Light and Darkness
A/N: Wow, ten chapters already. Time flies when you're writing fanfiction. Well, here's to ten more! At least I hope.
"I'm worried about Leo," Nico told Will a week later. He sat in a chair in the infirmary watching his boyfriend work. There had been a mild scuffle between some campers from the Ares and Nemesis cabins earlier that morning. There hadn't been any serious injuries other than a few sprained wrists and mild cuts, but they still needed to be healed. Will listened as made his way around the room, healing the various campers' injuries. "There's something off about him."
"I've noticed it too," Will walked over to his boyfriend as he finished his rounds. He placed his hand on top on Nico's. A shiver went down the son of Hades' back as their hands touched. Even after a few months of dating, Nico still got those skeletal butterflies in his stomach whenever his boyfriend was around. "He's readjusting to life back at camp. I bet in a few weeks, he'll be right back to the same old Leo that we know and love." The son of Apollo leaned in and kissed the younger boy gently.
"Oh my gods!" Leo stood in the doorway gaping at the two demigods. A mischievous smile spanned the son of Hephaestus's face. Immediately, a blush came over Nico and Will's faces as Leo began to sing. "Nico and Will sitting in a tree—"
"Shut up," Nico silenced Leo with his signature death glare. "Or gods help me Leo, I swear…" Nico didn't have to finish his threat in order for Leo to understand what he meant.
"I just came here to talk to you," Leo told the son of Hades. His eyes twinkled as he smiled widely. "But the opportunity for teasing was too good to pass up." Leo opened his mouth to start singing again, but Nico threw a pillow at him. Leo dodged the pillow deftly, almost crashing into one of the other medics.
"Do you want to talk or not Valdez?" Nico crossed his arms.
"Yes," Leo said quickly. "But can we talk outside?" Nico nodded and followed the son of Hephaestus out of the infirmary. It was a warm June day, the temperature already in the nineties. A bead of sweat pooled on Nico's forehead and he quickly wiped it away before it could roll down his face. They walked a little farther down to the beach, gazing out to the ocean.
"So," Nico turned, folding his arms against his chest. "What's up?"
"Why have you been stalking me lately?" Leo asked bluntly. Nico blushed— he hadn't thought that Leo had noticed him. Since he had landed in back into their lives, Nico had secretly been keeping his eye on the son of Hephaestus.
"I was… worried about you."
"I'm fine if you haven't noticed?" Leo fumed. His left hand burst into flames. "What's with everyone treating me like I'm fragile? And Piper has been hovering around me like a mother hen—"
"You died," Nico said sharply. "Leo. Jason told me that Piper refused to come out of her cabin for three days after the battle. He said that she didn't eat or sleep, just cried. So, give her a break. She missed you."
Leo went silent.
"I guess I didn't think about that," the son of Hephaestus said eventually. "I should go apologize, shouldn't I?"
"Yes," Nico nodded. "Last I saw her was this morning at breakfast. She's probably with Jason now."
"Right thanks," Leo started to walk toward Cabin 1. He only took a few steps before he stopped suddenly. Looking over his shoulder, he called back to Nico. "So you and Will, huh?" He had that same teasing gleam in his eyes.
"Shut up Leo," Nico glowered.
"I'm rooting for you guys," Leo grinned at the sullen son of Hades. He walked away, not noticing the confused look on Nico's face.
Nico shook his head and turned back toward the infirmary. Will greeted him at the door, rocking from foot to foot impatiently. Nico noticed that he had changed out of his green surgeon's shirt for an orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt. The locket that Nico had given him for Christmas hung around his neck on a leather chain in between four beads.
"Hey," Nico said as he approached his boyfriend. "Did you finish your shift?"
"Yeah," Will smiled and took Nico's outstretched hand. "Austin offered to cover the rest of it so we could go on a date."
"Where at?" Nico questioned.
"You'll see," Will said. The two demigods walked hand-in-hand until they reached Cabin One. Will cautiously opened the door, checking to see if anyone was in there before motioning Nico inside. Will followed, shutting the door behind them.
"What are we doing in here?" Even though no one else was around, Nico still whispered. The giant Hippie Zeus statue glowed in the dim light.
"Jason told me about this secret spot in his cabin," Will pointed to one of the marble columns that framed the circular chamber. On the back, almost hidden against the wall, iron rungs of a ladder led upward. "He told me that we could use it whenever we like. At least as long as he and Piper aren't up there."
As Will began to ascend, Nico looked behind him one last time before following. At the top, Will pushed open a small trapdoor.
They came out on a flat ledge on the side of the domed roof of the cabin. They faced north, so they could see all of the Long Island Sound. It spanned the whole horizon, taking Nico's breath away. The sun was just starting to set, causing the sky to turn a soft mix of blue, purple, and pink. At this height nobody below would be able to see them. Not even the patrol harpies flew this high.
"Amazing," Nico was at a loss of words.
"I know right," Will agreed. He sat down in front of the window. Nico went and snuggled next his boyfriend feeling very content. Will wrapped an arm around the son of Hades pulling him closer. "I don't know how it could get much better than this."
"I do," Nico smiled knowingly. He leaned in and pressed his lips to Will's. The son of Apollo responded in kind, bunching Nico shirt in his hands. They broke apart a few minutes later, breathless.
"Do you remember the first sunset we watched together?" Will asked as they both turned to face the window. They snuggled together again, Nico leaning on Will's shoulder.
"How could I forget? That was right before you confessed that you had feelings for me."
"As I recall," Will pressed his lips to the top of Nico's head. "Those feelings weren't exactly one-sided."
"They still aren't Sunshine," Nico smiled. He kissed Will again. "I love you."
"Love you too Death Boy."
And in that moment, life was perfect.
A/N: I'm planning on jumping in time after the next chapter (eleven) so I can do future events. In the current time frame there isn't much left that want to write about. Here's an outline of what I think I'm going to do—
Chapter Eleven: Not For Forever
Chapter Twelve: Apartment Hunting
Chapter Thirteen: Frank & Hazel Wedding
Chapter Fourteen: Nico & Will Wedding
Chapter Fifteen: Honeymoon
Chapter Sixteen: Kids?
Chapter Seventeen: Parents To Be
Chapter Eighteen: Happily Ever After
Unless I get specific requests for chapters, this is a rough estimate of what's coming up next. Okay? Reviews would be greatly appreciated. And please, don't just write a simple 'update soon'. Give me your honest opinion. What did you like? What did you hate? I want to know it all. Please?
~ ValkyrieDefender