Well. Thank you for my lovely readers. To the guest who reviewed, Here is the next chapter. Your wish is my command. ;)
Nico's eyes widened. What was he doing? His lips parted in shock as Will kissed him. They were warm and full, touching him with the kind of gentleness that he used on his patients. His body and heart craved for him, he wanted Will. But the fear…it puddled in his stomach like bile. The closeness, the contact, the heat, it was too much. He felt the walls that he had worked so hard to build, crumbling. And it was Bianca's death again, and seeing Percy with Annabeth, and every fearful glance thrown his way, and Tartarus and Cupid all over again.
He wasn't in Will's arms anymore, it was fear itself. Yawning open and trying to consume him.
He recoiled, scrambling away, a pathetic whimper escaping his lips.
He had survived Bianca's death, he had defeated Cupid and gone through Tartarus. But why couldn't he face will?
"Nico—
Will said, reaching for him.
His hand wrapped around his wrist but Nico let out a cry and yanked his arm back. Where was his sword?
"Nico, calm down. It's okay…I-I'm sorry."
Nico stared at him. It wasn't a monster. It was just Will. Just Will? Will Solace had kissed him. THE Will Solace. And Nico had pushed him away. Looking like an idiot. He felt his face burn with embarrassment.
"It…was an accident. But I like you….a lot." Will blushed furiously glancing down at the floor. He kept talking, but all Nico could hear were his 3 words bouncing around in his head.
I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you. I like you.
Suddenly driven by a force that he would later blame on Aphrodite, he took two easy steps forwards and kissed him. Will broke off mid ramble, eyes widening at the small Italian boy that was now kissing Will with a ferocity that surprised him. But finally he returned the kiss, and felt Nico melt against him. He curled an arm around his waist and ran the fingers of his other hand through the younger boy's hair. He felt the brown locks run through his fingers. The son of Hades sighed, resting his head on Will's chest. He wrapped his arms around him in wonderment. It was like a tiger transformed into a kitten. Nico mumbled something into his chest.
"What was that?"
He looked up at Will. Deep brown eyes framed by thick lashes, a blush dusting his cheeks and his lips pink and full.
"I said… I like you too."
And just like that his heart soared. He marveled at the fact that those three simple words could have such an effect on him. And again their lips crashed against each other. Darkness clashing against light…the effect was electrifying. He felt Nico's numerous wristbands, cold against his neck, and his small hips, soft against his, and his hair brushing against his forehead…and then the doorbell rang.
They snapped back like a rubber band stretched too tight.
They stared at each other. There was a string between them, tying them together and sealed with a kiss. But it was new and strange, marvelous and terrifying all at once.
"You need to eat more." Will blurted out at the same time that Nico said, "Your skin is hot."
Nico felt as if he was flying, usually that would have been a bad feeling, but this was exhilarating.
The door opened and the moment was broken as a tall boy walked in. He had thick reddish hair with strong arms and wide shoulders. Light green eyes and a grin almost as wide as Leo's dominated his face. Except unlike the friendly Latino's smile, this guy's smile looked like it belonged on a shark.
Nico immediately disliked him.
"Hey little bro, Merry Christmas!" The guy hugged Will. They were about the same height and size.
Nico frowned. He distinctly remembered that Will had said that he was an only child. Then he recalled his mother's words. "Be nice to Henry! He is to be your brother in a couple of months!" Ah.
"Merry Christmas, Henry."
Henry turned towards Nico, his smile widening ever so slightly. "And who's this?"
"This is my— Will began until Nico cut him off.
"—friend. Nico di Angelo."
"Pleasure to meet you." He smirked. "I'm Henry, his older stepbrother."
"By 3 weeks. And, it's soon to be stepbrother. The wedding isn't until February." Will corrected.
"Mmmhmm…whatever. Let me go say hi to your mom." Henry stepped out of the room.
Will sighed and reached across to take a cookie off the plate on his desk. He took the last Christmas tree and offered the plate to Nico. He took a ginger bread cookie, and Will winced as the son of Hades bit the smiling cookies head off.
"I can't ever eat the ginger bread ones. The look so happy and cute." Will sighed.
Nico rolled his eyes. Leave it to Will to come up with that one.
"I don't like him." Nico stated bluntly.
Will looked shocked. "The ginger bread man?"
Nico smothered the giggle that threatened to escape. The Ghost King did NOT giggle.
"No…" He swatted him with the pillow that started this whole thing.
Will grinned. "Give him a chance. Maybe he'll surprise you."
"Mmmhmm…" Nico took one of the medical books off his shelf.
IgNoRe-Henry stared into his eyes then slowly whispered "….it's good to be squared, baby."—IgNoRe
Suddenly Will poked his head over the top of the book, grinning a goofy smile.
"What'd you reading about?"
"AIDS."
"How nice."
"Yup."
"You know what? Let's go to the city park. They always put up a huge Christmas tree and the lights are really amazing." His eyes danced with excitement, his smile pulling his lips upward.
"Okay…but um, what about your family?"
"We'll only be gone for a while, and this party will probably last until tomorrow."
"Okay."
Nico allowed himself a small smile.
