When Worlds Collide

56) When You Have No Soup in the Dumpling

-Damian POV-

Damian was sitting in the library with his brothers when Nico and Will came in, his brother seeming annoyed.

"I'm just saying that you can't avoid them forever," Will said, sounded exasperated.

Nico groaned as he went into the stacks, Will hot on his trail. "Funny you say that, cause I think I can."

The two came out, Nico holding a book and Will looking exhausted. "Your gonna see Rachel and Piper in a few days-"

"I know."

"And they said that Garfield and Perdita have been texting them non stop about how you were doing-"

"I know."

"And you haven't even been texting them back-"

"For the love of the gods, I know, Will," Nico said as he plopped down on an empty couch, Will sitting next to him as the Italian continued. "I know they want to hear from me and to see that I'm alright, but I don't want to see them."

Will rolled his eyes. "Because you are done with them or because you're scared?"

The brothers all shared a look, silently agreeing not to chime in considering neither of them had even acknowledged their presence.

Nico ran a hand through his hair. "Can we just not talk about this?"

"No, we're gonna talk about it because when you ignore Pipes and Rach, they come to me and I don't know what to say since you've been ignoring me up until now."

Nico groaned and sank lower in his seat. "I just... I don't know what to say to them. They're gonna apologize or ask me what happened— but they already know what happened and I already know they're sorry, so it doesn't matter."

"Nico," Will said in a disappointed tone.

"Oh don't 'Nico' me," the son of Hades said, poorly mimicking Will's accent as he said his own name. "I know I'm being an ass, but I'm tired of comforting everyone else about what happened to me. It already happened, so them apologizing doesn't do anything. It doesn't change what happened, it doesn't get rid of the scars, and it doesn't make me feel any different. I've accepted it, so why can't they?"

Will rolled his eyes. "Maybe because they can't get closure. Maybe because they feel guilty that they came out of a traumatic situation unscathed and you were extremely  injured. Yes, their apologies don't make you feel better, but it'll make them feel better." Will grabbed Nico's hand to make him look at him. "It's not your job to make them feel okay about what happened, but that doesn't change the fact that you can help them. They need closure, and you're the only one who can give it to them. You're doing better: you're fully healed, you visited the team, you let me come visit, you're healing. You should let them do the same."

Nico was quiet for a minute before he let out a breath. "I'll call them. When's the meeting again?"

"Two days from now, on Friday."

The Italian nodded. "Clarisse asked me to cover her Thursday Combat class with the newbies cause it's her anniversary with Chris, but I can call them after— that way it won't distract us at the meeting."

Will smiled and kissed the back of Nico's hand. "Thank you."

Nico rolled his eyes, but still blushed.

"That was very entertaining to watched," Damian said, causing the duo to finally become aware of their surroundings. "Though for two demigods, your situational awareness is shit."