This is a short update. Only so I can let this story go.
Nico wasn't sure how much time passed. He lay in bed for what felt like days. He spent most of it trying to convince himself he'd be fine. No matter what world he emerged in. As if he could go into the cabin as someone that was falling for Will Solace and come out as someone that is fine living in a world where Drew and Will are together.
It wasn't going well.
He sniffled and buried his head in the pillow again. He thought of shadow-travelling somewhere far, far away and never coming back to Camp Half-blood. He was so tired, though. Tired of running away and tired of being tired. He thought he could make roots here. There was also a small part of him that worried he wouldn't be able to handle leaving again.
So, he was at a stalemate. And whilst he deliberated on what to do, he would stay in his dark cabin all alone.
He felt like a fool for believing he could have someone like Will. Someone so full of sunshine he could chase the shadows away. Gods know he needed someone to do it.
Thinking about Will was not helping him move one, though he knew moving on in a matter of days was near impossible.
Sometimes he could hear people trying to get through to him. Jason and Piper were the most common voices. One he heard the sound of people trying to break through the cage of bones, but they were pushed back by the earth.
He felt alone. He thought he could handle being alone. He used to be able to handle it. Now he wanted the warmth of other people's company.
He was screwed.
He used to be good at being alone. Now it was just lonely.
Days later – maybe – a voice finally got through to him.
"Nico? Please you're worrying a lot of people."
It hadn't been long since he'd seen Reyna, but he'd missed her. Her voice wasn't one someone ignored.
"Let me in, please. Just to talk. I'm not going to make you do anything."
Nico's heart ached again, and he pulled back the bones enough to let her get to the door. She gently came in and the bones got thrown back into position immediately.
"Oh, Nico," she whispered. She came up to where he was laying and brushed his hair out of his eyes. "What's wrong? Please talk to me."
Nico tried not to cry. "It's stupid."
"It can be stupid and still hurt you."
"I thought he liked me. But he doesn't. He likes her," Nico's voice was hoarse from the days of only crying.
"Piper told me some of what happened before, but I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. Why don't you come out of here, speak to your friends. You don't need to speak to Will."
"I don't want to, yet. Can you just sit with me?" Nice whispered.
"Of course. I'll stay until dinner."
And she did. They sat and spoke quietly together, Reyna doing nothing but try keep him company.
Dinner came too quickly in Nico's opinion. However, he didn't want to keep her from eating – knowing she must be hungry after her journey.
So, he was left in silence. Or would have been.
"Nico? Please let me in. I need to explain something. Just for a minute. Please."
Nico never thought he'd hear Will sounding so distraught. It tugged at his heart, and he cursed himself for being weak enough to let him.
Slowly the bone cage retracted. Nico got up to open the door and found Will standing there looking very tired. He was holding a single red rose.
"Um, hi," Nico said softly. "Come in."
The cabin was dark, only lit by a lamp he had put on earlier when Reyna came in. They sat side by side on his bed.
"Well, uh, first, this is for you," Will said, handing Nico the rose. Nico was scared he wouldn't be able to handle this if Will was here to let him down. He took the rose anyway.
"Thank you," Nico whispered.
"I think we had a little misunderstanding. I think you saw something that maybe looked worse than it was."
"I think what I saw was pretty clear," Nico couldn't help but mutter in reply.
"Actually, I don't think it is. The thing is, that night I was doing the closing checks and was the last to leave. Drew was waiting for me when I left. She stopped me and told me she really liked me. Then she kissed me."
Nico felt teary again. He had been trying so hard not to think about it. He tried not to sniffle loudly but was unable to hide it. He tried not to jump when he felt Will take his hand.
"No, listen, Nico. She kissed me. I didn't kiss her. In fact, she didn't give me time to respond otherwise I would have told her I wasn't interested in her like that. That I was rather infatuated with a certain son of Hades."
Nico stopped breathing. What? This didn't make any sense. Nothing did.
"I really like you, Nico. I hate that you saw that, but I hate even more that it made you upset. I've been trying to work up the courage for ages to confess to you, but you always seemed so distant. But that night, when I saw you with those flowers, I thought maybe I'd lost my chance forever. Please tell me I haven't lost my chance."
Nico tried to process everything as quickly as he could. He squeezed Will's hand as if it would make everything make sense to him.
"So, you don't like Drew?"
"No! And I'm rather upset she kissed me without asking. Nico, I really like you. I'd like to take you on dates and hold your hand and kiss you and make everyone jealous that we're so in love. I just, really like you."
Nico wiped his eyes. "I really like you, too."
For the first time in days, he smiled.
"I thought you didn't like me, that I'd got the wrong message," Nico explained.
"I'm sorry, Nico. I do like you, though. Even though I'm upset that you let your powers overwork again. I was so worried! At least you're okay now."
"I am okay now," Nico said, looking at Will for the first time. The boy was smiling so bright it could've lit up the entire cabin. It filled Nico with a warmth that he would crave the rest of his life. He wasn't alone anymore. He would leave the cabin and be surrounded by his friends and wouldn't have the ache in his chest anymore.
"Nico," Will said, seeming to be working up to saying something. "May I kiss you?"
Nico's eyes widened in shock and his cheeks turned red, matching Will's growing blush.
"Yes."