Nico frowned at Will. "I thought you couldn't shoot a bow!" he said.

Will grinned. "Well, it turns out a crossbow is different."

"Wait," Nico replied "when did you find out you could use it this well?"

"When I went to patch up those Roman demigods after their death-ball game. They asked how good I was with a bow while I patched them up, so I told them I was bad. Then one of them told me it was the same for him, but that he was really good with a crossbow instead. So I decided, what's the harm in trying. So I did. And I hit every single target!"

Nico nodded, then raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were just a healer though."

Will blushed. "I forgot, ok!"

Nico rolled his eyes, but half-smiled at him. Suddenly, Harley barrelled out of the workshop in a frenzy. "Will," he cried "you used the crossbow!"

Will burst out laughing. "Sure did, buddy! How did you know?"

"I heard it." He grinned. He started asking how it was, what had happened and if the bow had worked properly. Will started explaining, desperately trying to calm Harley down, who had grabbed the bow and was inspecting it vigorously.

Nico walked to where the arrow had fallen and tossed it over Harley's head to Will, who caught it without taking his eyes off of Harley, but grinned as he looked down at it.

Nico walked up to them. "It's more of a matchstick really."

"Whatever, Lord of darkness," Will retorted. "It's enough to disarm you!"

Nico turned and skulked off.

"Wait! Nico! I didn't mean it like that!" Will yelled after him.

Nico turned back, before dropping into one of the shadows formed by the forest.

"Nico!" Will shouted, "No shadow travelling!"

Nico didn't reappear. Will sighed. Harley looked on, appearing worried. Even someone as young as him could understand what was happening.

"Are you ok Will?" He asked softly. Will grimaced and nodded, not saying anything. "Is there anything I can do?" Harley continued. Will gazed into the distance.

"Sorry Harley, us organic life forms are much more complicated than your machines." Will whispered. "I just wish he wasn't so reclusive around other people. When we're alone he's so different. It's like he's afraid to be open about his feelings." He sighed heavily. "I just wish he'd show affection around everyone else."

Kayla pushes his shoulder playfully. "I thought you liked the dark, brooding type."

Will sighed. "It's not that. He just acts as if he doesn't care about me at all when other people are around."

"That's ridiculous!" Kayla scoffed. "You changed his whole life. He was at the bottom, and you guided him to the top. He cares so much, probably more than you'll ever know."

"Still," Will muttered, "a little affection wouldn't hurt."

And Nico, who was concealed in the woods behind them, wept silently. He had never known. But he promised that he would indeed show more affection from then onwards.

Later that day, at the campfire, Will was sat near the front. He sat silently, waiting for Chiron to finish speaking. He had a small statement, regarding the injury that day. However, that wasn't what was on his mind. He was thinking about Nico. It wasn't uncommon for Nico to be late to the campfire, or, for that matter, anything. But Will hadn't seen him since he had stormed of earlier that day. To put it simply: he was worried.

Chiron turned to Will, who was still deep in thought. "Will!" He jumped, ripped from his thoughts. The other campers laughed.

"I'm sorry." he said, and stood up. He cleared his throat, and was about to start, when he saw Nico walking towards the campfire.

He grinned. "Nico!" he cried, "I was worried about you! Are you ok? I haven't see you all day!"

Nico kept walking.

"Nico? You-you are alright?" Will began to get nervous.

Nico kept walking, getting closer, closer, closer. The neutral expression on his face intimidating at best.

"Nico!" Will cried, starting to get seriously worried about his boyfriend now. Only when they were 2 steps apart from each other, did Nico stop. The look of fear and concern on Will's face almost made him waver, but, no, he had to do this.

Nico took a deep breath, before closing the small gap between them, reaching forward, grabbing the back of Will's neck, and kissing him. In front of the whole camp. Will's eyes widened. He stiffened, as Nico pulled him closer, and tangled his fingers into his hair. Will still didn't move. Nico pulled away and tilted his head in confusion.

"Isn't this what you wanted?" he whispered, his voice husky from the kiss.

Suddenly, the campfire shot 5 feet higher in the air, and began burning a brilliant purple colour as all of the campers started whispering.

"I-I-I what?" Will stammered.

Nico grinned sheepishly. "What are you asking me?" When Will didn't speak, he laughed nervously.

Will managed to ask if Nico had heard his earlier conversation. Nico replied, saying that he had.

Will's heart felt like it was expanding, pressing against his ribs. "Nico," he said, "thank you!"

"For what?"

"For showing that you care!" There were tears forming in Will's eyes.

"No," Nico said, his voice cracking,"don't cry, because then I cry and I don't want to cry, not tonight."

Will sniffed and buried his head in Nico's shoulder. Nico pulled him towards his chest and stroked his hair. As he looked around the amphitheatre, he saw lots of campers giving him the thumbs up. They all smiled, supporting him, encouraging him.

Will pulled away, and Nico wiped away his tears. "So," Nico grinned," you want to go for a walk tonight?"

Will barely concealed his excitement. "Aren't the wood dangerous at night."

"Not when you're with me." Nico grinned, "but I was thinking the strawberry field actually. There something I want to show you."

Will nodded, and they ran off into the darkness.

"Hey," Chiron yelled,"Will, your report!"

No one replied.

Oh, hey there! XD Starting from next week, I'll be uploading on Tuesdays. I'm also going to try to write longer chapters at a time. Oh, and feel free to suggest any thing you would like addressed, or to request any characters you'd like to see. And finally, any mistakes I make (I know there are probably so many of them) feel free to point them out! OK, see you next Tuesday!