Solangelo Oneshots

Weirder Things

When Nico found himself in a living room, collapsed on the floor and in a staring competition with a brown-eyed golden retriever, his first thought was 'weirder things have happened'.

It was a testiment to his life that the thought had occurred at all.

The golden retriever lay very still. Nico watched it cautiously. He wasn't in a state to fend off a gnat right now and some dogs were surprisingly vicious. Chihuahuas, for example.

"Good dog," he said quietly, slowly pulling himself up so that he was sitting. "Good dog. Stay."

The dog didn't stay. In a fraction of a second, it leapt towards Nico and started enthusiastically licking his face and snuffling in his ear.

Frantically, Nico tried to push him off whilst being as quiet as possible. His shadow-travel had gone a little bit wrong but he wasn't sure he wanted to explain that to the police.

He managed to catch a glimpse at a stack of newspapers on the coffee table (which was dangerously close to his head) and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was in English.

He'd accidentally landed in China once and he couldn't find a way to communicate to the old lady hitting him with her book that he was very sorry and he would like him leave too.

Stroking the dog in the hopes that it would calm down, Nico wiggled his toes. They still worked, which was a bonus. He didn't look like he was fading either. However, his legs felt like lead and his heartbeat was pounding in his head.

Nico held on to the dog's fur as he struggled to keep his eyes open. He heard a shout and briefly muttered 'fuck' before he passed out.

He opened his eyes a few moments later in the arms of someone who was setting him on the sofa.

Instinctively, he jerked away and hit at them blindly.

"Hey, hey!"

He glared at the man watching him. The man's hands were held up and he was crouching by the sofa. The dog jumped on top of Nico and lay down across his lap.

"Good boy," the man crooned softly. Then he blushed. "I was talking to the dog! Not to you! I'm not a creep."

"Sorry," Nico said. "The door was unlocked. I'm tired and I thought this was my house. I'll leave."

He tried to get up but the dog stayed stubbornly lying down.

"Wait!" the man said. "Nico, you can't go! You need rest."

Nico shuddered, suddenly ice cold. He could have sworn his neck creaked like a rusty hinge when he slowly turned it to meet the stranger's eyes.

"How do you know my name?"

The man sighed. "Hear me out because this is going to sound really weird."

"You have five seconds before I cut your throat."

"I know you!"

Nico scowled. "Bullshit. I don't recognise you."

"Actually, looking at your age, you should. I look different but who stays fifteen forever, hey?"

Nico frowned, taking in the blue eyes and the messy curls and the freckles splattered like paint across a canvas.

"Hey, Death Boy," the man said gently.

It clicked.

"Will Solace?"

Will smiled. "You do recognise me! I know I'm a bit wrinkly but it's nice to know it isn't that bad."