Chapter Text
NICO
Nico left a still-shocked Percy and smiling Annabeth behind him, walking up to Will with a surrendering smile.
“Alright,” Will announced, “let’s go.”
Nico followed him to the infirmary, glancing around at the campers and Romans cleaning up the damage from the battle. Some were carrying supplies to the SUVs taking the Romans back to Camp Jupiter.
“I still don’t know what you were thinking,” Will muttered, glancing at him. “Pushing your limits like that.”
“If I hadn’t, we would’ve lost the battle,” Nico snapped.
“And if you had pulled one more stunt, you would’ve lost your fight with Death.”
“Who says I was fighting?”
Will sighed. “Stop saying nonsense like that. You know some people care about you here.”
“Don’t push your luck with me staying here, Solace,” Nico warned, causing Will to roll his eyes.
“I can push my luck as far as I want,” he retorted. “You couldn’t go farther than a few feet outside of this camp without collapsing, Di Angelo.”
Nico grumbled under his breath but didn’t retort, and instead followed Will Solace into the Big House and up the stairs to the Patients' Rooms. They walked past mostly closed doors, but Nico caught glimpses of sleeping demigods, some who were severely wrapped in bandages and others who looked almost healed.
Will suddenly stopped at an open, empty room, and gestured for Nico to follow him inside. “Alright,” he announced, “lie down and don’t leave this room. I’ll check up on you in a few hours.”
“Fine,” the son of Hades sighed.
Will watched Nico relax on the bed and close his eyes, looking more relaxed than he had in days. He wasn’t scowling, which Will thought made him look strangely angelic.
“Don’t try any dark magic while I’m gone,” he reminded Nico as he headed towards the door.
“I’ll raise the dead,” the patient called out, and Will rolled his eyes with a slight smile as he left the room, closing the door behind him.
WILL
Will was trying to relax.
He hadn’t stopped thinking about the son of Hades, and it was messing with his break. His siblings from Cabin Seven had practically forced him to take an hour-long break since he hadn’t stopped working in the infirmary for the past few days.
Kayla had suggested that he go sit by the lake, promising that she would call him if he was needed. Of course, Will had a watch on him, and though he tried to stop himself, he couldn’t help but glance at it every few minutes, willing the time to pass faster.
He was restless; he needed to be doing something, like healing an injured demigod or checking up on a patient.
“Hey,” a voice said, and Will turned to see the son of Jupiter standing behind him.
“Hi,” Will replied, and Jason sat next to him.
“I haven’t seen you around camp,” Jason remarked, causing Will to shrug.
“I’ve been busy making sure the campers and Romans are alright in the infirmary.” He gave Jason a wry smile. “What’s been happening while I’ve been inside the Big House?”
“The Romans are almost ready to start their journey back to Camp Jupiter… They leave this afternoon; we’re just finishing all of the details.”
“I think the future should look better with the Greeks and Romans now friends,” Will commented, and Jason laughed.
“Yeah. Let’s hope that there are no more prophecies though. I’ve had enough for a lifetime.”
The son of Apollo tilted his head at the boy sitting next to him. “I heard that my dad was being held responsible for everything. Is it true?”
Jason took a deep breath, sighing. “Yes. I tried to speak up for him, but Diana—I mean, Artemis—stopped me. I think she’s going to talk to Zeus on her brother’s behalf.”
Will swallowed, mustering a smile. “Well, that’s good. You know, I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
“The gods rarely do visit demigods in person. It’s very rare at Camp Jupiter. Who was the last god that visited your camp?”
“Uh… in person, Apollo, if you’re not counting Dionysus. And for Camp Jupiter?”
“I heard Mars, but we have a god who maintains the pomerium.”
“The what?”
“City limits.”
“Ah.”
There was a long pause before Jason stood up and patted Will’s back.
Before he walked away, however, he added, “Your healing saved many lives, and it’ll continue to save many more, but don’t forget to take some time for yourself, Solace.”
The healer didn’t reply, and instead stared off into the water, praying for his father’s guidance.