The Plea of Apollo (& many Solangelo one-shots) Chapter 35: Shooting Stars and Embers, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

Shooting Stars and Embers

The mood of the night was somber. It was the night of last campfire of the summer, and while many of the older campers would stay at camp throughout the year, several demigods would be leaving within the next few days to try for a normal year of schooling. Despite many of them probably only lasting a few months before a monster attack forced them to come back, there was nothing they could do but try. Some were also leaving to go to school in New Rome.

One of the people leaving was Will Solace. It was hard for Nico to think his own personal sun would be leaving in just two days. The thought of him not being there to greet him every morning, talk his ear off about various things, smile that bright smile of his, and just be there next to him what heart wrenching. He knew Will wasn't leaving forever, yet…

"Nico?"

The dark-haired demigod glanced up from his bed to see Piper enter the cabin followed by Annabeth, Calypso, and Lou Ellen. The four girls had been spending some of their time together lately, most likely gossiping about their boyfriends.

"Yeah?" Nico didn't move from where he lied propped up against the back of his bed. It was almost time for the campfire, and while he was supposed to meet Will there in ten minutes he couldn't bring himself to leave his bed.

The girls settled themselves on the edges of his bed, two sitting on either side of him and gazing at him curiously.

"Aren't you going to the campfire?" Lou Ellen asked. "Will said something about you two sitting together and him singing you a song. Aren't you excited?"

Nico didn't meet her eyes. Instead he grabbed part of his blanket, studying the cloth to find what the pattern of pictures was. "I am."

Annabeth frowned. "Then why do you seem so sad?"

"Will's leaving in two days."

"Oh," she breathed. "I'm sure it won't be too long until you see him. He'll visit on breaks I'm sure, and you could always shadow travel to see him on weekends."

Nico groaned. "I know that, which is why I'm frustrated with myself for being so depressed about him leaving. It's not like he isn't coming back…"

Piper put a hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at her. The sad look in his eyes was enough to make her tear up. "Are you afraid something is going to happen to him while he's away? Is that it?"

"I…" He couldn't speak. His throat closed up as he thought of every possible monster that could attack his boyfriend while he was outside the safety of camp. "He isn't a fighter, Piper. I'm worried because if a monster attacks him the worst he can do is whistle. I helped him become a better archer, but what if it's not good enough? If something were to happen to him…" Like what happened to Bianca.

Calypso smiled at the son of Hades. While she wasn't very close to the boy, only beginning to get to know him during the last couple weeks, the ex-goddess understood him.

"I think you should talk to Will. Let him know you're worried, and he'll reassure you that he'll be fine."

"Yeah," Lou Ellen added. "This isn't his first year leaving camp to go home. From what he's told me over the time I've known him, he usually doesn't have much monster trouble. Hearing this from him will help you be at ease."

Nico nodded, gratitude on his face. "Thank you."

"No problem," the girls said with matching smiles. Together the five of them left the cabin, walking to the amphitheater together where their boyfriends were waiting.

It seemed Will must have known had badly his departure was affecting Nico. The blond cracked jokes, made s'mores, and shared his affection with the son of Hades even more than normal that night. When singing became open to volunteers, Will was the first one to take advantage of it. After joining the rest of his cabin, whom were armed with instruments, Will waited for them to begin a melody before starting the song.

"Close your tired eyes, relax, and then count from one to ten, and open them. All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down," he glanced at Nico, "but not this time. Way up in the air you're finally free," he pictured them driving in the sun car and smiled, "and you can stay up there, right next to me. All this gravity will try to pull you down, but not this time."

Nico listened closely to every line, paying no attention to the looks and whispers being thrown at him. The song was obviously directed at the son of Hades, and Nico was focused one person only because of this.

"When the sun goes down and the lights burn out then it's time for you to shine," he sang passionately, "brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it's time for you to shine, brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are... tonight. Woah, woah, woah. Brighter than a shooting star, shine no matter where you are... tonight."

"Hey," Cecil poked him from behind. Nico was going to tell him to not bother him when all of a sudden a photo was shoved into his hands. It was of him and Will cuddling each other during the second night on the cruise. They both looked completely at peace. Happy.

Nico was not angry like Cecil had thought he'd be. "When did you…?"

"I woke up in the middle of the night and snapped it with a camera I had acquired. You're not mad?"

"No," he said quietly. He loved it. "Thank you."

Cecil gave him a sad smile. He knew his friend was upset about Will leaving. "No problem, di Angelo."

"Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts," he did just that, "and fan the flame so hot it melts our hearts. Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out, but not this time. Let your colors burn and brightly burst into a million sparks that all disperse, and illuminate a world that will try to bring you down, but not this time."

The flames of the campfire reacted as if listening to Will's words. They grew, burning brighter and hotter than they had been the previous hour or two since the campfire began. It was a beautiful sight, and people listening to the song could feel the kinship on the air.

"When the sun goes down and the lights burn out then it's time for you to shine, brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are. Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light 'cause it's time for you to shine, brighter than a shooting star, so shine no matter where you are... tonight. Woah, woah, woah. Brighter than a shooting star, shine no matter where you are... tonight."

"A thousand heartbeats beat in time and makes this dark planet come alive, so when the lights flicker out tonight, you gotta shine…"

It was then the son of Apollo actually began glowing, his entire form shining as he directed a large smile at Nico di Angelo.

The amphitheater burst into applause as soon as he finished. Will Solace bowed gracefully, his face stretched into a proud smile as he walked back over to the open space next by his partner.

"Will," Nico spoke in awe, "that was amazing!"

The blond shook his head. "I bet you could sing it better."

"No, although I know another song by that group…" Suddenly Nico gulped, but raised his hand when Chiron asked who would like to sing next. Everyone watching was surprised to see him volunteer. The son of Hades singing? The idea was preposterous, and yet...

He walked over to where the Apollo cabin, whispering something to Kayla before she smiled brightly and quickly told the rest of the musicians what they were playing. Nico was handed a guitar moments later, taking it gratefully before sitting next to the other musically gifted demigods.

"Since when could he play guitar?" Percy whispered to Leo.

Leo shrugged. "Dude, I barely know anything about him. I doubt Will even knew."

The son of Apollo turned to them, his mouth open wide as his siblings and boyfriend began playing. "I didn't! How could he keep this a secret?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "Either because he wanted to surprise you or because he knows you would constantly beg him to play for you."

"There were days," Nico's quiet voice began, silencing those who were talking, "when each hour was a war I fought to survive. There were nights full of nightmares,"memories of Bianca's death and Tartarus flashed through his mind, "and I dreaded closing my eyes. There were skies that burst open with a downpour to drown me alive," he remembered the explosion the onagers created, "but the world took a spark like a match in the dark and the fire brought me to life."

"So I'm fanning the flames to climb so high, 'cause there's no other way we can stay alive." His voice rose in volume. "'Cause were burning bright as we all unite, and when it's all said and done we'll shine like the sun so don't let the fire die. And we'll watch the sky as it fills with light. And though the embers are new, whatever you do just don't let the fire die."

As he sang and campers stared in awe, Will couldn't help but be thankful how glad he was to have him. Despite everything that had happened to him, Nico somehow managed to overcome everything the gods threw at him. Will Solace was so very much in love with Nico di Angelo.

"And you'll find there'll be morning," Nico continued, "when the ashes and embers are cold, but you'll fight with a passion and you'll never stop 'cause you know."The fight against Python came to his mind. "Yeah you know it gets better, and your story is yet to be told. Every push, every shove, every war, every love, yeah the coals are beginning to glow." He met Will's gaze. "So I'm fanning the flames to climb so high, 'cause there's no other way we can stay alive."

His eyes rose to the sky. "'Cause we're burning bright as we all unite, and when it's all said and done we'll shine like the sun so don't let the fire die. And we'll watch the sky as it fills with light. And though the embers are new, whatever you do just don't let the fire die." Nico's eyes fell shut. "Don't let the fire die. It gets better Just don't let the fire die, no…"

"'Cause were burning bright as we all unite," he sung loudly, "and when it's all said and done we'll shine like the sun so don't let the fire die! And we'll watch the sky as it fills with light, and though the embers are new, whatever you do just don't let the fire die!"

A smile graced his face as he stared straight at Will. "And though the embers are new, whatever you do just don't let the fire die… Don't let the fire die."

"I won't," Will mouthed. "Trust me."

Nico mouthed back to him. "I do."

AN: I do not own the songs used (Shooting Stars and Embers); Owl City does.