Author's Note (AN): Sorry for the BOLD CAPS LOCK, but I found it was the only way to convey the intensity of Nico's scream and the sorrow and rage that lies in it.

Disclaimer: Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and all characters and quotes from it are the property of Rick Riordan, the king of cliffhangers.


Nico

"Wake up, Death Boy! It's breakfast time." Nico opened his eyes. "Don't call me Death Boy, Mr. Sunshine" he said, but only half-hearted. A part of him enjoyed Will saying these words, and he was angry about that. Why didn't the skeletal butterflies in his stomach bend to his will, like any other skeleton did? Reluctantly he left his bed.

"All right, are you ready for check up?" Nico rolled his eyes, but meekly put off his shirt when Will told him to. Will's eyes widened when he saw the scars Lycaon had left. "Good god, Nico, that must hurt like hell!" he said. "I can handle it" replied Nico, more rude than he intended. "No you can't. You obviously didn't turn into a werewolf, but I have to treat these wounds. Beware, this will hurt."

Nico clenched his fists. It indeed burned when Will treated the wounds, but finally he was done. "Can I go now?" he asked. He got the answer he expected. "You still owe me one and a half day of rest. By now, you'll go have breakfast. And I'll see if you don't eat enough, so be sensible and don't act as if we'd had to ration the food. I mean look at you, you are literally starving! Son of Hades or not, it'd be a shame, if you'd turn yourself into a skeleton, just because you don't watch your health."

Now Nico's rage forged ahead. "WHY DO YOU EVEN CARE?" he screamed. "CAN'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE? JUST IGNORE MELIKE EVERYBODYELSE DOES!" Will looked stunned. For a second, it seemed he was about to say something, then he silently pointed at the door. "Go" he finally managed to say.

Nico ran into his cabin, launched himself onto the bed, and began to cry.

Will

Will felt like Nico would've announced his impending death. Or even worse. He silently sobbed, while he mechanically trimmed bandages and prepared medicine for the rest of his patients. He should have known. Nico didn't want anybody around him. He didn't feel anything for him, he was just annoyed by Will's presence.

What did he expect? Nico had been born and raised in the 40s, and era of homophobia. If he'd confess his feelings to him, he'd probably turn his face away in disgust. On top of that, everybody would laugh at him.

He sighed. Maybe it was time to get some professional advice.