Nico was tired from a day of training and just wanted to sleep. He stumbled into his cabin and found a table set up for a buffet. There was chicken, turkey and beef. There was an abundance of roasted vegetables and a mixture of breads. The smell made Nico realise how hungry he was. His mouth began to water.
Will entered the cabin and gasped. He covered Nico's eyes. He smelt smokey, Nico hoped it was from the food and not something else.
"I go out for one minute." He muttered, "it isn't ready yet, go stand outside."
"Wait, you did this?"
"We can't have you eating that pheasant food now can we? No, only food fit for a king. Now go stand outside."
He turned Nico around and gently pushed him towards the door.
Nico drummed his fingers on his leg. Maybe it was the décor that wasn't ready.
Will came out with a blindfold in his hands. He wrapped it around Nico's eyes gently. Nico coughed.
"Will...why do I..." He trailed off.
"Nico," Will sighed, "don't worry about it."
Nico felt Will pulling him into the cabin. Nico sat down and his blindfold was removed. In front of him was an empty plate and cutlery. There was a cup full of red juice, Nico laughed to himself. Will took his plate.
"What does the king wish to eat?" He asked.
Nico smiled smugly, "a bit of everything."
Will nodded and started to place the food on the plate. Once he was done he gave it to Nico and stood back with his head bowed. Nico glared at him.
"Will, what are you doing?" He snapped.
"I'm standing."
Nico rolled his eyes, "you know what I mean! Come and eat with me."
"I can't." He whispered.
"What? Will stop being stupid. Ghost kings orders, you will eat with me!"
Will relaxed and raised his head. He got a plate and placed food onto it. He sat next to Nico and he ate slowly. There were no words exchanged between them. There was no doubt that Will had changed. After Will's release Nico thought things would have gone back to normal, that he would have had his bright ball of sunshine back. But no. Will had changed and there was no way for him to change back. Nico could tell this by his actions and speech. Will avoided eye contact. He was softly spoken, his voice brittle as if it was a thin sheet of glass that was afraid of being broken by the wind. Nico felt that he was looking into a mirror and he hated it. He needed his dorky little sun, not some dark twisted soul that he no longer knew. He knew Will was trying but it wasn't enough. Will could had put up a bigger fight.
Will raised his head as if he had a moment of sudden realisation.
Will placed his hand on Nico's. Will smiled. It was a smile of old. Nico's stomach filled with tiny butterflies. His dorky sunshine was back.
Will stood up and motioned for Nico to follow. Will picked up his stolen leather jacket and slipped it on. They left the cabin and went for a walk. Will stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Will, where are we going?" Nico asked quietly.
Will ignored the question.
They stopped walking. They were at the back of the kitchen, where the waste bins were. Will took his hands out of his pockets and handed a box to Nico. It was the cigarette box. Nico began to play with the box out of fascination.
"There are eight left." Will said.
"And?"
"I don't need them."
Nico made the connection and his face lit up.
"Let's get rid of them." Nico said.
They threw the box into the waste bin. Nico raised a hand for a high-five. Their hands made a loud echoing clap. They laughed.
"Well done, Solace."
They started to walk back to Nico's cabin. Will turned to Nico.
"Can we start from square one?" He asked softly. Will stuck out his hand, "Hi, my name Will Solace."
Nico's eyes darted between Wills hand and his face. Everything that Will had done to him flashed before him, but then he remembered everything that he had done for him. Nico knew Will meant for the best, he knew he was trying. He slowly accepted it and stuck out his hand as well. Their hands shook up and down. Both of their stomachs filled with butterflies.
"Hello there Will Solace. I'm Nico." He paused then grinned, "Last names come at square two."