•Heroes Of Olympus One-Shots•

Reynico

Day Off AU

My Happy Nico Meal

Being praetor is both an honor and a responsibility. The praetor before her had warned her. She couldn't forget the former praetor's words to her the day Reyna herself became one. Well, it's more of a great responsibility. She couldn't forget that more.

Reyna always believed the ex-praetor, never doubting those words. She braced herself for the responsibility ever since day one, steadying her mind and body. She heeded the ex-praetor's words and prepared herself every minute. She believed she was ready.

Then, day two happened.

Her body felt sick and sore after the long night of work. She couldn't sleep a wink, determined to finish the work before another one came up like how a true praetor works. She's been living of hot chocolate and jelly beans the entire night, which unexpectedly became her favorite food. The sun came up and Reyna was finally done. Ready to sleep peacefully, the exhausted girl drops her head on a pile of paperwork. Her moment of sleep only lasts for 10-30 minutes on a regular day before she was called to duty again. Gradually, she realizes that that has been her average life since becoming praetor.

Well, my life sure sucks.

After the events of Gaea and the partnership between the two camps, Reyna goes back to her average life. Day one of her continued life went like normal. No sleep, no fun, just praetor duties. And of course, showing Frank the ropes. Just her average, regular, normal life... In a demigod basis.

Then, again, day two happened.

Reyna was at her high and mighty praetorian desk doing her boring and crappy praetorian work. She continued signing all those paperwork piling before her like usual.

Repair for broken shower in one of the 4th Cohort's shower room, signed.
New building for armory, signed.
Schedule for next war games, signed.

Reyna expected the usual. But, unlike usual, she was wrong.

While stretching after signing five more of the boring works, she caught something moving in the shadows behind one of the royal purple curtains in her office.

Others would be nervous and scared, but she knew who it was. She knew who he was.

"I didn't know you were coming, Nico.", she casualy told Nico.

"Do I have to inform you whenever I check on you?", he asked.

She knew where this conversation would be heading, so she skipped the flowery talk and went straight to the point.

Knowing that Nico only wanted company to go to McDonalds, she deliberately stood up and patted her toga. "I can manage praetor work later. It would be shameful to leave a friend alone somewhere intended for bonding." It would also be shameful to leave my hunger like this., she mentally added.

"Give me time to change. It won't take long.", she promised turning to her quarters, missing the genuine smile of relief and joy from Nico.

A few minutes passed, and Reyna headed back to where she left Nico attired in a flannel over a casual black Batman insignia T-shirt and jeans. Her hair wasn't rebraided meaning a few strands still framed her regal face. She had predominantly white sneakers on and all in all, she looked like a regular teenager, only she had an Imperial Gold dagger hanging beside her hip, which Nico didn't mind at all.

Nico felt loosely dressed with his regular aviator jacket and skull T-shirt. He thought of changing, but decided against it in the end.

Well, he was probably going to get a good day with his favorite praetor judging from the excited look in Reyna's dark eyes behind the responsible, firm, strict, strong, and regal façade.