Work Text:
Nico stood on the edge of an abyss, looking into its depths. This wasn't his first time there - not at all. And it wasn't even the first time he'd truly considered letting himself fall. What did it matter? Nobody cared enough to catch him anyway.
Will was walking home, regretting just a little taking a career in medicine. School kept getting more difficult, and sleep more elusive. It had to all be worth it, though, if he got to help people.
On his walk, a longer route than normal, he crossed a bridge high above the water. A boy, likely Will's age, stood on the railing looking out at the water. He seemed to be lost in thought.
"Hey," a voice said, startling Nico. He turned quickly, grasping at the pole to support his sudden movement. The speaker was blonde, who looked almost as exhausted as Nico felt. Immediately, he backed closer to the edge, not wanting to be 'saved' or 'reasoned' with.
"Tell me why I shouldn't," he said, unable to stop himself. Some small piece of Nico was still clinging to the idea of life, and that piece dared to hope for an answer that might make the rest of him rethink.
"Tell me why you should," Will returned, thinking frantically. He wasn't equipped for this; he wasn't that kind of doctor, Hades, he wasn't even a doctor yet.
The boy on the bridge looked at him curiously. Will hadn't noticed initially, but the boy looked... not handsome, or even beautiful. He looked ethereal, not of this world. Perhaps that was why he didn't want to stay.
"Because my sister is dead," bridge boy snapped. Will could see tear stains beneath his empty eyes and drew the obvious conclusion.
"I'm sorry. I've lost family, too. My brother Lee..." Will couldn't finish the sentence. Even his older brother's name brought back bad memories.
Nico couldn't help but notice how the blonde guy's eyes seemed to dim at the mention of his brother. For some idiotic reason, Nico wanted to see him smile instead.
"What's your name?" he blurted.
"I'm Will," the blonde guy said with a look of surprise, " and you?"
"Nico. My name is Nico."
"Well, Nico, how about you step down from there and tell me more about your sister?" Will extended his hand to Nico, hoping he would take it.
Nico shrank back for a moment, so Will kept talking impulsively. "Look, if you still feel this way later, you can come back, right? The bridge isn't going anywhere."
At first, Will thought his words didn't change anything. Then, slowly, he felt a calloused hand grip his own.
Nico stepped off the ledge and back onto the ground with Will's steadfast support. A weight seemed to lift off his chest just a little when his feet touched the ground. He reasoned to himself that the bridge would be there later. He wasn't abandoning his plans, just... postponing them.
"She was fierce and stubborn. And she always knew what to say. My sister was my protector and best friend, weird as that sounds," Nico trailed off, fiddling with the cuff of his bomber jacket.
"She sounds amazing," Will smiled gently.
"She was," Nico agreed quietly.
"Sounds like she wouldn't want you to give up."
"I know that, but it's harder to remember when she's not here," Nico admitted.
Will nodded in understanding, but made no move to fill the silence. That was when Nico noticed they were still holding hands. Will's calluses mirrored his.
"Have you ever seen Star Wars?"
Nico was caught off guard by the seemingly random question. "No?"
"Aw, man, you have to watch it. That's like a requirement of life," Will asserted.
Nico crossed his arms, dropping Will's hand. "If it's so great, how about you show me this movie?"
Will grinned, his smile like sunshine on a cloudy day. Nico gave the smallest of smiles back.
They didn't return to that bridge for a very long time, but when they did...
Nico looked around the bridge, remembering how lonely he'd felt and how strange that was compared to now. His friends cared about him so much, and his half sister couldn't replace Bianca, but she was amazing in her own right. Best of all, the love of his life was standing beside him.
Will turned to his longtime boyfriend and longertime crush with intent. It was symbolic, he thought, coming full circle here; the place they first met.
"Will you marry me?" he asked, not needing to give any reasons.
"Yes," Nico answered, not needing to ask for any.