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Nico had been sitting under one of the many trees Camp Half Blood had to offer as he watched Will Solace berate his siblings about safety on the lava wall. The way his hair bumped up and down with every exaggerated sigh, his lips turned down into a frown...
"Shove over, lover boy." The peace was suddenly broken when a very annoying Percy Jackson came and sat right next to him. He let out a groan. Nico had heard all about the gang's lovely shovel talks with Will. His boyfriend had ranted about how weird it was to be the subject of one.
"I mean, the last time I ever had seen one was back when Michael started dating. He had given the entire cabin heaps of the most colourful words one could even think of when he found out." Will chuckled to him as he applied a band-aid on Nico's knee. It may not seem so, but it was quite rare for Will to speak about his cabin before well- everything. "He was so pissed off, he managed to curse me into speaking couplets. I was quite the snitch."
"Are you here to flaunt your threatening skills because I won't have anything." Nico grumbled as Percy shifted next to him , twidd- twiddling his thumbs?? Percy cleared his throat to speak.
"Actually, Nico, I came to give you one of my special shovel talks myself." Nico slowly turned his head around to face the other, his face morphed into a mix of disgust and confusion. Percy saw his face and snickered before continuing. "I better give you a good example before Clarisse comes around. "
He sighed and turned to look at Will, who was now sitting at a safe distance from the targets on the grass as he shouted words of encouragement. Nico sensed a sense of guilt radiating from the older.
"Will's a good kid, Nico. That's all I can say, considering I've never fully managed to confront him for a full conversation myself." He laughed under his breath, his thumbs still twiddling. "I don't think he's ever fully forgiven me." And Nico knew exactly where the conversation was going.
Michael Yew was one of the many casualties of the Second Titan War and one of the numerous demigods whose bodies were never found. Percy was the one to break the bridge they had been on.
"But Michael is still somewhere. So is Cass and Jamie and-" While heading back to the camp, Nico had heard broken sobs of a young girl. He had turned around to find a familiar blonde comforting two other kids. A young Will Solace had glanced at him before turning his attention back to the two, comforting them. Looking back, Will looked much older than he was.
Nico scoffed. "Of course Will forgives you, Percy. It's not your fault." Percy looked back at him with a sad smile.
"Nico, would you have believed me when I told you I didn't kill Bianca if she never confronted you personally?" "O- of course!" Taken aback, Nico answered the question quickly. Too quickly. Percy let out a laugh. "Come on Nico, you know you wouldn't have." It made Nico sick to admit that, if Bianca hadn't told him explicitly how her death was her own fault, he would have never even let Percy talk. With a sigh, he admitted it. "You're right."
Percy pulled his knee closer towards him. "I knew how-" He stopped to take a deep breath. "How Will followed Michael. I want to apologise so bad, but an apology isn’t going to repopulate Cabin 7.”
“It’s weird to see the once baby of the cabin grow into the leader in such a short span of time. Treat him well, Nico. He deserves it.” Percy looked over, waiting for a response.
Nico looked over the distance at the blonde. Even if it was just a glimpse, Nico could always find grief painting his boyfriend. “He’s done so much for me. It’s only fair if I do the same.” Percy ruffled the younger’s hair, satisfied by the answer. “But Percy, you have to apologise to him. Even if he doesn’t accept it.”
Percy was taken aback by the request before giving Nico a mock salute. Nico elbowed him before getting up to leave. Before Nico could go out of earshot, Percy let out a shout.
“Get ready for Clarisse!’
What?
Turns out Nico got a taste of his friends’ medicine with Clarisse. A few insults later, Nico entered the infirmary to find his boyfriend arranging paperwork. Will looked up from his work to give him a smile.
Nico couldn’t help but notice the cracks in his person. After the talk with Percy, Will’s carefully crafted facade was obvious to Nico. The slouched posture, forever tired eyes, long faded cuts littering his arms. Will managed to bring him light, but who will give him any?
Nico power walked around the desk and tackled Will in a hug. “Nico? What-” Will started before Nico put his hand over his mouth. They lay on the floor in silence, their breathings synchronising.
“If you have anything bothering you, please Will, tell them to me. Don’t act like the hero, you idiot” Nico said, his voice muffled by Will’s shirt. Will froze up.
After a few seconds, something wet fell onto Nico’s head. Was it raining? No, they were inside. Then what- oh. Will started shaking with silent sobs. Nico had never seen WIll like this, but he steeled himself. If he was to be the boyfriend Will deserved, he had to provide comfort to Will, just like he does.
The infirmary closed early that day. But, the lights were still on in the head office.
“You are so dead, Mikey!” Will stuck his tongue out as one of Micheal’s lovey-dovey photos managed to get leaked by Jake’s siblings. “I’m going to show this to every- Hey!”
Michael quickly tackled Will and took the photo from him. “Not a peep about this.” But it was too late as someone from behind him snatched the photo. “What is- Michael, you scandalous whore!” Cassidy shouted, looking at the photo with amusement. “Cass, language! There are kids around.” Lee said calmly as he took a look at the photo, his frown turning into a mischievous smirk.
“Why is Will the first one to find dirt on you? A child finding your secrets is not looking geat on your track record, mIkey. Will started snickering as Michael turned red. He bent down to whisper into the younger’s ear. “I tell you WIllie, the dirt I’m going to get on you will be insane. Just you wait.”
“Michael, no threatening your siblings.” Lee’s reprimanding did not seem menacing as he was still suppressing his giggles. “Me? Insulting? Nah. Me and WIllie are chums.”
Michael ruffled Will's hair before mouthing the same threat to him. Will stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry, much to Michael's annoyance, and went to Lee, who promptly lifted him up so he could see the photo again.
Michael went against his word. The ones who knew his threat towards Will were no longer. Nico and Will spent the night, cuddling with each other in peace. But somewhere in Wills mind, he still hoped he would hear a camera flash and the once annoying voice would jump out.