Tonight was Nico's last night in the infirmary. Will wasn't sure how he felt about it. Okay. That was a lie. He definitely knew how he felt about it, but he wasn't sure why he felt that way. Okay… Maybe that was a lie too, but he wasn't ready to admit that yet.

Things had gotten pretty deep earlier. Will hadn't meant to get all emotional but he couldn't help it. Nico couldn't keep hating on himself. It actually hurt Will to know that Nico didn't see himself the way that Will saw him. Thankfully it had went okay. He'd figured Nico would storm off angrily and never talk to Will again.

Instead, Nico had stayed outside for about ten minutes. Will had given him space. He needed time to compose himself too. When Nico returned he pretended like nothing had happened. He teased Will for being afraid of spiders and Will laughed. They bickered and fed the patients in the infirmary.

Will had hoped that Nico would open up, but he knew that wouldn't happen. At least not right away. Maybe Nico had been angry with him for talking about personal stuff, but he hadn't shut him out. He was still here. That was a good sign. Maybe, just maybe, Will had gotten Nico to open up just a little bit. Maybe just a little bit of trust had formed between them.

Will made sure Nico ate dinner then he made his rounds to sing hymns for the patients. When he returned to Nico's room around nine o'clock he was surprised to find the other boy asleep. He'd been hoping to talk to him some more. After today Will wouldn't have a non-suspicious excuse to hang around Nico. Not that they'd get to be around each other all that much anyway. They had very different schedules.

He smiled as Nico mumbled in his sleep. Will decided to sing a hymn to his father and hopefully heal any last injuries Nico might have. The werewolf scratches had disappeared completely. As Will sang he saw any last bruises disappear too. Nico was perfectly healthy now, which was good.

"Will," Nico mumbled.

"Yeah?" Will asked, surprised that Nico was awake.

"Your voice sucks." Nico murmured. Will laughed.

"Thanks. This awful voice saved your butt though. Good news for you, after tonight you won't have to hear it anymore, Death Boy." Will said, grinning despite the twinge of sadness he felt.

"I never said I didn't like it. I just said it sucked." Nico mumbled, then he rolled over and fell back asleep.

Will sat in silence for a few minutes and looked at Nico. He was really something special. Then Will smiled. He was definitely starting to really like Nico. Not that he'd ever tell him that.

About an hour after Nico had fallen back asleep he started tossing and turning. Will watched anxiously, but Nico settled back down soon enough. After a while Will relaxed. Maybe Nico wouldn't have a nightmare tonight.

Will had left the room to go to the bathroom and get some tea when he heard a strangled scream come from Nico's room. He ran down the hall and into Nico's room where the other boy was thrashing around in his bed.

"Nico! Nico! It's okay! Shhhh. It's alright!" Will cried. He smoothed the hair out of Nico's face and talked to him until he settled back into a calmer sleep.

Will sat in the chair at the foot of Nico's bed and watched as Nico tossed and turned until finally calming down. Will had just nodded off when Nico yelled his name and sat bold upright in bed.

"Will!" Nico cried, obviously panicked. His eyes were wide and his breathing was ragged.

"I'm right here, Nico. It's okay." Will said. He felt guilty for his heart doing a little flip over Nico waking up saying his name. His friend had obviously just had a horrible nightmare. Will should not feel like smiling.

Nico fumbled his hands across the bed and finally grasped Will's arm in his shaking hands. Will took Nico's hands into his despite his heart racing.

"It's okay, Nico. Deep breaths. It was just a bad dream." Will tried to put all the soothing power he might have in his voice. He was usually pretty good at easing tension and calming people down.

"I… I'm sorry… It was just… Never mind…" Nico mumbled. His chest was still heaving.

Will was disappointed. He kind of thought Nico was going to talk to him, but then he didn't. He was grateful Nico had woken up and thought of him… But still… He must have shown the hurt on his face because Nico's eyes suddenly looked very very sad.

"I… I just can't talk about them…the nightmares… It's just… Tartartus… It isn't you…" Nico stammered.

Will took a deep breath.

"Nico, it's okay. I know it's hard for you to share things and it isn't fair for me to push you to share. Just know I'm here okay? I'll always be here. If you need to talk or if you just want someone to sit with you." Will squeezed Nico's hands gently and Nico closed his eyes for a second and took a few deep breaths.

"Thanks," He mumbled.

"It's what friends are for. Now try to get some more sleep. I'll be right here if you need me." Will said.

Nico laid back down and as he did so he pulled his hands from Will's.

"The camp would have a stroke if they saw you holding my hands." He said quietly. Will chuckled.

"Yeah, really. They're obsessed… They're apparently convinced we're madly in love or something."

"They're dumb." Nico mumbled, closing his eyes.

"Yeah…" Will said, "As if we'd ever date. That's ridiculous…"

"Totally. Completely impossible… We're just friends." Nico said friends slowly as if he was sounding it out for the first time ever.

"Friends?" Will asked. His heart did a little deflated somersault.

"Yeah. Friends." Nico said. Then after a few seconds he added, "You're a good friend, Solace."

"Goodnight Death Boy." Will said, smiling.