Chapter Text
Nico was sitting with Will on the beach looking out on the lake where campers were swimming and canoeing. Sitting among the trees and the sand, Nico was always scared, and yet here alone with Will he was content. Here with Will holding his hand he was only scared for him. Not scared of being alone again, not scared that he was going back to the pits of hell, not scared because his best friend had died. Only scared for Will.
“I don’t like sand,” Will said. Nico looked at him, confused,”... It’s coarse, rough and irritating. And it gets everywhere,” Nico rolled his eyes, "But not like you, you’re everything soft… and smooth.”
Nico giggled, ”you're a nerd.”
“I know,” Will said.
“I love you”
Will smirked, “I know.”
Nico punched him lightly in the arm, "say it back asshole.”
Will smiled, "I love you,”
Nico leaned his head on Will’s shoulder. “Everyone's coming back next week, I’m excited,” Will said ,” more of my siblings are coming, Piper’s coming, I think Leo is too. Austin will not shut up about Piper coming, she’s gonna sing for the band at the dance.”
“Is she doing okay?” Nico asked, looking up at Will.
“From what I hear she's doing okay.”
“Good, that's good.”
Nico was trying not to think about their quest, but it was always there. He wasn’t scared for himself at all, Nico wasn’t afraid to die if it came to it. He was only scared for Will. Tartarus isn’t kind to people, Will had seen it in Nico and Nico had seen it in Percy and Annabeth. Nico was worried, worried that Will would be traumatized and it would be his fault, Worried that Will would get hurt or die, worried that he would die and Will would be alone down there.
“What's wrong?” Will asked.
Nico wiped at his face, there were no tears, Will could always just tell. “Nothing.”
Will shook his head and looked at Nico, ”No,” he said, "It's not.”
“... You don’t have to go, you know.”
“Nico, we’ve been over this a million times, I’m coming with you.” Will said.
“But you don’t have to. I don’t know why-”
Will put his hand on Nico’s cheek, “I want to, Nico. I want to come with you because I love you. I know what’s down there, you’ve told me, Percy and Annabeth have told me, I don't care. I’m not going to let you go alone, you need someone with you.”
Nico was trying not to cry, “...okay,” he said hesitantly, “okay.” He buried his face in Will’s shoulder. He knew there was no convincing him. He knew there was no changing the prophecy for that matter. Will was going to come with him.
Nico got up to look at Will. Will wiped a tear from his face. Suddenly Nico leaned forward and kissed him. He pressed his forehead to Wills and said, ”I love you Will Solace. I swear on the River Styx, I’m going to protect you. Nothing is going to happen to you as long as I’m there.”
“...Nico,” Will said. A tear rolled down his face. Nico knew what he meant, It went without saying. ‘You know how dangerous that type of promise is.’
“I know,” Nico said, wiping Will’s tears away, ”I don’t care. You’re coming with me, and if anything happened to you I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
Will embraced him tight. They would have each other, so everything would be okay. He just wasn’t too sure of that.