It's been a while, guys. Thank you for everything, honestly. This story has way more recognition than I could have ever hoped for. You have given me the confidence to write many more works after this one. Thanks!

Will snuck out at the crack of dawn, his heart pumping. His hair was a mess, he had drool on his face, and his next shift started in only a few hours. Wonderful, he thought to himself. Not to mention, Nico had most likely caught him in the act. He wasn't one to sleep the whole night, and the blanket messily draped over Will most likely wasn't a coincidence. He smiled at the thought that Nico didn't summon all of the spirits of the underworld to expel him from the room. He was probably too weak to do that anyways, but it was the thought that counted.

Even though his face was smushed against the leg of a bed the whole night, he had actually felt as if he had a full night of sleep for the first time in...well, since Nico showed up at the infirmary. Will paced down the hall, slipping into a bathroom. Shutting the door behind him, he turned turned on the sink faucet. He watched the water flow down the drain for a moment before splashing it on his face. The water was cool and refreshing, sending shivers down his spine. Just what he needed to wake up.

Will switched off the faucet and shook any excess droplets off the tips of his curling hair. He stared at the mirror for a moment. He noted the dark circles under his eyes and the overall look of fake togetherness. Closing his eyes for a moment, he hoped this wasn't the Will that Nico saw. His smile was meant to deceive. It covered the fact that underneath, he was a just a tired, worn down kid. He knew he didn't have much to complain about; there were so many other demigods that had it infinitely worse than him. Which is why he never brought it up. If those demigods could survive tragedy after tragedy and still wear a smile, then he had no right to feel self pity.

Will shook his head. How easy it was for him to get lost in his own thought. He shook his freckles hands three times, spraying water droplets onto the walls. He pulled on a smile, trotting down the hallway. If he could get ready before any other campers, then he would be the first in line for what he loved most: food. His stomach growled impatiently at the thought; after falling asleep by Nico's he had missed dinner. Not that he regretted it of course.

"Hey," a voice said, interrupting his train of thought.

Will skid to a stop. He cautiously turned his head. Behind him, the door of Nico's room was cracked open a bit, even though Will was 90 percent sure he had shut it all the way. "Nico?"

Before he could receive an answer, someone fell onto the door, swinging it open all the way. "Nico? What the hell!" Will both screamed and whispered.

Nico began picking himself off the floor, smacking away Will's hand. "I feel fine," he assured him.

Will shook his head rapidly. "No no no no no," he rambled, pulling Nico up against his will. "No. You're obviously still sick. This isn't—"

"I've been stuck in there for days, Solace. Just let me go for a walk or something, or at least give me some other place to think. I'll come back later I promise."

Will shook his head. "No. I'm sorry, but no. I don't want you wearing yourself out. You're already in bad shape."

Nico snatched his arm away from Will. "I don't give a shit. I can't sleep, so I'm gonna go outside, and think. See ya". Nico stumbled to the ground as he attempted to walk away. He muttered curses under his breath, pushing himself up shakily.

"You can't even walk!" Will exclaimed, his as outstretched.

"Then carry me, dammit!"

Silence. Both of them stayed unblinking, Nico's eyes filled with horror and regret, Will's filled with disbelief.

"...Is that," Will breathed, "...a challenge?"

Nico's eyes were huge. "No. No way, Solace! Don't even—" His voice cut off as he was swept off the ground.

Will sprinted down the halls with the dark, squeamish demigod in his arms. Nico hissed threats as they wound through the dull halls. Nico batted at his face helplessly. "Will! I swear to the gods, Will, put me down!"

Will just laughed. "Gods, you're hard to carry!"

"Then don't carry me!" Nico squealed, his voice higher than he had intended.

Will had no intent to drop him. They rushed passed countless check-up rooms at an alarming speed, Nico too terrified to escape at this point. Will was glad that no one was bustling around at this hour. Even with exhaustion weighing down his shoulders, his feet flew across the floor effortlessly. Nico cursed incoherently in Italian, his whole body bobbing up and down with each rapid step. Will had to focus like never before in order to not trip and send them both tumbling. A laugh escaped his lips.

Will pushed the front door of the infirmary open, tumbling onto the grass. Nico rolled onto the lawn, his eyes wide. He threw a half-hearted punch at Will's arm. "What the hell was that?!" he panted.

"Will lay on his back, unable to suppress his grin. "You challenged me to carry you, and I did," he answered, as if it were as simple as that.

Nico placed his hand on his heart, panting. "You could have killed me! And I don't like being touched! What happened to keeping me in my room to heal?"

Will rolled onto his stomach, facing Nico. "Well, I had a sudden change of heart. It's not like you're injured, so no harm done. Besides," he said, closing his eyes, "you wanted out, right? Here we are."

Nico opened his mouth, then closed it, realising this wasn't an argument he wouldn't win. He lowered himself onto the grass. The sun sat low on the horizon, slowly but surely rising. Trees rustled and birds sung quietly all around them. Everything was soaked in the sky's orange glow.

Will questioned his reckless decision as the silence between them remained. "I can take you back, you know. I won't-"

"No," Nico interrupted quietly. He turned to Will, his expression blank. The rising sun cast shadows on his hollow cheeks and dark eyes. Guilt washed through Will, cool and unpleasant. But then…

Nico smiled. It was small, it was peaceful, and to most other people, it would be insignificant. But to Will, it was radiant, sending waves of warmth through him. Nico turned back the the sun. "You know," he spoke softly, "I haven't seen the sun rise in while."

The wind softly tousled their hair as they sat in sweet awe. Will looked up at the sky. Will was always up this early. He always had time to witness the sunrise, but never took the time to. After all, how could something that happened every day be life changing? Will let his blond eyelashes flutter close

"Thank you," he said, his words almost carried by the wind. "Thank you, Nico DiAngelo."