When Worlds Collide

33) Internal Spiral Time

A/N: she short

-Tim POV-

Tim watched at Nico paced back and forth in his room.

"Neeks, it's not a big deal."

Nico stopped and looked at him, giving a half hearted glare. "I haven't seen them since March. It's June 1st."

Tim shrugged. "And? You were gone for way longer last time, so this is no biggy."

The demigod flopped onto the bed next to Tim and laid face down. "Last conversation we had I told the new guys that I killed someone, then got into a fight with their leader, and then disappeared. Not to mention that I followed that up by running a technically illegal raid, fighting the league, and then disassociating myself from them," he said, his voice muffled by the bedding.

The door cracked open and Jason peered in. "He still freaking out?"

Nico sat up and glared at the second eldest. "I'm not freaking out. I am simply debating whether or not the deal I made was worth it. Leo can just hack the League, we don't need to stick to the deal."

Tim flicked Nico's forehead. "Though I don't doubt that Leo could do that, it's too late. Elections are in a week and you agreed to it."

Jason stepped into the room, leaning back against the door. "Plus, it's your own fault. Canary just requested it, you coulda just said you would think about it."

Nico laid back on the bed with a sigh, though at least he wasn't face down this time. "The new members are gonna hate me."

"Virgil, Cissy, and Traci are great. Sure, you might not have started on the best of terms, but they'll warm up to you. Plus, you have way more experience than them." Tim stood up and walked into his closet to change into work out clothes.

"Timbo's right. You are the experienced one, make them work for your acknowledgment."

"That's not-" Tim tried to say as he finished changing and left his closet, but Jason cut him off.

"They're probably scared of you, so use it to your advantage."

Nico let out a groan. "That's the thing. I don't want them to be scared of me. That's what everyone at camp used to be and it was why I never stayed there. I know what it's like to be an outsider, the one that no one wants around." Nico twisted the ring on his hand and glanced at his brothers. "The team was kinda the first place where I wasn't immediately singled out as being creepy or weird. They liked me... I don't think they will anymore."

"That's ridiculous," Tim said as he crossed his arms. "First of all, everyone on the team who knows you has been bugging me non stop about when you were coming back. When Canary informed the team what you agreed to return to the mountain, they were super excited."

"Yeah, but the three newbies probably think I'm a psycho killer and then they're gonna convince everyone else to hate me," Nico said as he stared at the ceiling.

Jason sat down and the swivel chair at Tim's desk. "The team isn't gonna turn on you. You saved their asses in Markovia, they won't forget that."

Nico sat up and looked at their brother with a raised eyebrow. "I turned the tides of the war when I was 13 by convincing my father to join the battle and leading his army. They would have lost without me. Then, after the war, everyone went back to thinking I was the creepy son of Hades and avoiding me like the plague."

"And they were idiots for doing that. The team isn't like that. We don't forget all the good people have done just because they do something we don't like."

A knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Tim asked.

"It's Dick," the eldest said from the other side of the door. "It's time to head over to the mountain. You two ready?"

Nico sighed and stood up before crossing the room and opening the door. "Yeah, just let me change real fast," he said before crossing the hall and entering his room.

"Nico still nervous to go to the mountain?" Dick asked, concern clear on his face.

"Yeah, he thinks it'll be just like after the first war when everyone turned on him," Jace said as he leaned back in his chair.

Dick looked surprised. "The team would never-"

Tim cut him off. "I already told him that, but he doesn't believe it. I'm worried he is gonna block them out."

"What do you mean?" Dick said, stepping further into the room and going to sit on the foot of the bed.

Tim ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know, it's just... we talked about stuff like this a while back. He's had issues with being accepted his whole life. I'm worried he'll put up walls between himself and the team so that he can't be hurt if they don't accept him."

Dick opened his mouth to respond, but they heard Nico's door open and ended the conversation.

"You two ready to go?" Nico asked, now dressed in athletic sweatpants and a long sleeve.

Dick stood up and walked into the hallway, Tim following behind. "Yep. We'll grab masked from the cave before we zeta."

Nico didn't respond, just nodding as they made their way to the cave.

Please don't let this turn out bad, Tim thought to himself. Nico can't handle another rejection. 

A/N: I have had the fun experience today of a friend of mine showing me a song he wrote about me... it was a unique experience. Anyways, hope you liked the chapter

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