Chapter Text
<I guess it’s now or never>
The campfire is about to start but even after all the advice Nico received, he is still really nerves. He hangs back a little, watching as people head toward the fire. Even at this distance he spots his friends in all their boyfriend/girlfriend glory. Annabeth is sitting on the ground in front of Percy and he has his arms around her shoulders saying something in her ear. They must have made up from whatever Jason was talking about. He has his arm around Piper while she has her hand on his knee. They are talking to Hazel and Frank who are holding hands and even sitting close, for Hazel standards at least.
Nico wonders if he will ever be as comfortable with someone or even himself for that matter as all his friends are <Stop it di Angelo! You are going to be just like them one day, maybe with Will and maybe not, but you will be happy. You just have to start putting yourself out there. Now go down there and have fun, you can do this>
Suddenly there is a sound behind him. He jumps and spins around “Sorry! I didn’t mean to surprise you” Will says looking embarrassed. “No its fine, I was just…” Nico puts one hand in his front pocket and the other on the back of his neck “waiting for you…” Will blushes and Nico is pleased by that response.
“Well then… are you ready?” Will says recovering. <As I’ll ever be> Nico nods and they start toward the campfire. “I don’t suppose you talked to Percy this afternoon?” Will asks with an odd tone. “No, I haven’t seen him since breakfast” he replies. “Awesome!” Will sounds relieved. Before Nico can ask why, they reach the campfire and Jason calls his name. As they approach, he winks and Nico hopes Will didn’t see it. Everyone has dopy smiles on and it’s about to get awkward when Will puts on his normal charm.
“Hey guys, lovely night for a campfire…”
“Sure is, why don’t you guys join us” Piper suggests.
Will glances sideways to Nico as if saying whatever he wants to do. Nico thinks maybe he will be less nervous if they start out with the gang. “Sure, why not” he says and they take a seat. “Sweet, we were just discussing past relationships” Percy adds with a little wiggle of his eyebrows.
<or maybe this was a horrible idea>
Nico knows his face is bright red and he silently thanks the gods its dark. “How lucky for us” Will says boldly glaring at Percy. The girls giggle and Nico thinks he has missed something. “So where were we?” Jason cuts ins. “So far Reyna is winning with 2 ex boyfriends and Percy, Annabeth, Hazel and Frank are all tied at 1 thanks to the person next to them.” Piper sums up. “Jason your next, how may girlfriends or boyfriends have you had?” “I had 1 girlfriend when I was 13 and with you beautiful that makes 2” he adds planting a kiss on Piper’s cheek. “You are so sweet!” she says and taps him on the nose. “You two are so…” Hazel pauses looking for the right word. “Nauseating” Nico and Will say at the same time. “BURN!!!!” Percy yells out while everyone laughs. Nico catches Will’s eyes for a second before they join in. “Ha ha” Jason adds but he’s still smiling. “Ok, babe what about you?” Piper sits up straight before she answers “Well, no girlfriends but 3 boyfriends including Jason.” “We have a new leader!” Percy chuckles out “What do you say Will, can you top it?”
<Moment of truth>
“Afraid not, 1 girlfriend but no boyfriends…yet.” Will responds, choosing his last work carefully. Nico lets out the breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. <ok, not so bad…wait did he just say yet?> luckily he wasn’t the only one who noticed and was spared from asking himself.
“What do you mean yet?” Annabeth asks. Will leans forward resting his elbows on his knees and looks down at his hands. “Well, I guess you can say I’m open to all possibilities” he replies not looking up. Which is good, because all of a sudden Nico has 7 pairs of eyes on him and he’s speechless. It takes all his strength not to jump up and start dancing. Will liked guys and he had invited him here. <Maybe he did do all that stuff last night on purpose…maybe there is a chance…>
His exuberance is cut short as Piper points out that it is his turn to confess. “What about you Nico? We all know you liked Percy but crushes don’t count; any boyfriends?”
“No, I haven’t really had time the last few years.”
“Well, aren’t you glad things are slowing down” Jason adds with another wink. Nico glares and reminds himself to punch him later. At last Chiron shows up to get the campfire started. Everyone repositions so they can see him clearly. Nico and Will turn and move to the ground leaning back against the log while the others file in behind them. Will sits close and bumps Nico’s shoulder with a small smile. They are only about a foot apart and his heart starts beating so fast he hopes Will can’t hear it.
Chiron is talking about something but Nico can’t hear him over his own thoughts:
<Will likes guys! Sure he likes girls too but that’s fine, there are plenty of girls at camp. If he wanted a girl he would have one already. What with his relaxed, charming attitude, gorgeous eyes that make you forget all your troubles. That soft silky hair, I bet it’s heaven to run your fingers through it…>
Nico’s hand lifts off his lap slightly as if it has a mind of its own. He quickly put it down by his side, resulting in a sideways glance from Will. <Calm yourself Nico, you can’t just reach out and touch him. He’ll think you’re crazy!>
While Nico tries to calm himself down, he doesn’t notice that Will has moved his hand down to his side as well and it’s now only inches away. Ever so slightly as not to startle him, Will moves his hand closer…closer… and closer still until his pinky bumps up against Nico’s. The other boy goes completely still. With only his eyes Nico looks down at their hands. Will is looking forward watching Chiron but as if he knows Nico is looking, he slowly turns his hand over so his palm is up.
Nico’s heart stutters in his chest.
Will’s hand is clearly there as a silent invitation for Nico to take. He could accept and take his hand or he could decline and move his hand back to his lap. Either way it would be known only between the two of them and carries no pressure at all.
Slowly Nico lifts his hand pausing for a second as his finger tips rest again the grass. <This is it, put yourself out there> he slowly raises his hand and places it on top of Will’s resting their fingers together. His heart is beating so fast he thinks it might burst out of his chest. He holds his breath as Will spreads his fingers and intertwines them with Nico’s; taking a firm but soft, perfect hold. Nico lets out his breath as his whole body fills with warmth. Carefully Will starts to run his thumb along the side of Nico’s hand and he can’t help but think of how perfectly they fit together.
They sit like that for the rest of the campfire. During one of the songs Will leans over and pumps Nico’s shoulder playfully again. Nico can’t help but feel gitty inside even though they have not even talked since the campfire began. They don’t let go until it’s over and they have to get up. They say goodnight to their friends and head back toward the cabins. Without even talking about it, they both head toward the Hades Cabin.
Suddenly Nico gets butterflies in his stomach. He’s so nervous he doesn’t know what to say. Luckily Will starts the conversation off “Well, that was a fun campfire.”
“Yea I… I had a really nice time” Nico says as they reach his cabin. He turns and looks Will in the eyes for the first time since his confection. They are extra bright, like a weight has been lifted off the other boy’s shoulders. They are only a few steps apart and Nico’s heart starts talking before his brain can tell it to shut up.
“About what you said before the campfire…”
“Yea…” Will responds taking a step closer.
“Are you really… <What was the word> open… to possibilities?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it” Will takes another step closer and Nico can feel his breath on his darkening cheeks.
“My heart is just like my open hand….” Then he whispers “all you have to do is take it…”
Without even thinking Nico leans forward and softly presses his lips to Will’s. They are just as soft as he always thought they would be. He steps back surprised by his own boldness and is rewarded with a smile. Will makes the next move, closing the already small space between them, wrapping his arm around Nico’s waist and kisses him again.
Instantly Nico feels whole, like all the pieces of himself have finally been put in place. This is exactly where he is supposed to be. He reaches up and places one hand on Will’s chest and carefully tangles the other in his hair. Nico completely loses track of time as Will’s tongue grazes his bottom lip. Not wanting to stop, Nico does the same and soon the two are in perfect rhythm. When they finally break apart, Will rests his forehead on Nico’s, they are both short of breath.
“I guess that makes this officially our first date” Will says with a smile as bright as the sun.
“I guess it does. But if you think those corny lines are going to work again, you better think again Sunshine.”
“We’ll see” he adds leaning in for another kiss. That’s when the applause starts. Nico looks around until he spots the source. Over in front of cabin 1, Jason and the gang are all clapping, high fiving and giving the pair thumbs up. Hazel looks like she is about to cry. Nico knows he should be embarrassed by getting caught kissing Will. But being this close with Will’s arms still around him, he can’t bring himself to care. Will chuckles and tightens his grip while Nico lays his head on his shoulder. “You’re Welcome!!” he hears Percy yell.
“What’s that about?”
“You don’t want to know!” Will says shaking his head.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“Or maybe in your dreams?”
Nico does his best to glare but looking up at Will, his eyes bright and lips red from kissing, he knows it’s not convincing.
“What can I say… Everybody needs a little Sunshine”
The End