The Nico di Angelo experiment

..of the End

"Well look at you, Mr. Domesticated," Piper laughed, clapping him on the back."

"Don't make fun of my apron," Jason muttered, swatting her on the arm with a spoon as he finished stirring. She squealed and rubbed the juice off, glaring at him.

"That better be vegetarian," she grumbled.

Jason sighed. "Pipes, I knew you were coming over. Why wouldn't I cook something vegetarian?"

"That reminds me! There's a little present for you waiting in the backseat of your car; open it up when you have the chance."

"How did you get into my car?" Jason asked in confusion.

"When was the last time you bothered to lock it?"

"Uh...."

"Remind me why I broke up with you?" She laughed, leaving him in the kitchen to go sit with Hazel.

"It was mutual!" Jason called after her.

He's been staying with Nico and Hazel for the entire weekend, borrowing their old sweatshirts and sweatpants (which barely fit him, of course) for pajamas and washing his one outfit at night. He had nothing but the clothes on his back and his phone, which he used to explain the situation to his friends.

Nico and Hazel were amazing, of course, waving off his offers to go stay at a hotel until his family calmed down.

"You're our friend, Jason," Hazel said. "And friends don't let friends sleep in gross hotels."

"Alone," Nico added, blushing at Jason's raised eyebrows. Piper went "OoooOOOooo" in the background.

"Not like that, you gross weirdo!" He groaned, slapping a hand over his face. "I'm not offering to go stay in a hotel with you, I'm just saying that-"

"I get it," Jason laughed, the first laugh since he'd left his house. "You hate me."

"Yep," Nico agreed nonchalantly, popping a few grapes in his mouth until Jason slapped his hand away.

"Dinner's not ready yet, Nico! If you want to be able to steal bits of food then you should volunteer to cook."

"But I can't cook!" Nico complained. "I kill everything I touch."

"I've seen him send cereal to the fiery pits." Hazel commented from the couch, nonchalantly flipping through a magazine. "It's terrifying."

"Well come here, then," Jason laughed. "Start
cooking the stew, then I'll tell you what you're doing wrong."

Nico scowled as Jason corrected his grip on the spoon so it looked less like he wanted to stab someone with it. He looked uncomfortable in front of the stove, stirring slowly with a light grip as if he feared an explosion. Hazel and Piper giggled at his uncomfortable expression, trying and failing to hide it behind their hands. He shot them a glare, but quickly focused on the task in front of him when the stew started to bubble.

"Jason, it's gonna explode all over and burn me." He complained, and Jason laughed as he grabbed the spoon and stepped back in front of the stove.

"Wouldn't want that," He chuckled, bending down and pressing his lips to Nico's hand. Nico blushed violently at the action, and stared at Jason mutely, completely still.

"My god, Nico has an off switch!" Piper crowed. "He really has an off switch!"

Nico's eyebrows scrunched together in that way they did when he decided to do something. Without warning, he lunged forward and grabbed Jason's neck, pulling him down roughly and kissing him passionately for a few seconds. Jason was so stunned he couldn't do anything but feel absolutely ridiculous and a little bit in love as he stood there in his apron, holding a spatula in the air. When Nico finally pulled away, he couldn't think of anything to say.