Chapter Text
Nico should’ve known better than to agree to this.
“You promised,” Will said, arms crossed, standing in the doorway of the infirmary like a very stubborn ray of sunshine.
“I said maybe,” Nico shot back, hovering just outside like the threshold itself might bite him.
Will raised an eyebrow. “You said, and I quote, ‘fine, whatever, I guess.’ That counts.”
“It absolutely does not count.”
“It absolutely does.”
Nico narrowed his eyes.
Will didn’t move.
This was the problem with Will Solace. He looked soft, bright, warm, easy to push around. But when he decided something mattered, he was impossible.
“I’m not sick,” Nico said.
“I didn’t say you were,” Will replied. “It’s called a checkup. Preventative care. Very exciting concept.”
“I’m leaving.”
“Door’s behind me.”
Nico glared at him.
Will smiled.
It was infuriating.
“Five minutes,” Will added. “That’s it. Then you can go brood dramatically in the shadows or whatever you had planned.”
“I don’t brood.”
“You literally haunt corners.”
“That’s different.”
Will just waited.
Nico huffed, dragging a hand through his hair. He could shadow travel out, leave Will talking to empty air, but…
…he didn’t.
“Five minutes,” Nico muttered, brushing past him into the infirmary.
Will’s grin softened into something gentler. “Five minutes,” he agreed.
The infirmary smelled like clean linen and herbs and something faintly citrus.
Nico perched on the edge of one of the beds like he was ready to bolt at any second.
Will noticed.
Of course he did.
“Relax,” Will said lightly, washing his hands. “I’m not going to stab you with anything. Probably.”
Nico shot him a look. “That’s not reassuring.”
Will laughed softly. “You’ll survive, I promise.”
Nico didn’t answer.
Will dried his hands and stepped closer, movements calm and unhurried. “Okay. Basic stuff first. Any pain?”
“No.”
“Dizziness?”
“No.”
“Nightmares?”
Nico hesitated, just for a second.
Will noticed that too.
“…No,” Nico said.
Will didn’t call him out on it.
“Alright,” he said instead. “Pulse.”
Nico rolled his eyes but held out his wrist not rolling up his sleeve.
Will’s fingers were warm where they pressed lightly against Nico’s sleeve .
Steady.
Careful.
Nico tried very hard not to focus on it.
“You’re tense,” Will murmured.
“I’m always tense.”
“Fair.”
Will let go after a moment, jotting something down. “Breathing’s a little shallow too.”
“I’m fine.”
“Mhm.”
Nico frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” Will said, glancing up with a small smile, “I heard you, and I’m choosing to have a professional opinion anyway.”
Nico huffed.
The checkup went on like that, simple questions, basic observations, nothing invasive.
And slowly, against his better judgment, Nico started to relax.
Just a little.
Will wasn’t pushing.
Wasn’t prying.
He just stayed.
“Okay,” Will said after a few minutes. “Last thing. Can you roll up your sleeves for me?”
Nico froze.
It was subtle.
Most people wouldn’t have noticed.
Will did.
“It’s just routine,” Will added gently.
Nico’s jaw tightened. “No.”
Will didn’t react right away. He set his clipboard down instead, voice still calm. “Nico.”
“I said no.”
Silence stretched between them.
Not tense.
Not yet.
Just careful.
Will rested his hands on the edge of the bed, not touching Nico. “Hey. Talk to me.”
“It’s nothing,” Nico said quickly.
“Then it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“It’s not,” Nico snapped. “I just don’t want to.”
Will studied him for a moment.
Not judging.
Just seeing.
“You can say that,” Will said softly. “You don’t have to pretend it’s nothing.”
Nico looked away.
The shadows near the ceiling shifted faintly.
“I don’t like people poking at me,” he muttered.
“I get that,” Will said. “I really do.”
Nico glanced at him. “You do?”
Will shrugged lightly. “I don’t like people being hurt and pretending they’re not. Makes me want to fix it.”
“I’m not something you need to fix.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
Nico swallowed.
Will’s voice stayed gentle. “I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I am okay.”
Will didn’t argue.
But he didn’t look convinced either.
And somehow, that was worse.
Nico stared at his hands.
He could leave.
He could end this.
But Will was still there.
Waiting.
Not pushing.
Just there.
“…It’s stupid,” Nico muttered.
“Probably not,” Will said.
Nico hesitated.
Then, slowly, reluctantly, he tugged at the sleeve of his shirt.
Just enough.
Will’s expression didn’t change.
Not in shock.
Not in horror.
Just softer.
Careful.
“Hey,” Will said quietly.
Nico immediately yanked his sleeve back down. “Forget it.”
“No,” Will said gently. “Hey. Look at me.”
“I’m fine,” Nico said, too fast.
“Nico.”
There was something in Will’s voice that made it hard to ignore him.
Nico glanced up.
Will wasn’t upset.
Wasn’t angry.
He just looked concerned.
In a quiet, steady way.
“Does it hurt?” Will asked.
Nico blinked. “What?”
“Your arms,” Will said. “Do they hurt right now?”
“…No.”
“Okay.” Will nodded. “That’s good.”
Nico frowned. “That’s it?”
“For now.”
Nico stared at him. “You’re not going to…”
“Freak out?” Will offered.
“Yeah.”
Will shook his head. “No.”
“Why not?”
Will gave a small, almost sad smile. “Because you don’t need that.”
Nico didn’t know what to say to that.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Will said, “Can I take a closer look?”
Nico hesitated.
Everything in him wanted to say no.
To shut this down.
To disappear.
But Will hadn’t pushed.
Hadn’t judged.
Hadn’t made it worse.
“…Fine,” Nico muttered.
Slowly, he rolled up his sleeve again.
Will stepped closer, movements careful, like approaching something fragile.
His fingers hovered for a second. “I’m going to touch your arm, okay?”
Nico nodded stiffly.
Will’s touch was light.
Warm.
Not clinical.
Not detached.
Just there.
“You’ve been taking care of them,” Will said softly.
Nico blinked. “What?”
“They’re clean,” Will explained. “That matters.”
“Oh.”
Nico hadn’t expected that.
“I can help more,” Will added. “If you want.”
“I don’t need help.”
“Okay.”
Nico frowned. “Okay?”
“Okay,” Will repeated. “You don’t have to accept help.”
“…But?”
“But I’m here if you do.”
Nico looked away again.
His chest felt tight.
In a different way than before.
“I don’t like talking about it,” Nico admitted quietly.
“You don’t have to,” Will said.
“I don’t want people worrying.”
“Too late,” Will said gently. “I already do.”
Nico huffed a weak laugh.
“Sorry,” Will added. “Occupational hazard.”
Nico was quiet for a moment.
“…Does it make me… messed up?” he asked.
Will didn’t hesitate. “No.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Nico searched his face, like he expected to find doubt there.
There wasn’t any.
“You’re dealing with a lot,” Will said softly. “That doesn’t make you broken.”
Nico swallowed.
The words settled somewhere deep in his chest.
“Can I show you something?” Will asked after a moment.
Nico shrugged. “Sure.”
Will moved to a nearby cabinet, grabbing a small kit. He returned and set it beside Nico.
“Just basic stuff,” he said. “Cleaning, bandaging, making sure everything heals right.”
Nico watched him.
“You don’t have to use it,” Will added. “But it’s there.”
“…Okay.”
Will hesitated. “And if you ever feel like it’s getting too much, like you’re overwhelmed, you can come find me.”
Nico raised an eyebrow. “You’re already impossible to avoid.”
Will grinned. “Exactly. Very convenient.”
Nico rolled his eyes.
But he didn’t look away this time.
“Five minutes,” Nico said after a while.
Will blinked. “What?”
“You said five minutes,” Nico pointed out.
Will glanced at the clock.
“…It’s been twenty.”
Nico snorted.
“Wow,” Will said. “You survived a whole twenty minute checkup. I’m impressed.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Too late.”
Nico slid off the bed.
For a second, he hesitated.
Then…
“…Thanks,” he muttered.
Will’s expression softened. “Anytime.”
Nico turned toward the door.
Paused.
“…Will?”
“Yeah?”
Nico didn’t look back. “I might… come back. Later.”
Will smiled, even though Nico couldn’t see it.
“I’ll be here,” he said