Day 1

Nico ran to the meadow, where Will Solace was waiting. "You owe me three days in the infirmary. Remember?" Nico smiled. He was ready for this.

"Alright. Fine!" He threw his hands up, faking surrender. "But none of those stupid night-gown things." Will laughed at him, and then fake pouted.

"Then what's the point? Humiliation is, after all, my specialty."

"I thought it was medicine. Am I making a mistake trusting you?" He smiled started to back up, and Will caught him.

"I hope not. After all, you are stuck with me for three days…" Will took him by the hand and led him to the infirmary.

"Holy crap, Nico!" Will nearly shouted when he saw the werewolf lacerations. "How long have those been there?" Nico cringed. A week maybe? Fatigue had probably stopped them from healing.

"5-7 days maybe. It's probably nothing."

"Nothing? NOTHING?" Will rolled his eyes and went to the supplies cabinet, muttering about infections and bandages and idiot tough-guys. Nico looked around, becoming uneasy. There were a lot of people here. A lot. Most of them in pain or upset about something. He started to tap his fingers rhythmically and look for ways to leave unnoticed. He didn't want to hurt Will's feelings, but he didn't do well with people. He was a lone wolf. A creature of solitude. Will came back, and all of the thoughts were expelled for now.

"Now, are there any other 'nothings' I should be looking at?" Will said.

"Well, not really." Will raised an eyebrow.

"What does 'not really' mean?"

"It means not really. I'm just really tired."

"How many times have you shadow traveled in the last week?" Nico didn't want to answer. He looked down and fiddled with the sheet on the metal-framed bed. When he didn't respond, Will sighed. "Nico?"

"I lost count."

"I am really going to have my hands full with you, aren't I?" He isn't wrong, Nico thought. Will dabbed some antiseptic onto a cotton ball and started gently dabbing the wound. Nico flinched at the contact. Damn, that burns! Will flinched with him. "I'm sorry." He said gently, "This is going to hurt a lot. It's been exposed for a week. I'm sorry." He put his other hand on Nico's shoulder to steady him. His hand is warm, and strong, Nico thought. "Ready?" Will held up the cotton ball. Nico bit his lip and nodded. He was ready this time. It wasn't as bad as the first time, but it still hurt a crap ton. He took a deep breath and clenched his fists. A few torturous moments later, Will was done. He threw the cotton ball away and moved his hand. "I'm allowed to use a local anesthetic for the next part. Is that ok?" Nico nodded. The only thing he could think of was how cold his shoulder was where Will's hand had been. There was a pinch in his other shoulder area, and then his upper arm went numb. Will took out a weird u-shaped needle, along with thread that looked like fishing wire. Nico knew what was coming next. He didn't look. Will chuckled as he stitched up Nico's arm. "You know, for the child of the god of death, you're a bit squeamish." Nico rolled his eyes.

"I deal with the dead, not the injured. At least the dead ones aren't in as much pain."

"There." Will said. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" He threw away the needle, and wrapped Nico's arm in a soft white bandage. Nico shook his head. He knew he was being weirdly non-verbal, but he couldn't help it. He was so tired, and it had been a long week. The overwhelming relief was making him realize just how tired he was. Will noticed Nico's shoulders sagging, and gently nudged his shoulders down, and Nico swung his legs up onto the bed. "Sleep now. You need it." And again Nico nodded.

Nico woke up with a start. It took him a few moments to realize where he was. Upon realising, he sighed, and flopped back down on the bed, only to jerk back up again (swearing rather loudly) by the stabbing pain in his arm. He had landed directly on it. "Shit," Nico muttered. He hoped he hadn't broken the stitches. That would suck. he laid back down, more gently this time around. The door clicked open, moonlight flooding the room, and quietly squeaked as it was closed. "Crap!" the intruder whisper-shouted as it slammed slightly. "Shhhhhhh! Percy! We're stealthy tonight, remember?" Nico relaxed when he recognized the voices. It was Percy and Piper. "Hey!" Percy whisper-shouted again. Nico rolled his eyes, and the door opened again. Jason stepped through, his tall figure nearly blocking out the door. He waved goofily. "Hi Nico!" Kill me now, Nico thought. He pretended to be asleep, trying not to smile at their ridiculous antics.

"I told you he would be sleeping!" Piper said.

"He's not sleeping. I saw his mouth twitch." Percy replied, and walked over to Nico.

"He could be dreaming! Do you really want to ruin the dreams of the kid whose heart you crushed repeatedly for 4 years?"

"My heart was NOT crushed!" Nico stated, giving up the ruse.

"I knew it!" Jason said. Percy glared at him.

"You did not!"

"Did too!"

"I said it first!"

"That proves nothing!" Nico face-palmed. Piper rolled her eyes and smiled at Nico, fluttering her fingers at him as she headed over to break them up, as the were getting closer and closer to each other, Percy puffing out his chest slightly to make up for the few inches height difference. "Girls, girls, you're both stunning. Come on. We're here for Nico."

"I thought we were here to interrogate him about that Apollo kid?" Jason asked teasingly, and Nico could feel his face turn bright red.

"Nothing. Shut up. I mean, what Apollo kid? None of your business." All of the other demigods tried not to laugh, and Piper failed miserably.

"You know, he's bi, about, hm, ye high? Gorgeous blond hair, these AMAZING abs-"

"He has abs!?" Nico choked on the water he was drinking in hopes that the cup would hide his blushing.

All of them cracked up again, except for Nico. "I mean, Abs. Wow. I really would like to meet this beautiful stranger…" Piper gave him a disappointed look. "FINE! I'm here because of Will. Happy?"

"Couldn't be more so. And the sun's about to come up, so we need to scoot. Bye!" She kissed him on the cheek, and scrambled out of the infirmary. Percy punched im on his good shoulder. "Catch you later, bro!" Jason waved and slapped him on the back. "Get better!" When they all left, he sighed, and laid back down. The day hadn't even started yet.