the last time i was in the city grabbing some contraband, i heard screams and i chased a dracanae into the tunnels. i thought that was that.
( obviously, no such luck. nico doesn't bore stiles with all the details he's gleaned from spooked locals. suffice to say, he doesn't think it's the city drilling around down there causing sudden gas leaks and other such disturbances.
he survived tartarus, so weak isn't the word, yet nico gives without much argument. when he steps out of darkness into the clearing, he spots stiles pretty easily and holds his hand out. )
I'd ask if it has to be one or the other, but shadow traveling might make you hurl.
[If Nico thinks the dracanae are important enough to look into, then Stiles will go with that. It's not like he didn't spend most of his pre-Camp years doing similar stuff, just at Beacon Hills.
But that doesn't mean he can't take Nico's hand to pull himself up and then turn it into a kiss first. Gotta give Nico something to stay interested in, right?]
( for a split second, he goes stiff as a board. there's enough warning, sure, and nico had been the one to instigate. he's open to the contact, proven when he reaches for the side of stiles' face with his other hand and tips his face down to really lean into it. dracanae who? he's warm and solid under nico's palms, and thankfully, he's still holding stiles' hand so there's some semblance of control there.
there's a hunger humming under his skin that is by no means sated and if stiles pulls back first, nico will chase him, but stop himself with a tiny huff. )
[If Nico's hesitation had lasted for another few moments longer, Stiles would've backed off quickly. For all that they've been flirting, he'd have been disappointed but not totally unsurprised if this was moving too fast, or if Nico had backed off at the reality of kissing Stiles. A thrill hums in his chest when Nico really gets into it and he realizes that no, actually, Nico does want this. The hand that's not still squeezing Nico's lands lightly on the back of Nico's neck, and Stiles just lets himself sink into the kiss for a long few moments.
But. They have something to do, right? So he finds himself pulling back, even if he really doesn't want to.] We still shadow-traveling?
( the blatant kiss makes stiles' interest in him apparent. there's no misreading that. some teenagers might kiss anyone convenient in a pinch. nico doesn't think that's what this is, so he writes off his insecure notions for the time being and gives into a sensation that's all around pleasant because it's rare. he can feel stiles hand at the back of his neck, contrasting with the silver chain he wears; can feel the stubble on his cheek, smell him from this close, and he's greedy.
there's a brief-lived daze about him, clouding his reasoning skills. )
Mhm. ( he retracts his other hand but keeps the other firmly intertwined with stiles'. ) We're still doing that, for some reason. Don't let go. I'd .. recommend closing your eyes.
( because it's swirling darkness, twisting around them from then on, timeless but hyperspeed, and while he doesn't suffer it much, he knows it can be gut-wrenching for others. when they step out back onto his previously claimed fire escape, he's ready to either a) catch stiles with both hands and or b) to pat him on the back as he retches over the railing. )
[So, shadow-traveling. He’d be lying if he said he doesn’t think it’s cool as hell and hasn’t been wondering what it would be like ever since he found out it exists. But it’s… definitely not pleasant in action, and thank gods Nico is holding onto his hand because that’s about the only thing keeping him grounded.
He doesn’t throw up immediately on the other side, which is good cause that would probably actually ruin any sex appeal he has for Nico. But he comes out on the other side looking very pale and feeling way less steady on his feet than he was a moment ago.]
( forgive him if he takes advantage of stiles' vertigo to breathe a sigh of relief. they're in the right place, not hundreds of miles from where he meant to bring them. the wearying effects of using shadow-travel as a means for getting around conveniently is one risk. transporting other people? repeatedly? when nico's sure that stiles is okay as a person can be when their equilibrium is out of whack, he lets go, and tries to make plopping down to look less like a plummet and more like an intentioned sit. good thing they're doing a stake out and not a wild chase.
for however long this lasts.
( he's okay. he's always okay. just tired. )
he plays with the skull ring on his finger, twisting it idly, like he doesn't know what else to do or say. then, he casts his glance up at stiles. )
I'd say you get used to it, but...
( that's probably related to not ever having a full stomach and having one foot perpetually in the underworld. )
[Stiles ends up sitting down next to Nico, half for company and half because he’s still unsteady on his feet and might as well do something to prevent falling over. Once he’s seated, he gives Nico a companionable little nudge with his shoulder while they both recover from Nico’s unique version of teleportation.]
there's a gruesome little twist to his quiet smirk. he thinks stiles understands that dark humor is a part of the package, but he's okay with offending him. it's hard to breathe as a son of hades without irking someone. he nudges him back and lets his hand fall between them, not quite reaching for stiles but he doesn't mind if their hands brush. )
Depends on how I almost die. Sometimes it’s more like a panic attack.
[If Nico’s going to do the ‘almost hands touching’ thing, then Stiles will bridge the gap and move his hand the rest of the way so they’re comfortably pressed against each other.]
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( obviously, no such luck. nico doesn't bore stiles with all the details he's gleaned from spooked locals. suffice to say, he doesn't think it's the city drilling around down there causing sudden gas leaks and other such disturbances.
he survived tartarus, so weak isn't the word, yet nico gives without much argument. when he steps out of darkness into the clearing, he spots stiles pretty easily and holds his hand out. )
I'd ask if it has to be one or the other, but shadow traveling might make you hurl.
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[If Nico thinks the dracanae are important enough to look into, then Stiles will go with that. It's not like he didn't spend most of his pre-Camp years doing similar stuff, just at Beacon Hills.
But that doesn't mean he can't take Nico's hand to pull himself up and then turn it into a kiss first. Gotta give Nico something to stay interested in, right?]
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there's a hunger humming under his skin that is by no means sated and if stiles pulls back first, nico will chase him, but stop himself with a tiny huff. )
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But. They have something to do, right? So he finds himself pulling back, even if he really doesn't want to.] We still shadow-traveling?
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there's a brief-lived daze about him, clouding his reasoning skills. )
Mhm. ( he retracts his other hand but keeps the other firmly intertwined with stiles'. ) We're still doing that, for some reason. Don't let go. I'd .. recommend closing your eyes.
( because it's swirling darkness, twisting around them from then on, timeless but hyperspeed, and while he doesn't suffer it much, he knows it can be gut-wrenching for others. when they step out back onto his previously claimed fire escape, he's ready to either a) catch stiles with both hands and or b) to pat him on the back as he retches over the railing. )
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[So, shadow-traveling. He’d be lying if he said he doesn’t think it’s cool as hell and hasn’t been wondering what it would be like ever since he found out it exists. But it’s… definitely not pleasant in action, and thank gods Nico is holding onto his hand because that’s about the only thing keeping him grounded.
He doesn’t throw up immediately on the other side, which is good cause that would probably actually ruin any sex appeal he has for Nico. But he comes out on the other side looking very pale and feeling way less steady on his feet than he was a moment ago.]
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for however long this lasts.
( he's okay. he's always okay. just tired. )
he plays with the skull ring on his finger, twisting it idly, like he doesn't know what else to do or say. then, he casts his glance up at stiles. )
I'd say you get used to it, but...
( that's probably related to not ever having a full stomach and having one foot perpetually in the underworld. )
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It’s still pretty cool.
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( a joke! he's joking. no real danger, probably.
there's a gruesome little twist to his quiet smirk. he thinks stiles understands that dark humor is a part of the package, but he's okay with offending him. it's hard to breathe as a son of hades without irking someone. he nudges him back and lets his hand fall between them, not quite reaching for stiles but he doesn't mind if their hands brush. )
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[If Nico’s going to do the ‘almost hands touching’ thing, then Stiles will bridge the gap and move his hand the rest of the way so they’re comfortably pressed against each other.]