Chapter Text
This girl, her blade still extended, watched them all with guarded eyes, and Nico took note, even in his panicked state, of how her eyes grew concerned and worried as they landed on Jason – Jason who was on the ground, twitching, bleeding.
Nico, only a few feet away from the other boy, was unable to stand in position any longer. Jason groaned again, sounding too much like the monsters they had just put down. With Travis and Connor both eyeing the couple, Nico quickly hid his weapon to bend down, his hands already extended towards the other boy.
Will was at his side in a second, already unpacking his first aid kit before Nico would take another shuddering breath.
Jason groaned, clenching at that grass, and tears ran down both sides of his face. Nico’s breath caught as he finally found sight of the other boy’s injury. A blossoming red puddle was already forming on the dark grass from Jason's shoulder and, with a tightened chest, Nico slowly peeled back the sticky fabric of the others boys t shirt.
“Gunshot.” Will exhaled in relief, “Okay. Is there an exit wound?”
Nico swallowed, Jason's sticky blood already starting to gloss over his fingertips, and he very slowly edged up Jason's shoulder.
The wounded boy let out a yell, and Nico had to bite down the urge to cover the boys mouth. “We need you to turn over.” Nico told him, his voice low. “It's going to hurt but you need to turn on your side. Please.”
Jason, groaning and clenching his eyes shut, slowly complied.
“It went through.” Nico told him, a bit relieved.
Will nodded. “Okay. I need disinfectant and needle, and a clean rag if you have it. Hurry.”
Nico quickened, his hands dancing over the supplies packs as he shuffled through trying to find what the other boy needed.
“Where is it?” Nico breathed out in frustration, his voice almost a growl.
“It's in there somewhere!” Will bit back, applying pressure to Jason's shoulder.
“I have a needle.” A voice spoke up behind him, and Nico didn't even turn to face it.
Nico didn't answer, still frantically flipping through the kit, and was surprised to see the shadow spilling onto the grass in front of him.
“Here.” The girl - Hazel handed over a small ziplock bag - a sewing kit - and a tube of hand sanitizer. Both were precious items. Nico noted the dark look Octavian - her companion - shot her at that attention, but took the items without a question.
Nico immediately handed it over to Will before glancing back up, “Thank you.” He told her seriously, and she nodded.
“Is there anything I can do?” She asked, glancing around and meeting the suspicious gazes of the others. Octavian was a few steps back, providing her almost no coverage if anything happened. He looked closer to shooting off into the woods then staying with her, with them.
Piper stepped forward, her hand cocked on her side, and it served as a reminder of how prepared she was with her weapon. She eyed the other girl - her wild, frizzy curls that seemed to take up most of her height, and the dirty silver duct tape that covered most of her body - and she glanced back up to meet Hazel’s eyes, who said nothing.
“Do you know how to start a campfire?” Piper finally asked, meeting Hazel’s eyes with steel on her face. “We’re out of fire starters, and it’s going to get dark soon.”
Piper continued to eye her, like this simple request was a test in her mind. It was probably was, knowing what little he did about Piper.
“We have matches!” Hazel suddenly grinned, ecstatic at the possibility of being able to help.
Octavian frowned even harder, if possible. He shot her a scowl that she certainly didn’t see, but most of them duly noted. She began quickly pawing through her backpack, finding what she needed quickly before setting to work. Piper watched her, her face unreadable, and finally turned to the bloody sight on the ground as Will began working.
“Nico.” She told him, her voice low. “Do you have first aid training?”
Nico was already shaking his head, feeling a bit stupid and desperate, both emotions he was unfamiliar with.
Reyna would not blame him if Jason died on this trip, but he would never be able to say the same of himself.
“No.” He said aloud, keeping his hands steady. He didn’t protest or resist as Piper lightly pushed him out of the way, swinging her backpack off and falling to her knees.
“I do.” She told him, picking up a few items out of the open first aid kit. She found a small flashlight and clicked it on, knowing Will would need it, and didn’t turn back to Nico as she spoke. “Go help the others. We’ll handle this.”
Nico stared at them both for a single, hesitant moment. He trusted Piper to an extent, yes, and Will seemed to know what he was doing, but trusting them and leaving Jason’s life in their hands were entirely different situations. He took a deep breath, his hands knotting in the bottom of his shirt – a habit he never seemed to break from when he was younger – and hesitantly, uncertainly, left them. Nico glanced back to Jason, his eyes squeezed shut as he heaved heavy, painful breaths, and spun to face their new acquaintances. The Stolls were still eyeing them, their guns pointed and still. Nico waved their weapons off, jutting his chin towards the side. They would be more useful on watch. Jason wasn’t being quiet, and they had no way to know whether that herd was the first of many.
“What is your business here?” Nico tried to keep the edge out of his voice, trying for a more neutral tone.
The girl licked her lips before speaking. “We were just passing by. Heard the fight, thought you might need help.”
Nico nodded, processing that with a glance in her companion’s direction. It was obvious who’s plan it was to help.“Where are you headed?”
“Washington D.C.” Her eyes flickered back to her partner, still yards away and unspeaking. “Octavian says there’s a safe base there.”
There isn’t. Nico wanted to tell her, stopping himself on account of the soft spark in her sad eyes.
He swallowed down his words, instead letting his eyes flicker down to the rest of her.
“Duct tape?” He questioned, eyeing the dirty tape that covered her arms and legs.
She nodded, a bit excited, and held up one of her arms to examine. “The walkers can’t bite through it. Saved me a few times - cool right?”
“Smart.” He observed, meaning it. He continued walking, putting himself to use and his mind to distraction as he helped the Stoll Brothers set up camp and clear the land – it seemed like they were going to be here a few hours, at least. They didn’t need rotting flesh stinking up the air more than it already had.
After a long, tense period of time – what felt like hours but was probably only one – Will and Piper were balancing the other boy between them. Jason’s head lulled between them, but even from here, Nico could see his hazy gaze drifting over the land. Resisting the urge to run up to them and help, he only nodded at their small ensemble, turning back to setting up one of the tents. Most of the bodies had been dragged away to a small section of trees, thankfully, so they were able to walk clear.
Nico finished the tent, still eyeing their two guests, and finally succumbed to his temptation. He turned, his eyes searching to where he already knew Jason was spread out. Nico hunched his shoulders, making his way over.
Jason was looking better in the sense that he was no longer unconscious. He was still deadly pale, leaning his elbows against a fallen tree, his legs spread out in front of him. Will had cut off his shirt earlier, and Jason apparently had bothered to dig around in his pack for a new one just yet.
Will was there, arranging his kit quietly, probably only there to keep an eye on Jason. Nico respected that, a man taking his job seriously. Nico swept his eyes from the doctor; instead meeting Jason’s waiting ones. He cleared his throat, not really ready for this.
Nico dipped his head. “Jason?”
Jason rolled his neck, his head on his own shoulder. “I’m fine, Nico.” He gave Nico a small, weak but real, smile. “It’s gonna be harder than a stray shot to kill me, I’m tell ya.”
Nico nodded, keeping his eyes on the grass. “I just-“
“Nico.” Jason interrupted his gaze a bit softer. “None of this was your fault. I don’t know what weird way your mind distorted this to make it ours, but it’s not.” He gave him that same small grin again.
Nico only nodded, the heavy hand of guilt not releasing its hold on him just yet. “Okay.” Nico answered softly, not believing it, but also not wanting to bother Jason. He stood, shooting the injured boy one last concerned look, and avoiding Will’s heavy gaze.
Piper grabbed onto his wrist in a quick moment, releasing her hold in the same second.
Nico turned slightly, giving her a look of interest. She clearly had something to say, with her eyes flickering back to him and the group. She took a deep breath, stepping a bit closer, and kept her voice low.
“I’m not sure if I trust them.” Piper muttered to Nico, casting a look over to the couple. It was obvious to them all that it was too dark to be on foot in the woods, and they had set up camp a few yards separated from where Hazel and Octavian had thrown up their tents. It was an unspoken necessity, just as their night of rest was to Jason. “We need to keep an eye on them.”
As she said this, Nico glanced over to examine the small camp adjacent to theirs. The girl – Hazel - was sitting alone in front of her tent, curled with her knees to her chest, and staring blankly into their own smaller fire. Octavian wasn’t everywhere to be seen, probably doing another perimeter check, and this left Hazel alone at their makeshift camp. It was a surprisingly vulnerable position, and Nico didn’t exactly approve of it.
Behind him, Jason and Will shared a low laugh, and Connor and Travis continued to elbow each other back and forth on their shared log. Nico downed the rest of his water bottle, throwing it back into his backpack and nodded Piper off. He grabbed a few things, meeting Jason’s gaze with a nod, and walked the short distance between the two camps.
Hazel glanced up as he approached, and he noticed how her hand twitched just slightly towards her backpack. He approved of that instinct. She relaxed after a moment and gave him a small smile.
Nico held out a metal bowl, and Piper’s stew steamed heavenly into the air. “Here.” He told her, eyeing the tasteless protein bar wrapper on the ground beside her. “It’s good.”
Hazel took it with surprised hands, her eyes wide. “Thank you.” She accepted it, and her fingers were careful with the plastic spoon. She hesitated for a single moment, her eyes flickering up towards him and then to the group behind him. Nico took a moment to settle down on the ground next to her, keeping a safe distance in between them.
Her fingers were tight on the spoon as she thought it over. “Actually,” she handed him back the bowl, slight regret in her eyes. “I’m not that hungry, I’m - “
Nico took the spoon, taking a small bite for her to see. The stew burned his mouth, straight out of the pot and basic hellfire at the moment, but it was something he knew she needed to see. He nodded as he handed the bowl back over, “It’s good. A bit hot.” He told her, pausing to meet her hesitant eyes, “Have some.”
She slowly took the bowl, and eyed him once more as she settled in with the bowl. She nodded slowly, accepting it.
She gave him a soft, surprised sound as she took her first bite and he agreed - Piper was proving herself to be the best cook they had.
“This is amazing.” She told him, inhaling another bite quickly. Nico eyed the way the bones in her wrists stuck out in stark relief and the hollow curve of her cheeks, and noted to force upon her another bowl.
Nico bowed his head - the only real way he knew how to accept thanks - and his eyes flickered back up to her after a moment. He let her finish her bowl, not that he had to wait very long, before speaking up.
“What’s your story?” He finally asked, watching as she froze slightly and shifted across the rough, dry earth.
Hazel, with her feet tucked up to her chest, stared at the dirt and ran her fingernail through it. She set her bowl to the side, watching him for a long moment, before sharing.
“I was on my own for a long time.” She began, not elaborating. “It was only a little while ago I met Octavian who -” She cast a look over to his tent, already so separated from her own set-up, and her voice went quiet. “He’s not the best company, but he’s a good fighter. And it’s not like I have anywhere to be so.” She shrugged.
Nico felt a surge of protectiveness that surprised him as much as the girl before him did. Strangely, with her kind eyes and fierce grin, and her somehow gentleness that had Nico wondering how she survived this long, she reminded him of Bianca.
“We need to take them in.” Nico muttered once he left Hazel’s side, not really used to discussing these things with someone who wasn't Reyna, who usually guessed what Nico was thinking before Nico had fully finished his thoughts.
Piper frowned and gave him an odd look, “We don't know anything about them.”
Nico jutted his chin in the air. “We didn't know anything about you. And here we are.”
Piper shook her head, and Jason seemed content to simply observe this matter. He was still lying against the log, Piper crouched at his side, when Nico had rushed up to both of them. Nico vaguely wondered where Will had gone off to.
Piper was still protesting. “What would Reyna say -”
“Reyna would trust my decision.” Nico answered, his voice hard. “I...I don't know much about the guy, but Hazel is coming with us, and I feel like she wouldn't leave without taking Octavian.”
Jason cleared his throat, finally speaking up. “Why.” He simply stated without the question, shifting. His stark white bandages seemed to be uncomfortable for him, as well as being shirtless against the bare wood.
Nico licked his lips. “She’s...she’s good. I don’t know how to explain it but...but she’s one of the good ones. And I think she would be an incredible addition to our group.”
Jason observed him for an uncomfortably long moment, thinking, before his eyes flickered back to Piper. “Nico has good instincts when it comes to stuff like this.” He told her, and his eyes met Nico's. “If we’re voting on this...then I guess my vote is yes.”
Piper stared at both of them for a long moment before finally throwing her hands in the air. “Fine.” She relented. “But you're explaining this to Reyna.” She told him, pointing at him threateningly. “And you’re in charge of watching them till then.”
Nico nodded, accepting the terms. He loosened the hostile stance he hadn’t realized he’d taken, instead dropping his shoulders and shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He didn’t thank either of them, only meeting both of their eyes seriously and hoping something along the lines came across. From the way Jason grinned at him, Nico guessed he was a bit successful.
The next morning, after both campfires had died down into barely warm embers, and the Stolls were packing everything back up, Nico crossed the short distance the second time.
Octavian was – unsurprisingly – absent once again, leaving Hazel alone in their make shift camp, sitting on the same log from the night before. He wondered how much time she had spent on her own before this.
Nico settled next to her, offering a rare apple that she took with a small grin. She didn’t hesitate this time, taking no moment before taking a hearty bite that had juice dripping down her chin.
“We have a setup.” He finally spoke, his voice soft. “It’s...good. Safe. And we have people, too. There’s food and shelter and the company's not bad either.” He shot a look towards her, and he could tell how surprised she was. “Do you want to join us?” He dipped his head, letting the shadows and the faint light from the campfire cover his face. “I’m...I'm not usually the one to explain this. But if you want it, it's here.”
“I want to.” Her voice was soft, barely audible, but almost immediate. “But…” She looked over to Octavian, on watch duty, and a grimace passed over her features. “Octavian took me in and...I can’t just…”
“We’re not asking you to do anything like that.” Nico reassured her, knowing he probably should have lead with that. Strangely, he was weirdly proud of her for not carelessly leaving the other boy, however weird and distant he was, behind. Like she passed a mental test he wasn’t even aware he had for her. “He can come. Both of you are welcome.”
She dipped her head, her messy curls hiding her face. “Thank you.” She told him, her voice soft. She caught his hand, squeezing, and pulled back into herself. “I’ll talk to Octavian. But…thank you. You didn’t have to offer.”
Nico watched her for a long moment, unsure of what to say. “Let me know what you decide. We’re set to leave soon.”
She nodded, her face still hidden, her hands still tangled in her lap. Nico stood, brushing off the mud from his pants, and walked back, needing to set some traveling details with Piper.
He hadn’t hoped for anything in awhile. Not since…not since he lost the reason to hope, really. It was a strange emotion, hope. Nico wished it not to be for waste.
Hazel came up to him, her steps intentionally rough against the dry ground, announcing her presence. He appreciated that.
Her hair was pulled back now, her eyes bright and brilliant against her dark skin. “Octavian agreed. We’re going to put off the Washington D.C. trip, we both need it.” She told him, her voice matching the happiness threatening to spill out of her wide grin. “We’re coming.”
Nico grinned at that, an action so foreign that he was a bit surprised about the lack of thought that went in to the action. Maybe, if he’d known her better, and if they weren’t both currently covered in days old zombie guts, he would have hugged her. It seemed like a natural thing to do with her.
“That’s great.” He told her seriously. “You should go get ready, we should be leaving soon.”
She nodded happily, “I will. I will. Um.” Her shoulders dropped, as well as her gaze. “I…thank you Nico. I thought we’d be traveling forever.”
Nico didn’t respond to that, instead only mimicking her dropped gaze to the rough ground.
He watched her nearly skip off, her hands swinging at her sides. He turned from her to face his own separated camp, clearing his throat. He had to let them know, he knew.
“Hazel and Octavian are coming with us.” He announced, his voice hard and body language ready for any argument. His eyes flickered over each of them, a bit relieved to see no fight in any of them.
A few nodded, the rest simply just went back to their tasks.
They managed to pack up in good time, Nico helping Hazel pack up her own things, and they managed to get back on the trail before mid-day, which was great accounting for Jason’s injury.
The Stolls lead them, with Hazel and Octavian taking up second and Nico and Will following. Jason and Piper, needing to take occasional breaks with Will as an aid, took up rear. Nico was satisfied with this arrangement, not needing to get annoyed with the Stolls constant jokes, but near Hazel and Jason in equal distance.
They had been walking for a few hours maybe – they shouldn’t be far from their set-up, they should make it back by twilight – when Will started up his constant chatter.
Nico had been in equal parts suffering and ignoring through Will’s talk when the other boy suddenly cut himself off, a delighted grin stretching across his face. He seemed satisfied, overly-satisfied, and turned onto Nico with glee, which Nico eyed with a bit of suspicion.
“Do you like her?” Will asked lowly, and his voice was light and teasing. He elbowed Nico’s side, laughing softly under his breath.
Nico wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. “You’ve got to stop mentally forcing girls upon me.” Jason, standing a few feet away, barked out a laugh at that, and reached up to mess up Nico’s hair.
Nico scowled, shooting the other boy a death glare, but didn’t move away. He turned back to Will, rolling his eyes.
“Jason’s just jealous because I refuse to take him as my lover.” Nico told him, his voice apparently loud enough so he could be heard from where Jason and Piper were lagging behind them.
“You’re gay?” Will asked in surprise, his voice going up at the end.
Jason, already too-deep in Nico’s business, stepped forward, a thunderous look on his face. “Why? You gotta problem with that?”
Will immediately began shaking his head in defense, his hands coming up in surrender. “No! Of course not, I just uh, I didn’t know and -”
Nico shook his head, “Go away.” He instructed Jason, turning back to Will. “I know you’re okay with it.” He told Will, and he turned his voice softer, a bit quieter. “Lou Ellen, she’s gay right?”
Will’s eyes fluttered in surprise, “I mean, it’s not my business -”
Nico nodded, pulling back. “See? I knew you’d be fine.”
Will coughed, clearing his throat, and he suddenly seemed a bit uncomfortable. “So, uh, do you take a lot of lovers? Or was Jason just the first and only reject?”
Nico shot him a look, eyeing him with something like amusement. There was a confidence in him that hadn’t been there in…years probably. “Why? You interested in applying?”
Will gave him a surprised bark of laughter, eyeing Nico with more interest that had probably ever been directed at Nico, ever.
Nico turned back to staring at the dirt trail, his cheeks holding a surprisingly amount of color.
That…wasn’t good.