Chapter Text
“Hey, Neeks!”
One sunny son of Apollo jogged up to Nico as he walked to breakfast, his breath puffing out into the winter air. The border kept out the extreme cold of New York winter weather, but it still got pretty chilly at Camp Half Blood. Most people didn’t mind; after all, it wasn’t winter without the cold. The Apollo kids were truly the only ones who seemed to be physically suffering every day. However, nothing seemed to dampen the bright blues of Will Solace. At least, not to Nico.
“Don’t call me that,” Nico said, by way of greeting.
“Aw, come on, you know you love it,” Will winked.
Nico rolled his eyes and continued walking with Will by his side. They both got their food and sat at the Apollo table. Nico had taken to doing that since the war ended. It was “mandated by his doctor” for a while, but at this point, Nico couldn’t pretend that he didn’t enjoy sitting here more than his own table.
“Nico!” Austin shouted from a little down the table. “We’re throwing an ugly sweater party tonight. You should come!”
Nico looked at the son of Apollo, confused. “Why would you have a party for ugly sweaters? That doesn’t even make sense.”
Will laughed, light and airy. “Oh, Nico! I don’t think you know what he’s talking about. It’s a Christmas thing. You wear the ugliest Christmas sweater you have—you could even make one yourself!”
“But why are the sweaters ugly?” Nico was not sold on this idea.
Kayla piped up across from him. “I don’t know, it’s just the thing. Have you seen Christmas sweaters? Like, the kind with literal lights and fuzzy balls stuck to them. It’s just ridiculous and fun.”
“Still sounds weird. But I don’t have one of those anyway.” Nico glanced away from the smiling faces of his fellow campers. It was just another thing that Nico didn’t understand and couldn’t participate in.
“Well, Death Boy,” Will grinned as the son of Hades glanced at him, “I assumed you wouldn’t have one. It doesn’t exactly fit with your whole Batman wardrobe.” He giggled as he shielded himself from Nico’s punch. That skull ring was not kind. “So,” Will continued. “I got you a present!” At that, Will pulled out a neatly wrapped box from under the table.
Nico took the box uncertainly. “I thought presents were only on Christmas?”
“I mean, people can give presents whenever they want,” Will shrugged and smiled. “Go ahead and open it!”
With some hesitance, Nico carefully pulled of the ribbon and peeled back the wrapping paper, drawing out the process a lot longer than all the eagerly watching Apollo kids ever would have. He placed the wrapping on the side and lifted the lid off the box. Inside was the gaudiest thing Nico would ever own. The sweater was bright green with an ugly face on it. Nico was pretty sure it was called the “Grinch” because he had asked Will about it one day after someone called him that. Just because he was grumpy didn’t mean he hated Christmas, gods. The sleeves had tiny felt Christmas tree cut-outs hanging from them and colorful fuzzy balls stuck all over the sweater. It was a ghastly sight.
“Ta-da!” Will trilled. “Do you like it? I added the extra stuff myself.” He seemed so proud, Nico didn’t know what to say.
“Uh,” he started, “I mean, it’s pretty ugly.”
“Perfect, that’s the point!” The rest of the cabin made a few comments about it before going back to other conversations. Will turned to face Nico and placed the sweater on Nico’s chest, seeing how it looked. “It’ll fit perfectly. Now you have to come to the party.”
Nico tried to scowl; he really did. But the happiness on Will’s face was hard to resist. “That was your plan all along, huh.”
“Oh, Death Boy, you know me too well.” Will smiled his bright, sunny smile, the cloudy, dismal sky behind him making him seem like the only sun in the sky. Pretty close to the truth, if you asked Nico.