Chapter Text
When Will first saw Nico, he had the overwhelming urge to hug him. Okay, that sounds slightly weird, but this boy looked depressed. Exhausted, saddened, and still he almost looked adorable? And entirely huggable? He had quickly banished that thought from his mind; he was here solely for Kayla, yet there was something so fascinatingly fragile about the boys appearance. It was less about his features and more about his demeanor, he seemed simply lost staring out the window. What could this boy be thinking of? Will asked himself. He just seemed content in staying astray, seemed completely disconnected. It was then he found soft, muted black eyes gazing directly in his. The boy swiftly turned away, a pink blush dashing across his cheeks- clearly abashed. Adorable! Will thought. He had thought about talking to the cute guy for a while, before deciding to go for it. Surprisingly, it was one of the purest conversations he'd had in a while. I mean, he never had to repress himself in front of this boy, Nico listened to him even when he was rambling, something he hadn't found in a while. He was sad to see him go, but accepted it (and secretly hoped to see him again).
That brings him to where he is currently, stepping into the subway at almost the exact time of last night. His eyes had searched over all of the carts, yet no sign of the scrawny boy he met yesterday. He sighed, sitting down and fiddling with a rainbow pin on his jacket. I mean, he wasn't expecting much- he never even understood why Nico was on the subway the previous day, but he still hoped to see him once more. Doors were closing, and he was still clinging onto the hope Nico would dash into the- nope. They slammed shut almost viciously, or maybe that's just what it felt like for him. After noticing no one else appeared to be getting on, Will let his eyes drift to the window.
A few minutes later, quiet footsteps brought him out of his daydream (or- by now, night-dream? idek). He looked up, to see-
"Nico?" He grinned.
"Ok, good. You lost the 'Neeks'," he muttered, plopping down beside him.
"Oh, nope! That is just one of many to come," Will declared.
"Urgh. Oh, I see you got the stuff for your sister."
"Want a haulll?" Will asked, tossing up jazz hands.
"Ohmigod Will you did not just do jazz hands..." Nico sputtered, mentally facepalming. Will just winked, chuckling lightly.
"Alrighty so the first thing I got was... drumroll please!" Nico just sharply glared at him, yet it held no weight.
"Okay, okay... well, I got hersheys kisses, reese's, sour patch, basically a treasure trove of candy, and the most important thing I got was... her!" Will beamed, holding up a lumpy yellow unicorn plushie with a rainbow mane. Nico's face appeared to be going through the five stages of grief as he processed the creature in front of him, settling into a face of mock disappointment.
"Oh my fucking god, Will, you bought a unicorn? I-"
"Actually, she's an alicorn! Look!" He nearly squealed, pulling out sparkly pink wings from behind its back.
"Solace, I-I don't even know what to say."
"Oooh, her name is Glitter Gumdrop, and she loves playing with her wonderful friends," Will read from the tag, stifling a giggle.
"Well hey- at least it will make your sister laugh," Nico chuckled.
"Hey! They aren't just for my sister..."
"Oh no. T-they?"
"Ta da! See, they're matching!" Will said joyfully, pulling out another stuffy.
Nico simply tossed his head back, laughing. To Will it sounded so pure, sending waves of triumph flooding through him to know that he caused that. "You're hurting Glitter Gumdrop's feelings, Neeks!" He continued, evoking enother wave of laughter. As Nico's giggles slowly faded into wheezing gasps, he suddenly paused. He felt... ashamed of himself? Honestly he couldn't place the feeling-just so suddenly he felt this weight on him, a crushing sadness he found himself welcome.
"Will doesn't need me complicating his life," he told himself.
"My uh, my stops soon. I need to go."
Will frowned, taken aback by the sudden change in attitude.
"Wait!" Nico turned around, raising an eyebrow. "Take this!" He cheered, shoving a plushie into his hands.
"Will, this is for your sister. I'm not gon-."
"No, this one is! That one's yours now. Take care of her, will ya?" Nico felt guilty, but the pleading look on Will's face convinced him. All too quickly the subway had closed and rushed past him, leaving him frozen. He quickly snapped out of his stupor and began walking home, tracing his thumb over the soft fur of the plushie.
Once he'd reached the house, he slowly creaked open the door, tiptoeing inside.
"Out on the subway again?" A saddened voice said from behind. Nico froze, his heart having stopped momentarily.
"Uh, sorry. I know, I should've texted you."
"You should've," a beautiful brown girl with short cinnamon curls and striking golden eyes made her way out of the shadows. Hazel Levesque, Nico's- not sister. I guess, half-sister of a sorts, but really friend. Best friend? He, he wasn't sure. I guess she was his only friend, but what about Will? No! Will was a stranger-he quickly blocked that thought from his mind.
"But you seem... happy," Hazel continued. "I mean, you still look exhausted, but you somehow seem refreshed as well." Nico shrugged, averting eye contact.
"Ohmigosh. Nico, did you meet someone on the subway?"
"No," he shot back.
"Agghdhsua you totally did! Was he tall? Well, most importantly, was he kind? Ooo, di-"
"Nothing happened on the subway," Nico grumbled, cutting her off. "Sorry."
"Nico don't apologize, it's-. Why don't you just meet me in my room, and I'll grab some candy. We don't have to talk about whatever happened in the subway." Nico simply walked up the stairs, a silent yes only Hazel could understand. She beamed, rushing to grab the twizzlers from the pantry.