Erza drove them to a factory in the outskirts of town. Nico was a bit anxious about going in once they parked the car and got out. He didn't know what he was supposed to expect. I mean, if their headquarters had changed, what else wasn't like he remembered it? Erza took him round to the back of the building.
"Come on," Erza told Nico while gesturing him to come over while at the door.
Just as he got in, a glass bottle flew right past his face and crashed at the closed door. There were barely any people inside. Just a few guys who were busy getting drunk at the counter and a man and woman who were arguing with each other.
The man was about as tall as Nico. He had long brown hair. Not long enough to go over his shoulder but just enough to cover the back of his neck. He had a mustache that looked like he combed it diligently. He'd worn dark blue jeans along with a plain white T-shirt.
The woman he was arguing with was surprisingly tall. Almost as tall as the man she was arguing with. She had held her brown hair to a pony tail. She had worn blue pants that complimented her body well. She had also worn a white shirt that showed just a bit of cleavage.
"Hey guys," Erza said trying to get their attention.
It didn't work though. The two were to busy getting at each other's throats to hear what she was saying or even notice her.
"I don't think they heard you," Nico said while trying to annoy Erza.
"Thank you Catherine Obvious," Erza replied sarcastically.
"Catherine?"
"You don't watch a lot of TV, do you? Never mind," she let out a small breath before deciding to talk to the two again.
"Hey GUYS!" she said while shouting that last part.
It worked this time. The guys at the counter were too drunk to get their heads up but the man and woman finally stopped arguing and noticed Nico and Erza.
"Erza," the man started in a happy tone," Back from school, huh?"
The woman smacked the back of his head before speaking.
"There's no school on Saturday you idiot. And who goes to school in a suit?"
"Come on guys don't start fighting again," Erza said trying to calm them down.
"No way she..." the man stopped once he noticed Nico standing beside Erza, "Who's the new kid? We told you not to bring your boyfriends here right?"
"Him?" Erza said that while acting like she wanted to puke, " No way."
"You're not exactly a bundle of sunshine either you know."
Erza was about to start arguing with Nico if it wasn't for the woman coughing loudly to get their attention.
"Oh sorry bout that. As I was saying standing before you right now is the one and only Mr. N!" Erza said while showing Nico as if he was a prize on display with jazz hands.
"That's him? That's the guy whose supposed to replace the big man? No offence but he looks like some high school pretty boy."
"Thanks," Nico said as he started smiling and looking at himself.
" Well this pretty boy used to be a part of this before he ditched so we'll just remind him anything his forgotten about the job. What do you think, Kira?" Erza said while looking at the woman who seemed to be staring at Nico.
"You look just like her," Kira said in low tone.
"Like who?" Nico asked confused.
"Sorry I was speaking to myself there. You'll fit in right here."
Nico looked at her confused but he didn't know what to ask. Instead he turned to the man next to her.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Pilgrim. Scott Pilgrim."
"Not Pilgrim. Just call him Scott," Erza said causing Scott to sulk.
"Just had to burst my bubble, didn't you?" Scott said.
Erza took Nico and said she would give him a tour of the place and left Scott and Kira there. She took him to the front where it looked like a factory. A sugar factory. There were a lot more people on this side. They all started greeting Erza the moment they noticed her and congratulated her for finishing her mission.
"So that's what the suit is for," Nico thought to himself.
After that she took him to a room and said it was his. She said that it used to be the Big Man's room. It was where he would call people for private meetings but since he was gone it was Nico's room now. Nico looked at the room quietly as he took every part of it in.
"Think that's enough for today," Erza said as she opened the door to leave, " We'll help you get back to pace slowly."
"Ok, " Nico said as he left. His mind was overflowing with thoughts and emotions at the moment that he didn't know how to deal with.
"You wanna get something to eat?" Erza asked as Nico was leaving to try to cheer him up.
"Can't. Got stuff to do. We'll talk later though."
Erza was about to speak again but was stopped by Kira.
"Let him be. It's been quite a day for him I'm sure. Give him space to breathe."
Nico got in his car and stayed there for a while thinking to himself. He let out a huge breathe before he started driving. Instead of going home immediately he decided to go for a few laps slowly around the neighbourhood.
When he got home he found his parents together on the couch watching TV. He went straight to his room. When his mom realized he was back she tried to talk to him but he wouldn't come out. He only came out during supper and even then he didn't speak much before heading back. He only said one sentence. 'How could you.'
"Do you think he knows?" Mrs. Xander asked after he went back to his room.
"Probably. He was bound to find out anyway," Mr. Xander responded.
"Let's just let him be for now. He's right to be mad with us."
When he was back at his room he got a call from Remi. She said she was bored and wanted to talk with him a bit. Remi and Nico spent the whole night talking. She helped Nico feel better if only slightly