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Hero . That word made Nico feel inadequate. Like it was a title he had to live up to, like his father was always telling him. It's true, he saved the world along with the seven, but he knew he wasn't a hero like them. He wasn’t a part of the seven. He didn’t even have a room to sleep in aboard the Argo II. Leo had offered him Percy’s cabin, but it felt wrong, with Percy being in Greek Hell and whatever.
So he sat up on the mast, minding his own business, dealing with his nightly demons on his own. He knew he didn’t belong anywhere, and he was ok with that. But a part of him longed for someone to want him, care for him, love him. Hazel loved him, he told himself, but he knew she didn’t. She and he had only known each other for a couple months. Nobody could develop love for someone in such a short amount of time.
Or so he thought, until he met a blonde haired stranger named Will Solace. He met him in such dire circumstances, Nico honestly thought Will had forgotten about him. But then Will scolded him for ignoring him during the 48 hours after the war. It was one of the only times Nico had ever regretted ignoring someone.
Then, Will told him he would have to stay three days in the infirmary. And to Nico’s surprise, he was more than ok with that.
And it began from there, more hanging out with Will Solace, more picnics in the strawberry fields with Will Solace, more movie nights with Will Solace, and more falling in love with the wonderful, kind-hearted, beautiful, boy named Will Solace.
Of course, Nico being Nico, he’d never had the guts to ask Will on a date. On his own. So he called up Annabeth Chase, who was currently attending the university in New Rome. After he came out to her, his grudge he’d been holding against her vanished, and they'd actually become unlikely friends.
He set up the Iris message with the mist and rang her. Suddenly a blonde-haired ponytail appeared.
“Oh, hey Nico!” She was smiling that totally Annabeth smile she’d had since she was 12.
“Hey! We haven’t spoken in a while. How have you been?” He decided a bit of small talk couldn't hurt.
“Good! Good. I’m studying architecture while Percy’s unsurprisingly studying oceanography. Midterms are coming up and I was actually about to finish up studying for today. Is this all you want to talk about? Because you have that hesitant look on your face that tells me otherwise.”
She raised her left eyebrow and put down her pencil.
At that, Nico blushed and hid his face behind his hair.
“Uh,” He laughed awkwardly, “No, that's not all. Not like I don’t care how you've been! I just--” He was interrupted by a knowing voice.
“Oh it’s fine. Something tells me this is about your little boyfriend, Will Solace. Is it not?” She had a smirk on her face that told him she knew she was right.
“He is NOT my boyfriend! And- How do you know about him?!” His face was completely red already, if it hadn't been before.
“I have my sources. Anyway, I'm assuming you want help asking him out?” She said.
If there was one thing about Annabeth, It was that she had incredible mind-reading skills. He bit his lip and swallowed. “Yeah.”
“Do it. I can guarantee he likes you back. Stop wallowing in your own self pity and angst, and do it. You two have been hanging out all summer. He gets that nervous smile around you. On our last night before the summer ended, you sat next to him. Really close actually. And I remember him teaching you how to make a smore. You got marshmello all over your mouth. He pointed it out and wiped it off for you. He looked like a lovesick puppy. He most definitely likes you back.” She ended with a small smile.
He smiled as he remembered that night. It was actually the night he’d realized he was in love with Will Solace. He laughed. “Yeah, I remember that night. How do you know he looked at me like a “lovesick puppy”? Stalker.”
She snorted. “I was sitting next to you.” She deadpanned.
“Oh yeah.” He bit on his cheek. Was it possible Will could actually like him back?
“And Nico, look. I may not be a daughter of Aphrodite, But trust me on this, and ask him out.” She looked at him with her stormy grey eyes, telling nothing but the truth.
He looked back at her.
“Ok.”
-
Will was currently going on about the intense lore of The Umbrella Academy , and while Nico had no idea what was happening, he was happy to pretend he did.
“And then it's revealed that Vanya actually has powers! And then her like, murderer boyfriend brings her out to his murder cabin and like sets up a fight for her so that she uses her powers and-” he cut himself off.
“And then what?’ Nico asked, confused why Will stopped.
“Im- Im sorry. Sometimes, when I'm hyper fixated on a show, or book, or movie, I just sort of go on a ramble about the plot and you're obviously not interested. '' Nico looked at him like he had grown another head.
“Why wouldn’t I be interested? I’m interested in anything you want to ramble on about. You can always tell me about the intense lore of The Umbrella Academy, Will.” He laughed during the last part.
Will looked at him unbelievingly. “Really?”
Nico gave him a look of trust. “Yes really. Anything you’re interested in, I’m interested in.”
That was the night Will Solace realized he was hopelessly in love with Nico Di Angelo.
-
Will was never the type to make the first move. Of all his boyfriends and girlfriends of the past, they’d always been the ones to ask him out first. Will decided that he was going to change that. By gathering up the courage to finally ask out his best friend, (who he happened to also be in love with). How he was going to do that, well, he had an idea.
The idea was to ask somebody else for an idea. And that someone was the one and only Annabeth Chase.
-
He Iris messaged her the next day.
“Hey Annabeth!” He was hoping the spontaneous call didn’t make it look like he only wanted to talk because he was having boy trouble.
“Oh! Will? Hey! What are you up to?” She sounded surprised to see him. She had the right to though, they had never really had an actual conversation, well, except when she was stabbed and he saved her life. And they were always friendly when they saw each other, but otherwise they didn’t talk.
“Uhm, hey! I sort of have a situation and was hoping you could help me?” He put on a small smile.
Annabeth looked at him like she knew what he was going to say. “Sure! Shoot.”
He bit his lip, and then proceeded to go on about how in love he was with Nico Di Angelo, and how he wanted to ask him out but has no idea where to start. And sure it must have been a bit awkward for Annabeth, given that he was talking about a boy she knew since he was 10. But if it was, she sure as hell didn’t show it.
“I think that you should do something small. I don't know if you've noticed but, Nico doesn’t really like attention all that much. Don't do anything grand. Bring him to a coffee shop, or a park, or something. He would love that. Honestly, he would do anything as long as it’s with you, Will.” She finished.
He blinked. “Really? Anything as long as it’s with me?”
“Yep. I know he likes you back. And you, Will Solace, are going to prove it by asking him out tomorrow.” She decided.
He swallowed. “I- Tomorrow?” His eyes bulged. He didn’t know if he had the courage to do it TOMORROW.
She let out a breath. “You can do it, Will. Just don’t break his heart and we’ll be all good!” She threatened sweetly. “I gotta go. Good luck Will!” She swiped her fingers through the mist, ending the IM.
Will ran his fingers through his hair. Looks like he’s going to ask Nico Di Angelo out tomorrow.
-
Currently, Nico was in his cabin trying to pick out an outfit for his date with Will. That is, if he doesn’t reject him. Nico was trying not to think about that outcome.
Laid in front of him were two shirts. Both black, being that as an angsty 12 year old, the only things he ever bought were black. He was sort of starting to regret that. There was a plain black sweater, and his favorite Green Day t-shirt. He looked outside and remembered it was November. He bit his lip and held up the Green Day shirt in the mirror. He put it down and chose the sweater. He looked in the mirror as he had matched a pair of light blue jeans and Doc Martens with it. He smiled and decided he looked cute.
Closing the door behind him, he walked out of the cabin and down to the infirmary. It was about midday, so he guessed Will would either be working or on his lunch break right now.
As he opened the door to Will’s office, it was as he guessed, Will was on his lunch break right now. He was sitting at his desk, chomping on a BLT, while aggressively writing paperwork. That was another thing about Will. He was what some might call a ‘work-aholic’. He never stopped working. One time, Nico had to use his hypnokinesis on Will to make him fall asleep, because he wouldn’t put the laptop down.
So, you can tell how Nico would react to seeing Will in this state again.
“Will.” He knocked on the door and mustered up his sternest voice.
Will didn’t look up. “Mm?”
“Will, look at me.” Nico walked closer to the desk.
Will pulled his eyes from the document. “What’s up?”
“You have to stop working.” Nico took the pen straight from Will’s hand.
“Or what, Death Boy?” He questioned teasingly.
Nico got closer. “Or I'll just have to put you to sleep, like last time.”
“That was one time, Nico.” Will whined.
“No, it wasn’t. Not everybody needs your help every second of the day, Sunshine. You have to take breaks sometimes too. You get tired just like the rest of us.” Nico put his hand on Will’s. His lips thinned.
“I’m taking a break right now.” He argued. Nico raised his eyebrow.
“A real break. With me. Right now. On the lake.” Nico got up and gestured to Will to do the same.
“C’mon. Up. Let’s go.” Will stood and followed Nico, as he was pleasantly surprised at Nico’s pushy-ness today.
And Nico led them to the lake.
-
Will decided that Nico was the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. The way Nico’s hair blew in the wind, exposing his angelic features and his magnificent brown eyes. The way Nico’s skin seemed to glow under the evening sun. The way his smile was tilted a little and it brightened his world. The way he said his name.
“Will, what do you think?” After Nico dragged Will to the lake, he’d decided it was the perfect time to make each other flower crowns.
Nico held up a crown decorated with Water Lilies and Daisies. It was wonderful.
“This is amazing Nico! I love it.” Will sounded genuine. He held up his own flower crown he’d made for Nico. It was covered with Persian Lilies and Iris’.
Nico looked at him like he’d given him the world. “It’s beautiful.” He smiled. “Is it weird that I really want to kiss you right now?” He’d heard Nico say just above a whisper. Will’s heart stopped working.
“What?” He looked at Nico with bulging eyes. Nico’s face turned scarlet red.
“Oh my gods did I say that out loud?” He squeaked out. Will barely managed a nod.
“I'm so sorry Will! I didn’t mean to sound creepy! Please don't hate me I wasn't thinking, It just you made the crown and I-” Will cut him off.
“Did you mean it?” He swallowed. “I mean, do you really want to kiss me?” Nico looked up at him and gave a curt nod.
Will leaned in but hesitated. Nico just nodded with wide eyes. And all the sudden they were kissing. Nico had never kissed anyone else before, so for his first kiss, it was pretty damn good. Will kissed him like he couldn’t get enough of him. Like he’d been waiting for so long for this. They way Will kissed him, made him never want to stop.
After what felt like hours they finally broke apart, gasping for air. Nico pressed their foreheads together, breathing each other's air. Will gave him another small kiss on the side of his mouth, and then broke the silence.
“Holy shit.” Will smiled. “That was the best kiss of my life.” They both laughed.
Nico nodded. “Me too. I really like you, Will.” Will grinned.
“But do you like like, or just like me?” He teased. Nico snorted.
“ Like like, you dork!” Nico pushed him into the grass and pulled him into another kiss.
Yeah, Will could get used to this.
-