Chapter Text
Will rubbed his eyes, sitting up slowly. Every inch of his body felt like it was on fire. A piercing ringing in his ears cut through any other sensation. His hands flew up to cover his ears, eyes scrunched up. It sounded like what he imagined his hypersonic whistle sounded to other people but he couldn't block it out.
A gentle hand rested on his shoulder and something was pushed against his lips. He resisted but a thumb rubbed circles on his collarbone, soothing him and trying to coax his mouth open. He accepted, recognising the familiar taste of his mother's apple pie. The ringing started to die down to a background noise.
"Hey, there," a soft voice said. Will opened his eyes, seeing the familiar setting of the infirmary.
He was sat on one of the beds, covered in a scratchy blanket. There were flowers and cards on his bedside table and more than one anxious looking camper watching over him. He recognised his siblings, Kayla and Austin. There were other people too like a blonde boy standing close to a girl with green eyes and dark hair dyed purple at the ends. Both had the same look of guilt Will was used to seeing on his younger siblings.
"Will?" The voice spoke again. Will turned his head to see a boy sitting on a chair next to him. He looked underfed (the kind of skinny that his mother would see and would send home with five pies) and in desperate need of a nap.
"What happened?" Will asked, coughing away his embarrassment when his voice came out as a squeak. The boy beside him sighed.
"Lou Ellen, " he gestured to the girl, " and Cecil," he gestured to the guy, "were messing around with Lou Ellen's potions and you became an unwilling guinea pig. Though, thankfully, not literally like with Percy."
Cecil glanced down, kicking his foot against the floor. "Sorry, dude."
Lou Ellen bounced on the balls of her feet. "So... How are you feeling? Did the potion work?"
The tired looking guy shot her a glare.
"Um..." Will hesitated. "I'm not sure. What was it supposed to do?"
"It's supposed to be a memory potion," Lou Ellen explained. "It gives you hyperthymesia, which is where you can remember every detail of your life. It only lasts for a day though so you aren't stuck with it."
Will frowned. "I'm sorry. If anything, I think I remember less than I ever have."
Tired guy startled at that. "Wait, what? What don't you remember?"
Will shifted uncomfortably at all the eyes on him.
"I remember coming to camp. After that, things start to get blurry. I know a bit about the Battle of Manhattan. It gets really dream like."
Kayla glanced at him anxiously. "You remember us, right?"
"Of course I recognise you!" Will replied instantly. "You're my sister. And I know Austin, obviously. I don't know if I've met everyone else before."
Austin winced. Will took in Lou Ellen and Cecil's shocked faces. The tired guy had gone so white he looked like a spirit. He mumbled something, stood up and left.
"Is he okay?" Will asked. Lou Ellen cautiously approached him, sitting in the now free chair.
"Nico just needs a minute," she said. "Well, if you don't remember me, I better make a good first impression. It's kind of late for that after the whole wiping your memory thing but anyways. I'm Lou Ellen. That dork over there is Cecil. We're your best friends."
"You are?"
"We better be." Cecil snorted.
"We will be again in twenty four hours," Lou Ellen said.
"Oh." Will faltered. "And, uh, Nico?"
Kayla’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. "Uh, you guys are close."
"Close?"
"Dating," Austin clarified.
"Austin!" Kayla swatted his arm. "Don't overload him with information!"
Will leaned back trying to process. He had vague memories but every time he tried to grasp at one it slipped from between his fingers.
"This must suck for him," was what he ended up saying. Kayla laughed.
"Right now, we're more worried about you, dude. It's sweet you're worried but you're the amnesiac."
"I should go talk to him," Will decided, getting up.
"Whoa!" Cecil tried to stop him. Will shook his head.
"I'm still stubborn sick. I'm going."
Cecil's eyes caught Kayla's. She rolled her eyes and nodded.
Will stumbled to the door and found Nico sitting on the porch. He took a seat next to him. His eyes darted to camp. It looked different and the same all in one. The sense of familiarity and the sense of strangeness were battling in his mind.
"This must be kind of weird," Nico said, quietly. Will chuckled.
"Yeah. Yeah, it's super weird. But, hey! I'm the son of a Greek god. I know weird."
Nico almost smiled. "That's true."
"I'm sorry I don't remember you."
Nico's head turned, eyes drilling into Will’s skull.
"Are you seriously apologising for your amnesia right now?"
Will’s expression resembled one of a deer in the headlights. Nico let out a rough laugh.
"That's... That's the most Will thing, oh my gods."
Will tried to find it in himself to be offended. "It is not!"
"It so is!" Nico countered. "I know you!"
His laugh wilted at his choice of words. Will clasped his hands, trying to look for a way not to make this awkward.
"Yeah, Austin said."
"How much?"
"He told me we're dating." Will could feel the blush spreading across his cheeks. Nico’s expression remained unflinching.
"Right."
An uncomfortable silence washed over them.
"You're cute. I'll give me that, " Will remarked, trying to ease the tension.
"I'm glad you think so," Nico replied, his upbeat tone stilted. "We have been together for two years after all."
Will's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Two years?"
Nico bit his lip. "Ah, yeah. Weird choice on your behalf, huh? You fell in love with an emo."
"Do we... Do you love me?"
Nico looked at Will like he was trying to sear his answer into Will’s soul.
"More than anything. I love and adore you more than anything."
Will’s breath caught. "Oh."
"Does that surprise me?" Nico asked, lips quirked into a smile. Will ducked his head.
"A little. The idea of being in a two year long relationship and of being loved is... a little weird."
Nico shrugged. "Trust me. I'm doing everything to get you used to the idea even with your memory."
Will huffed. "Still self deprecating then?"
"Oh, gods, yes!" Nico grinned, his fondness evident. "It just means I work extra hard to prove to you that you're talking bullshit."
Will laughed. "Anything else I should know?"
Nico smiled. "A lot. I can take you for a tour."
Will nodded. "I'd like that."
Nico offered a hand and Will took it, making a mental note to appreciate the underworld out of this life when he got his memory back. It was more than he'd ever hoped for. It was home.