Chapter Text
As Nico allowed himself to be dragged away from Percy and Annabeth and into the infirmary by a certain son of Apollo, he came to the sudden realization of the real implications of being stuck in the one place in camp he hated the most aside from the big house.
“Alright, di Angelo, have a seat right here,” Will states, tugging the loose strands of his bleached blond hair back into place behind his ears. Nico does as he’s told, pushing himself up to sit on the bed. While Will gathers some sheets of paper and some materials from the different cupboards, Nico looks around the room at the white expanse of the infirmary. He takes note of the other bed parallel to his own, before shifting his gaze to the windows casting the sunset’s light through the room. Next to the bed is a plain nightstand with a small reading light, a flowerpot, and a few books. Across the room is a large desk next to the doorway leading to the front of the infirmary. A scale is next to it.
Nico stares at the cold tile on the floor, until Will returns with a few items held in his hands and balanced on his clipboard. He places a few of the items down before wrapping the stethoscope around his neck. He flashes Nico a quick smile, dimples making themselves known. Unbeknownst to himself, Nico feels a pull to return it. Before he can, however, Will launches into questioning.
“Okay, I guess we’ll start with some basic questions about your health since you didn’t do one when you first arrived, according to the records Lee had.” He states, pulling latex gloves on and picking up a pen, twirling it around his fingers for a few seconds. “Full name?” He asks.
“You know my full name.” Nico retorts, brow furrowing and arms crossing.
“I still need to ask, sugar, don’t be difficult. The quicker you do this, the quicker I get out of your hair.” Will replies, tone warm and patient. Nico scoffs, heat rushing up to his face.
“Niccolo Ettore di Angelo.” The black haired boy replies, gaze cast up to the ceiling.
Will giggles softly. “Such a fancy name. It suits you,” he states, pen scratching against paper in time with his words. “Alright, date of birth?”
Nico’s face scrunches up in annoyance, before sighing and responding. “January 28th, 1932. And I’m not joking, before you ask.”
Will’s face maintains the professional, warm expression he had been wearing since they arrived. “Hm.” He hums, standing to grab a sphygmomanometer. As he turns back to Nico, a disgusted expression appears on his face.
“What in Hades’ Underworld is that?” The boy asks, instinctively backing away from Will.
“It’s to take your blood pressure, sugar. It won’t bite.” Will smiles, sitting next to Nico on the bed. “Can you hold out your arm?” He asks.
For a moment, Nico almost says no. He wants nothing more than to lend himself into the shadows for a moment and to disappear away from here, to get out of the infirmary and into the forest. He thinks about making a run for it out of the room and making a straight shot for the Underworld.
Almost.
He lends his arm to Will.
And the smile Will returns to him is worth it. A rush of warmth beats in Nico’s chest, and his lips upturn a tick. His breath catches in his lungs as the blond haired boy wraps the cuff around his upper arm. As Will fastens it into place, he begins to press the inflation bulb and watches the manometer gauge. Nico watches as the blond hair falls into the taller boy’s eyes again, and as he tries and fails to brush it out of his face without moving his hands off of the sphygmomanometer.
“121/89.. Hm..” Will mutters to himself. His brow furrows.
“I take it that’s not good..?” Nico mumbles. The blond sighs before shaking his head.
“It’s far too high for someone like you,” Will responds, removing the cuff of the sphygmomanometer. Nico just nods. He watches as the other jots it down on the clipboard. “It’s considered Stage 1 hypertension, which is already bad enough on its own. It could also be a sign of something else serious. But until we can do further testing, there’s some things we can do to help improve it.”
“Like.. what?” Nico inquires. Will steps back towards the desk before speaking again.
“Well, your diet can be a big factor. Once we check your weight and physical activity, we can start from there, too.” He motions to the scale next to the desk as he speaks.
Nico immediately tenses and hugs his arms closer to his chest at the mention of weight. “Do we have to..? It’s absolutely necessary?” He asks, anxiety seeping into his voice. Will sighs.
“Nico, we have to check your weight and height. It’s crucial right now. You just fought a major war and I doubt the adrenaline’s fully worn off. You’ve been ‘healing’ using nectar for weeks without actually receiving any aid. Don’t fight me on this, Nico.” Will states firmly.
Nico groans internally before hopping off the bed and walking over to the scale. He slips his shoes off before stepping onto it. The boy fidgets with his fingers and ring anxiously. Will reads the number on the scale, eyes showcasing none of his internal feelings. He jots it down on the paper before taking Nico’s height next.
“5’4 and ¼..” He mumbles. Nico feels heat rush up to his cheeks as Will reads it out. Will, ever the observer, notices and chuckles, smile timid and inviting. He beckons Nico back to the bed, sitting down on a tiny swivel chair nearby. The black haired boy sits, watching Will flutter around the room.
“Okay, here’s the plan. You’re gonna lay your pretty little head down on this cot and take a nap. You’re gonna stay here and let the other Apollo kids and I treat ya for three days. Sound good?” Will states, twirling a pen between the fingers on his left hand and holding the clipboard in the other. Nico rolls his eyes and mumbles a few words that Will really hopes aren’t curses, but nods.
“Alright then. You can take your shoes and jacket off and leave ‘em on the chair. Then you’re gonna sleep, understand?” The blond states. Nico just nods again, slipping his beat-up Converse off, his jacket quick to follow. He lays down immediately after. A few minutes pass in silence, before Will presses a hand to the top of Nico’s head, and with that, the “untouchable, terrifying” son of Hades falls asleep.