Chapter Text
“So… I’m going to take a shot here and guess that we aren’t in Italy.” Jason said while scratching the back of his neck and looking around them. They arrived at the shadow of a boulder on a hilltop, he could see a road nearby and if he flew a bit upward he could spot what seemed to be a little village.
“We are in China.” Nico said with a groan from the place he had sat down and leaned on the boulder.
“China?!” Jason dropped from the air and turned to look at Nico, startled.
“Yeah. It’s where I always end up when I mess up my shadow traveling.” Nico pulled his knees to his chest and leaned forward so his forehead touched them, seemingly wanting to draw into himself. Jason frowned and walked over to him.
“Hazel is going to kill me.” He said with a sigh and managed to draw a snort out of Nico.
“It’s not your fault.” The son of Hades said while turning his head towards Jason and smirking a little.
“I know, but she gave me that ‘you take care of my brother or else’ smile of hers” Jason sighed again while sitting on the grass next to Nico, close but not close enough that they were touching. He turned to look at the younger boy and frowned again in concern. “But really, did something happen? Are you feeling okay?” It had been over six months since the war ended. Will had given Nico the okay to use his powers not too long after, but in small doses. So Hazel and Jason hovered, and Nico endured it. He never left, so Jason counted that as a win. And now that they finally decided it was probably fine to go on a day trip to Italy like they had been wanting to they end up in the wrong place. Great.
“I’m fine, I just… didn’t really concentrate properly and got the location wrong.” Nico played with one of his rings, a habit Jason now knew meant the other boy wasn’t saying everything he was thinking; but Jason didn’t press it.
“But why China? A little far isn’t it?” Nico relaxed a little with the change of subject; Jason pretended not to notice.
“I don’t really know. The first time I ended up here was when I was first trying to shadow travel. I was ten and ended up out cold for a week.”
“A week?” Jason repeated, alarmed, already thinking about Nico knocked out in some alley or something.
“Yeah, but calm down. An old couple found me here and took care of me. They were nice; at least I think they were. We didn’t really understand each other much.” Then he turned to look to the opposite side and Jason was surprised to see a wistful smile on the other boy’s lips. “They lived on the other side of this hill; I visited once or twice after that first time. They always seemed glad to see me, even if we never understood each other.”
“We can go over there if you want.”
“That’s okay, there’s no one there anymore. They died a little before the war with Gaea started.”
“Oh…”
“It’s fine, really. They were really old, and they died peacefully together in their sleep. I think they were happy like that.” Nico smiled once more but Jason didn’t get to appreciate it since soon the younger boy covering his mouth and yawning.
“Do you need to sleep?” Jason asked worriedly looking over Nico. The younger boy was nowhere near the state he was after the war; he had started eating again and looked healthier. It wasn’t a 100%, but Jason was glad for any improvement. He even liked to wistfully think that Nico wasn’t as pale as before.
“I think a nap would be good before we move again. I’m not ten anymore and have way better control, but is always good to recharge a little.” Nico said yawning again and already dropping his head backwards onto the boulder. He was asleep the next moment and Jason had to smile. He knew Nico’s problems with sleeping but in spite of that the son of Hades had no problem falling asleep anywhere.
Jason looked around and sighed once more before yawning himself. They had shadow traveled almost at 4AM so they would be on Italy when it was morning there. Now they were in the middle of nowhere, in China of all places, and with nothing to do Jason felt tempted to follow the other boy’s example and take a nap. His eyes were already dropping.
It probably wasn’t wise. Two demigods sleeping unprotected in a foreign place, but Jason’s eyes had already closed.
When he opened them again the sun was almost setting and he panicked for a moment before remembering that he was in a place with a twelve hour difference from what he was used to. It probably hadn’t been that long since he had fallen asleep.
He then registered a weight and warmth on his side and smiled down at Nico leaning on him while sleeping. He didn’t get to bask in the rare moment for long as the other boy soon stirred and blinked up sleepily at him.
“Sorry, did I wake you?” Jason asked, smiling again at the way Nico rubbed his eyes.
“No, I think I’m good to go now. We should be able to get lunch if I get us in the right place this time.” Nico said getting up and scoffing at himself.
“Nico, why did we end up in China?” Jason inquired gently and was not surprised when the other boy turned away from him. He got up quietly and patiently waited for Nico to answer him.
“I got nervous.” Nico mumbled, looking away from him and Jason almost didn’t hear it.
“Nervous? Why? You shadow travel all the…” The next words died in his lips when Nico shot him a quick look and then looked down. But he noticed, the other boy was blushing. He tried to hide it but Jason could see that even his ears were red. And when it clicked Jason couldn’t help but feel his cheeks get warmer too.
Through the months they had spent a lot of time together. They got to know each other, laughed and planned their travel for when Will and Hazel said it was okay for Nico to go. Well, only Will really; if it were up to Hazel, Nico wouldn’t stray far from her again. Nico pretended it exasperated him; no one bought it.
The thing was, for all the time they spent with one other, touching was always something they did hesitantly. Shoulders or hands bumping while they walked close together. A nudge here or there. On rare occasions Nico would lightly lean on Jason’s shoulder when they were with the other near the campfire.
So, when Nico offered his hand for when they had to shadow travel Jason took it more than eagerly. Maybe too eager considering they were nowhere near where they were supposed to be. Jason opened his mouth to apologize but Nico beat him to it.
“I’m sorry.” Jason just stared at him bemusedly, but Nico refused to look at him.
“Why are you sorry? I’m the one who made you nervous.”
“I’m just… really bad at this.” Nico crossed his arms over himself and dropped his head again.
“Hey, it’s okay.” All Jason could do was hover his hands aimlessly when all he wanted was to pull Nico into a hug and it pained him that he couldn’t.
“No, it isn’t. It’s so much… easier for all the others.” The bitter tone in Nico’s voice was enough to make Jason clench his hands.
“Hey… Look at me.” It took a moment for the boy’s dark eyes to meet his begrudgingly, “Give me your hand.” He raised an eyebrow inquiringly but gave Jason one of his hands. He took it and put it open palmed over his heart, that started to pick up its pace by the gesture. “If you are bad at this, I’m just as bad as you are. You are not alone here.” Nico stared at him with wide eyes and even if Jason didn’t have his hand over the other boy’s heart he knew it was racing too.
“But you must want for it to be easier.” Nico said no louder than a whisper.
“I want you.” Nico’s hand convulsed in his and he backtracked. “I mean! Not like…! Argh.” He raised the hand not holding Nico’s to his burning face and groaned. “See, I’m just as hopeless at this.” He said with a laugh and was glad to see the other boy crack a small smile. “What I mean is that I don’t mind how slow we are going. I just mind that I’m with you. Do I want to hold your hand, put my arms around you and all that? Sure, but I want you to want that too.”
“I do… want to, I mean. I’m just…”
“Nervous, anxious, scared.” Wide eyes stared at him again, now unbelievingly. “I am too.” Jason smiled reassuringly and Nico dropped his eyes to where their hands where still resting on his chest. Then he stepped closer and let his face fall on the crook of Jason’s neck. Jason froze.
“Your heart just went crazy.” Nico said with a small laugh and Jason could feel it.
“Yeah… well.” Gods, he was stuttering. He nudged Nico so he could look at the other boy and didn’t know if the other boy smirking at him made him feel any better. At least he was just as red as Jason felt he was too. “Do you want to go back to camp? Maybe we went a little too fast with this Italy thing.”
“No… I definitely still want to spend the day in Italy with you.” Nico stepped back once more and Jason tried not to be let down by it. At least they were holding hands naturally this time.
“Okay. Lead the way then.” When the shadows started to grow around them and Nico locked eyes with him, he couldn’t help it. He would apologize later, but the startled look on Nico’s face when Jason pulled the hand he was holding up to his lips was worth it.
If the palm trees were any indication, they were not in Italy again. Jason tried not to laugh and look smug about it.
By the look Nico threw at him, he failed.