"Hey, Will!" Austin calls when Will closes the Apollo cabin door behind him. "New supplies arrived from Olympus." He nudges an Amazon box with his foot and goes back to rummaging in his closet.
Will sighs and picks up the box. "Why is Olympus using the Amazons for delivery?"
Austin steps back, clutching a change of clothes to his chest. He shrugs. "I heard a rumor that Hermes is backed up or temporarily out of business or something. Not sure."
It comes back to him like he's swallowed a brick. Hermes went into hiding along with Asclepius because Zeus's blame shifted to them after Apollo got well. He doesn't envy their position.
"Right," Will says. He grabs a change of clothes for himself and the box of supplies, then heads to the big house. He'd rather shower in the infirmary than wait for the cabin shower to be free, or worse – he suppresses another shudder – to use the communal shower room. What is Apollo thinking, screwing around in public places? His face goes red when he remembers how ready he'd been to jump Nico in the Roman baths. He supposes it's just the 'parents having sex' hang up that bothers him.
The infirmary is thankfully empty. He stashes the box in the supply closet, wanting to get the sweat from his morning run off before he unpacks it, but before closing the door, he spies the stock of safety razors and shaving cream and snags one of each. He has no need to shave his face, but if he's going to look his best for Nico tonight, assuming Nico was able to get their secret shopping done, shaving his legs will make the nylon stockings feel sexier.
XxxX
Half an hour later, he looks over the inventory in the supply closet, and jots down low counts on his clipboard. He's not done a proper inventory check since returning to camp and figures now is as good a time as any. The feel of his freshly-shaven legs under his soft and worn jeans is a special kind of torture. It takes a lot of effort to focus on his task and he doesn't hear people coming into the infirmary until the closet door closes behind him with a bang as one of them is shoves the other up against it.
He's about to shout out that he's in here, before his instincts kick in. He should evaluate the situation for danger before blindly putting himself in the thick of it.
He holds his breath, listening to the muffled voices.
"Oh yeah, baby. We haven't done it in here yet."
Oh gods, it's Apollo. Will slides along the wall to the back of the closet, hitting the lightswitch off with his elbow by accident. He sinks to the floor and hugs his knees, burying his face in them, and wondering what he's done to deserve this torture.
"Mmm, I'm really hungry. Wanna grab me a sandwich and then I'll have you for dessert?"
Zephyros's voice. His teasing lilt seems to have Apollo wrapped around his finger.
"Yeah, I'll grab you one. But before, that …" There are more sounds of kissing and groping. "I want to make a baby with you. I want you to think about it and keep forgetting to mention it."
"You do realize we are both male, Apollo?" Will senses the shock underlying the teasing response.
"Yes, featherbrain. I mean ... " It sounds like Apollo's dry-humping Zephyros against the door. "I love making demigod babies. I want to bring you with me for the next one. Maybe she'll let us do her at the same time?"
Zephyros lets out a shriek of playful laughter, as if Apollo's just hit a hot spot. Will wants to die. He does not need to hear this.
"You are such a devil, babe."
Apollo gives a muffled moan, like he's buried his face in Zephryros's neck. Then his voice sounds out clearly. "If that makes you my angel, I'm alright with it."
Okay, now Will is really ready to die. Is he so in tune with his father that they use the same cheesy lines? Gods, how does Nico tolerate him? His cheeks burn in the dark room and he realizes he's actually glowing from embarrassment. He can see the items on the lower shelves in his own low light.
"Get lost, devil. I'll think about it, but I want that sandwich pronto."
Less than a minute later the door to the supply closet opens and Will looks up, the glow spilling out around him growing brighter.
"Sunbaby!" Zephyros says, grinning crookedly. "I thought it was you I sensed. How's your birthday going so far? In Sparta, you'd be a man today."
Will gets to his feet. He picks up the box of ambrosia and nectar and sets it on a shelf without unpacking it, then leaves the closet. His mind is so far from his birthday, he has trouble understanding the question. "Uh, yeah. Okay," he says. Zephyros raises an eyebrow, he looks only a couple of years older than Will, the same as Apollo; it's disconcerting to think about how they talk so freely about fathering children. "Uh, listen," he says, not quite sure where the words are coming from, but he needs to say them.
Zephyros cocks his head, waiting, unnaturally still.
"If you decide to do –" he swallows, "to go along with his idea. Can you make sure the woman isn't coerced into it. He uh ... He's a great guy, especially for a god, a good dad; but can you help him avoid making bad decisions?" He feels childish and a little foolish for asking, but he feels he should say something if it might prevent what happened to his mom from happening again.
Zephyros smiles like he understands, and unless Will is imagining it, goes a little pink in the face. His wings flutter behind him, sending a warm breeze ruffling through Will's hair. "Ah, you heard that, huh? I will do my best, I can promise that, but you know it would be folly to attempt to control another god's actions."
Will nods. "Right. Well, I'm just gonna –" He gestures vaguely, still a little off-balance.
Zephyros vanishes without a word, and the door to the infirmary opens.
"Hey, Kiddo!" Apollo calls from the doorway. He's holding a plate with a sandwich on it, sweeping the room with his eyes before focusing on Will. "What're you doing in here so early? Breakfast is in the dining pavilion."
"Yeah," Will says, thankful the glow he'd been putting off in the supply closet is gone. "I was just bringing a box of supplies in. I'm heading there now."
Apollo sets the sandwich on the desk and throws his arm around Will's back, gripping his shoulder. "Fifteen years old today. Wow. Happy birthday!"
It's like he's gone back in time, the way the pleasure of receiving Apollo's attention flares up inside him. He doesn't have the energy to push it away or to deny he likes it when his father recognizes him. "Thanks, Dad."
"You uh, didn't see anybody else in here this morning, did you?" He releases Will and smiles broadly, totally failing at playing cool. It's plain as day he's nervous about Will finding out about Zephyros.
Will tries to hide the fact he knows exactly what Apollo's angling for, and Apollo seems to read it in his expression. He scrubs the back of his neck, eyes tight at the corners. "Keep it on the down low, please?"
It's a request. It catches Will by surprise, but he nods his agreement right away. "I wouldn't dream of betraying you."
Apollo flashes him a bright smile. "That's my boy. Go on and eat. I'll catch up in a little while."
XxxX
The day passes in a breeze. Will's siblings do serenade him a little, but nothing like they would have if camp was in full session. They lead the year-round campers in a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday at the campfire that night while Apollo plays the harmonica and Austin beats a hand drum. Nico slips his hand in Will's back pocket and squeezes his ass; it's all he can do to not yelp in surprise.
It isn't long before curfew when Will walks Nico back to his cabin. They stand at the foot of the porch, shrouded in darkness. The rest of camp is in for the night and there's no reason to hide. Will pulls Nico flush with his body, leaning down to touch noses, arms wrapped around each other's waist.
"See you at ten?" Nico asks. The slight hitch in his breath sets of a series of shocks firing through Will's nervous system.
"Yeah," he murmurs, then steals Nico's breath with a kiss.
When they break apart, Will drops his hands to Nico's hips. "You get the … uh … supplies for tonight?"
Nico gives him a push, an impish gleam in his eyes. "Just be ready, birthday boy."
Will watches him climb the stairs, heat spreading across his cheeks like they're on fire. When the door closes behind Nico, he turns back to double check the Apollo campers are all in for the night. He's counting down the minutes until ten o'clock.
XxxX