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Will expected Nico to have visitors. He assumed friends and family would be lined up at his bedside, singing his praises. He waited for Hazel to burst in, and talk his ear off. Or Reyna, all sharp features, but small smiles.
He didn’t expect Nico’s first visitor to be Coach Hedge and his demigod backup, Clarisse La Rue.
Clarisse walked in first, taking her duty as Hedge’s bodyguard a little too seriously. She stepped up to the desk, placing her clasped hands down. “Is Nico taking visitors?”
Will snorted, a strangled, tired laugh. It was almost unheard of after the battle. “Why are you acting like that?”
“This is serious business, Will.” Clarisse huffed. “Hedge wants to show Nico the baby.”
He hadn’t seen or heard Hedge walk in, but he was right next to her in an instant. A bundle of blue wiggled in his arms. Will felt nauseous remembering how the kid got here in the first place.
Will swallowed down the disgust. “Hi, Hedge. How’s Mellie doing?”
The coach smiled brightly. “She’s doing great! Thanks to you, Cupcake. I owe you one.”
Owing Will would mean he’d never have had to birth the Coach’s kid in the first place. But the past can’t be reversed, and the damage was done. So now he could only look forward to whatever repayment he’d get.
“Right,” Will drawled. “I’ll go see if Nico’s up for a visit.”
The infirmary wasn’t separated very well, and with the thin walls of the Big House Will was sure Nico had heard everything. Still, as some semblance of surprise, Will pulled back the curtain that Nico hid behind.
To Nico’s credit, he was doing a good job at pretending he hadn’t heard everything. He had a large book in his lap, flipping through pages way past the dog eared one he’d been on. The blanket he’d been covered with was askew, as if he’d put it back haphazardly after snooping.
He looks up from the book, feigning disinterest. “Solace,” Nico greeted. “Here to tell me I’m being subjected to several more days of lockup? Or do you need more bandages cut?”
Will rolled his eyes. “I know you heard everything.”
Nico cocked an eyebrow, something like a smile working its way on his face. That’s something Will had noted the past few days. Even when Nico enjoyed something he wouldn’t let himself smile, like he was punishing himself for being around.
Will knew it well. He knew what it was like to feel guilty for surviving. He hid his differently, letting smiles come forced for the sake of others.
“I heard something about visitors,” Nico said impassively.
Will saw the small shine in his eyes. Saw the excitement he left hidden. The happiness he felt at the prospect of anyone coming to see him for longer than a goodbye.
“Are you up for it?” Will asked, prepared to send Clarisse and Hedge away at a single word.
“Send them in,” Nico said softly. Then, as if compelled to, “Please.”
Will left the curtain open as he made it back to the front desk. Clarisse was poking at the baby in Hedge’s arms, cooing softly. She snapped her hand back when she heard Will walk in.
“Not a word, Will.” The threat landed empty with the way her eyes softened at the baby.
Will held his hands up defensively. “You can go back,” Will said. “It’s the one with the open curtain.”
The two shuffled to the back, still in view of the desk.
Will was aware he should get work done. There was paperwork to fill out, seemingly endless. Emergency field medic kits needed to be refilled, drained by the second. But he couldn’t focus when he could see and hear everything that was happening with Nico’s visit.
Nico’s hands twitched at his sides, pale and thin, but finally solid. He’d made progress with his fading, a steady amount of food, sleep, and unicorn drought seemed to do the trick. But now they hold an uncontrolled energy, something lost years ago.
“Can I hold him?” Will heard Nico say. He sounded sheepish for asking such a request, soft in a way that didn’t fit the image Will had in his mind. The Ghost King holding a baby would’ve been unheard of.
Will turned his chair toward the scene, giving up on paperwork. He saw Hedge place the bundle of blue delicately into Nico’s awaiting arms. The boy froze, even though he’d requested it.
“You gotta support his head, Kid.” Hedge said, panicked slightly. “Just- up- no- little lower- right- there! You got it!”
Will felt his stomach flutter at the sight. There was something about the scene playing in front of him that made him think, for one infinitesimal moment, that this is what wars were fought for. To watch boys with hardened looks in their eyes hold babies like they’ll disappear.
“He’s heavy,” Nico commented, voice barely a whisper. He didn’t give up his hold though.
Clarisse snorted. “He’ll only get heavier. He has to live up to his namesake.”
Not looking up from the baby, Nico hummed. “Chuck. After that martial artist guy, right?”
Hedge nodded, proudly. “Chuck Norris.” Will swore Hedge sighed dreamily. “My hero.”
His comment was not taken seriously. Clarisse rolled her eyes good naturedly. She looked normal, not mean or angry or battle hungry. She was a teenager, just like the rest of them. Just a girl that was forced to fight to capture a parent’s attention that would never come.
The visit continued in silence. Nico stared at Chuck, fascinated by the baby. Everytime he kicked his legs, Nico would tap at the hooves, commenting about the strength. He stuck his pinkie finger out experimentally, only for it to get wrapped by a small fist.
That got Nico to stare up at Hedge. The Coach’s eyes looked slightly misty, but he smiled. Nico looked back down, lips twitching unprovoked.
Not able to control himself, Will had to make a comment. “Looks like your place as godparent is about to be revoked, Clarisse.”
All three pairs of eyes snapped to Will. He only really cared about Nico’s shocked ones, wide at the knowledge of being caught. He didn’t have to see Clarisse’s to know they were angry.
“Shut it, Will,” she snapped, pointing at Nico. “I won’t have this scrawny thing upstage me.”
If there wasn’t a baby in his arms, Nico probably would’ve tried to fight back. He didn’t indulge in Clarisse’s dig, too busy wiggling his prisoner pinkie to make Chuck smile. He was smiling, a shaky one, unused.
Hedge and Clarisse left shortly before dinner. Will assumed Clarisse was getting jealous that the baby wasn’t paying attention to her. She made it known by taking Chuck back as soon as he relinquished Nico’s finger.
“Nice visit?” Will called out to Nico after the Big House door shut. He didn’t bother with pretending he hadn’t been watching.
“I’ve never held a baby before,” Nico replied. “It was…nice.”
Will smiled, probably too giddily. “I’d never birthed one.” Great start, Will, truly incredible. “It wasn’t nice.”
Nico huffed, shaking his head. “But the result was nice.”
Will thought about Nico’s request to hold the baby, his moves instructed. He thought of the small comments whispered under his breath about strong kicks. He thought of small smiles and unrestrained excitement that had been hidden after years of disuse.
“Yeah,” Will breathed. He didn’t dare look at Nico, fearing he’d see right through Will’s cover. “It was.”