Hey guys!

So, this is a oneshot I've had in mind for a while. Because I stan Nico and Reyna and I love this friendship, I thought this is a conversation they'd have had.

This is set after Tyrant's Tomb. If you are not caught up, please stop reading.

These Days.

Camp Jupiter's letter had arrived first. Piper's had followed hours later.

Camp Half-Blood was inmersed in a mixture of grief and victory. Jason Grace had saved their camp and touched uncountable lives so losing him had been a tremendous blow. However, his death hadn't been in vain. He had lived and died as a hero. He had saved them all yet again and he would be remembered that way for the rest of their days.

Nico Di Angelo had become even more prone to brooding since the news had reached them. He could feel death and that's why he knew Jason's was different than Leo's a few months ago.

The Son of Jupiter was in Elysium now.

The rest of The Seven and the Huntress Of Artemis had arrived just in time for Jason's funeral. Nico had officiated. Thalia had placed the shroud on the pire. Leo and Piper had burned it.

Now, he was trying everything in his power to avoid his friends until they left camp. Even those he was most comfortable with, Hazel and Reyna, he didn't want to speak to. Hazel because he didn't want to worry her. Reyna because of what she had become.

He had even talked to Will about it. Will told him he was being an idiot. Nico had told him to shut up.

So that's what'd led him to his current location, the beach. Normally it wouldn't have been his go-to place (he was no Poseidon's child, after all) but his cabin - his usual safe haven - was being occupied by Hazel as well and also, he supposed he wouldn't be found by any daughters of Bellona at such unlikely spot.

And because he had the worst luck in the world, it was right then that Guido the Pegasus landed just a few feet before him, the huntress he had been trying to avoid riding him.

"I was thinking we could talk" Reyna said "Care to join me for a ride?"

Guido had taken them to the hill by Thalia's tree. The demigods had got down the pegasus and started walking down the borderline in silence.

"I've been trying really hard to talk to you these past few days" Reyna finally said, her eyes on the forest around them "You've done a good job avoiding me"

"I've become professional in shadow travel" Nico replied reluctantly "You shouldn't be surprised"

"I'm not but I was starting to run out of resources" Reyna admitted "I even talked to your boyfriend. He seemed quite smug that I did"

Despite himself, Nico rolled his eyes "He told me I was being an idiot. That I should talk to you"

"You weren't" Reyna said, a ghost of a smile on her lips "I remember what you told me about your sister Bianca so I understand why you avoided me. I also understand why you felt it wasn't worth hearing what I had to say about my decision of becoming a Huntress"

Nico remained silent but glanced at his friend, for the first time taking notice of how different she looked. Seeing her without the purple cloak was weird but it didn't feel as if something was missing, it rather felt as if his friend was finally completed. Gone was the weight that seemed to push down her shoulders, gone was the tired look, gone were her inner walls. Like the rest, she was stricken with grief but her smile was easier and her step was lighter.

As Nico took all of that in, the metaphorical cloud above his head grew darker. Lightining even began striking.

"Immortality suits you" Nico said begrudgingly "Reyna, you deserved to do what was best for yourself at least once in your life. What else is there to say?"

They had arrived to the Amphitheater. Reyna walked before him and sat on a random row. Nico sat two rows above her.

For a few moments, both demigods stared at the sunset in silence. Nico refused to speak, unwilling to make it easier for his friend to explain but also, open to hearing her out. She was his closest friend after all.

"My history with Jason is a long one" Reyna finally said. Nico directed his gaze at her but stayed put. He knew it would be easy for her to speak if he wasn't looking at her face "And what I regret the most about it is that I couldn't really understand how he found another home until Apollo came into camp carrying his coffin. Regardless of everything else, we had once upon a time been best friends so that day...that day was the worst day of my life"

"I wish I had been there with you" Nico said, voice devoid of bitterness for the first time "It couldn't have been easier dealing with that on your own"

"Thank you, but I wasn't on my own. Not precisely" Reyna directed a fleeting look towards her friend before leaning back on her elbows and looking ahead "But you know how it is. As pretor, you are the embodiment of your legion's strength. You shield, comfort, lead and protect your people, and never the other way around. That has always been easy for me but once I came back from our quest, with new friends and new losses, I began to struggle with concealing my heightened feelings. I'm sure you can understand that, given we were companions during said quest"

Nico nodded "I do, of course"

"So I began to understand how Jason could find a new home and even more, how he had the bravery to choose it over our camp. New Rome was the first real home I had and my time there is one I will cherish forever. When Jason chose to stay here, I was bitter because it made me feel fixed at Camp Jupiter, as if everyone could move on and I would always stay put. Always a pretor, always a leader, never anything other than that for those who had been closest for me"

"You know that isn't true" Nico was angry now. He raised from his seat and plopped down on the one beside his friend's "You are one of the only people I trust entirely. I wouldn't be angry with you if I didn't care about you. Bite your tongue before speaking that way about yourself"

"Shut up" Reyna replied pleasantly, an amused glint on her eyes "My point is that for better or for worse, Jason was brave enough to pursue what made him happy. He left everything he knew ever since he was four years old and came here. He had plans, hopes and expectations, and he inspired me to do the same for myself."

"Meaning, what I said before" Nico was exasperated "You did something for yourself, for once"

"Yes" Reyna agreed. She turned to regard Nico and extended her hand towards him"But I will do right where Jason did wrong. You, Nico Di Angelo, dark, broody son of Hades, are my best friend. You are as complex, hurt and complicated as I am so it makes no surprise that you are one of the few I trust unconditionally. So, no matter where I am, I'm your best friend and I'm not leaving. I'm not Bianca and you're not losing me. Not now, not ever. Do you trust me?"

Nico regarded her with wide eyes, knowing that everything she'd said was true and right then, he knew that she understood him even better than Will or Hazel because she had also chosen to shield herself as a coping mechanism. She meant everything and now, all she asked of him was that he trusted her.

And for the first time, trusting didn't seem so hard.

Nico smiled openly for the first time in a long time and held Reyna's hand in his own "I trust you"

Hours later, Will Solace was finishing up at the infirmary when the son of Hades entered it.

Nico looked around, noticing how those who would regard him carefully now nodded at him as the regular he had become in that place. He smiled inwardly. Reyna was right. Some changes were nice.

"Hey, I was wondering where you were. Have you been hiding from Reyna all day?" Will asked as he straightened the blankets of the last bed left unmade. He straightened with a groan and raised his eyebrows as he took notice of his happier than usual boyfriend "You have a weird look on your face. What happened?"

"Shut up" Nico couldn't help but snap but because he was talking to Will, he followed the remark with a smile "I talked to Reyna"

"Oh" Will approached him, studying him as he did so "Everything alright?"

"Yeah" Nico breathed "Everything's fine"

"Hope you liked it! Please feel free to review or fav this story! Cheers for reading!