? How you've been jealous? I'm sure the
possibilities are endless. However, it's none of those. Stop
worrying.”
The
brown-eyed boy sighed and ran a finger along a portion of Percy's
dark blue shirt. “You seemed upset with me last night.” His brow
furrowed as his head raised to look back at Percy's eyes. “And what
do you mean none of those apply? I saw you staring at me and Will
last night.”
Percy
chuckled, making Nico's heart beat faster. It was like music. “You're
cute.” He ran his hand through Nico's hair, humming to himself.
“Why should I be jealous?” He shrugged. “I mean, you seem
awfully determined to get my attention, to get me, so what do I have
to be jealous about? But more importantly, why is it relevant? You're
free to do as you please, as we are not in a relationship.”
Nico
sighed and crossed his arms. Why did he expect anything less than
complicated with Percy? “I think you like me.” Percy's smile
dropped. “Maybe you just don't want to admit it.” The boy blew at
his black bangs. “Jealousy can be hot, you know.”
Percy
finally chuckled again. He sighed and ran his hand through Nico's
hair again. “I'm sure it is, Nico. However, not everyone is the
jealous type.” He poked Nico in the forehead before taking a step
back. “I figured you would know that.”
“I'm
sorry,” Nico whispered.
Percy's
brow furrowed, his head tilting to the side. “What are you sorry
about? What have you done?”
The
boy groaned. “I don't know. Please just tell me.” He pursed his
lips, staring down at the floor. “I hate this. I don't like you
being upset with me like this. I just want to know what I did to make
you mad.”
The
manager sighed and slipped his arms around Nico's slim waist. “Nico,
nothing is wrong. I'm not mad at you, I can promise you that.” The
green-eyed young man reached up and brushed some of Nico's bangs to
the side. “Stop worrying so much,” he said softly.
Nico's
heart began to race as he stared up into Percy's warm sea-green eyes.
They were his favorite shade of Percy's eyes, and the ones he wished
he only had to see. And he really loved this, getting this attention
from Percy. It was when Percy gave him this attention that he was
probably at his happiest. It was like a drug, a euphoric drug.
Percy
smiled down at him before winking. “You should run along,” he
whispered. “You have work. I'll see you later, okay?”
Nico
nodded, his head still spinning. Perhaps he really should put some
thought into what Ganymede had said to him about his feelings about
Percy. Whether or not he loved the manager, he did know he had strong
feelings for Percy. That part was undeniable.
The
youngest Lost Boy made to walk backwards, but ended up stumbling.
Nico's breath hitched as he began to fall. A hand shot out and caught
him, and he was brought upright to be greeted by a smiling Percy.
“You know, Nico, I sometimes feel like you're a walking disaster
area.”
Nico
narrowed his eyes and removed Percy's hand from his slender waist.
“Shut up,” Nico mumbled.
Percy
chuckled and pressed his back against the wall. “What's wrong,
Nico? Am I too distracting for you?”
The
boy glared up at the young man before huffing and turning around. He
listened to Percy's laughter as he made his way down to the elevator.
Once the doors were shut, he let out a sigh. Well, perhaps things
weren't as bad as he thought.
Still,
Percy had seemed upset. Perhaps he just wasn't being honest with
Nico? He was too hard to read most of the time, so Nico really had no
way of knowing.
But
maybe there was some hope for him yet?
Percy
seemed to be in a better mood today, at least. But something was
still wrong, Nico knew that. He just didn't know what to do. He did
not even know what the problem was. Obviously it wasn't jealousy. But
why would it be? Percy was right, there was nothing going on between
them. And Percy could not even give Nico what he wanted, or at least
he claimed that was the case. Still, Nico did not want to believe he
was down and out just yet.
The
elevator opened up into the bar and Nico walked out. Chiron was at
the board at the front, putting up the specials. “Good morning,
Nico,” he greeted the boy.
“Hey,
Chiron.” Nico sighed and stood there, watching the man write.
The
bartender quirked an eyebrow when he noticed Nico still standing
there. “Is there something I can do for you, my boy?”
Nico
pursed his lips, staring down at his feet. “I've just been thinking
about some things.” He cleared his throat and looked up as the man
as Chiron finished. “Anyways, I was just wondering if you could
give me a little advice, since you seem good with people.”
Chiron
smiled and sat down on the bench that was beside the board. “What
can I do for you?”
“It's
just Percy, sort of. I just need some good, clear advice. He won't
even tell me what's bothering him.”
Chiron
chuckled warmly and stroked his beard. “You fret as if you two are
already a couple.” The bartender sighed and picked at some lint on
his pants. “Percy is a mystery to all around him. I wouldn't try
predicting him; you might end up in a worse situation.” Chiron
continued to stroke his beard, sitting in silence for a few seconds.
“I would not worry. I did speak to him last night, actually, about
this exact subject.”
Nico
perked up. “And?”
The
man sighed. “I'm afraid that is confidential, child. Percy
is...sorting through some things.” He licked his lips and furrowed
his brow. “He has done an awful lot for you, you know.”
Nico
tilted his head to the side. “I know, and I really appreciate it.
He took me in and gave me a home, and a job to go along with it. I
might not be here if it weren't for him.”
Chiron
sighed again, standing up. “I don't think you quite understand
things quite yet, Nico.” He smiled warmly and patted Nico's
shoulder before heading back to the bar.
Nico
frowned and stared after the man. What did he mean by that? Percy
knew that Nico appreciated what the manager had done, right? Of
course he did. Nico had told him several times that he appreciated
all of this. So, what was the problem?
Ethan
sat at the bar, while Will leaned against it from the other side,
smiling at the Asian Lost Boy. The two seemed to be talking about
something. But Ethan didn't quite have the smile on that Will did.
Ethan raised his glass to his lips and took a long sip of some amber
liquid.
“Isn't
it a little early to drink?” Nico mumbled, walking around the bar
to grab his apron.
Ethan
stared at him blankly. “I don't really take drinking advice from
lushes.”
Will
chuckled and leaned in towards Nico. “Didn't wake up with a
hangover, did you?” Nico shook his head. “Good. Sadly, Luke beat
me to taking you to your room. Though, from what I hear, he didn't
take you to your room.”
Nico
frowned. “I'm sure he told everyone that I was in his bed.” The
boy sighed. “He didn't say that we had sex, did he?”
Ethan
and Will looked at each other. The blond tilted his head to the side.
“Actually, it was Octavian that mentioned it. Luke has refused to
say anything on the matter.”
Ethan
glared as his drink was pulled from his hands by Will. The blond
winked at him as he took a small drink. “You can get your own.”
Will
shrugged. “You were offering plenty of things last night.”
Nico
blinked. So Ethan did go for guys? He frowned and narrowed his eyes
at Will. The blond had been in Ethan's room last night? Was it
impossible to find someone who would be committed in this place? Was
that just too much to ask for? But, then again, perhaps he needed to
work something out.
And
it wasn't like he wasn't somewhat involved with multiple guys. He let
out a sigh as he rested his arms on the bar. Perhaps he was the one
who needed to work things out. Percy was the one he wanted, but
sometimes that goal seemed so far out of reach.
His
dark eyes fell on Will. And the blond was right there, completely
within reach. Completely obtainable. And what of Luke? Was there
something there? The others seemed to think so.
Nico
groaned and dropped his head on the counter, drawing the attention of
Ethan and Will. “Something wrong?” Ethan mumbled, finishing off
his drink.
“My
life sucks,” Nico mumbled into the wooden surface his face rested
on.
“What's
his problem?” Silena walked around Will and Nico, picking up her
own apron. “He looks upset.”
“I'm
not upset.” Nico sighed and stood up to his full height. “I'm
just frustrated. Why is everything so complicated here?”
Hazel
hopped into the seat beside Ethan, causing the Asian to flinch and
scoot slightly away from the girl. She frowned at him for a brief
moment before turning to Nico. “It's just the way this place is.
But don't worry, you'll get used to it.”
“If
you don't, it'll just swallow you whole,” Ethan mumbled, standing
to his feet. He frowned at Hazel and Silena before focusing on Will.
“Again tonight?”
Will
opened his mouth, but paused. He blinked and looked at Nico, his lips
tilting down. “I'll...get back to you on that, yeah?”
Ethan
scrunched his lips before shrugging. “Whatever.” With that, the
Lost Boy tossed a wave over his shoulder and walked towards the
elevator.
Will
drummed his hands on the counter before turning to face Nico. “So,
Nico, what are you doing after work?”
The
two Lost Girls eyed them curiously, Will receiving an odd look from
Nico. “I'm not really sure. Why?”
Will
cleared his throat, shooting the two Lost Girls a look. They raised
their eyebrows, snickering to themselves as they walked off. The
blond sighed and turned back to Nico. “Anyways, I was thinking you
could come over and hangout tonight?” He flashed his bright smile
at Nico, leaning on the bar. “Or perhaps we could do that date?”
Nico
scrunched his lips and crossed his arms. “I'm fine with hanging
out; we'll see about the date. But maybe.” Will grinned, his eyes a
bright shade of blue. “Still not doing anything sexual, so don't
get that into your head.”
Will
shrugged. “That's fine. But, like I said, no one has to know.”
Nico
sighed and rolled his eyes. “I'll still pass. Have something fun
planned, I guess.” He turned and headed out to deal with a few
customers that were filtering in. “Oh,” he turned back to face
Will, “and I'll be sleeping in my own room tonight.”
Will
groaned and made a face, but let it go. Nico chuckled and headed out
to deal with the customers. He was still hesitant of diving into
things with the blond, especially after what Luke had said last
night. He had to wonder if Will would have really tried anything. One
Lost Boy said one thing, while the other said the opposite. Who was
he to believe?
At
Nico's first table sat a sturdily built man with neatly kept black
hair, though specks of grey could be spotted in both it and his
beard. His eyes were a dark grey, like the sky on a stormy day. His
skin was pale, like Nico's, and could probably give the boy a run for
his money. Nico noted that he was dressed nice, in an all-white
suite. Oddly enough, he seemed familiar somehow.
“Good
afternoon, sir. What can I get for you?” Nico greeted the man with
a smile.
The
man looked up from his menu. He seemed happy enough, though Nico
figured the man was probably strict natured. “Yes, I would like a
chicken salad and a cup of tea, if you please.” He smiled and
handed Nico the menu.
Nico
scribbled it down and nodded. “Would you like something else to
drink with that, or will that be all?”
The
man checked his watch and shook his head. “No, thank you, but I'll
wait until tonight to have myself something to drink.”
Nico
nodded and walked off to the bar to type in the order. Hazel smiled
at him when he returned. “I see you got Mr. Boreas.”
Nico
blinked and looked at the man he had just left. “That guy? You know
him?”
The
Lost Girl nodded. “Yeah, he comes here at least once a month. He
runs a lot of travel corporations, mainly air.” She smiled and
waved over at the man. “He's nice, mostly. He's friendly with all
of us, but Piper claims she's overheard him get angry during phone
calls.”
“So
he comes to the top floor?”
The
girl shrugged. “On occasion. He usually just stays on this floor.
He never causes any problems, and Percy seems to enjoy his company.”
Nico scrunched his lips as he typed in the order. “But, yeah, we
all enjoy having him here.”
Nico
chewed on his lip as he nodded along to what Hazel had said. He
supposed it was good that they had friendly customers. However, it
didn't seem all that important. He was just a customer, and it wasn't
like he was going to come up to the Lost Boys' section.
Nico
whined as he was easily lifted off the ground by Butch, as Reyna,
Calypso, and Travis looked on in amusement. Butch sat him down with a
chuckle, patting him on the head. “You need to put a little more
meat on your bones, Nico. You practically weigh nothing.”
Nico
sighed, glaring up at the muscular Lost Boy. “I like the way I
look,” Nico mumbled.
The
room fell silent for a moment, all eyes blinking at Nico. It grew
uncomfortable when he realized that even Dionysus was staring at him.
The brown-eyed boy rubbed his arm nervously as he stared back at all
of them. Calypso was the first to move, rising off the couch to hug
him.
The
Lost Boy arched a brow as he patted her on the back. “Um, what's
going on?”
“Oh,
Nico, you're finally becoming comfortable with yourself,” Calypso
cried happily.
Nico
just blinked for a moment, recalling what he had said. He liked the
way he looked now. He had said that, even if he didn't realize it had
come out at the time. Perhaps this place was not all bad. Bianca was
happy with how healthy he had become. And, now, Nico was growing into
his own skin, or so it seemed. He had to wonder how he would see
himself a year from now.
“Cheers
to progression!” Dionysus held out a drink, aiming it in Nico's
direction. The Lost Boy stared back at the glass with a wary
expression.
Reyna
frowned as she turned her head around. “Is there anything you won't
drink to?”
The
corner of the bartender's mouth tilted up as he plopped down in his
chair, his drink nearly spilling. “I'll have to get back to you on
that, I do believe.”
Annabeth
entered the room, quirking an eyebrow at the bartender as he downed
his drink. Her grey eyes scanned over the room, taking in all of the
tension that the Lost Kids radiated. “Did I miss something?”
Travis
was the first to recover. He smiled and swung an arm around Nico's
shoulders. “Only Nico here admitting he likes the way he looks.”
Annabeth's
other eyebrow rose before a smile followed after it. She nodded her
head and motioned towards the door. “Great, but we all have a job
to do.”
Nico
followed Butch and Travis out the door, grabbing onto the muscular
Lost Boy's arm. “Hey, Butch, can I talk to you a moment?”
Butch
looked down at the hand briefly before looking Nico in the eye.
“Sure, man, what's up?”
The
raven haired boy chewed on his lip as he glanced down. “Well, I was
just wondering about your mom. I imagine being thrown into that
wouldn't be easy?”
Butch
tilted his head to the side. “Something bothering you?”
Nico
sighed and leaned against the wall behind him. He was so used to
asking about other people and their lives, but this was a little
awkward for him. He had just figured Butch would be the best person
to talk to about his confliction.
“I've
just been thinking about my mom. I mean, I know she didn't do
anything to me, but I guess I'm a little hurt by how things went when
I was at home.” Butch nodded. “She just kind of let it all
happen. She was quiet and probably scared of my father, I get that,
but I just sort of needed someone.”
The
Lost Boy sighed. “Yeah, I get what you mean. So you want to talk to
her again?”
“Maybe.”
Nico fidgeted with the speedo that clung to his hips. “I'm just
scared that my father would find out. I just sort of wanted to see
how things were going with your mother. I mean, I know that we had
two completely different situations, but I was looking
for...something. I don't really know what I'm looking for.”
Butch
smirked and pressed his shoulder against the wall, next to Nico. “A
little strained.” He nodded. “Yeah, I think strained is the best
word for it. I had to take care of myself growing up, so seeing her
wasn't easy. And I'm still not certain I've forgiven her.”
“Have
you been seeing her?”
Butch
stared off, at some of the customers that were coming up the stairs.
“Yeah, I actually saw her yesterday, before I had to come in for
work.” He rubbed his forehead with his palm and stood up straight.
“We had a Thanksgiving lunch at a restaurant.”
Nico
scratched at his arm as he trailed after the other Lost Boy. “How
did that go?”
The
tall Lost Boy stopped and scratched at his head with a sigh.
“Strained, like I said. We weren't all that different, little man.
You weren't the only one that just wanted someone to look after
them.” He sighed again. “But, unlike you, I didn't have a sibling
looking out for me.”
The
brown-eyed boy's brow furrowed as he watched Butch walk away. Had
that really helped? He supposed, but he had been hoping for something
better. He missed his mother, at times. It would just be nice to see
her, just without his father. Nico had no desire to see that man
again.
“What
are you thinking about?”
Nico
jumped at the sound of Percy's voice in his ear. “Fucking hell,
Percy! You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
The
green-eyed young man smiled. “Sorry. I would hate for that to
happen.” His finger trailed underneath Nico's chin. “You are
quite entertaining to have around.”
“I'm
sure. Do you always have to sneak up on people?”
Percy
shrugged. “Just you. So, what has you all mopey tonight?” A hand
slid behind Nico, around his waist, and led him forward.
The
boy pouted up at the taller male. “I am not pouting.” Percy
smirked at him. “Shut up.” He huffed and crossed his arms. “What
has you in such a good mood today, anyways?”
Percy
shrugged. “Just taking some stress off my shoulders.” The young
man removed his arm, but Nico kept walking with him. “You're
avoiding my question.”
“Just
thinking.”
“About?”
Nico
sighed. “My mother. I was thinking about contacting her.”
Percy's
eyes turned darker, barely noticeable. But, Nico had become very
familiar with Percy's eyes by this point. “Is that so?” The
manager let out a breath as he sat down at his booth. “Well, do
what you want. I'm sure you know what's best.”
Nico
searched Percy's eyes for a few seconds. Something felt wrong again.
Percy was smiling, but there was a sense of tension between the two
of them. “I, uh, am going to think on it. I just don't want my
father finding out where I am.”
Percy
just smiled up at the Lost Boy. “Let me know how that works out for
you.” He leaned back and rested his arms on the booth. “Anyways,
it looks like you can be my waiter tonight, since you're already
here.”
Nico
blinked, his eyes darting back and forth. For some reason, work had
slipped his mind for a few seconds. “Oh, um, I guess I can.” He
pulled out a pad and pen from the lining of his speedo. “What can I
get for you?”
A
tan hand slid through its owner's hair. “Just some coffee, for
now.”
Nico
nodded and walked off. Even though he had gotten Percy's table, he
couldn't really feel happy about it. Something about the manager
still tugged at the back of his mind. Was something bothering Percy?
The manager had claimed to have dealt with a problem, though. What
had it been?
“Welcome
back, Nico,” Dionysus greeted him as he walked through the door.
“What can I get for you?”
Nico
eyed the man as he stood in front of their coffee machine. “I just
need some coffee.”
Dionysus
smiled and sat back down in his chair. “So, that was quite a dinner
last night, wasn't it?” His smile widened. “I believe it was one
of our more...eventful dinners.”
Nico
frowned as he poured the coffee. “I know what you're getting at.
Don't speak to me like I'm stupid.”
“Oh,
of course not, Nico. How could anyone ever think such a thing of you.
You are very intelligent, I'm sure.”
Nico
sighed and sat the coffee back in its place. “Is there something
you want?”
Dionysus
grunted. “I see you're becoming like the others.” His smile
returned as he rested his head against the wall. “That's good. I'm
sure they will be much more accepting of you.”
Nico
sighed, tossing the bartender a final look before going back out the
door. His shoulders relaxed the second the door swung shut behind
him. Ever since his revelation about Dionysus he just did not want to
be around the man.
And
he still did not have the answers to some of things the man had said
to him the other night.
Why
did Percy keep him around? The bartender just felt like a problem,
especially for the Lost Kids. Not to mention that Dionysus seemed to
have a grievance with Percy.
He
returned to Percy's table, plastering a smile on his face. He really
did not want Percy knowing something else was bothering him. This
subject was not one that Nico was ready to have with the manager.
Even
so, Percy eyed him carefully for a moment. “Everything all right?”
Nico
gave a quick nod. “Will that be all for now?”
Percy
scrunched his lips as he sipped on his coffee, still eyeing Nico. “I
suppose.”
Nico
nodded again. “Possibly alcohol?”
A
sigh escaped the manager's lips. “I don't always need alcohol,
Nico.” He cracked his neck and met the Lost Boy's eyes again. “If
you're going to start drinking, I do hope you keep my rules in mind.
I really would like you to find something other than alcohol as a
means for coping.”
The
brown-eyed pursed his lips, his eyes faltering from Percy's. “I'm
not going to start,” he whispered. Percy quirked a brow. “It was
just one time. Have a little faith in me. I was just a little
curious.”
Percy
exhaled. He stretched before leaning back in his seat. “Perhaps if
I had a little more grounds to give you some faith, I wouldn't have
to worry. But that is good to hear.” His lip twitched, tilting up.
“I would hate to have to send you off to Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Nico
narrowed his eyes, huffing at the grinning manager. “Jerk. It
wasn't that good. I have no desire to start drinking.”
Percy
raised an eyebrow at him. “We'll see. Besides, you had wine. Wine
is an acquired taste. I figure you for a liquor kind of guy.”
The
boy shrugged. “I suppose we'll never find out.”
“We'll
see. After all, it is your decision, and I have the utmost faith that
you know what's best for you.”
Nico
shivered under Percy's intense gaze. Something told him this was
another one of Percy's hidden messages. Why did he have so little
faith in Nico? Nico had never done anything harmful or even drank
before last night. So, what was Percy getting
at?
Nico's
attention was pulled away when Gwen Stefani's “What You Waiting
For” came on. Two spotlights turned on, focusing on Jason. Nico let
out a heavy sigh as his roommate stood there in an open shirt and
nearly see through pants. As the beat of the song finally began, the
strobe lights began to flash, beginning the blond's routine. Jason
moved and swung his body to the beat, seeming to pause every other
second.
The
blond's hips were thrust a lot, while his hands worked their magic in
removing the loose shirt. As soon as the fabric hit the ground, Jason
moved his hands up to ruffle his hair. The newest Lost Boy winked and
smirked at the audience, thrusting his hips forward.
With
a sway of his hips, Jason spun around on his right foot. With his
back to the audience, he reached down and ripped the pants from his
body, earning many loud cheers. Nico felt his jaw lock as his
roommate bit down on his lip and slid his hand down his chest before
moving it down to his crotch.
For
some reason, Nico found it odd to see Jason smiling so much. Perhaps
it was because he rarely saw the blond smile when they were off the
clock. But, as Jason kept thrusting his hips and moving his body, the
smile never faltered, not even when some customers moved in to slip
some bills into the blond's black speedo.
Nico
huffed to himself as he looked around at the customers. They all
seemed to be enjoying the performance. Why couldn't Jason mess up?
Even if the blond had done this before, it wasn't fair that he could
just come in and fit in almost perfectly. And that wasn't even
counting how popular he seemed to be with the crowd. And Nico didn't
even want to think about how close Jason and Percy were becoming. No,
things were definitely not good for Nico at the moment.
A
few hours later, Nico collapsed on the couch in the bar room.
Thankfully, Dionysus was busy making drinks, so he, hopefully, would
not bother Nico during his break. Annabeth sat in the chair next to
the couch, skimming through a small book.
“So,
how did your talk with Rachel go?”
Nico
groaned as he fell on his side. “She was not in a good mood today.”
Annabeth
gave a nod as she sat the book down. “So I hear. The good news is
that her father checked out today, so she should cool off by
tomorrow.”
“She
didn't really have much advice for me, though. She said she would
think on it.”
The
blonde sighed and scrunched her lips. “I suppose that is good for
you. Perhaps she can work something out for you.”
“Maybe,”
Nico mumbled. “Hopefully, it won't be too late. I don't know what
I'm doing wrong, but I just seem to be making things worse with
Percy.” The Lost Boy sighed and rolled onto his back, where he
stared at the ceiling.
Annabeth
tapped a manicured nail to her lips. “Maybe Percy just needs to see
that you're serious about this thing you have for him.” Grey eyes
met with brown as the girl ran a hand through her hair. “The
playing field is already unbalanced, and not in your favor.”
The
boy sat up and frowned at the blonde. “Suggestions? I'll try
anything.”
Annabeth's
tongue ran out over her lips before she lightly bit on them. “Perhaps
you should think outside of the box. You've tried a lot already, and
it hasn't really seemed to get you anywhere. You just need to be more
creative.” She eyed Nico for a moment. “You are serious about
this, aren't you?”
Nico
swallowed and nodded. “Yes, of course. I really want him. I just
don't know how to get him to see that I'm being serious with all of
this.”
The
blonde Lost Girl sighed and stood up. She reached over and patted
Nico's knee, giving him a small smile. “I'm sure you'll figure
something out. Perhaps the answer is right in front of you, and you
just haven't realized it yet.” With another sigh, she headed for
her door, where she turned and gave Nico another look. “If you need
anything, always feel free to drop by my room.”
Nico
nodded. Annabeth nodded back and left the room. Nico let his head
fall back, letting out a quiet breath. Why did it always seem like
new problems were waiting to slam into him? Could he not just catch a
break and live in a stressless environment?
It
seemed liked like he just could not catch a break. Was it like this
for the others? Perhaps that was why they were so jaded. Surely, the
hotel's environment had not helped their already worldly
personalities.
As
Nico stood up, the door swung open and Zoë slipped inside. She was
silent, barely making a noise, as she walked across the floor. The
dark haired girl reached into the fridge and procured a bottle of
water from within. Dark eyes fell upon Nico as the Lost Girl sat down
next to where Nico was standing.
“Hey,
Zoë.”
“Nico,”
she replied with a nod. “How is your night?”
The
boy shrugged. “Could be better, but no real complaints.”
Zoë's
dark eyes studied Nico's face as she took a swig of her water.
“Perhaps you should learn to adjust to things around here better.
If not, you could end up in another bad situation.”
Nico
frowned as he stared down at her. He took two steps backwards,
wrapping his arms around himself. “What is that supposed to mean?”
The
girl just looked down, her eyes emotionless. “Just that the prey
doesn't always know when it's being hunted.”
Nico's
brow furrowed. He opened his mouth to press the issue further, but
the girl just closed her eyes and leaned her head back. The Lost Boy
frowned before letting out a breath. He supposed he really could not
catch a break.
Nico
shook his head and pushed out of the door. He was ready for the night
to be over with. When was Jason going to get a similar welcome that
he had gotten? He was truly beginning to think that they weren't
going to do anything to the blond. Were the Lost Kids just targeting
him? They were so confusing at times.
As
the night trailed on, Nico found himself refusing to look at the
stage. He did not want to see another one of Jason's performances. He
supposed it was only natural that the blond be good at performing,
considering he had already been doing this sort of thing. But did the
crowd have to love him so much?
The
blond did not seem this extroverted when it was just him and Nico.
What was going on with his roommate? The other Lost Kids had claimed
that Nico was on a pedestal when he arrived? Well, what did they call
this? Where were the blond's flaws? Percy seemed to give him special
attention and time, so why didn't the Lost Kids get upset about that?
Was
this more torture for Nico?
By
now, it really would not surprise Nico. He had learned long ago that
the Lost Kids could be quite spiteful.
At
the end of the night, Nico boarded the elevator alone. Percy hadn't
even spoken to him before leaving. Not only that, the manager had
barely spared him a glance. Whatever was going on, it was still
bothering Percy. He just wished he knew what he had done.
He
stopped at the door to his suite, chancing a glance down to Will's
suite. The door was closed, but he doubted the blond was asleep.
Letting out a sigh, Nico made his way down the hall, stopping in
front of Will and Apollo's room. Nico quickly knocked on the door.
A
few seconds later, the door swung open and Apollo poked his head out.
The blond had one eye closed as he toweled his wet hair off. “What
can I do for you, Nico?”
Nico's
eyes unconsciously drifted down. A loose, white shirt covered
Apollo's torso, while track pants hid his legs from prying eyes.
Brown eyes returned to the Adonis's face, who was now smirking. “Um,
Will asked me to stop by.”
Apollo
nodded and stepped aside, opening the door the rest of the way. Nico
slid in and Apollo shut the door. The curly haired blond motioned
towards the hall, so Nico headed that way.
He
found Will's door open, the blond standing in front of his bed. Nico
licked his lips as he took in the blond's bare back. Will stretched,
only giving Nico a better view. The raven haired boy bit down on his
lip as the blond rolled his shoulders, releasing a moan.
Nico
finally knocked on the open door. Will turned around, stretching an
arm over his head. “Hey,” he said quietly. A bright smile spread
out across the blond's face. “I see you decided to drop by.”
Nico's
mind went a little hazy as the blue-eyed boy moved closer. Will
smirked and ran a hand to the back of Nico's neck. Nico swallowed.
“So, what are we doing?”
Will
chuckled, leaning closer. “How about some video games?”
Nico
released a breath, the sexual tension seeming to ease between them
for the time being. Will smiled and walked out the door, hitting the
top of the doorframe as he went through. Apollo had splayed himself
out on the couch when they entered the living room, a slim book being
held above his face.
The
curly haired blond tilted his head back to look at them. “You
decided to include me in your sexual deviancy?” The blond smirked.
Will
rolled his eyes, while Nico narrowed his own. Will winked as he
shoved his roommate's legs back and sat down. “Don't hold your
breath.”
Apollo
chuckled as Nico sat down on the floor, his back pressed against the
couch. “I keep forgetting, you don't like to share.”
Nico's
brow furrowed, turning to look up at Will. “You don't have
threesomes, or anything?”
Will
shrugged, turning on his console. “Occasionally, but it's sort of
rare.” The blond let out a heavy breath as he started the game.
“Long story.”
The
raven haired boy bit down on his lip, his head turning slight to look
at Apollo. The curly haired blond's eyes flickered over to his. For a
brief second, Nico received a look, clearly telling him to drop the
issue. What had happened to Will? Had it been in the orphanage?
Apollo
went back to his book, while Will let Halo 4 sit on the title screen.
“So, multiplayer or co-op?”
Nico
narrowed his eyes at the blond jock. “I will not submit myself to
your enjoyment of destroying me at this game.”
Will
smiled, sticking his tongue out playfully. “Fine, co-op it is.
Don't worry, Nico, I'll protect you,” he said with a wink.
Apollo
sighed, opening his book back up. “Why don't you two just have sex
already? I swear, I'm not sure who has the most sexual tension with
you, Nico. Will, Luke, or Percy?”
Nico
blew out a breath as the game loaded. Will shot his roommate a dirty
look. “Well, I think Will is the only one that is willing to make a
move, at the moment,” Nico replied.
The
curly haired blond snorted. “Please. All you have to do is bat your
eyes, and I'm sure Luke would cave. As for Percy, I'm sure it
wouldn't take much convincing on his part.”
Nico
frowned as he followed Will through the large spaceship that they
were on. Percy had referred to him as a temptation before. Perhaps
there was some truth to what the manager had said? Would Percy do it,
if Nico actually asked him? What about the agreement?
If
Nico had sex, with anyone, he was bound to end up like the others.
Was Percy worth all of that? Would Percy keep his end of the
agreement? After all, it was the others that said that Percy treated
him differently. What if Percy didn't make Nico prostitute himself?
He
could have Percy and remain where he was at. What was the downside to
that?
Nico
blinked as he was tugged to his right, being placed between Will's
legs. The blond rested his chin on Nico's head, while his arms came
around to play his controller in front of Nico. “Don't get too
distracted, Nico. I don't need you dying on me.”
Nico
was about to reply, when one of Will's hands let go of his controller
and rubbed Nico's chest. Nico felt his face heat up as the blond's
hand slid under the collar of his shirt. The raven haired boy cleared
his throat and focused on the game. Will chuckled and removed his
hand, following after Nico in the game.
“So,
tell me about Gaea. She's going to be here in a month, and she feels
sort of like an enigma to me.”
Apollo
sat down his book. “She's supposed to be that way. She's nice,
don't get me wrong, but I'd stay out of her way. You'll love her,
though, don't worry.”
“We're
probably her favorite set of Lost Kids,” Will added.
“Well,
that might be because we make her the most money.” The curly haired
blond slid one of his legs into Will's lap. “Anyways, the only
issue you'll need to worry about is with Percy. Percy would do
anything for Gaea, and I do mean anything.”
Nico
blinked. “Like...have sex?”
The
two blonds laughed, Will ruffling his hair. “No, not like that.
But, Percy is fiercely loyal to Gaea, never forget that,” Will
chuckled. The short haired blond's smile faltered, and Nico heard him
swallow above him. “Kronos is the one you'll want to watch out for
during their visit.”
Nico
frowned at the TV. “I've heard a few things about him, none of them
good.”
“Because
there's nothing good to say about him,” Apollo mumbled. “But
Percy loves him, so I wouldn't try badmouthing Kronos in front of
Percy.” The curly haired blond sighed, sitting up. “I just
shudder to think about what work will be like when he takes over for
his mother.”
Will
frowned and began running his fingers through Nico's hair.
“Hopefully, that won't be anytime soon. Kronos doesn't deserve to
take over the hotel chain. Percy would do so much better if he had
that position. Things would become so much better, for everyone.”
Apollo
shrugged, standing up. “Too bad Kronos is Gaea's actual son. I
think that's part of why Hazel is saving up her money. I don't think
she wants to work here anymore if Kronos takes over for his mother.”
The blond yawned and stretched. “Well, I'm going to get some sleep.
You two keep it down, unless you want me to join.”
Nico
rolled his eyes as Apollo left the room. Will grinned and paused the
game, yanking Nico up into his lap. Nico sighed. “I never agreed to
have sex.”
“Who
said anything about sex?” Will grinned and leaned in, pressing
several kisses to Nico's neck. “But I would be willing to do that,
if you wanted.”
Nico
frowned and pushed Will back. “I don't know.”
Will
tilted his head to the side. “I promise I won't say anything. Just
think about it, I am willing to do this with you, with no
repercussions on your part. No one has to know.” Will slid his hand
up the back of Nico's shirt. “Percy isn't going to give you what
you want, I can.”
Brown
clashed with blue as Nico stared at Will. Was he being serious? He
seemed earnest in what he had just said. Still, Nico was scared. But,
then again, he had just been considering sex with Percy, knowing the
risk with that.
The
brown-eyed boy cleared his throat and climbed out of Will's lap,
standing to his feet. Will frowned up at him, looking like a kicked
puppy. “I just need some more time to think,” Nico whispered. He
sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I do have some feelings
for you, I will admit that. I just...don't really know what I should
do at the moment. I don't want to lead anyone on.”
Will
continued to stare up at him, his face riddled with sadness. “It's
okay,” he sighed. “I just don't want you to get hurt, and I know
you will, if you go after Percy. Hell, Luke would probably hurt you
as well.”
Nico
rubbed his arm. “I don't think he would.”
“You're
screwing with Luke's head. I don't see that ending well for either of
you.”
Nico
began backing towards the door. “I, um, think I should go. I'll see
you tomorrow, though, yeah?”
Will
sighed and stood up. “Yeah,” he nodded. He followed Nico over to
the door and held it open, while Nico stood in the doorway. Nico
looked up at him and received a quick peck on the lips. “Just think
about it, okay?”
Nico
stood there for a moment before nodding. He cleared his throat and
walked away, the door closing behind him.
His
suite was quiet when he arrived. As Nico stood in the entryway, he
finally realized how exhausted he felt. Today had been very taxing,
in every possible sense. Was this ever going to get easy for him?
Perhaps he should take Octavian up on that offer.
Nico
opened his door with a sigh before closing it and falling onto his
bed. He let out a groan as he rolled onto his back. Why did this
place have to be so frustrating? He just wanted a little happiness
and peace. Was that so much to ask for?
Nico
pulled his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his contacts.
He stopped on the desired name and opened a text message. Typing
quickly, Nico sent his text, asking if they wanted to spend some time
with him. He dropped the phone on his stomach, staring up at the
ceiling as he waited.
About
thirty seconds later, his phone went off. He blinked and picked it
up, staring at the screen. A smile crept onto his face as he looked
at the simple reply: sure.
