Chapter Text
Hot.
Bright.
Wet.
Why am I wet?
Nico tried to open his eyes, only managing a squint before the sun penetrated his corneas. It felt like he was forcing the gates of Elysium open.
Nothing hurt particularly bad. That was always a good sign. What definitely wasn’t a good sign was how bright the lights felt and how his vision kept blurring in and out of focus. Weakly, Nico raised his hand to his forehead where the wet feeling was originating from. His hand landed with a splat. Slapping right onto a melting ice pack.
Then a hand landed on his.
Nico didn’t fight the guiding hand that moved him. Gently, Nico’s hand was deposited back at his side and the guiding hand raised back to Nico’s forehead to readjust the ice pack. “Leave it there, you’ve got to cool down.” Said the voice from before.
For the first time in forever, Nico listened. He kept his hand by his side and mumbled a quiet “Sorry—“
“It’s alright. Do you think you could open your eyes for me?” The voice gently said
The clanking of metal—probably gold—sounded. Nico opened his eyes again and wasn’t blinded by the blinding sun this time. His eyes wouldn’t focus quite right. Everything was blurry or blocked out by the strange black dots. Nico only needed a few more seconds to identify his guardian angel.
Will.
His freckles were practically glowing as he turned back to Nico. His blond hair was reflecting the light, thankfully the reflected light scattered throughout the room and didn’t blind him.
“Will-“ Nico croaked out. Holy—his throat was dry. Like Apollo’s desert Kingdom dry.
“I’m here, you’ve passed out in the hallway. Do you remember that?” Will’s voice began to trailed off—becoming more distant. Nico crained his neck to see Will crouched by what looked to be a mini fridge.
Finally Nico’s brain registered the question: “I—” Nico’s voice seemed to get caught on an invisible fence. He coughed to try to clear his throat and force the sound out.
Will turned back, concern written all over his face. He walked back to the cot with an ice pack and a cup of waters.
“Here you are.” Will’s sweet voice said as he removed the old, melted ice pack. Nico couldn’t help but close his eyes again. Something about Will was just so…calming.
Nico was half conscious as his forehead was wiped clean of the condensation from the previous ice pack. He flinched slight when the new cold one was applied.
Nico didn’t fight the hand that raised his head but did fling his eyes open when he felt something tap his lips. Nico made direct eye contact with Will who was currently leaning over the cot and trying to pour water into Nico’s mouth.
Will quickly flinched back but, thankfully, didn’t drop Nico head. The syllables that stumbled out of his mouth were both endearing and incredibly stupid: “I’m sorry—I-I should have asked before hand. Your throat just sounded so dry so I assumed you would want water.”
Nico simply stared up at the blond. He was quite sure what else to say. So instead of speaking he lifted his hand to tap the cup of water. Will took the hint and gently tilted the water cup into Nico’s mouth. The steady hand behind Nico’s head was a big help—it was comforting yet steady and Nico didn’t feel like he was falling flat.
Each quiet swallow was a quiet victory to Will. He’s had patients in the past who refuse to drink water. Nico is surprise aware for heat stroke—which is a good thing of course! Nico’s eyes still fluttered at times and sometimes his breathing would pause or hitched.
Will gently took the cup away and laid Nico back onto the infirmary cot. His throat no longer felt dry. Nico honestly felt rejuvenated. He watched as Will tossed the used paper cup into the trash.
“Are you a medic?” Nico’s brash voice finally exited his throat. It was still scratchy but it no longer hurts to talk.
Will turned back as if surprised Nico had actually spoken. He gave a soft smile and came to sit in the seat next to the bed. “I’m a medic in training I guess.” The boy shrugged with his eyes directed at the tiled floor. “Why do you ask?”
The question was pretty standard, a simple conversation starter really. Nico answered nonetheless: “It’s just that you’re a prince. Not only a prince but a direct heir.”
Nico made eye contact with Will. He was just staring at Nico with those wide blue eyes. The blond then looked away and cleared his throat, “Uhm—” Will’s voice choked off.
Will raised a hand to his neck when his voice cracked. “I apologize.” He said quickly while looking back at the floor. “I was a medic in training before…” his voice trailed off leaving the sentence unfinished.
Nico tilted his head but quickly straightened it when it felt like his brain was going to fall out of his ear, “Before what?”
“Before things changed.” He replied shortly.
Will didn’t explain too much. He didn’t need to. Even with the pounding headache Nico understood what Will was saying.
When Will was the youngest he didn’t have to think about ruling. Never in a million years would a boy so young have a single thought about running a kingdom because of the death of his brothers. Without thinking Nico blurted out, “I’m sorry.”
Nico wasn’t exactly sure why he said it. Half of it was condolences for the death of Will’s siblings while the other half was a strange feeling of understanding. When Bianca died Nico was the new heir. Will’s going through the same thing.
Will suddenly straightened himself while taking a a quick, self-soothing breath. He looked to Nico with a small smiling and murmured, “You don’t have to apologize.”
“I wanted to.” Nico insisted.
The son of Apollo let out a self-deprecating huff of what seemed to be laughter, “Why?”
“Because I know what it’s like.”
Nico’s not exactly sure what possessed him to say that but it just felt right. Nico watched as Will froze like a deer in the headlights of a car. He was fidgeting with the bangles and bracelets on his wrists.
Nico wasn’t sure how long they sat in silence. Nico didn’t mind though.
He knew how it felt to lose a sibling— maybe not as many as Will has lost but he understands to an extent. Then Nico said the exact thing he had rejected years ago, “If you ever want to talk, I’m here.”
Nico knew it was a long shot but to him it was a shot worth taking. Sure, they weren’t close, but the thought of walking away and saying nothing had felt wrong.
Will chewed his lip and looked down to his lap. He did that rather often. It was like he was avoiding his own thoughts and the situation around him.
“I appreciate that.”
Will didn’t look up but he at least spoke.
“You should probably get some rest.” Will began to stand up but never made eye contact with Nico. Though, the son of hades watched as Will tried to discreetly wipe his eyes. “When I come back we’ll discuss a new wardrobe for you.”
With that Will left. Leaving Nico to lay on the cot by himself.
That was a little strong. Even for myself.