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Will is up with the sun. It beats through the curtain, splaying gold over the hardwood, warming it after the cool night. It’s bright as all get out, slowly increasing as the coolness of winter gives to the warm spring.
Will enjoys waking up early. Of course he would enjoy the extra sleep, but it wouldn’t allow him to see how utterly calm the morning is.
Nico is so close to Will he might as well be on top of him. His face is shoved into Will’s neck, snores float into his ears. He denies that he snores, that he couldn’t make noise as a demigod on the run, but domesticity has turned him into a foghorn.
Their dog, Obi, is at Will’s feet. Fluffy, yellow fur gets onto the blanket, no amount of washing or vacuuming will get it off. He’s warm against Will’s feet, snoring in tune with Nico.
Their cat, Cerberus, is on Nico’s other side. She’s stretched out, almost the length of Nico’s entire torso. They look like a matching pair, black fur, and sleep shirt.
In these moments, with the sun streaming in, and the love of his life by his side, Will wonders how he got so lucky. His life had never been easy, neither of theirs had been, but they had this. This love that exists in a bundle of sheets, pets, and their bodies.
He sits in it for a few more minutes before his arm starts to fall asleep from where Nico is pressing on it. His bladder also aches from his refusal to get up. In seconds the pets will start to stir, begging for food.
Will extracts himself as slowly as he can, sliding Nico’s head from his neck. He snorts in his sleep, causing Obi’s head to shoot up. Will resists the urge to laugh at the situation, not wanting to deal with a grouchy Nico.
He uses the bathroom and shakes his arm out. Obi sticks a paw through the door, followed by a nose. Next to his is Cerberus’s black paw, swiping at the tile.
Will exits the bathroom, checking to make sure he didn’t wake Nico. He’s still asleep, snoring loudly, and now taking up much more room than necessary. Will wants to take a picture, to capture the pure adoration he feels and keep it close forever.
Cerberus butts her head against Will’s shin, reminding him of his morning duties. He looks down at both of them, they look up at him, expectantly.
He chuckles softly. “Alright you two, breakfast time.” He spares one last look at Nico, resisting the temptation to crawl back into bed, before exiting their room, pets trailing behind.
The house is peaceful. Sunlight comes through the large windows, and sliding glass door. Cerberus’s automatic fountain bubbles by her food bowl, creating an almost waterfall sounding background noise.
It’s the quietest the house is before the day officially starts. In a minute the sound of hungry animals eating kibble will drown out the fountain. The cheerful cries of the neighbor kids will float into the house, rivaling Nico’s snores.
Will loves it, all of it. He loves it so much he fears it will fall from underneath him. That this happiness can not be contained in such a small space, that eventually, it will have to burst.
But it doesn’t. Not when he lets Obi out to do his business. Not when he feeds Cerberus, letting her eat on the countertops even though Nico thinks it’s weird. Not even when he lets Obi back in to feed him, and has no other tasks left.
Will stands in the kitchen, hip leaning against the sink as he stares out the window. There’s a suncatcher in the shape of a cartoonish sun, made by Estelle Blofis herself, hanging on the curtain rod. The same curtains Nico and Will bought at a cheap price, even though they had the money for much nicer ones now.
He only stands there for a few seconds before he can’t stand still much longer. He wants coffee, but not the kind from the pot. It reminds him too much of early shifts in the infirmary, and those days, although fond, are behind him.
Will rummages around the cabinets, careful not to make too much noise. He has to move several pots and pans to find the stainless steel percolator.
He sets everything up before going to the fridge to find the fancy espresso Nico practically shadow travels to get. Will finds it easily due to their lack of food. A grocery trip will have to be done at some point.
Will puts the coffee on, then looks back at the barren fridge. The best thing for them would be cheesy eggs and toast that is, hopefully, not growing a second life form. Usually they’d have fruit, but the only option looks like the furry strawberries. Will throws them away.
He gets out their ancient toaster. Again, with minimal noise. He pops two pieces of bread in, praying that they won’t come out charred with how finicky the thing is.
Will sets to work on the cheesy eggs, periodically checking on the coffee. He’s already set out two mugs, milk, and the sickly sweet syrup Nico likes. Obi has moved to begging for shredded cheese, (he gets some, much to Nico’s later chagrin.)
Will pours himself coffee, scalding the roof of his mouth when he doesn’t bother waiting. He puts his two pieces of toast on a plate, scooping half of the cheesy eggs on to the side. He lathers his toast in butter and strawberry jelly, fresh from the camp supply.
As a split second decision, Will puts together Nico’s plate. He assembles the breakfast with utmost care, like Nico will taste the love through the peanut butter slathered toast or extra cheese on his eggs. He even puts his coffee together correctly, memorized after years of watching him do it day after day.
Will carries the plates into the room first, then goes back for the coffee. Each trip he is trailed by Obi, still begging for a treat. It saves Will the stress of wondering if their food is being stolen by canine breath.
Nico is up when Will comes in with the coffee. He’s sleep rumpled, and soft around the edges.
“Mornin’, Darlin’.” Will places Nico’s coffee on his bedside table, sweeping down to kiss Nico’s temple.
“What’s all this for?” Nico picks up his coffee, taking a sip with an eye roll of complete ecstasy. “What’s the occasion?”
Will gets back into bed, placing his plate in his lap. “I wanted to do something nice for you,” he says, smiling at Nico’s soft look. “Just ‘cause I love you.”
Nico copies Will’s position, sitting up straight, plate in lap. He blushes. “I love you, too.”
Will feels like a teenager again. Back in cabin seven, leaning against his bunk and eating snacks with Nico. When they were new to their relationship, not even brave enough to hold hands.
Nico takes a bite of his toast, nodding his head as he chews. “It’s not burnt.”
Will snorts around his eggs. “High praise,” he teases. “Like you don’t trust my cooking abilities.”
Nico makes a noncommittal noise, smirking when Will looks over. There’s peanut butter on the corner of his mouth. Will will get it off later.
“You burnt dinner last week,” Nico reminds.
Will’s eyes bug out of his head, remembering the exact reason why. “I was distracted!”
“Sure,” Nico drawls, glint in his eye. “By what exactly?”
Will shoots him a playful glare. “You know what.”
Nico continues to play innocent, scooting closer to Will until their thighs press. He hooks his chin on Will’s shoulder. “I don’t think I do.”
Will huffs. “We could reenact.”
Nico raises an eyebrow, biting a lip to get excess food off. It’s what sends Will crashing into him, biting at the same lip with his own teeth.
Nico laughs against him, the movement travels through his whole body right into Will’s. No music can compare to the sound. No sensation can compare to Nico’s hands on Will’s shoulders.
“We’re going to get crumbs on the bed,” Nico complains, but he does nothing to stop Will from kissing him again.
“We’ll deal with that later.” Will goes back to kissing Nico, threading his hands through Nico’s tangled hair.
The plates are moved to the side as Nico flips them, settling between Will’s legs. His kissing does not cease, only moves down Will's neck.
Neither of them notice the dip in the bed, too distracted by the movement of the other. They do, however, hear the unmistakable sound of a dog licking its chops. Then the wagging of a tail.
Nico removes himself from Will’s neck, slack jawed at their dog. “Obi!”
Will looks over at the dog, slow from the desire growing hot in his stomach. It’s zapped the second he sees the peanut butter sticking to Obi’s jowls. He’s shocked for a second, but he’s shaking with laughter moments later.
“Damn dog,” Nico mutters, but his voice is filled with humor. He’s doubled over with it, joining Will’s raucous chuckling.
Nico attempts to resume their kissing, but both of them are too busy shaking with laughter. They end up laying down, Nico splayed on top of Will.
“We should stay here all day,” Nico mutters, nuzzling into Will.”
Will sighs at the thought. He’s warm and content. Stomach full of cheesy eggs and bread. He let Nico have his other piece after Obi pilfered his.
“I wish,” he says, “but we need to get groceries. Our berries were growing hair.”
Nico fakes an annoyed sigh. Grocery shopping together is something he enjoys. There really isn’t a need to convince him otherwise.
“Fine,” Nico says while getting up. “But I’m driving.”
It’s still early enough for the store to be devoid of most of the young people and families. The elderly are still collecting their groceries for the week. Will finds great enjoyment in teasing Nico about it.
“Do you feel at home?” Will’s sanitizing their cart, not able to stand the thought of touching it after others.
“You think that joke is so funny,” Nico grumbles, but his mouth twitches.
Will pushes the cart toward the produce, Nico hangs on to his bicep. “I do,” he says. “It’s not my fault you’re an old man at heart.”
Nico scoffs, throwing a bag of baby carrots into the cart. “I’m putting you in a home.”
Will lets out a faux gasp, picking out a carton of strawberries. “Who says I’m going first?”
“You’re older than me,” Nico explains, looking at him with a teasing smirk. “I can see it now, you sitting in a rocker, crocheting a terrible sweater.”
Will gathers a few more vegetables and a salad mix kit, laughing. “I’m older by, like, a few months,” he teases. “And please, crocheting, really?”
Nico nods, putting on a serious look. “You have steady hands, very good for crocheting.”
“You sound like you know a lot about it,” Will notes. “You sure you wouldn’t be the one crocheting?”
“No,” Nico replies, still faking seriousness. “I’d be napping.”
“And how is that different from now, old man?” Will asks as they go to a different aisle.
“Respect your elders, William,” Nico deadpans.
A laugh escapes from Will, catching the attention of an old woman in the same aisle. She smiles slightly before leaving.
“Okay, okay,” Will snickers, righting himself. Nico beams at him, breaking the seriousness. “Would you at least visit me?”
Nico stares at the shelves, tapping his chin. “I suppose. Maybe I’d even put myself in there. You’d be bored without me.”
Will presses a chaste kiss to Nico’s cheek. “Sounds wonderful.”
They continue their shopping. Nico adds stuff they don’t need, all of it highly processed and containing several things the human body should not digest, but Will couldn’t care less. He thinks about Nico as a teenager, scarcely eating, pale and thin.
Will looks at the same Nico now. Taller and broader from real food and training. His skin no longer appears sickly, more of a toned down olive. He’s more muscular, shirt pulled over defined back muscles, and jeans pulling at built thighs and calves.
Will thinks of them in the future. With salt and pepper hair and more wrinkles on their skin. With love still weaved in every part of their being, made for only each other.
It surprises him that he can think of the future now. As a young kid it seemed so far, so unobtainable. None of his older siblings got a chance of a future, so he assumed he wouldn’t either.
Will tells Nico the same thing once they’ve returned to the car.
“I understand,” Nico says softly, picking at the steering wheel. “None of this seemed possible all those years ago. Sometimes it still doesn’t.”
Will nods. “Like it’ll get taken away.”
Nico smiles at Will, not sad or particularly happy, but understanding. “Yeah. I’m scared it will.”
Will holds Nico’s hand all the way home. A reminder that he wasn’t going anywhere. He wouldn’t be taken away, not then, now, or their newly discovered future.
They bounce back from the more depressing topic, not forgetting it, but moving past it. They put away the groceries, managing to find more scientifically questionable food items. Will adds it to next week's list.
They take Obi out for a walk. It’s warm enough for light clothing, but Nico sticks to his long sleeved shirts and pants. Will hadn’t given up his cargo shorts, always running hot from his child of Apollo powers.
Nico expresses his distaste on their walk.
“I thought you’d be done with those by now.” He pinches at the offensive clothing item, scowling.
Will squeezes Nico’s hand, the one he holds in his own. The other is occupied with Obi’s leash.
“I will never be done with them.” Will defends. “They are a wardrobe staple.”
Nico scoffs a laugh. “Maybe for a barbecue dad.”
“I’d make a great barbecue dad!” Will exclaims, not even thinking about the implication. His cheeks warm up, and he looks at Nico sheepishly.
Nico is already looking at him, so softly it makes Will’s gums ache, like he’d eaten something too sweet.
“I think you would too,” Nico whispers.
Oh. Gods, he hadn’t thought about being a dad. He was a brother, a medic, he’d cared for people his whole life, but never like that. Again, he didn’t think he’d get to do that.
“I did burn dinner once.” Will attempts to move the conversation elsewhere. The new emotion in his chest is overwhelming, the new seed planted in his brain is blooming fast. “That’s not very barbecue dad.”
Nico smiles. “Don’t lie, Sunshine. It’s been more than once.”
They leave it there. Even when they get home and the neighbor kid runs out to pet Obi they don’t look at each other, wondering what a kid of their own would look like with Obi, with them.
The rest of their afternoon is spent lazing around. Nico naps like the old man he is, snoring like a foghorn. Will watches him until his own eyes slip shut, and he’ll deny that they did.
They sleep for way longer than a nap should be. Neither of them mind, instead they move their laziness to the living room, snacking on fresh produce and reading.
Nico resumes their earlier make out session. This time they are not interrupted by a hungry dog. Shirts are abandoned on the hardwood floor. Warm skin connects with cold, transferring and evening temperatures.
Sound fills the house once again. Pleasured sighs and the others' names behind breathy moans. Laughter rings through when they realize the couch can not fit their adult limbs as much as one did when they were teenagers. They don’t mind, as long as they are together.
The growling of their stomachs spurs them into action. It’s Will’s turn to cook dinner, even though Nico insists he should after Will cooked breakfast. Will does not take that, instead he puts a record in the record player, sighing when it cracks and starts to play. He steers Nico out of the kitchen, kissing him once more before claiming, “Wouldn’t want to get distracted.”
It does not work. Nico goes outside with Obi, tossing a ball across their small yard. His words come back to Will, claiming he would be a good dad.
They could have a family. Not that they aren’t one already, they have been for years. But Will can’t stop himself from imagining someone else, an infant, a toddler, a child, a teeenager, a young adult the same age as them with someone they love. It makes his head spin, thinking about it.
The food turns out a bit overcooked. Nico spends the whole meal smiling at him, lips stained red from the wine he paired with it. Will isn’t even remotely tipsy, but him like this sends him reeling.
They clean up dinner together. Nico washes, Will dries. Nico throws soap suds, then pretends he didn’t. Will uses the towel to draw Nico closer, until they share the same wined stained lips.
They change into soft, threadbare clothing. Some of it is from camp, before they left for good. It feels longer than it’s been, but it’s coming up on ten years. So maybe longer than Will had thought possible.
He thinks about his younger self as he and Nico lounge on the couch, not tired enough to be in bed yet. He wonders what his younger self would think, the one that saw Nico running around camp, heart stuttering and mouth drying. His younger self who couldn’t see the future as something obtainable, something he had no promise of having.
Young Will probably thought it’d be ripped from him.
But it won’t. Will won’t give it up. He’d never been a fighter, but if there was something to start for, it be this.