Solangelo's (almost) first kiss
Nico became the camp's official healer helper.
He spend a lot of his time in the infirmary, except when he's training in the arena.
It's hard for something to distract him, and the fact Nico's concentration is so fragile near Will Solace annoys him so much.
Nico likes him a lot, Will is the most attentive demigod in camp, he cares about the others and have the same sense of humor as Nico.
The son of Hades would even maybe, teorically, hypothetically, perhaps admit to himself he crushes Will. But since the other time didn't go well, Nico won't admit anything to anyone.
They spend a long time together, working in the infirmary, in the dinning pavilion, around the campfire.
Will likes to see him training. The son of Apollo sits in the grandstand and just stares at him the whole time.
Every fricking time they cross eyes, even for milliseconds, Nico looses all his focus on battle resulting in an injury and later more time in the infirmary near Will.
"What happened?" Percy asked after another lost fight. "Yesterday you wasn't this bad."
"Yesterday Will Solace wasn't here" Nico murmured, with no intention of anyone listening.
"Dude!" Solace said from the grandstand. Because of his tone, Nico knew he listened everything. You can't trow a needle in the ground without a son of Apollo hear it.
The way to infirmary seemed to last forever, Will didn't look at Nico's eyes nor talked to him.
Of course Will is mad at him. Taken of contest, his comment could sound mean.
Will didn't say a thing while wrapping Nico's injured arm.
Will's eyes where extremely sad, like he was about to cry. Nico wanted to throw himself into cocytus, if he make Will cries, the boy won't never forgive himself.
"Will..." He tried to say. "It's not what you're thinking"
"Not what I'm thinking?" He answered coldly. "You don't even know what I'm thinking"
"Neither do you" Nico fired back. "What are you thinking?"
"I think," Will crossed his arms. "You and Percy were making fun of me. You even lowered your voice so I couldn't listen to you."
"I would never make fun about my... About anyone with Percy"
"Well, probably not making fun but... Something like I annoy you and you don't want to be my friend but is too nice to say that or maybe..."
"Are you kidding?" Nico interrupted. "Yeah, you're a bit annoying yes. But me, Nico di Angelo, too nice? Do you even know me?"
Will laughed, and this sound made skeleton blutterflies ressurect in his stomach.
"Gods I can't even be mad at you..." And he sitted in the bed in his side. "Then why did you said that?"
Nico became as red as the strawberries in the field.
"I can't focus right when you're near..." His voice was a whisper.
"What? Will said again, with humor. "Do I ditract you? Am I this pretty?"
"Oh C'mon" Nico nudged, trying really hard to come back to his normal tone.
"Is it my legs? Should I cover them for tomorrow?"
"Ugh, now you're annoying me"
Both Nico and Will laughted, I was good to see him okay again.
They stared each other for an akward moment. It happens a lot, actually, as if there's something they both want need to do, but none of them has courage to do it, as if there's something so understated, that it couldn't be considered implicit anymore.
Will, seated at his side, started to get closer, hesitant. Nico unconsciously also moved in his direction.
He knew what Will want to do, he also wants to kiss him, but... no.
He cannot fall in love another time.
Their noses just toutched when Nico sudenly moved away and Will stiffened.
"Sorry" the son of Apollo said getting up.
"It's okay, I understand" his voice was higher than the usual.
"No, you don't" Nico said. "I like you, a lot..."
"'...As a friend' I get it"
"No, Will" Nico grabed his hand. "More than a friend, way more than this. I L... I like you a lot. But I...I....I am....." Nico sighed he was never good with this things.
He looked at Will and saw pain in his eyes. Nico hates see him like this, and hates even more the fact he's the one who's causing this pain.
Coward Cupid's voice echoed through his head.
"I like you a lot" he managed to say. "Romantically and all. But in past...." Nico wiped away a stubborn tear that dared come out of his eye. "In past, my feelings hurted me really hard. And I am so scared of passing trought this all again."
Will hugged Nico. From every places in world Nico have been (and he had been in a lot of places), Will's hug is the best of all. He's always felt secure with him, and all his body heat was comforting.
"I am not a coward" Nico's voice sounded muffled trought the healler's chest.
"Of course not" Will said affectionately.
"We can do this" Nico said. "If you want." And added:"slowly."
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