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Obedience: The act of complying to an order, request, or law. Submission to another’s authority.
Stoic: A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.
Nicolas was born obedient. It’s what he was made for. He didn’t complain when Chiron told him he had no family. He didn’t cry at the thought of being left behind. It was all he ever knew after all.
So when Chiron told him it was best to move on, and not to think of his mortal father, he did just that. And eventually the memory of the dark haired man’s sobs and apologies, became just that. A memory.
Nicolas never protested yo brutal training. Never flinched in the face of danger. Never whined when injured. He fought. He moved on.
He shaped himself into the perfect weapon.
Because what is a child if not obedient? And what is a soldier if not stoic?
———
In all his childhood, Nicolas only ever showed one act of defiance. An accidental, silent, rebellion.
He had turned six-years-old.
An age where a normal child’s curiosity guides them through life.
But Nicolas wasn’t normal.
So why had he let such a childish emotion take control?
Maybe it was a sign of weakness? A selfish act to prove his incompetence?
Or maybe…. It’s as Mina puts it, something else entirely. Fate.
———
Nicolas was tired. The sort of fatigue that creeps into one’s bones and infests the mind.
But that was normal. One of the very few emotions that Nicolas understood.
That day’s training had focused on his ability to heat objects to the point of explosion. “A rare ability among children of Apollo!” A nymph had stated in passing.
The more he practiced, the larger the items he needed to destroy. And finally, by the end of the day, he was able to detonate an antique car.
“Good job Nicolas!” Chiron had said, which would’ve been enough to satisfy a normal child, but Nicolas knew better. He needed to do more, to keep this approval. Because Chiron was not his father. Because his love was conditional.
And mainly because Nicolas was unwanted.
“Why don’t you go rest? It’s getting late.” Chiron posed it like a question, but Nicolas knew what it really was, an order.
———
The makeshift training ground had separate from the camp itself. A small clearing nearby, where he could freely blow up objects without endangering others. But it was still a considerable distance away from his cabin.
On most days Chiron would trot next to him, silently monitoring the soldier’s stamina, taking note of any possible side effects of new powers. But tonight he had a meeting with Mr. D, so he had went ahead. Leaving Nicolas behind.
But he didn’t complain, simply opting to walk faster.
———
Not many children decided to stay during the winter, aside from the other year rounders. Most of whom kept to themselves. So most of the regular camp noises during the colder months were irregular.
So when Nicolas heard a fit of giggles near his cabin, it caused him to pause.
To most it would have been a small noise, unnoticeable in passing, but the sound had been so sweet, it caught Nicolas’s attention and refused to let go. That’s what led him to turning the corner in search of the sound.
A boy.
His back was turned to Nicolas, causing him to only be able to make out the boys dark curls, and lightly freckled white skin.
From what Nicolas could tell he was no older than him, crouching in the dirt, using a stick to draw figures Nicolas couldn’t make out. The more he drew, the funnier it seemed to get to him, his giggles getting slightly louder each time.
Nicolas had only been looking for a few seconds before the boy paused, his bubbly laugh abruptly cut short as he quickly turned his face in Nicolas’s direction. And if Nicolas had been untrained, he would’ve caught him.
“Hello?” He called out, and now that the boy was facing him, Nicolas never wanted to look away.
His blue eyes were captivating swirls of dark and light so beautiful it felt as though they were trying to kill him. Drowning him in colors he could’ve never imagined.
Simply looking in this boy’s eyes caused Nicolas’s heart to dangerously skip a beat.
“Travis? Is that you?” The boy said his body now fully repositioned to face Nicolas’s direction.
Under normal circumstances Nicolas wouldn’t have answered. He would’ve followed Chiron’s orders and just went back to his cabin. But something about this boy made him want to stay. A feeling he’d never felt before.
So he spoke up, “Who’s Travis?”
Immediately the boy gasped loudly, “The building’s can talk?!?!” His beautiful eyes narrowing at the cabin Nicolas stood behind. “No they can’t.” Nicolas started, stepping away from the building, revealing himself.
This time his gasp was smaller, eyes now focused on Nicolas, his pupils slightly dilating. His mouth now slightly open in surprise, a small whisper spilling from his lips, “who are you?”
Immediately Nicolas wanted to point out that he hadn’t answered his question, but a memory of Chiron from a few days prior popped into his head. ‘If you want to lead, you need people to trust you. Lead by example!’ And while it hadn’t made much sense at the time, Nicolas assumes that it means that if he answers this boy’s question, he’ll answer Nicolas’s. So he answers, “Nicolas.”
This caused the boy to break out into a grin, “Well Nico, my name is Connor!” He stated sticking his hand out. “Nico?” Is all he could think to respond, paying Connor’s hand no mind in his confusion. “It’s a nickname!” He explained dropping his hand back down seemly unfazed by the fact that Nicolas didn’t interact with it.
Nicolas had heard the word before but it took him a moment before he could remember its definition.
Nickname: A familiar or humorous name given to a person instead of or as well as their real name.
Nico…
Connor spoke up again breaking Nico out of his thoughts, “You know, you’re kinda weird for a pretty boy.” The words catching Nico off guard causing his face to feel incredibly hot, and his stomach to flip. “Hey can you hold onto this?” He said, running over to Nico so fast it caused a gust of wind to form. Shoving the unknown object into Nico’s open hand. “I need my pockets empty because me and my brother are planning this awesome pra-“ Connor starts, but gets cut off by a far away shout of his name. Only causing him to grin.
“Thats my cue.” And with that he was off, leaving Nico’s palm feeling heavy with the weight of the new object.
A marble?
———
Nico had not went to bed that night. He couldn’t find it in himself to rest. His mind simply repeating ‘who was that boy’ as he rolled the marble between his fingers.
———
He never gave that marble back.
Even after reconnecting with Connor once again years later.
Even after they began dating.
He only offered it back once, after reminding Connor of the story on their one year anniversary.
“Do you want it back?” He had asked holding it out in his palm for Connor to take. “No, keep it!” He had responded smiling a little, “Its the first gift I ever gave you!” Connor said lifted his had to move Nico’s hair off of his forehead, placing a light kiss on his skin.
“Actually, ‘Nico’ was the first gift you ever gave me.”
For once, Nico was right to not move on.