Signs of a Storm

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Chapter 38: No Scratching, Biting, Shoving, Hitting, Slapping...ect.

We sat and talked for a long time.

Nico barely said anything, but it made him a great candidate to talk to. I had so many things and problems to spurt out, it ended up being great. The sun was going down, but neither of us cared. I wasn't hungry, and Nico didn't show any signs of wanting to leave. I was thinking that maybe Poseidon had granted my prayer.

In the weirdest way.

"So, there I was, about to be attacked by an empousai, and there were two gods fighting and spitting insults at each other in my head." I began to look back at about two months ago, when I had just found out I was a demigod.

Nico cracked a smile, which he seemed to be doing more of around me lately, and I couldn't help but be satisfied. Maybe he was a friend, after all. "You're not joking?" He asked, not convinced. "That's hilarious. Never heard it before."

"Yes I'm telling the full truth. Those gods were so annoying! They even tried to help me cheat on a quiz or two. Side-note, I got straight A's."

We began to laugh, and I had not felt this much at peace in a while. Not even Leo's jokes, or Hazel's kindness measured up to this. "Wow, it's actually getting late." Nico said, realizing the sun was halfway from sinking down behind the horizon. It casted a soft glow across New Rome, and the endless fields behind it. I was glad to be sharing this beauty.

I sighed, "Doesn't it make you more aware that there are still good things in this life?" I asked, taking in the last rays of the sun.

"I can see where you're going with that. It is very spontaneous." Nico relaxed and leaned back, not caring to watch behind himself.

Since we were, in fact, on top of a roof the size of a shed, he fell backwards and I helped him regain balance. I slightly laughed, in a kind-hearted way. His cheeks flushed with red, and I tried to hide my small giggles.

"How about we get down from here?" Nico suggested. "I'd like to walk around anyways." And so I hopped off, landing on the ground.

"I bet I can beat you to the bottom of the hill!" I challenged.

His face was unreadable. "Okay."

"And...go!" I raced downwards and didn't stop until I reached the bottom of the hill. I turned around, but didn't see Nico.

"Beat you." He said behind me.

I jumped in surprise, "Where on earth did you come from?"

He shrugged when he said the next sentence, "You didn't say anything about powers. I shadow-traveled to the bottom."

I rolled my eyes. "Killjoy." I muttered.

Nico wasn't listening, he had already begun to stroll away, leaving me to catch up. When I did, I noticed he was heading in the direction towards the Field of Mars, and not the little town. "Where are you planning on going?" I asked, half-aware that he had taken out his sword and was mindlessly swinging it around. "Be careful." I muttered.

"I have no clue." He admitted. "Like I said before, I just wanted to take a walk. If you'd like to go back to your own business, fine by me."

"Nah, it's nice being out in the open air. The Fifth cohort is nice and all, but it tends to get seriously stuffy in there."

We walked in awkward silence, until he spoke again. Nico had a blank face as he said, "So, how's Valdez doing?" There was no concern in his voice, he just seemed to try and make small chat, even if it was about Leo.