When Worlds Collide

9) All I Feel is Pain, Pain, Pain, No Matter What

Nico paced the foyer, cane thumping with each step.

"Dude, calm down," Jason said with a laugh as he leaned against the door. "He'll be here soon."

"We've all met him before, so you don't need to stress," Dick said from his spot sitting on the stairs.

Nico sighed, stopping his pacing. "Yeah, but this is the first time you're seeing him out of costume after we've been dating."

Tim smiled. "He saved your life. That's pretty much guarantees his spot as being well liked."

"Solace has earned our respect," Damian said with a nod.

Nico opened his mouth to respond when his phone buzzed. He looked and saw the 'I'm here' text from Will and was out the door in seconds. His brothers followed him out as they watched the Delphi's Strawberries Van pull up, Will immediately jumping out of the passenger seat before it had even completed stopped. Nico smiled and ran to Will, the taller boy immediately wrapping him in a tight hug. Nico would never admit it out loud, but he had missed his boyfriend more than he wanted to admit the last few weeks.

"Hey, Death Boy," Will said into his hair.

Nico nuzzled his face into Will's chest as he mumbled, "Hey, Sunshine."

"Awwwwww," Dick said from the entrance of Wayne Manor.

Nico rolled his eyes as they withdrew from the hug, allowing Will to grab his bag from the van while he turned to glare at his brothers.

Jason ruffled Nico's hair as he walked by, approaching Will. "Hey, it good to have you back."

Will smiled at him and nodded. "I'm glad I could come."

Tim ushered them all inside, Alfred taking Will's bag as they made their way to the library. They all spread out on the couches and chairs, Will and Nico sharing a love seat.

"So, how's camp?" Dick asked cheerfully.

"It's been good. Nothing too crazy happened right now, which is good, though the Stoll brothers did set off fireworks in the forges last week. Travis is on crutches for a few weeks because Nyssa threw a mallet at him and broke his foot."

Nico snorted. "I wish I could say that crutches will slow him down, but I think we both know that's not true."

Tim laughed before seemingly remembering something. "Oh, I don't know if Rachel has told you yet. We officially bought three abandoned apartment buildings in the east end. Annabeth is coming down next weekend to do a walk through and then construction should start the following week."

Nico smiled as his brothers and Will chatted about the apartments and the Nonprofit that Rachel had named 'The Olympia Project'. He listened to them talk and smiled because for the first in a while, everything felt normal again.

By the time Bruce had returned from WE and made his way to the library, the most of the group was laughing hysterically.

"He looked like he was going to kill me," Will said with a laugh.

Nico glared at his boyfriend, though Will was used to that by now. "I could have gotten a concussion or broken my nose."

Jason cackled. "I mean, he was your doctor so I don't think he would have minded if you were infirmary bond for a few days."

Nico rolled his eyes before shoving Will off the couch. The blonde just laughed as he laid against the carpet. 

"One time will grabbed my feet and refused to let go because he really thought I wouldn't kick him in the face. He had a red foot print on his face all day," Nico said with a smirk as Will's head whipped around to glare at him.