Chapter Text
Nico sighed as he walked through another Temple of Healing, no thanks to Asclepius. He hated coming to these places because more often than not he would have to continue to return to them to take another life. Before, he could travel around, see different things and places. Now his entire immortal life helping Thanatos collect the dead revolved around these Temples of Healing that sometimes held more death than healing inside. He wasn’t always immortal, just a normal demigod(as normal as a son of Hades could be in the demigod world) until he died fighting yet another battle for the gods, saving someone that probably wouldn’t even mourn his death. He was happy when Thanatos arrived to collect him because that meant that he could finally rest and let someone else save the world instead. Hades, Persephone and Thanatos had different plans. They wanted a vacation from time to time, something death didn’t allow. So Hades made Nico the immortal Prince of the Underworld to rule when Hades and Persephone were on vacation and to take lives when Thanatos wanted a break. Of course he had a choice, but he figured that it couldn’t be that hard after what he had been through. He didn’t want to go to Elysian Fields because the person he had died saving would probably be there. His sister wasn’t there because she chose reincarnation, something that he couldn’t do. So here he was, covering for Thanatos yet again.
Dark eyes scanned the temple falling upon a familiar mop of blond hair. Recently, a son of Apollo had started working at this particular Temple of Healing, which wasn’t unheard of, but still quite rare. Children of Apollo often had many talents other than healing leading them to follow other career paths. However, this particular son of Apollo (he soon found out was named Will) was gifted with only healing, healing not just the body but the mind as well. There were even times when Nico had come to collect a soul only to find the name had disappeared from his list when the blond was around. Today was no different.
Nico glanced down at the list to find that the name had disappeared, before he looked back towards the son of Apollo that was now unconscious in a nearby cot. He could sense that if this continued, Will’s name would soon show up on his list. Names on the list held no meaning to him ever since everyone he knew had died, but the thought of Will’s name appearing made his stomach clench painfully. He knew Will was a mortal and would end up there eventually, but the thought of taking such a bright and happy person to the Underworld felt wrong.
“He is beautiful isn’t he?” a familiar voice chuckled. Nico didn’t need to look to know which annoying god was next to him.
“What are you doing here, Eros?” he asked with an annoyed sigh, obsidian eyes met amused red. “Come to inspire another tragedy?”
“Maybe,” Eros replied with a smirk. “You seem to be quite taken with that Apollo spawn. I could arrange things for you to make him yours.”
“Like kidnaping?” Nico frowned as he left the building since there was no longer anyone on the list. “Like you did with your wife?”
“I take offense to that!” the god grumbled like a child. “She still fell in love with me and still loves me. I just had to intervene for our paths to cross. I could do the same.”
“Leave Will alone,” Nico said as an annoyed sigh escaped his lips.
“OHHH, You know his Naaame!” Eros exclaimed with a little too much excitement than Nico cared for.
“Drop it Eros!” Nico hissed. “Mortals aren’t there to be played with like toys!”
“Hit a nerve did I?” Eros snickered, his devious smile seemed to only grow. “That’s right! you weren’t always a god! I do remember playing with you...”
Nico shoved the other god against a wall, his Stygian Iron sword to his throat. “Better chose your next words wisely, Eros. I might not be able to kill you, but I can make you hurt so bad you wish you were dead.”
Eros just smiled as he put his hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay. No need to get violent. I was just thinking I could help you find love. If you wish to be alone forever, then so be it. It just thought it would be cute to have a sunny son of Apollo healer fall in love with the creepy son of Hades death kid, but to each their own.” With that the god disappeared which left Nico with a bitter taste in his mouth.
****
Will let out soft yawn as he sat up and tried to rid himself of last remainders of sleep. When he finally opened his eyes, he noticed that it was dark with the faint light of green torches lighting the room. He didn’t remember green torches when he went to sleep. Blue eyes shot open as he actually looked around the room that he was unfamiliar with. The structure was very much Greek still, but instead of the white stone, it was black. He wondered if he was this was what the Underworld looked like then started to panic and wonder if he was actually in the Underworld. Had he finally gone too far and gotten himself killed?
“What are you doing here?” A panicked male voice squeaked.
Will turned in every direction as he looked for where the voice was coming from, but couldn’t find it’s owner. “I-I... I don’t know. I fell asleep in the Temple of Healing and then I woke up here. Can you tell me where I am?”
“The Underworld, but you are not dead.” The voice answered with a huff then started to mumble something about Eros and torture.
Will knew he should be afraid at being in the Underworld, but the voice had said he wasn’t dead so that was good. Honestly, Will was never afraid of the Underworld. He was quite fascinated with it in fact because everyone eventually ended up here anyways and Hades was known for his fair judgment. He always felt that Hades just got a bad reputation since he was associated with death and everyone was afraid of death. In all the stories that have been told about Hades, none of them were terrible and all were fair. Even though people argued about how Persephone became his wife, Will liked to believe that Hades was just lonely and Persephone knew what she was doing when she ate the pomegranate seed. If he was offered to rule the Underworld as an equal, he sure as Hades wouldn’t pass up that deal.
“We need to get you out of here,” the voice said, but Will still couldn’t place where it was coming from. “The living shouldn’t be here, especially a son of Apollo!”
“What’s wrong with being a son of Apollo?” Will frowned as he put his hands on his hips stubbornly.
“The sun reminds the dead too much of living.” the voice answered. “They will naturally be drawn to you like a moth to the light. Only they will drain you of your very existence and you will cease to be.”
Will shuddered, “Well that doesn’t seem like fun. Why are they not attacking me now?”
“You are safe as long as you stay within the grounds of my father’s palace.”
“Your father’s palace?” Will asked as his head tilted to the side in confusion. “So you are not Lord Hades?”
“No,” the voiced answered with a tired sigh. “Hades is my father. I was once a demigod like yourself, but I became a minor god with my father’s blessing to help assist him with Underworld duties.”
Will nodded with a smile, “I do think I remember that story. You must be Lord Nico then?”
“You know my name?” the voice whispered so softly that Will almost thought he imagined it.
“I do!” he smiled. “I have always been fascinated with all the stories of the Underworld since we all end up down here at one point or another. If I remember correctly, you were quite the hero and a very powerful one at that. You saved all of humanity even if it meant sacrificing yourself in the end. You are very amazing Lord Nico. It is a great honor to meet you.”
Will watched with fascination as the shadows in the room pooled into one area and the most beautiful man that he had ever seen emerged. The man looked about Will’s age (but gods could be any age they wished), with wild shoulder length black hair against pale skin and the most beautiful obsidian eyes. Those obsidian eyes seemed to stare directly into his soul, but at the same time seemed to hold so much fear and sadness.
Will just smiled and allowed his empath powers take control. He didn’t know if he could help gods with feelings, but it was worth a try. He had always admired the stories of Nico even though others didn’t. He had felt a connection to the stories of Nico despite being a son of Apollo himself.
The son of Hades frowned as he took a timid step forward, “What are you doing?”
“Oh!” Will said with a jump and blush. He quickly shut his empathy link off. “I...I have powers for both physical and mental healing...” He bowed with hope that he wasn’t about the offend the god in front of him. “I am sorry Lord Nico...I could just feel the fear and sadness radiating off of you and hoped my empath abilities could help you feel better. I meant no disrespect! I just don’t like it when people are hurt!”
Of all the things that could have happened, Will did not expect the son of Hades to break out into a fit of laughter. All he could do was stare dumbfounded at the sight before him. Although, the sound of the man’s laughter was music to his ears, it was so beautiful.
“I’m sorry William Solace,” Nico chuckled as he wiped tears from his eyes. “It is just so you to try to heal everyone.”
“You know my name?” Will answered with a small smile and a blush. He watched in amusement as a blush erupted across the god’s face, the happy laughter gone and replaced with shyness.
“I am a god,” Nico stuttered as he avoided eye contact.
“Yes,” Will agreed. “But not even my father knows my name. I am pretty sure he doesn’t even know I exist.” He took a cautious step forward so he could take Nico’s hands in his own. Those beautiful obsidian eyes looked up with confusion. “It is okay, I would much rather have this god know my name.”
“William...”
“Please just call me Will.” Will interrupted with a bright smile. “You know, I would love a tour of your father’s palace before you take me back.”
“Maybe another time Will,” Nico answered with a tired sigh. “I have some work to do.”
“So there will be another time?” Will asked hopefully, his blush so deep he was sure he was glowing.
Nico bit his lip nervously, “Would you like there to be another time?”
“I would love it.” Will beamed and before his mind could catch up to his body, he placed a soft kiss on the god’s cheek.
***
Eros watched the scene unfold with a smirk. It was about time that the bratty son of Hades accepted love.