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Every year on the very last night of summer, fireworks would explode across the sky over camp half blood. Blazing through the night in bright brilliant flashes,golden stars and scarlett comets streaking after each other in a dazzling and intricate dance. Campers gathering on blankets and cushions to watch, some even going so far as setting up tents, and staking out spots days ahead of time.
Camp half blood fireworks weren’t just any fireworks though, sure you had your Roman candles, your firecrackers but those were just to start off the show, a prelude for the performance to come.
Cabin 9 worked tirelessly for months in advance to engineer the show, each year more elaborate than the last as they concentrated even more time and effort into dazzling their peers.
Shooting rapidly across the sky the forms of lithe dancers and snarling beasts told stories from long ago. Spoken in flashes,booms, and flares the tales spun out late into the night.
Will sighed, pressing his face against the cool glass of the window pane and fanning himself with the paperwork he was supposed to be doing in an attempt to cool off. As a son of Apollo it took a lot to make him sweat but this just might be the exception. The infirmary wasn’t air conditioned, and on days like this one it could feel almost suffocating being trapped in a metal box when the sun was at its highest and hottest.
But there was paperwork to be done, potential injuries to be healed and he still hadn’t finished taking inventory, which was required to be done at least every six months.
And then there was that other thing, asking Nico out.
They’d been friends for over a year now, and it had taking time and effort but Nico had started to trust him. He’d even started showing his affection in gentle shy touches, sneaky gifts left on his desk, and whispered compliments Will had to strain to hear.
Asking him out was such a simple thing, but what if it ruined everything? What would he do if Nico refused him and the fragile spark between them went out?
Then who would make sure he ate enough? Who’d patch him up when he got hurt?
A loud jangle jolted Will out of his thoughts as the bell above the door announced a patient.
“Hi”
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
“Hey Nico”
The raven haired boy stepped forward, a tray laden with food in his hands. Setting it down carefully on Wills desk he stepped back, fidgeting with the end of his skull patterned shirt as he watched Will.
“You missed lunch” Nico declared after a somewhat awkward silence.
Will smiled taking note of the carefully folded napkin and small bunch of flowers,that sat beside his bowl of pasta.
It was now or never.
“Thank you darlin’ “ he paused, biting his lip momentarily “I was actually wondering if you’d like to come see the fireworks with me tonight”
Nicos brown eyes widened “Really? Like a date?”
“Exactly like a date. Is that a yes?” Will asked his breath hitching in his throat, scared that he might simply fall apart if Nico said no.
“Of course it’s a yes stupid” Nico beamed, his whole face lighting up and melting Wills heart.
“I’ll pick you up at 6 then”
~ time break:)~
To the untrained eye the five shirts laid out on Nicos bed would look exactly the same. Nico Di Angelo though saw five distinct shades of black and none seemed worthy of a date with Will Solace.
Just pick one he told himself, it’s not like wills a connoisseur of the colour black. But what if he was?
Flopping spinelessly onto his bed he screamed furiously into his pillow punching it a few times for good measure.
He was Nico di Angelo, son of hades, prince of the underworld for goodness sake! He struck fear into the hearts of monsters everywhere, he’d crawled out from the depths of Tartarus,he did not have crisis’s over what to wear. And he definitely did not have a huge crush on Will Solace.
Most certainly was he not trying to impress him with his shirt selecting abilities.
Closing his eyes he reached for the shirt closest to him, ebony black with a tiny skeleton embroidered in the corner. It would have to do.
Snatching up his favourite dark jeans and a handful of silver jewelry, he pulled himself off his bed and started to dress.
~time break the sequel ~
The clock read 5:59, and Will was due to arrive in less than a minute.
Nico stood in front of his mirror running his hand through his messy dark hair and trying to stop himself from hyperventilating. Would he even come? Had it all been a set up? Months of friendship all leading up to this betrayal. Were he and his friends snickering about their scheme at this very moment? Of course it was a set up, why would Will the golden sunshine child of Apollo want someone like him?
A knock sounded on the door and Nico jumped up startled by the sudden noise.
Cracking open the door slightly he peered out, an awkwardly tall blond freckled boy stood at his door step, nervous smile on his face, a small box of chocolates clutched in his hands. “For you” he explained “My ma taught me it was bad manners to take someone out without a gift”
Handing the chocolates over to Nico to put aside, Will blushed and offered his hand to the smaller boy, pulling him gently out into the late summer evening.
Falling into step in the same comfortable way they always did Will couldn’t help stealing a glance or two at Nico, admiring how pretty he looked in the soft light of the setting sun, the light dappling across his cheeks and over the bridge of his nose.
The quiet weight of Nicos hand in his own stirred up butterflies deep in stomach as he led him to the blanket he’d laid out on the grass. Arranged carefully with comforters,pillows and snacks stolen from his cabin he could only hope Nico would like it.
Curling up under the blankets Nico slid close to Will pressing against the warmth of his chest to shield himself from the cool dusk air.
Smiling Will tucked Nicos head under his chin fidgeting with his curls for a second before settling his arms around Nicos waist.
Leaning in close they whispered stories to pass the time, old suburban legends and myths they’d heard passed from camper to camper.
Will was halfway through explaining the presumed ghosts who haunted an old house a few miles from camp when the first fireworks shot across the sky over them
Gasping Nico clutched at the sleeve of Wills hoodie “ how do they do it?” He asked awe reflected in his eyes as he stared at the crackling performance above him.
“ dunno, explosives and stuff?” Will shrugged “what never seen fireworks before?” Nico shook his head timidly casting his gaze downward for a second his cheeks tinged red with embarrassment.
“ It’s alright sweetheart guess you just never stuck around all summer” Will tilted Nicos head up slightly to gaze into his starry dark eyes.
“We’ll have plenty more summers though, I swear it” he leaned in close, so close their noses almost brushed and he could count the scattering of freckles that adorned the bridge of Nicos nose, so close that one inch further and they’d be lip to lip.
Before either could pull back and kill the moment Nico pressed forwards, his lips meeting wills and claiming them as fireworks shot through the sky above, punctuating the moment with sharp pops, claps and blazing streaks of colour.
Sinking into each other their kiss sweetened by the joy of the moment and the beauty of the sky Nico felt happy, happier than he’d been in all his years at camp. Finally happy with Will Solace beside him and their whole future ahead of them.