"It's been three days, hasn't it?" Nico asked Will the next morning after breakfast. "I can finally leave, right?"

Will shook his head, much to Nico's dislike. "You've got to stay the full day. One more day of bed rest. You can leave tomorrow morning after one last check up." Will explained. "Now take your medicine, death boy."

Nico grumbled but he did as he was instructed, wincing as he swallowed the large pill. As much as he complained about being in the infirmary another day, he found that he didn't mind as much as long as Will was around. But much to Nico's dismay, Will was going to be busy with other things today. Demigods had gotten hurt while cleaning up from Gaea. Nico spotted two arms in slings, one demigod with a fever of 103, and three campers with twisted ankles. So while Will was busy going from patient to patient, Nico was left alone to his thoughts.

"You've got a visitor," Will quickly said as he rushed past Nico's bed. Behind him followed none other than Jason Grace himself.

"Hey, Nico."

"Jason? What are you doing here?"

"Will said he was going to be busy today and so I decided to pop in and give you some company." Jason explained. He sat in the chair that had been occupied by Will for the past two days. Nico couldn't place why, but seeing Jason sitting in the chair that Will had been practically living in gave him an unsettling feeling. "Hello? Earth to Nico."

Nico was pulled from his thoughts, not even realizing that his gaze had shifted to Will. "What did you ask?"

Jason didn't say anything, but his blue eyes followed Nico's gaze before settling on the son of Apollo. Jason turned back to Nico, raising a golden eyebrow.

"S-shut up, Grace." Nico spat. "I zoned out."

Jason cracked a small smile. "I wasn't going to say anything. But Will's a good kid. You can trust him."

Nico shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it."

"I could ask him, if you'd like."

"No."

"Fine, fine." Jason held his arms up in defense. "You win. But seriously, how have you been? I've been so busy with trying to get a list of all the gods and goddesses I've barely had time to eat."

Nico explained how he was feeling better and was no longer turning into a shadow. There were a few complaints about Will Solace, how he was being unfair about not letting Nico out until tomorrow morning, insisting that he stay in bed and even waiting outside the bathroom to make sure Nico didn't run off again.

"Hazel and Frank got back to Camp Jupiter by the way. Along with Reyna." Jason said.

"Yeah, I know."

"How? I thought Will wasn't letting you out of his sight?"

"He told me that yesterday."

"And what else has he told you?"

"That's none of your business."

Jason held back a laugh and stood. "It's been good talking to you, Nico. As much as I'd love to stay, I've got to get back to Chiron and Annabeth who's agreed to help me with this little project."

"You're such an idiot for taking on such a huge project. But...also smart too. It's good that all of the other gods get recognized. Not just the Olympians."

"I doubt I'll even finish in my lifetime. Unless the fates let me live until I've got them all built."

"Then you'll probably live until you're 500."

This time Jason did laugh. "Get better, Nico."

Nico watched as Jason left and was left alone yet again.

Will was busy until well after lunch, which Nico had slept through. Will was glad to finally get a break and stopped at the mess hall to pick up lunch. He took back his regular spot in the chair next to Nico's bed and watched him sleep for a few minutes. The kid just looked so peaceful and comfortable sleeping.

Will felt bad about waking him up for lunch, but after hearing Nico's stomach growl, Will would feel guilty if Nico skipped lunch and had to wait for dinner. Nico's eyes fluttered open and his lightly parted lips frowned. "We're you watching me sleep?"

"You sleep like a little baby," Will commented. He pulled out the ham and cheese sandwich and pear out for Nico to eat.

"I thought you would've realized by now that I eat more than this."

"Sorry, death boy, but this is all I managed to grab. I was too busy in here to actually get anything good."

"So you didn't have any lunch?"

"I has some applesauce."

"You're an idiot." Nico rolled his eyes and gave his pear to Will.

Will shook his head. "No, it's yours. You take it."

"I don't want it."

"I got it for you."

"I'm not hungry."

"You just said that you usually eat more than this."

"You have any proof I just said that?"

"I heard you."

"Any witnesses?"

Will ran a hand through his blond hair, but took the pear gratefully. "You're a complex kid, Nico."

"Not really. Ask Jason. Or Reyna."

Jason's name caught his attention. "He was here earlier, right? What did you guys talk about?" Will asked.

"None of your business." Nico replied. He took apart the sandwich and ate one piece of ham at a time.

"Oh, come on sourpuss."

Nico's face reddened. "I'm not telling."

"Fine, don't tell me." Will decided.

They ate lunch in silence. Will was only able to sit for a few minutes before the infirmary began picking up again. Will gave Nico a silent apology before returning back to work. That's how the day continued. Will would get a small break and sit with Nico for a few minutes before having to get up and help another injured demigod. Nico spent more time with himself than with Will. Normally he wouldn't mind, but he was beginning to realize how much he enjoyed being around Will's warm glow. Maybe it was a son of Apollo thing, but he actually felt like he was sitting in the sun on a summer's afternoon whenever Will was around.

Nico was almost upset when Will came around for his final checkup because it meant that he would have to leave soon.

By nightfall, Nico was the only one left in the infirmary besides Will. He liked it better that way. Nico repeated the routine of the night before, feeling nervous about taking off his shirt. But this time he was less hesitant, knowing that Will was doing this because he genuinely cared about Nico's well being...as strange a concept that was.

Will tested his breathing with the icy metal stethoscope again. "Sounds good," Will nodded. "I don't think you're fading anymore."

"Technically, I was turning into a shadow."

"You still need a rest from shadow traveling," Will directed. "For at least a month."

"I suppose I can live with that."

Nico didn't protest as Will turned his body, inspecting his chest and beating heart and blood pressure. All was seemingly normal. The entire time, Nico was extremely aware of Will, more so than in the past. His hand on Nico's shoulder, his fingers brushing against Nico's waist. He tried to act normal, but every movement, every touch, made Nico freeze up.

He hated that Will caught on. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Freezing up every time I touch you."

"I...I don't know what you're talking about." Nico cursed at himself mentally, hating the face that he was like this.

"I thought we were over this already," Will sighed. "I'm not out to hurt you, Nico."

"I know that. I'm not an idiot."

"Then what is it?"

"I can't tell you."

"Nico, stop being such a little kid. Your not four-years-old. Put on your big boy pants and stop acting like there's a problem and then not telling me what the problem is. I can't fix something if I don't know what's wrong."

Nico shook his head. "It's not something you can fix. If I could change...it I would."

"Could you be straightforward for once?"

Nico wanted to be. He wanted to say the word, but found it impossible to speak. Instead he stood there, looking at the ground.

And that's when it clicked for Will. The conversations with Jason. The way Nico acted around other boys, especially himself. The talk he had with Jason when he was getting dinner for Nico made perfect sense now. What had Jason said? "Nico's different from other kids. He looks up to you Will, probably more than anyone. I see the way he looks at you. Take care of him." Will looked at Nico intently. "Why would you want to fix yourself? You're not broken."

And then everything happened at once.

Will looped his fingers through the belt loops on Nico's dark jeans, tugging him forward. He arched his back over, his body wrapping itself around Nico like he had to protect the younger boy. Will's face hovered above Nico's only for a moment before their lips came crashing together. Warmth suddenly spread over Nico's entire body, melting the ice that had come to inhabit him. Will's arms encased Nico's bear back, holding him tight. Nico was momentarily frozen, unsure how to react to Will's sudden advances. After a moment, Nico raised his arms, wrapping them around Will's neck and drew him closer. Nico and Will were messy. Their noses bumped together, they struggled for a breath, and Nico thought for a moment that he had stepped on Will's foot. Nico suddenly realized what was going on. What was really happening.

He pushed Will away and took several steps back to his bed. "What the hell was that, Solace." Nico coughed and glared at him.

"You know exactly what that was."

"I'm not...I can't...no, this isn't right."

"Nico..." Will went to rest a hand on Nico's shoulder, but he quickly pulled away. "This isn't 1940 anymore. Most people don't care."

"But a lot of people still do."

"Well I don't," Will scoffed. "So screw what everyone else thinks."

"I just...I'm not..."

Will shook his head. "Nico, everything's fine. Go as slow as you want. I'll wait for you."

"You don't have to wait for me."

Will stepped forward and Nico stepped back. His back fell onto the bed behind him and Will leaned over. His body almost laying on top of Nico's and his face only inches from the other boy's. Nico held his breath but could feel Will breathing on top of him. Nico wasn't sure what was going to happen next. Was Will going to kiss him again? Stare at him? Nico wasn't sure. Will was more predictable than Percy Jackson.

"Yes," Will finally said after what felt like forever. He lowered his face even more. "I do."