Chapter Text

Then started the mission: catch Nico with his boyfriend.

What they didn’t know was that Will and him had such contrasting schedules that the only time they really saw each other was at home and when they purposely met up. Between Will’s clinicals and Nico’s shifts, they spent most of their time conked out together on the bed while Gilmore Girls played in the background.

His friends had never been over at their apartment.

And now that they’d started this game, he intended to keep it that way.

That didn’t mean they gave up.

-

“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about a boyfriend would you?” Percy asked Hazel sweetly. “One of five years that Nico neglected to bring up at any point in the past year and a half?” 

They were out in the cafeteria for dinner the next day. Will was in clinicals. 

Nico rolled his eyes. Like Hazel hadn’t been there when Nico told them.

He gave Hazel a warning look. 

She blatantly ignored him, taking a bite of her salad. “Oh, you mean Will?”

Leo shot out of his seat. “We have a first name!”

Several students turned to stare.

His friends leaned into Hazel like vultures.

“You’ve met him?” Percy asked urgently.

“I have.”

“Is he hot?” Piper asked.

Hazel considered. “Yeah.”

Nico whipped around to glare at her.

She grinned. “What? He’s got the whole surfer boy thing going for him. The freckles are nice. And the curls”

“Okay,” Leo muttered, stroking an imaginary beard. “We have bounds now.”

“Does surfer boy imply blonde?” Jason asked thoughtfully.

Nico sent him a murderous look.

His sister and best friend were actively betraying him.

He would never recover.

-

Run-In #1 - The Hoodie Incident

It started with the hoodie.

Nico walked into the cafeteria late. Hair still damp from a shower. Sleeves pulled over his hands. Oversized navy hoodie swallowing his frame.

He sat.

Leo squinted immediately.

“That,” Leo said slowly, “is not your vibe.”

Nico didn’t look up. “I don’t have a vibe.”

“You absolutely do,” Piper said. “It’s ‘small Victorian orphan who reads curses in Latin.’”

Percy leaned across the table and tugged the sleeve. The cuff swallowed Nico’s hand entirely.

“Bro,” Percy said. “That’s not your hoodie.”

“It’s cold,” Nico replied.

“It’s eighty degrees,” Annabeth said.

Jason adjusted his glasses. “The garment appears two sizes too large.”

Nico kept eating his muffin.

Leo leaned closer, inhaled dramatically. “That smells like citrus.”

“Please don’t smell me.”

Piper’s eyes narrowed. “It’s his, isn’t it.”

There it was.

That half-second.

The pause.

Nico recovered quickly. “You’re all insane.”

Percy sat back slowly. “Height difference.”

Annabeth nodded once. “Significant.”

Leo slapped the table excitedly. “He’s tall.”

Hazel didn’t say anything. Just sipped her drink and watched Nico try very hard not to tug the hoodie tighter.

Jason looked thoughtful. “Broader shoulders as well. Based on fabric drape.”

“You guys need hobbies,” Nico muttered.

“We have one,” Percy said. “You.”

Nico glared at them.

They were absolutely going to make this worse.

Run-In #2 - The Gym Sighting

Percy burst into the cafeteria two days later looking like he’d discovered fire. “I found him.”

“You found nothing,” Nico said without looking up.

Percy pointed aggressively. “Pre-med. Blonde. In the gym. Lifting.”

Nico froze.

Leo stood up immediately. “He lifts?”

Piper pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Oh my god.”

Jason leaned back slowly. “Physical confirmation of broader build.”

Annabeth folded her arms. “That narrows the pool.”

“There are hundreds of blondes,” Nico said calmly.

“Not that many pre-med blondes,” Percy countered.

“And how many of them are tall?” Leo added.

“And citrus-scented?” Piper said.

Nico rolled his eyes. “You all need therapy.”

Percy leaned forward. “Did you hesitate because it was him?”

“No.”

“Yes you did.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Stop saying yes.”

Hazel kicked Percy under the table. He shrieked and grabbed his leg, immediately distracted from the conversation. 

Jason nodded slowly. “The probability is increasing.”

Nico stared at him. “Do not make a graph.”

Jason did not answer.

That was worse.

Run-In #3 - The Name Reminder

They were mid-movie night.

Terrible rom-com.

Blonde male lead on screen.

Leo elbowed Nico. “Smash or pass?”

“I don’t play that game.”

“You’re no fun.”

Percy leaned forward. “What’s your boyfriend’s name again?”

Nico didn’t look away from the screen. “Why.”

“Just asking.”

“You don’t need it.”

“Is it embarrassing?”

Nico sighed. He was tired. “It’s Will.”

Silence.

“…That’s it?” Leo said.

“Yes.”

Percy blinked. “That’s aggressively normal.”

Piper leaned in. “Blonde Will?”

“There are so many Wills,” Nico said.

Jason nodded. “Unhelpful.”

Leo grinned slowly. “But we already know he’s blonde.”

Nico’s jaw tightened.

Percy gasped. “He IS the gym Will.”

“No.”

“That was not convincing.”

Hazel hid her smile in her cup.

Annabeth tilted her head. “You get defensive when we get close.”

“I’m not defensive.”

“You’re defensive about being defensive.”

Nico stood up. “I’m leaving.”

“Suspicious,” Leo announced.

“You’re insufferable.”

“We’re informed insufferable,” Piper corrected.

Run-In #4 - The Academic Clue

Jason walked in one afternoon with a newspaper folded under his arm.

“There’s a Will Solace on the Dean’s List for pre-med.”

The entire table froze.

Nico stared at him slowly.

Leo slapped the table. “WE HAVE A LAST NAME.”

“I hate all of you,” Nico said flatly.

Percy leaned over. “Solace. That’s hot.”

Piper nodded thoughtfully. “Surfer boy name confirmed.”

Annabeth crossed her arms. “Is he academically threatening?”

“Yes,” Nico said before he could stop himself.

The table went silent.

Leo’s eyes widened. “You said that too fast.”

Nico closed his eyes briefly.

Hazel laughed. “You’re slipping,” she said gently.

Run-In #5 - The Pet Name Slip

They’re in the library.

Quiet study. Or allegedly quiet.

Nico’s phone buzzed. He glanced down.

Will: Eat something, sunshine. You get mean when you don’t. 

Leo leaned across the table like a feral raccoon. “Who’s texting.”

“No one.”

“That’s a smile.”

“It’s not.”

Hazel tilted her head. “What’d he call you?”

Nico froze. “Nothing.”

Percy squinted. “He calls you something.”

“No.”

Piper narrowed her eyes. “Does he call you baby?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Sweetheart?”

“No.”

“Sunshine?” Hazel said casually.

The table stilled.

Nico’s eyes flicked up.

Hazel smiled slowly.

Leo slammed both hands on the table. “WE HAVE A PET NAME.”

Jason whispered, “Sun-themed.”

Percy gasped. “Does he think he’s the sun?”

Nico muttered, “No. He is.”

Silence.

Leo leaned back slowly. “Oh my god.”

Run-In #6 - The Professor Connection

Jason walked into lunch looking stunned. “I have new information.”

Nico didn’t look up. “I refuse.”

“Professor Matthews mentioned a Will Solace during lecture.”

Leo inhaled sharply.

Percy clutched his chest. “Faculty recognition.”

Annabeth leaned forward. “For what?”

Jason flipped his notebook. “Volunteer hours. Pediatric rotation.”

Piper blinked. “He likes kids?”

Hazel snorted quietly.

Nico rubbed his temples.

Percy looked devastated. “He’s hot AND kind?”

Leo slammed his tray down. “This is unrealistic.”

Annabeth studied Nico. “You look smug.”

“I’m not smug.”

“You are glowing,” Piper said.

“I hate all of you.”

Jason adjusted his glasses. “He appears to be academically and socially high-functioning.”

Percy sighed dramatically. “We are going to have to be impressive.”

“To who?” Nico asked flatly.

Percy looked offended. “To him.”

Run-In #7 - The Campus Legend

Leo came running into the cafeteria. “I FOUND HIM.”

“You find him every week.”

“No. This one matches everything.”

Nico closed his eyes.

“There’s a tall blonde pre-med named Will who helped a freshman move her entire dorm by himself.”

Piper pressed her hands to her face. “Of course he did.”

Percy whispered, “Hero complex.”

Annabeth crossed her arms. “Did he smell like citrus?”

Leo paused. “…I did not sniff him.”

“Amateur,” Piper said.

Hazel watched Nico carefully. “You’re not denying it anymore,” she noted.

Nico shrugged.

Percy pointed dramatically. “He’s proud.”

“I’m not proud.”

“You’re proud.”

“I am neutral.”

“You are deeply proud.”

Nico muttered, “You’d be proud too.”

They all froze.

Leo whispered, “Oh my god.”

Run-In #8 - The Schedule Collision

Percy stormed into lunch waving his phone. “I KNOW HIS SCHEDULE.”

Nico went still.

Leo gasped. “How.”

“I asked around.”

“You’re terrifying,” Annabeth said calmly.

“He leaves clinicals at 4:30.”

Hazel blinked. “That’s specific.”

Jason flipped open his notebook. “That overlaps with your shift ending.”

Silence.

Nico stared accusingly at Percy. “You stalked my boyfriend’s schedule.” He turned to Jason. “And why do you know my work schedule?”

Percy gasped. “CONFIRMED.”

The table erupted.

Piper leaned across the table. “You didn’t deny boyfriend.”

Leo grabbed Percy’s shoulders. “WE HAVE TIME COORDINATION.”

Nico buried his face in his hands.

Hazel leaned back, grinning. “You’re losing control.”

He was.

And the worst part?

He didn’t hate it.

Run-In #9 - The Almost "Will"

The cafeteria is chaos.

Leo had a spreadsheet open.

An actual spreadsheet.

Columns labeled:
Height - 6’2”
Major - Pre-med
Hair - Blonde, curly
Gym attendance - Regular
Name: Will Solace

Nico refused to look at it.

Percy was pacing. “We have narrowed it down. We have to be able to tell by looks.”

Jason nodded. “Probability cluster.”

Piper whispered, “This feels illegal.”

Percy froze. “That’s him.”

“It’s not,” Nico said immediately.

Percy pointed at the door. “No! HE JUST WALKED IN!”

The entire table swiveled.

A tall blonde guy entered.

Pre-med backpack.
Tall.
Blonde, curly hair.

The table inhaled collectively.

Leo stood.

Percy grabbed his arm.

The blonde walked toward the drink station.

Percy whispered, “Should we… approach?”

Jason said calmly, “We should confirm via scent.”

Piper smacked him.

Leo straightened his shirt. “I’m going in.”

Nico didn’t stop him.

Leo marched across the cafeteria like a man going to war. Percy and Piper followed quickly behind.

Hazel turned to Nico. “That’s not him,” she said quietly.

“No,” Nico replied. “It’s not.”

Leo reached the wrong Will.

They talk.

Wrong Will looked confused.

Percy gestured wildly.

Wrong Will glanced over at Nico.

Nico raised one eyebrow.

Wrong, Will shrugged helplessly.

Leo returned a minute later.

Defeated.

“…That was not him.”

Nico nodded once.

Percy dropped into his seat. “We were so close.”

Nico shrugged, smug. “I told you it wasn’t him.”

They are one inch away.

And they don’t even know it.

-

In reality, the way they finally meet Will is completely unexpected.

It was supposed to be quick.

Coffee.

Notes.

Back before dark.

That was the plan.

The sidewalk, however, had other ideas.

“I’m telling you,” Percy was saying, gesturing wildly as they crossed the quad, “if we just corner Gym Will at the smoothie place—”

“There are multiple gym Wills,” Nico snapped.

“You’re defensive again,” Piper sang.

“I am not—”

His foot hit black ice.

There was that split second of betrayal.

Then gravity. He twisted instinctively to avoid hitting his head and his wrist took the full impact. The crack wasn’t loud, but it was wrong.

White-hot pain shot up his arm.

For a second, the world went silent.

Then—

“Nico?” Hazel dropped to her knees immediately.

“Don’t move,” Jason said automatically.

“I’m fine,” Nico hissed, already pushing himself up. He was not fine. The pain throbbed hard and deep, blooming under the skin.

Percy crouched beside him. “You’re not fine.”

“I just slipped.”

Leo stared at his wrist. “That’s swelling.”

It was.

Fast.

Annabeth’s voice sharpened. “Can you move it?”

Nico tried. Regretted it immediately.

“Okay,” Hazel said quietly. “We’re going to urgent care.”

“No.”

All of them looked at him.

“It’s just a sprain,” he insisted. “I don’t need to—”

He flexed again. His breath hitched despite himself.

Jason’s jaw tightened. “That didn’t look like a sprain.”

Percy stood abruptly. “We’re taking you.”

“I can walk,” Nico snapped.

“You’re not arguing your way out of this,” Annabeth said calmly.

“I’m not arguing—”

“You are.”

Hazel slid an arm around his back, steady and warm. “We’ll just get it checked, okay?”

Nico hated this.

The attention.

The concern.

The way they were all looking at him like he might break.

“I don’t want to sit in an ER for six hours,” he muttered.

Leo glanced at his wrist again. “That thing looks like it’s auditioning for a balloon animal.”

“Shut up.”

They managed to get him upright. He could walk. That was something. Halfway across the quad, the pain spiked again and Nico’s vision fuzzed slightly at the edges.

Will would hate this. The thought came uninvited. And that was worse.

Because if Will saw…

“Okay,” Percy said firmly. “That’s it. ER.”

“No,” Nico said quickly. Too quickly.

They all stopped.

Percy blinked. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t need to.”

“That wasn’t an answer.”

Nico hesitated.

Hazel’s eyes narrowed slightly. “…You don’t want him called,” she said gently.

Nico glared at her.

Leo gasped. “Emergency contact.”

“Don’t you dare,” Nico warned.

Percy looked between them. “He’s your emergency contact?”

Nico wished the ice would swallow him whole. “That’s not the point.”

“That is exactly the point,” Annabeth said.

Jason crossed his arms. “He should know.”

“He does not need to know,” Nico snapped. “It’s nothing.”

Hazel looked at his wrist again. “It’s not nothing.”

The pain pulsed again, stubborn and bright.

Nico swallowed.

He hated this.

He hated needing.

He hated the thought of Will dropping whatever he was doing and—

And what?

Showing up?

The thought made his chest do something inconvenient.

Percy softened slightly. “If it was us, you’d call.”

That landed.

Nico looked away. “…Fine,” he muttered.

“Fine?” Leo repeated.

“Fine,” Nico said more sharply. “We’ll go.”

They moved faster after that.

By the time they reached the ER entrance, Nico’s wrist was visibly swollen and he was definitely not fine.

Hazel squeezed his shoulder. “You don’t have to pretend,” she said quietly.

“I’m not pretending.”

She just looked at him.

Inside, fluorescent lights washed everything pale.

Paperwork. Questions. Ice pack. Triaged quickly because visible swelling plus audible hiss when touched was convincing.

When the nurse wrapped his wrist temporarily and left the room, Percy leaned against the wall.

“So.”

Nico stared at the ceiling. “So,” he echoed.

“Are you going to tell him?” Piper asked gently.

Nico hesitated.

His phone felt heavy in his pocket.

He could text.

He could wait.

He could—

The door opened.

A nurse stepped back in.

“We’ve called your emergency contact,” she said kindly. “He’s on his way.”

Nico nodded, rubbing at the edge of the splint wrapped around his wrist. It throbbed in time with his pulse.

The nurse left.

Silence.

It took a full five seconds.

“So this is it?” Percy hummed slowly, leaning against the wall beside the bed. He looked smug.

Nico frowned.

Hazel looked at him.

Nico gave her a devastated look.

She had the nerve to laugh.

“It’s happening,” Leo breathed, eyes lighting up. “Actually?”

Annabeth crossed her arms. “How long has he been your emergency contact?”

Maybe Nico’s wrist was terminal. That was a thing, right? Sudden spontaneous wrist failure. Tragic. Immediate.

“I forgot,” Nico muttered.

“You did not forget,” Hazel said sweetly.

The door opened.

Everyone went dead silent. 

Will stepped inside and stopped.

Tall.

Broad shoulders under a faded gray t-shirt. Blond curls slightly flattened like he’d run a hand through them on the way over. Freckles across his nose. Messenger bag still slung across his chest like he hadn’t bothered taking it off.

His eyes scanned once.

His jaw tightened. “Nico.”

The room changed.

Nico looked up. Relief flooded his chest just at the sight of Will standing there. “Hey,” he said quietly.

Will crossed the room in three long strides, dropping his bag onto the floor without looking. He reached for Nico’s uninjured hand immediately, thumb brushing over his knuckles in a comforting gesture.

“What happened?”

“Tripped,” Nico muttered.

“You don’t trip.”

“Shut up.”

Will’s eyes flicked to the splint. He stepped closer, careful not to bump the bed, and gently took Nico’s wrist in his hands. His touch was precise. Confident. He didn’t jostle. Didn’t rush.

“Hairline?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“X-ray?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

He adjusted the pillow under Nico’s arm slightly, elevating it more. Checked the tightness of the wrap. Pressed lightly around the swelling with practiced fingers.

Nico winced.

Will’s jaw flexed. “Does it radiate?”

“No.”

“Numbness?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

The friends hadn’t moved.

Leo’s mouth was open.

Percy blinked like he was buffering.

Piper looked seconds from combusting.

Will exhaled slowly through his nose. “Did they ice it immediately?”

Nico hesitated. “…Eventually.”

Will’s eyes lifted.

Not angry.

Worried.

“You’re keeping it elevated,” he said quietly. “And you’re not taking it off early because you’re bored.”

“I wouldn’t—”

“You would.”

Nico didn’t argue.

That was what did it.

Will smoothed a stray curl back from Nico’s forehead without thinking. His hand lingered for half a second too long.

“I leave you alone for four hours,” he murmured.

Nico huffed softly, but he leaned into the touch.

The room went very still.

Will seemed to remember they weren’t alone. His thumb slowed where it rested over Nico’s knuckles, but he didn’t move away.

Instead, he looked up.

Blue eyes swept the room once, curious, bright, entirely unbothered.

“Oh,” he said lightly. “The infamous group.”

There was a faint lilt under the words. Not heavy. Just a soft Southern twang that curled around certain vowels.

Percy blinked. “Infamous?”

“I’ve heard things,” Will said cheerfully.

Nico made a muffled noise into his sleeve. “I have not told him anything.”

Will grinned down at him. “You absolutely have.”

Leo leaned forward immediately. “What kind of things?”

Will shrugged lightly. “Just that you’re loud. And that I should brace myself.”

Leo gasped. “I feel attacked.”

Percy narrowed his eyes. “He profiles.”

“I observe,” Will corrected pleasantly. “It’s a hobby.”

Jason blinked. “You sound like you’re enjoying this.”

“Oh, I am.”

He shifted closer to Nico without thinking, arm sliding more securely around his shoulders. Nico leaned in automatically, like gravity had simply decided that was where he belonged.

Will looked down at him. “You dizzy?”

“No.”

“Headache?”

“No.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, dad.”

Will raised an eyebrow. “I’m serious.”

“I know.”

He studied Nico’s face for a second longer, bright eyes scanning, focused, gentle. Then he nodded once. “Okay.”

Percy leaned toward Jason. “That was kind of hot.”

Jason nodded. “Competent.”

Piper tilted her head. “So you’re the Will.”

“The one and only,” he said with an easy grin.

Percy squinted. “You have an accent.”

Will laughed. “Do I?”

“Yes,” Annabeth said. “A little.”

“Ah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Comes out when I’m tired. Or when I’m arguing. Or when I’m right.”

Nico huffed softly. “So. Always.”

Will bumped his shoulder lightly. “Careful.”

Leo leaned forward and inhaled dramatically. “…He smells like citrus.”

Percy elbowed him hard.

Will blinked. “That’s just shampoo.”

“It’s been mentioned,” Hazel said calmly.

“Repeatedly,” Jason added.

Will’s grin widened. “Good to know I’m consistent.”

Nico groaned. “Please stop encouraging them.”

Will leaned closer, voice warm and teasing. “You’re the one who steals my hoodies.”

“That was once.”

“Three times.”

“Two.”

“Sunshine.”

The pet name dropped warm and casual.

Hazel smiled slowly.

Percy whispered reverently, “Confirmed.”

Nico went pink.

Will didn’t even seem to notice, just kept smiling like this was the best day he’d had all week.

Percy crossed his arms. “We’ve been investigating you.”

“I know,” Will said cheerfully.

Silence.

Nico’s head snapped up. “You what?”

Will shrugged. “Y’all are not subtle.”

There it was again, that tiny twang on y’all.

Leo pointed. “He said y’all!”

Will laughed, bright and unashamed. “I sure did.”

Piper pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Oh he’s charming.”

“Please don’t encourage that,” Nico muttered.

Will looked down at him again, immediately shifting back to attentive. “You eaten?”

Nico hesitated.

Will’s eyes narrowed just slightly. “Sunshine.”

“I had something.”

“What something?”

“…A granola bar.”

Will sighed dramatically. “That is not a meal.”

“It counts.”

“It does not.”

“It has calories.”

“That’s not the standard.”

Percy looked emotional. “He’s fussy.”

Jason nodded. “Husband material.”

Will reached up and smoothed Nico’s hair back from his forehead, then pressed a quick kiss to his temple. Casual. Natural. Automatic.

“You’re impossible,” he said lightly.

Nico rolled his eyes, but leaned closer.

Will looked back at the group, grin returning full force.

“You’re welcome to come over later,” he offered easily. “I cook. He complains about it and then eats half of whatever I make.”

“That is slander,” Nico muttered.

“You licked the spoon.”

“Once.”

“Twice.”

Leo clutched Percy. “He cooks.”

Percy looked teary. “He cooks.”

Will laughed again, open and warm and completely at ease. “I promise I’m less interesting than whatever spreadsheet y’all built.”

Percy froze. “You know about the spreadsheet?”

“I have eyes,” Will said pleasantly. “And you kept staring at me in the gym like I’d committed a crime.”

Jason coughed.

Nico buried his face back into Will’s shoulder. “I’m transferring.”

Will’s arm tightened just slightly around him. “No you’re not.”

He said it gently.

Confidently.

Like it wasn’t even a debate.