#nico threads.

“okay, but seriously….” nico’s voice drifted in and out as he reached for another boa, “should i get the pink boa or the blue with glitter on it? i think the blue feathers don’t look good on me, but…i don’t know. what do you think? you’re the feather expert, babes.”

nico was halfway through his drink when he spotted a familiar face across the crowd and immediately brightened with the kind of grin that usually meant he was about to become somebody else's problem. he had lost eddy somewhere on the beach and now all nico could do was just try entertain himself while he waited for them to reunite. so he makes his way through festivalgoers with far too much confidence, stopping beside christian and lifted his cup in greeting. “oh, hey,” he said easily, amusement already coloring his voice. “if it isn't the florida influencer. or movie star? you ever really said." there was absolutely no shame in the title, or admission of not really knowing, either. “tell me, are you actually enjoying yourself, or are you still one minor inconvenience away from declaring war on the nearest parking meter?” he tilted his head slightly, studying him for a moment before taking a sip of his drink. “seriously though, how's your day been, darling? hopefully less dreadful than the last time i saw you.”

NICO COLE at RIFT VALLEY KICKOFF

nico heard the front door open and the sound itself made him smile, because he knew it meant eddy was home. at the same time, part of him was also a little sad today to hear it. it had been two weeks, inching into three, since nico had begun to stay at eddy’s place to care for him. it had been strange at first, awkward in that way two people could be when neither of them really knew what they were doing with each other, but somewhere between pain meds, takeout containers, late night conversations, and falling asleep to whatever random movie they put on, it had become something dangerously comforting to nico. waking up beside eddy had quickly become nico’s favorite thing. right along with planning dinners, arguing over what to watch, and knowing no matter how awful his day had been, he’d come back and find eddy there. it was domestic in a way nico had never really allowed himself to imagine before, and maybe that was the problem.

because this had never been the plan. he was supposed to stay a few days. help eddy get back on his feet. then leave. eddy seemed to be doing just fine now, enough to be able to care for himself, nico knew it was time to head back home. maybe not tonight, tonight he'd at least mention it. when eddy finally appeared in the doorway, nico glanced up with a bright smile. “hey,” he said softly, pausing halfway through zipping the bag before letting his hand fall away from it entirely. “welcome home. you hungry? i'm not going to lie...i was a little distracted when i was making dinner today and i accidentally burnt it. so...we're going to have to order delivery... "

nico stood outside the door longer than he meant to, shifting his weight from one foot to the other like maybe that would shake the nerves out of him. it had taken him longer than it should’ve to even get here. too many thoughts, too many what-ifs, too much time spent wondering if eddy would even want to see him after everything. his hand hovered near the door once, dropped, then came back again, fingers curling slightly like he had to convince himself to follow through. of course nico had been worried about eddy, he was worried sick. there were so many times he had to stop himself from just visiting him at the hospital or calling him directly. he exhaled quietly, steadying himself, then finally knocked, the sound feeling louder than it should’ve in the stillness.

when the door opened, nico’s breath caught just slightly before a soft, relieved smile found its way onto his lips. “hi, fitzy,” he said gently, voice quieter than usual, like he didn’t want to push too hard, too fast. his eyes flicked over eddy quickly, taking him in, making just happy to see him alive more than anything right now. regardless, he didn’t move forward, though...just stayed where he was, hands tucked loosely into his hoodie pocket, uncertainty settling in. it was night so really chances of someone spotting them even if he stood out here all night were less likely than the middle of the day, which he had to stop himself from coming at. “it’s nice to see you,” he added after a beat, the honesty in it clear. a small pause followed before he spoke again, a little more tentative this time. “can i…come in?”

the v8 was filled with a hum from the hollow, fluorescent lights that illuminated within. nico leaned back behind the counter, one hand lazily flipping a pen between his fingers while the other rested near the register, his phone abandoned for once as his attention drifted between the security monitors and the empty aisles. well, this sucks. alone wasn’t new but tonight felt different, it stretched thin in a way he couldn’t quite place, like the air itself was waiting for something. he both hated and liked the feeling.

his coworker had called off last minute, leaving him to lock up solo, and while he didn’t mind the solitude, it made the small things stand out, like the flicker of a light near the coolers, the faint buzz of a car idling a little too long at pump three, the soft chime of the door as it opened. nico's gaze lifted instantly, welcoming the distraction, a faint, easy smile already settling into place as he straightened. until he realized who it was. "oh," he says, his smile faltering just a little, he hated that, regardless of how they left off, his pulse seemed to race at the sight of the other. “can i help you?”

“so,” nico starts, “i should’ve maybe asked before i spontaneously decided to plan this. look in hindsight, it sounded neat. exploring the ocean life safely inside? i mean..” he chuckled and looks at cassie. “you’re not deadly afraid of marine life, are you? if you are we can totally hit up another place.”

nico had claimed a quiet stretch of sand just far enough away from the crowd to hear the music without having to deal with the people. shirt discarded beside him, sunglasses shielding his eyes from the late afternoon sun, he was stretched out on his back like he intended to stay there for the next several hours. one arm was tucked behind his head while the other lazily held a joint between his fingers, smoke curling upward into the warm ocean air. for the first time in a while, he was perfectly content doing absolutely nothing. at least, until the sun disappeared. a shadow fell across his face and nico immediately lifted his sunglasses with a look of mild irritation already prepared to tell whoever it was to move before they ruined his tan. except the second he saw who was standing there, the annoyance vanished completely. “benny, baby!” he grinned, dropping the sunglasses down the bridge of his nose as he looked up at him. “what’s a pretty little thing like you doing over here all by yourself?” still sprawled out in the sand, he lifted the joint slightly in offering before patting the empty spot beside him. “have you come to keep me company, babes?”