Bruises | Solangelo | Mortal AU

Chapter 10

"I can't even believe I'm about to do this." Nico was tying his tie. 

"You're going to do great, it's been a month since you've seen him last." I spun Nico around so he was facing me instead of the body mirror in our bedroom. "You're doing that wrong." I undid his work and tied his tie correctly. 

Nico rolled his eyes and pushed me away, but he was careful to let me finish. I smiled at the thought that even though he pretended he didn't want me to help him he secretly wanted me to. 

He was looking at himself in the mirror. He got this look on his face, a very heartbroken look. I walked up and lightly wrapped my arms around his waist. I held him against my back. I felt his breathing hitch as a reaction to my touch. He leaned his head against my chest and closed. I lowered my mouth to his neck. "Are you okay?" I whispered. 

"Yeah," Nico barely whispered. "Keep going."

I nodded and slowly moved my hands up Nico's untucked dress shirt and traced his belly and the line of pants. His breathing was soft but all over the place. His head leaned back onto my shoulder as I began trailing his pale neck with warm kisses. I pulled his closer so he was so close to me that he couldn't get any closer without merging into one person. 

I gently bit his neck and a soft moan escaped his lips. He took my hands and placed them at the entrance of his dress pants. I traced the opening and then turned him around. I cupped his face. We were practically nose-to-nose. "Why'd you stop?" I could feel his cold breath against my lips. 

I pulled his face closer to mine and touched my lips to his before pulling away. "We've got time," I said against his face. 

He smiled and wrapped his arms around my waist. "I love you, Solace."

"Love you too, di Angelo. Let's finish getting ready." I smiled and tucked in his shirt for him and he blushed profusely. 

I suppressed a smile and led him out of the bedroom. I was wearing a white button-up shirt with black slacks and Converse. Nico was wearing a white shirt with a purple tie that I got him a while ago. He also was wearing a black pair of slacks however, he refused to wear the blazer I picked out for him. 

He pulled his black dress shoes on and stood on his tippy-toes to kiss my cheek. I tucked a bit of his loose raven-black hair behind his ear. "Let's get going, Tesoro."

I opened and we walked to the car. "You know Italian?" he asked once I sat in the driver's seat and him in the passenger's seat. 

"Yeah," I said with a light laugh. "I am fluent."

"Fluent? So when I called you 'la mia luce'--"

"I know it means 'my light', yes."

Nico's eyes got huge and he quickly developed a sudden interest in the environment outside his window. I chuckled to myself and turned up the radio. We drove in silence for the rest of the way to the courthouse. 

;;;

I sat in the front row, watching Nico on the stand, recounting every detail of his relationship with Luke. Luke sat next to his lawyer, gripping the table and keeping a neutral face. 

"There were times I literally thought I'd never wake up," Nico concluded. His face held no emotion. It was like a very pale rock. It almost...scared me how emotionless he was. 

I zoned out for a while. I was listening without listening. Everything was going through one ear and out the other. I knew I couldn't fully listen. The jury was about to make its decision. The whole felt like it went mute. I could hear the noise but everyone sounded like they were underwater. I was watching Nico's face. Why hadn't they have him sit down before deciding? Why are they keeping him up there? 

Suddenly, all the voices came crashing on top of me. I was hearing so much I couldn't hear anything. I heard the gavel fall three times and the voices went silent. I heard one word. 

"Guilty."

;;;

"It was awesome, it felt really nice to see him taken away."

"I'm so happy for you, Neeks. You deserve the world." I glanced over at him and he had a stupid grin plastered across his face. "We are meeting the rest of the gang for lunch to celebrate, is that okay?"

He looked at me and bit his lip. "More than okay."

I turned the car into the cafe parking lot. "Are you sure? We can... I dunno, go home and relax."

Nico laughed. "Will! It's okay. Let's go. I want to."

I clicked my tongue. "Okaaay!" My voice accidentally has a Texan ring to it. 

"Will, your Texas is showing," Nico teased. 

"Whatever." I waved my hand. "Get out the damn car, let's go." I opened the door and got out. 

Nico followed and we walked up to the group. Everyone was there but Leo, but that was expected. He usually got there about 15 minutes late every time. We walked up and everyone started cheering. Nico suppressed a smile and told them to shut up. We sat down and Percy, knowing Nico wouldn't want to talk about court, immediately launched into one of his stories. 

"Okay, guys! So you know my dad flew the coop when I was a baby?" Everyone nodded with a slightly confused look on their face. "Okay, well... I finally asked my mom about it and she finally told me about him."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Really? That's awesome! Tell us everything!"

Percy's smile grew. "She said he loved the beach. He always smelled like saltwater. She said there wasn't a single flaw about him and he might as well be the sea god."

"That's amazing, Percy. I'm so happy for you," Frank said. 

"I'm really glad she finally told you about him. I remember the days we'd sit here talking about who he might be. It's so amazing to see you learn more information about him," Hazel said. 

"Yo, yo, yo! Latino Elf in da house!" Leo finally showed up with his Spanish accent in store. 

Jason started scolding. "Twenty minutes!"

"Okay, okay! Before you go off on me... I brought doughnuts."

Jason narrowed his eyes. Before he could say anything Nico chimed in, "I could use a doughnut. What do you have there, Elf?"

"Why do you call him Elf?" Piper asked. 

Nico gestured towards Leo as he got handed a doughnut. "Because he looks like an elf."

Everyone spent the day telling stories and making jokes. There was lots of laughing and lots of commentaries. I loved how even though most of our families abandoned us, we found each other. Some of us still had parents that were around, like Percy and me, but most of us didn't. We are each others families. We are one big happy family and I am so happy that through everything, no matter how messy, I know they have my back. I know they have Nico's back. 

And I have theirs.