AN: So this is my second Solangelo story. My other one is called "Finding a Home". Check it out maybe?
AU: "i got cursed and turned into an animal and taken to the shelter and ended up getting adopted by someone who is really hot OH NO" (but not at all, really) from a tumblr prompt post. Will and Nico are almost adults. So waaay past the infirmary stay.
Nico gets cursed by Artemis and becomes a black housecat because during a spurt of rage, he cursed her for taking away his sister. At first, people think he's just disappeared, but Will discovers the truth.
The curse can only be broken when Nico realizes that he is not alone, even though Bianca is gone. Will he be able to see this?
I clench my fists, lying in the center of my king sized bed, feeling hollow, like I have ever since Bianca left. Why did she have to go? Even before she died, she had abandoned me. Maybe if Artemis hadn't stolen her away, she'd still be alive and I wouldn't be alone. I feel my arms shaking, but I don't care. I'm too angry at the goddess of the hunt. I hate her. I think, enraged. The no good goddess who finds it fun to steal away girls from their loved ones. How psychopathic can you get? In that instant, the moon goddess herself appears beside my bed.
"L-lady Artemis, what brings you here?" I feign innocent, thought I know she must have overheard my thoughts. Shit.
"You know what, Nico di Angelo. I have forgiven similar transgressions from you for years, but your mourning period must end at some point. I will not tolerate this any longer. You will be punished until you realize that, although your dear sister is gone, she did not leave you alone." The glowing goddess speaks and disappears. As soon as she is gone, I feel myself shrink. I look down at my feet to see that they are covered in a dark fur.
What the hell? I wonder and hop off of my bed. She obviously turned me into an animal, but what? I trot into my bathroom and jump onto the counter to get a look in the mirror. A cat? I hiss at my reflection. I guess it could be worse… But what was she talking about realizing Bianca didn't leave me alone. Of course she did. I stare at my slit eyes for a minute before deciding to go for help. The front door is shut, and also ridiculously heavy, so I have to search for another way out, which I find in a window I had left propped open.
The only people at camp I can go to is Chiron, Jason, or Will, since Piper is in a special designer class for the summer and Percy and Annabeth live in New Rome. I doubt I will be able to find Chiron, after all, it is almost noon, he could be anywhere in camp. I'm not sure where Jason would be either, for that matter. So I'm left to stalk down to the infirmary in search of Will.
I slink quietly into the building, hoping not to be noticed, because, if I was, I'd surely be kicked out. But I need to find Will. Though, he may kick me out as well when I get his attention. I guess I won't know until I try. Eventually I do find him mending a new kid's broken arm. I'm not sure who the kid's godly parent is as I was on a mission for Hades when she was claimed. I walk in and sit silently until he finishes. However, before he notices me, the little girl looks my way. "Aww, you're so cute." She says and walks over to me, picking me up with her good-as-new arm. "Where'd you come from little guy?" She asks and Will looks over. He seems confused for a moment, no doubt wondering how a cat got into the infirmary.
"Take him outside, would you, Jen? Animals aren't allowed in here." Will says and I squirm out of the girls arms, bolting under the cabinets so they can't reach me.
"Will it's me, Nico." I try to say, but it comes out as a loud meow instead.
"I don't think he wants to go." Jen laughs and Will sighs, sounding amused.
The blond healer kneels on the floor and tries to coax me out. "Come on, kitty. You're not supposed to be in here. We can't have you getting into our supplies." He says softly and reaches a hand towards me. I back up so he can't quite get me.
"Will, listen! I'm Nico." I try to speak once more, but only meow.
"Please." He sighs. I give up. Of course he wouldn't be able to understand me. I'm a cat for fuck's sake. I crawl out from under the cabinet and look up at him. He grabs my stomach to hoist me up, and then settles me so my back legs are in his hand and I'm leaning against his warm chest. "You are rather adorable, aren't you?" He chuckles. I feel his diaphragm vibrate when he speaks and begin to inadvertently purr. "How'd you get here? The camp barrier usually keeps animals away as well. Did someone smuggle you in?" He asks in a low voice while rubbing my chin. I move my head to give him better access. He chuckles again and carries me outside.
"Maybe I should take you back out of the camp. You look too well kept to be a wild cat, so someone is probably missing you." He muses as he walks. I yowl loudly and wiggle around to show my protest of the idea.
You had better not.
"Whoa, calm down kitty." He tries to sooth me, but I just extend my hind legs until I'm practically eye-to-eye with him, my fore paws are resting on his chin. I meow again and stare into his blue eyes. "Okay, okay, I won't make you leave." He smiles and bops my nose with a finger. I scrunch up my face and drop back to my original position, settled against him. "You're an odd one. Maybe Chiron will let me keep you." He says and I nuzzle against his cheek, making him laugh. I purr at that.
When he puts me down outside, I panic and try to climb him; however, I don't use my claws because I don't want to hurt him, so it is rather hard. "What is it?" He asks with concern. Typical Will, worried about a strange cat. I meow pathetically, trying to convey that I don't want him to leave. Eventually, he seems to understand this and sighs. "I guess my shift is technically over. Let's go find you something to eat. It is lunchtime anyways. We'll ask Chiron what to do with you at campfire, okay?" He picks me up again and I relax into him.
Then I frown, or if would if I could. Why do I feel so safe with him? It is just Will. I mean, I've never had to worry about him stabbing me in the back or anything, but I never felt any more at ease with him than anyone else. Maybe it is just because my new animal instincts can sense the life clinging to him; just like animals sense the death that is always surrounding me.
"I want to show you to my friend Nico." Will talks to me as he walks to the pavilion. "You kind of remind me of him, you know." I mewl, trying once more to tell him that it is indeed me, but he, of course, can't understand. "He's a son of Hades so he has kind of a bad rap." I know that all too well. Even after being back at camp for years, people still freak out when I even walk near them. Sometimes I wonder why I stay. "But he is actually rather amazing. I mean he can fight better than anyone I've ever met. He is more powerful than Percy or Jason, not that you know them either…" He chuckles. "I can introduce you to Jason at lunch, too. Anyways, all fighting skills aside, Nico is nothing at all like what I used to think a child of Hades would be like."
If it weren't for the fur, Will would surely be able to see a fiery blush on my cheeks. His blatant compliment makes my chest feel oddly light and I find myself purring contentedly. He plays with my ears and continues, "I mean, I guess, like everyone else, I always figured that any child of Hades would be callous and cruel and stuck up, but he isn't like that at all." A part of me is in disbelief that I get to hear Will's honest opinion of me. This is the first time I've ever been able to completely trust that someone is being honest to me. After all, why would anyone lie to a cat?
"He tries to act like that sometimes, especially when he is hiding something. But in actuality, he is very caring of those around him and he is selfless to a fault. I can get so frustrated when he acts like he doesn't even matter and like everyone else is more important. He is really quite amazing though." Will sighs and cuddles me closer. I've stopped purring from pure shock. Does he really think that? "But he still has this whole doom and gloom emo thing going on, which is honestly adorable and he has often reminded me of a cat, so I think you'll get along famously."
"Mrow" I want to ask him to clarify what he just said. It simply doesn't make sense. Not the doom and gloom part, I get that. I also get that I'm probably one of the most powerful demigods. But the bit about me being amazing. That is what I don't understand. Of course, he doesn't know what I want so he just pets my head. Although, I have to admit, I'm not entirely adverse to the gesture. Since he doesn't know it's me, what could it hurt? I start purring again.
Once we reach the pavilion, Jason approaches us. "Why do you have a cat?" He asks, perplexed, and then shakes his head. "Never mind, have you seen Nico around? I've been looking for him all day, and when I went to his cabin he wasn't there. I thought he was maybe with you?" Jason inquires.
"No, I haven't seen him." Will frowns. I roll my eyes, I'm right here.
"Oh. I've checked everywhere else… I guess he left camp again." Jason's sigh is so defeated; it sends an ache through my chest. "I thought he was really staying this time." I am! I want to shout. But, alas, I only manage to meow and hop out of Will's arms to rub Jason's legs. Damn it, I' right in front of you.
"I don't think he'd have left, Jason. You know as well as I do that he was… almost happy. I'm positive he wouldn't have gone anywhere without telling someone. Maybe Hades just summoned him or something." Will offers. I meow loudly. Yes, listen to him, Jason.
"Yeah, you're right. I guess I was just overreacting." The son of Jupiter sighs.
"Of course you were. You really care about him."
"So do you, but I don't see you jumping the gun…"
Will blushes and mutters something about being needed at the Apollo table then speeds off, leaving me with Jason. I brush up against his legs again, not liking being so tiny. He picks me up so at least I do not feel like I could be stepped on at any time. "Are you some stray he rescued or something?" Jason asks and drapes me over his shoulder while he gets a plate of food. Not at all on board with this position, I scramble onto his head and curl up. "Don't fall." Jason says to me. It is surprisingly easy to stay on top of his shaggy locks. My heightened sense of balance along with the fact that I am itty bitty probably has something to do with that. Before long, I begin to feel drowsy and fall asleep.