Chapter Text
Chapter 1-
Will's P.O.V.
-Monday-
I know something is up with Nico, and I have for a while. So, today, I'm catching him in the act. We're lounging together on my bed right now, I'm trying to finish up paperwork and he's just... sleeping, or he was a little bit ago? I think he's awake now. I glance down at him, where his head is resting on my leg, but he's just watching me, his eyes wide open. Did he ever end up taking a nap like he said he was going to?
"...I thought you were asleep." I tell him.
“I am.” He says.
"You're staring at me. That's not how sleeping works." I smile down at him past my papers.
“That’s how I like to sleep, so I can keep an eye on any threats.” He claims.
It's now or never. I'll catch him here and now.
"There's no threats here. Since you're awake, could you do something for me ?"
“Maybe. Depends on if it involves getting up.”
"It doesn't." I hold a file out to him. "Can you read that top line for me? My dyslexia is saying no."
“And you think mine will say yes?” He chuckles, taking it, “What even is this?”
"It's just someone's file. The first sentence isn't computing."
“Is it something I shouldn’t see anyway then? Whose is this?”
"It's just for one of the Hephaestus kids who came in, it's nothing sensitive."
“…” He stares at it for a minute, “What? This line?” He points to the first sentence.
"Yes sir. If you could."
“… Ha-ruh-la … Harley .”
"... Harley . Good start." I watch him closely. I'm 95% sure that after all the time we've spent together, he can only read what he can sound out.
“Dyslexia says no on these big words.”
"All of them? I'm dyslexic too." I point out.
“The big words! Not the short ones. I can read in, a, on…”
The words you learn when you're little, then. Not any higher than that.
" Sight words ? How far did you get in school before the Lotus Hotel?" I question, not wanting to force him.
“Before? I don’t know, I don’t remember just about anything from that until it comes up.” He says, “I was in… fourth grade at Westover Hall.” He doesn’t sound confident about that either.
"Hmm. Have you ever been a strong reader?" I question him.
“I’m dyslexic , William .”
"So am I! But I can read those if I use the right tricks." I explain. Granted, I know that I got lucky on the dyslexia front. It doesn't affect me as much as some The other kids at camp.
“…They never taught me any tricks.”
"The right fonts, lighting, contrast? Can you sound this out?" I point to the word laceration.
He stares at it intensely. “ La-k…era…tuh -…” He stops, laughing awkwardly, “Will, I don’t know how to read, okay? They never taught me anything.”
I knew it! At least I wasn't just making it up. There’s been times that I’ve thought something was true, then built it way way up in my head, only for it to have been nothing.
I take the paper from him. "Why didn't you just say that the... millions of times you've been handed stuff?"
“I did. I said I can’t read it and handed it back, every time. So you read it and we were fine.” He claims.
"Are you sure?" I question. "I must have just... thought you didn't want to." Or was saying it in the way all of the dyslexic kids at camp do. I can't read .
“No. I can’t read.” He says exasperatedly.
"Do you want someone to teach you?"
I can't, but we could find someone. Hopefully someone way smarter than I am.
“Is that possible?”
"Of course it is. The Athena cabin offers tutoring all the time." I shrug.
He shakes his head. “I’m not having some little kid teach me how to read .”
"Maybe an older kid, then. Isn't Annabeth here for the summer?" I point out.
“She is. That’s super awkward. Why would you even say that…?”
"Is it? At least you know her. She might at least be able to point us in the right direction, no?"
“…I don’t want to talk to her.”
"She could be a big help, Nico.” I point out. I don’t think it being awkward should make him not do it.
Again, even if she won't teach him, maybe she knows someone who can. Not that she knows a lot of people, but a different older member of her cabin would work.
“Do I want her to know that I’m fucking stupid? No.” He huffs.
He's not stupid , he's far from that. He’s probably one of the smartest people I know, especially when it comes to mythology. Just because he wasn't taught things growing up, or just because he grew up in a different time, he acts like that makes him an idiot. It doesn't, you can't expect someone to know something they weren't taught.
"It doesn't make you stupid not in the slightest. No one ever taught you, that's not your fault." I say, gently brushing his hair back away from his face with my hand.
“I like her too much for that either way.” He says, staring up at me.
"We could ask another Athena camper and avoid her entirely." I offer, searching his face, "Or I can look into it and try to teach you, but it's not my specialty."
It would be better to be taught by an actual teacher… I could probably teach him the basics if not. I’m not the best teacher and I’m also not the best reader, but I’m something .
“I guess you can ask her. I just don’t want her to…not like me.”
"I don't think that would make her not like you, but you know her better than me." I say, continuing to pet his hair with one hand as I start putting paperwork aside.
“And I don’t really know her.” He adds, which isn’t even true.
"I don't know why she'd dislike you for asking for help or some answers…?"
I know Annabeth in passing, we're not what I'd call close by any means, but we've both been here at camp for a long time. I like her well enough. She's really nice, I doubt she'd look down on Nico for needing help.
“Asking for help isn’t the problem, needing help is.” He says.
"Needing help isn't a problem either, Nico. You can't be so hard on yourself." I tell him, fixing a rogue wave of hair that I accidently made go in the wrong direction. "I'll handle it for you, you don't even have to come with me for that if it's intimidating."
“Tell Annabeth I’m not stupid.” He concedes.
"I will. I'll go... I guess I could go now if you want?"
“Right now? We’re cuddling.”
Wait . Duh . Why would I go now when I can stay here with the best boyfriend in the universe and be so close to him? He never lets me do this.
I lean down and kiss his cheek. "You're right, we'll wait."
“You can go after we’re done.”
I lean back up and go back to petting his head, picking the paper up again. I'll let him go back to relaxing for a while. This isn’t something he needs to get worked up about.
…
I walk up to the Athena cabin, ready to have to search for Annabeth Chase, but as I approach, I realize I'm lucky. I can see her on the balcony, bent over a book from where I'm heading to the porch.
I bypass having to go in and go around the side, making my way up the steps. Once I make it to the top, she notices me, looking up from the book balanced on her crossed legs, a notebook in the other. She's studying... something .
"Hey Annabeth." I smile at her. "Do you have a minute for a couple of questions?"
“It depends on what your questions are about.” She says, glancing down at her stuff again.
"It was about getting tutoring... specific tutoring." I tell her, putting my hands in my shorts pockets.
“Oh. I can help with whatever you need, Will.” She tells me, smiling politely.
"It's not for me, it's for Nico. It turns out that before he went to the Lotus Hotel, he never got taught how to read much more than sight words...? I know that you guys offer tutoring, but I wasn't sure who does the reading stuff, considering we're all dyslexic."
She stops, pursing her lips and thinking about it for a second. “I might not be the person to help with that. Does he want to read?”
Of course he does. He might not know it now, but it'll be really helpful to him in the long run.
"He said he does. I just don't think I'm the right person for it either." I say, sitting in the chair to her right with a sigh.
“The problem is, even though we’re dyslexic, just about everyone who comes here has been taught to read by a professional. So we don’t usually do that.”
Which means they can't help me. Where do I go from here? We don't have the money to go to a professional for something like this... I'm sure if I asked my Mom she could help out, and maybe I could get a job over the school year and help pay for it too, but that's not for a while… This is going to be harder than I thought. "Darn, that makes sense."
I'll need to figure something out.
“Percy’s stepfather might be able to help or get you to a proper tutor.” She says.
"Percy's stepfather?" I question.
“Paul…he’s an English teacher. He’s worked with plenty of kids with learning differences and stuff.”
"Oh. He sounds like a good person to contact, then. I'd need to go there and ask him, or...?"
I could ask Chiron to make a phone call for me if Paul doesn't know how to do Iris messaging. I don't know if he's a mortal, or what…?
“You would have to, yeah. But don’t worry, they’re really nice!”
"Okay. Would they be comfortable with you giving me their address... and is there a time of day that works well for them?" I question. I don't like the idea of just showing up at a stranger's house, even if it's Percy Jackson's house.
“I can! You’ll want to go in the evening. They won’t mind if you just show up.”
"Awesome..." I dig around in my bag and pull out a sticky notepad and a pen, before offering them out to her. "Thanks for the information, I don't know what we'd try otherwise."
“It’s fine. I didn’t know that about him not being able to read…?”
"I didn't either, but he doesn't want anyone to know. He didn't want you to think he was stupid." I explain to her.
She takes the pen and sticky notes and starts writing on the top one quickly.
“He isn’t stupid at all. I know he’s not.” She says.
"I know, I told him that too! He still didn't really believe me though."
“Can you tell him I don’t think he’s stupid …? It makes sense that he didn’t know much. I was lucky to have…friends who helped me when I was really little.” She explains to me.
Even with everything that went down with Luke, at least she had help from him and Thalia at the time. Nico only had Bianca, who shrugged off her responsibility for him as soon as she was able to leave. Even if she'd stayed, I don't know if she'd have been able to teach him something like this.
"Of course I will. I wanted him to know it's not his fault or anything, I think hearing what you have to say about it will mean a lot." I tell her, taking the note once she hands it back out to me with my pen.
“Want me to come talk to him?” She offers.
"Oh, it's alright, I can just let him know." I assure her quickly. He did not seem like he wanted her company when I left him playing checkers with Austin in the cabin.
“Alright! Let me know if you need anything else or if you can’t read that.”
I take my cue and get up. "Thanks for the help, Annabeth. It's always a pleasure."
She's never been nothing but nice to me. It's weird that Nico always seems... scared of her . I guess he seems that way about most people. All it takes is some bad experiences to make you feel that way, I suppose.
“Usually. 99% of the time.” She chuckles.
"Good point. I guess I'll say it's more of a pleasure to see you when you're feeling well. Have a good time studying." I wave a bit.
“I always do~”
I head back down the steps, and back over toward the Apollo cabin that's only off to its right. It doesn't take long for me to make it back. I pass Chante playing piano on the porch, making sure to tell her to keep up the good work , before I head inside. There's a few kids sitting on the couch, lounging, and Nico and Austin have the checker board sitting on the trunk at the end of my bed. Nico is laying out on the bed, and Austin is on the other side of the trunk, a chair pulled up in front of the door so I almost hit him when I enter. "Woah, sorry. You set this up in an interesting spot." I tell them, scootching in and closing the door behind me.
Nico has been pretty tired today, so it was probably best for him to stay laying down and relaxing, though. So good on them to know that. I put my hands on my hips and watch the game. "Who's winning?"
“I’m winning.” Nico says, “How’d it go?”
Of course he is, Nico is killer when it comes to checkers. Ghost King? Yes. Checkers champion? Also yes, he is a man of many title s.
I go to the side of the bed and sit down with him. "Well, she said she's never thought you were stupid and asked if she should come tell you that herself. I told her I could relay the message."
“…She didn’t say that.” He chuckles.
"She did, word for word. I can have her talk to you next time if you don't believe me." I offer.
“Don’t do that.” He says quickly.
“What happened?” Austin asks.
I glance from Nico, to Austin, then back to Nico again. " Am I allowed to explain, or...?"
Is this something he wants to keep under wraps? He didn't want Annabeth to know, so maybe he just doesn't want anyone too…
“…Sure. Doesn’t matter with him.” Nico says.
"Nico can't really read, so I went to the Athena cabin, because I know they do tutoring. But, it turns out that they aren't professionals, which is understandable, so they said they can't teach him, but , Annabeth directed me to Percy's stepfather, who I guess might be able to do one-on-one lessons. We'd have to take a trip into the city and ask. She said they're free most evenings."
“You want to go there today…?” Nico asks.
"I might leave a bit before dinner time so I can make it there after they're done eating, hopefully."
I'll have to double check with a map, but I can probably take a taxi, then a few trips on a subway. Then from there, I'll need to navigate the city without getting caught by a monster, which shouldn't be impossible. I'll figure it out.
I want this as set up for Nico as possible.
“Uh, I’ll just take us.”
"You don't need to do that." I say immediately. He's tired, I don't want him exhausting himself even more.
"It's not that far, I can take the subway."
“It’s not that far , but I can literally teleport.” He says, and Austin laughs.
"You can , but you'll be exhausted." I remind him, putting a hand on his back.
“That’s fine, it won't be too bad if it’s not too far.”
I get the post it out that Annabeth gave me. "It's not, I don't think, is this far from here...?" I show it to Austin. He's from here, he'd know more than I would.
“I don’t think so.” He says.
"Hmm. How does it work with shadow-travel anyway?" I ask Nico as I look at the address myself. "Like, do you have to have a visual for it to be less strain, or does and address work...?"
“Usually I have to know where I am going, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
I frown. "I don't know about today, you're pretty tired." He was asleep all day yesterday because he was gone the day before.
“I’m fine. I know how I’m doing, you don’t need to worry.”
"Alright, I trust you." I decide. For now, at least. "We can go after dinner then."
I don't trust him. I know he's tired, I did a wellness check when we were cuddling before.
“Hm. Has to wait that long?”
"Annabeth said to hold in the evening." I tell him. "That's probably when they'll be free."
“Okay. Want to help me play?”
I take my bag off and drop it on the floor, leaving it with my shoes before laying on my stomach beside him. "Definitely. I want to crush Austin."
“I’m already losing, why do two against one?” Austin complains.
I laugh. "Because it's funny, and I'm always on Nico’s team."
“I’m your brother. You know that?” He asks me, as if that means I'm not allowed to win against him.
"I don't think I'll actually be much help. He beats me all the time too." I tell Austin.
“Domestic violence!” He claims.
“In games .” Nico chuckles.
I roll my eyes, agreeing with Nico. " In games . He's a winner, and there'd probably be a lot of signs if that was the case. I could totally obviously take Nico in a fight if I wanted, anyway."
Clearly .
“Is that a challenge?” Nico asks.
"Definitely not. You'd destroy me in one second." I chuckle.
“I was hoping you’d say yes.”
“Me too,” Austin says, “I was ready to place my bets.”
I raise my eyebrows at them. "Maybe... with hand to hand. Maybe . No weapons, no powers. But that doesn't really count, does it?"
“You want to fist fight me?” Nico asks, “You think you could hit me?”
"No. I'd probably sob if I tried." I admit to him.
“It would be good practice for you.”
"Trying to hit you ? I'm not a fighter, I hate that sort of thing.”
It would not end well, I'd probably just freeze up if I was trying to hit anyone, especially him.
“I can’t believe no one here prioritized you learning to fight.”
"I'm better help in other things. If you really want me to learn that sort of thing, we can try it..."
“We can. And should.”
"Egh." I complain, flopping forward to drop my face into the bed. "Only if you think it's really important I guess."
“You okay?” He asks softly.
"I am. It's just kind of nerve racking ." I tell him. "But if you were helping me, it would be okay."
“I would, it would just be fun.”
"You think so?" I ask, lifting my head. "Should it go on the list ?"
The physical list we've had since the valentines dance that we made together, the one that we've been adding stuff too then crossing it off when we're done. It's almost more symbolic to our relationship than the necklaces we wear to represent one another at this point.
“Yes. Keep making that list crazier.”
"Perfect." I say, sitting up and grabbing the list from my bag. "I'll chuck it on with the others."
I start scribbling it down, when a thought pops into my head.
"Hey, if you can't read, how do you know all those Mythomagic statistics?"
“ What ?” Nico questions.
"You can't read, how did you read your Mythomagic cards?" I ask, putting the list away.
“…I didn’t. I understood the numbers and that them being higher was better.”
"And you just guessed at the names and stuff?" I ask, moving to lay back down beside him. "That's impressive."
“…No, well…Bianca read them to me,” He says, “I used to make her sit and go through them over and over again. I liked the figurines that came with them the most anyway. The game was fun, but I…I was more of a collector.” He says, staring at the checkers board.
"That was probably really nice." I tell him gently. No wonder he doesn't have any of the kind of stuff anymore. It's a shame he has so much trauma around it, because it seems like such a fun group game. It would have been fun to play here in the cabin. Maybe someday.
“I totally get why she wanted to leave me now. I think I did when she first told me she was going to…and I just ignored it.”
I don't really know how to reply to that. I don't think she ever should have left her brother in pursuit of something else. But... she was a kid, she wanted something new. I just can't imagine leaving my kid brother alone and defenseless like that, in a camp I don't know...
"I don't. I'd listen to you talk about anything for hours if I could." Is what I land on. Because it's the truth, I don't think I'd ever get tired of talking with him.
“Not if you spent your whole life with me jabbering the whole time and forcing you to always do my stuff. Everything was always about me . I was selfish and annoying.”
“You were a really little kid, though,” Austin says, “You can’t beat yourself up over that. I didn’t know you, but all kids are annoying.”
“Not like me. Like you said, you didn’t know me.” He grimaces.
"You weren't just a kid, you were a kid with a hyperfixation. That's not a bad thing."
He's allowed to like stuff, he acts like he isn't… It's really sad.
“I was stupid. I should have learned to read and be more independent back then.”
"No one taught you. When you're little, it's someone else's responsibility to handle those kinds of things. I'm sorry no one did that for you."
And now it's put him behind and fucked him over in multiple ways. The best thing I can do is be there for him now.
“Bianca tried.”
"She was a kid too." I remind him.
“And I hurt her. I try not to do things like that anymore, now that I have friends and a new sister. I don’t want to drive any of you guys away.”
“We’re losers. You’re the coolest person we know, even if you can’t read.” Austin tells him.
I facepalm. "Gee, great pep talk, Austin."
“It’s true!” He says defensively.
Nico smiles a bit. “What, Will? You don’t think I’m cool?”
"You're literally nine hundred times cooler then me, of course I think you're cool."
I think you’re ultra cool.” He tells me.
Even if it's dumb, butterflies flutter in my stomach when he compliments me.
I giggle like a little girl. "Stop it~ you'll make me glow ."
“Always my goal!” He reminds me, “You’re awesome.”
“Will, can I ask you something?” Austin says.
I look up at him. "Anything."
“Is you glowing, like, a euphemism for getting a boner?”
I drop my face back into the bed. " No ? Because it happens when I'm nervous, scared and embarrassed too." I say, feeling myself warm up as if in proof. " Dammit ."
“Well, bodies can be unpredictable like that! So I wasn’t sure!”
“What does that mean?” Nico asks me.
Seriously?! I peek up at him warily. "You don't know?"
Is he messing with me?
“Maybe you should just start assuming that I don’t know anything.” He points out.
I'll explain this in the most medical way possible, then.
"A boner... or an erection is when blood goes to your penis when you get... aroused. It's your body's way of preparing for reproduction."
“…Oh.” His face flushes.
"But again, my glowing is akin to blushing, not just that . I don't know how it works for all Apollo kids."
“Not the other thing…?” He mumbles.
“It doesn’t happen to me or Kayla.” Austin tells me.
"It's a less common Apollo power, but don't worry, it's just happening when I get overwhelmed with an emotion."
It's a pretty useless power, at that. I could have gotten something helpful, but I guess not.
“And you can make it happen on purpose, which is when it’s actually useful.” Nico says.
"I can, not that we need a flashlight that often." I say, taking a deep breath in, holding it for a moment, then letting it out. Relaxing myself as much as I can usually makes me quit glowing or freaking out, whichever I need it too.
“You’re a cute flashlight at least.” Nico tells me, not helping me quit glowing.
"Ah, yes. My true purpose, to be cute for you." I chuckle, looking back up at the board.
Nico is still slaying , obviously.
I think we'll figure this out. At least he wants to learn, that'll help a lot, even if it's going to be frustrating. I know when I was learning to read I was so pissed off about it, but now I do it all the time, even if it's really hard. It's such a good skill to have, though. I just hope he sees the value in it enough to learn.
End