Work Text:
[ YouTube thumbnail description: A teenage boy, Nico, wears a black leather jacket and black jeans. He stands in front of the Eiffel Tower, his hands in his pockets. He stares at the camera with a deadpan expression. It’s around midday in the photo and there are countless people around him, but somehow he looks separate from them all. To the left of the Eiffel Tower, across the clear blue sky, white block text reads “So. Much. Cheese.” The video is exactly 10 minutes long.]
Video Title: going to paris to see if they really hate italians (spoilers: they do)
theghostking ✓
1.47M subscribers
838k views・1 day ago
3,839 Comments ☰ SORT BY
boydku | 23 hours ago
01:32 his french is so good wtf
883 Likes ・ Reply
▼ 124 replies
stormlorddidit | 23 hours ago
normal people speaking french: ❌
nico speaking french: ✅
203 Likes ・ Reply
sinkingvenus | 22 hours ago
NICO IN FRANCE NICO IN FRANCE NICO IN FRANCE
199 Likes ・ Reply
▶ 12 replies
Less than a minute after Nico walks into the infirmary, Will asks, “So how was Paris?”
He is clear on the other side of the room, with a few other Apollo cabin members circulating around. There aren’t many injured campers in here today, so Nico supposes it's not special that Will recognized him so fast. Still, his heart skips a beat when Will turns his smile on him.
Nico pushes down the feeling and rolls his eyes. “You’ve obviously seen the video, so you know how it was.” He weaves around empty sickbeds as he speaks.
Will waves a hand, the other busy with rolling a bandage. “Yeah, but I want to hear it from you. Don’t I get some special access, since I’m more than just one of your subscribers?”
Nico’s heart races as Will stares at him, smile still pulling at his lips, his blue eyes almost glowing under the fluorescent lights of the infirmary.
Nico hopes his voice isn’t breathy as he asks, “More?”
“Your healer, of course.” Will turns back to where he’s preparing bandages. Nico tries to breathe normally, now that Will isn’t looking at him. “You’re really not going to tell me anything?”
“Hm…” Nico pretends to think as he hops onto the sickbed next to Will. He kicks his feet. “Nope.” He pops the ‘p’.
Will sighs exaggeratedly and shakes his head, but the corner of his mouth turns up. Nico once again curses his heart for stuttering.
The YouTube channel had been Leo’s idea, actually. After Nico’s third cross-world trip in the span of a week, Leo had said, “With the rate you travel, you could become a vlogger.” Nico had simply stared at him blankly.
Leo had snorted before shaking his head. “Oh, right. You don’t know what YouTube is.” Then he explained the concept, and Nico kind of… fell in love with it. A video log of his travels, where he could speak freely and track his progress through the world. It was nice to have something concrete to look back on and remind himself which world he was living in.
That people seemed to like the videos and some mortal brands wanted to give him money was an added bonus.
“Where are you off to next?” Will asks, setting aside the bandages, his full focus on Nico now.
Your eyes are so blue , Nico almost blurts out, but saves himself by saying, “I’m not sure, really.”
Will hums. “You know, I’ve never been out of the country before.”
That makes Nico pause. “Never?”
Will nods. “Never.”
The words are out before Nico can think: “You could come with me.”
Nico sees Will hesitate, his blue eyes widening a fraction. Oh, shit, Nico thinks, he doesn’t want to. But then Will is smiling his dazzling smile and asking, “Really? That would be so cool!” and Nico’s thoughts relax.
“Wait.” Will’s eyes sparkle deviously, somehow. “Can I be on your channel?”
[ YouTube thumbnail description: A selfie of two teenage boys. One is Nico, wearing a fluffy aviator jacket and grim expression. The other is wearing a bright orange T-shirt and a wide smile. The boy in the bright clothing has his arm around Nico, and seems to be holding the camera with his free hand. White text curves above their heads reading “he almost got us extradited.” The video is exactly 10 minutes long.]
Video Title: taking my idiot best friend out of country for the first time
theghostking ✓
1.49M subscribers
31k views・20 minutes ago
23 Comments ☰ SORT BY
thetinystraight | 10 minutes ago
omg a guest?? who is he?
35 Likes ・ Reply
▼ 5 replies
angelnico | 10 minutes ago
RIGHT I’M SO CURIOUS?? Also am i the only one that senses something a little 👀 between these two?
5 Likes ・ Reply
nightmareplanethate | 9 minutes ago
@angelnico dude they are best friends. says so in the title. can we stop speculating on people’s sexualities.
2 Likes ・ Reply
angelnico | 9 minutes ago
@nightmareplanethate i literally didn’t mean it like that they just look cute 🙄
2 Likes ・ Reply
Nico really hopes Will isn’t checking the comments on their video.
He hadn’t expected people to latch onto Will’s presence in the video, but he’s lost count of the theories and speculations about his mysterious blond best friend. Even worse, Nico was proud of that video, moreso than usual!
He had taken Will to Madrid, planning to rely on his Italian to bridge the language gap between English and Spanish, but he had overestimated how similar the two languages were. They almost got kicked out , for gods’ sake– wasn’t that something worth commenting on?
(In the thumbnail Nico implied it was Will’s fault, but really, it was Nico’s. He had accidentally insulted a police officer and sent them to the police station. They had to shadow travel out of the station since, well, they didn’t exactly have passports.)
Nico startles out of his thoughts when someone taps his knee. He looks up to see Will, looking mildly concerned. “You okay?”
Nico’s knee jerks reflexively, and he clears his throat. “Yeah. Sorry. Just– thinking.”
Will’s eyes crinkle as he smiles. “I could see that. I said your name three times.”
Nico feels his cheeks heat. “Oh.”
Will scoots next to Nico where he’s perched on a sickbed, crinkling the paper underneath them and pressing their legs together. Nico’s cheeks get warmer.
“Yesterday’s video is doing well, I think.” Will tilts his head up. “I still can’t believe I actually traveled somewhere.”
Nico doesn’t say anything, tense from the mention of the video. He only gets tenser when Will continues, “The comment section though– people really will just say anything, won’t they?” He says the words carelessly, but there’s something else brewing under the surface, something that Nico can’t place in the face of his stress.
“Y–” Nico’s throat closes, and he coughs. He tries again. “Yeah, they will.”
There’s a crinkling sound and Nico looks down to see Will digging his fingers into the sickbed. Nico frowns and looks back at Will’s face, which is as composed as ever.
Will is silent for a while before saying, “I just can’t believe that some of them think we’re… I mean that we’re, like, together. It’s… weird.”
“It’s,” Nico repeats, “weird?”
Will nods, his eyes never leaving the ceiling. “Yeah, I mean… we’re just friends, and we’re both guys, so it’s weird that people–”
Something not unlike rage bubbles up in Nico’s chest. “I’m gay, Will. So if you think it’s weird for two guys to be together, then…” Nico trails off. Then what? Then Will will hate him? And the panic is back, stronger than ever, because what if Will hates him?
Will jerks back as if Nico’s hit him.
Oh , Nico thinks. “I’m going to–”
There’s a hand around his wrist before he can even move to leave. Will is finally looking at him, and he looks… stricken , as panicked as Nico feels.
He begins speaking again, the words rushing together. “No, no, Nico, I’m bisexual, I didn’t mean it like– I’m not– I don’t think the comments are weird because I’m homophobic , I just…” He shakes his head like he’s trying to clear his thoughts, a flush on his face. “It’s weird that people make up outlandish theories, is all.”
Any relief Nico feels at the beginning of Will’s outburst is dissolved by the end.
Outlandish theories . Will and Nico being more than friends is outlandish .
Nico pushes Will’s hand off his wrist and gets off the bed. “I just remembered I need to edit footage from last week” – a lie, since he edits everything the day he films it – “so I’ll see you later. Bye.”
“Nico, wait–” Will reaches for him again.
Suddenly the door isn’t close enough. He pulls at the nearest shadow and melts away, trying to hide the burning in his eyes.
[ YouTube thumbnail description: A picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. There is no text over the image. The video is exactly 10 minutes long.]
Video Title: visiting friends in california
theghostking ✓
1.51M subscribers
954k views・3 days ago
1,453 Comments ☰ SORT BY
lightgranite | 3 days ago
where did the guy from last video go?
3k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 192 replies
floatingjupiter | 3 days ago
finally an america travel video!
483 Likes ・ Reply
▶ 15 replies
serfoflobsters | 3 days ago
can you go to texas next? i want to see your reaction to a rodeo hah
2k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 382 replies
[ YouTube thumbnail description: A picture of the Hollywood sign. There are five people standing in front of it, though the camera is really far away. Most wear dark purple shirts, but one wears all black, presumably Nico. There is no text over the image. The video is exactly 10 minutes long.]
Video Title: still in california
theghostking ✓
1.53M subscribers
1M views・2 days ago
2,555 Comments ☰ SORT BY
firereptiles | 2 days ago
anyone see how tired he looks at 3:14?
10k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 3,382 replies
bluerchoose | 2 days ago
aww your friends are so cute!!
3k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 1,023 replies
nebraskafurnituremartfish | 2 days ago
nico is so cute around other people 🥺
2k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 753 replies
[ YouTube thumbnail description: Five people are filling the frame, in a group picture. Nico stands in the middle, his lips turned up in a reluctant smile. He’s looking to his right, where a brown boy with a grey streak in his hair and green eyes holds a peace sign. On Nico’s other side is a black girl with blonde butterfly locs, mid-laugh. Behind him, a blond boy with glasses is squishing Nico’s hair into his face. On the blond’s right, a black girl with dreadlocks; on the left, a brown girl with a long braid. Both of them smile widely at the camera.]
Video Title: day 3 in california (are my friends bored of me yet?)
theghostking ✓
1.54M subscribers
986k views・1 day ago
3,487 Comments ☰ SORT BY
straighthollyleaf | 1 day ago
hey nico, if you ever need to take a break, we’ll all still be here ♥️
11k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 5,283 replies
airmammels | 1 day ago
you look happier here!! i’m glad you’re having fun with your friends!
4k Likes ・ Reply
▶ 1,637 replies
Nico spends three days at Camp Jupiter before he finally returns to Camp Half-Blood. It’s the longest he’s stayed in one place since the battle against Gaea, but seeing Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Hazel and Reyna was sorely needed. He was almost able to forget about Will as he teased Percy’s handwriting on college essays and whispered with Reyna until the sun rose.
Almost.
Will seems to know he’s returned to camp immediately. He’s barely in his cabin before there’s a knock on the door and the son of Apollo sheepishly cracks the door open.
Nico stares at him, his hands paused where they were about to take off his shirt. Will seems to notice, his gaze dropping to Nico’s hands before raising back to meet Nico’s. His ears seem to pink as he speaks. “Hey, Nico. Is now a good time?”
Nico glances pointedly down at his black SPQR shirt, and Will sighs. It almost sounds forlorn.
“I’ll come back.” Will steps back from the door, and the cabin descends into almost-darkness without the light from the door.
“Wait.” Nico’s annoyance surges and he crosses the cabin pushing open the door. “Come in.”
Will turns around, halfway down the steps, with surprise blatant across his face. Nico jerks the door open wider when Will doesn’t move, and Will quickly scurries in.
Nico closes the door after Will. He leans against it and crosses his arm. “So?”
Will looks lost in the cabin. No doubt he’s used to more windows and open light. He eyes the beds, still shaped like coffins since Nico hasn’t gotten around to changing them. Distantly, Nico registers that they are alone in his cabin for the first time.
“Um,” Will starts, then clears his throat. Nico feels a spike of gratification that Will seems nervous. “I just wanted to say that I’m– I’m really, really sorry Nico, for making you run like that and for making you think that I wasn’t supportive.”
Nico weighs the words, testing them against his feelings. He hates that he wants to accept Will’s apology immediately, especially when he looks so sincere, those blue eyes fastened on him and wide with honesty. But this isn’t the apology he wants.
He says as much: “That’s not why I ran.”
Will blinks. “What?”
Nico takes a deep breath. Reyna’s advice to face his problems head-on rings in his head. “I ran because I like you, and I couldn’t stand to see you hating the idea of us together.”
Will’s mouth actually falls open. “ What? ”
Nico glares at the floor. His hands clench where they drip his arms. “You heard me.”
“You… like me?” Will sounds like he’s been sparring for hours, his voice breathless.
Is he that disgusted by the idea? Maybe it’s not about me being a guy, but me being… me, Nico thinks. He uncrosses his arms, anger and hurt boiling over. “Yes, William, is that so hard to hear? Or is it too weird for you–”
Will cuts him off, almost yelling, “ I like you, too! ”
The words ring in Nico’s ears, halting his train of thought. It’s his turn to say, “What?”
Will opens his mouth to speak, but Nico immediately holds a hand up, and he stops. Nico’s breaths start coming faster, and he stares at Will. Will is holding his gaze, and now a smile dances on his face underneath layers of shock.
Nico’s thoughts start up again, the silence giving him space to think. Will… likes me? He’s not grossed out? That doesn’t make any–
“You…?” Nico finally gets out. “But the comments… you said…?”
Will huffs. “I wanted to– to give you an out. I thought you’d be uncomfortable but too polite to say anything.” At Nico’s expression, Will backtracks. “ Not uncomfortable with us being together, but with people speculating about you and your sexuality.”
Nico takes a second to process, and when he does: “Oh.”
Will nods. “People on the internet can be, uh. Weird. That’s all I meant by it.”
Nico echoes Will’s nod. “Right. Okay.” Then he processes the entire conversation again. “ You like me?”
Will laughs, and Nico swears the darkness in the cabin recedes. “Yes, Nico, I like you.”
Nico never thought Will could like him back. He never believed that someone like Will, someone suffused with light and happiness, could even look at someone like Nico. He doesn’t exactly know what to do, now that Will’s warm gaze is centered on him and their confessions hang heavy in the cabin. His face warms. “Now what?”
Will smiles at him like he was waiting for that question. He steps closer and holds out his hand. “Now, you take me around the world.”
[ YouTube thumbnail description: A picture of two boys running away from the camera, their hands held between them. The boy on the left wears all black, the boy on the right wears a bright orange T-shirt. They're on a nondescript field, but in the background is the Eiffel Tower. White text curving above their heads reads "beauty and the beast??" Smaller text reads "there's still a lot of cheese".]
Video Title : taking my idiot boyfriend out of country for the second time
theghostking ✓
1.61M subscribers
5M views・3 days ago