PART ONE: DINNER WITH THE JACKSONS
Summary: Nico di Angelo and Will Solace are living an idyllic suburban life in the town of Westview, New Jersey. As their surroundings begin to move through different decades and they encounter various television tropes, the couple suspects that things are not as they seem.
The sun cast a golden glow over the flawless suburban neighborhood, where white picket fences framed rows of cheerful homes.
Will Solace whistled a bright, off-key tune as he flipped pancakes on the stove. He wore a checkered apron over his crisp white shirt. The smell of warm batter and syrup filled the air.
Behind him, Nico di Angelo sat at the kitchen table, his dark eyes glued to the calendar on the wall. A red circle marked today’s date, bold and insistent. His brows knit together in thought, and his pale fingers absently drummed against the polished wood of the table.
“Darling, if you keep staring at that calendar any harder, you might just set it on fire,” Will teased, his sunny tone filled with exaggerated warmth. He flipped a pancake into the air with unnecessary flair, catching it perfectly in the pan. “Breakfast won’t set itself, you know.”
Nico barely looked up. “I’m thinking,” he muttered, his voice low and distant.
“About how lucky you are to have a husband who can cook like this?” Will quipped, sliding a stack of golden pancakes onto a plate. He placed it in front of Nico with a flourish, as though presenting a gourmet masterpiece.
Nico huffed a quiet laugh but didn’t take his eyes off the calendar. “What’s so special?”
“Special?” Will echoed, raising an eyebrow. He grabbed a cup of coffee and sat across from Nico, his smile tinged with mischief.
Nico’s his expression remained cool. “Nothing,” he said, forcing a casual tone.
Will leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Hmm, why the brooding darling? You look like you’re plotting a murder.”
“Maybe I am,” Nico said flatly, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Will laughed, the sound bright and infectious. “Well, I hope it’s not me you’re plotting against. Percy’s called another big meeting, and you know how he gets when someone doesn't show up.” He stood, adjusting his tie with exaggerated precision. “Percy Jackson and deadlines are a match made in chaos.”
“Work,” Nico repeated, watching Will grab his briefcase. “Sure. Have fun.”
Will leaned down to plant a quick kiss on Nico’s temple. “Try not to miss me too much, love. See you tonight!”
And with that, he was gone, leaving Nico alone with his thoughts and the mocking red circle on the calendar.
As the hours dragged on, Nico’s unease grew. The date gnawed at him, refusing to let go. He paced the living room, his black shirt and slacks blending into the shadows. What was it? Had he truly forgotten something important? An anniversary? A birthday?
He stopped in front of the calendar, staring at the marked date as though it might whisper its secrets. “He’s going to kill me if I messed this up,” Nico muttered. His mind raced, and then, like a switch flipping, he understood. Their anniversary! If it wasn't either of their birthdays, it's got to be their anniversary. And he was going to make it unforgettable.
By the time Will returned home, the house was transformed. The curtains were drawn, and soft candlelight bathed the room in a golden glow. The record player spun a sultry jazz tune, and a bottle of wine sat open on the coffee table. Nico stood near the door, his dark eyes catching the flicker of the flames. His usual brooding demeanor was replaced by an air of deliberate mystery, his black shirt unbuttoned just enough to suggest he’d been waiting for this moment all day.
Will stepped inside, his hand on the doorknob as he surveyed the scene. “Well, this is... unexpected,” he said, his lips curling into a crooked smile.
Nico smirked, leaning casually against the wall. “Welcome home, sunshine,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I thought we could make tonight special.”
Before Will could respond, the sound of a car door slamming outside made them both turn. Nico’s eyes widened as two figures approached the house. Percy and Annabeth Jackson walked towards them, looking far less glamorous than the romantic evening Nico had planned.
“Oh,” Nico said flatly, his voice dripping with disappointment. “We’re... having company.”
Will’s screwed up in confusion. “Percy and Annabeth are joining us for dinner. Did you not remember, love?”
Nico blinked, his frustration barely contained. “Right. You invited them over for.... dinner.”
“Sure did,” Will said cheerfully.
Nico’s jaw tightened, but he forced a smile as the Jacksons approached. “Of course,” he said through gritted teeth. “Make yourselves at home.”
Dinner was an exercise in barely restrained chaos. Percy’s boisterous energy filled the room as he recounted office antics, while Annabeth corrected him with the precision of someone who had heard these stories too many times before.
“And then the copier started smoking,” Percy said, gesturing wildly with his fork. “Turns out someone jammed it with, get this, a peanut butter sandwich!”
“It was a granola bar,” Annabeth said, her voice calm but firm. “And it wasn’t smoking. It was overheating because someone ignored the error messages.”
Will laughed, his eyes crinkling with genuine delight. Nico, on the other hand, sipped his wine in silence, his mind spinning with annoyance and confusion.
Suddenly, the air grew heavy, and the room fell unnaturally silent. Percy and Annabeth froze mid-laugh, their expressions blank and unmoving. The candles flickered wildly, and the record player distorted into a haunting, warped melody.
Nico’s hand gripped the edge of the table. “Will,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Do you see that?”
Will frowned, looking around. “See what?”
Before Nico could respond, the strange distortion stopped. Percy and Annabeth resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened, their laughter and words picking up mid-sentence.
Nico’s heart pounded. His dark eyes darted between the guests, searching for any sign that they, too, had noticed something amiss. But the moment passed as quickly as it had come, leaving him alone with his unease.
After Percy and Annabeth left, the house was quiet once more. Nico stood in the kitchen, staring at the flickering candlelight. His mind replayed the strange events of the evening, each detail more unsettling than the last.
Will approached him from behind, wrapping his arms around Nico’s waist. “Hey,” he said softly. “You’ve been quiet tonight. What’s on your mind?”
Nico hesitated, his heart racing. “Nothing,” he lied. “Just tired.”
Will pressed a kiss to the back of his neck. “Well, whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
Nico closed his eyes, leaning into Will’s embrace. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “We'll figure it out.”
But deep down, he knew that something was very, very wrong.
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