Chapter Text
“Are you sure your mom’s okay with me coming?” Nico asked for what felt like the hundredth time in the past couple days. “She booked this place for you guys to have your own little thing and I just don’t want to intrude—”
“You’re not intruding on anything, Nico. Don’t even worry. Mom’s the one who suggested I bring you along in the first place.” Will slung an arm around Nico’s shoulders as they made their way to the dining pavilion together, chilly air nipping at their exposed skin. It never quite got cold at Camp Half-Blood, and it certainly never snowed; all due to the weather-maintaining borders. It was clearly not summer anymore, though. Goodbye bright- orange-t-shirts-every-day season, hello Will–had-no-more-sweaters-because-Nico-stole- them-all season. Not that Will really minded. He sort of liked it actually.
Nico sighed. “Yeah, but … this is your thing. Together. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really grateful and I’m looking forward to it but I still feel bad—”
“I told you, it’s fine.” Will squeezed Nico’s shoulders reassuringly, pulling him over to the Apollo table where four other siblings were already seated, plates of food before them. They plopped down on the bench directly across from Kayla, Austin, and a new camper named Andie. On Will’s right was Nala, who’d been at camp for a few summers now, but had only just started going year-round.
They sat through dinner mostly in silence, listening to Austin and Kayla’s various debates about book characters and which musical instrument could be best used as a weapon. Camp always felt sort of eerie this time of year, even with the upcoming holidays. Not as bad as last year, of course, when there were no other campers present, but still. The demigods who came during the summer were long gone, and even some of the ones who were there for the year had left for winter break. At least, the ones who had a home to go back to.
Will was grateful, because his mom would always take a week or two off at Christmas so they could spend some time together. This year, Naomi had booked a hotel suite in Manhattan, and suggested Will bring Nico along with them.
Nico had never actually met Naomi before, and Will could tell he was nervous, even if he tried not to show it. With Nico’s shadow-travel abilities, the two had obviously been on quite a few trips of their own, but to go in the company of Will’s mom would be something entirely different. It was evident that Nico was afraid he would make a bad impression, or that Naomi would dislike him altogether. Will assured Nico time and time again that there was nothing to worry about. He would be incredible, as he always was. He wouldn’t even have to try.
“I mean, a clarinet would be pretty good if you wanted to shove it down someone’s throat,” Austin was saying. “Nice and brutal.”
Kayla shuddered. “Okay, Squidward. I really don’t need that image in my head right now.”
“Too bad Dad only went after the emperors with a ukulele while he was human,” Austin added. “Not very deadly. He could’ve done so much better.”
Will sighed. “I could really go the rest of my life without a reminder of that whole endeavour. Y’all are lucky you didn’t have to witness it.” He nodded at Andie and Nala.
“I’ll bet,” muttered Nala, swallowing a forkful of scrambled eggs.
“So,” Kayla smirked, turning her attention to Will and Nico, “brother and not-my-brother. You guys are leaving on your little romantic getaway today, right?”
Nico raised an eyebrow. “Anxious to get rid of us, are you?”
“No, no, not at all,” she assured them, though the mischievous gleam in her eyes said otherwise. “Besides, I’ve only got today and tomorrow before I fly back to Toronto. Not a whole lot to work with.”
“Yeah,” Austin said, “and what could possibly go wrong in two days?”
Will rolled his eyes and stood up. “Knowing you two? We’ll probably come back to find the entire cabin in flames and loose arrows all over camp.” Finishing his plate of food, he tugged gently at Nico’s arm. “You wanna—”
“Yep.” The son of Hades disentangled himself from the Apollo table, joining Will on the short walk back to Cabin Thirteen. There, Will joined Nico, who had not just barely started packing, in the process of tossing various clothing items into a black duffle bag. Will, having grown up with over ten siblings (at some point, at least) in only a one-room cabin, did not particularly care for neatness. Nico, on the other hand, was trying to fold and place everything carefully in the bag, and would grow frustrated each time Will mindlessly shoved something in.
“Just throw it on the floor beside me and I’ll deal with it myself,” Nico told him.
“But it would be a whole lot faster if—”
“No.”
“Alright, then,” Will sighed. In his anxiousness for this day to come, he had packed everything up last night. Then again, he knew that, besides Sally Jackson, Nico never really spent time around his friends’ mortal parents (which was fair enough, since a good chunk no longer had any), let alone his boyfriend’s. And deep down, Nico was truly a romantic at heart. Nobody knew that better than Will. He wanted everything to be perfect, and for that to happen, he needed Naomi to like. Of course, Will knew that she would, without a doubt. But Nico was less sure, and Will supposed the best thing he could do at the current moment was provide support.
“Think I’m done now,” Nico grunted after a short while, zipping up the duffle. “How long have we got ‘til we leave, again?”
Will plopped onto Nico’s bed. “About an hour. She wanted us to meet her at Grand Central Station at eleven or so.”
“Okay.” Nico sat next to Will, leaning against his shoulder. “So, what do we do until then?”
“I don’t know,” Will said, turning his head to meet Nico’s eyes. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as their faces grew dangerously closer. “You tell me.”
Nico closed the gap between them, kissing Will deeply.
It was moments such as these where Will felt happiest; like he was falling in love with Nico all over again. Such a beautiful thing, love was. Especially with Nico. He knew, without a doubt, that he would not trade it for anything in the world.
❄︎ ❄︎ ❄︎
When at last it came time to leave, the boys bade goodbye to their friends and Will’s siblings. As Will pulled away from a final embrace with Austin, he surveyed the bunch of Apollo’s kids. “I swear, if anyone ends up impaled or dead, I will make sure that your Christmas present will be a premature trip to see my boyfriend’s dad. Are we clear?”
Kayla gave him a little salute. “Don’t worry. We’ll be on our best behaviour. Right, gang?” The others nodded in agreement, and Kayla smiled triumphantly at her oldest brother. “Now, get out of here. Go have fun. You’ve earned it.”
Will glanced back and waved one last time before grasping Nico’s hand. By then, he had long gotten used to the chilling sensation of shadow-travelling, so he was not at all fazed when they stepped into the dark.
This also meant that he could feel as well as Nico did if something was to go wrong. And, sure enough, something did.
Rather than emerging naturally into their destination, as they usually would, the boys and their luggage were spit violently onto a hunk of pavement. Nico went down first, landing harshly on his wrists, then Will toppled onto him, really not helping the situation.
“Ow,” Nico groaned.
“Sorry.” Will stood up as rapidly as he could muster, though a wave of nausea washed through him. He took a deep breath to steady himself, trying to force it down. That was the last thing he needed at the moment. He focused his energies on Nico instead, helping his boyfriend to his feet. After a quick scan, he sensed no serious injuries.
Nico grimaced, brushing a smudge of dirt from Will’s cheek. “Not your fault. What the hell happened, though? Where even are we?”
Will’s eyes darted across their surroundings. Acres of leafless trees on either side of a paved street, small animals running wild, a flurry of snow tumbling from stormy clouds. “Looks like we’re in some kind of forest.”
Nico raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, you think?”
Will pointedly ignored him. “There must’ve been some kind of divine intervention,” he muttered, mostly to himself. “How else would we—”
“There you are!"
Both boys’ heads snapped in the direction of the third voice, which belonged to a tall, golden-haired man standing a few feet up the road. No, actually. Not a man. Not a human at all, for that matter.
“Oh, no,” Will said, desperately wishing he could just pinch himself and wake up. “No, no, no. This is a joke. You can’t be here.”
For a brief moment, Apollo almost appeared disappointed that his son hadn’t rushed straight into his arms, though he quickly washed it away with a toothy grin. “Indeed I can be, Will. And I am. Isn’t it wonderful? Our first family holiday!"
“Family—” Will nearly laughed out loud. “Sure, I do consider you family now, I guess. And I really am grateful for the time we spent together while you were human and everything, so don’t take this the wrong way. But Nico and I are supposed to be with my mom this week. You know, the parent who actually raised me? So, I appreciate the sentiment, but we should be going.” Once again, he took Nico’s hand.
“Wait!” Apollo called. “Will, please. Do you really think I would be asking something of you if it was not important? I know that you don’t owe me a thing. I also know that I would not be here now, immortal once more, if not for you. Both of you,” he added hastily, glancing at Nico. “But I have a bit of a problem and I need help now, as ashamed as I am to come begging for it. Please, my son. Just listen to me, at least.
For the first time, Will saw the genuine desperation in his father’s eyes, and began to consider.
“Besides,” Apollo continued, growing hopeful, “I’ve already spoken to your mother, and she—"
“You’ve what?!"
“—and she, er, she said it was all up to you. She did not seem very happy with me, however, for which I cannot say I blame her. Not exactly an ideal way to run into your ex after over a decade of no contact.”
Will groaned. “I can’t believe you talked to my mom! What right did you have?”
“None, I know,” Apollo admitted. “But, as I said, times are desperate. All I ask is that you hear me out, and then you can decide for yourself whether you are in or not. Are we in agreement?”
Will glanced at Nico, who gave an almost imperceptible shrug. His expression read, I’m not exactly a big fan of the idea, but at the same time I’m not sure your dad will even let us go until you at least hear him out. Also, I could use a nap. Or something along those lines, anyway.
“Alright,” Will said. “You wanna start by telling us where the hell we are? And if you’ve got a place for us to leave our stuff?”
Apollo’s relief was evident. “Yes, follow me! Town is just this way.” He started down the road, Will and Nico on his heels. “We’re in Woodstock. About a hundred miles or so from Manhattan. So it isn’t as if I pulled you too far off course, son of Hades."
“I’m so grateful,” grumbled Nico.
It was no time at all before they reached what Apollo claimed was the main street, though he kept insisting that Nico stay in the hotel for a bit in order to speak alone with Will.
“I just don’t understand why you can’t say what you wanna say to me in front of him,” Will protested.
“It’s fine, Will,” Nico said, though he didn’t seem very content about it. He squeezed Will’s shoulder, though the gesture felt more pitiful than reassuring. “I’ll just … wait in the room, I guess. You guys have fun, though.”
“Nico, please don’t leave me,” Will hissed.
Nico shrugged and mouthed sorry, then headed down the gravel driveway which led to the Woodstock Way Hotel. Apollo had given him only a room number and key, and left him to fend for himself from there. The hotel was actually more of a series of beautifully structured wooden cabins within a forest, something Will found to be oddly comforting. Perhaps it reminded him of home; which was, of course, Camp Half-Blood.
Will watched his boyfriend walk away, and at last turned his attention to the jittery god. “So,” he said, “you gonna fill me in on your crisis or what?”
❄︎ ❄︎ ❄︎
As it turned out, Apollo had been heartbroken.
More accurately, he had done the heartbreaking.
Typical.
After dragging his son into a casual little restaurant and refusing to speak until Will at last accepted his offer for a cup of coffee, Apollo began his story.
“Woodstock, 1969,” the god said dreamily. “You know of the music festival, I’m sure. It is simply not possible for any decent descendent of mine not to be aware of the historic weekend. Well, naturally, I was there. In fact, I helped organise it; though of course nobody would have known who I was at the time.
“Anyway, I had a lyre specially crafted for the occasion; both as a means of helping the festival prosper, and, more importantly, in hopes of using it to impress a particular attendee whose details I will not reveal as they are unimportant. And slightly embarrassing. It might even have worked, though, if he hadn’t distracted me. Now, a few things about that weekend—”
“But Woodstock didn’t even take place in Woodstock,” Will interrupted. “It was in—”
“Bethel, I know!” Apollo snapped. “You think I would not know that? Like I said, I was there. I don’t understand how that fact is relevant at the moment.”
“It’s just, if this is all about the festival, why are we here and not at the actual location?”
“Because my instrument is here and not there.” Will could practically see the patience ebbing from his father’s body. “Somebody here has it, and I need it back before the winter solstice feast begins tomorrow evening. As, of course, dear ole Dad chose this year specifically to request the presence of my old lyre. ‘Haven’t lost it, son, have you?’” Apollo imitated Zeus’s booming voice, face twisting in disgust. “‘Better not have, unless you want to see yourself turned into a mealworm instead of a human!’” He groaned, head in his hands. “Oh, Will, what am I going to do?”
Will scoffed. “Typical Zeus, huh? Even after everything you went through, he still won’t give up on punishing you.” He almost regretted saying it so jokingly, as Apollo truly did appear to be mere seconds from a mental breakdown. The table was silent for a few minutes, neither quite knowing what to say.
Finally, Will cleared his throat. “So, uh, are you gonna tell me about your lover? Or, y’know, anything else?”
“I—” Apollo sighed. “I suppose I must. His name is Cassander. At least, it was when I first knew him. Naturally, I assume he goes by another name now, but he was once a prince in Ancient Greece. Of exactly what or where, I could not tell you. Honestly, I had all about forgotten he existed until he appeared at Woodstock, ‘seeking long awaited revenge.’” He used air quotes to annunciate the last bit. “Not that he told me that right away. Oh, no. A bright young man, Cassander always was. He’d expected that I would not remember him, which I would probably be offended by if I did not understand that it served me right. Our first break-up was … quite bad.” He shuddered. “Then, on the night of August sixteenth, the second of the festival, he reintroduced himself, and I was instantly infatuated.”
Will narrowed his eyes. “Uh-huh.”
“Oh, come on, Will. If you saw him, you wouldn’t blame me. His beauty is otherworldly. Not comparable to mine, though. I mean, really, is anybody’s?”
“Dad—”
“Yes, all right, I’ll get on with it. Well, Cassander—I believe he had told me his name was Carl at the time—and I spent the weekend together, mostly partying, but also doing a lot of, um, other stuff. I’m sure you can imagine.”
Will turned bright red. “Oh.… I really didn’t need to know that.”
“So,” Apollo continued, slightly flustered, “he won me over, and then he tricked me. He found a way to temporarily contain me, and revealed himself. Slowly, the memories began to resurface—of when I grew jealous of his interest in another, and how I made him immortal in hopes that his devotion would be only to me. Which had, of course, simply angered him even more. He had never wanted to see me again. I don’t even know why I cared so much. It’s not as if I loved him any differently than I loved any of the others I had relations with. He was no Daphne or Hyacinthus, and he was certainly no Naomi Solace, either.”
He sighed sadly. “I suppose it was my wounded pride which sent me spiralling. I could not stand the thought of somebody throwing me away, like tossing an unwanted fish back to the sea. As a result, I ruined his life. My ego had been bruised for perhaps a year or so, but I took everything from him. His hatred for me is certainly deserved. I almost wish I could risk Zeus’s wrath and not steal the lyre back. That was what he did after jogging my memories, by the way. Before I managed to overpower the containment, he took the instrument and ran. Monsters then began to swarm the event, as the lyre had been drawing them away at first, and any attending demigods were left to slay them. I searched all over the world for weeks after, with no success. Until now, since my life has come to depend on it. Cassander is here, and with him the lyre. Hiding in plain sight, when I had always figured he’d gone off to another continent. And you must be the one to retrieve it, my son.”
Will, however, had not heard much past the comment made about his mom, wondering what the hell her name was doing alongside those of Apollo’s two most famous lovers. “W-what?”
“Yep.” Apollo patted his son’s forearm. “We cannot risk having Cassander sense me coming or find some way out of town behind our backs, so I will only be of assistance. Most of the job You and Nico best rest up tonight, and I’ll continue devising my plan. Er, assuming that you agree to help me.”
They were interrupted by a waiter who came to take their empty mugs, giving Will about ten seconds to ponder what was being asked of him. Apollo’s desperation was evident, and perhaps he would reward the boys with a favour once their task was completed. After all, both Nico and Will had faced off with far worse immortals before. They’d been to Tartarus and back, for the gods’ sakes. What was the worst that could happen?
“Fine,” he grunted once the waiter was gone. “We’ll help. Since you need it back before the solstice, it’ll only take tomorrow, right?”
Apollo breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes. Right.”
“And if your plan goes awry, and we fail to get the lyre back, that’s it for us. You’ll let us go to New York, and you’re on your own from there. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“All right,” Will said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go talk to my mom.”
❄︎ ❄︎ ❄︎
Later that evening, Will stretched out on the hotel room (hotel cabin?)’s polyester couch, head in Nico’s lap, staring absentmindedly at the TV screen. Hours ago, Will had recounted Apollo’s story about the solstice and Cassander and the lyre, explaining what the couple was instructed to do.
“I’m sorry, Nico,” Will had said. “I promise it’s only tomorrow and then we’ll be out of here. I just … I feel bad for my dad, I guess. He seems like he’s in a tough situation, and I want to help him.”
“Hey, don’t be sorry,” Nico had replied. “I get it. And if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“Well, happy isn’t exactly the word I’d use—”
“Then, as long as you’re content with this plan, so am I.”
Naomi had been just as understanding when Will did finally call her, though she made him swear that he would be safe and come to the city as soon as he could. He was happy to do so.
Now, a knock sounded at the boys’ door, and Will shifted to let Nico stand up. He opened it to reveal Apollo standing in the entryway, holding up a pizza box. “I come bearing dinner,” the god said cheerily. He let himself into the room and plopped the box onto the coffee table in front of Will.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“’Course. Remember, all accommodations are on me. Room, food, even souvenirs. I—I know this isn’t convenient for you two, and I just want to make it as comfortable as possible.”
“We appreciate it,” Will assured him. “Really, thank you.”
Apollo smiled at his son. “Yes, well, if you need anything, I’ll be in my room. Most likely. It’s the first one on the right. Goodnight, boys.” “’Night,” Will echoed as Apollo made his way out.
Sighing, Nico collapsed back onto the couch, his legs half in Will’s lap. On the TV blared The Santa Clause, the 1994 one, which Will had seen countless times and Nico never. They ate and watched mostly in silence, aside from a few side comments made here and there, until Will, stuffed and tired, felt his consciousness slipping away with Nico’s arms tight around him.
He almost wanted to keep himself awake all night, just so that his boyfriend’s comforting touch would never cease to exist.