Work Text:
The infirmary was a blur of activity, with demigods rushing in and out, carrying the injured from the latest skirmish with monsters that had breached the borders of Camp Half-Blood. Will Solace was in the middle of it all, his hands trembling slightly as he tried to focus on the task in front of him—stitching up a deep gash on one of the campers.
But his mind kept drifting to the figure lying on the cot at the far end of the room—one of his siblings Kayla, unconscious and pale, her breaths shallow. He’d been in the middle of treating a burn when she was brought in, and it took everything in him to not drop everything and rush over.
“Will,” a voice snapped him back to reality. It was Austin Lake, his face pinched with concern as he noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead. “Are you okay?”
Will nodded, though he didn’t trust himself to speak. His throat felt tight, and the walls of the infirmary seemed to close in around him. The sound of moaning, the smell of antiseptic, the sight of blood—it was all too much.
“Go take a break,” he insisted, his hand resting on his shoulder. “We’ve got it from here.”
For a moment, he hesitated. He didn’t want to leave his sibling, but the walls were closing in tighter, and his heart was pounding so hard it hurt. Finally, he gave a small nod and stumbled out of the infirmary, the cool evening air hitting him like a wave as he pushed through the door.
He didn’t stop walking until he reached the woods, where the trees blocked out the chaos of the camp. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, hands clutching his head as he tried to steady his breathing.
He’d been through this before—countless times. But it never got easier. Every time one of his siblings got hurt, it felt like a piece of him was being ripped away. And he couldn’t handle it anymore. He couldn’t be the strong, dependable healer when he was breaking inside.
“Will?”
The voice was soft, familiar. Will didn’t look up, didn’t want Percy to see him like this—curled up on the ground, trying to keep from falling apart. But Percy wasn’t the type to leave someone alone, especially not a friend.
Percy knelt beside him, his presence a steadying force. “What happened?”
Will shook his head, unable to find the words. He felt Percy’s hand on his back, a comforting weight, and after a moment, the dam broke. Tears spilled down his cheeks, and he gasped for breath as he tried to explain, tried to make sense of the storm of emotions raging inside him.
“One of my siblings Kayla,” he managed to choke out. “I—I was right there, and she got hurt, and I couldn’t… I couldn’t stop it. I’m supposed to protect them, Percy. I’m supposed to keep them safe, but I can’t…”
“Hey, hey,” Percy’s voice was calm, soothing, like the ocean’s waves lapping against the shore. “It’s not your fault, Will. You can’t do everything. You’re doing your best, and that’s more than enough.”
“But what if it’s not?” Will’s voice broke. “What if… what if she doesn't make it?”
Percy didn’t answer right away. He sat there in silence, letting Will cry, his hand never leaving his back. When Will’s sobs finally quieted, Percy spoke again, his voice firm but gentle.
“They’re strong, Will. Just like you. And no matter what happens, they know you’re there for them. You’ve saved so many people, done so much good. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. It’s okay to take a step back.”
Will wiped his face with the back of his hand, sniffling as he tried to calm himself. Percy’s words were like a lifeline, pulling him back from the brink of despair. He took a deep breath, feeling a little steadier, a little less like the world was crashing down around him.
“You don’t have to carry this all by yourself,” Percy added, his gaze steady and reassuring. “We’re all here for you. And Nico… Nico wouldn’t want you to go through this alone.”
At the mention of Nico, Will’s heart ached, but it also gave him strength. Nico had been his anchor through so much, always knowing when to pull him back when he was spiraling. But right now, he wasn’t sure if he could face Nico, not when he felt so broken.
“I… I don’t know if I can…” Will started, but Percy shook his head.
“You can. And you should. You don’t have to hide this from him. He’ll understand. He loves you, Will.”
Those words hit Will harder than he expected. Nico loved him—he knew that. But hearing it, especially now, reminded him that he wasn’t alone in this, that he didn’t have to face his fears and failures alone.
“I’ll try,” Will whispered, his voice shaky but determined. “I’ll talk to him.”
Percy smiled, a small but genuine one, and gave Will’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Good. You’re stronger than you think, Will. And we’ve got your back, always.”
They sat in silence for a while, the sounds of the forest filling the space between them. Will felt a sense of calm settle over him, the panic that had consumed him earlier slowly ebbing away. He wasn’t okay, not yet, but he wasn’t drowning anymore either.
As the sky darkened, they heard footsteps approaching. Will turned to see Nico emerging from the shadows, his eyes searching for Will with a mix of concern and relief.
“Will…” Nico’s voice was soft, and before Will could say anything, Nico was kneeling beside him, pulling him into a tight embrace. Will clung to him, burying his face in Nico’s shoulder, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
Percy stood up, giving them space but not before giving Will a reassuring nod. “I’ll check on Kayla for you, okay? You take your time.”
Will nodded, too overwhelmed to speak, but grateful beyond words. Percy disappeared into the trees, leaving Will and Nico alone in the quiet of the woods.
Nico pulled back just enough to look into Will’s eyes, his gaze searching and tender. “You don’t have to say anything,” he whispered. “I’m here, okay? Whatever you need, I’m here.”
Will nodded, his throat tight with emotion. He didn’t have the words, but he didn’t need them. Nico understood, as he always did, and that was enough. Together, they sat in the darkness, holding each other, finding comfort in the simple fact that they weren’t alone.
The two of them remained there, wrapped in each other's arms, until the sky turned a deep indigo, dotted with stars. Will leaned into Nico's warmth, finding solace in his presence. There was something grounding about Nico’s calm demeanor, the way he could make Will feel safe even when everything around him was falling apart.
“Do you want to go back?” Nico asked quietly, after what felt like hours.
Will hesitated, his mind drifting back to the infirmary, to Kayla lying so still on the cot. He knew he should be there, but the thought of walking back into that chaotic environment, of facing the uncertainty of whether his sibling would be okay, made his chest tighten with anxiety.
“I don’t know if I can,” Will admitted, his voice small and fragile.
“That’s okay,” Nico said gently. “You don’t have to go back right now. We can stay here as long as you need.”
Will nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Nico smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Will’s face. “You don’t have to thank me. You’re my family, Will. I’ll always be here for you.”
The words hit Will in a way he didn’t expect. Family. It was a simple word, but it carried so much weight. His siblings were his family, but so were Percy, Nico, and the other campers who had stood by him through thick and thin. He wasn’t alone in this, no matter how overwhelming it felt.
“I just… I’m so scared,” Will confessed, his voice breaking. “I’m scared of losing them. I don’t know if I can go through that again.”
Nico’s expression softened, and he cupped Will’s face in his hands, forcing him to meet his gaze. “You don’t have to be strong all the time,” Nico said. “It’s okay to be scared, to feel everything you’re feeling. You’re allowed to hurt, Will. But you don’t have to face it alone. We’ll get through this together.”
Will closed his eyes, letting Nico’s words wash over him. For so long, he had felt like he had to be the one holding everything together, the one who couldn’t afford to break. But Nico was right—he didn’t have to carry it all by himself.
When Will finally opened his eyes again, he felt a sense of resolve settling within him. He wasn’t ready to go back to the infirmary just yet, but he knew he would be soon. And when he did, he wouldn’t be alone.
“Can we stay here a little longer?” Will asked softly.
“Of course,” Nico replied without hesitation, pulling Will closer. “As long as you need.”
And so they stayed there, under the stars, the weight of the world feeling a little lighter with every passing minute. Will knew the road ahead would be tough, but with Nico by his side, he felt like he could face it. For now, that was enough.