Charting Unknown Territory

Chapter 1 – Irrational Behavior - Nico

It was unimaginable. He had boldly told Percy about his crush. Even more bizarre, neither he nor Annabeth seemed repelled or disgusted. Percy, he smirked to recall, did seem rather confused and flustered. As he walked over to Will, he felt his perpetual anguish over Percy dissipate, leaving him buoyant. Will Solace greeted him with a smile and went to wrap an arm around his shoulder. He automatically shrugged off the contact and fell in step just behind Will.

Will began to talking, but Nico didn't listen. He wondered why he agreed so easily to be at Will Solace's command for the next three days. That had caught him off guard. What was with him today? First, he told Jason he was staying, then let Jason hug him and finally he told Percy he was gay. Maybe it was his father influencing him.

He hoped Will could help him. His last shadow travel on half-blood hill had been chilling. He barely made it back to the living world. He used to think he wanted to fade away, but actual fading had been terrifying. It was not fear of dying, dying would just put him back at Hades' palace. It was becoming one of the teeming nameless ghosts that spoke to him during shadow travel. He did not want to end up like, Bryce Lawrence. No memories, no name, no voice; as if he had never existed. He shivered. And only Hedge's nature magic had kept him here; he could never thank him enough. He was relieved to be harassed by Will into seeking help, because he never wanted to be that close to fading again.

It was perplexing that Will had even sought him out and called Nico his friend. He must have been worried about his health. Maybe he had forgiven him for Octavian and Leo. Surely it wasn't because he wants to be my friend. That thought brought the skeletal butterflies back. It gave his heart an agonizing twist when he thought, I know that will change once he knows about Bryce. That thought brought him back to reality and he sighed.

Will took him to a private room that was white and clean, but also annoyingly warm and bright with a bed under a large south facing window. "Strip down to your underwear and I'll be back." Nico drew the blinds and turned off the light before he undressed. Shit, did he have to have such worn, boxers on today? He sat on the high hospital bed and discretely covered his lower body with an extra blanket from the foot of the bed.

He thought about the only mortal doctor he had ever seen. It was once right before he started attending Westover Hall. That doctor had cold dead eyes that did not even see him. It was awful, like being a frog on a tray getting dissected. Here, in the demigod world he had never had anything that took more than a little ambrosia to heal until now. At least Will was compassionate: annoying and bossy, too, but still somehow comforting.

Will knocked and quietly came in. He frowned at the dark room, turned on the lights and began opening the blinds. "As much as you like it dark, you should not be in shadows until you're better."

"I'm a son of Hades, I'm always in the shadows." Nico stated flatly.

"Not while I'm here." Will smiled broadly as he turned back to face Nico who was scowling. Where does he get all his is annoying cheerfulness?

Will's smile faded to be replaced with anger. "Damn it Di Angelo, what monster did that to your arms? And why didn't you come in right away?"

"Werewolf. It is just a scratch and it is healing." He said casually.

"Nico, why are so damn suicidal? You're worse than the Ares campers." What was to him if I have a few burning scratches?

Will glared at him and then took a deep breath to steady himself. "I get that this is hard for you. I'll do all I can to make it less difficult. I have to treat those gashes and you have to rest while you are here. We can discuss your treatments and I will listen to any objects you have."

"I object. So can I go back to my cabin now?" Nico reached toward his clothes.

"NO, you already promised to stay. Even if all you do is sleep here I will make you stay." He commanded looking as angry as he had been with Octavian two days ago.

Nico quickly said "Kidding" and thought, it is nice the way he keeps insisting I stay.

Will's poise returned, "Everyone has to go through the exam. I had everyone from the Argo II, Hedge, and Reyna in here over the past two days. So don't think you are getting out of it that easily. They each asked me to make sure you got better. Reyna and Hedge were the most insistent. What they told me about your fading has me concerned." Nico felt betrayal and anger burning on his face. Everyone talked about me? Now Will thinks I am weak. What else might they have told him?

His agitation must have shown on his face because Will calmly said "Don't be apprehensive, they just told me your symptoms and what treatments worked." Nico felt his emotional control return as his heart rate went back to normal. Well Jason, Reyna and Hedge knew, but somehow he was equally sure none of them would tell Will.

"My point is that your friends care deeply about you and want you to get better." Will looked down to find Nico's eyes and held them in his fierce gaze. "All of us care about you very much. Please let me heal you." US? Did he just say he cared about me? Nico thought with astonishment, but it did not make sense. They were being just being over protective and treating him like a child. It would wear off just like last time. He looked down, still guarded and wary.

"I know you don't like to be touched, but I need to touch you to examine you." Will step to the edge of the bed, standing so close Nico's knees just about touched his upper thighs. He was far too close, Nico fought the urge to back away and then an opposing urge to lean forward. Will was too good looking. The skeletal butterflies were back and damn, his heart sped up, too.

Will must have noticed, hopefully he thought it was fear. "Look, relax, I'll tell you everything I'm doing as I'm doing it. I promise it won't hurt at all. If you get uncomfortable simply say 'stop' and I'll lift my hands immediately."

As Will reach his hands toward him, Nico said "Stop." A slight smile tugged at the corner of Nico's mouth, before he could stopped it.

Will smiled widely, hands still, and calmly said "Whenever you are ready." But he did not back away.

I can do this, if only my heart rate would go back to normal. Why is the thought of Will touching me so frightening and thrilling? Nico thought. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself and regain control before he nodded.

"Good," Will said, but he did not move his hands. He only watched him with his warm sparkling blue eyes. "First, roll your shoulders…. Now your neck…" Nico followed the directions while giving Will a questioning look.

"Good, now close your eyes and lean your head back on my hands and I'll help you relax." Will started to massage the back of his head with his fingertips while he softly sang. "Keep your head soft, let me take control." His hands were warm and the slow circles at the base of his neck were like a drug. Nico could not help but relax more than he had in months. His heart rate slowed. "I'm moving my way up your head." When he got to his temples Nico started to go limp. He almost felt weightless. As his body became pliable Will softened his voice. "I'm keeping my hand behind your head and lifting your legs to lay you on the bed." His gentle hands ease him up to lie flat on the bed.

"I'm going to moving my hands lightly over you to scan your body" Nico's breath hitches at the thought of Will's hands all over him but he kept his eyes closed tight. "Don't tense up, I won't break contact with your skin and you can always say stop." He worked on his head again until he went limp.

"Ready" Nico mumbled.

"I'm going to keep talking and singing while I make notes for myself." He then started to sing with mumbles interspersed as his hands flitted down Nico's body lightly. He mumbled, "…. Nightmares…. insomnia…. Liethe…. Phlegethon…. Werewolf… Tartarus…. Death trance-7 days…. ambrosia ineffective…. unicorn draft becoming ineffective…. Long distance shadow travel… perimeter fading….. Nature magic effective… sensitivity to sunlight… lingering chill…." He stopped holding Nico's ankle.

"You did great, Nico." Nico doesn't dare move or open his eyes, he just want stay here with Will's comforting hands on him. Don't be a sap, He berates himself.

"You can open your eyes now. Let me pull you up." Will helped him up by holding his arm, under the Lycaon scratches.

"Do you have any more to add?" Will sits down in a chair next to the bed and looks at Nico with an eager expression ready to listen.

"Can you help with my nightmares? I can't seem to dream travel to escape them anymore." Nico said.

"I didn't know you could control your dream travel. I'd like to learn that one. My treatment covers nightmares." Will looks seriously at him. "I'm stunned you made it back to camp, now that I know the extent of your wounds. I've selected your treatment to cover my two most pressing concerns: the werewolf lacerations and perimeter fading. First, I need to fix those infected stitches. After that I have a bath treatment that is a combination of nature magic and unicorn draught with a few special ingredients of my own. It permeates the skin to draw out the shadows and stop nightmares. Shall I get started?" Will looks at him expectantly.

He is asking me? He really would let me say no? Nico thinks on any another day he would have said no, but he does really want to be healed. "Um….that doesn't sound so bad… Alright."

"Good, I'm putting on some salve to numb your arms, then I'll be back in about 20 minutes to redo the stitches. By then the bath will be ready. " He finished, paused for a confirmation from Nico. When he nods, Will applies salve to his arms and walks out of the room.

As the burning in his arms is replaced with a dull numbness Nico suspected that staying here for three days may not be so bad. He can always refuse treatment. Beside he already promised Jason he would stay at camp. At least he felt, for the first time, that he had friends. Maybe it would last a bit longer than after the battle of Manhattan. He would always leave when the pity friendship ran out, but he had a feeling that it might not happen with Jason. He thought, People were so unfathomable; how could they really care about me? Especially after I let Leo and Octavian die. That will change when they find out about Bryce Lawrence. What type of evil bastard obliterates someone by turning them into a voiceless ghost?