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Nico didn’t want his New Year’s to go like this.
He had dreamt of a nice night, Will holding him close as they silently watched the stars, or maybe they would be cuddling and barely even notice that the clock hit 12AM.
Instead, Percy just had to drag him to some crappy New Year’s Party that the Hermes cabin was hosting. Hades if he knew why they thought it was a good idea to drag him there.
”Come on, Nico. You’re always either training, with your boyfriend, or brooding around,” Percy held up his fingers for emphasis. “You gotta come to this party! Expand your horizons!”
Nico stared blankly at Percy for a moment, and he had half of a mind to just shut the door in his face. He continued to give the son of Poseidon a glare, still half asleep. He looked- well, like a mess. His hair was sticking up in wrong directions and he was still in his pajamas, shirt all wrinkled up.
“And was it this important to ask me at-“ He looked back into the clock in his room, before back at Percy. “6:30AM?”
Percy gave a grin and he nodded vigorously, waving his hands around as he spoke.
“Duh! Now pleeaase, please, please, come to the party?”
Nico huffed slightly to himself, as Percy started to walk to the Hermes cabin with him. The sun was already long set and the only light now was from the small fire torches around camp.
”Do I really have to go?” He asked again, fidgeting a bit with the sleeves of the nice dress shirt he was forced to put on. “I mean, Will has a shift at the infirmary right now, and I could totally-“
”Nope. You,” Percy pointed a finger at Nico. “Are going to come. No buts, no nothing.”
It was worth a try, he supposed. Nico just rolled his eyes as they got to the Hermes cabin.
As soon as they walked into the cabin, the sound hit him.
Lights- flashing, it was bright, too bright maybe, the space- too many people, the walls- why was the music so loud?
Why was the music so loud?
Where- where was Percy again? He looked back, but there was only a sea of people. Their faces were blurry. He couldn’t make out their features- who were those people?
He couldn’t breathe in here.
There wasn’t enough oxygen- why is everyone in here? Is he back in the jar?
People laughing- were they laughing at him?- people talking, talking too loud, people playing games and-
He didn’t he had been moving before he felt the familiar tug of the shadows, and everything went black.
The next time he woke up, he was met with the familiar bright lights of the infirmary.
“You’re awake! What did I tell you about being reckless, actually, no, I’m just happy you’re awake.”
Will .
Nico barely registered the words before Will’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a tight hug.
And even though he was still trying to get his eyes to adjust, and then clothes he had on feeling a bit too itchy for his liking now, he still raised his arms carefully back around Will.
And he knew he was safe.
”…Me too.”