Chapter Text
The first thing Will Solace noticed was that Nico di Angelo was sitting at the lake.
The second thing he noticed was that Nico wasn't trying to leave.
That was unusual.
Very unusual.
Nico had a habit of appearing in places and disappearing from them just as quickly. One moment, he'd be standing beside Will at the dining pavilion, and the next, there would be nothing but a faint chill in the air where he'd been. He'd perfected the art of being somewhere without actually being there. Tonight, though, he was simply sitting.
Will had spotted him from halfway across the camp. The afternoon had slowly faded into evening, and most of the campers were beginning to settle down after dinner. The cabins glowed warmly beneath the setting sun, and the paths between them were crowded with demigods heading toward evening activities. Somewhere near the arena, swords clashed. A few younger campers raced past one another, laughing loudly enough that one of the counselors shouted after them to slow down. The smell of strawberries drifted over from the fields. It was the sort of evening that felt completely ordinary by Camp Half-Blood standards. Which was probably why Nico stood out so much. He sat alone at the end of the wooden dock, his back slightly hunched, his hands resting beside him. His boots dangled a few inches above the water. He wasn't reading. He wasn't training. He wasn't talking to anyone. He was just watching the lake.
Will stopped walking. For a moment, he considered turning around.
Nico had every right to want some peace. Will knew that better than most people. But something about the way Nico was sitting made him hesitate. It wasn't the usual I want everyone to leave me alone posture. There was something quieter about it. Almost thoughtful.
Will sighed under his breath. “Okay,” he murmured to himself. “Just checking.” He started down the hill. The grass was still warm beneath his sneakers from the day's sunlight. As he got closer to the lake, the sounds of camp began to fade behind him. The air was cooler near the water. A gentle breeze moved across the surface, carrying the smell of the lake and the trees surrounding it. Nico didn't turn around. At least, not immediately. Will stopped a few feet behind him.
“Are you hiding?”
Nico's shoulders shifted slightly. Then he turned his head. His dark eyes landed on Will. “No.”
Will glanced around theatrically. “You're sitting alone at the lake.”
“Yes.”
“After dinner.”
“Yes.”
“By yourself.”
Nico stared at him.
Will smiled. “And you're not hiding?”
“No.”
“Interesting.”
Nico turned back toward the lake. “Go away, Will.”
Will walked past him and sat down. Nico looked at him again. “I said go away.”
“I heard you.”
“And?”
“And I'm choosing to ignore you.”
Nico gave him an unimpressed look. “You're terrible at listening.”
“Occupational hazard.”
“You're a healer.”
“Exactly. I've got terrible hearing.”
“That doesn't even make sense.”
“I know.”
Nico shook his head.
Will grinned. He stretched his legs out in front of him and leaned back on his palms. For a few moments, neither of them said anything. The silence wasn't uncomfortable. That was something Will had learned about Nico. Nico didn't always need conversation. Sometimes he just needed somebody who was willing to sit beside him without demanding anything. So Will didn't ask what was wrong. He didn't ask why Nico was there. He didn't ask whether he'd been sleeping. He simply stayed.
The lake rippled gently beneath them. A fish surfaced several yards away, breaking the reflection of the sky before disappearing again. Above the trees, the sun was beginning to sink. The sky had become a mixture of orange, pink, and pale violet. Will glanced at Nico. The fading sunlight caught the side of his face, making his dark hair look almost reddish around the edges. Nico looked calmer than he had all day.
“You know,” Will said eventually, “most people come to the lake to actually look at the lake.”
Nico didn't move. “I am looking at it.”
Will looked down. Nico was staring directly at a section of wooden dock. Will raised an eyebrow. “You're looking at the dock.”
“The dock is part of the lake.”
“No, it isn't.”
“It is currently touching the lake.”
“That isn't how that works.”
Nico shrugged.
Will laughed.
Nico's lips twitched upward.
Will immediately pointed at him. “There.”
Nico's expression went blank. “What?”
“You smiled.”
“No.”
“You did.”
“I didn't.”
“You absolutely did.”
Nico turned his head away. “I hate you.”
Will smiled. “No, you don't.”
“I could.”
“But you don't.”
Nico didn't answer.
Will waited.
After a few seconds, Nico muttered,
“Maybe.”
Will laughed quietly. The sound seemed to make Nico's expression soften. They returned to silence. This time, it lasted longer. The sun disappeared another inch behind the trees. Camp slowly transitioned from daytime chaos into evening quiet. Lights began appearing inside the cabins. The torches along the paths flickered to life. The campfire was being prepared in the distance, and Will could hear someone testing a guitar. Nico watched the flames being lit. “You going to the campfire?” Will asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don't want to.”
“Fair enough.” Will didn't push.
Nico looked at him. “You're not going to try to convince me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I try to convince you, you'll say no just because I asked.”
Nico considered that. “That is not true.”
Will gave him a look.
Nico sighed. “Fine. Maybe a little.”