Results May Vary

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If you look up just the word πίττα you'll find it means a specific bread, but if you look up gyro you'll find what I actually meant; still I figured Leo would call the food by the Greek name, like I do.

It starts with a death, and maybe that's a bit rattling, but giving it context makes it even worse; because there's so much more to what happened to Bianca than just the moment her heart stopped. Nico is absolutely shaken, quickly spiraling downwards out of control, uprooted by the reality of losing what little he had left of his original family.

He changes, like an apple that's been peeled and left in the open air, almost abruptly; and the people around him are left reeling. He does stupid shit, desperate to feel something, Percy tries to get him out, but Nico's turned bitter towards him; it takes him a long while to make peace with it, and even longer to make peace with him.

Leo approaches him later, when the papers for Nico's custody are being discussed over by his father and Persephone; it's a tentative sort of thing, and Leo looks completely out of his element, but he takes Nico aside and offers him both a piece of junk that can't be saved, and a steel baseball bat. It won't be after much later in their lives that Nico would learn it wasn't a lucky guess; that out of all people, Leo Valdez knew exactly what he needed.

That's a good reason as any, he supposes, as he finally takes the final few steps into the repair shop; Leo barely lifts his head to look at him, but acknowledges all the same, Nico picks a spot where he isn't bothering.

As Leo disappears beneath the car he's working on, Nico thinks about what's caused him to run like this; that's easier.

Will had been kind of a surprise, really; they met during their first year of high-school, having very brief conversations, but somehow became good enough friends that they ended up rooming together for college. It worked, in a hard to describe way, and they wound up growing closer despite conflicting schedules and interests; eventually Will asked him out and Nico agreed.

It had been good enough that they moved in together, but lately it hadn't been, and it was only a question of time before something gave. There, all reasons lined up just in time for Leo to roll back into view, to offer him a knowing look.

"Ok, I'm all ears, spill"

Nico shifts in his spot, Leo goes for another tool, working on the outer part of the car; Nico knows he's listening attentively, because fixing stuff is second nature to Leo.

"It's silly"

Leo curses as a bolt slips from his grip, but he manages to catch it before it rolls towards the nearby drain.

"Not if it made you need space it's not"

Nico wants to make a sarcastic comment at that, and knows Leo would most definitely see the humor in it; but it's because of that exactly that he doesn't. Instead, he tries to make sense of what he wants to say.

"Will keeps trying to be affectionate at random, and I don't always react well to it"

Leo has a tool of sort in his mouth, hands working with wires, gloveless as per usual; and then people wonder why Leo's hands are covered in burn marks. He makes a noise that has Nico talking, which is a power of his Nico is overly glad he hasn't taught anyone else.

"I'd prefers if he asked sometimes, or that he'd at least check in some way"

Leo manages to get both cables like he wants, because he pulls the tool from his mouth and starts using it; and maybe Nico should point out that he had no clue as to what Leo is doing with the car.

"Have you told him that?"

Nico looks away, even though Leo isn't even facing him, the Latino still lets out a sigh.

"I mean, I get it, Callie had to sit me down so we would finally have the conversation about my introverted-ness versus her abandonment problems"

That actually makes Nico feel just a smidge better, like breathing is easier; Leo turns to Nico then.

"I have to go back under chico, but if you stay we can go get some pitas right after I cleanup"

Nico thinks indulging in some Greek cuisine will do him exactly right.

"Sure, I'll even pay"

Leo gives him one of his patented wide grins and then disappears under the car with something on his hand; Nico doesn't ask, simply waiting until it's time to go.