Save You As I Save My Life (Jasico)

Chapter 26: Finding You

Nico sighed and rolled his neck. The silence in the car was thick and awkward, Leo and Percy and Thanatos and Nico all squished together into the back of Jason's car. The blond was driving quickly to get back home, after several panicked phone calls from Nico's mother. They all didn't want to deal with an angry Italian woman, so they had immediately gotten in the car. Thanatos hadn't wanted to go. 

"I'm sorry, Thanatos. She'll be happy to see you, I'm sure!" Nico's voice shattered the silence. Percy and Leo turned and looked at them, lethargic. Thanatos blinked. 

"Yes, her failure son who ran away from home. She'll obviously be over joyed to see me." He huffed and rubbed his nose. Nico slouched down. "Nico, I'm sorry. But I just can't believe that woman will be happy to see me. I'm nothing to her."

"She has your pictures."

The car fell into silence again. 

"My....pictures?" He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I thought they were of me. But then I looked at them, closer, and they were of a boy, a little older than me. And there I was, in the background. Well, it was Nicole. But still. I never realized...." He smiled a little and held an arm out. "It's you, in the pictures."

Thanatos blinked a little, looking down. he still didn't trust her, honestly...but it made the pain more bearable knowing that she at least still loved him, even if just enough to save the pictures they had. He swallowed hard as they pulled into the driveway several hours later. 

Mrs. di Angelo rushed out of the house towards them, her face puffy, eyes wide and red. "Nico! Oh, Nico, sweetie-!" She dragged him out of the car first, hugging him tight to her chest. Thanatos watched with mild fasination and horror when she drew back her hand and smacked him in the face. "YOu ever, ever do something like that again, young man, and I will send you back to NEw York!" And then she was hugging him again, kissing his face. 

Nico struggled free. "Mom, Percy and Leo and Jason are here too...and Thanatos." 

The Italian woman looked into the car again, with wide eyes, same as when she saw Nico. 

Thanatos climbed out. Nonchalant, act normal. "Hello, ma'am."

"Don't you 'ma'am' me you....come here!" She yanked him into a hug that nearly popped his eyes out of their sockets. 

But he didn't mind because he was sure his hug was just as tight. 

-+-

Dinner was something....else. Leo and Percy kept making subtle hints at Jason and Nico getting back together, Thanatos was chatting with his mother idly and Jason kept trying to get Nico to smile. 

"Boys? When do your classes start?"

"Well, mine are already started- Ow! No, I'm not skipping, I don't have any on Wednesdays!" Thanatos yelped, moving from his mother. She nodded a little. 

"Good. Jason?"

"Mine are starting in Fall, as are Percy's..."

She nodded slowly, taking a bite of her chicken pot pie. "Good, good. Leo?"

He shrugged. "Don't know."

She sighed a little. Thanatos smiled, shaking his head. But he was looking at Percy, not Leo. He wondered what it would take to get Percy to cheat on Leo. Then he wanted to hit himself for such a stupid question. 

"I'm tired! I'm gonne go up to bed...Jason?" 

The blond blinked his eyes open, and then nodded. "Yeah. So will I." He took Nico's hand, and they continued upstairs. He sighed. 

"GUess we're next then." Leo took Percys arm in his and skipped upstairs. They were laughing the whole way up. Thanatos sighed, looking at his mother. 

"I'll help you clean up..." He stood, picking up and cleaning off plates. 

Maria smiled, shaking her head, and began helping. "You're just as sweet as I remember."

That caught him off guard. "You...thought I was sweet?" He stared at her, holding dirty cups and plates. 

She nods a little, sweeping and wiping down the floors. "Of course!" She huffed, shaking her head. 

Thanatos hugged her, leaving all the dirty dishes where they were. He was crying, which wasn't what he'd expected. 

He'd thought today was going to end in sadness, in pain for him. But he's found his mother, she loved him...He sobbed quietly. 

She pet his hair softly. "Shh, shh...it's okay..." 

"I'm sorry for running away, leaving you! I missed you! I love you, mommy..."

She smiled. "I know." She kissed his cheek. "I think you better get off to bed, sweetie."

He nodded slowly. "The couch.."

"A bed. There's another one in Percy and Leo's room. I'm sure they won't mind." 

He blushed, nodding. "Thank you." He smiled. She shook her head and hugged him again. She kissed his forehead. HE blushed and headed up the stairs. 

Leo opened the door, grinning. "Hey!"

"Hello, elf." He smirked. Leo pouted. "What?"

"What do you want."

"Mom said I sleep in here with you two." 

Percy whined. "What!"

"She refuses to let me sleep on the couch."

Percy whined again, but let him in. He slouched onto the bed pushed into the corner, and closed his eyes. "Goodnight."

"Night."

He pulled the pillow up over his head and was asleep in seconds. 

-+-

The following morning, they all headed back to the college. Nico was sitting with Jason, laughing and giggling, kissing his face. Percy and Leo wouldn't look him in the eyes. 

"I know what you two did." 

They both paled. 

"It's a good thing I didn't fully wake up." He smirked. "I may have joined you."

Leo couldn't help but snort as they turned onto tthe highway. Percy was shouting, blushing such a red color that Thanatos was actually a little worried. 

"You asshole!"

"Says the bottom."

Nicos eyes widened. "Wait, really?"

Percy huffed and looked out the window. 

Leo laughed good naturedly, turning into a rest area. 

"Come on Perce, it's not that bad."

"You shut up too! I'm so upset that we found you guys." 

"Aw...You'll regret that when we go missing again."

Nico snorted. "Nah. Whatever we do when that happens, you should always know we'll be set on finding you again."