I do not own—nor do I claim the rights to—the Percy Jackson universe or any of its characters. All credit goes to rightful owner: Mr. Rick Riordan.

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Prompt: Angst/Fluff

It was dark. Nico couldn't even see his own hands. He wasn't sure he could feel them either. His legs also seemed to be numb, and he stood perfectly still, shifting his eyes, trying to feel his arms and legs. He wasn't sure how long he stood, rooted to the spot, staring at the dark, empty, nothing.

He decided to turn in a circle, trying to see if there was light anywhere in this god-forsaken place. The moment he moved, his legs went from feeling numb to feeling heavy and difficult to control. But he turned; albeit slowly. The longer he turned, in his slow circle, the more he noticed about this place. Like the fact that nothing seemed to exist here. No winds, no scents, no sounds, no light.

His breath hitched in his throat, a lump compromising the air. His eyes stung, and he got angry at himself for it. There was no use in crying over it. He wiped his tears with angry motions and started running in a random direction, his feet heavy and silent below him.

He wasn't sure how much he'd run, or how far he'd come. His breath was stuck in his throat, and yet, he didn't feel exhausted or out of breath. It seemed his body behaved strangely on the inside too.

He ran for what must have been hours, in the never changing darkness. If he didn't know better, he'd think he was running in place. He ran until it seemed like he couldn't stop, and then, the darkness split apart, blinding him and forcing him to his knees. The silence got replaced by a deafening roar, and the nothing that had surrounded him became smouldering hot and suffocating. The air was thick. It seemed to suck out any liquid he had in his body, leaving his throat instantly raw and dry. His body felt like it was burning, sweat running down in streams.

Below him, the ground started moving, as though it was rolling like waves, and the roaring quieted down and got replaced by something much worse; wheezing and growling. Every time the wheezing came, the ground below him would rise, and when the growling came, the ground would sink. The ground was soft below him, covered with what might have been rain water. Except, Nico knew it wasn't. He could tell. He remembered this well. The suffocating heat, his raw throat, his sweating body, the moving ground, and the wheezing breaths. The rivers crashing against the shore and hissing against the surface. In the distance, Nico could hear screeching and moaning. Low growling.

He didn't want to open his eyes. If he didn't open his eyes, it wouldn't exist. He wouldn't have to face it. But the heat was suffocating, and his throat was going to tear apart if he didn't drag himself to that dreadful river. He didn't want to.

He sat still and covered his ears, blood from the ground warm against his skin, smearing against his cheeks. He didn't care. Tears fell, somehow. Despite how he sweat out all his liquids, he still managed to cry. He wasn't even ashamed this time, of the crying or the shivering. He didn't want to be here. He couldn't be here.

A roar vibrated through the place, the ground quacking below him. A wheeze and a low growl.

"Please," he wasn't sure who he would plead to down here. The only thing that existed here was fear and misery, and no gods or humans could ever reach you. "Please. Not again."

Coward, a cruel voice whispered in his head. If Nico didn't know better, he'd say it was his own voice. Look what you've become. Worthless and terrified. There's nothing great about you. No wonder no one likes you. You're pathetic.

"Shut up," Nico told the voice. "You're wrong."

Am I? Really? The voice laughed, humourless and cruel. It was mocking him. Don't deny it. You know they all hate you. No one would even notice you're gone. They don't care about you. They don't like you.

"Shut up," Nico repeated, his face dry from his crusty tears that seemed to disappear as soon as they rolled down his cheeks.

Sitting there and crying like a baby won't solve anything. You're pathetic. You're disgusting.

"I said, shut up!" Nico stood in anger, his eyes wide open, staring at nothing, his eyes hot with tears. Too hot for comfort.

Now, he couldn't shield himself from the sight, and he couldn't make himself look away. He was glued to the spot, eyes unblinking, drinking in the scenery as though he'd missed it. He could never miss this. Skies red and damp, the air foggy with breath mixed with blood. It settled around him, clung to him, entered his airways. The ground below him was steady, despite the coat of blood stuck to his shoes. It expanded and collapsed with each wheezing, ragged breath. Muscles taunt, pulses throbbing, organs slithering responding to the pulse. He could count the heartbeat, even all the way down here. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

A crash of a wave drew his attention, and he looked to his left. The River Cocytus. Its flames licked the flesh and seared it, and Nico didn't want to go near it, because he remembered it well; the scent and sight of burnt flesh. How it fell off in chunks into the fiery river. The only river he could safely drink from.

He fell to his knees again, his hair soaked with spit and blood from the skies above, his hands taking on a red colour that he tried to wipe off in vain. He didn't want to walk through it. Not again. He wasn't sure he would survive a second time, because he barely survived the first. He faced it all. The taunt flesh, the pulsating organs, the ragged breath, and all the monsters. The rib cage, and misery and her dark room. He wasn't even sure how he survived it the first time. Maybe he just shut down emotionally and walked through it. One step at a time. But he couldn't do that again. He wouldn't do that again. He wanted to go back to camp, back to his bed, back to the safety of the border.

He didn't even care if he got caked in blood or died from thirst. Anything was better than facing Tartarus again.

"Wake me up," he pleaded, his cruel head-voice laughing at him. "Wake me up."

He didn't even know if he was dreaming, but if he was, he wanted to wake up. He wanted someone to wake him. Then air broke through his lungs and he sat up with a gasp.

It was dark. Well, it was kind of dark. He could hear birds chirping in the distance, and his body was wet with sweat. He shivered in the cool of wherever he was. He looked around, his eyes easily adjusting to the greenish hue. He could make out silhouettes of beds and an alter at the far end, torches with encapsulated Greek fire on either side of it. They illuminated the dark-grey curtains covering his windows, and Nico finally gathered his bearings. He was in Cabin 13, in Camp Half-Blood.

He ran his hands across his sheets. They were soft to the touch, making a zipper-like sound as his hands stroked them. He focused on the weight of his duvet over his body, the fresh air that came in from a crack in one of his windows. He closed his eyes and breathed, trying to push away the memories of heat and bloody fog. But it stayed with him and kept coming in flashes. And honestly, he couldn't help it. He hadn't dreamt of that place in a while, and he hated it each and every time. He allowed himself to cry, sobbing into his sheets. He was so tired of Tartarus, honestly. He just wanted it to go away, but he knew it never would. It was a part of him now, as much as his Italian heritage was. As much as his partner preferences were. He would never be rid of it, and that frustrated him.

He found himself hiccoughing and hyperventilating when he heard a voice in his head. It had a bit of a twang to it, and kindness and understanding. As warm as the sun, as kind as the person it belonged to.

You gotta take deep breaths, it reminded him. Focus on something good, or nice. Chase away those dark memories.

Nico envisioned the owner. His blond hair that curled around his ears. His blue eyes so full of kindness. He was taller than Nico, so his hands were also slightly bigger. Nico imagined Will holding his hands; focused on the warmth in Will's palms. Imagined him breathing with him, looking him in the eyes. Patient, understanding, and kind. A smile in place on his lips to chase away the darkness.

Deep breaths, Darlin', imaginary Will told him. Nico couldn't help a little smile. He imagined Will would smile back. That's it. Keep going. Nice and slow. In, he inhaled, and out, he exhaled.

Nico kept breathing, holding onto Will's words. All the things he'd taught him to do when he was haunted by terrible memories, or if he found himself getting anxious about one thing or another. The steps he took to chase away bad thoughts and self-loathing.

Slowly in, and slowly out. A steady rhythm despite the tears.

That's it, imaginary Will told him. You're doing so great. And you're doing this all on your own.

Even though Nico knew it was true, knew he was just imagining Will sitting with him and helping him calm down, he still felt like telling Will it wasn't true he was doing this on his own.

"I wouldn't know how to do this if not for you."

Imaginary Will laughed, bright and crystal clear. The sincerest laugh Nico knew.

Oh please, di Angelo, imaginary Will teased. You wouldn't know how to function if it wasn't for me.

Nico laughed, gurgled and snotty. It echoed off of the walls in his cabin, and he was glad he was alone in here so he wouldn't have to explain why he was sitting and laughing on his own like a lunatic.

"Shut up, Solace. You'll explode with that inflated ego."

You have no one to blame but yourself, imaginary Will winked.

Nico wanted to kiss him. Maybe after breakfast, when he went to help in the infirmary. Away from prying eyes. He would tell him about the nightmare, and how he calmed down, and then he would kiss Will Solace. Just because he could.

Nico smiled and kept breathing, imaginary Will's hands warm in his.

I'll look forward to it, imaginary Will told him in unison with his head-voice.

Nico hadn't been able to sleep since the nightmare. His eyes felt heavy with sleep and stingy from dryness. The skin below his eyes was tender to the touch, and one look in the mirror revealed flustered bags and blood-shot eyes.

For a moment he contemplated staying in so people wouldn't ask about it, but his stomach growled in protest and clenched. He looked at it, as though it had betrayed him, because he usually didn't have much appetite after a nightmare, then he sighed. He couldn't shut himself in today, he knew. Even though he calmed down from the post-nightmare panic, he still felt so alone and isolated afterwards. He needed to see people and feel he existed in relation to them.

Nico stretched and decided to start his day. A nice shower where he washed his hair and body with mild-scented soap and shampoo, a facial moisturiser Piper once gave him to take away the worst of the dryness, and some of his favourite clothes. There was a perfume Jason had given him after he commented on its scent, and he decided to put that on too and spent time brushing and styling his hair.

Normally Nico would not do this much in the morning. He wouldn't make this big a deal of dressing nicely, moisturising his face, and styling hair. But Will had once told him about how doing something nice for yourself could improve your mental health, and then a few Aphrodite campers had suddenly gotten involved to assist in the wellness lessons. To be fair, Nico hadn't believed them when they first told him how doing some of these vanity things could make you feel better emotionally, but he promised to try it at least once, and then followed a guide, courtesy of the Aphrodite campers. It had involved lavender-scented shower oils and a face-mask he wouldn't want to be caught dead in. The thing was, he had actually felt better after it, and that's how he found himself with a wellness kit with certain soaps, shower oils, facial masks, and other vanity products he only ever used to help himself through a rough time.

He put on his shoes and shrugged his jacket over his shoulders, went to his door, took a deep breath, and went outside to face the day.

The weather was a bit chilly, but definitely not as bad as it should be. There were birds chirping and flying around, nesting in some of the trees. The other day one of the nymphs was gushing about hatching eggs and bird babies. Another nymph had been sceptical since birds probably shouldn't be mating in January. Nico didn't care much for it. The border was magic, after all, and he didn't have to freeze in the cold New York weather. He trotted through camp and passed a handful of campers on his way. There was Sherman Yang, son of Ares, who looked about ready to kill anyone commenting on him still wearing his pyjamas and his bed-head. Billie Ng, daughter of Demeter, somehow had wheat growing on her head.

At the Apollo cabin Will stood in the door, one eyebrow quirked, his lips quivering—clearly trying not to laugh. He was ushering his siblings out the door. Kayla looked as awake as her brother, while Austin, on the other hand, seemed disoriented. He was rubbing sleep out of his eyes and dragging his feet.

"That's what you get for writing sheet music all night instead of sleeping like I told you to," Will scolded, his lips betraying him and quirking into an amused smile.

"You can't stop inspiration, Will," Austin yawned.

Will rolled his eyes. "And you can't deny your body rest. I suggest you come back here and take a two-hour nap after breakfast."

"Yeah, yeah," Austin trotted away, Kayla shoving her shoulder into his, much to his annoyance it seemed.

Nico couldn't help chuckling to himself. He walked up to Will who had been so preoccupied with his siblings he hadn't noticed Nico. Nico fell in step with Will as quietly as possible, but Will's smile gave away he knew Nico was there.

"'Morning," Nico greeted.

"Good morning." Will turned to look at him, and his eyes seemed to widen. "Well, hello there. You're looking snappy today."

Nico let out a snort and hoped he wasn't blushing too much. "Except for the bags under my eyes."

"I didn't even notice," Will said, giving him a quick once-over. He leaned closer and gave a quick sniff, and Nico half-heartedly swatted him away.

"Ew, Solace. Personal space."

"No, I was just curious if I smelled you. You're wearing perfume today."

"I am. You should try it sometime."

Will let out a huff. "I am a regular user of antiperspirant, thank you very much. A pleasant smell is a good smell, and I do deal with people throughout the day. Nothing more important than making them feel good and comfortable."

"Yawn," Nico drawled. "No wonder Austin is falling asleep on you."

Will chatted him playfully, forcing Nico to make sure his hair was still sitting as it should. He gave Will a dirty look, and Will had the audacity to smile at him. Lovingly, at that. It made Nico's stomach do jumping jacks, and he remembered what he promised himself when he woke after his nightmare. It made him suddenly nervous, even though he'd kissed Will before. He decided to sidestep a bit, so he was walking shoulder to shoulder with Will, and even though he was still getting used to all the things he could do without fear in this century, he gathered his courage and took a hold of Will's hand.

Will looked down at him and smiled wider, closing his hand around Nico's. It was the kind of smile people called love-struck, and Nico's heart skipped a beat. They walked to the breakfast table together and didn't let go until they had to pick out what they wanted to eat. Normally, Will would put a bit extra on Nico's plate in the mornings, even though he ate fine, but today, Will let Nico put as little as he wanted on it. Nico supposed Will knew something was up since Nico had decided to get all fixed up. Nico was grateful he didn't ask or bring it up here in front of all these people, because Nico had a sneaking suspicion he might start crying again if he had to talk about it, and he wasn't interested in doing that in front of the whole camp; even if it was pretty empty in the off-season.

They went to the offering station, offered a portion of their food, then went to the Apollo table together where they sat side by side. Austin and Kayla were discussing Austin's sheet music together. It sounded like Austin was trying to convince Kayla to give it a listen and critique it in return of him helping her with target practice.

Nico ate his breakfast, catching fragments of the conversation going on at the Apollo table. There was Will scolding and schooling Austin playfully, reminding Kayla to stretch before target practice because of an injury she suffered the other day, and the other two play-mocking Will for being a mother. They started flicking tissues at each other at some point, and Nico found himself laughing at it and somehow getting involved, even though he hadn't said much the entire time.

After they finished eating and cleaning up the stray pieces of tissues that had fallen to the ground, the Apollo campers went their separate ways. Will once told Nico that was the best part of the off-season. Since there were just three of them, he didn't need to focus so much on scheduling the day. He could allow them to do their own thing for the most part, giving him plenty of time to take care of his infirmary. Nico had pointed out, back then, that the infirmary belonged to Camp and wasn't Will's, and Will had argued it kind of did, seeing as he was the head medic. It was his job to make sure they had their stock in order, and the bedsheets and hospital wear was clean, and the surfaces were scrubbed and distilled on a daily basis and after every visitor.

They didn't hold hands when they went to the infirmary, but their shoulders still brushed, and Will still didn't push Nico to talk.

"What's on the programme for today, then?" Nico asked once they entered the empty infirmary.

"Well. Since there are no competitions today, I think it's safe to assume it'll be pretty quiet in here, so I was thinking taking stock and do some general cleaning where it's needed. If we're lucky, not much needs to be done, so we'll probably be able to just stroll around and do whatever today."

Nico nodded. "Doing whatever sounds nice and boring at the same time."

Will chuckled. "I mean. We could always prank someone if it gets too quiet for you."

Nico let out a snort and chatted Will on the arm. "Didn't Camp just suffer through a prank war?"

"Ah yes," Will sighed, almost longingly. "The dullness of the off-season."

"Poor off-season."

Will snorted and gave Nico a shove, so Nico shoved him back with a playful smile.

"Start with the floors?" Will suggested.

Nico shrugged. "Sure."

They walked to the cleaning supply closet together, and Will opened the door to pull out the broom and mop. He handed them to Nico who stood perfectly still as Will had to crawl into the closet to reach the other cleaning supplies giving Nico the strangest urge to make a dumb joke and when Will came out with the cleaning supplies, he couldn't hold his tongue.

"Welcome out of the closet, Will Solace," he dead-panned.

Will looked at him for a solid ten seconds before he burst out in laughter and doubled over, cleaning supplies spilling out of the bucket he'd put them into.

"Oh my gods," Will wheezed. "I can't believe you just made a dumb joke like that."

Nico shrugged, unable to stop himself from chuckling. He went to help Will pick up the spilt supplies. "I couldn't help myself."

"To be fair, it was the perfect opportunity. I am so glad you didn't let it go to waste."

"What a disappointment that would have been."

Will looked at him and leaned over and pecked his cheek. Nico wished he didn't blush so much whenever he and Will got intimate like this, since it was so little. He looked at Will who sat on his heels, smiling gently at him, and Nico decided if he didn't tell Will now, and gave him that kiss, he might never.

"Hey," Nico said, fiddling with the shredded ends of the mop. "I, erm… I had a nightmare last night. About Tartarus. And I… I started hyperventilating a bit when I woke up from it until I remembered your breathing exercises. I kind of imagined you there, helping me through it, so I wanted to thank you. That's important to do. So, thank you, Will Solace."

Will looked shocked for a moment, then let out a small laugh. He smiled that love-struck smile again and said "I'm glad I could be useful to you."

They stood, and while Nico still had the courage, he walked up to Will, went on his tip-toes, took a hold of Will's neck, and kissed him on the lips. Will didn't take long to kiss him back, one hand holding a cleaning bucket, the other hand cupping Nico's cheek. Nico's insides were on fire; in a good way. They broke apart, Will looking so pleased Nico felt like shoving him to knock him down a nudge, but he would rather get started on the floors so they could do nothing in particular the rest of the day.

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Criticism and/or advice on improvement is always welcome and highly appreciated.