Work Text:
Out of all the traditions Will has made with his friends over the three years in college, he likes the end of semester parties the most. Well, it’s not so much as a party, but more of a gathering at a nearby bar, with lots of drinks and jokes at each other’s expense. After the long weeks of finals and practicals and assignment submissions that feel like they have stretched into a year, a Vodka Martini in his hand feels like heaven. Tonight’s no different, and he has been having fun releasing his semester worth of stress so far.
Or at least he was, until Jason came to find him.
“I think Nico’s had enough for the night,” Jason says, “Time to go take care of your roommate.”
Will takes a long sigh. He's not happy, sure, but he's not surprised either. He should have known it was too good to last. “What happened?”
“Leo bet Piper and Nico on who can handle the most vodka shots without throwing up,” Jason shrugs.
“And?”
“And Nico won.”
“Damnit!”
Not that Will’s frustrated Nico won— no scratch that, he is frustrated Nico won because drunk Nico can be, well, a lot. It’s not like Nico has a real drinking problem or even drinks that often. But the issue is when he drinks a lot, Nico can get a little flirty and handsy. The phrase 'a little' being a huge understatement.
“He’s not— I mean he hasn’t started stripping or anything, right?” Will continues, not quite wanting to know the answer.
“Not yet,” Jason says ambiguously, “But as far as I know, after the shots he declared his undying love for a total stranger, made out with a couple of them, and almost cried when he heard Travis already has a girlfriend.”
That’s… Frankly, he’s seen worse. Will loves the guy— more than loves; he's been in love with Nico actively for the last two years, but that's not the point. Anyway, he loves the guy, but Nico's lowered inhibitions can sometimes be a massive headache for anyone involved. Back in their sophomore year they’d thrown a housewarming party at their new apartment, and that had been way worse (honestly, it still gives him second hand embarrassment just thinking about it). But if he doesn’t want a repeat of that day, he should probably take hold of Nico and get him home.
“Do you know where he went?” Will asks Jason.
“Uh, I think he was with Percy and Annabeth the last time I saw him,” Jason says. Will thanks him and turns to leave, but Jason calls out to him from behind. He has a mischievous edge to his smile. “FYI, the guys he made out with, both of them had blond hair and blue eyes. Guess he has a type, huh?”
Will just glares at him. “Jason, now’s not the time to theorize on how Nico might be into you.” He leaves with a huff, ignoring Jason’s shout of That’s not what I meant, idiot.
It doesn’t take Will long to find him with Percy and Annabeth, the latter of whom is practically wrestling a glass of whiskey away from Nico. Will isn't worried. Nico can be flirty when drunk, and he's currently with his former crush so, there's nothing to worry about, nope. Or be jealous about, really. When he approaches them Will realizes that not only is there anything to worry about, but also that the scene in front of him is really bizarre. Nico is definitely flirting— not with Percy but Annabeth.
"Y'know Annie— can I call you Annie?" Nico slurs his words as he takes hold of one of her hands. Will can see Annabeth barely controlling her laughter as she nods, which is a stark contrast from Percy who's barely controlling his annoyance. Nico continues. "Right so, Annie, if I were even remotely attracted to women, you'd be my first call."
At those words Annabeth lets out a bark of laughter while Nico smiles, seemingly pleased with himself. Will can't help but smile at that, but Percy's looks like he's plotting a silent murder. "Dude, stop flirting with my girlfriend," Percy huffs in annoyance and tries to get Nico away from Annabeth.
Honestly, what's he so worried about? Percy knows Nico is indeed very much gay and would never in a hundred sober years come for his girlfriend.
But apparently Nico's not done yet. He finally gives up on the glass of whiskey, but doesn't loosen the hold on Annabeth's hand. "I mean, what do you see in him, really?" Nico asks her, not so surreptitiously pointing towards Percy. "He's got his stupid hair and stupid face and his clothes were famous back in the 90s."
Percy opens his mouth in protest, but Annabeth cuts him off with a laugh. She seems eager to see where this goes, and weirdly enough, so is Will.
"So Annabeth— sorry Annie, wha'dya say?" Nico leans into Annabeth and whispers loudly. "Me an' you can run away together, Percy can go to hell."
"Alright that's enough," Percy intervenes before Annabeth can dish out an answer, which Will thinks is a smart move on his part. Even Annabeth couldn't say no to that adorably pouting drunk face.
"Aw, Percy's worried Nico might sweep you off your feet. That's cute," Will coos.
Percy doesn't say anything, busy holding Nico up, but his wolf-stare is enough of an answer. He takes Nico's weight and passes him to Will like it's nothing. Will lets Nico hold on to his waist so he doesn't fall off.
"Your boyfriend is your responsibility now," Percy snarks, and takes a firm hold on Annabeth's waist. Annabeth rolls her eyes good-naturedly. "If you'll excuse us, I'd like to go dance with my lovely girlfriend."
"I— He's not my boyfriend!" Will yells, but it falls into deaf ears as Percy and Annabeth walk away to the dance floor. Percy has always been a touchy feely person, but on the dance floor, he takes it to another level every time he's with Annabeth.
Speaking of handsy people—
"Hey, sunshine," Nico tightens the hold on his waist and smiles dopily, "Have I ever told'ya how beautiful your freckles are?"
Fuck.
It takes forever for Will to take Nico to his bed and settle him there. He would have it easier had Nico been cooperating, but Nico is busy slurring poetry about his smile and freckles and Have your eyes always been this pretty, or did they take a dive into the deepest part of the ocean?
Ignoring the growing butterflies in his stomach, Will wants to ask how it's possible for only his eyes to take a dive into the deepest part of the ocean. Drunk Nico can be a lot, and talkative, and childish, and flirty, and many other adjectives Will does not want to think of right now. It's not the first time he's taken care of a drunk Nico or endured his drunken flirting, but it doesn't make it any easier on Will's poor heart or nerves.
He takes off Nico's shoes and jacket, all the while trying to ignore an awful joke about taking off the rest of his clothes (No peeking, I'm too shy, Will). Will also places a bin by the bedside in case Nico wants to hurl the contents of his stomach during the night.
Once all is said and done, Will places a blanket over Nico— which is a feat in itself since he won't stop acting like a kid that's way past his bedtime and moving his limbs like an octopus— and stands up to leave, but a hand stops him by the arm.
"Nico, you're gonna have to let go of my arm," Will says as if addressing a petulant child, which he supposes is exactly what Nico is right now. Nico doesn't release or loosen the hold but mutters something unintelligible, and Will has to ask him to repeat himself.
"I said I don't wanna," Nico whines.
"I gotta go sleep too, death boy. At this rate I'll fall asleep before I reach my bedroom."
Nico raises his eyebrows suggestively and adds a matching smile to go with it. That's a dangerous combination, especially when he's drunk. Will knows nothing good is coming out of it.
"Y'know, there's plenty of room on this bed," Nico says, still wiggling his eyebrows. It takes all of Will's strength to not say something even more suggestive.
"I know, it's similar to my bed after all."
"Well then you should also know how comfy it is," Nico grins, patting the empty space on the bed. "C' mon Solace, we can just sleep together. Y'know, sleep together." He giggles, like he's just said the funniest joke in the world.
"Not happening, di Angelo. Let go of my hand and go to sleep." Will knows he can trust himself enough to keep his hands to himself around a drunk Nico (or drunk anyone), even if they are on the same bed and he's been in love with the man forever. But he definitely does not trust a drunk Nico, who's a menace to himself and the society when he's like this.
Nico basically proves him right when he pouts and looks at him with pleading eyes. "But I thought you loved me." And gods, does he hate Nico at times like these.
"Of course I love you, love," Will says, his voice softer and more sincere than intended. "Which is why I won't do anything you'll definitely regret when you're sober tomorrow."
But Nico continues, completely ignoring him. "An' I'm cold, an' what if I get the— the— hey whatsit called?"
"Uh, what's what called?"
"That— that thing with the cold an' stuff."
"Snow?"
"Nooo idiot, not snow," Nico chastises him. As if he's the idiot one here. "That— very cold, y'know. Piperthemia."
"What?"
"Ugh, Pipermania. That thing that happens when you're cold."
"Hypothermia?"
"Yes thatsit! Hyperthermania," Nico giggles again. "I'll get Hyperthermania if I sleep alone. So you can waaaarm me uuuup, y'know."
"Warm you up, huh? How would I ever do that?" Will asks with a grin, and immediately regrets taking advantage of Nico's state. There's no way he would have had the confidence or poise to flirt back had Nico been sober.
Also, there's also Nico's response to consider, which Will knows definitely won't be PG.
He has that same devious smile on his face. Will wonders if he'll survive the night if Nico keeps smiling like that. Maybe he should leave a goodbye message to his siblings and Mama, just in case.
Dear Ma and Kayla and Austin,
By the time you've received this letter, I will have already died a thousand deaths. There's only one person to blame, and that's Nico and his stupid smile. Also Leo. Kayla, you're good with a bow and arrow, please kill Leo for me and avenge your favourite brother? Pretty please?
Love, W.
"Y'can share your body heat, y'know. But you'd have to undress me first."
Oookay that's enough.
"Nico, I'm not having sex with you while you're blackout drunk. Or even a little drunk," Will interrupts sternly, and with some finality. Hopefully, Nico will catch on to that and spare Will whatever dignity he has left.
"Wasn't talking 'bout sex, idiot," Nico tries for a smirk. Then, under Will's unimpressed glare, he gives a sheepish smile. "Wanna hear a secret?" he whispers, beckoning Will closer. "I was talking about sex."
Will continues with his disappointed parent glare, and Nico deflates like a kid who's been denied ice-cream. "Fine. No sex."
"No sex."
"Just touching."
"Just touchi— Wait no! No touching!"
"Ugh fiiiine. No touching. Only kissing."
"No kissing." Here's the sentence Will had never imagined he'd have to use in regards to Nico.
"One kiss. On the lips."
"No kissing."
"Two kisses on the lips."
"No kissing."
"Three kisses," Nico urges, and even puckers up for effect. "On the lips."
"I don't think you know how bargaining works, death boy."
"Fiiiine. Three kisses. Two on the lips, one on the cheek."
Will thinks about it for a moment. There's no way Nico is going to concede when he gets like this. After a lot of deliberation and a lot more long sighs, he tries to meet Nico in the middle.
"Two kisses. One on the cheek, one on the forehead. Take it or leave it."
Nico grins like he's just been handed his favourite toy. "Deal."
Will takes another long breath. Even if he somehow survives the kiss, he's pretty sure Nico's dopey smile will be the death of him. He moves closer to Nico, ready to place a kiss on his cheek. One short peck, that's all.
But just as he's about to kiss him on the cheek, Nico moves at the last moment, causing Will's chapped lips to come in contact with Nico's soft ones. The kiss lasts less than a second, after which Will pulls away, his heart racing like a fucking bullet train.
"Nicooo. You can't do that." But cheater Nico only giggles in response, and Will can't even be mad at him. Does Nico have any idea of the effect he has on him? He must have at least some idea, right?
"You know what, you just lost all your kissing privileges." It takes all his consciousness and a repeated chant of It doesn't mean anything It doesn't mean anything It does not mean anything to not think about what's technically his first kiss with Nico.
Besides, it's not like Nico is going to remember anything tomorrow, Will realizes with a pang on his chest.
"Nooo sorry sorry. I'll be good, I promise." Nico holds out his pinkie, as if to show how serious he's about the promise.
Has he mentioned how much he hates Nico sometimes?
Will places a soft kiss on Nico's cheek, who manages to stay still this time. Sigh. The difficult part is over at least, and kissing him on the forehead shouldn't be a big deal. He's kissed Nico plenty times on the forehead when Nico is having a bad day, or when he's about to fall asleep, or those teasing kisses he gives when Nico is being adorably mad at something or the other, which usually results in him being chased around by a doubly angry Nico.
Nico hums a contented sigh as Will places a kiss and Dear Gods above and beyond, please help him; he's falling even more in love.
Will mutters a good night and stands up to leave, but Nico stops him again. "One more on the forehead," Nico murmurs, his words no longer slurred, but heavy and scratchy from sleepiness.
"Hey, that's against the rules, di Angelo. We had a deal." Will's a law-abiding citizen with utmost respect for following the rules, and he won't break it for anyone, not even—
"Please? Just one more?"
As he said, he's a law-abiding citizen with utmost respect for following the rules, and one iron rule in his life is that when Nico asks for something with so much sincerity, you do what he says, no questions asked.
Will plants a soft kiss on Nico's unruly mass of hair, this time lingering.
"Happy now?"
"Hmm," Nico smiles without bothering to open his eyes, and calls out to him. "Will?"
"Yeah, sunshine?"
"You gonna kiss me on the lips tomorrow?"
Here's where Will's heart breaks for the first time this night, because there's no way sober Nico would ever say this. Will hasn't exactly been vocal about his love in the past, but he's also sure Nico isn't as oblivious as he makes himself to be. He probably won't even remember the events of tonight, so it's best not to hold on to any hope.
Will pushes back some loose strands of hair on Nico's forehead and lets his hand rest there. "Tell you what, tomorrow when you wake up with a terrible hangover, I'll have some aspirin ready for you. Once you're done regretting your choices and trying to remember what the hell happened tonight and promising not to drink for the rest of your life, ask me again. Alright?"
"Deal." Nico goes silent for a minute. Will figures he's finally fallen asleep, but he feels a tug at his hand after a while. "Will?"
"Hmm?"
"'s not only when I'm drunk, y' know."
Will raises his eyebrows in confusion. "Huh?"
"Wanting to kiss you. I wanna kiss you allllll the tiiimeee."
Another repeated chant runs in Will's mind. Drunk confessions do not count. Drunk confessions do not count. Drunk confessions do not count.
But if Nico's gonna be this way, he might as well let his feelings out in the open. "I wanna kiss you all the time too, sunshine," he admits, and backpedals his words immediately. "Except for when you're drunk."
"Then I'll stop drinking for the rest of my life." Will very well knows it is a big fat lie. Not that Nico drinks a lot, but there's no way this is going to be his last drink. Or his last drunken flirting mishap, for that matter.
But he appreciates the sentiment all the same.
A part of Will hopes Nico remembers this moment tomorrow, even if he probably didn't mean it. Because if he can't have a real confession, he'll take a semi-conscious, drunk confession and store it in the deepest corner of his heart and never bring it up again. Ever.
Will wishes he could stay like this forever, but he's starting to feel sleepy himself. He takes the hand Nico has been holding onto like his life depends on it, and presses a kiss on his knuckles before letting go.
Nico opens his eyes and flashes his extremely endearing grin. "Hey, you gave me an extra kiss."
"I did," Will confirms with a smile. "It's because I love you."
Will almost expects Nico to say it back, even though he's bordering on the edge of sleep and dreamland. Even if it means forgetting everything tomorrow and acting like it never happened. But Nico doesn't say it back.
Eh. It was probably for the best.
Will takes a long sigh and reflects on the last fifteen minutes of his life. He is in love with his idiot, flirts-when-he-is-drunk roommate, and he is so so fucked.
Will fulfils his part of the deal tomorrow morning. As soon as Nico wakes up with a terrible hangover, he hands some aspirin over along with a glass of water. Nico mutters a thank you and hands the half-full glass of water back, which Will drinks.
But Nico doesn't ask to kiss him on the lips; he doesn't say anything at all, actually. Nico keeps staring at him for a long time, as if trying to figure something out. As cute Nico looks when pinching his brows in concentration, Will feels heavy and a little uncomfortable under the stare. He almost asks him to cut it out when Nico finally says something.
"Did I ask you to have sex with me yesterday?"
Thankfully, Will doesn't have to answer anything, as he's busy coughing out the water that went through his wrong pipe.