☯︎𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕟 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝔸𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖☯︎

-Jeez, more ques- yikes!-

   Didn't really draw anything up for this chapter, so have this horror aesthetic board I made instead.

   The next day was still awkward, needless to say. Will was still positive, Nico was still emo, and the Avengers were still nosy.

   "Whatcha doin'?" Stark asks one afternoon, having crept up behind him and stuck his face right next Nico's. Reflexively, Nico's right hand jerked up, forming a fist just before he struck Stark's face as hard as he could.

   Tony stumbled back, clutching his now bleeding nose. Nico, not really feeling remorseful for it, just sighed, irritated, and returned to sorting out all of his paperwork into the manilla folder that simply refused to open for anyone but him.

   "Ow, what was that for?" He demanded, his voice coming out nasally as he held his hand under his rapidly gushing nose.

   "It's called sneaking up on an unsuspecting teenager with a very traumatic childhood," Nico snarked, before getting up from his previous seat at the bar and walking away, ignoring Tony's muffled and pained protests behind him.

   "'Traumatic childhood?'" Tony asks, as if Nico isn't fully aware of what just came out of his very own mouth.

   "Yes, Tony," Nico hisses, pressing the button on the elevator for his and Will's floor. "Traumatic childhood. From what I've heard, just about everyone in this building can relate."

   Before Tony can say something undoubtedly infuriating back to him, the elevator door closes in his face, and Nico lets a tiny smirk of satisfaction creep onto his own as the elevator comes to a stop and slowly slides open.

   Nico was surprised to see Steve standing there, arms folded, waiting for the elevator.

   "Oh- um, hey," Steve said, his face beginning to flush. Nico raised an eyebrow and stepped out, and Steve brushed past him as he stepped in.

   "Hey," Nico responded, keeping his tone as flat as possible, before turning around and making his way towards his and Will's room.

   When he came inside, Will was sitting on the bed, randomly tying his shoes for some reasons. He looked up at Nico and grinned.

   "Oh, hey! I was just about to come find you. Wanna get lunch?" He asked, annoyingly positive, as usual.

   "Um, sure. By the way, what was Steve here for?" Nico asked, cutting straight to the chase.

   Will paused for a second, before finally giving one last tug on his laces and standing up. "He asked for relationship advice."

   Nico's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

   Will nodded. "Don't tell anyone else, but I have a feeling he might propose soon."

   And Nico definitely stopped short at that. "Wow." Will nodded.

   "I know, right?" He agreed, taking Nico's arm and leading them to the door.

   "What'd you tell him?" Nico asked.

   "I told him there was no time like the present, and if he was sure he and Bucky both loved each other that much, then he should go for it," he answered, not breaking stride. He hit the button next to the elevator and patiently waited for it to come up, humming absently to himself.

   "Taking a page outta your own book, huh, Solace?" Nico asked, grinning. Will smiled back at him and pecked his cheek, stepping into the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

   They held hands on the way down to the main floor, but let go when the doors slid open. Thor and Bucky were in the corner at the pool table, picking it up and tilting it instead of using cue sticks like normal people. They laughed and jeered at each other as the balls all rolled around wildly, a few even slipping out.