Grazie

Groggy sunrises and gloomy mornings were all that followed in the meantime. Nico found refuge in the warm, sun kissed arms of someone else as the rain fell. The migraine-inducing pit-patter of droplets hitting the roof and ground was a bitter testament from his uncle in the sky in the winter seasons. But in the rain, he found it was easier to listen to not only his own heartbeat, but Will's drumming pulse as well. The consistent ba-dump ba-dump in sync with his own was a sign that they were both alive and well; alive and satisfied. Despite his snores, and the way his hair tickled his cheeks and neck when they cuddled, Nico thrived off the sensation. Even in the rain, the cozy bosom of his lover lulled him into comfortable slumber.

I haven't slept like this since…Bianca.

He rolled around between the sheets to face him. The blonde locks before him were bright, even in the gray moonlight. They framed his face like rays of sunlight on a spring day, and his freckles were the clouds decorating his sky. Nico quietly nestled his face into the boy's chest, a content smile quirking across his lips. No amount of healing or Mythomagic cards could have ever made him feel more alive than he did right now, in Will's arms. Even as the rain fell, as the thunder exploded in the distance, he didn't bat an eye to the window in fear.

The morning came as it always did, bright and early with Apollo across the horizon. Will was up early, a painful blessing of being a child of the sun. Nico watched him from across the room in his comfortable spot in bed. He'd seen the same view a thousand times before, but the sight made his heart palpitate nonetheless. Will's broad shoulders tensed underneath his white tank as he leaned against the windowsill, gazing out into the rest of the camp. Nico couldn't see his face, but he could tell Will was smiling

"I thought the rain would never let up." He said, voice a mere croak in the early morning. Nico hummed a chuckle in reply. He tucked his knees up to his chest when Will came and sat aside him on the bed. "You seem well rested."

"Well-rested? Did my eye bags disappear overnight?"

"No, no, it's just that," Will paused, laughing when he saw the shadows that still remained under his eyes. "It was raining all night, and you were tossing and turning."

"I'm alright now, thanks to you." Nico scoffed, breaking his gaze.

"You said something in your sleep, you know?"

"What'd I say?"

"In between groans, you whispered, 'Grazie, Bianca.'"

Nico flushed. "Maybe I was dreaming about my sister again." He thought for a moment. "I mean, it is around the time when she…when she passed."

Will frowned and sat up to meet Nico's face. He pressed his hand against Nico's cheek, bringing his eyes to his. Soft hands, Nico thought, lacing his fingers between his cheek and interlocking them with Will's. "Usually you're dreams involving her end in tears, like it was a nightmare."

The sudden jolt of Nico throwing himself onto Will pressed the two against the bed. Hot tears embedded themselves into Will's shoulder. He laughed halfheartedly, caressing Nico's back in slow circles. "It's alright Nico…" he cooed. "Are you alright?"

"It's just that I…I've never felt this way before. N-Not in a long time," he choked out, gripping Will's shoulders. "It's like my life was a hurricane, and you're the sunny eye in the center. And for the first time I feel—I feel alive."

Will tightened his embrace around Nico, feeling his eyes build with pressure. "I think you've finally let go. I don't know what it's like, living through a hurricane, but I've seen a few storms myself and I know how you feel." His voice began to falter, and his grip weakened round Nico. "A-And I've learned to let go. N-No amount of telling yourself that it's over with can teach you how to, you just have to let it happen."

"Then I guess it's time to let it happen." Nico hiccuped.

The evening was sticky and humid, typical of New York springs. Nico gulped awkwardly, bending over in his suit over a box of white flowers; magnolias, roses, wild oxeyes resting inside. A silver bow and arrow embossed the front of the box. Despite having his back turned, Nico felt Percy's endearing eyes and Annabeth's tender stare behind him. Piper and Jason made an appearance, as did Thalia and Reyna, and Hazel and Frank…everyone Nico would hate to see him sob. They all stood, clad in black and white. Will stood at Nico's side as he knelt over the memory, taking off his skull ring for a moment. He plucked another seed from his breast pocket and rested it in the flower box; white hydrangeas.

"Grazie, Bianca. For making me feel alive." He whispered, kissing his ring before sliding it back on his finger. He stood back on his feet and greeted the others with a faint smile. Percy tilted his head ever-so-slightly with confusion, examining Nico's face. Not so fragile as you thought, huh? A single tear ran down his cheek when he saw the difference in Nico's body language; the way he carried himself with more pride lately. At least one of us is seeing things better now.

Percy was the first to bear hug Nico, followed by Jason, and soon the rest of them. Will placed a hand on his shoulder from outside the circle. Nico glanced back at Will, pleading for some help. "Uh, Solace, a little help…They're crushing—

"I'm sorry…Nico, I still am." Percy whispered as everyone released the small Italian. "I'm happy to see that you've grown so much in the few years that I've known you and—

"Percy, stop it." Nico bit his lip and averted his eyes. "You don't have to be sorry anymore. I've…I've moved on now. I've let go."

"I…thank you, Nico." Percy said, wrapping Nico in a suffocating embrace.

Nico chuckled, "Thank you, Percy." He turned to everyone else in their intimate congregation. "Grazie, Annabeth…Hazel…Frank…Reyna…Jason." The words felt like they'd built up in his system for centuries. "For everything, for making me feel…alive again."