Chapter Text
Will was organizing the medicine cabinet again until Nico tapped him on the shoulder, pointing to a floating iridescent image of his Ma.
”Ma?” Will turned to face the Iris Message. Nico stood up from his position on the cot, glancing into the screen.
”Will! God, I was so scared your IM thingy didn’t work. Anyways, do you wanna come over? I’m in New York and I still have a few days before my tour. And plus,” She added, pointing to Nico. “I still have yet to meet Nico.”
Will looked over Nico, trying to contain his excitement. He didn’t want to pressure Nico into coming- but he really wanted Nico and his Ma to meet.
”Yeah, that sounds good.” Nico nodded, grin forming.
“Yay! I haven’t seen my boy in so long, and Nico, I can’t wait to see you. When do you guys want to come?”
Will placed down the medicine, closing it the cabinet. “Maybe in an hour? We’ll have to approve it by Chiron and then we can get there pretty soon.”
Naomi nodded, smiling. “I’ll see you two soon, then.”
Waving and saying byes, Will eventually waved his hand through the mist, breaking the connection.
“Wait,” Will turned, confused. “We forgot to ask her where she is?” Nico’s eyes were wide and his hands were around his face.
”Nico, she’s my ma. I know where her house in New York is.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Will laughed, grin wide.
”Oh shut up,” Nico muttered, glaring at Will. “Let’s go find Chiron in the big house.”
“What if I mess up talking to your mom? What if she absolutely hates-“
“Nico. Listen,” Will took his hands, that were fiddling with his clothes. “My ma already loves you. Don’t worry about it, okay?”
Nico nodded, grabbing the hand rails for support. Will had insisted on taking the subway again, because, listen, they’re in New York. And shadow traveling made him nauseous. Though, he has been getting better at it. Mostly because Nico keeps dragging him along.
Ringing the doorbell, Will kissed Nico on the cheek again. “You won’t have to worry, Nico.”
Nico still looked a little tense, but his eyes relaxed slightly. The door opened.
Naomi Solace- his mother, his ma, his lifeline as a kid. Running into her arms, he hugged her tightly, her grip rough.
”Will! Nico!” She exclaimed, pulling away from Will. “Can I hug you, Nico?”
Nico smiled, nodding. His ma pulled Nico into another tight hug, and Will watched as Nico’s grin widened, melting in her arms.
Will’s eyes softened at the sight. Two of his favorite people in the world, here. They pulled away from each other, smiling.
His ma started walking in, waving them to follow. “C’mon! I have some brownies and we can take a trip down memory lane, together.” She winked at Will for the last part and dread filled him.
She’s going to pull out his photo book.
Walking into the house, the smell of his ma’s caramel brownies filled Will’s senses. “Oh my gods- you made the caramel ones? Let me have one, please.” Will begged, looking over at his ma.
She clicked her tongue, faking disappointment. “Not until we open up the photo book.” She smiled, seeing Will’s face drop.
Groaning, he plopped onto the couch. “I can’t look.”
His ma sat down next to Will, patting the seat next to her. “C’mere Nico. You’re going to love these photos.”
Nico sat down, peering at the images. Will, despite his mind yelling at him, looked too. Curiosity killed the cat, he supposed.
She pointed to one of Will as a baby. “You know, when Will was a baby, like this, he always ran off. Once, I found him in the laundry basket. I’m pretty sure he was there for hours. He cried when I took him out too!”
Nico laughed- then caught himself and covered his mouth. Will glared at him and then Nico doubled over, giggling.
“You- cried? After you got taken out of the laundry basket?” Nico managed to say before collapsing in another fit of giggles. His ma started laughing too, the duo eventually regaining normality.
”That isn’t even the worst. He once- I kid you not- brought home the whole stethoscope from a doctor’s appointment.”
”Seriously?” Nico questioned, holding another barely contained giggle looking at Will.
Will groaned, putting his face in his hands. “I liked the design! I was 5, alright?” Nico snickered off to the side.
His ma’s eyes twinkled, looking at both Will and Nico. “I had to call the offices again and drop it off. I don’t even think they were mad- just impressed Will snuck out with it.”
Will laid down. “I can’t handle this slandering anymore.” He rolled his eyes, taking his face out of his hands.
Nico was, yes, maybe a little bit worried about meeting Naomi. But that worry melted away after talking with her.
He bit into the chocolate-caramel brownies that Naomi packed for them to bring back to camp. Lying in Will’s lap, he continued to chew it.
”You’re going to choke, like that.”
”But you’re a doctor. So…”
Will rolled his eyes, then continued playing with Nico’s hair. “My ma loves you. Like I said before.”
“Mhm.” Nico finished swallowing the brownie, brushing off the crumbs.
Will leaned down to kiss Nico, then he gently moved Nico off his lap to slid into the bed next to Nico.
“Night, Will.”
”Night, Nico.”