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With Will, kisses could be both romantic and a bit of a game. Namely, because the boys were quite given to blushing terribly if one surprised the other with a kiss on the cheek, the nose, or the back of the neck, as Nico had been delighted to discover when he’d crept up on Will one morning on the way to the dining pavilion and took the opportunity to make them both late for breakfast.
Well worth it. Even if it meant that Leo earned a middle finger for catcalling them both, the jerk.
Anyway.
This morning, it had been Will who had struck first blush, Nico recalled, with cheeks coloring anew at the memory.
He had been walking to the dining pavilion for breakfast, still struggling to fully wake up so he could make sure that he actually ate something and didn’t risk a lecture from his loving—yet quite adamant—medic boyfriend. Admittedly, walking was a stretch. Nico was more dragging himself along toward the source of all the noise of chattering campers in a daze.
It was his fault, really. He was the one who lobbied with Chiron and Mr. D to let sing-along at the camp fire go a little later for birthday celebrations. This one had been the first. Rather fittingly, a celebration for Annabeth, daughter of Athena, architect of Olympus and of countless plans that had ensured the survival of her dork of a boyfriend and all their friends.
Nico included.
So, it was entirely his own fault that he was so groggy that a certain living ball of sunshine was able to sneak up with about as much subtlety as a bunch of demigods dressed in all black during the daytime, wrapped his arms around Nico and pressed a kiss against his the crook of his neck.
A shiver ran down his spine as he felt a pleasant tingle beneath his skin, almost like live wire. Nico’s eyes fluttered, a smile tugged at his lips despite his efforts to suppress the feeling, knowing full well that the moment he succumbed, he would cede this morning to Will. But it was too late.
A deep blush bloomed across his cheeks, Nico gave a contented sigh and brought his hands up to hold his boyfriend’s as he leaned into the embrace. “This isn’t fair,” he complained with utterly no heat to his tone.
“Good morning to you too, Sunshine,” Will drawled. He pressed their cheeks together, beaming. “Blushin’ like a boy with his first crush. I win this round.”
“How are you even awake enough for this?”
“Always awake enough to kiss my boyfriend,” he replied, purring the word in Nico’s ear. Then he stole another kiss, this one upon Nico’s cheek. “‘Specially when I get to see ya get all squirmy.”
The jerk.
Will held him a moment longer, drawing him in close so Nico’s back pressed against his chest. “What’ve you got first?”
“Teaching the kids sword fighting with Percy,” Nico mumbled with a yawn. “You?”
“Checkin’ our stock in the infirmary. Chiron’s planning on a game of Capture the Flag this week—keep that quiet ‘till he makes the announcement, though.”
“Didn’t hear a word.”
“Thanks.” Will kissed him a third time, then released Nico from his embrace and bounced around him, a sunny grin splitting his face. “C’mon, Sunshine! I’m starvin’!” he called as he turned and hurried off toward the dining pavilion.
Nico let out a bark of laughter and chased after him, his smile bright and face still flushed a bright red as he called mock oaths to swat his pest of a boyfriend. Internally, he’d already decided upon his next action.
Will would need a reminder that the son of Hades never backed down from a challenge. Especially if it meant he got to see those freckles burn.
***
Fortunately for Nico, his boyfriend, while a brilliant medic, wasn’t exactly known for thinking strategically. Which was fine, the infirmary was his dominion and battle strategy, Annabeth’s. Nico, on the other hand, tended to favor a bit more trickery to seize the advantage.
Doubly so when it meant he could fluster Will.
He’d cut out of sparring early with Percy’s blessing. Dense though the son of Poseidon could be, the pair shared a love for surprising their respective partners. So, as soon as Nico told him it was so he could pester Will, Percy shot him a grin and a thumbs up and said, “Get outta here. I got this.”
“Thanks, Percy.” Nico gave him a fist bump. Then, he set off, his mind working through his plan and a sly smirk that seemed almost a comical contrast to his intentions. His father would probably find him ridiculous, scheming to kiss his boyfriend silly, of all things.
Then again, he’d also seen how Hades and Persephone flirted, so, maybe not. His father quite enjoyed sweeping her into chariot rides, grinning as she swatted him and laughed.
Anyway.
The thing about Will taking stock was that he never finished on time. Ever. To be fair, it wasn’t entirely his fault—his siblings were incredible medics, but he was the one with the logistical mind. They didn’t really speak up about bandages running low or a need for aspirin until either Will asked them specifically to help him take stock or they ran out. The latter of which had led to some rather entertaining lectures.
Entertainment that definitely made it well worth being cursed to speak in the most absurdly flowery couplets for a week. Kayla really hadn’t appreciated the way Nico made faces at her behind Will’s back.
That said, when Will found the stocks in particular disarray, he tended to get a bit involved. A planned hourlong session could easily turn into half the morning, especially if he felt a need to reorganize the shelves because someone—Austin—had put the suture boxes on the top shelf, well out of Kayla’s reach. And given that Nico hadn’t seen that mop of blonde hair aglow in the sunlight as Will watched him wield his sword, that could only mean one thing.
The perfect scenario for his plan. If everything aligned properly.
Nico climbed the stairs onto the front porch of the Big House and stepped toward the infirmary entrance. Carefully, he eased the door open, biting his lip as he hoped Will wouldn’t be standing right in the doorway, in the middle of dressing down one of his siblings.
Luck was on his side, though. Instead of Will, it was Kayla standing nearby, looking quite amused at something, but staying quiet. Much like a kid who knew their parent was seconds from launching into a rant, and hadn’t yet decided if it’d be funny enough to be the one that flicked a match and set things off.
She glanced over at the motion of the door, her brows raising and smile broadening as she saw Nico and made to greet him, stopping only when he put a finger to his lips.
“Surprising Will!” he mouthed.
Kayla grinned back. “Easy!” she mouthed back. “Inventory’s a mess!”
“Where is he?”
She bobbed her head toward her left, motioning toward the office, then mimed writing on a piece of paper.
Which meant he’d be compiling a list of items needed to replenish the stock and would then head over to ask Chiron if someone could make a run to the store. This, naturally, meant he’d be fully engrossed in making sure each and every figure was accurate.
Nico slipped out of his shoes so he could keep his steps quiet in his socks. Then, to Kayla, he mouthed, “Which way’s he facing?”
Kayla glanced to her left, then she turned, facing the opposite wall and bent at her knees as if sitting at a desk. She angled her head down and mimed looking from one piece of paper to another.
Perfect.
Nico gave Kayla a thumbs up and then a wink as he stepped to his right, into a nearby shadow, and melted into darkness. He sidestepped to the left, out from the cubby where the children of Apollo would hang their bags, sweaters, or jackets while they worked, but a few steps behind the desk.
True to Kayla’s word, Will sat hunched over the desk, his back facing Nico. In his right hand, he turned a pen over and over again between his fingers as he muttered under his breath, trying to ensure he’d taken an accurate tally. In this state, he was so focused, so concentrated on making sure he had everything perfect, that Will would have no chance to hear him coming.
The son of Hades made his move.
He crept up behind his boyfriend and swiftly reached around to cup the boy’s cheek, gently turning his head enough that he could steal a lingering kiss. Will let out a surprised squeak. Nico smiled and teased his tongue along the boy’s lips, nipping slightly as he parted.
“Who’s blushing now?” he purred, kissing Will’s nose. “Ho vinto io, tesoro!”
With an indignant squawk, Will tried to snatch him into a bearhug, but Nico managed to dance just out of reach and then melted into the shadows again.
Nico dashed out of the infirmary, laughing gaily as he heard Will let out a curse and try to give chase. He hurriedly slipped on his shoes and ran. In the distance, he heard his boyfriend yell after him.
“You’re gonna get it for that trick!” Will called, his fluster evident in his tone.
Feeling rather playful, Nico turned and jogged backward. “Promises, promises!” he teased. “Be sure to watch the shadows, or I might get you again!”
To his delight, Nico could see Will’s cheeks flush a deeper red. He pressed his lips together in that adorable way he always did when he tried to hide it, but could never manage. He knew, just as Nico did, that this round of their little game had gone to the son of Hades.
Nico turned to continue on in a brisk walk, grinning as he looked back over his shoulder to watch his boyfriend retreat into the infirmary, no doubt to plenty of laughter and teasing from Kayla.
Yeah. He was definitely gonna get a lot of mileage out of this.