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Nico had been having a nice day. Emphasis on past tense.
He'd just been walking around, enjoying the good weather and twirling a dagger in his fingers to keep himself busy, but in his path seemed a camp-wide argument.
He had no idea what sides or teams were set up, but everyone was in a big, lumpy circle that weaved and morphed like a living being.
There were some groups of two or three arguing, then whole brawls of nine or ten. Nico had no idea what was going on. He heard the words 'unfair', 'showers', 'capture the flag', and 'peanut butter' somewhere amongst the chaos.
He decided to linger along the edges and just ride the waves. At one point he might have said he didn't want to deal with more drama, but what could he say? Domestic camp life had begun to bore him. Piper often called him the 'best gossiper in camp' because of his ability to quickly tell drama.
(And eavesdrop in on things.)
(What? If you're talking in the bathrooms, it's basically public anyway)
After ten minutes though, an Ares camper drew her knife to prove her point. That spurred the Demeter camper she'd been arguing with to pull her katana. Then an Apollo camper saw this and thought the girl was about to stab her and pulled her bow from her back and shot.
The arrow went further than she wanted and it went far past (she'd only been aiming for her arm, it was fine) and landed next to a child of Dionysus. The boy then jumped at the sudden motion and his Diet Coke he was drinking flung all over the person he was arguing with.
And... now everyone was fighting.
Arrows flew, knives flung, swords clashed, ninja stars planted in the ground. Only two people had to be dragged away while bleeding so far after nearly ten minutes—their odds were amazing!
Nico had simply raised his sword in warning. He didn't want to join the fight.
It only took raising his sword and a glare at someone for them to back off.
For the second time, Nico saw an arrow whizz past someone's chest and for the third while watching another person's sword get disarmed and flying to the ground with a thud in the dirt.
Apparently, what with no war going on, the demigods had a bit of pent up energy.
He'd been tempted to join in a few minutes later, but before he could, two echoing shots rang through the entire camp.
BANG! BANG! In quick succession.
"Nobody ain't gon' fuckin' move or I swear to the damn Lord above I will shoot all y'all's cute lil' asses right where y'all stand."
The son of Apollo—the head councilor and head medic—the glowing camper—the hottest person in a thousand mile radius—Nico's definitely soon-to-be boyfriend—was standing in the dead center of the chaos.
Dirt and dust swirling around him from where he shot the bullets into the ground, like a tornado. One that Nico so wished to be thrown around by.
He looked so deadly. And so hot.
Someone else might say it was more of the former, what with him holding a loaded gun, glaring at everyone, and with blue scrubs that definitely had blood all over their front, but Nico argued that that was exactly why he was hotter.
Nico was a horny bastard.
Will was barking orders with a heavy Texan accent, telling people to put away their weapons and giving everyone an earful in his endearing southern way. Nico was usually shitting himself when he was on the receiving end, as everyone else was now, but being on the innocent side of it for once was a nice change.
Immediately, they tried to explain. "It was an accident—"
"She started it—"
"I barely hit them—"
Will threw his arms up. "Oh, you barely hit them? Good to know! That totally changes the fact that I've got three campers who are probably concussed, an arrow that went through someone's shirt, and—oh wow, look at that—PEANUT BUTTER IN SOMEONE'S HAIR. Peanut butter?! Who the hell brings peanut butter into a fight?"
A Hermes kid slowly raised their hand. Their sibling shoved them to the ground.
"If you broke something, sit the fuckity fuck down and I'll get to you. If you're mortally bleeding, y'all better hold pressure because I ain't choosing favorites. If ya ain't not one of those, catch a damn hike and bake a peach cobbler because it's gonna be a while."
Will paused. "And if I hear a word you started whatever in the ever lovin' Satan this is—don't let me find out." He, after saying that, looked over to see Chiron trotting up and Mr. D sipping a Diet Coke leisurely.
"Oh, perfect, NOW you done show up." Will was growing increasingly southern, somehow and impressively.
“Where was y'all five minutes ago when I had to use a GUN to stop everyone from eating each other's damn brains like wild animals? No, really, take a guess. I'll give you a hint—it starts with 'doing my job' and ends with 'completely losing my patience."
Will saw from the corner of his eye a camper with a slash in his forearm. Will just threw a roll of gauze at him. They tried to catch it and it toppled over after tripping on a fallen sword. Nico distantly heard Will mutter 'You just ain't the sharpest tool in the shed hun. Bless your heart.' very passive aggressively.
Will started making his way towards Nico, brushing his hands off. A camper opened their mouth to talk to him as he walked by but he just glared and said "Zip it, sugar."
When Will was within range, Nico snorted a laugh. "Holy Hades." He shifted, finally sheathing his sword at his hip. He'd forgotten to while watching Will.
It was the only explanation as to why Will was the son of the sun god. Otherwise, it would not have made sense, for him to be so blindingly beautiful it hurt to look at.
"What in the damn world happened? All hell broke loose." Will looked around as if that would provide explanation.
"I have no idea." Nico smiled, stepping forward so he had to crane his neck to look Will in the eye. "I thought you said you didn't play favorites?" He toyed.
Will's hand drifted to Nico's waist, hovering just over the fabric, barely an inch. "I make exceptions."
"Paolos is currently bleeding from his only existing limb. Shouldn't you go—?"
Will interrupted Nico by pressing his finger to the middle of his lips. "He made his bed, he's gon' lie in it."
Nico was just seeing how far he'd go at this point. He also endlessly loved when Will's southern accent and slang came out and wanted to take advantage of it. "But that new kid is bleeding—"
This time, Will shut him up by grabbing both sides of his head and pressing a firm, quick kiss to the center of his forehead. "He has less sense than God gave a goose. He needs to use his head for something other than a knot to keep his backbone from coming undone."
Nico laughed (and blushed) so hard he began leaning back, but Will was there and caught his hips to reel him in once more. "That one's not real. You're making it up, I don't believe you!"
Will was laughing too. Nico was happy to see his face light up again, as his attention was solely on him and tuning out the world only feet from them. "I heard it so many times growing up! Me and my mom traveled all around but we mostly stayed in the south. I was a bootlickin' little redneck—I can say that if it's in love—running rampant 'round the bars where my mom played. Those people were colorful to put it kindly, I ain't all sunshine and rainbows with some of the things I heard—" He shuddered momentarily. "—and saw."
Nico laughed again, daring to lean forward just a bit more. Their chests touched and Nico's hand was on Will's bicep. Will smirked slightly, no doubt seeing Nico's attempt to flirt. Will responded in kind, but in his own way.
"Are you hurt?" He pulled back just slightly to pull Nico's arm out and 'assess' it by checking the skin and bending his wrist and elbow.
"I really thought you didn't play favorites." Nico repeated, letting his limbs go limp as Will fretted over them.
Will hummed noncommittally, trying and failing to hide a grin. "You’ve never been a rule follower. Maybe that’s why you’re the exceptions.”
Nico didn't have time to react before Will leaned forward and kissed his cheek, close to his lips. The black haired boy was trying to form a word but then Will pulled back quickly, winking (winking!) before starting to walk over to the various injured campers still sprawled about.
Nico's hand lingered over his cheek and the biggest smile he'd donned in years spread over his lips. Holy Hades.
He looked around, wondering if maybe he should start fights more often.