Chapter Text
Dark blanketed Camp-Half-Blood, the whispers of crickets and wood nymphs set an almost spooky atmosphere. Nico Di Angelo didn't mind—this was normal for him. He was surrounded by ghosts, memories.
He sat on the porch of the Hades Cabin, ink black hair blowing in the wind. It was past midnight. He could almost taste how goth he probably looked. He gazed into the lake, watching the way the water moved. He was beginning to drift off when...
"THWACK"
An arrow whizzed past him, landing about a foot from his face. Who on Olympus would be practicing archery in the dead of night?
Will Solace, of course.
"Hey—Dead Boy." Will strode over, blonde hair glistening in the moonlight. Nico tried to hide his smile under a scowl. Nico took a good look at Will. Blue eyes, shaggy mess of blonde hair, tall frame, that dorky smile that always made Nico follow it.
"Can't hit me nor your target—Solace." Nico shot back, relaxing slightly.
Will turned back, sending a shiver up Nico's spine. "Who said my target wasn't you." He said with a sly grin, his face suddenly fell like he'd confessed his love for him. Which, to be fair, he basically had.
Nico's heart skipped a beat. Even if Will didn't mean it in that way.
"What in Hades—are you hitting on me?" Nico pulled up his hood, and Will caught a glimpse of red cheeks.
Will laughed. A genuine, clear sound that made Nico's throat close up. "I don't—gods—I could've worded that better. I seriously need some sleep."
Nico scoffed. "You really do, doofus." He pulled down his hood, glaring at Will, a smile twitched in the corner of his mouth, he didn't stop it.
"See ya later, dead boy." Will finally plucked his arrow off the cabin. Nico shook his head solemnly. That grin was infectious beyond anything he'd seen.
"Alright then—see you tomorrow." Will smirked one last time before he walked off, bow in hand. Nico had no chance. All he knew he had Will in his sights, whether he liked it or not.
And before he could stop it, his heart fluttered slightly at the thought. He trudged in, bursting into laughter at his hope as soon as he lay down.
(Will Pov)
"Gods—Will. Keep your feelings to yourself." Will was walking to his cabin now, feeling like a hopeless romantic. It was past midnight. He bet Nico was laughing his ass off right now.
Will could not shoot an arrow to save his life. He felt like a fool, dragging a perfectly innocent (and cute) boy into his love life. Gods—Nico was almost completely straight, he knew it. But still, Will's hope was riding on one moment.
He swore on the Styx he saw Nico blush—right before he pulled up his hoodie. But he knew not to get his hopes up. Especially after what happened with Randall…
Randall was Will's best friend in 7th grade, and Will was of course, fumbling it with blushing and wild dreams. Randall called Will words that haunt him to this day, and Will remembered not to trust another boy with his heart.
But still—was Nico... Opening up?
"Dammit. Why am I so optimistic?" Will stumbled into his bed, his heart doing all the dreaming for him.
Darkness blanketed Camp-Half-Blood. But something was budding in the almost silent night that would change lives.
~~~
The morning brought light and hope to Camp-Half-Blood. Birds chirped with a cool September breeze passing through. People walked across the fields and ate breakfast with small talk filling the grounds.
Nico slept in until 11:30, only waking up to grab some food. He choked down a bagel and cereal.
Suddenly, his throat closed up—allergies. He sniffed his cereal and found the culprit. Peaches. "Dei—non di nuovo." (Gods—not this again) Nico had experience with allergies, he once ate plums in his childhood and couldn't speak for almost 3 days.
He tried yelling for help while he still could, but all that came out was a whisper. He started sweating, he needed medical attention—fast.
He tore outside to the infirmary, legs aching with every step. He barely made it, almost collapsing at the door. He paused for a moment, almost scared to knock. Campers were beginning to stare now, pausing their conversations.
He rapped at the door, fast. Out of all the medics who could've answered, of course Will was there—Nico would probably get Will over anyone else about 50 times. "Hello, dead boy." The door swung open, and there stood Will, rocking those Medusa slippers that made Nico want to vomit.
"—a—a—lergees." Nico somehow choked out. Will's face went from relaxed to panic mode within seconds. He hoisted Nico’s frail form into a stretcher, despite his nonverbal protests.
Nico was barely conscious at this point, but his words still stopped Will dead in his tracks. “Your—arms—soft.” Nico barely whispered.
Will dropped his thermometer, feeling himself go red. He silently thanked the gods no one else saw until he heard the door creak behind him, and— of course—Percy Jackson was standing there. “Is that the groom?” The words hung in the air. Will froze.
He turned around to properly face Percy, now donning a cast on his left arm. Will almost cried out in fear as Percy used a syringe of nectar, now in limited supply, as a tossing toy.
“How’s life, Will?” Percy asked almost comically. He noticed Will’s dismay and reassured Will. “Don't worry, what I just saw stays here. I mean maybe Annabeth would like to—”
“Can you please leave?” Will asked firmly, honestly a little impressed that Percy could juggle with a broken arm, but he was more pissed than anything.
Percy placed down the syringe and raised his arms, smirking as he walked out. “My bad, I’ll leave you two alone.”
Percy finally shut the door, filling the room in silence for the first time.
Will started checking more vitals, he tried healing Nico using his powers, but on the way to Nico’s forehead he froze.
He brushed across Nico’s lips, like the ghost of a touch—even though he tried not to show or say anything, his eyes likely said everything.
I want to but I shouldn’t.
Nico’s pulse raced, Will could sense it, being an Apollo kid. His heart was almost aching as well. Nico opened his pale lips to form words but all that came out was a “I—I”.
Will hooked up a monitor machine, and stood up. “I—I’ll be back soon.” he promised, and he slowly walked out of the room—sitting up against the wall as soon as Nico couldn’t see.
His hands were shaking. He needed something ambrosia nor Nico could give, at least not right now. He settled for ambrosia to stop the shaking, but at this point he had no idea whether it was withdrawal or stress.
His voice trembled. “—Dumbass—”
Percy shook his head from the next room.