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It was a beautiful morning. The sun was beaming down onto half-blood hill and you could hear the peaceful noises of birds and deadly monsters emanating from the woods. There were less demigods present at camp as the summer season was not yet here, so the only half-bloods that remained were the year-round campers who had no mortal life to return to once the summer was over.
Despite it only being on the brink of summer, the weather might have suggested otherwise thanks to the protective barrier that encircled the camp and came from the pine tree that perched at the top of half-blood hill, which ensured that the weather was pretty much spotless, pretty much all of the time.
Peleus the dragon was nestled under the gently swaying pine - that once accommodated Thalia Grace’s life force - and was peacefully snoozing beneath the little shade it offered as the golden fleece shimmered in the grasp of its needle-coated branches. A soft wind flowed in between the cabins and around the rest of camp, gently rustling the foliage of the forest and the strawberry fields, spreading a warm breeze throughout the camp, though it was not without a slight nip of cold - having not fully shaken off the chill of winter.
The training regimes throughout the rest of the year were far more relaxed - although no less efficient - when compared to the summer schedule which was more crowded with activities, danger, and quests - this meant that most of the time the campers just ran their own exercises and did what they wanted, with only a few set activities.
A couple of Demeter kids sat in the strawberry fields making the plants turn several times greener than usual while three Aphrodite campers watched from a distance - chatting and then giggling every few seconds. The forge echoed with various different clangs and smashes, smoke billowing from the assortment of chimneys. No doubt the Hephaestus kids were up to their usual crafting that would probably result in some kind of deadly and destructive animatronic being created and then most likely destroyed but only after inevitably dealing out mass destruction to the camp. Several half-bloods splashed around in the lake, joking with the naiads while enjoying the much appreciated sunlight and warmth and a few Apollo kids were at the archery range, firing at the targets like they had been born for it - although if you think about it they actually kind of were. The sound of swords clashing echoed from the arena where a variation of demigods would most likely be found training. The whole valley seemed to be at peace again, finally somewhat recovered from yet another war.
Suddenly a scream tore through the camp - putting an abrupt end to the calm ere that had gathered.
"Oh gods!” a younger camper exclaimed, instantly dropping his sword and stumbling back a few steps. If you looked at the owl embroidered on his shirt sleeve, you could tell that he was one of the Athena kids, and if you looked at his expression, you could tell that he had only recently joined camp.
A boy in a dark shirt and black skinny jeans clutched his arm which had become blood-covered and hung limply by his side. His stygian iron sword was held in a now slack grip as he grimaced in pain.
Will Solace - who was previously slouched against the arena wall, watching the daily sword-fighting practice - practically jumped out of his skin trying to get to Nico as fast as he could. As Will reached his boyfriend, Nico swayed dangerously, Will's supportive grip on his shoulders being the only thing stopping him from tipping over.
“’M okay,” Nico slurred, already dazed from the sudden loss of blood.
“No,” Will countered. “You're not. Now, move your hand and let me see your arm.”
Nico reluctantly obliged and once he'd moved his hand the Athena kid looked about as ready to pass out as Nico did.
“You need to sit down,” Will urged. “We’re going to need to get you some more blood.”
“’M fine,” Nico insisted, but Will wasn't having it.
He firmly planted his palms on Nico's shoulders, forcing him to sit down on the floor. “Wai….whuh?” Nico mumbled as Will proceeded to gently lower Nico’s torso to the ground, staying wary of his arm which was now slick with crimson and oozing blood into a small puddle around the pair. With two trembling hands placed on either side of Nico's collarbone, Will successfully got him into a lying position, constantly glancing up at Nico's half-lidded eyes.
Frustration bubbled up inside of him as he watched Nico screw his eyes shut as a pained yelp escaped his lips, trying to curl in on himself as he lay on the ground under Will’s hands. His boyfriend, the person for whom he cared for most, was in pain and there was nothing he could do to help him. It was killing Will from the inside out. I can’t lose him too.
Nico felt like his arm was on fire and his thoughts weren’t doing any better - a scrambled mess that simply added to his dazed state which caused his world to spin. He had dimly registered Will lowering him into a sitting position, the warmth of his large hands seeping into his skin as he was pushed down so his back was flat on the floor. His eyelids fluttered open again to meet Will’s concerned gaze, the colour of his irises reminding him of a midsummer sky - but now they looked like they were on the brink of a storm.
Will leaned forward with a flashlight in hand, giving him some sort of directions, but it was too muffled for Nico to make out. He started waving the torch side to side - though Nico didn’t have the slightest clue why - and leaned in closer, peering inquisitively at his face.
Nico groaned in discomfort. The flashlight was too bright and the fog in his brain made the sharp light even more painful. The only thing stopping him from lashing out at the cylinder causing him discomfort was the person whose hand was attached to it.
Will’s eyes darted between his boyfriend’s pupils, trying to spot anything abnormal, but felt heat creep up his neck and onto his cheeks at their close proximity making it hard to concentrate. He pushed down the feeling and focused on trying to figure out how best to help Nico while he still didn’t have the supplies he needed.
Nico’s jumbled mind made it hard to string together a whole thought, but some jab of clarity pierced the haze around his head and he realised how close they were, causing his eyes to grow wide as he tried to sit up, resulting in spots dancing across his vision. Will caught his movements with a smooth sweep of his arm, effectively cutting off his escape and pushing him back down.
“You need medical help now. Just sit still until I get the supplies I need.”
“Let me guess. Doctor’s orders?” Nico retorted, causing the corners of Will's mouth to quirk up into a slight smirk.
His humour is still intact, Will thought, that’s a good sign.
At some point, Austin and Kayla from the Apollo cabin had rushed off to get the necessary med kits, finally responding to the requests Will had been shouting, and by now everyone else had stopped what they were doing and were simply staring at Nico.
“What's your type?” Will asked, trying to pierce through his boyfriend’s daze with a sharp questioning look.
“Tall, blonde . . . bright personality-”
“Blood type Nico!” Will exclaimed. “Blood type!”
“Oh.” Nico's cheeks flushed a dangerous shade of pink as he quickly corrected himself, mumbling “AB negative.”
Will cursed under his breath. Why did he have to have the rarest blood type?
“Does anyone have the blood type AB negative!?” Will yelled, trying to reach as many ears as possible.
From the volume of Nico's initial scream, the whole camp was probably aware that something was wrong and people had started to gather. Will shouted more requests but nobody seemed to be able to provide anything of use. Just at that moment, the son of Poseidon decided to make an entrance.
“Gods Nico!” he exclaimed. “What happened?”
“Sword fighting accident,” Nico replied, sharper than he had intended to.
“What did you say your blood type was again, Percy?” Will questioned, allowing himself to hope for a moment.
“AB negative,” Percy said. “Why?”
Will’s eyes lit up suddenly. “You're Nico's type!”
Percy’s eyes widened and then his face morphed into a teasing smirk. “I thought you said I wasn't your type?”
“Shut up Jackson,” Nico said, his face turning an even deeper shade of red.
Will watched the interaction between the two, obvious confusion etched on his face before realisation dawned on him and his face went slack. Annoyance taking the place of confusion.
“Blood type!” exclaimed an already exasperated Will, his nervousness for his boyfriend now evident on his face again along with how fed up he was with Percy and his humour.
How can he make jokes at this time? Will thought. Does he ever stop?
Austin and Kayla, who had previously run off for medical supplies, had returned and started to lay everything out for Will. He rifled through all of the kit, finally coming up with what he needed. He pressed a couple pieces of ambrosia into Nico’s mouth and got to work.
He managed to successfully stitch up Nico’s arm - drawing several pained grunts from his boyfriend’s lips - and then hooked various tubes between Percy and Nico’s arms, causing them to be awkwardly close. After several minutes of tinkering, Will managed to get the system of tubes working and what little colour Nico had, started to return to his body. Unfortunately for him though, it all seemed to go to his face, so by the time Will had sat back to watch the blood flowing between the two demigods, Nico looked like Lou Ellen had tried to turn him into a tomato but given up half way.
When Annabeth finally made it to the group, she looked rather baffled at the various tubes and monitors connecting her boyfriend to the very red coloured son of Hades.
“I'm Nico’s type,” Percy proudly proclaimed, closing his eyes as he nodded his head and placed a splayed hand on his chest.
“In blood,” Will added, throwing an oblivious Percy a glare.
“Why am I not surprised?” Annabeth said to herself before planting a kiss on Percy’s forehead, chuckling and shaking her head, a smirk cracking her otherwise composed demeanor. She then proceeded to ruffle Nico’s hair, earning her a glare from the son of Hades, and walked off - her shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter.
Percy’s eyes followed his girlfriend until she disappeared behind the smog of people who had gathered then he turned his attention to Nico.
“I'll be back in a minute,” Will announced, proceeding to jog off to talk to Kayla and Austin, his back now turned to the increasingly pink pair of demigods. Seeing his opportunity, Percy turned to Nico with a smirk and the son of Hades visibly recoiled.
“So,” Percy started. “How's it going?”
Percy sounded so casual you might mistake his words for a genuine conversation starter. But Nico knew Percy and he knew he wasn't going to enjoy whatever was coming next.
“Fine,” Nico mumbled, but Percy wasn't done.
“I think I figured out your type,” Percy announced with a smirk as Nico diverted his gaze to the floor. Nico wanted nothing more than to scramble as far away from here as quickly and as soon as possible, but he couldn't, no thanks to the wires which connected him to the son of Poseidon and his injury had deemed him too weak to shadow travel. Just great.
“So how was last night?” Percy chirped, tilting his head with feigned innocence.
Nico's head snapped up.
“Wh-wha-what do you mean?” Nico stuttered, his eyes darting around for something, anything to focus his attention on instead.
“You and Will disappeared rather quickly after the campfire last night, and when I was talking to Austin, he said that Will didn't come back until this morning.”
Percy’s teasing was becoming unbearable.
Nico thought back to last night when he and Will sat on the roof of the Hades cabin. It had been so nice - just the two of them. Will had talked about how hard it was working in the infirmary - people constantly hurt, constantly in pain - and the guilt he carried for every person that he couldn't save. How Will blamed himself. Nico had talked to Will about his quest with the seven, how he ended up meeting Percy and coming to Camp Half-Blood, how he met Thalia and eventually how he lost Bianca. Nico had started to tear up when he talked about his sister and Percy’s promise, how he had run away and survived on his own and finally how he had tried to bring her back, but she had been reborn. He curled up in Will's arms for hours, sobs racking his body as he let everything out. Percy of course had no idea. He thought they were spending time in . . . . other ways.
“It's not like that,” Nico protested, but he couldn't stop the blush that crept onto his face.
“Sure it wasn't,” Percy said. He opened his mouth to say more but he noticed the blonde approaching and stopped himself, deciding to just smile innocently.
“‘Kay, think it's time to get you two separated again,” Will announced and Nico breathed a sigh of relief.
A few minutes later, Percy and Nico were once again blessed with personal space.
Percy made a move to stand but his eyes went wide and he tipped forward, Will's quick reaction time being the only thing saving his face from an introduction to the floor.
Percy shook his head, clearing his vision and mumbling his thanks to Will, before throwing Nico a wink, announcing, “Enjoy your evening!” and then slipping into the gathered demigods.
Nico wanted to disappear.
“What was that about?” Will asked, giving his boyfriend an inquisitive look.
“Nothing,” Nico lied, wanting to spare himself from the embarrassment of trying to explain to Will what Percy thought they had done last night. Nico diverted his gaze but Will wasn’t having it.
“What did Percy say?” Will said as he plonked down onto the floor and took one of Nico’s cold hands into the grasp of his own warm ones.
“Doesn’t matter,” Nico insisted, but the look he got from Will made him rethink his decisions.
“Percy thinks we were…” Nico paused trying to think of the correct words to use.
He tried again.
“Last night…” The words weren’t coming but thankfully a look of realisation dawned on Will’s face, and so did a dusting of pink.
“Oh.” Will looked down for a moment and Nico felt doubt creep up his spine.
Was it too much? Does he regret dating me? What if-
Nico’s thoughts were cut off as Will lifted his gaze and placed both his still trembling hands on Nico’s shoulders. Why is he trembling? I'm fine now, Nico thought.
“I love you.”
Nico's mind blanked. “But what if I’m-”
“I love you Nico. Every part of you. Nothing can change that.”
Nico felt skeleton butterflies erupt in his stomach but before he could reply, Will’s lips were pressed against his.
His brain must have short circuited because the only thought he could muster was “wow”.