Archive of Our Own

Nico di Angelo is a stubborn son of a bitch.

He refuses to spend even three days in the infirmary, and Will is getting awfully close to losing to his fucking mind. Every time he goes to check in on him, to make sure he’s not fucking dying, he’s either gone or in the process of leaving. And every time Will either fixes a firm look on him, staring him down until he huffs in that way he does (his brows furrowed, lips pursed, arms crossed; the whole show) and sits on the bed so Will can check his vitals, or Will stomps out of the infirmary to the Hades cabin. Everyone stays out of his way, seeing the determined anger in his eyes and the way he’s glowing like a raging fire instead of the warm sunlight.

When he gets the Hades cabin, he bangs on the door until Nico finally opens it, and he glares down at Nico even when he wants to just wrap his arms around him because he looks so tiny and weak and damaged, like he’s going to fall apart at any second.

And he marches Nico back to the infirmary, pretending he can’t hear him cursing and swearing and complaining in Italian.

“It’s three fucking days, Nico,” Will says, swinging the door shut behind himself as Nico sits heavily on the bed, pouting. “But if you don’t recover, or rest, you’ll have to stay longer.”

“I don’t need to recover,” Nico argues. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fucking fine,” Will says sharply, grabbing his stethoscope from his desk. “You’re practically vanishing.”

He checks his vitals, adamantly ignoring the butterflies in his stomach and instead noting the way Nico’s skin is almost blue. The circles under his eyes are purple and dark and his cheeks are hollowed, his lips chapped and covered in dry blood. His hair too long, tangled and nearly matted.

He looks like shit.

“I want you to drink all of this before dinner,” Will says, cracking open a water bottle and handing it to him.

“‘M not thirsty.”

“I don’t care, you need to drink water.” Nico takes the water begrudgingly, taking a sip to appease Will, who turns away. “Take a nap or something.”

He hears Nico mumble something about not being tired before the door shuts behind him, and he pushes down another bout of anger in his chest, pausing in the hallways and takes a slow, deep breath.

“He’ll be fine,” he assures himself, rubbing his face harshly before he starts down the hall. “He’ll be okay.”

When he goes back a few hours later to check on him, Nico is fast asleep, curled into a ball on his side, the bottle almost empty on the bedside table. Will sighs.

He sits at the edge of the bed, pushing some hair out of Nico’s face and looking at him. He doesn’t look angry when he’s sleeping.

Will gently pries his hand out from where it’s curled against his cheek, pressing his fingertips to his wrist. Nico stirs, his brows furrowing as he squints up at Will.

“‘M fine,” he grumbles, his head falling again.

“I know,” Will says. He adjusts his fingers to find Nico’s pulse, and Nico’s fingers curl around Will’s hand. Will blinks, looking at Nico’s face curiously, but he’s sleeping peacefully, breathing evenly.

He pauses, counting as Nico’s pulse beats against his fingertips, and Nico pulls his hand closer until it’s pressed between Nico’s hand and his cheek. Nico’s breath hits his hand, and despite how cold he always is (and how cold he is now, even in his heavy sweater), it’s warm against Will’s skin.

When Will finally tries to pull his hand back, Nico’s tightens, and he presses his face against it, furrowing his brows.

“Nico,” Will whispers, touching his shoulder with his other hand gently. “You gotta let me go, man.” Nico whines quietly, nuzzling against his hand. “Nico.”

Nico lets out a soft groan, squeezing his hand.

“Don’t go.”

Will gazes at him.

“Okay.”

Nico’s body relaxes when Will runs his hand through his hair, and he lets Nico clutch his hand as he detangles it, carefully, gently pulling through the knots until he can run through it smoothly.

He really is pretty, Will thinks to himself.

The next time he tries to pull his hand away, Nico lets it go, turning his face into the crisp white pillow as his legs pull up, his body tightening.

Will goes to stand with his face against a wall for a little while, and Kayla just pats his shoulder as she passes.

Nico is sitting up when Will goes back a while later, holding the bottle between his hands and looking at it like he has a grudge against it. His legs are drawn up in front of him, his back to the headboard of the bed. Will sets the tray of food down in front of him wordlessly.

“I’m not hungry,” Nico says, eyeing the food as Will goes to the supply closet and pulls out some nectar and ambrosia.

“You need to eat,” he says firmly. “You need nutrients and energy to recover.”

He turns and finds Nico staring at the food, his lips pursed. His brows are furrowed, his fingers tight around the bottle.

“Half,” Will cedes, setting the nectar and ambrosia down on the tray. “At least.”

Nico sighs, and Will takes it as a win before leaving.

He comes back to collect the tray, and Nico is asleep again, which makes Will feel better. He’s eaten most of what was on the tray, including the ambrosia and nectar, and Will smiles softly.

Will goes to check on him early the next morning, carrying a tray of breakfast in his hands, and enters to find Nico sitting on the bed, lacing his boots up.

“Nico,” Will says, looking at the ceiling, exasperated. “I swear to all the gods—“

“I can’t stay in here—“

“It’s three days!”

Nico stands.

“I feel like I’m losing my mind!” he says loudly.

“Oh my— Jesus fucking Christ.” Will shuts the door, ignoring the camper passing by outside, and sets the tray down next to the bed. “You’re really putting your health at risk before you’re fucking bored.”

“My health is fine,” Nico says angrily. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not,” Will says, laughing almost hysterically. “You’re not fine, Nico. Just—“ He points at the food. “Eat. And go back to sleep.”

“I’m not tired.”

“That’s what you said yesterday.” Will tilts his head at him, watching as Nico’s nostrils flare and his lips purse. “And then you slept for like ten fucking hours.” Nico huffs and reaches down to untie his boots. “Thank you.”

“I hate you,” Nico grumbles, his face hidden by his hair. Will’s chest aches.

“That’s fine.”

—

Nico manages to stay for three days, sleeping through most of it, eating most of what Will brings him, but he’s gone before the third day is done, before Will can discharge him or check on how he’s doing. He’s not nearly close enough to being recovered, and Will suppresses worry and anxiety as he finds the break room, walking past Kayla and Austin as the door shuts behind him to go to the coffee machine.

“How’s ghost boy?” Kayla asks from the table, reading the expression on his face.

“Who fucking knows,” he says, setting his mug down a little too hard. “He dismissed himself before I could check on him.”

“He’s gonna be fine, Will,” Austin says gently. “He’s stronger than you think.”

“No, he isn’t,” Will says sharply. “He thinks he is. But he’s not.” He pours coffee into his mug, swallowing and ignoring his burning eyes. “I’ve seen him,” he continues, stirring the sugar in aggressively. “He won’t fucking listen to me, and he won’t fucking rest. That’s all he needs to do,” he rambles, turning around and leaning his back to the counter. They’re both staring at him wide-eyed. “All he needs to do is fucking sleep, and rest, and he fucking refuses to. He’s going to work himself into an early grave.”

He takes a shaking breath, looking into the coffee. There are ripples in it. His hand is shaking.

“Do you want my opinion?” Kayla asks slowly after a few seconds of silence. He sighs.

“Sure.”

“I think… he doesn’t think he deserves treatment.”

He looks at the ceiling, blinking back tears.

“I mean, he’s been through so much shit, I feel all of it probably comes with some… I don’t know, guilt?” Kayla continues, turning her mug on the table. “Shame? I think you just… You probably just need to be patient with him.”

“Hard to patient when he just argues with every single thing I say.”

“I know.”

“Maybe go to his cabin to check on him later,” Austin says calmly. “He might feel more comfortable in his own space instead of the infirmary. Plus you’ll have more privacy.” The last word comes with a quirk of his eyebrows, and Will rolls his eyes so hard it hurt.

“Shut up.”

“Come on, Will,” Austin says. “You know you like him. You’ve liked him for ages.”

“Yeah,” Will says, watching the ripples in his coffee. “But it doesn’t matter, he hates me.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Kayla says, sounding exasperated.

“Yes, he does,” Will grumbles. “He told me.”

They’re not quiet, before—

“That’s bullshit,” Austin says firmly. Will fixes a look on him. “I’m not saying you’re lying, I just… there’s no way he hates you.”

“I forced him to stay in a room for three days with nothing to do but eat and sleep—“

“Which you should not feel guilty about,” Kayla interrupts. “You’re doing your job.”

“Yeah,” Austin agrees. “And there’s no way he hates you.”

“How would you know?” Will says, frustrated.

“Because I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Austin snaps, tossing his hand. “Jesus, Will, when you’re not looking at him, he looks at you like you hung the fucking moon.”

Will stares at him.

“It’s true,” Kayla agrees as she finishes her coffee, her voice echoing into her almost empty mug. She sets it down, wiping her mouth. “He looks at the world like it did him wrong, which it did,” she adds, shrugging. “But when he looks at you, he just…” She shakes her head.

“He just what?” Will says, furrowing his brows. “He can’t stand me.”

“I’ve only see Nico di Angelo smile one time,” Austin says. “And it was at you when you had your back turned.”

“What…”

“You were talking to yourself,” Austin explains, leaning back in his seat. “About some patient or something you had to do or something, and he just started smiling. Looking at you.”

Will shakes his head.

“Nah.”

“You don’t have to believe me,” Austin says, shrugging as he stands from the table. “It happened. And he doesn’t hate you.” He taps Will’s side to move him out of the way and puts his mug in the sink.

When he leaves, Will sits at the table, dropping his head and ignoring Kayla as she pats the top of his head.

“Is he in imminent danger?” she asks after a second.

“No,” Will says to the table. “He’s probably okay for a while, unless he shadow travels.”

“Nico’s not a dummy,” she says. “He knows his limits.”

“Yes, he is. And no, he doesn’t.”

“Okay, Will. I’m leave you here to sulk, unless you wanna be productive.”

He groans against the table.

She pats his head again.

When she’s gone, Will sits up and wraps his arms around himself, closing his eyes, sighing, wondering where Nico is.

If he’s okay.

—

Two days later, he goes to the Hades cabin, his hands shoved in the pockets of his shorts, taking even breaths and doing his best to be patient, pressing his lips together as he knocks.

The door cracks open, and he can just see Nico’s shoulder in the dark, even though it’s bright and sunny outside.

“Nico?”

“What.”

“…I just…” Will rocks on his feet. “I just came by to check on you.”

“I’m fine,” Nico says, going to shut the door, but Will catches it.

“Nico.” He hears him sigh. “Can you just let me make sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“You won’t even let me look at you,” Will says. “How am I supposed to believe you?” He’s silent, until he puts his head on the door, and Will tilts his head, hearing the thud. “Come on, Nico.”

The door opens and Will steps in.

Nico’s hair is covering his face as he shuts the door behind Will, and Will reaches to flick the light on.

“Look at me, please,” Will says when Nico keeps his face averted to the ground, covered head to toe in black joggers and a hoodie. He tries to keep his voice gentle, in spite of his frustration.

Nico sighs and looks up, pushing his hair back, and Will’s heart falls.

He looks almost gaunt, hollowed and tired, and his cheekbone is bruised red and purple. His lip is split and caked with dry blood, and the bridge of his nose is scraped.

“Jesus…” Will exhales, looking at him intently. Nico is avoiding his gaze, looking at the ground, his jaw twitching. “What the fuck, Nico.” He reaches out, pushing fallen hair out of Nico’s face and carefully taking his jaw in his hand, turning his face to analyse him. He’s so weak, Will notices, almost surprised that he’s even standing. Nico lets him, sighing and looking at the ceiling. The cut of his jaw is bruised too, the same fresh red and purple that must ache. Will avoids it.

“I’m fine,” Nico says quietly.

“Stop fucking saying that,” Will snaps. Nico’s skin is almost grey, and he’s so cold he feels like ice against Will’s fingertips. His pulse is too fast. “Nico…”

Nico’s eyes are shining, and he blinks tears back, swallowing.

“What happened?” Will asks, but his voice isn’t as soft as he wanted it to be.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Will looks into his eyes, still holding his face carefully.

“Okay.” He lets go and steps back. “Go to the infirmary.”

“What?”

“The infirmary,” Will repeats, firmer. “Go. I have everything I need there.”

“I don’t wanna go to the infirmary.”

“Nico—“ Will covers his face, taking a breath. “I don’t have the patience for this. You need medical attention, you need to go to the infirmary.”

“I’ll be fine—“

“Fucking stop.” Will’s voice is too loud, but he doesn’t care. “Stop fucking saying that, Nico, you’re practically dying, and I don’t care if that’s what you want. I took an oath to take care of my patients, and I love you, and I want you to be well, Nico, go to the goddamn infirmary.”

His voice breaks, and his eyes burn, and Nico is glaring at him, his dark eyes locked with Will’s.

It’s silent except for the chirping of birds and chatter of kids outside, before Nico exhales roughly and storms out, slamming the door shut behind himself.

Will presses his hands to his face, rubbing his skin harshly as he swears under his breath. He falls to the floor, crouching over and squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to take a deep breath.

When his breathing is even, he lowers his hands and looks blearily across the dim cabin. (The overhead lights are on, but even with them it’s still dark, and it seems awfully on-brand for Nico.) The blankets on Nico’s bed are messy, tossed aside, and Will wonders if he was asleep when he knocked on the door.

Kayla catches his eye when he gets to the infirmary, and she has an expression that he can’t quite read.

“I saw Nico. What the hell happened?” she asks quietly when he gets close enough, and he shrugs.

“I’ll try to find out,” he says, passing her.

Nico is sitting cross-legged on the bed, his boots set to the side, his hands in his lap. Will shuts the door and glances at him, catching a glimpse of his reddened knuckles.

Will goes to his desk, quietly getting his stethoscope and some ambrosia.

“…I’m sorry,” he says quietly, without turning toward him. “I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you.”

“It’s okay,” Nico says.

“No, it’s not,” Will says, turning to look at him. He looks so small, sitting like that. “I’ve been stressed and frustrated, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, and I’m sorry.”

“…Okay.”

Will looks at him, at the dry blood on his lips and nose, the dirt on his cheek.

“Can I clean your face?” he asks gently. Nico nods. “Drink some water first,” he says, nodding to the pitcher and cups next to the bed before he turns to get the first aid kit, rummaging around in it for the cleansing wipes. When he turns around, Nico is holding the handle of the pitcher, staring at it like he’s trying to use telekinesis.

“Nico?”

Nico looks at him, retracting his hand.

“What wrong?” Will asks.

“I can’t…” He tucks his hands back in his lap, looking at Will. He looks scared. “It’s too heavy.”

Will exhales, looking at him, ignoring the way his eyes burn. He drops the wipes on the bed and pours a cup of water for him, holding it out and making sure Nico has a good grip on it before slowly letting go, their fingers brushing together. Nico sips from it, holding it with both hands.

He waits, sitting and watching Nico drink the water until he sets the cup aside, pulling his hands back slowly. They’re shaking.

“Is it okay if I touch you?” Will asks quietly, and Nico answers, “Yes,” quickly, nodding and moving forward slightly. Will kicks his shoes off and crosses his legs, mirroring Nico. Their knees press together, Will’s warm skin against the fabric of Nico’s black sweatpants.

Will opens one of the wipes and reaches out, pushing Nico’s hair back and holding it in place as he carefully cleans the dirt off his face. Nico’s eyes fall, and one of his hands brushes against Will’s knee. His lip trembles.

“Can I— Can I touch you?” he whispers.

“Yeah,” Will whispers back, his cheeks burning. “That’s okay.”

Nico’s hand presses to his knee, and he’s freezing, and Will presses his lips together, his heart hurting.

“Will you tell me what happened?” he asks quietly. Nico’s eyes close. “You don’t have to.”

“I…” His other hand touches Will’s other knee, his thin fingers pressing into his skin like he’s trying to absorb his heat. Will would give it to him. “I got jumped.”

Will freezes, looking at him, but his eyes are shut like he’s scared.

“Where?” Will breathes.

“Manhattan.” Nico swallows, and Will watches his throat move. “I— I shadow travelled, and I was resting, and they just…”

“Why?”

Nico shrugs weakly.

“I’m an easy target,” he says quietly. “I’m not very good at… self preservation. I kind of provoked them.”

Will doesn’t say anything, turning away and getting a fresh wipe before he starts cleaning Nico’s cheek and lips.

“I know I shouldn’t have been shadow travelling,” Nico says when Will is adjusting the wipe on his finger, and Will’s eyes cut up to him. He looks so vulnerable. Will wants to cry.

“Why were you?” he asks quietly, holding Nico in place as he cleans dry blood off his chin. Nico swallows, his lip trembling.

“I just—“ He chokes, furrowing his brows and closing his eyes again. His hands tighten on Will’s legs, sliding up to just under the hem of his shorts. “I just wanted some pasta.”

Will stops again, one of his hands falling so he’s just holding Nico gently.

“There— There’s a place in Manhattan that makes it the way I remember,” Nico elaborates, every word sending another crack through Will’s heart. “And I was just feeling shitty, and I thought— I thought maybe it would make me feel better, but I…” He squeezes his eyes, and a tear falls down his cheek. Will wipes it carefully. “It’s stupid,” he says so quietly it’s almost like he’s saying it to himself, shaking his head.

“It’s not stupid, Nico.” Nico’s eyes open and lock with Will’s, who runs his thumb over his cheek, just over the bruise, lightly enough that he doesn’t hurt it. “It’s not.”

Nico’s eyes well up with tears, and Will nods, murmuring a gentle, “It’s okay.”

“I just wanted some pasta,” Nico says in a weak voice, laughing lightly even as tears fall from his eyes, and Will drops the wipe, pressing his other hand to his face and pulling him close, until their foreheads are touching. He closes his eyes, and he can feel Nico shaking as he cries.

“We’ll get you some pasta,” Will murmurs. “When you’re better. Okay?”

Nico nods and wipes his face with the sleeve of his hoodie.

“Okay.”

“Can I heal you?” Will asks.

Nico nods again.

“Yes, please.”

Will smiles and kisses his forehead without thinking before he gets up and gets some ambrosia before he pours some more water in Nico’s cup.

“Drink this,” he says, holding it out before he sits across from him again. When Nico finishes the water, he sets it on the table again before looking at Will, holding his hand out for the ambrosia. He eats it slowly, and Will watches as some
of the bruises on his face lighten. His chest hurts. Nico is too weak.

“Don’t you… need stuff?” Nico asks, wiping his face again when he’s finished.

“No, I can just…” Will blushes, tucking his hair back. “I can heal you just by touching you, it just… takes a lot of energy.”

“You don’t have to,” Nico says quickly. Will shakes his head.

“I’m off duty,” he says, shrugging. “I can rest later.”

Nico stares.

Until his eyes squeeze shut and his head drops, and his shoulders shake.

“Hey,” Will whispers, leaning close. Nico lifts his head, tears cascading down his cheeks again, and his lip has split again, dripping blood down his chin. Will shushes him, pressing his palm to his cheek as he reaches past him to snatch a tissue from the bedside table.

“Nico di Angelo,” he whispers, carefully wiping blood and pressing his finger against his lip. “You deserve to be cared for.”

Nico’s trembling hands find Will’s legs again, holding him tightly.

“Stay still for me,” Will murmurs when his crying slows, and Nico nods before Will covers the bruise on his face with his palm, his thumb over the bridge of his nose, his other hand against his jaw with his finger remaining on his lip. Will closes his eyes, furrowing his brows as he takes a deep breath. His hands heat up, and he knows they’re glowing even though he doesn’t look.

When he pulls his hands away and opens his eyes, the injuries are gone, except some faint remaining traces of blood, which Will carefully cleans with a wipe.

“Where else?”

Nico stares at him nervously, lifting a hand to anxiously scratch at his lip.

“They… My chest. And stomach.”

Will nods.

“Can you take your shirt off for me?”

Nico exhales, his eyes falling, and Will waits patiently until he realises how Nico is breathing, his chest rising and falling quickly.

“Nico,” he whispers, touching his hair, running overtop of it instead of pushing through it as he can see the tangles. “It’s okay.”

“I know.”

“Take a deep breath,” he says, and Nico inhales deeply. “Hold it… And out.” Nico exhales shakily. “One more time.”

When his breathing is normal again, Nico closes his eyes and wordlessly lets go of Will’s legs, reaching for the hem of his hoodie and pulling it over his head.

He’s too thin.

His skin is discoloured, even apart from the red and purple and blue bruises blooming across his chest and stomach, and Will can see the outline of his ribs. He swallows, his eyes catching on red, straight lines across Nico’s upper arms, almost-healed cuts across his biceps.

Nico hiccups, and Will looks up at him. His eyes are still shut, but tears are falling again. Will wipes them.

“Okay if I touch you?” he whispers, and Nico nods, gasping a quiet, “Please.”

Will presses a hand to his chest over a bruise, the other reaching to his waist, and he can feel him shaking as he heals him, moving his hands across his cold skin to every bruise until his skin is evenly coloured, pale and smooth.

“Do you want me to do your arms too?” Will asks softly. If he tries to speak more strongly, he’s scared his voice is break, and Nico will hear how much he’s hurting.

“Please,” Nico gasps again, nodding quickly, desperately.

“I’ve got you,” Will whispers, setting his hands over the cuts, his fingers wrapping around Nico’s arms. Nico’s hands find Will’s arms, clutching at him as he shakes, and Will heals him, pressing his forehead to Nico’s.

When he pulls his hands away, he uncovers the lines where he already had healed scars.

His hands slide down Nico’s arms, and Nico shifts until their hands are linked, their fingers curling around each other. Nico falls forward over their legs, his head resting on Will’s shoulder, and Will, drained, leans against him.

“Thank you,” Nico breathes.

“I wanna take care of you, Nico,” Will murmurs, brushing his thumbs over Nico’s knuckles. “If you let me.”

Nico presses his face into Will’s neck, and Will lets go of one of his hands, reaching up and cradling the back of his head.

“I know you think you don’t deserve it,” Will says quietly. “But you do, even if you don’t believe it.”

Nico sniffs, his free hand finding Will’s waist and gripping his shirt.

“What do you need right now?” Will asks, scratching his head lightly. “Do you wanna go to sleep, or eat something, or…”

Nico takes a breath, and Will feels it on his neck.

“I think I wanna take a shower,” he says. “Now that I can stand.”

“Okay.”

But Nico doesn’t move to get up, so Will stays for him, playing with his hair, pressing his hand to the nape of his neck.

“Do you wanna stay in your cabin when you’re done?” Will asks after considering, squeezing his hand. “To rest?”

“Who are you and what have you done with Will Solace?” Nico mumbles, and Will laughs lightly.

“I thought— I thought maybe you’d like to recover in your own space. Instead of… You know, a hospital room.”

Nico lifts his head and looks at him, his eyebrows drawn.

And he nods.

“I’ll bring you dinner tonight,” Will tells him softly as Nico shivers. Will lets go of his hand and reaches for his hoodie, finding the hem and opening it for him, wordlessly holding it up for Nico to slide his arms in.

“There we go,” he says when Nico’s head appears out of the hoodie, his hair messy and covering his face.

“Did you mean it?” Nico asks abruptly as Will is pushing his hair out of the way. “Or were you just angry?”

Will blinks, confused, until he realises, and his hand falls to Nico’s cheek.

“Both,” he says.

Nico closes his eyes, turning his face into Will’s hand.

Will goes to his cabin after dinner with a tray of food, and find Nico sitting on the floor with a book.

“Hey,” he says lightly. “I brought food.”

Nico sets his book aside, folding the corner of the page, and looks up at him.

His hair is dry and clean, fluffy and overgrown. The ends curl a little bit, and Will wants the curls to wrap around his fingers. He ignores the thought as he sits down in front of him, sliding the tray to him. Nico looks down at it, taking a deep breath.

“How do you feel?” Will asks.

“Better,” Nico says softly, using the fork to poke at his food.

“Not hungry?”

“I think I am,” Nico says, but he’s still just looking at the food, moving it around in the plate. “But I can’t tell.”

“That happens sometimes.” Will leans his back against the desk behind him. “You digestive system kinda shuts down if you’re anxious or it gets weird if you haven’t eaten in a while. Just eat what you can, okay?”

“Okay.”

They sit in silence while Nico eats, and Will wants to touch him to check on how he’s really doing, but he keeps his hands to himself. Nico doesn’t like being touched.

But he didn’t seem to mind in the infirmary, when he put his own hands on Will’s legs, when he held Will’s hand tightly and hid his face in Will’s neck.

“I do actually feel better,” Nico says when he’s done, setting the plate aside. Will glances at it, noting the remaining food. He’s appeased, satisfied with the amount he’s eaten, especially with how he’s been doing lately.

“Do you?”

Nico hums, nodding. There’s a pause before he scoots forward, sticking his hand out.

“Do your thing,” he says begrudgingly, and Will scoffs.

“Thank you, my lord,” Will says sarcastically, taking his hand gently.

“You’re annoying.”

“I know.”

He’s still freezing, his hand pale with reddened knuckles and blue and purple veins just showing under his skin. He does feel stronger, but tired. So tired.

Without noticing, Will brushes his thumb across the back of Nico’s hand as he focusses, feeling his pulse against his fingertips. Nico’s fingers curl around his.

“Okay,” Will says after a minute, letting go, and his hand falls as Nico releases it.

“And?”

“Better,” Will says lightly.

“Told you,” Nico says sassily, moving back against the bed. His back hits the side of it, and he inhales sharply, looking down as he winces.

“What’s wrong?” Will asks, leaning away from the desk to look at him, concerned. “Are you hurt?”

“I have…” Nico shifts, moving his back away from the bed, avoiding Will’s eyes. “I have bruises on my back. I forgot about them.”

“Let me take care of them.” Will moves closer.

“Not… You said it takes a lot of energy.”

“It’s fine.” Will waves a hand dismissively. “Give me your back.”

Nico scrunches his nose and his brows furrow for a second as he exhales sharply, and Will’s nerves light up. He supposes that’s the closest he’s going to get to Nico laughing for now.

Nico turns around so his back is to Will, crossing his legs, and Will sits behind him, watching as Nico pulls his sweater over his head.

There aren’t as many bruises as he was expecting, but they’re dark, and Will covers them with his hands as gently as he can, listening to Nico exhale when their skin touches.

“How did you forget about these?” Will asks quietly, and Nico’s frail shoulders lift in a shrug.

“I was distracted.”

Will laughs lightly, moving closer.

“Ready?” he asks, covering a bruise that’s nearly on his waist, and Nico breathes out a quiet, “Yeah,” dropping his head. His hair falls, exposing the back of his neck, and Will wants to kiss him. He closes his eyes, falling forward until his forehead presses to his spine, just under the nape of his neck, like ice against his skin. Nico sighs.

Will’s hands slide across his back, healing every bruise until his skin is all the same pale shade.

“There,” Will says, setting his hands on his waist, holding him lightly. He fits perfectly in his hands. “Alright?”

“Mmhmm,” Nico hums quietly. “…Feels good.”

“Healing?” Will asks, brushing his thumbs back and forth, his cheeks burning. Nico hums again.

“Your hands…” Nico pauses, leaning back slightly. “Your hands are warm.”

Will falls forward, his cheek pressing to Nico’s shoulder.

“You’re always so cold,” he murmurs, trailing a hand to in front of his face, watching his fingertips move over the bumps of Nico’s spine.

“‘Cause I’m so cool,” Nico says dryly, and Will laughs softly, squeezes his eyes shut, pressing against his shoulder harder.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks quietly.

Nico takes a breath like he knows what Will wants to ask.

“Go ahead.”

Will hesitates, tracing his spine with one hand and his ribs with the other.

“How… How often do you self-harm?”

Nico exhales, tilting his head back to look out the window. From this angle, they can see the sky above the treetops. It’s still bright outside.

“Not… as often as I used to.”

Will sets his hand in his back, over his shoulder blade, his thumb running back and forth over the bone.

“Okay.”

“I’m trying to stop,” Nico says. His voice is so soft. Almost just a breath. Will closes his eyes. “I just… Sometimes I just need…”

“It’s hard,” Will says softly before he kisses his back. “I know.”

Will leaves one last kiss on his shoulder before he helps Nico put his sweater back on. When it’s on, Nico adjusts it around his waist and leans back against Will, his back to Will’s chest. Will slowly, hesitantly slides his arms around Nico’s waist, and Nico holds his forearms, his thumbs digging into the soft flesh by his elbows, as his head tilts back to Will’s shoulder.

“Will you come to me?” Will asks after a moment of deliberation, his arms tightening. “Next time? If you— If you want me to heal it, or if you need a distraction or something?”

Nico exhales sharply, his hands tightening on Will, and he turns into him.

“Okay.”

—

There’s a gentle knock on Will’s door, and he looks up from the paperwork he’s filling out to find Nico standing in the doorway, his dark clothing contrasting the white, sterile walls of the infirmary.

“Hey, honey, what’re you doing here?“ Will asks, looking back down and signing the bottom of the page before flipping it to the side and skimming the next page. “Never took you as the type to visit the infirmary voluntarily.”

“I, uhm.” Nico closes the door behind himself. “I ran into Percy.”

“I heard he was visiting. Everything’s good?”

“Yeah, he…”

Will glances up to look at him. He’s looking at the floor, his hands hidden in the sleeves of his sweater. He looks better. It’s been a few weeks, and there’s a little more colour to his skin, and his hair has been properly fluffy and smooth instead of tangled and matted, and when Will brought him to dinner last night, he ate everything on his plate, and was even able to lift a pitcher by himself.

“He invited me to a movie night at his mom’s apartment,” Nico says. “Annabeth and Hazel and Jason and everyone are going.”

“If you’re looking for an all-clear, you’ve got it,” Will says, partially distracted with his paperwork. “Just no underworld-ly stuff.”

“I— Can you let me finish?”

A laugh bursts out of Will.

“Sorry.” He puts his pen down and looks up at him, giving him all his attention. “What’s up?”

“…Will you come?”

Will blinks.

“Will I come… to Percy’s movie night?”

Nico nods, his mouth twisting.

“I already asked,” he says quickly before Will can say anything else. “He said it’s cool if you come. ‘More the merrier.’”

Will smiles slowly.

“You… already asked if I could come?”

Nico nods again, twisting his sleeves in his hands.

“I want you to come,” he says finally, shyly.

Will might be on fire. He might have combusted and he’s going to burn to a wisp like those teabags people burn for science, at any given second. Because Nico di Angelo wants Will to go with him to a movie night. Oh no.

“Okay,” Will says softly when he doesn’t vanish into flames.

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

—

Nico knocks on the door and Will hangs back awkwardly, his hands tucked in his pockets. The door opens to reveal Frank, holding a frilly kitchen towel, and before any of them can say anything, a scream pierces the air, accompanied by a loud yell of “Frank!” and Frank’s eyes widen.

“Oh, dear,” Will says, before there’s a loud clammer and Hazel and Jason both appear from another room, pushing at each other and shouting Nico’s name.

Nico laughs, sending a jolt of electricity through Will, and braces himself as they both collide with him, hugging him tightly. Will watches fondly, grinning, as Nico’s arms appear and wrap around both of him as he giggles.

“Hi.”

“Oh my gods, get out of here,” Hazel says, pushing Jason away. “He’s my brother.”

“We’re besties, Hazel,” he says, hugging Nico again and ruffling his hair. Nico’s shoulder hunch and he giggles again. “Tell her, Nico.”

“…Hi, Frank.”

Frank laughs loudly, and Will’s heart swells with affection.

“Hi, Nico,” he says, holding the door open. “You wanna come in?”

“Yes, please,” Nico says, kissing Hazel’s forehead briefly. “We’re probably annoying the neighbors.”

Hazel greets Will with a bright smile and a hug, which he reciprocates.

“I’m gonna hug all of them,” Nico says determinedly, quietly, just to Will as they kick their shoes off. “I’m gonna do it.”

“You’re doing great, darling,” Will says, only half-sarcastic, and he’s going to have to call Nico darling more often if it gets Nico’s eyes to sparkle like that.

Nico goes ahead of him to the living room, poking his head in and waving as Will takes off his zip-up hoodie, draping it over a chair at the dining table, watching Nico smile that shy, bright smile again. Will sighs.

“So Nico was pretty adamant about you coming,” Jason says slyly, filling a glass with water at the sink and tossing a look at Will over his shoulder.

“…What’s that mean?”

Jason shrugs.

Frank snickers at the stove, shaking a pot of popcorn.

“What’s that mean?” Will asks again, turning to Frank, who gives the same shrug.

“You guys are pretty cute together,” he says lightly.

“We’re not…”

They both snort, and Jason lets out a sarcastic, “Okay,” as Frank laughs.

“Whatever,” Will says, rolling his eyes.

“How’s camp been?” Jason asks, leaning against the counter and sipping the water.

“Uh… Hectic. Chaotic.” Will pushes his hair back. “I stitched some kid’s leg up because he tripped in the armoury.”

“That seems pretty on-brand for Camp Half-Blood,” Frank says.

“Watch the slander, Frank,” Will says, holding a finger up, and Frank laughs.

“No slander here,” Frank says lightly as Piper’s voice calls, “William!” across the apartment.

Will pauses, frowning.

“‘S not my name,” he mutters before he shrugs and heads to the living room as Jason and Frank laugh. “Hey.”

She and Leo cheer when he walks in to find them lounged across the sofa with Percy and Annabeth, their legs entwined. He blushes against his will, furrowing his brows in confusion and looking at Nico, who’s standing with his arm around Hazel.

“What’s going on?”

“You need to take a vote,” Annabeth says calmly, her hand trailing up over Percy’s forearm mindlessly. “Finding Nemo or The Princess Bride?”

“…Princess Bride.”

“Fuck you!” Percy says loudly, and Will cackles even as Nico lets out an offended Ugh!

“Are you the only one that voted for Nemo?” Will asks, moving out of the way as Jason comes in with a few cans of soda. He hands one to Piper, and she smiles up at him.

“Yes,” Percy says sullenly.

“It’s okay, babe,” Annabeth comforts him, patting his arm. “We’ll watch it another time.”

“Where’s your mom?” Nico asks, watching Jason hand out drinks. Jason asks what he wants and Nico shrugs before Jason turns to Will.

“Anything.”

“Copy.”

“She and Paul took Estelle to see Paul’s parents,” Percy says when Jason leaves again. “The step-grands.”

“I wanted to say hi,” Nico says, frowning.

“She’ll be back later.” Percy smiles, and it makes Will’s heart ache. It’s such an authentic, genuine smile. His always are. “She’ll be glad to see you.”

“Oh, we have air mattresses and stuff if you guys want to spend the night,” Annabeth says, leaning into Percy as he drapes an arm over her shoulders, pulling her curls back behind her shoulder. Will glances at Nico. He wants to do that; wrap his arms around him so easily and make it so fucking clear, so abundantly obvious to anyone in the vicinity, that he loves him.

“I brought popcorn,” Frank interrupts, carrying two massive white bowls heaping with popcorn, staring at them intently like he’s using the force to make sure they don’t spill.

“Did you?” Leo asks, and Piper elbows him, reaching for a bowl, which Frank carefully hands her before passing the other to Annabeth.

“There’s more on the stove,” Frank says.

“There’s more?” Nico says, looking at him with wide eyes, and Hazel giggles into his side.

“Nico, I made so much popcorn,” Frank says breathlessly, shaking his head. “All I’m going to smell is popcorn for the rest of my life.”

He leaves wordlessly, and Nico looks down at Hazel, muttering something, and she squeezes her eyes shut as she laughs.

A second later, there’s a crash in the kitchen, immediately followed by Jason swearing loudly and Frank letting out a heartbroken, “No-o-o-o!”

The room falls silent. Nico and Hazel look at each other and wordlessly head to the kitchen together to help with whatever’s happened. (Nico looks at Will as he passes. He’s smiling.)

“William,” Piper says loudly, boldly, raising an arm from where she’s leaning against the armrest of the sofa. “C’mere.”

“You know ‘Will’ isn’t short for ‘William,’ right?” he asks as he joins her. She sits up, furrowing her brows.

“What’s it short for?”

“Nothing,” he says. “It’s just Will.”

She’s quiet, and Leo snorts.

“I don’t wanna insult you—“

Will interrupts her with a laugh.

“Okay, anyway,” she says loudly, looking at him. “Nico was pretty stoked for you to come,” she says, and Will hopes his cheeks aren’t red.

“Yeah, that’s what Jason said.”

She lets out a high-pitched, suggestive hum, raising her eyebrows, and Leo reaches across her to poke Will’s side.

“You guys realise we’re not dating, right?” Will says, his voice quieter, because the door to the kitchen is open.

“But you could be,” Annabeth says, and Leo nods in agreement.

“Have you seen the way he looks at you?” Percy asks, peering over Annabeth to give him a Look, and Will looks away, covering his face.

“No,” he mumbles into his hand.

Annabeth snickers, sharing a look with Percy, and Piper coos.

“Nico and Will, sitting in a tree—“ Leo starts, cut off by Will’s “Oh my— Jesus,” and Piper’s snickers.

“You are such a child,” Annabeth says, looking at Leo next to her, and he lays his head on her shoulder, looking up at her with what are likely supposed to be puppy dog eyes, batting his eyelashes.

“Come on, Annie, I thought you loved me.”

“You call me Annie one more time—“

“We’re down a pot of popcorn,” Hazel announces, entering with Nico behind her. Will’s face is still hot, and he blushes even more when Nico looks at him, smiling.

“When are Reyna and Thalia getting here?” Nico asks, apparently not noticing Will’s discomfort. “I thought they were coming.”

“They should be here soon,” Annabeth says lightly.

They arrive just as Frank is making the last of the popcorn, and Frank opens the door again before Nico and Hazel bolt to the front. Will almost needs to decompress, overwhelmed.

Nico is smiling so much.

At everyone.

And Will hears him laughing from the living room. (He thinks he might just be attuned to hearing Nico. He’d hear Nico across a house if he laughed. It might be Will’s favourite sound. His favourite song.)

Reyna and Thalia enter together, and greet everyone in turn; Reyna leans down to hug Percy and Annabeth at the same time, then receives a kiss on the cheek from Piper and a “What’s poppin’, esé?“ from Leo.

Thalia jumps on top of Annabeth and Percy as Reyna greets Will, and they both look to watch. Her arms are wrapped around them both, and she’s laughing as they both bury their faces in her neck. When Nico enters behind them, he’s grinning, watching everything unfold, and Will thinks he might die.

There’s another small sofa in the room that Frank and Hazel occupy, Frank leaning against the armrest and Hazel sitting between his legs, leaning back against his chest. Will watches as Frank carefully tucks her hair away, under his chin. Reyna joins them, leaning against Hazel’s legs, but Hazel lifts them out of the way and stretches them across her lap.

Percy gets up to set the movie up, grumbling about Nemo, and Thalia takes his place quickly, cuddling up next to Annabeth, who laughs when Percy turns around and his jaw drops.

He grumbles again, something about Thalia stealing his girlfriend, but he simply climbs on top of her, laying down across her and Annabeth’s laps. Leo hugs his ankles.

Jason passes bowls of popcorn and the remaining drinks out (Will gets a Coke) before he sits on the floor between Piper and Leo, who he looks up at lovingly, tilting his head back against the sofa. Piper reaches down and pushes his glasses up.

Nico comes in last, just as the movie is starting, wearing Will’s purple hoodie.

Will’s lips part in awe as he watches Nico cross the room and plop down in front of him, his back to the sofa next to Jason, and he doesn’t notice Piper covering her mouth with a hand, or Annabeth and Percy looking at each other with wide eyes, or Frank murmuring something to Hazel, who beams and squeezes his arm.

Nico shares popcorn with Jason, who leans against Leo’s leg easily. Will can barely focus on the movie, distracted every time Nico shifts or says something quietly to Jason or laughs at the film. After a while he’s distracted again when Nico leans against his leg.

His cheek is pressed against Will’s knee, and as Will looks down at him, he hears Nico sigh.

Slowly, Will reaches down and sets his hand on the crown of Nico’s head. Nico lifts his head, pressing into it, and Will pushes his fingers into his hair.

Nico sighs again, one of his hands lifting to Will’s leg, which he holds loosely as Will scratches at his scalp, tugging his hair lightly, combing through it until it’s silky smooth and Nico’s head falls back slightly. His face presses to Will’s thigh just above the bend of his knee.

When the movie is over, the room is quiet and dark, and Percy begrudgingly gets up to turn it off. Will moves his hand from Nico’s head. Jason shifts on the floor, stretching, and he looks at Nico.

“Nico’s asleep,” he says quietly, and Piper coos, elbowing Will. He ignores her.

“Hazel too,” Frank says, tilting his head to look at her.

“Babe, can you help me with the mattress?” Percy asks Annabeth, and she gets up wordlessly.

Will doesn’t move as they set it up, scared to wake Nico, and as everyone moves around, cleaning up, making room, taking dishes and cans to the kitchen, he and Frank sit completely still. Frank turns to look at him, smiling knowingly at Nico, and Will rolls his eyes and looks away, smiling softly as Nico nuzzles into his leg.

When the bed is set up, he leans down and touches his hair softly again.

“Nico,” he says quietly. “Bed time.”

Nico doesn’t move, but he exhales heavily.

“Nico,” Will murmurs, shifting his leg slightly. Nico moves his head, taking a deep breath. “Come on, sweetheart.”

Nico wakes up slowly, blinking blearily and taking his hand off Will’s leg to rub his face.

“I’ll help you,” Will says, running his hand down Nico’s arm. “Come on.”

Nico lets him lift him up, moving slowly, half-asleep, until Will gets him to the mattress where Frank and Hazel are laying down. Hazel is asleep, but when Nico lays down, her eyes flutter open and she reaches out, pulling his arm until he moves closer. Will watches as Nico curls into a ball next to her, pulling Will’s hoodie tighter around himself. Frank’s arm lays across Hazel’s waist.

When Will looks up, carefully moving off the mattress so he doesn’t jostle them, Thalia and Reyna are wrapped around each other on the smaller sofa, whispering and giggling, and Will smiles at them.

“Will,” Percy whispers, and Will looks at him. He’s holding out a blanket, and Will takes it, thanking him quietly. “Do you need anything?”

“No, I’m good,” Will whispers. “Thank you.”

“‘Night,” Percy says with a smile.

He and Annabeth disappear down the hall, and Will settles into the sofa, glancing at Piper, Leo, and Jason, who are all tangled together, a mess of limbs.

“They can’t sleep without each other,” Piper whispers when their eyes catch. “They’re not fucking. Probably.”

Will snorts.

“I wasn’t worried about that,” he says quietly. “But now I am.”

Leo snickers into Jason’s shoulder.

Will’s legs tangle with Piper’s as he drifts off, and he smiles into the back of the sofa.

—

He wakes up to the smell of pancakes and bacon, hearing them sizzling on the pan, and he carefully detaches himself from Piper, who somehow managed to get on top of him, her face pressed against his chest. She mumbles something, still asleep, and wraps her arms around Jason’s legs. Will rubs his face and yawns, stretching, looking around.

Hazel’s arms are wrapped around Nico’s arm, holding him tightly as Frank’s face presses against her back, his arm holding her waist. Their blankets are tossed down, twisted around their entwined legs.

Reyna has her arms around Thalia’s body, her face hidden in Thalia’s messy, tangled hair.

Will gets up, rubbing his face again, and he moves Jason’s glasses to the coffee table from where they’re sitting in the armrest of the sofa, uncomfortably close to where his head rests.

“You’re up early,“ a voice says, and he jumps, lowering his hand from his eyes to see a woman standing by the stove, smiling over at him. Her hair is tied in a bun, and she’s wearing an apron that reads #1 mom.

“I rise with the sun,” he says lightly.

“You must be Will,” she says, flipping a pancake, smiling at him. “Percy mentioned a son of Apollo coming around with Nico.”

“Uh, yeah, that’s me.”

“It’s nice to meet you, dear.” She sets the pancake aside, on top of a stack next to the stove.

“Can I help you with anything?”

“I think I’ve got it all under control—“ she starts, but she’s interrupted.

“Mami,” Percy says, entering the kitchen, holding a crying baby in his arms. “I think Estelle hates me. Oh, hey, Will.”

“Hey.”

“She doesn’t hate you, Percy, she’s just cranky.”

Percy sighs and sits at the table, holding Estelle and looking at her.

“I know how you feel,” he says quietly. “I get it. But I’m not allowed to cry like this.”

Ms Jackson scoffs and turns back to the stove, shaking her head as Percy continues talking to her softly.

Will sits across from him, pulling his legs up on the chair on front of himself, watching Estelle fuss and wriggle. Annabeth comes in a moment later, wearing an oversized hoodie that must be Percy’s, tying her curls up into a ponytail. She pauses to kiss Ms Jackson on the cheek, greeting her quietly before she sits next to Percy.

“Morning, Will.”

“Good morning,” he says, tilting his head at them. She looks at Percy, who’s still talking to Estelle as though she understands what he’s saying (“I mean, I totally understand, you have every right to be upset. Let it all out, girl.”), and her eyes soften so much Will wonders if she’s going to cry.

“Will, are you hungry?” Ms Jackson asks, turning to look at him.

“I could eat.”

“Do you eat bacon?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She serves him a plate and he looks up at her gratefully, thanking her. She gives a plate to Percy and Annabeth, which they share, Annabeth feeding Percy as he holds Estelle and talks to Will.

“Hi,” a voice says from the doorway, and Will turns in the middle of his sentence to find Nico standing in the doorway, rubbing his eye. He’s still wearing Will’s hoodie, and it’s hanging off of his body, much too big for him.

“Nico!” Ms Jackson exclaims from the stove, and Nico smiles, his eyes squeezing shut and his shoulder hunching before he goes over to her. She hugs him, swaying back and forth as his arms wrap around her, his hands hidden in the sleeves of the hoodie. “How are you?”

“I’m okay,” he says softly.

“Safe and healthy?”

“As much as I can be,” he says when she releases him, pushing his hair back and looking at his face like she’s studying him.

“Mmhmm,” Will hums sceptically, and Nico shoots him a look, scrunching his nose.

“Go on and sit,” Ms Jackson says, gesturing to the table. “I’ll serve you some food.”

“Thank you,” Nico says softly, but he stops to look at Percy holding Estelle instead of sitting. “What’s wrong with the baby?”

“She’s just fussy,” Percy says lightly, looking at her fondly, and Nico stares for a second longer before he holds his hands out, beckoning with his fingers when Percy looks.

“Oh, okay.” Percy shushes Estelle softly and passes her to Nico, who holds her gently and looks down at her, his eyes shining. She fusses as he adjusts his grip on her, setting her on his hip before he holds her so she’s almost laying down. He sways as everyone watches, looking down at her.

Estelle falls quiet after a second, and Will beams, looking at Nico’s face. He’s smiling.

“What…” Percy’s chin juts forward and his eyes widen as Annabeth’s jaw drops.

“How did you do that?” Ms Jackson asks, coming close and looking at Estelle, who’s looking up at Nico quietly. Nico shrugs.

He sits next to Will, setting his feet on Will’s chair, and Will turns to look at him. He’s gazing down at Estelle with a soft expression, his thumb brushing over her squishy cheek.

“Isn’t she perfect?” Nico murmurs quietly, just for Will to hear, and Will moves closer, looking at her. Her eyes are too big for her head, her hair and eyebrows and lashes all wispy like a cartoon.

“She is.” Will looks at him. There’s a tiny smile on his face. “You like babies?”

Nico nods. Will smiles. He supposes it’s not exactly unexpected, but it seems random for the ghost king, the son of Hades, the lord of darkness to look at a baby so fondly.

“I do,” Nico says softly. “They’re so pure.” He’s rocking slightly, swaying and and forth, and Will feels himself fall in love. “Look at her. There’s nothing in that little head.”

Will laughs lightly, laying his head on his arm on the table and looking up at him. Ms Jackson sets a plate in front of Nico with a fork, saying something about Nico being a magic man.

“Sorry I stole your hoodie,” Nico says after a minute, looking away from Estelle to Will.

“It’s okay,” Will says, smiling. “It looks good on you.”

Nico looks away, his cheeks flushing.

Will grins.

“So does a smile,” Will adds. “You smiled more last night than I’ve seen you smile, like, ever.”

This makes Nico smile, but he’s suppressing it, twisting his mouth. He looks up at Will, who raises his eyebrows, and Nico’s smile relaxes.

“Beautiful,” Will murmurs.

Nico’s cheeks flush red and he looks away, shaking his head.

When everyone’s woken up, they all sit in the living room with Ms Jackson (whom Piper calls “Mom” when she gets up), and it’s so awfully domestic that Will almost can’t stop smiling. Thalia tries to steal food off Jason’s plate and he tries to stab her hand with his fork. Reyna gives Thalia some food from her own plate, and Thalia looks at her with sparkling eyes. Leo tosses bits of his pancakes into Piper’s mouth, and Piper promises Ms Jackson that they’ll clean up before they leave. Annabeth chats with Ms Jackson and she and Percy help her clean the kitchen.

Estelle falls asleep in Nico’s arms and he cradles her as he sits on the sofa, his legs crossed. Will sits next to him, leaning back and looking at him fondly. Hazel sits next to Will, and Frank sits on the floor, where he occasionally pokes Will’s leg and gives him a pointed look, which Will promptly ignores, occasionally kicking him gently in response. (Frank and Hazel just giggle, but Nico doesn’t notice anything at all.)

“Are you hungry?” Will asks, and Nico looks up from where his eyes are trained on Estelle. He ate most of what Ms Jackson gave him, but Will still has some bacon on his plate.

“Mm.” Nico thinks, twisting his mouth. “A little bit.”

“Bacon?”

Nico looks at his plate before opening his mouth, leaning closer, and Will laughs, feeding him a small piece. He ignores Hazel elbowing him.

Nico looks around the room, chewing quietly.

“Alright?” Will asks quietly, and Nico looks at him.

“I’m happy.”

Will lays his head on his shoulder.

—

Will checks his watch one last time. His concept of time is awful, but he should have about an hour before he needs to clock in.

He greets another camper with a head nod before hopping up the steps to the Hades cabin. He knocks, tucking some hair behind his ear from where it’s fallen from his ponytail.

The door opens after a few seconds, and Nico looks up at him. It’s dark inside, as usual, but Nico’s eyes are almost closed as he squints up at him, his hair tousled and his sweater hanging over one shoulder, revealing the pale skin of his collarbones.

“Hey,” Will says, furrowing his brows.

“Hi,” Nico says, his voice rough.

“Uh, I have some time before my shift starts, I thought I’d come and… say hi.” Nico just blinks at him. “Are you okay?”

Nico swallows, looking away before he steps back and holds the door open.

Will goes inside, turning in the dim lighting to watch Nico shut the door and sit on the edge of his bed. Will’s purple hoodie is hanging by his desk.

Nico’s arms wrap around himself as he sits uncomfortably, looking up at Will, who sits next to him.

“What’s going on, honey?” Will asks, turning to face him, tilting his head to look at his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Nico exhales shakily, looking at the ground.

“Nightmare,” he says quietly, almost breathing it.

Will’s heart hurts, and he nods.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

Nico shakes his head, his arms tightening around himself before he drops them, holding the edge of the bed. His shoulders hunch.

“What can I do?” Will asks gently. “What do you need?”

Nico stares at the floor, and Will waits, listening to the tiny, sharp breaths Nico takes, until he swallows and lifts his chin, opening his mouth, stammering for a second before he whispers, “Hold me.”

Will moves forward immediately, wrapping his arms around him, and Nico falls against him.

“Tighter or looser?” Will whispers.

“Tighter,” Nico says with a gasp, and Will tightens his arm around him, murmuring, “I got you, it’s alright.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Nico says when his breathing returns to normal. “When I woke up, I just…”

“That’s okay,” Will tells him. “Do you think you can sleep now?”

Nico sighs, lifting his hands to hold Will’s forearm.

“Maybe.” He pauses, twisting his mouth, and Will waits while he thinks. “Can you…” His lip quivers as he stammers. “Can you stay? Until I fall asleep?”

“Yeah, of course,” Will whispers, tucking his hair back.

Nico moves back onto the bed, pushing the blankets aside, and Will follows, bending his arm under his head as Nico moves closer to him, pressing his cheek to his chest.

“You’re okay,” Will murmurs, running his hand down Nico’s arm to his waist. Nico exhales sharply, turning his face into Will’s chest. “Come here, darling, it’s alright.”

Nico presses closer, gripping Will’s shirt tightly. His leg wraps around Will’s hip, and Will presses his hand into the small of his back. His skin is cold through the thin fabric of his sweater.

Nico is hyperventilating. Will can feel his chest rising and falling, can hear his sharp breaths.

“Hey, Nico,” Will says gently, rubbing his waist. “Sweetheart.”

Nico whimpers, hiding his face.

“Can you take a deep breath for me?” Will asks, squeezing him gently as he tries. “All the way.” Nico takes a deep breath, gasping and hiccuping, and Will nods even though he can’t see him. “One more time.”

Nico tries again, clutching Will’s shirt. Will can feel his breath against him.

“There you go, good boy,” Will murmurs when Nico takes a clear breath, holding him tightly. “I got you.”

Nico sighs heavily, pressing his forehead against Will’s chest just under his throat. Will wonders if he can feel his heartbeat.

“Listen to me, baby,” Will whispers, bending down so his lips are next to Nico’s ear. Nico’s eyes are closed, and he furrows his brows as he listens. “You’re safe. Alright?”

Nico nods lightly.

“Can you say it for me?” Will asks, moving his hand to push Nico’s hair back, brushing his thumb across his cheekbone. “You’re safe.”

“‘M safe,” Nico mumbles.

Will presses his hand into his back, holding him close.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers. “I’ll take care of you.”

“Okay.”

Nico softens when he drifts off. His grip on Will’s shirt falls, and he relaxes into the bed. When Will looks down at him, his expression is light, and peaceful, and Will wants so desperately to kiss him that his whole body aches.

He presses his lips to his forehead, and Nico shifts in his sleep, moving closer until his body is pressed entirely to Will’s.

Will stays still, almost drifting off himself but checking his watch periodically until he sighs heavily, carefully moving away from Nico’s sleeping body. He covers him with a blanket, watching as Nico turns his face into his pillow, before he leaves quietly.

“What’s wrong?” Kayla asks, looking at Will over his patient, who looks up at her.

“What?”

“You look sad,” she says, ignoring the patient, who looks back and forth between her and Will. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing?” he says, irritated. “Can you ask me that when I’m not working on a patient?” He wraps a bandage around her arm, securing it as Kayla watches before she passes him a bandage clip.

“Thanks, Will,” the girl says and he gives her a tight smile as she gets up.

“So.”

“Kayla…”

“What’s going on?” she pesters him. “You look stressed. And sad. Talk to me.”

He huffs, looking away across the room before he cedes and sits down. She sits across from him.

“I went to check on Nico before I clocked in,” he says quietly. She sets her chin on her palm, listening intently. “He said he didn’t really sleep last night because he had a nightmare.”

“Oh.” She frowns, looking at the ground. “What did you say?”

“I just…” He shrugs, swallowing. “He wanted me to hold him, so I…” He takes a breath, blinking his burning eyes. “He started to have a panic attack, so I helped him breath, and told him he’s safe, and he fell asleep. But I—“ He takes a gasping breath. “What if he has another nightmare? And I’m not there? I just…”

“Will,” Kayla says firmly. “Don’t spiral.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t apologise,” she says lightly. “You can go see him after your shift, yeah? And see how he’s doing, if he wants you to stay.“

Will nods, sighing, covering his face.

“…You said he wanted you to hold him?” Kayla asks after a second, and he nods, looking at her. “He asked you to?”

“…Kind of.”

She raises her eyebrows, dropping her chin.

“Will.”

“What?” he asks, preparing for her to tease. His cheeks flush, and he looks around for a patient that needs help but there’s no one around that isn’t already being cared for.

“Oh my gods, he trusts you so much,” Kayla says, her voice light, as if in awe. She tilts her head. “He told you he had a nightmare and he fell asleep after you held him and told him he’s safe— Will, do you remember when you thought he hated you?”

Will sighs and rolls his eyes, looking away from her.

“You’re gonna go see him tonight, right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Have you kissed him yet?” she asks slyly.

“Jesus, Kayla.”

“It’s a valid question!”

“No, I haven’t kissed him.“

“You should kiss him.”

“You should mind your business.”

She makes a face at him.

Will bolts to Nico’s as soon as he clocks out, leaving Kayla at the infirmary and barely noticing as one of his siblings tries to greet him.

He knocks tentatively, waiting, wondering if he should knock again, if Nico is asleep. He doesn’t want to wake him up.

But the door opens after a moment, and Nico looks up at Will silently. He’s wearing the same grey sweater he was wearing earlier, but now he’s wearing Will’s purple hoodie over it. The hood is over his head, and his black, messy hair sticks out from under it, covering his face.

Nico reaches out and grabs Will’s shirt, tugging him into the cabin and shutting the door behind him before he raises to his tiptoes and wraps his arms around Will, burying his face in his neck. Will closes his eyes, leaning down slightly and hugging him back, wrapping his arms tightly around his waist.

Nico pulls him closer, tightening his arms around him until Will lifts him up and his legs wrap around his waist.

“Did you have another nightmare?” Will asks quietly, pressing a hand to his back and holding him tightly. Nico shakes his head. “Do you wanna lay down?”

“Yeah,” Nico says, his mouth just under Will’s ear, but it sounds like a weak whimper. Will carries him to his bed, setting him down, but Nico’s limbs remain tight around him, so Will relaxes on top of him, moving his arms so they’re not under Nico’s back. The hood falls from Nico’s head.

“Am I too heavy?” Will asks softly.

“No,” Nico whispers. “You’re perfect.”

“Did you sleep okay?” Will asks, ignoring the butterflies in his stomach.

“Yeah,” Nico says softly. “I woke up a little while after you left. I think I was cold.”

“So you put my hoodie on again?” Will teases, smiling even though Nico can’t see his face. Nico hums.

“It smells like you.”

Will sighs, nuzzling his face into Nico’s neck.

“What do I smell like?”

Nico’s fingertips slip under the collar of Will’s shirt, pressing over the his spine.

“Sunshine.”

“I smell like sunshine?” Will says, laughing lightly. “That checks.”

“I don’t know,” Nico murmurs. “You smell warm.”

Will laughs again, shifting so he can reach his hand up and run his fingers through Nico’s hair.

“I’ll keep you warm.”

“Can I tell you something?”

“Anything.”

Nico is quiet, dragging his nails lightly over Will’s skin, pushing his other hand up into his hair and tugging the strands gently. Will waits.

“You…”

Will closes his eyes, feeling Nico’s legs shift around his waist.

“Mmhmm?”

“You make me feel… safe.”

“Fuck, Nico.”

“What?”

Will pushes himself up, bringing Nico with him, kneeling with his arms around Nico’s waist tightly as he buries his face in his neck, shaking his head. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to stop the burning, but it doesn’t work, and as Nico’s fingers trail over the back of his neck, tears are falling.

Nico must feel it on his neck, because he tugs Will’s hair and pulls away.

“Will?“

“Sorry,” Will apologises, going to wipe his face, but Nico beats him to him, his fingertips deftly swiping over his cheeks and under his eyes.

“I mean it,” Nico murmurs. “You just…” He holds Will’s face carefully, like he’ll break, pressing their foreheads together. “I don’t know.”

Will closes his eyes again, holding Nico’s waist.

“I don’t hate you,” Nico says abruptly, pulling away and looking at Will with wide eyes. “I really don’t, I— You’re one of my favourite people, and I really— I really love you.”

Will’s eyes lock with Nico’s and something falls into place.

Nico’s hands fall to Will’s chest, holding his shirt lightly as his eyes flick back and forth between Will’s.

Will’s been staring at him too long, he realises, when Nico’s eyebrows raise slightly and his lips start to curve into a little smile.

“Really?” Will says. His voice is broken, just a breath that he’s not sure Nico will hear. But he does.

“Yeah.” Nico’s fingertip traces Will’s collarbones. “You…” His eyes skim up from Will’s throat to search across his face quickly, almost desperately, frantically. His eyes are watery, his hands touching Will like he’s making sure he’s real, solid. His mouth opens and he stammers before taking a sharp breath.

“In my— In my dream last night, you—“ Nico cuts himself off with a sharp gasp, and a tear falls down his cheek.

“It’s okay,” Will whispers.

“It was scary,” Nico whines, more tears falling from his eyes, and Will wipes them carefully. “I thought I lost you, I couldn’t tell—“ He gasps. “I didn’t know it was a dream, and I thought—“

“I’m okay,” Will interrupts, whispering. “I’m right here.” He moves as Nico cries, sitting back so he isn’t kneeling, pulling Nico closer and running his hand through his hair, shushing him gently.

“I don’t wanna lose you,” Nico cries, his shoulders shaking with every sob, and Will rocks him back and forth, holding him. “I love you so much— I don’t—“

“I love you too, Nico,” Will says as gently as he can, his throat tightening as Nico presses his face into his neck. “You’re not gonna lose me, okay?”

“Promise,” Nico says, his voice muffled by Will’s neck, and Will can’t tell if it’s a question or not, but it doesn’t matter.

“I promise.” Will runs his hand down his back, his other hand caressing the back
of Nico’s head. “I swear.”

—

Nico sits next to Will at dinner, his legs pulls up on the bench. He eats slowly, and Will tries to match his pace so he isn’t uncomfortable. He’s quiet, mostly watching and listening to Will talk to and banter with and tease his siblings, laughing softly. Will can see him looking back and forth between them in his peripheral vision.

“That is not what I said!” Will says adamantly, hearing Nico giggle as he takes a small bite of his food.

“It absolutely is,” Kayla argues, leaning across the table in emphasis. “You bitch ass liar.”

“Okay,” Will says, holding a hand up sassily. “Alright.“

Nico leans over and bumps his head against his shoulder in solidarity, but he doesn’t defend him, still giggling as Kayla attacks him verbally some more.

Even though Will tries to eat slowly, he finishes before Nico, setting his hands on the table as he continues to bicker with Kayla. Austin joins in, teasing Will and reaching over to poke him in the face. Will dodges it, leaning back and swatting his hands away, and Nico laughs again, catching Will with a gentle hand.

“I’m coming for your job,” Kayla says aggressively, pointing at him.

“You can have my job when I’m dead.”

“You better watch yourself, Solace.”

“What, are you gonna poison my coffee or something?”

“Don’t give me ideas.”

They continue to bicker, and as Will is staring at her with a blank, disbelieving look, something brushes against his hand on the table. He glances at it as Kayla rambles, and Nico’s hand is just barely touching his, but it’s so painfully intentional that Will has to suppress a grin as he looks back at Kayla. Will inches his hands closer subtly, disputing Kayla and rolling his eyes at her, and Nico’s pinkie hooks with his before he slides his hand under Will’s.

Will slips his fingers between Nico’s, stroking the side of his hand gently with his thumb, and he hears Nico sigh over the sound of Kayla’s voice.

The next time he looks, Nico’s plate is empty.

—

“Hey, Ni.”

“Hi.”

Will collapses so he’s sitting next to him in the grass, looking as Nico fiddles with the corner of the page of the book he’s holding in his lap.

“What are you doing today?” Will asks, leaning down and looking up at his face. Nico’s eyes cut up to him, and Will’s stomach flips over, and he remembers suddenly that Nico is his crush.

“This, I guess,” Nico says quietly, holding the book up. There’s no illustration or title on it, just a smooth red canvas-looking cover and a tarnished golf spine.

Will hesitates, blinking at him.

“…You wanna get out of here?”

Nico blinks back at him before glancing around.

“Here here?”

They’re behind the Hades cabin. Most people don’t come back here unless they’re just passing through, and Nico seems to like the solitude.

“Camp,” Will clarifies. “You wanna get out of camp?”

Nico stares back at him.

“Are we… allowed to leave?”

“I talked to Chiron.” He draws his knees to his chest, rocking as he gazes at Nico. The wind blows his hair out of his face. He looks beautiful. “He said we could dip for a day. If you want.”

“Where will we go?” Nico slowly closes the book.

“Uhm.” Will clears his throat, glancing away for a split second. “I was thinking… You’re doing better, right? You’ve… got your strength up, and everything.”

“Mmhmm,” Nico hums quietly, unblinking.

“I was thinking we could go Manhattan,” Will says finally. “For pasta.”

Nico stares at him. And stares. And stares. Until a tiny smile forms on his face.

“Really?” he asks quietly.

“Yeah,” Will says lightly, tilting his head. “You wanna?

“Yeah, yes,” Nico says quickly, nodding, dropping the book, letting it shut without checking or folding the page.

“No shadow travel, though,” Will says, smiling. “We’re taking the bus.”

Nico’s cheeks flush pink.

There’s a scar on Nico’s knee. It’s just visible under the rip in his jeans, and as Will sits beside him on the subway, he wants to touch it. He doesn’t.

Will has a scar on his knee too. It doesn’t match exactly, and it doesn’t stand out much against his tan skin and the rest of his scars, which the lady across from them is definitely staring at. He knows they’re not a pretty sight, jagged and violent-looking, but he doesn’t bother hide them behind jeans or joggers. He’s not scared of them.

The woman’s eyes skim up Will’s legs, catching on every scar, until their eyes meet. Will gives her a friendly smile. She looks away.

Will presses his lips together and ignores her, looking at Nico beside him.

Nico is looks across the subway at a group of teenagers. They’re all looking down at one of their phones, giggling and snickering and jostling one another.

“Nico,” Will says softly, elbowing him in the side. Nico glances at him before looking back at the kids.

“Do you… Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be…” Nico trails off, shrugging lightly. “Like them?”

Will hums, watching one of them wrap her arm around her friend’s shoulders, laughing and pointing at the phone.

“Normal?”

“Yeah,” Nico breathes. “Normal.”

“All the time.” Will tilts his head back and looks at the ceiling as the subway slows to a stop. “I think about it all the time.”

“What do you think about?”

Will hums lightly, twisting his mouth.

“Would be cool to have gone to high school and stuff. Have friends. Worry about… final exams and college instead of…” He shrugs. “Helping other kids save the world.”

Nico sighs heavily, letting his head fall to Will’s shoulder.

“I don’t know what it’s like to… not be me,” he says quietly. “I don’t even know what it’s like to be a normal demigod.”

Will legs his head fall to Nico’s, reaching and setting his hand on Nico’s leg, lightly squeezing.

“You don’t have to be.”

“Seems nice though, doesn’t it?” Nico asks. “To be normal.”

“Yeah.” Will squeezes his leg again, brushing his thumb back and forth. “Wanna pretend?”

“Pretend how?“

“We’ll just be normal kids today,” Will says, looking down at him. “No monsters, no swords, no gods—“

“No shadow travel,” Nico interrupts.

“No shadow travel,” Will agrees, laughing lightly. “No battles or— or magic. Just us.”

“Just us?” Nico repeats, barely breathing the words as he lifts his head.

“Yeah,” Will says lightly, squeezing. “Just us.”

Nico grabs Will’s hand and brings it to his lips quickly, setting it back down before Will even realises. Nico looks away, hugging Will’s arm to himself, moving closer to him.

Will gazes.

“You getting soft on me, di Angelo?”

“No. Shut up,” Nico says, but his cheeks flush pink.

Nico kicks Will’s legs under the table as they sit across from each other. Will smiles and tilts his head at him, raising an eyebrow.

“So what do normal kids talk about?” Nico asks.

“I have no idea,” Will says lightly, shrugging. “I don’t have much experience in the area.”

Nico kicks him again, tapping the table silently. Will tears a paper napkin in half.

“What’s your favourite colour?” Nico asks.

“Purple. What’s yours?”

“Guess.”

“Fair enough. What kinda music do you like?”

“Hm. I like the Cure, I guess. I don’t listen to music much.”

Will stares at him, a smile growing across his face.

“Are you laughing at me?”

“No, I just…” He shrugs again. “It makes sense.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Socks on or off?”

Nico blinks, furrowing his brows.

“What does that mean?“

“Do you prefer wearing socks or not?”

“Hm.” Nico stares at the table blankly, thinking. “Socks make me feel like my feet are being suffocated.”

Will laughs, setting his elbow on the table and his palm on his chin, gazing at Nico.

“But,” Nico continues, “I’m always cold, so I have to wear socks.” He looks at Will, his mouth quirking into a little frown. “I’m just perpetually suffering.”

“Existence is pain,” Will agrees. “Chock-full of decisions, and none of them are right.”

“You understand.”

“I do.” Will nods. “Right now I’m conflicted between tying my hair up and leaving it down.”

Nico hums thoughtfully, his eyes wide, looking at Will.

“When it’s down, it frames your face,” Nico says, and Will blinks, smiling, shifting in his seat as he listens. “But if you tie it up, I can see your neck.”

Will’s eyebrows fly up and he grins.

“You like my neck?”

Nico stares blankly before—

“Yes.”

Will huffs out a little laugh and nods, moving to pull the hair tie off his wrist, looking down as he pulls his hair back into a messy bun. When he pulls it tighter, he pulls two strands out by his face, running his fingers through them before he looks up at Nico.

He’s staring at Will, his eyes even wider than before, shining. As Will smiles and tilts his head, Nico swallows, nodding.

“You’re really good at… compromises,” he says quietly, rubbing his cheek and looking away, his face reddening. Will almost squeals, smiling so much his face hurts.

Nico refuses to look at him, just glancing every once in a while while they talk, his eyes skimming across Will’s neck before he looks back away, watching people around the restaurant.

“You’re allowed to look,” Will says after their food has arrived, and Nico looks up from where he’s stirring his pasta, his eyes flicking back and forth between Will’s before they lower, and Will can almost feel his gaze across his throat.

Nico takes a deep breath, looking away.

“I think you’re pretty.”

Will could cry.

“You like the pasta?” Will asks after a moment of silence. Nico nods, smiling.

“I’m happy.” He kicks Will’s shin under the table, purposely and intentionally, with a sneaky glance and a grin as Will scoffs.

“You’re a pain,” Will says, mouth full, and Nico hums.

“You signed up for this.”

Will shakes his head, rolling his eyes and smiling at him before he shrugs lightly in acknowledgment.

He looks around the restaurant, feeling Nico’s shoes gently tap his shins, kicking back until their legs entwine under the table. He freezes, looking across at Nico, at the candle at the end of the table.

“Is this a date?” he blurts, thinking out loud, his face flushing as Nico looks up, mid-chew, sauce on his lips.

Nico looks at the table, his brows furrowing.

“I think so?”

“…Huh.”

Will shrugs and takes another bite.

They don’t talk about it.

—

“No, she had the audacity to be mad at me,” Kayla vents, talking with her hands, which smack Will as he walks alongside her.

“That doesn’t even make sense, you literally didn’t do anything.”

“Yeah, exactly.” She takes a big step over a fallen tree branch, grabbing his arm for balance. “She just wants to make herself the victim, she does it every time.”

“Fuck her.”

“Yeah,” Kayla says adamantly in agreement. “Fuck her.”

“Just ignore her,” Will says more helpfully as she grins. “She’s irrelevant.”

“Will?”

They both stop and turn, squinting in the sun. Nico is standing behind them, holding the ends of his sleeves in his hands anxiously.

“Hey,” Will says brightly, turning to face him as Kayla waves.

“Hi, Nico!”

“Hi.” Nico looks at her, smiling softly, but Will can see the uneasiness in his eyes, the tightness of his hands. “How are you?”

“Alright, just bitching to Will about one of my teachers.”

Nico laughs lightly, and Kayla seems to notice it too, glancing at Will.

“I’m gonna go,” she says after a slight pause. “You’ll catch up?”

“Yeah, I’ll meet you there,” Will says, patting her arm as she passes him. “You alright?” he asks Nico gently when she’s gone, stepping closer.

“I’m okay, I just…”

He takes a sharp breath, looking back and forth between Will’s eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head.

“Nico,” Will interrupts before he can say anything, tilting his head to look into his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“I…” He stammers, looking around. There’s no one close, no one looking. “I need…”

“What is it?” Will whispers.

“Can you heal something? For me?” Nico asks in a small voice, reaching out and grabbing Will’s forearm. “Or— Or bandage it, or whatever you need to—“

“Nico,” Will says firmly. “Are you hurt?” He sets his hand on Nico’s. He’s trembling.

“I…” His wide eyes flick between Will’s, and he’s breathing too quickly, sharp breaths in and out of parted lips. His eyebrows furrow for a second, and he nods his head so slightly he’s barely nodding at all, his lip quivering.

“Nico…” Will breathes.

Nico takes a breath like he’s going to say something, but he just looks like he’s going to cry. Will’s stomach falls.

“Okay,” he says softly. “Okay.” He stokes the back of his hand gently. “Let’s go to the infirmary, yeah? It’s close.”

“Okay,” Nico agrees breathlessly, clutching his arm.

“Alright? Come on.”

He leads Nico to the infirmary, greeting his siblings with Don’t Talk To Me smiles, holding Nico’s hand. He shuts the door behind him and turns to find Nico with his back to him, his hands in his hair.

“Hey,” Will says gently, setting a hand on his back, rubbing between his shoulders. His jumper is at least two sizes too big, thick and soft, probably thrifted. “Nico, come here.”

Nico turns, dropping his hands, his eyes watery, his lip quivering.

“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice thin and wobbling, and Will shakes his head, his heart squeezing.

“Don’t apologise, love,” he says softly, reaching up to touch his face carefully. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I didn’t want to,” Nico says, whining and whimpering and holding Will’s arms again. “I didn’t want to, I just— I was having just— just a bad day, I shouldn’t have— I shouldn’t have done it, I’m sorry—“

“I know, baby, it’s okay,” Will whispers, shaking his head, interrupting his choked words and hiccuping gasps. “It’s not your fault.”

He kisses Nico’s forehead, murmuring to him, holding him close.

“Take a deep breath for me, Ni.”

He tries.

Again.

And again.

Until a breath finally comes out clearly, and the hair around Will’s face shifts like he’s standing in the wind.

“There we go,” Will says, combing through his hair. “Good job.” He looks down at Nico’s face. “I’m not upset with you, alright?”

Nico looks back at him, conflicted.

“I was doing so well,” he says brokenly, and Will nods.

“Yeah,” he agrees softly. “But this doesn’t erase any progress, Nico, okay? Healing isn’t…” He looks into Nico’s eyes, caressing his cheek. He swallows, blinking back tears. “Recovery isn’t linear, Ni. You’re gonna… You’re gonna go forwards and backwards and up and down and sometimes you’re gonna wanna give up and sometimes you’re gonna try so hard it hurts.”

He holds Nico’s face, pressing their foreheads together.

“But you wanna try, right?” he whispers, and Nico nods frantically, holding his waist. “You wanna get better?”

“Yeah,” he whimpers.

“That’s part of it, babe.” He strokes Nico’s cheekbone. “Just wanting to get better is part of it.”

“Can you heal it for me?” Nico asks. His voice cracks.

“Yes, of course.” He leaves a soft kiss on his forehead. “Do you wanna sit? Come here.”

Nico sits on the edge of the bed, fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves while Will moves in front of him, kneeling on the ground, looking up at him.

“Can you take this off for me?” Will asks gently, tugging lightly on the hem of his jumper. Nico looks at him, his hair falling in his face. It’s grown out, but it doesn’t seem to bother Nico.

“I’m really sorry,” Nico says, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Baby…” Will reaches up and pushes his hair back. “Don’t apologise to me,” he says. “Especially about this. This isn’t your fault.” Nico’s eyes open, finding him blearily. “Let me help you,” Will whispers softly. “No judgement, no anger, just…” He tugs again. “Just let me help.”

Nico looks at the ceiling before he finally releases his sleeves and looks at Will, who rises on his knees, gently pulling the hem of his sweater up and over his head. When it’s off, Will fixes it so it’s not inside out before he sets it next to Nico’s leg.

He lowers down, sitting on his calves and looking up into Nico’s eyes, not looking at his arms yet.

“Hey.” Will reaches up, holding Nico’s chin stroking his jaw with his finger. “It’s alright, okay? I’m gonna take care of you.”

Nico takes a breath and nods.

Will smiles softly and gently, carefully touches the bandages around his arm.

“You did a good job with these bandages,” Will says lightly, finding the ends of it so he can unwrap it. Nico lets out a huff of laughter.

“Yeah, that’s what volunteering at the infirmary gets you.”

Will smiles at him, his heart swelling at the way the corners of Nico’s eyes crinkle when he smiles back.

“There we go,” he says when the bandages fall away, peeling away the gauze. Nico’s hand lands on his shoulder, holding him tentatively. “You can hold onto me, it’s okay.”

Nico’s grip tightens as Will sets his palm gently over the cuts, leaning close enough that he can leave a chaste kiss on Nico’s shoulder before closes his eyes and rests his forehead on his neck, listening as Nico breathes evenly, slowly.

His hand gets hot as he heals him, like he’s touching a light bulb that’s been left on for too long, and he exhales when it’s done, kissing Nico’s neck gently before lifting his head.

There are tears on Nico’s cheeks, and he holds Will’s shoulder as he cries silently. Will releases his arm, checking briefly (it’s completely healed, just faint trace of dry blood remaining) before he reaches up to wipe the tears away.

“You’re not going backwards, Ni,” he murmurs. Nico opens his eyes, looking into his, and Will sits back, looking up at him. “‘S just a little slip up. You’re doing so well, baby, alright?”

Nico’s lips quiver into a small smile and he looks down at his arm, letting go of Will to place his hand over where the cuts were, rubbing harshly. Will wipes his cheeks one last time before letting his hands fall to his hips, holding him gently.

“Can I have a hug?” Nico asks in a small voice, and Will smiles, leaning up.

Nico’s arms wrap around his neck, and Will’s cheek presses to his shoulder, wrapping his arms around Nico’s waist. Nico’s legs hold him close.

“What were you and Kayla doing?“ Nico asks quietly, his voice right by Will’s ear. Will traces the line of his spine.

“We were headed to the arts and crafts tent,” Will says. “We’re off today.”

He lifts his head, pulling away and looking at Nico, running his thumbs back and forth over his waist.

“You wanna come?”

Nico pushes Will’s hair back, his fingers threading into it before he tucks it behind his ear.

“Yeah.”

Kayla greets Nico excitedly when they find her in the tent, their hands linked between them.

“Nico!” She looks over the table at them, her hands hidden in a mess. “Are you creative?”

“Uhm.” He eyes the table and her messy hair. “I like to think that I am.”

“Come here, I need help.”

Nico looks at Will with wide, smiling eyes before he goes around the table looking curiously at the mess.

“I thought Apollo kids are supposed to be good at art?”

“Yeah, you’d think.”

Will sits across from them, leaning tiredly against the table, and watches as they discuss what to do, as Nico fiddles with the materials and giggles at Kayla’s snips and quips. He watches Nico’s fragile-looking hands flip and spin a pencil mindlessly. When he and Kayla finish, they hold up a jumbled, barely-cohesive, messy collage that doesn’t stand out much from the mess on the table.

But Kayla is grinning proudly, and Nico is smiling, looking at Will with a shoulder raised in a half shrug.

“It looks good,” Will says softly, his chin resting on his palm as he gazes at them. “I like it.”

“Here,” Kayla says, handing it to Nico. “You take it.”

Nico stammers, blinking at her, holding it.

“Wh— Why?”

“Trust me,” Kayla says. “If I take it back to the Apollo cabin, it will just get lost in everything else we have there; it’s a disaster.”

Will nods in agreement. There’s art covering the walls, and the floor is perpetually messy with scattered craft supplies and scrap drawings, photos, ripped pages from magazines. Colourful and cluttered and nearly overwhelming at times. Even the wall next to Will’s bed: photos and drawings pinned and stuck with pattered washi tape, quirky stickers and flower-shaped fairy lights.

“You can put it on your wall, Ni,” Will says, looking up at him. Nico looks at him, wide-eyed, before he looks back at the collage in awe, like he’s just realising that his hands created.

“Will you sign it?“ he asks Kayla shyly. She beams.

“Only if you sign it too.”

—

“‘Presently the château began to make itself strangely visible by some light of its own,” Will reads in a soft voice. “‘As though it were growing luminous.’”

His back is against the wall as he sits on Nico’s bed, across from him. He loves how Nico’s bed is set, right between two walls, perfectly fitted next to a window that’s almost always covered with heavy, dark curtains that shut out every trace of sunlight. (Except the few times he’s opened them just to appease Will, who insists sunlight and fresh air will make him feel better, even if it’s just a little bit. Nico refuses to admit that he’s right.)

There are heavy quilts tossed around the bed messily, tangled around their legs, pushed against the wall, making a nest. When Will glances past the book in his lap, he looks at Nico, leaning against the wall, his head tilted back on it, his eyes, half-shut, trained on Will as he reads.

Will had asked Nico where he’d gotten it (this one specifically; there are stacks of books around the room, on his desk, next to his bed and wardrobe. Will said Nico should invest in a bookshelf. Nico said he doesn’t need one.), and Nico had told him
bluntly that he stole it. (“Do you think I have money for books?” he’d asked, and Will pointed out that his father is the god of wealth. Nico had tossed a hand dismissively.)

As Will reads aloud, his fingers fiddle with the yellowing pages of the book and his leg stretches in front of himself. His knee pop, and he winces, listening to Nico laugh softly, his own leg pressing to Will’s.

He’s wearing black sweatpants, the ends of each leg rolled up to his ankle, and an oversized black sweater. It’s ripped and holey, and every so often Nico will move and Will will see flashes of his pale skin beneath the dark knit.

They’re complete opposites, Nico’s black outfit and black hair and dark eyes that are hidden in shadows and behind his hair (but are still shining), and Will’s pink cut-off jogger shorts, his white Keith Haring t-shirt, his blonde hair that’s pulled back into a messy bun that’s barely holding together.

Will remembers seeing all the couples in his high school and admiring how well they went together: the basketball’s player’s jersey matched his girlfriend’s cheer skirt and the bow in her hair. The couples all had coordinating outfits, aesthetics, colour schemes. A red sweater went out with a dark orange dress. A necklace with a moon charm held hands with a ring with a cluster of stars. There was a couple that both had the same pair of glasses. Will always wondered if he’s find someone that wore the same colours as him, or had a similar voice.

But as Nico’s leg presses to his, and when Will pauses, looking up over the book and catching Nico’s eye, and Nico just smiles at him, he can’t bring himself to care. They match anyway.

Will continues reading, letting his other leg fall against Nico’s, sliding down the wall an inch. The pillow he’s leaning against smells like Nico.

“Will,” Nico says quietly, his voice just a soft rumble, like thunder miles away, when Will pauses to turn the page.

“Yeah?”

Nico blinks at him, twisting his mouth, before he pulls away from the wall and crawls closer. He nudges Will’s hands out of the way, and Will watches, holding his hands up as Nico leans down, laying between Will’s legs.

His arms wrap around Will, pushing into the space between the small of Will’s back and the wall, his cold fingertips slipping under Will’s t-shirt. He turns his head so his cheek presses to Will’s chest, just over his heart, and as Will sets his arms over his shoulders, he wonders if Nico can hear his heartbeat.

Nico sighs, and his eyes are closed when Will tilts his head to look at him.

Will closes the book without checking the page number, and sets it aside before he slides further down the wall, the pillow shifting so the edge is just under the back of his head comfortably. Will wraps his arms around around him, leans his head down to kiss the top of his head.

Nico exhales, humming softly, nuzzling into Will’s chest.

“So warm,” Nico mumbles, pressing a hand under Will’s shirt, and Will smiles, pushing his fingers through Nico’s hair gently.

“Is it okay if I touch you under your sweater?” Will whispers, his fingertips teasing the hem, and Nico nods, so he slips his hand under it, pressing to him for a second before he takes his other hand from his hair to pull the sweater up, revealing his pale back.

The curtains are mostly closed, golden orange sunlight streaming through the gaps in it, shining across the cabin. It’s quiet inside, quiet enough that Will can hear ash fall from the stick of incense that’s burning across the room. (The smell of it, heavy and floral and smokey, lingers on everything in the cabin, including Nico. It’s starting to smell like home.)

Will looks at Nico’s back, the divot of his spine, trailing his fingers through it as his eyes wander to the curve of of his ass, the waistband of his joggers that hang low on his hips, the stretch of his legs down the bed. Will’s fingertips trace over his back: lemniscates just above his joggers, lines back and forth over his spine, and, as he looks down at Nico’s peaceful face, a heart. Nico smiles, pressing his face into Will.

Will continues touching him, listening as his breaths become heavier, as Will’s eyelids become heavier too. The sunlight dims, and he can hear campers singing around the campfire, quiet guitar cutting the air. He rests his head against the wall and lets his eyes fall shut.

Nico is asleep. He’s heavy on top of Will, completely relaxed and vulnerable, and Will presses his hands to Nico’s cold skin as he finally drifts off.

- - -

Capture the flag is winding down. There haven’t been any major injuries, nothing that’s required Will to drop his bow and attend to anyone, so he considers it a success, even if Kayla is pissed because she has to use the bathroom.

He’s leaning against a tree, watching the final two campers fight, hearing them laugh and shout and insult each other playfully as they swing blades at each other. He shakes his bow in his hand, lifting the end of his shirt up to wipe sweat off his forehead, deciding to ignore the hair that’s fallen from where it’s tied back.

“When is this going to end?” Kayla asks, frustrated, and he looks at her, laughing at her wide eyes, and she lifts both hands, miming a strangling motion in their direction. He laughs again, huffing, still out of breath.

“Jesus,” he mutters, watching one of them narrowly dodge a sword. She cackles.

He shakes his head in wonder, looking at Kayla again, but after a second, his eyes look past her, catching on Nico.

He’s leaning against his sword, holding his helmet in his hand, watching the campers fight, and he looks like he could be modelling for some kind of odd, battle-themed photoshoot. There’s dirt on his face that Will wants to clean off.

He has that expression on his face, that sort of wide-eyed blank expression he’s always wearing, and Will gazes, smiling softly. The camper next to Nico exclaims something that Will can’t hear, and Nico looks at her, laughing.

His cheeks are flushed with exertion, and Will’s heart swells when he sees the faint colour on his face. When he shifts, he lifts the heavy sword in his hand easily.

“I’m gonna have piss in a bush,” Kayla says, startling a laugh out of Will. “Aren’t I?”

“Probably,” he says, glancing at her and then looking back at the campers fighting. Neither of them are showing any sign of exhaustion. Kayla groans, throwing her head back.

Will looks at Nico, just because, and Nico is already watching him back. When Will’s eyes lock with his, Nico blinks at him and bites his lip to suppress a smile. His eyes flicker up and down before he looks back at the campers. Will’s stomach flutters.

He’s still gazing at Nico when his eyes ripped away after cheers erupt around the clearing in the woods, and he looks at the campers.

The girl is standing over the boy, grinning as her sword points to his chest. He’s propped up on his elbows, looking up at her, his sword a few feet away, and after a small prompt from her (she twists her sword and raises her eyebrows), he cedes with a sigh, falling onto his back.

The cheering gets louder, and Will claps half-heartedly with his bow in his hand, watching the girl swipe her sword away from him and walk away, beaming as she spreads her arms. The boy looks up at her again, half-smiling, and when she turns to look at him, she winks, and he shakes his head at her, eyes sparkling.

He manages to push to himself up, limping as he gets his footing, and she grabs his sword, handing it to him before they dap each other up and he says something to her quietly. She grins, turning away as her cheeks flush.

“Are we done?” Kayla asks. “Can I go?”

“Just go.”

She bolts, running ahead of the other campers that are dispersing, and Will finds Nico past the others. He’s hanging behind, putting his sword in its sheath, holding his helmet under his arm, and Will waits, watching as Nico’s hair fall in his face, as he blows it away.

The other campers walk ahead when Nico meanders over to him, swinging his helmet, his other hand in the pocket of his jacket.

“Hi,” he says, kicking Will’s foot.

“Hey.” Wills stands up straight, off the tree, joining him as he walks slowly. Nico’s eyes watch the others, that expression on his face again. “You have fun?”

“Mmhmm.” Nico’s tongue slides across his lip before he bites it, and Will looks away, listening to the chatter ahead of them, the twigs snapping and leaves crunching under their feet. “Will.”

“Yeah?”

Nico stops walking and reaches out, grabbing Will’s arm. His hand is cold.

Will stops, turning to look at him, his eyes widening as Nico leans up, raising to his tiptoes, and kisses his cheek gently.

Nico pulls away, lifting his hand and touching Will’s jaw gently, carefully, to turn his face. His eyes flicker to Will’s lips before he looks into Will’s eyes, back and forth between them.

And then he kisses Will.

It’s soft, dry and chaste, and Will’s eyes flutter shut as Nico’s fingertips trail down his jaw to hold his chin like he’s fragile. Will’s bow slips from his fingers, falling to their feet. He doesn’t notice.

Nico pulls away after a second, letting go of him and stepping back, and when Will’s eyes finally open, he’s smiling.

Will exhales, blinking, and Nico tilts his head endearingly, walking backwards slowly.

“What was that for?” Will asks breathlessly, smiling. Nico shrugs lightly, still walking backwards.

“I love you,” he says softly.

Will blinks, staring at him, lips parted in awe, and Nico grins before he turns around and walks toward the others, leaving Will standing alone in the clearing.

After taking a breath, Will stoops to snatch his bow from the ground and runs to join him, leaning down to kiss his temple. Nico laughs, pushing him away.

“I’m sweaty,” he complains.

“I don’t give a shit.” Will kisses his jaw, and Nico giggles, pushing him again.

“I think I glitched,” Will says. “That’s the effect you have on me.”

Nico is smiling, and after a second he looks down at Will’s hand, holding the bow, before he pauses to go to Will’s other side and grabs his hand, holding onto two of Will’s fingers loosely.

Will swings their hands, glancing down at him.

“I love you too.”

——

Will searches over the amphitheater, is eyes skimming across all the campers eating their lunches, chatting, messing around, until his eyes catch on Nico.

He’s leaning back against another seat, talking with someone that Will can’t see properly, and Will carefully steps down, winding his way around others, gingerly stepping over a board game that’s dangerously set between two of them.

“Hey,” Will says brightly, and Nico smiles up at him as Percy Jackson turns around. “Oh, shit, hey!”

“Hey!” Percy exclaims, reaching up so they can shake, and Will sits on the row below them, looking up at Nico, who’s still smiling but doesn’t make a move to take his hand. “How are you doing?”

“Good,” Will says, looking at him. He’s squinting a little bit in the sun, but the green of his eyes is still visible and bright. “I’m on my break right now. What are you doing here?” he asks. “I thought you were over in New Rome.”

“Annabeth and I are visiting,” he says happily, pushing his curls back. “She’s at the Athena cabin right now, saying hi to everyone, but I bumped into Nico.”

Will glances at Nico.

“We were talking about what Nico’s still doing here,” Percy continues, nudging Nico’s foot, and Nico kicks him back.

“I’ve unfortunately become an assistant at the infirmary,” Nico says dryly.

“How the hell did that happen?” Percy asks, laughing and wrinkling his nose. “I thought you hated the infirmary.”

“Nico hates the infirmary when he’s sick or injured,” Will explains, and Nico shoots a look at him. “But he’s actually pretty helpful.”

Nico’s cheeks flush and he looks away.

“Kinda ironic,” Percy says lightly.

“Yeah, I don’t think anyone thinks having the ghost king in the infirmary is a great idea,” Nico says.

“Well, you haven’t killed anyone yet, so…” Will shrugs.

Nico makes a face.

“True.” He pauses before looking at Will, furrowing his brows. “What time is it?”

“Uh…” He looks at him watch, twisting his wrist. “Almost two. Why?”

“Shit,” Nico hisses, standing. “I told Drew I’d help her with something.”

“Drew Tanaka?” Percy asks, disbelief on his face as Will looks up at Nico in admiration. He looks taller from this angle.

“Yeah,” Nico sighs. “Don’t know how I got in this situation. Are you gonna be here at dinner?”

“No, we’re leaving really soon,” Percy says, dropping the Drew thing. He stands up, and Nico sighs.

“Okay, well.” He shrugs. “I’ll see you around, then.”

Percy pauses before he lifts his arms slightly, tilting his head, and Nico cedes, taking his hands from the pockets of his jacket.

“I’ll stop by to say hi to Annabeth before I meet Drew,” he says as he hugs Percy back, and he’s only a little bit stiff, only slightly uncomfortable, his face hidden in Percy’s shoulder. Will looks at Percy’s face. His eyes are closed, his brows furrowed slightly.

Percy pats his back before they part, and Nico reaches down, taking Will’s hand and squeezing it gently before letting go and stepping back.

“Tell your mom I said hi,” Nico says, looking up at Percy, and Percy smiles.

“I will,” he says, sitting again.

“Alright. Love you,” Nico says, waving before he turns and jogs up the steps, winding between campers.

Will watches him go, watches how easily he moves up the steps. When he looks back at Percy, Percy is also looking at Nico, his eyes wide, his lips parted as if in awe.

“Percy?”

Percy blinks, looking at Will before he looks back at Nico, who’s made it to the top of the amphitheater, and is walking away.

“He’s never said that before,” Percy says softly.

Oh.

Will smiles.

“He’s been doing really well lately,” Will tells him, and Percy looks at him, his eyes shining, before he looks away aimlessly, and then at the sky.

“Oh, that made me really emotional,” he says, his voice wobbling. “Oh no.”

“Percy,” Will laughs, tilting his head to look at his face, watching as his eyebrows furrow and his lip quivers and he squeezes his eyes shut. “Oh, no.” Percy is laughing through his tears, covering his face as Will pats his leg gently.

“How is he— What do you mean? Doing well?” he asks when he lowers his hands, looking at Will.

“Uh.” He hesitates, shifting in his seat. “A while ago he couldn’t even lift a pitcher of water by himself,” he says, smiling. “And he played in the most recent capture the flag.”

Percy nods, listening intently.

“A while ago he wouldn’t… talk at all, if we were around other people,” Will continues, “like if we were having dinner at the Apollo table, he would just… sit there, and eat really slowly, and hold my hand while I talked with people, and now he’s…” He shrugs again, tossing a hand. “Hanging out with Drew Tanaka, apparently?”

Percy laughs tearfully, wiping his face and looking at the sky again, blinking tears back.

“‘M fine,” he mumbles, shaking his head. “It’s fine.” He takes a deep breath, and it shakes on its way out. Will smiles, patting his knee again. “I’m just…”

“Proud,” Will says for him, nodding. “Yeah.”

Percy smiles at the ground, and there’s a pause between them before he says, “So. Will.”

“Percy."

"You said… You said he holds your hand."

"Uhm." Will blinks. “Did I?”

“Mmhmm.” Percy tilts his head, looking at him thoughtfully. “And he grabbed your hand before he left.” He pauses, blinking at Will, who raises his eyebrows, his heart beating too fast. “Oh my gods.”

“Don’t—“

“Oh. My gods.” Percy moves down to sit next to Will. “Oh my gods.”

“Stop,” Will says, shaking his head, holding a hand up, but Percy swats it away.

“Will.”

“Percy, no.” Will turns away, facing forward, shaking his head. “I’m not talking about this.”

“Okay,” Percy says lightly, moving so he’s sitting right next to him, also facing the center of the amphitheater. “Alright. But just know that avoiding the subject makes it more suspicious.”

Will rolls his eyes, shaking his head.

“Don’t care.”

“Okay, well, you don’t have to talk about it,” Percy says, turning to face Will, lifting a leg up onto the seat between them. “I will. He watched you come down here to meet us, and I could tell he didn’t really, like, realise that he was just blatantly watching you, and he was smiling so much, like I’m not even kidding, his whole face lit up. And then while we were talking, he kept, like, glancing at you, and he grabbed your hand before he left, and even if you’re gonna ignore it or not tell me, I can totally tell that he really, really likes you—“

“You really talk a lot,” Will says dryly, looking at him.

“Yeah, I get that a lot. You said he holds your hand.”

Will huffs, looking at the sky in exasperation before he glances around.

“He just…” He shrugs, shaking his head. “Needs comfort sometimes, and I guess I just…”

“Provide.”

Will twists his mouth, shrugging again.

“Yeah, I guess.”

Percy lays his head on Will’s shoulder, and Will can feel him laughing against him, like a child.

“You like him, don’t you?” Percy asks, his voice softer, and Will’s cheeks flush. He bites his lip, looking out at the trees and avoiding Percy’s eyes, even though he can feel him looking up at him.

“How could I not?”

- - -

Will plays with his food, watching Nico across the dining hall as he serves himself and scoops some into the fire, as he half smiles at a camper that bumps into him.

“Hi,” Nico says quietly, setting his plate down and sitting next to him. He sighs, sliding his hands between his legs and looking at it.

“You okay?” Will asks, looking back and forth between him and his plate. Nico shrugs, looking up at him.

“‘M not having a very good day,” he says softly, and Will sets his fork down, lifting a hand to tuck Nico’s hair away from his face.

“Wanna talk about it?”

Nico shrugs again, lifting a hand and using his fork to poke at his food.

“Just… I’m not in a very good mood. And I’m…” He lifts his other hand, waving it around aimlessly by his head. “Kind of… I don’t know.”

“Overwhelmed?”

Nico pauses before he nods.

“I guess.”

“Are you alright in here?” Will asks quietly. “Do you wanna eat somewhere else?”

Nico turns his head to look at him, and a soft smile spreads across his face.

“No, it’s okay.”

He takes a bite of his food, and Will smiles, eating next to him in silence. After a minute, Nico’s fork clatters to his plate and his hand finds Will’s free hand, pulling it over and setting it on Nico’s leg before Nico wordlessly continues eating as though nothing happened.

Will smiles at his plate, running his fingertips to the rips in Nico’s jeans, brushing over his skin lightly.

“I don’t…” Nico starts, and Will pauses, looking at him. “I don’t think I want to go to the campfire tonight, though.” He looks back at Will. “I think the music might…”

“That’s okay,” Will says, running his thumb back and forth.

“Will you stay with me?” Nico asks in a small voice. “Unless you want to go the campfire, that’s—“

“Yes,” Will interrupts, leaning down and leaving a chaste kiss on Nico’s shoulder. “I’d rather stay with you.”

“…Okay.”

They finish eating in silence, and Will follows Nico to his cabin as the others head to the campfire, the sound of guitar already in the air.

It’s dark in his cabin, lit up by the dimming sun, and Will turns when Nico pushes the door shut behind him.

“You want a hug?” Will asks, and Nico is already moving toward him, into his arms.

“Always.”

Will tightens his arms around him, swaying.

“How was your day?” Nico asks, laying his cheek on Will’s shoulder.

“It was good,” Will says. “Productive. Missed you, though.”

He hears Nico exhale a soft laugh, smiling as Nico’s fingers move over his waist.

“You hang out with Drew at all lately?”

Nico laughs again, nodding against him.

“Yeah, actually.” They sway again. “She’s really into, like, vintage makeup. And she wanted my opinions on some stuff.”

“Really?” Will grins at the wall, running his fingers through Nico’s hair.

“I told her I don’t know anything about makeup,” Nico continues. “She didn’t care.” He’s quiet for a second, before— “She’s a lot nicer than I was expecting.”

“Is she?”

“Yeah,” Nico murmurs. “I know she isn’t… always kind. But she… She was patient with me. And she stayed away from me without, like, questioning me. And at first I thought she just didn’t wanna be near me, but she was really nice to me. And she wasn’t even… weird about… me.”

“I think I might like her a little more than I did five minutes ago,” Will says lightly, and Nico laughs.

“She said she wants to paint my nails,” Nico says, his fingertips digging into Will’s sides.

“What colour?” Will asks, raising his eyebrows.

“She said black, to go with my vibe.”

Will snorts.

“That makes sense.” He plays with the ends of his hair. “Just promise me something, yeah?”

“Mmhmm?”

“If Drew, or anyone, I guess, paints your nails, or does your makeup…”

Nico is snickering against his shoulder.

“Mmhmm?”

“You have to show me immediately.”

Nico laughs.

“Why?”

“Because I’ve always thought you’d look pretty with eyeliner.”

Nico lifts his head, looking into Will’s eyes, still laughing.

“You think?”

Will hums affirmatively, moving his hand to Nico’s cheek and brushing a fingertip under his eye.

“Pretty brown-eyed boy.”

Nico’s smile softens.

“I’ll show you,” he whispers. “If she does.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Will smiles, satisfied, looking back and forth between Nico’s eyes until Nico glances at Will’s mouth.

Nico’s tongue slips out, across his lips, and he sighs softly before leaning up and kissing Will gently.

He pulls away after a second, reaching up and holding Will’s jaw with both hands, kissing him again. Will’s eyes close, and he tilts his head, moving closer as Nico exhales, kissing him, and kissing him, and kissing him as they sway together, the floor creaking beneath their feet.

Will’s hand moves around his neck, up to hold the back of his head as Nico’s lips part and his teeth close on Will’s bottom lip. Will gasps, moving a hand down to Nico’s waist and squeezing before he slides it to the small of his back, pressing him closer.

Nico takes his gasp as an opportunity to dip his tongue into his mouth, and Will grins, huffing a soft laugh as Nico slides a hand to hold the side of his neck, his thumb pressing softly over his throat. (So softly. It’s like he’s being careful with him, his touches so goddamn tender.)

Nico gasps when they part, holding Will close as they both breath heavily, eyes still closed.

“That was nice,” Nico says breathlessly.

“Yeah,” Will agrees, whispering.

“Will you… Will you stay with me tonight?” Nico asks quietly, hugging him again.

“‘Course, darling.”

The music outside is louder when they’re laying down, right under the window. Nico lays on Will’s chest, his hand slipped under the hem to feel Will’s skin, and Will combs through his hair gently, unknotting tangles, straightening curls.

“Will?” Nico says softly after a minute, and Will blinks, startled, thinking Nico was close to sleep.

“Mmhmm?”

He’s quiet, his fingertips digging into Will’s side, just above the waistband of his shorts.

“…Nevermind.”

“Ni.” He tugs his hair. “What is it?”

“Can we…” He stops, and Will prompts him again, tugging gently. “Can we take our shirts off?”

Will blinks, looking at the ceiling.

“I just— You’re really warm, and I— I really…” He cuts off when a sharp exhale, and Will combs through his hair.

“Yeah,” Will breathes. “Yeah, that’s okay.”

Nico sits up, staring at him, wide-eyed, and Will follows, sleepily shifting so he can lift his shirt up and over his head before looking into Nico’s eyes. He’s gazing back, eyes trained on Will’s without wavering.

“It’s alright,” Will assures him gently, nodding, tossing his shirt aside, and Nico sits back, reaching for the end of his sweater.

He pulls it up slowly, looking away until it’s over his head and balled up in his lap, twisted around his hands. His eyes are shining at Will, and Will nods, reaching to take it from him.

“Okay,” Nico breathes, his hands relaxing, letting it go. Will sets it aside, dropping it to the floor by the bed, and Nico leans close, falling against him.

Will inhales sharply, wrapping his arms around him tightly, falling backwards and bringing Nico with him.

Nico laughs softly before Will’s arms loosen, and he shifts, falling to Will’s side and tucking an arm between them as his other hand presses to Will’s chest. He tosses a leg over Will’s, moving closer, skin on skin on skin on skin, silver on gold on silver in gold, and Will thinks he might be glowing, every cell in his body.

“You feel good,” Will murmurs.

Nico hums back, pressing his hand harder.

“I like you,” Nico whispers.

“I like you too.”

“Will.” Nico spreads his fingers, like he’s trying to absorb Will’s blood right through his skin. “I like you.”

Will presses his hand over Nico’s, entwining their fingers.

“I like you too.”

Nico’s fingers curl against him, his thumb brushing back and forth over his skin softly.

“…Nico?” Will asks nervously, stoking the back of his hand, running over his sharp knuckles.

“Will.”

“Do you…” He runs his other hand down Nico’s back, trailing down his spine, over the smooth skin marked with jagged scars. “Do you wanna be my— my boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” Nico says breathlessly, quickly, nodding against him. His fingertips dig into Will’s chest, and then he moves, pushing Will’s hand aside and laying across him, his cheek presses against him, just over his heart. Will looks down at the top of his head, smiling at his fluffy hair. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”

Will beams, wrapping his arms around him.

“Okay.”

Nico shifts, tucking his face into Will’s neck, his chest pressing to Will’s, heart to heart.

Will’s hands slide over his back, down to the waistband of his jeans, and Nico hums softly.

“Hm?” Will questions.

Nico hums again, nuzzling into his neck, kissing him softly.

“…Like when you touch me.”

“Mm.” Will reaches down and grabs Nico’s leg, hitching it up and running his hand over his thigh, hip, bottom, waist. “Good thing I like touching you.”

“Mm. Good thing.”

Will closes his eyes, letting his head rest on Nico’s, feeling his chest move against his with every breath, listening to the sing-along outside. The guitar is faint, the voices all smooth and blended together.

“I know this song,” he says lightly when he realises, as his finger trails above his waistband.

“Mm?” Nico sighs, his fingertips playing with Will’s hair that’s fallen around his head in the pillow. “Sing for me.”

Will pauses, listening closely, before he hums along for a moment, remembering the lyrics.

“…that long gone by…” Will feels Nico’s lips curve into a smile against his neck. “I’d stop the world and melt with you,” he sings softly, touching Nico’s leg, squeezing his hip gently. “You’ve seen the difference, and it’s getting brighter, all the time…

“There’s nothing you and I won’t do— You know it?” he asks, smiling, when Nico starts to hum.

“I’ve heard it,” he says quietly. “I don’t know all the words.”

Will hums, squeezing his leg again as Nico leaves a slow kiss on his neck, just under his ear.

“I’ll stop the world and melt with you,” he sings.

Nico is asleep before the song is over.