Chapter Text
Nico’s POV
The members of the Argo II are some of the only demigods Nico can stand to be around, and that’s barely. The quest to defeat Gaia was less than a month ago and already the seven are planning reunions. Percy claimed it was to “stay in touch”, which seemed ridiculous as they all iris message practically every day.
Never the less Nico had agreed to join them. When Annabeth and Percy had brought it up to him the other day he was genuinely surprised they remembered he had ever been aboard the ship in the first place. And yet here Nico was, packing a bag for a week aboard the second Argo II. Would that make it the Argo III? It doesn’t matter, no one would be able to convince Valdez to change the name.
He didn’t bother to pack much, worst case scenario he could just shadow travel back to camp and grab anything he needed, the others none the wiser. Nico figured a few changes of clothes would be more than plenty.
He hesitated for a second before grabbing a stack of mythomagic cards. It had been forever since he played but Frank and Jason had been pestering him every time he visited his sister to teach them. They’ll probably forget but... there’s no harm in bringing the cards right?
As Nico zipped the small bag closed a knock on the Hades cabin door distracted him. He placed the bag on his bed and walked over to the door, who could possibly want to talk to him right now? It’s practically noon everyone should be training, and the seven would be packing as well. (Who was he kidding they all probably forgot to)
The first thing Nico sees when he opens the door is that stupid mess of golden hair. Every time he sees Will that’s what his eyes go to first, the curls of perfectly blonde hair that seems to reflect in the light making it glow. How that one stupid strand always falls in front of his face blocking his perfectly sky blue eyes and stupid freckles. And that grin! That blinding white grin that could light up any room. It annoyed Nico beyond belief.
He was met with that same idiotic grin today.
“Neeks! Hi!”
Nico groaned. Will had ordered him to three days in the infirmary after the war. Nico had no choice in the matter but the fact he showed up seemed to convince Will that they were the best of friends now. Not to mention he can’t seem to get the boy to drop that stupid Nickname.
Nico narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”
There. That stupid laugh. Nico had said nothing funny and yet Will was laughing! It’s that same ridiculous, kindhearted, gentle laugh that kept him up at night. Will raised his eyebrows and smiled as he spoke.
“Ouch. Ya know a proper Hello would of worked just fine.”
Nico didn’t respond. Why should he?
“…Fine then. I just wanted to see what you were up to. I’m on break right now and I didn’t see you at breakfast.”
Oh. That made more sense. Will wouldn’t be training like the rest of the campers, he would be working in the infirmary. No wonder Nico never saw him with his siblings at the archery range, not that he was looking. Maybe he should just respond.
“Just packing, I’ve been busy so I skipped breakfast.”
Will looked at him confused and walked into the Hades cabin. Nico didn’t care but he could of waited until he was at least invited in. As Will walked by he pressed an apple into Nico’s chest. Nico simply scowled and closed the door behind him.
“Packing? What for?”
“Does it matter?”
The silence Will met his response with was agitating. Nico sighed and continued on,
“Just some stupid reunion for everyone on the Argo II. It’s this week long thing so I have to pack.”
Will furrowed his eyebrows, “Huh. You know I’m supposed to hear about stuff like that so I can do medical checks on everyone before they leave.”
That’s Will Solace for you. On his break and all he can think about is work. Nico placed the Apple on his bed next to his bag, he wasn’t planning on eating it any time soon.
“We’ll be fine.”
A long pause followed before Will changed the topic quickly, clearly still worried about the unperformed check ups.
“I guess. So… your leaving soon then?”
Nico nodded. Technically they had planned to meet up at two, but he wasn’t gonna bother till three, everyone would lose track of the time and he would be waiting aboard the ship alone for ages.
“Leaving in about two hours, yeah.”
Will sat silently for a long second. This had been happening a lot between them lately. These long, awkward, silences where they both clearly wanted to say something but decided against it.
“Have fun I guess… you’ll Iris me if anyone gets hurt.”
Nico simply rolled his eyes. If anyone got hurt that’s what ambrosia was for.
“If it will get you to shut up sure.”
Will simply sat on the bed and looked up at Nico with a small smile. It was one of those smiles he would give whenever he wasn’t truly happy with an answer but accepted it anyway. Nico hated those smiles. He sat down next to Will silently. Will reached across the son of hades to pick the apple up, handing it again to the boy.
“It wasn’t a question Death boy, it was an order. Now you should eat as well, you’ve got a long day ahead of you.” He tilted his head slightly to make eye contact with Nico, “please?”
There was only a moment of hesitation before Nico took a bite of the apple. Just to get Will off his back of course. Will’s never-ending smile grew and he seemed to glow with joy as he spoke.
“Now that wasn’t so hard now was it?”
“…shut up.”
Will stood up with a laugh, “Whatever you say Neeks. Have fun on your little vacation.”
Nico would be a liar if he said he wasn’t slightly disappointed when Will stood up.
“Don’t call me that.” A long hesitation… “where are you going?”
Will looked back with a smug expression, a gleam in his eyes. He runs his hand through his golden hair and speaks teasingly,
“What miss me already?”
Nico rolled his eyes. Could he be anymore obnoxious? Will laughs at his response and continues,
“My breaks almost over, I gotta get back to the infirmary.”
Another long silence. Nico wanted… Nico didn’t know what he wanted. Every second Will was here he wanted him to leave, it would ease that weird nervous feeling that seemed to come with speaking to the boy. And yet at the same time, Nico wanted to spent his every second with Will. He was happiest with him. How could he ever express that? It’s easier to just stay silent, and so that’s what he did.
They exchanged their final goodbyes and Nico watched as that stupid blonde mop closed the door behind him. He sighed and fell backwards on the bed, pressing his hands to his eyes. Will was a friend, that’s it. They barley knew each other, their first real conversation being during the war with Gaia. Nico couldn’t ever see Will as more. End of story.
Nico cursed himself and grabbed his bag, quickly walking out the door once he knew Will was king gone. So what if he was an hour or two early? No one would notice him even if he was on time. They never did.