AN: Warning, this story contains spoilers from The Trials of Apollo! Please read at your own risk, thank you :)
Chapter 1: Constellations
"Hey!" Will called to his younger siblings, Austin and Kayla.
The two children of Apollo flashed the blonde boy a blinding smile, lowering their bows in the process.
"What's up, Will?" Austin greeted casually.
"Have you guys seen Nico?" he asked, totally ignoring his brother's question.
Kayla and Austin shared a knowing smirk as Will's eyes wandered across the archery range, completely oblivious to the scene before him. The ginger haired girl snickered while Austin repressed a giggle.
"Gee, I don't know," Kayla responded, a faint smirk painting her pretty face. "Aren't you guys practically attached by the hip nowadays?"
"Yeah," Austin agreed. "Isn't it your responsibility to know where your boyfriend is?"
Will's cobalt blue eyes immediately stopped scanning the area. A bright red blush spilled across his face and the son of Apollo began to shuffle back and forth on his feet like an awkward giraffe. Or, well, Frank Zhang in awkward giraffe form.
"He's-he's not my boyfriend!" Will corrected.
"Oh, please," Kayla chided. The same knowing grin tugged at her pink lips as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers, as if she were trying to play some type of stringed instrument. "I don't have to be Valentina Diaz to see you guys are so into each other!"
"It's true!" Austin agreed. "If you guys get together by the end of this week, Connor Stoll has to pay me twenty drachmas!"
Will's face burned bright red with embarrassment and anger as his siblings howled with laughter.
How dare they bet on such a serious thing? Will chided to himself.
It had been exactly two months, three days, and nine hours since the war with Gaea had come to an end.
Right after the war, Will had demanded Nico to spend three days in the camp's infirmary, no exceptions. After those three days, everything just... Happened.
It was no secret the son of Apollo had a major crush on the younger boy. Even Percy was able to see the obvious connection! Will couldn't remember exactly when the attraction started, but he had a pretty good idea of when his whole crush rolled into motion.
During the Battle of Manhattan, Will watched in awe as Nico raised an army of the dead side by side with his father, never giving up or backing down in the face of danger. The son of death was only thirteen years old at the time, but he looked much older and wiser and more… Godly.
Nico was, by far, the most powerful demigod Will had ever seen. His powers seemed to bypass even Percy Jackson and Jason Grace.
After the Battle of Manhattan, the son of death would fall off the radar from time to time, leaving the blonde boy to imagine what was really behind his messy dark hair and broken eyes. Ever since defeating the Titans, Will knew he wanted to be Nico's friend. He wanted to mean something to the other boy.
For almost two years he hid his crush from the Italian demigod, occasionally getting teased by his best friends, Lou Ellen and Cecil, who had known about his crush since the first great war. Will couldn't even remember how many times he had promised to approach the younger boy, but he never did.
Then the war against Gaea happened. That was when Will finally had the chance to befriend Nico di Angelo.
Sure, they were plotting to destroy Roman onagers, but every love story had to start somewhere, right?
As the battle raged on, Will made the horrible realization that Nico was literally fading into the shadows. Terrified, he demanded the son of Hades to keep his underworld-ly powers at bay until told otherwise.
Nico then spent three days in the infirmary. Over the course of a few weeks, their budding friendship had blossomed into a flow blown bromance that rivaled Percy and Jason's. The two demigods spent countless hours together in the infirmary, practicing archery, hiking up Zeus' fist, and visiting New York City from time to time.
During all their adventures, Will's feelings for the younger demigod had only grown stronger. No matter how hard he tried, his feelings wouldn't go away.
"As if," Will muttered. "There's no way Nico would ever like me that way."
"Why not?" Austin questioned. "If you ask me, you aren't half bad!"
Will rolled his eyes. Kayla stifled her laughter behind her hand.
"Seriously, guys," Will continued. "Have you seen Nico or not?"
"I saw him wander into the woods earlier," Kayla confirmed. "Go get 'em, tiger!"
The blonde haired boy groaned and trudged his way into the forest. Knowing Nico, he was probably lying behind his favorite oak tree, which was located all the way in the center of Half Blood Woods.
Will's eyes lite up when he saw a mop of black hair nestled beneath an aging oak tree.
"Hey, Death Boy," Will smiled.
Nico ignored him. Instead of meeting Will's gaze, the son of death hung his head to the ground, his long dark bang's covering his pale face. Will's smile fell. He walked up to the younger boy slowly, afraid that if he walked any faster, Nico would panic and shadow travel himself to China.
"Nico?" Will called, the hurt evident in his voice.
"Please," Nico pleaded. "Just… Just go away."
The son of Apollo felt his heart shatter to the ground. It was at that moment he noticed Nico was shaking. Muffled sniffling sounds and stifled cries escaped his slightly parted lips.
Will instantly went into full doctor mode and sank next to Nico.
"Are you crying? Nico, are you hurt? What's wrong?"
The blonde haired boy asked the raven a million questions but received no answers.
"Please," Will begged, realizing the younger boy wasn't going to answer him any time soon. "Talk to me. Don't… Don't ice me out, okay?"
"I'm sorry," Nico whispered. "I never wanted you to see me cry."
The younger boy slowly raised his head, his long bangs sweeping off of his sad face. His beautiful brown eyes were puffy and red from crying. Nico had tear tracks running all the way down his pale cheeks.
"You don't have to be embarrassed," Will reassured him. "It's only me."
Nico snorted and stared up at the stars, unable to look Will in the eye.
"I'm embarrassed because it's you," he explained.
A bright pink blush spilled across Will's cheeks. Thankfully, Nico was too busy looking up at the constellations to notice.
"Why are you upset?" Will finally asked after a few moments of silence.
The son of Hades sighed, as if he had been expecting this conversation to occur sooner or later.
"Do you see that constellation up there?" Nico questioned.
Will followed Nico's gaze and his eyes landed on a gorgeous constellation known as The Huntress. The stars formed together to create the image of a beautiful girl wielding a bow and arrow. An aura of bravery and dedication filled Will as his eyes studied the timeless constellation.
"Of course," the blue eyed boy replied. "It's The Huntress. She's been around since the ancient times."
A faint smile tugged at Nico's lips.
"No," he said. "She hasn't."
Nico went on to explain the quest Percy Jackson, Grover Underwood, Thalia Grace, Bianca di Angelo, and Zoe Nightshade had embarked on nearly five years ago. His sister had died a hero's death along the way.
Zoe Nightshade, a daughter of the Titan Atlas and Lieutenant Huntress of Artemis, accepted the quest knowing full well she would not make it back alive. She was poisoned by a monster and taken down by her father's hand. Zoe died in Artemis' arms.
The goddess, who had loved the girl dearly, turned her into a constellation. Zoe was forever to be remembered in the stars.
A single tear streamed down Will's face. The older boy was surprised when Nico reached across to wipe it away with his thumb.
"Anyway," Nico went on. "After my sister's death, I kind of lost it. I spent months at a time roaming the Underworld, debating whether life was worth it at all. I never did get Bianca back, but while I was down there, I found my other sister. I found Hazel."
More tears flowed down Nico's cheeks. This time, it was Will's turn to wipe them away with his thumb.
"She means so much to me. If I had never met her, I doubt I would be alive today."
No, Will thought to himself. After all this time I've spent with you, I couldn't imagine not having you by my side.
Will unknowingly laced his fingers into Nico's. Cold meant warmth. Darkness met light. The son of death shuddered. Surprisingly, Nico didn't pull away.
"Ever since all forms of communication stopped working, I've been going crazy. I can't shadow travel to see my sister, or send her an Iris message, or even send her an email!"
Nico gripped Will's hand tightly. The son of Apollo felt his heart do a backflip.
"I've already lost one sister," Nico whispered. "I can't lose another."
Everything in Will's mind suddenly clicked.
All of Nico's life, he had always been used to doing whatever he desired. He traveled between the two camps and the Underworld whenever he pleased. Now that he's lost all control, he feels helpless.
When Bianca accepted her quest, Nico felt helpless then, too. He did not wish to feel the same agonizing heartache with Hazel.
"I think I understand," Will stated. "You feel helpless and out of control."
Nico stared at him blankly. For a moment, Will regretted saying anything at all. Then Nico smiled, and all of his fears melted away.
"At least someone gets it," he said.
Nico looked down and noticed their fingers were still tangled together.
"Sorry," Nico mumbled, desperately trying to yank his small hands away.
"Don't be," Will retaliated.
He squeezed the younger boy's hands tighter, causing Nico to turn bright red and bashfully look away.
"Will," he whispered softly. "What are you doing?"
Will shrugged. "I'll tell you when I figure it out."
"You are a dork," Nico snorted.
"Am not," Will retorted.
"Are too!" Nico quipped.
Will chuckled. "Good comeback, di Angelo. It is very fitting for an eighty year old man."
Nico ranted a few curses in Italian while Will chuckled. The two bantered back and forth for a few minutes, neither of them willing to back down from the argument.
"Whatever, Solace!" Nico hollered, dramatically waving his hands in the air, and tugging them out of Will's grasp in the process.
"You let go," Will noted.
Nico looked at Will hesitantly. His eyes were dark and clouded. He looked… Afraid.
"If there's anything you want to do," Will whispered. "Do it."
Because if you don't, my heart won't be able to take it, Will wanted to say, but his voice failed him.
Nico frowned. His pale hands ringed together awkwardly.
"I'm afraid that if I do," he replied quietly. "You'll hate me afterwards."
"I could never hate you."
Nico hesitated once more before intertwining his left hand with Will's. His other hand cupped the older boy's face.
"Nico," Will whispered against the younger boy's lips. "What are you-"
He was cut off by the sensation of soft pink lips brushing up against his. Will threw his arms around Nico's neck and pulled the shorter boy closer.