Chapter Text
It was a perfect day at Camp Half-Blood. Will Solace and Nico di Angelo spent the afternoon wandering through the strawberry fields, their hands intertwined, the sun casting a warm, golden light over the camp. Everything felt like it had finally fallen into place. For the first time in a long while, Will felt truly at peace. He glanced at Nico, who wore a soft smile, one of those rare, genuine smiles that made Will’s heart flutter.
"Do you think we'll ever get tired of this?" Will asked, his voice light with contentment.
Nico shook his head, his dark eyes reflecting the sunlight. "No, Will. After everything we've been through, this… it feels like we’ve earned it."
Will leaned his head on Nico's shoulder, closing his eyes and soaking in the moment. "I’m so glad you’re here, Nico. I don’t want this to end. Ever."
But as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the camp, something shifted. The warmth that had surrounded them all day seemed to fade, replaced by a creeping sense of unease. Will could feel it in the way Nico’s grip on his hand tightened, the way his smile faltered and disappeared altogether.
"Nico, what’s wrong?" Will asked, the first threads of worry winding through his voice.
Nico hesitated, his eyes darkening like a storm gathering on the horizon. "I’ve been having dreams, Will. Dark ones. They’re not like the usual nightmares—they feel like… like something’s coming. Something bad."
Will’s heart skipped a beat, his peace quickly unraveling into anxiety. "Dreams? What kind of dreams?"
Nico looked away, unable to meet Will’s eyes. "I see you… and me… but then there’s this shadow, this darkness that I can’t fight. And it… it takes you from me. I try to stop it, but I can’t. And then you’re gone, Will. You’re just… gone."
Will’s breath caught in his throat. "Nico, it’s just a dream. We’re here, together. We’ll face whatever comes, like we always do."
Nico shook his head, his expression pained. "It feels different this time, Will. Like it’s not just a dream—it’s a warning. And I’m terrified that I won’t be able to protect you."
Will pulled Nico into a tight embrace, trying to chase away the fear that had taken hold of both of them. "You don’t have to protect me, Nico. We protect each other. We’ve made it this far, haven’t we?"
But despite his words, the fear lingered, gnawing at the edges of their happiness. The sun set, plunging the camp into darkness, and with it, the sense of dread only grew. That night, as they lay together in the quiet of the infirmary, neither of them could shake the feeling that something was coming—something inevitable.
In the days that followed, Nico became more withdrawn, his usual confidence eroded by the persistent nightmares. Will tried to comfort him, to assure him that they would face whatever came together, but the shadow of fear hung heavy over them both.
Then, one night, the nightmare became reality.
A monster, more terrible than anything they had ever faced, attacked the camp. It came out of nowhere, a creature born of darkness, its eyes glowing with malice. The campers fought valiantly, but it was stronger, faster, more ruthless than any of them could have imagined.
Will and Nico fought side by side, as they always did, but in the chaos, they were separated. Will’s heart pounded in his chest as he searched for Nico, his eyes scanning the battlefield. And then he saw him—trapped, cornered by the creature, fighting with all his strength but slowly being overwhelmed.
"NO!" Will screamed, sprinting towards Nico, his heart racing with fear. He reached Nico just as the creature struck, its claws slicing through the air. Without thinking, Will threw himself in front of Nico, taking the blow meant for him.
Pain exploded through Will’s body, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Nico was safe. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, his vision blurring. Nico was at his side in an instant, his face pale with horror.
"Will! No, no, no, please, stay with me!" Nico’s voice was choked with tears as he cradled Will in his arms.
Will managed a weak smile, his hand reaching up to touch Nico’s face. "I’m sorry… I couldn’t… let it take you…"
"Don’t say that, Will! You’re going to be okay! We’re going to get you help, you’re going to be fine, just—" Nico’s voice broke as he tried to keep the panic at bay.
But they both knew the truth. The wound was too deep, the damage too severe. Will’s time was running out.
"Nico… it’s okay," Will whispered, his voice growing weaker. "I’m glad… I’m glad I could protect you…"
Tears streamed down Nico’s face as he shook his head, refusing to accept what was happening. "No, Will, please don’t leave me. I can’t do this without you."
Will’s vision darkened as he struggled to keep his eyes open. "You’re stronger… than you know, Nico. You’ll… you’ll make it…"
With the last of his strength, Will pressed a soft kiss to Nico’s lips, then let his head rest against Nico’s chest, his breath growing shallow. "I love you…"
And with that, the light in Will’s eyes dimmed, and he was gone. Nico held him close, his heart breaking as the world around him shattered into a thousand pieces. The camp fell silent as the monster was finally defeated, but the victory felt hollow, meaningless.
Nico stayed by Will’s side long after the battle was over, clutching his lifeless body as the reality of his loss slowly sank in. The sun rose, casting a pale light over the camp, but for Nico, there was only darkness. The one person who had made him feel whole, who had given him hope and happiness, was gone. And he was left alone in a world that suddenly felt much colder and emptier without Will in it.