The Legend of Nico and Will

Chapter Twelve

We stood in the mall. I sighed enthusiastically.
"Where do we start?," Nico asked. "I haven't been in a mall for a few years." I simply pushed him into the direction of the next store.

"Hey, what about this?," Nico asked and took a black Ramones shirt.
"You really do like black, don't you?"
"It's my aesthetic. Is that a yes?" Before I could answer he gasped dramatically. "An aviators jacket! Mine got shredded when Lycaon almost scratched my arms off."
"That dude doesn't sound cool," I said. "Let's hope I'll never have to prevent your arms of falling off again."
"Hmmm," Nico said, looking around. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Neeks."
"Why aren't you- wait a minute, what did you just call me?" I tried not to smirk. And failed.
"Nothing. Go on." He death-glared at me and said:
"Why aren't you afraid of me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why do you just give me stupid nicknames while every other  is scared that they'll be killed when they give me the wrong look?" I shrugged.
"I've seen many scary demigods. Do you know how hard it is to become Clarisse's friend? And when I saw you shooting Octavian's butt straight to the underworld I decided that you are my new bro." Something something in me felt like it was broken and someone was kicking it for more damage.
"I thought you'd think I'm a monster," Nico said quietly.
"I was impressed. And on drugs because I just delivered a baby satyr." "So that's why you acted like a complete idiot!"
"No, I don't need to take medicaments for that." He snorted. Suddenly I came up with an idea. "Hey, when we're at camp do you want to paint your nails?" Di Angelo looked at me like I just said he should've kissed Octavian instead of killing him. I knew that look. It was the Solace-have-you-lost-your-last-few-braincells-now-look. We had a staring contest, I used my shut-up-di-Angelo-doctors-orders-look and I was proud of it. "You will. Now come on, let's go pay." I looked at the clothes he chose. "Has to be a fabulous funeral you're going to visit." He sighed. "I hate you." As we stepped out of the store, Nico stopped walking. "We're being watched." I looked at him with a horrified look.
"What? How do you know that?"
"Be quiet. And don't move." I obeyed. "There," he whispered. He pointed with his chin at the floor above us. I couldn't believe what I saw.
"A giant fox?" Nico nodded.
"The Teumessian fox. No hunter can kill him. I heard that the hunters of Artemis are trying to catch him."
"So what are we gonna do? Letting us tear into pieces? I'm no fighter!"
"I know," di Angelo said with sparkling eyes. I waited for him to continue but he just looked at me. Then I suddenly understood.
"Don't you dare! We're not gonna shadow-travel!"
"Do you have a better idea?" He stared at me with those incredibly dark eyes like broken glass. I couldn't see where his pupils ended and where his iris started. I sighed.
"Fine. Under one condition." He raised an eyebrow.
"You're going to teach me sword fighting." Nico smiled amused.
"There's nothing I'd more like to do." And with that, he took my hand and we melted into the shadows.