Will didnât make a habit of lingering in the shadows. He usually left that to his boyfriend. But it was hard not to when the person he was watching from the shadows was his boyfriend. It was hard not to after Will heard his name escape he son of Hades lips.
Will was taking some new medical equipment to the infirmary when he heard Nico talking to Jason. Will stopped at the sound of his boyfriendâs voice, of course, but continued walking after sneaking a quick look at Nicoâs behind until he heard his name. Will froze once more and watched Nico carefully, listening to every word he said.Â
âThatâs not a bad thing, Nico.â Jason said to the son of Hades, speaking slowly as if he was worried that Nico would hurt him if he spoke too fast.
Nico scoffed and crossed his arms over this chest. âDid you not hear me, Grace?â
âI heard,â Jason reassured. âBut itâs not bad thing.â
âI should have consulted Piper,â Nico shook his head, exasperated. Will couldnât help but tense at the worry behind his voice, the anxiety Will had spent hours trying to lessen. âAt least Piper would see this for what it is: a major freakinâ problem!â
âYouâre overreacting.â Jason said simply, shrugging as if trying to dismiss whatever he and Nico were talking about. Will knew son of Jupiter well enough to know he wasnât dismissing Nico - he would never do that to a friend - but Will couldnât stop the irrational anger that rose within him at the sight of that shrug.
âI think I love him and you say Iâm overreacting, Jason?!â
Will was sure he stopped breathing in that moment. The box of equipment fell from his hands and to the ground, the crashing sound of metal against metal and glass smashing drew the attention of the demigods Will was watching.
But Will barely noticed. He wasnât thinking or breathing until he saw the panic on Nicoâs face. Will called out to Nico, but the son of Hades faded into the shadows before Will could stop him.
Jason ran forward to Will and began speaking words that didnât reach Willâs ears.
Because Nico thought he loved him. Nico thought he was in love with Will.
A shove to the chest brought Will back to earth, the determined son if Zeus shouting at him to wake up and go find Nico. Will nodded and began to run towards the Hades cabin, which was empty.
Will searched high and low looking for his boyfriend, praying to all the gods that Nico hadnât ended up in China or Mexico. It was exactly that fear that told Will where to go.
There was a tree in the forest - one that was higher than the rest - which most people deemed impossible to climb unless they could fly like Jason or shadow travel like Nico. So it quickly became the place Nico went when he was feeling anxious because no one could reach him. Will would watch him and try to prompt him down, but Nico wouldnât budge. So Will made his own way up by hacking footholds into the tree.
And then the tree was their tree. It was the place where Will helped Nico anxiety. It was the place where Will asked Nico to be his boyfriend. It was the place they set up boundaries to ensure Nico was comfortable. It was the place they went to laugh and his in the solitude when they just needed each other. It was the place where Will had first grabbed Nicoâs hand and the place where Nico didnât pull away.
And it was the place where Nico sat, hands shaking in front of him as he cried against ragged breaths.
âWhen I was nine this boy I thought I loved found out through none other than Lou Ellen,â Nico didnât turn when he heard Will climb the tree, but he turned his head when Will sat next to him. âI was mortified. He told me I was gross because âboys canât love boysâ and he never spoke to me again.â Will saw Nico swallow thickly. âAnd for a long time I thought he was right, that I was gross for loving another boy. No one I knew liked boys. It wasnât until Kayla came to camp that I knew what homosexuality was. She told me about her dad and that it was okay, but I still tried to play the straight boy. It wasnât until you that I decided it didnât matter. Because, gods Nico, you made me happy. You were perfect and you made everything I felt seem like it was right, that there was nothing wrong with me. Because there isnât.â Nico looked over at Will slight, more side eyeing him in curiosity than looking at him. âBeing around you helped legitimise everything I thought I felt for you; the love I thought I felt for you. And that I know I feel for you know.â
Nicoâs arms where around him before Will could say anything else. He buried his face in Willâs collarbone and cried into him, not speaking but actions saying enough for Will to understand what he meant.
âIâm not going to rush you to say it, but know that I do love you Nico.â Will said softly. Nico tender in his arm. âYou donât need to say it now or this week or this month or even this year if you donât want too. Iâm not going to push you to do something you donât want too, Nico.â
âThank you, jackass.â Nico mutters into Will. Will pushed Nico away from him gently and wiped the tears from his eyes. Nico smiled softly and leaned against Willâs hand, eyes closing as he basked in the moment.
âJust know that when you do tell me I want a full scene,â Will said, grin on face when Nico opened his eyes in confusion. âI expect fireworks and a musical number and maybe a puppy to run around excitedly.â Nicoâs laughter was solace to Willâs ears. âAnd youâre going to have to tell me if you are ready for me to kiss you, because Iâm going to want to, Nico. And sorry if saying that makes you uncomfortable, but I-â
Will was cut off by Nicoâs lips on his. Nicoâs hands dug into Willâs leg in shock and what Will could only assume was embarrassment, but they softened when Will coped Nicoâs jaw with his hands leaning into Nicoâs cool lips gently. There was no fire behind the kiss, not like you see in films or read in books. And Nicoâs nose bunched against Willâs cheek awkwardly, but Will didnât care as his lips cupped Nicoâs bottom lip and then his top and his bottom again and so on until Nico pulled away, red cheeked and eyes wide.
âThereâs one thing down,â Nico said, breathless. â Iâll get working on the fireworks and musical number.â
âDonât forget the puppy.â
