Nicolas was a well cared for only child born to two adults who fell deeply in love and wanted to start a family. Some may argue he was just that last piece needed in the perfect marriage, a son to be their pride and joy, but he never felt like just that puzzle piece needed for a complete thing. His life was a easy one, something he was well aware of from a early age. He may have his own hardships like any growing boy, but with the support of his family and extended family it would never feel like it would for others who weren't as gifted with such a loving and close bloodline.
Memories of playing with his extended cousins, meeting great great great relatives and be accepted by everyone as long as he was a well behaved young one left a lasting impression on the male. It drove him to want to please these people who were just, amazing to him. Between his supportive family and his raising, it was all be needed to start his interest from a very early age: food. Everything would revolve around sitting and digging into morsels so delicious they'd get compliments, and he too wanted the high praise of the elders.
His own parents were fond lovers of delicious foods, they being the first two he picked up his cooking skills from and without a doubt a good drive for the young one. Meals were always home made from fresh food or well stored food so no subtle flavors were lost to age. Homegrown herbs and vegetables were at his fingertips, meats were things he recalled names to before they were brought into the circle of life, it was a heaven for any fine chef. Gifted with taste buds that could pick up even the most subtle of tastes only added to his drive to cook with and for his very social family. Praise, food, and bonding, what more could a growing boy ask for?
The years passed in a bliss he can vaguely recall, mishaps and learning, failures led to success, it was a growing process and he adored every moment of it. Not everything was meant to last though, leading Nico to his current life. As he grew older into his late teens and then his early 'adult' years, those silly brought up questions his grandmothers would coo at him and laugh as he stared at then cluelessly were now less jokes and more direct questions. 'When are you going to evolve?' 'Have you met anyone nice to settle with?' 'Do you plan to have children any time soon? It gets harder as you get older.' 'Have you found any nice places yet? It'll be better for you in the long run.' They were questions he still had no answers to, even if he was expecting them. He knew he hadn't found his 'soul mate' to even debate these questions, not even having a longer lasting relationship. Sure, he had those 6 months ones, but nothing ever got serious as one or both of them would break it off in fear of what was to come that they weren't ready for yet.
He adored his family, loved them to bits and back, but it wore on him and soon he was making time to be away over going to see those smiling faces that would get so excited when they heard it was Nico's time to cook up some snacks. They of course noticed the drifting male, but he didn't want to speak words and chalked it up to feeling unwell or needing the time away to keep a level head. Not lies, but not the truth they were expecting.
It was a chilly midday in August, a day that Nico thought was beautiful even as his family his away inside to avoid the winds and falling leaves. Fall here, in full swing even if just invited in, soon the ground would freeze and everything would be covered in the almost pure seeming white snow. Inside his father has his brothers and parents over, staying for the greetings Nico was out the door with his excuse of needing air. Sitting out by the the old oak tree, the one he recalled many memories of swinging on with his parents as he grew older and too big for such things, he could still hear them laughing. They were so happy, so... careless and joyful. Something he wished to be, but that was dashed when his uncles all make their separate 'jokes' about his adulthood approaching him fast.
Hearing the leaves crunch his grandmother had come to check on him, sitting down on the weather bench as the silence remained. He never really heard his grandmother speak much, being more of a woman of gestures. But he was attentive to her all the same. Part of him wondered did her children sick her on him now as they appeared to have no luck. They made small talk, not that it sounded like it at all but he was wise to his family's small talk. The topic of a area away from them all came up, a new and rising place bustling and full of people and chances to take. Places to see, people to meet, and they already had tossed one of their restaurants in the area. It was a clear hint, made only clearer as she hummed about how they were short handed there and any help could relieve so much stress.
A hint Nico didn't let pass, as he cupped her wrinkles hands and asked if she thought his help would make it any easier. That sly grin and 'of course' were all he needed, all he wanted, and to this day something he never could express how he appreciated. It wasn't abandoning his family but it let him be at ease, and maybe proved he too was growing even if not in the sense his family wanted.