My Angel

Nico sighs as he lies down for yet another CT scan. At first he used to be terrified of them, but he learnt to get over his fear for closed spaces. He closes his eyes and drifts back to the good old days, when he and Bianca used to sit at the coffee shop near their house and comment on the people going by. Now those were the happy days, sitting back, watching funny shows on the T.V, and just watching life go by. Then the bad things had started to happen, as if god didn't like him or his family to stay happy anymore. His mom and sister died in a car crash on their way home from a trip to the super market. After that his dad kinda became sad and depressed and rarely came out of his room. After a few years, Nico moved out. Though his dad had tried many a times to mend their relationship to how it was earlier, Nico still used formals with his father, and spoke only when he needed to. The death of his mom and sister had changed his character from a little bubbly kid to a serious boy who had to grow up too soon.

And then one he had started coughing up blood and that had scared the hades out of him, because he had not been in any kind of accidents before the incident took place. He had gone to the hospital, and found out that he was suffering from last stage lung cancer. He had at the most a couple of months to live. He had took the news calmly, but as soon as he reached his house he had shut himself in his room and cried till his eyes burned. He had told his dad later over the phone and his father had rushed him to the best hospital he could find and had stayed with him for as long as his work allowed. He still visited Nico a couple of times a day. Nico's only thought that kept him happy was that he was going to meet his sister soon. Well that was until he met Will.

Will Solace was happy. That was until he was handed the case of Nico Di Angelo. That guy had suffered so much that just reading his file brought tears to his eyes. The thing is an angel is always there to collect your soul when you are about to die, so that your soul can actually rest in peace for a moment irrespective of what deeds you have done in your life. Though the angels make an exception with those people who are suffering with terminal illness like cancer. The angels are sent out a month before the person dies, mostly to ease their pain and help them through their sufferings and so that they can pass on peacefully. Now Will Solace has always bought people who die sudden deaths and helped them pass on. But this was the very first time he was handed a case where he had to go to the patient's house a month before he actually died, and help him in his pain.

"I believe in you son. I know that you will handle this job very well." Apollo, the chief angel said to Will as he was about to depart to Earth to meet Nico. The confidence in his father's voice gave Will a bout of courage as he flapped his golden white wings to take off and said "I will make you proud dad."

Will scanned the area where Nico could possibly be, and found that he was on his way to home from the hospital. Gods did the guy look sick. He flapped his wings one last time as he descended behind him and made the wings disappear. He had also changed his clothes from the angelic ones to the one that teenagers wore these days. He called out to Nico as he was about to turn the corner… "Hey there wait up…" he shouted before he caught up to Nico.

Nico shielded his eyes from the sun as he got a good look at the boy who had just joined him. He was cute, he would give him that. "Ummm… do I know you?" he asked as the boy slung his backpack over his shoulders.

"Umm… he he… oh gods… this is embarrassing I have next to no idea how to do this…" Will said scratching his neck.

"No idea about what?' Nico asked completely confused about what was going on.

"Ughh did I say that out loud?"

"Yup you did." Nico replies.

"Ok this might sound a bit, funny and you might think that I'm crazy, but I'm not… and I'm ranting… ok...deep breath Will… Alright, let's do this again" Will says all that in a breath. He holds his hands out to Nico.

"I am Will Solace, an angel sent from the heavens to help you during your final struggle with this disease. I will be your personal genie, and it will be my job to keep you happy during your last days. Pleased to meet you Nico Di Angelo."

"You are right. You are crazy." Nico replies. Sure he is cute, but Nico had not met a more delusional person ever in his life.

"Hey, I'm not kidding, I am being honest here…"

"Sure you are." Nico replies. He is suddenly aware of people all but staring at him as he walked the way home. What couldn't he be like walking with a cute boy on his way home? Ok he has got to stop calling Will cute. " Why are people staring at us?" he asks as he takes the turn to his house.

"Because they can't see me. Only you can." Will replies.

Nico stares at him. This kid sure has a mental problem.

"Look, I am not crazy or anything. I am telling you the truth. If you don't believe me, see for yourself." Will states as he lets his wings unfold. Nico backs up a few steps as he continues staring at Will. Gods he must be hallucinating or dreaming.

"If you still don't believe me, I could tell you all about your life and, wait I do have a message from your sister Bianca. She met me before…" Will is cut off as Nico starts running towards him and punches him in his face, but Will looks more shocked than hurt.

"Don't you dare make fun of my sister. Who do you think you are, coming here, and making fun of her, and how could you know anything about my life?" Nico all but yells at Will who is still shocked and more of Nico's neighbours come out to see what the commotion is all about.

"Ok, number 1. I was not making fun of your sister. Number 2. I really am an angel and am here to decrease your sufferings during your last stage. And number 3. If you keep shouting at me like that, people will think you are crazy cause only you can see me. So… mind if we go to your house and discuss the rest of the stuff?" Will remarks and starts walking up to the front door of Nico's house and waits for him to catch up.

Nico comes up, unlocks the door and enters his house. Will quietly follows behind him as he looks around taking in his surroundings… "Wow, so this is how a real house looks like…" he whispers softly.

"Wait, please don't tell me that angels don't live in a house…" Nico asks as he goes and gets a chips packet from the fridge.

"Well, we don't, all angels have their separate rooms in the main palace, there are separate palaces for souls too, those who want to continue their lives happily, those who would like to try for rebirth, the cursed souls, who have done bad things in their life, also, those who have done great things in their life like helping people and stuff… hey don't eat chips, it's bad for your health" Will says as he tries to snatch the packet from Nico.

Nico didn't know why, but he wanted to believe this kid, this angel. It wasn't like had a choice in the matter. He snorted as he stretched his hand far away from Will saying, "shouldn't you like make me happy and stuff?"

Will sighed as he sank back into the couch, as he held out his hand for a few chips "At least share, I'm hungry. In my excitement, to meet you, I skipped my breakfast." Right on cue, his stomach grumbled. Will blushed right up to his ears.

Nico snorted once again as he gave Will a few chips from the bag.

Will twirled his wrist, and changed back into his angel pajamas and a loose t-shirt, which according to were the most comfortable thing ever.

Nico stared at Will. One minute he was in jeans and a button up shirt, the next he was in his pajamas and a loose t- shirt. It oddly felt like, Will was just a friend of Nico who had come over for a night out. Though Nico didn't really have any friends.

Will was looking at the picture on the table beside him, when he heard Nico gasp. Nico was clutching his chest, as he reached to the packet of medicines on the table. "Here, let me help." Will said placing his hands on Nico's chest, and murmuring a soft prayer to the gods. He pulled his hands back when Nico relaxed in his chair.

"Wait… how did that happen? It usually takes up to around half an hour or so, for the medicines to work… Not that I am complaining… but how?" Nico asks as he relaxes into the chair, wiping his forehead, which already had a thin layer of sweat from the exertion.

"Angel magic. That is why they send us to help people like you guys…so that at least your final days are spent a little bit pain-free you know?" Will sighs as he flops down next to Nico on the couch.

"So, you really were not joking?"

"Of course I wasn't. So… Nico Di Angelo, anything you want, which can make you happy, I will bring it to you. What do you want? Ohh, by the way, your wishes are not limited… so feel free to ask. Ok?"

"Can I rest for a few hours? Then we can start on our adventure ok?"

"Sure thing" Will replies as he closes his eyes and falls asleep almost immediately.

Nico throws a blanket over Will and goes upstairs into his room, to take a nap, still wondering if it was all a dream and that if he woke up, would Will still be there? To complete his wishes?