Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot. Rick owns all the lovely characters.

Warning: I haven't read the books about Apollo so I'm not aware of everything Solangelo, but here goes nothing.

Inspiration: I'm so fed up with homophobia. Considering where I live, it's very bad. And I shipped these two instantly. It's the first maleXmale fix i've done, but I'm soooo into it it's crazy.

Btw, to my follows of the Clace story Lonesome Wanderers, I want you to know I've not given up on it. Just, right now I'm feeling the Solangelo. I promise I'm working on it.

There was nowhere else he'd wish he could be less than Olympia Academy for Talented Boys. Everywhere he looked, the campus was stained with memories. In the open field in front of the cabins, he got the call. In the training area between the field and the learning hall, Chiron, the headmaster, had forced him to leave and deal with his situation. Far into the woods straight to the left of the cabins was the last place he'd spoken to his sister.

Nico's hands clenched. He stuck the ear buds into his ears and turned up the music. Nico glanced at the cabin far to the right. That was his old cabin. That cabin was familiar. That cabin had people like Octavian, who didn't blink an eye to Nico. He'd had an acquaintance named Charlie in that cabin, who would let him sit at his table for lunch. Nico never had a friend, but he also wasn't totally unwanted and despised there. But the first twelve cabins were for rich people. Nico no longer fell under that category.

He fell under the scholarship category. When his parents died, he would have taken their saving and the mansion, but it burned down with them. He would have preferred to be taken into foster care rather than come back here where people were vaguely familiar with him. They'd ask why he left for break early. It was unnerving.

Chiron walked beside him. "You'll be with three of our most talented swordsman, which should help you build your skills. You'll also be with our two archer prodigies." His gruff voice was firm, clear, as if no one could disagree with him. No matter how shitty his mood was Nico wasn't stupid. Chiron was the smartest person on campus. He taught archery, but he knew everything about anything.

Their boarding school was part of the most prestigious types in America. They taught the four main subjects, but the electives and sports were all Greek and Roman related. Everything was based on the mythology behind the gods of Olympus. It was only when Nico first came here as a freshman that they no longer separated the boys into cabins based on their personalities.

They had a sister school based on the same principles, as well. His sister had gone there. It was through the woods and across the river. On times when they were feeling lonely, they'd sneak across the river and visit each other, spending hours in the wood. It was always dangerous considering if the 'harpy' squad caught them there was no telling what they'd do. His half-sister still went there, now falling under the same rule of scholarship as he. She excelled in cavalry, which few ever did.

"You know how the school works," Chiron stopped by the entrance to cabin thirteen.

"Breakfast at eight. Lunch at 1. Dinner at 7. Bonfire at 8. Lights out at 9." Nico muttered. "Got it."

Chiron nodded. "We now have a new rule, Nico. It is mandatory to eat with your cabin, every meal. Just as well, training will be with your cabin. Actually, that is just for the scholarship cabin to influence your focus towards working together as a team. As you know, the team match will be picked in two weeks. First match is in three."

Nico felt his stomach twist in agony. Nico never liked his cabin mates before, but he knew of some of the scholarship students. They were the best on the team and knew it. They only hung out with each other because they couldn't lower themselves to the others averages. Doing just about everything with them would be hell. "Joy."

Chiron sent him a disapproving look. "I understand you've been through a lot, Nico. These boys? They have, too. Give them a chance, young one."

Nico gritted his teeth. Every inch of him was telling him to reprimand him for calling him 'young one.' His advice was just as unnerving. Nico slipped in his other ear bud, nodded curtly, and walked up the cabin steps. Waiting wouldn't magically transport him halfway across the world no matter how much he strained for it.

Chiron walked away, leaving him to enter. Nico felt like knocking. This wasn't his cabin. He didn't know these people. But now it was his temporary home for the semester. He had no choice in the matter. If it was his, he didn't have to knock.

Inside, there was loud laughter. Nico cringed at the sound. They were happy people. Chiron was very wrong. These boys did not know a thing about what he went through. Not that he planned on asking them. He didn't plan on talking to them much at all.

Nico pushed the door open reluctantly. The cabin was laid out differently from his old one had been. The beds were much closer together than he appreciated. Only a small nightstand separated each of the six beds. On the opposite wall, parallel to the beds, were their dressers. There was a small desk on each side of the room. In the middle, there was a large couch. Nico's eyes widened. His cabin never had a couch. Then again, his cabin had four more people, no desks, and bunk beds. It was always crowded.

Percy Jackson was naturally the first person he saw. During his freshman year, Percy was in his Greek Mythology class and was utterly clueless. Nico helped him out from time to time, and an infatuation with him had built. Nico didn't call it a crush. It was unnatural, and the more and more time he got to know Percy, the less intense his feelings became. Besides, Percy was very straight for his girlfriend in their sister school. By junior year, he'd moved on, but he'd always remembered.

Percy beamed a ball at another boy's chest. Nico had seen all these guys before. It was a small school. He'd probably heard their names before, too, but couldn't match the names to the places.

It bounced off the boy's body and hit Nico, causing his ear buds to fall out.

"Woah, I'm sorry!" Jason said between laughter. Nico's glare hardened.

Percy shoved his way around the couch, pushing Jason into the couch with force. "Dude, Nico, you're back! Are you prepared to stay in the best cabin of all time?"

Like Nico said, these guys knew they were the best. Nico shrunk away from him, staring like he had two heads.

Another blonde boy, smaller than the first, got off his bed and came to Percy's side. "Did you hit him in the head? Can you hear us?" Without warning, his hands met Nico's face, twisting it as his blue eyes analyzed his black ones. "I think you broke him."

Nico shoved his hands off him, but he was already pressed against the door. "Hands off, Blondie."

The boy's face split into a wide grin, and Nico's heart leapt into his throat. He was shocked to be so awestruck of this guy's beauty when he stood next to Percy, who he'd previously deemed as the best looking guy on campus. This guy was shorter, more towards his height, but still above him, of course. His had a lean build, but had more muscles than Nico. Of course. He had a defined jaw line for his small build, and a tiny nose, too. His blue eyes were the brightest he'd ever seen. It was a light blue that peeked into his soul, which annoyed Nico deeply. His smile was heart stopping and so infectious, he was tempted to smile back.

"I'm Will Solace, newest best archer on campus. Nico di Angelo, right?" He extended his hand, and Nico stared at it like there were eleven fingers. He dropped it, and Nico nodded bluntly. He looked around. From the bathroom, a shirtless Latino exited. Nico watched with wide eyes as he pulled open his drawer, which didn't want to open. Half of the clothes spilled out. He cursed and started shoving things back inside. "That's Leo Valdez."

"The hottest guy on campus? Yeah, that's me," Leo grinned a grin that made Nico worry about his safety.

"This is Percy, which you know. And that's Jason Grace. Welcome to cabin 13." Will gestured for him to step further inside. Nico slung his bag over his shoulder and walked into the room.

"Newest best prodigy? What did the old one die?" Nico muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. Will's smile melted like a Popsicle in a hot summer day. He scratched the back of his head.

"Uh, yeah. Last year. Remember? Michael Yew and Lee Fletcher?" Will cleared his throat.

"He left early," Percy said. The mood in the cabin dropped, as it usually did when Nico entered the room.

"Okay, no more moping," Leo came over and slung his arms around Will and Percy, which was an odd scene considering the height differences. "Let's see your schedule, Nico. See who you have classes with."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Which one is my bed?"

Will jerked his head towards the far end of the cabin. Nico followed him. "This one is mine," he patted the one beside the one in the corner. "Unless you want to switch out of the corner."

He sounded like he was really offering to switch beds just for Nico's convenience. Nico didn't answer. He dropped his bag on the bed. Will stood behind Nico, watching him as he unpacked his clothes into the dressers. Nico ignored him. Jason, Percy, and Leo started up another round of indoor football.

"Frank Zhang is running late."

"Of course he is!" Leo cackled. "Probably off trying to flirt with Hazel."

Nico's muscles stiffened. Hazel was his half-sister. He had no clue she'd been in contact with anyone at his school. He really hoped she didn't tell Frank what went down with their family, even though she most likely did. She told Frank everything.

Will sat on his bed. "I'm new to this cabin, too. They've got…quite the bromance, huh?" Nico's glare turned on Will. He continued grinning, as if the boy who looked like death wasn't furious with him. Bromance. For a split second, fear pulsed inside his brain. Did he know about Nico's secret? Not even his sisters knew. Nobody knew. And he had to keep it that way, now more than ever. He could only imagine how much more his new cabin would detest him once they found out he was undeniably attracted to the boy shamelessly grinning at him.

Nico sat on the bed. "Is Frank dating Hazel?"

He hadn't spoken to Hazel much after the funeral. Hazel's mom could technically keep her, but she decided to strive for a scholarship at Graeca et Romana Girls Academy. He'd met Frank before, and he didn't mind them together, but he wanted to know.

"No. If you know Hazel, you know she takes it slow," Will shrugged.

"She's my sister," Nico muttered as he plugged in another ear bud. He was about to lean back on his bed when Will reached out and grabbed his arm. Nico jerked away like it had burned him. It practically had. Energy had coursed up his arm, more so than what was considered normal.

"We're going to go get dinner when Frank gets here." Will said, eyes staring into Nico's like an invitation. "You're coming, right?"

Nico frowned. He would have to suffer through plenty of meals with them. Since he wasn't hungry now, he figured he'd lower the number as much as he could. "Already ate." Then, he plugged in his other ear bud and fell back on the bed, closing his eyes to try and block out the shitty-ness of his life.

Will didn't bug him again.

Nico's nightmares were mellow for once. Of course, he got little sleep, but he didn't wake in a screaming fit. Sometimes that happened. If he didn't detest these arrogant guys already, he would have felt bad for them having to suffer through it.

When he sat up and opened his eyes, the sight before him was…interesting. Percy had his shirt backwards and was struggling with getting his feet through his jeans. "Where's…the fucking…zippe – ow!"

"Don't zip up your dick…again," came a bored voice he'd heard from a distance before but never up close. It was Frank Zhang, calmly sitting on the couch reading a book. Seriously, Nico thought, he was reading already?

Leo was, again, frantically looking through his drawers for something to wear. Jason was in one of the showers. Every cabin had a bathroom with two showers, two toilets, and one sink.

The most startling scene was Will Solace. He had a towel wrapped around his waist, but that was all. His hair was disheveled as usual, and wet. Nico watched as he stretched and applied deodorant. He hoped his mouth wasn't open. Nico knew he should have looked away, but Will had his own gravity force, attracting his eyes without permission. The image was burned into Nico's eyes, and he prayed it never left. He could describe every line of muscle and every inch of hair on that boy's body.

Then, Will caught him looking. With a cheeky grin, he grabbed his shirt and winked at Nico. Then, he pulled on his pants. "See you at breakfast. And yes, you're eating before you waste away, Death Boy."

Nico barely registered his words. Only when he walked into the bathroom did he notice that his shirt said 'Death Boys' on it with a skull and bones design. It was his favorite band, but nobody knew about them.

Nico couldn't breathe. For the moment, he wasn't worried about anyone noticing his secret. He just couldn't come to terms with the fact that Nico had, at least, one good thing to wake up to every day. He didn't like his cabin one bit, but he could easily suffer through the morning part of the day.

. . .

Breakfast was never the busiest time of day, which was odd. It had the best food. Nico walked with one ear bud in his ear, blaring music in hopes that people would ignore him. He filled his plate up all the way. What Will said was true. He had to gain some weight. His muscles already strained during training, and that was a little under a month ago. He didn't do any training and could barely keep any food down in that time.

Nico spotted Charlie and his old table, throwing food and laughing like crazy as usual. They didn't see Nico. They weren't looking for him, either. As Nico walked towards cabin thirteen's table, the kids at the other tables all stared at Nico. Some tried to hide it. Others didn't. He knew he scared people. He always had. They must have gotten used to his disappearance last year, hoping he'd never come back.

Believe him, he did too.

Nico sat down at the end of their table. Will moved from the opposite end to right in front of him. "He eats!" he announced, like it was an accomplishment. Nico sneered at him. The rest of the guys quickly filled the table.

He kept quiet for most of the meal, but then they started to ask him stuff. "So how big is your sword?" Frank asked. Everyone knew Frank was handy with a bow and arrow. If he could remember correctly, Frank, Michael Yew, Lee Fletcher, and Will Solace all competed for the top two spots in their competition team last year. Michael and Lee won, but Frank was just centimeters off.

"Frank, that is highly inappropriate conversation for breakfast!" Will snickered, nudging Nico's foot under the table. Nico cast his gaze to his food instantly. Stupid dirty blond god. "Seriously, though, I didn't see you bring your sword."

Nico shrugged, shoveling food into his mouth to keep from snapping at Will. He figured it would happen eventually and he'd scare away the chipper boy, but Nico wanted a few more days of allowed viewing before Will saw him as a freak.

"Nico left before he could grab his sword last year. We kept it in storage. It's a scary one," Percy said. "Of course, nothing like Riptide."

Jason snorted. "You're in love with your sword."

"So what if I am?"

"Annabeth might have a problem with that!" Leo snickered.

Normally, at the mention of Annabeth's name, Percy would burst into his most recent story, whether it was about how she kicked his butt or about where they most recently had sex. Percy had no shame. Nico always felt bad for Annabeth. She had no clue, but everyone at their school knew a lot more about her sex life than they should have. This time, however, Percy looked at his food intently and shrugged. Nico was shocked. He'd never been shut up so quickly.

Will kicked him under the table again. "Can I see your schedule?'

Nico reluctantly pulled out his schedule. He hadn't even looked at it more than once. Will scanned it with a growing smile, one that made Nico's stomach twist. Why was he smiling like he'd scammed the lottery from a cranky old guy? "We have Monsterology and Apollo's Anatomy together."

Nico shoved his remaining food around with his fork. "They need new names. What's wrong with regular anatomy?" he muttered. Will's laughter chimed like the sound of a thousand kids laughing with pure joy. It was an honest laugh, one that lessened Nico's annoyed mood. Nico looked up, surprised he was laughing in the first place.

"You're my partner in both. I'll save you a seat," Will stood up grinning.

"Yeah, whatever, Solace. Just stop smiling so much. It gives me a headache." Nico said. Will's smile only widened.

"No promises, di Angelo!"

Nico swore that kid had problems. But then so did he.

Nico spent most of the school day hating his classes. He didn't mean to sound so dark, but how could one enjoy spending an hour writing down notes? He wanted to know how he was supposed to be happy about that.

They didn't have lockers at their school, only backpacks. The kids were expected to go to their cabin and switch out their books at lunch. That was exactly what Nico did after grabbing a sandwich from the mess hall. He saw his table eying him, unsure if he was going to sit or not. Nico didn't feel like awkwardly listening in on their conversations again. For most of breakfast, he'd felt like he was intruding.

Of course, he wasn't let off the hook that easily. He had ten more minutes of blissful 'me time' in the cabin alone. He should have figured somebody would have came to check on him. A kid like him screamed 'thief.' So when the door banged open, Nico didn't even open his eyes.

He did when whoever walked in sat on his bed.

"I'm a doctor in training, and skipping a meal is probably why you can't catch up to Percy and Jason." Ah yes, the musical tone of Will Solace's 'I know it all' voice even broke through his music. Nico opened his eyes and sat up, pushing himself back when he noticed how incredibly close Will had sat.

"Talking is probably why you won't ever catch up to Lee and Michael," Nico deadpanned and kicked his feet, forcing Will to get up. "Shut up and leave me alone."

Nico didn't know what he was expecting when he said that. He knew it would hurt Will, but he didn't expect it would hurt him. He looked like Nico had personally beat his mother to death. Nico may as well have. Will stumbled back, almost falling over his bed.

He didn't even say bye he was out the door so quick. Nico watched him walk numbly back to the mess hall, watched him ignore Jason as he spoke to him. For the first time since his long line of insulting people, Nico felt completely and utterly bad about it. Will invaded his personal space, but did he deserve to have his world crushed by a potential friend just because Nico was feeling uncomfortable?

Nico hated himself, which wasn't uncommon, but today it was especially bad.

Shit.

A/N: Well, that's the beginning. It's a long story. I'll probably update weekly, maybe. It depends on how much feedback I get. I appreciate positive and negative feedback, by the way. So please leave your opinions and ideas about where you think this is going!