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After the War by Solangelo13
This is probably going to be my first story and I know it is the (possibly boring) traditional 3 days in the infirmary, but I wanted to start out with something easy before I get into the hard stuff. My plan is that this is going to be the most lighthearted, nice fic I write, and the rest might be darker. No worries though, if you don't like that kind of thing, you can always check out Sanubis's fics. Another thing is we will never swear on fics. ( Got that right! -Sanubis ) I will not update often; I spend a lot of time writing my own book and doing the homework that consumes my life. This will be a one shot probably. Also, if you have any story ideas, I will do my best to make them for you. I do not own Nico or Will, or anyone else in this fic no matter how much I wish I did. If you recognize anything else in the fic, it is probably not mine. The only thing that is mine is if I use original characters that are mine (Max, Albert, and Mikkel.) They are the characters in the book I am writing. If you have constructive criticism, please tell. I love any chance to improve myself as an author.
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. All of the stuff from the series is owned by the amazing Rick Riordan. Anything you don't recognize is my own invention.
-Nico POV
3 days. At the time it had not seemed like a big deal, but now I was seriously regretting all of my life choices. Not that I was an expert on healing or anything, but what in the name of Hades could take 3 days to heal? Well, great time to think about this now, as I was following Will to the infirmary.
"Hey, Nico," I heard a familiar voice call. I turned around to see Jason. I hadn't seen him much since Leo died. He looked sad and worn down. This will sound wrong, but it was nice not to be the only one to feel that way for once.
"Where are you going?" he asked. I didn't know what to say. I felt like it would sound pathetic that I needed a full 3 days in the infirmary. Luckily, Will handled this for me.
"Nico is going to the infirmary," Will stated.
Jason looked worried, "Is something wrong?" he asked
"No, I'm fine. It's nothing." I responded.
Jason looked like he didn't believe me and looked at Will, silently asking a question.
"Werewolf claw marks, plus the fact that if he shadows traveled one more time, he would be one of the shadows." Will answered.
"My gods Nico, why didn't you say anything? It's been 3 days since the end of the war!"
"Didn't think it was a big deal."
"Of course, you didn't." Jason responded.
"Take care of him, okay Will?" was the last thing he said before walking off.
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When we got to the infirmary, the first thing Will did was point to a bed and tell me to 'lay down, Docter's orders.' I couldn't decide between turning the sentence lay down into something else or to question his ability to call himself a doctor. I was taking too long, so I just cooperated. He started pulling out medical equipment and doing an examination. I didn't say a thing until Will asked me to, and I quote, take my Gods dam shirt off. See, that right there is why I don't like people.
"Excuse you," I said to him, "I will not take off anything for you."
"OH, MY GODS NICO, that is not what I meant!" he told me in a surprised tone. I could see the blush on his cheeks.
"Say what now?"
"I told you to do that so I could see your werewolf marks on your arm. I am your doctor; I would never do that you absolutely dirty minded..." he trailed off mumbling about how that was not what he had said. Now I felt stupid. Great going Nico, five minutes in and you've already made stuff awkward. See, this is why I should not be anywhere that people are involved. This is exactly why I should leave camp. Anyway, I awkwardly did what Will asked and just sat there with my eyes shut, waiting out the torturous minutes that Will was treating my claw marks and mumbling crap about if I had come in any later blah, blah, blah, need to take better care of myself blah, blah, blah, could have died, blah, blah, blah, did not ask you to take shirt off in a weird way, blah, blah, blah. He was finally done, so I stood up said a quick thanks and made my way to the door.
"Hey Nico." Will called out.
I turned back around. "Yes..."
"You agreed to 3 full days here, remember"
To be completely honest with you, I absolutely remembered. I was just hoping he had forgotten. Well, he didn't. This is really my lucky day, isn't it? Note sarcasm. I did the walk of shame back to my bed and laid back down. This was going to be a long three days.
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Being forced to eat food, sleeping a lot, and my only source of entertainment being when Will would come give me a checkup, or to just come over and talk to me, and of course the time on the morning of day 2 when Jason came to visit. I say morning, but by that I mean he came at about eleven but did not leave until two. That much time interacting with living humans just doesn't work for me. It didn't help that Jason had this deranged idea he would not let go of that I, Nico Di Angelo, son of death, had a crush on Will Solace, son of the sun itself. That's ridiculous. I don't. I swear. Promise. I don't.
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FINALLY! Three days were up. Not that I had the worst time in the world. Will was really nice and we maybe, a little bit, became friends in the time I was there, but now I am free, and I have to choose. Should I stay at camp like Will wanted, or should I go? Who even knows where I would go at this point, since Camp Jupiter is no longer an option. I was just pacing outside of my cabin thinking this over when I heard someone call my name. I looked over, and there was a girl and two boys standing there. The girl had been the one that called me over. I recognized her and one of the boys as Hecate kids. The other I was not so sure Ares, Athena maybe. I hate it when people I don't know very well call my name and then smile. I feel like they are making fun of me, in fact, I know they are making fun of me. The girl was motioning for me to go over there so reluctantly, I did.
"Um, yeah?" I said.
"Sup, I'm Lou Ellen. Will's bestie. This is Max, my brother, and Albert is his friend."
"Okay." I replied slowly, thinking of how dumb I sounded.
"This is taking too long Lou, just ask him what you're going to ask him so we can move on," one of the kids, Albert, said.
"So, I hear you and Will like each other," she said with an evil smile.
"Nope, no we don't. Don't know who told you that, but that's not true," I said quickly, maybe too quickly. Maybe I'm overthinking this.
"If you need to know," Lou said, "Albert told me."
"And who told you?" I asked Albert.
Albert responded saying, "Oh please, I don't need to be told. I grew up with Max and his boyfriend Mikkel. I can tell."
"He doesn't know anything. I am not even dating Mikkel, he just thinks that." Max added quickly.
"He's an Athena kid Max, he always knows what he's talking about." Lou Ellen said. "Anyway, about you."
"I think Max and I have something in common here," I said, starting to get annoyed. "I don't like Will." But even as I said the words, they seemed wrong. Even if hypothetically I did, he's not gay. Or is he? These were the thoughts I had about Percy. No, I can't do this again. If I had known this conversation was coming, I might have been able to think of what to say ahead of time. But no, I did not, so I just had to say dumb things like,
"Is he like gay, as in like liking guys?"
Lou turned to Albert. "You're right, it is obvious when you look closer."
"Told you," was all he said back.
"You know what?" I said, now very much annoyed. "I'm done with you people and your nonsense." I turned and started walking back to my cabin, when I heard Lou say something else.
"Wait Nico!" she called. I decided to risk it and turn around. "Will is like gay, as in like liking guys."
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It didn't matter if Will was gay or straight or bi. I was done with this. Why did I think staying would ever be a good idea? I got a suitcase out of my closet and started filling it with my stuff. I didn't have much anyway. Most of the stuff in the cabin was Hazel's, and she went back to Camp Jupiter already. I was just finishing up when I heard a knock on the door.
"Go away," I called, but the person didn't listen.
"Just wanted to check up on my favorite patient," Will said as he opened the door seeing the suitcase. "What are you doing?"
I was done with people. I snaped "I'M LEAVING. I'M DONE WITH YOU AND THE PEOPLE HERE. I DON'T LIKE IT AND I'M GOING. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU CAN GO TAKE YOU PATHETIC SELF IN THE CORNER AND CRY. OKAY."
"I'm sorry about what Lou said, she didn't mean anything by it I swear."
"OHHHH, and how do you even know about that?" I asked. "Oh that's right, you two are Besties," I said, emphasizing the 'besties' in the sentence.
"Nico, I asked her to do that because I like you and I wanted to see if you were at least like gay as in like liking guys before I tried asking you out."
"That... that doesn't change anything," I said.
"Before you go, just come with me first."
I followed him out of my cabin and walked with him until he stopped at the lake. We could just see the sun setting over the water. It was beautiful.
"Nobody wants to hurt you or make fun of you here Nico." He started "In fact, it's just the opposite. You're a hero, Nico. Because you did what you did, we still have our camp. Without you we wouldn't have this lake or the sunset here right now. You're so powerful, and I'm not just talking about shadow traveling and stuff. You've gone through more than anyone in this camp and you are still okay, and a good person. I think that that's amazing. You're amazing. I hope that you'll reconsider leaving."
I thought about what he had just said and thought back to earlier. I remembered Max and how there were other people like me here. I looked at the sunset and then at Will and thought, maybe staying here wouldn't be such a horrible idea.
And that is the end of my first fanfiction! Please review and tell me how I did. Thank you so, so much for reading!