A WALK IN THE WOODS
Nico di Angelo and Will Solace head into the monster infested forest to walk a hellhound. As you do. Unfortunately nothing is ever that simple. Ever.
NICO
I hate not being able to use my powers. No-one stops Katie from growing daisies, or Percy going swimming. Will keeps healing day in, day out exhausting himself, how come he doesn't get enforced rest? No, just the zombie kid whose "gift" is so great it half kills him. Thanks Dad. Does Hazel get this problem when she does her tunnel stuff? I think not. The thing is, being in my element is supposed to give me strength, but no. Apparently prolonged exposure to "Underworldy Stuff" (a perfectly valid medical term, according to Will, my eye roll got me helping out emptying bed pans) just gives you a pale complexion, no friends of the living variety and a brush closer with the void than I personally care for. I'd do it all again, obviously, since my life obviously ranks lower than THE FATE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD, but to hear the scolding I'm getting you'd think I'd just thrown myself off a cliff for laughs (though coincidentally Percy was all for that when we first met)
First they made me stay in the infirmary. Three days of "rest" and being blackmailed into eating. I was half expecting Persephone to turn all loving step-mum (now that would be scary, although her half-siblings (technically my step-aunts and uncles and my cousins AT THE SAME TIME) did pop in since Will needed all these rare herbs. Wolfsbane for my arm (I told him it was a scratch not a bite from that lycan, although that didn't stop the Stoll brothers sending me a collar and flea powder) and various rare mountain herbs since he "hadn't really seen this before" and wanted to cover all bases. When they finally let me back to my abysmally-decorated-but-still-better-than-the-infirmary cabin I'm watched over like a hawk in case I decide I really need a chinese and shadow-travel to Beijing. Will must have been exaggerating the hell out of my symptoms, since everyone seems to think I'm made of porcelain. I WENT TO TARTARUS, FOR HELL'S SAKE! (no pun intended) I can handle a little oblivion; it's what children of Hades do.
On the plus side at least I was of some use in the infirmary, although apparently my bedside manner needs some work. My smile can be a bit ghoulish, according to one particularly weak looking Ares kid. Will hummed over him until the two switched complexions. How can he have a go at me when he just hands out his life force to anyone that needs some? Most doctors know that their patients care drains them, but with Will it was just too literal. He never turns people away, or protests. Even the most… distressing injuries he just examines calmly and kindly and helps them however he can. He cleans and stitches and comforts and holds and makes sure no-one goes unnoticed or alone. A thousand acts of healing, no wonder they call him solace, he seems to have made it his life's work. I see his exhaustion and it surprises me how much it hurts to see that pain he hides from everyone else. Perhaps because I'm so used to hiding myself, I see the hurt he won't inflict on others. He's such a hypocrite that boy. He'll kill himself if he goes on like this, the stubborn idiot.
"Hey, death boy!" he yells, running up the hill towards me in his orange shirt and denim shorts, a multicoloured tie-died hoody tied around his waist. I'm part of camp now, but I draw the line at the t-shirt. Alright for some I suppose, but in my case orange is definitely not the new black.
"I told you, sunshine, don't call me that"
"Well whilst I hate to interrupt your brooding session," he began, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
"I don't brood." I replied, possibly a little too defensively.
Will looked unconvinced gave an eye roll and continued. Idiot.
"Percy was asking if you'd walk Mrs O'Leary for him"
Oh, he came to give me a message. Nothing else. Of course.
"Isn't that a bit too close to Underworldy-stuff for your liking?"(I was getting a little annoyed at the "wrap Nico in cotton wool" conspiracy currently going on, if you couldn't tell)
"Well I personally have no problem with the Underworld, I think you can probably just about risk it, with appropriate medical supervision of course…" he smiled at me. How does he do that so effortlessly?
"Well I suppose I better, since its doctor's orders" I said, with as much sarcasm as I could muster, "I better call her over" Just as I was about to give my best whistle, Will gave his best attempt. Show off. All thoughts of annoying Apollians (I don't care if it's not a word, I can summon skeletons so whose going to argue) were forced out of my head by most definitely the most enthusiastic hellhound in existence (I can compare). Black and big and full of slobber. She's such a good dog. Also, Will looked a little daunted, so that's a bonus.
As she barrelled head first into me (soaking my favourite black hoody in saliva) I ruefully tried to persuade her now was not the time for a bath, the traitor (since when did she come for anyone but Percy and me?). Once the excitement had died down enough that she could let me up and start endeavouring to catch her own tail, I noticed that Will had collapsed on the floor with tears of laughter. "I'm sorry," he spluttered "but that," he catches his breathe "was adorable"
Hmmm… I have been described as creepy, moody, not-as-bad-as-I-seem… Adorable? Nope. Worse than death boy.
"So, Mr Ghost King, into the woods?" he asked, bowing with worryingly low levels of respect for my dark and mysterious mastery over those beyond the veil. I scowled at him, an expression that has caused panic in the Fields of Punishment. I then followed the combined loping gait of Solace and the treacherous hellhound now licking his face.
"How come you've finally taken my advice and gotten out of the infirmary?" I asked casually, as Mrs O'Leary ran off into some undergrowth after a completely terrified rabbit.
"Well the acute cases are pretty much dried up now, and everyone else is stable enough for us to relax a bit." Will squirmed a little "Also Chiron sort of banned me from operating for a week, bar emergencies" Ha, so now he knows how it feels. Doctor's orders, after all.
"You push yourself too hard, Will."
"Was that some concern di Angelo? You're going soft on me" he ribbed, eyes flashing in the light of the setting sun, "I-"
At this point we were interrupted by a giant scorpion.
