Prompt: Or more ou Soulmates!AU, maybe with the "everyone see in black-and-white and just start seeing colors when they touch their soulmate"
Nico stared down at the canoe lake, its grey surface rippling as the fish gulped down insects that dared go too close.
"Damn it."
Why couldn't the universe treat him somewhat nicely.
He'd kinda (really) hoped Will would turn out to be his soulmate, but when he'd finally touched him nothing had happened - no fireworks no spur of colours, no nothing. Will had actually told him later -unrelated to whatever feelings Nico had about him - that he'd seen colour after he'd touched Jake Mason (which had only broken Nico's heart a little bit). He should have seen this coming anyway, right? It wasn't like anything good ever happened to him.
Nico picked up a rock and chucked it out into the lake. "Stupid, lake, stupid camp, stupid grey!"
Grey was everything. Black he could at least tell apart from other colours so black clothes became his comfort zone. His sword was black too, as well as his hair, so he might as well just stick to it. The lake he knew was 'blue' as the sky and roses were 'red' as his blood. It didn't matter to him. He couldn't see the colours, so he didn't feel like he was missing out.
Frowning, he stood up and skulked back to his cabin. The interior was dark as always, illuminated only by a personal lamp he'd been gifted by Hades; A (supposedly) electric blue flower that glowed in the dark, no doubt plucked from Persephone's garden.
He dumped his jacked on the chair by his bed and unfastened his sword. He was about to place it on his bedside table when a sound behind him made him whirl around, sword ready to strike.
A boy about his age, maybe a little older, was standing with his body leaned against the wall by the door. He had an arm wrapped around his stomach and was steadying himself with the other. He looked like he was about to pass out, but Nico knew not to lower his guard that easily.
"Who are you, and how did you get in here?" Nico asked, his sword pointed at the stranger.
The other male winced and lifted his hand from his stomach, it was glistening with a slick substance. He drew his breath raggedly, "I- my name is… Anubis." He paused to grip his stomach, a puddle of liquid had started to form on the floor by his feet. "I'm an Egyptian god. I followed you because you feel like death. I- I'm a god of Death..."
Nico narrowed his eyes, "Why should I believe you?"
The stranger, Anubis, wobbled, "You're wise to not believe me, but I have no reason to lie. I am literally going to die if you don't help m-" He didn't finish the sentence and fell against the wall as he passed out. Nico instinctually grabbed his hand to stop him from hitting the ground and that's when it happened. The world seemingly zoomed out before zooming in again, but now in colour.
Nico gasped but still held Anubis' hand, which he now could see was slick with golden blood. Ichor, the blood of the gods. He glanced down at the other's stomach and saw that his clothes were soaked in the substance, it felt so wrong that the gash in his belly should leak glittering blood.
Nico didn't have time to think any longer. He shifted the god into his arms and lifted him up. Carefully, he carried him outside and started walking towards the Apollo cabin. Will would help him, he had to.
Nico felt himself bombarded with colours as he walked, the sky was dark and dotted with blinking spots - stars. He knew what the colour of things should be, and therefore knew that the lights from the cabins were 'yellow'. It was hard for him to put a name to every colour he saw, he'd have to learn their actual names afterwards.
Shaking his head, he tried to focus on finding the Apollo cabin. His eyes stung from the sudden changes and he felt a headache forming in the back of his skull. He blinked rapidly and squinted down at the form in his arms as he walked.
The boy was pale and his face looked sickly. He also reeked of death and pain, which made Nico walk a bit faster. He started sprinting when he saw the cabin.
He not so much knocked on the door as banging on it with his fist.
The door opened and a befuddled Will stuck his head out.
"What the hell, Nic-," he stopped short when his eyes landed on the form of Anubis.
"Help him," Nico said.
Will nodded and beckoned Nico inside. He moved over to one of the empty beds and Nico placed Anubis on it. The other cabin members moved out of the way and kept a respectable distance.
He then noticed that the god wasn't breathing anymore.
"Will, hurry up!" he shouted desperately as he watched Will rummage through a drawer. He turned back to Anubis and put his head on his chest. He waited and heard a faint thud follow by another weaker one. He was still alive.
Will was beside him suddenly and pushed him aside. Nico watched on and felt helpless as the son of Apollo put his hand on the god's chest. He then rolled Anubis onto his side and slammed his hand hard against the top of his back. The god bucked and coughed up a large amount of ichor.
Will lay him on his back again and Nico could see Anubis' chest moving as he drew ragged breaths.
"His rib has been broken and punctured his lung, meaning that it's filling with blood," Will said. He cut apart the god's shirt and proceeded to clean and wrap the wound up. He then started healing him.
Nico sat in silence with closed eyes, trying to will his headache away. He tried opening his eyes but had to shut them once the colours invaded.
He jolted when his felt Will's hand on his shoulder and looked up at him.
"He's okay now, I healed his rib and punctured lung, as well as most of the gash. He'll heal fine with some ambrosia later," Will said.
Relief flooded Nico's body. He hadn't realised he was this worried, but he figured he cared more than he thought, which wasn't really that odd, considering Anubis was most likely his soulmate.
That thought made him pause. He looked up at Will.
Will was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Nico, who is this guy exactly?"
The son of Hades sighed and rubbed his face, "I don't know. I mean, he told me he was Anubis, and a god of Death. And then he passed out and I grabbed him and…" He trailed off, not knowing how to tell Will what happened.
Will blinked, "And what? He puke on you or something?"
Nico scoffed, "No. He- I-." He stopped and drew his breath, "I can see colours now."
Will looked surprised, "What? He's your soulmate? But, isn't he a god? He has golden blood, Nico."
"I know. And believe me, I'm just as confused as you. And my head hurts and everything's so bright."
The son of Apollo chuckled and handed Nico a chunk of ambrosia, "It happened to me too. It was just too bright, y'know."
Nico stared at the ambrosia and took a bite. As always, it helped immediately. "Gods, what a mess."
"You don't say," Will chuckled. "Well, at least you can take pride in that your soulmate is a total hottie."
Nico stared at him, deadpan, "I'm sorry if I didn't notice over all the blood."
"Yeah, no wonder, he must've blinded you with all his sparklyness."
"Dude, that's low," Nico said seriously, then started laughing seconds later. Will joined in and they laughed beside the unconscious form of a god.
Will then smiled a gentle smile, "Hey, this will work out some way or another."
Nico smiled back, "Thanks."
Sitting beside your soulmate without saying a word to them was weird to say the least, but Nico was determined to be there when Anubis woke up.
He placed his hand on top of the god's and felt the heat from his skin. He sighed and hung his head low.
A hand stroked his hair then and he looked up in surprise at the open eyes of Anubis. They were dark and looked tired.
"Hey. You're awake. How are you feeling?" Nico asked sitting up and starting to retract his hand, only to have it snatched by the other's hand.
"I'm feeling okay. But better with you here," Anubis answered, his voice low and raspy.
Nico felt a blush creep up his neck, "I'm glad you're okay."
"You're my soulmate." The god apparently didn't skip a beat.
Nico stared at him.
"I woke up when you carried me and I could see colour," the god continued. "I'm sorry if you don't want to be with me-"
"I want to be with you!" Nico surprised himself by saying. He didn't even know the guy, but he was his soulmate and he wasn't about to let him go that easily.
Anubis smiled, "I'm happy to hear that." He looked puzzled for a moment, "Might I know your name?"
Nico blinked, that was true, Anubis didn't even know his name. "Nico di Angelo," he said, stretching out his other hand to the god.
Anubis took it and placed a kiss on it, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nico."
Nico's face was beet red by now, he was sure of it. "Um…"
"I'm sorry is I'm being too forward, but would you mind giving me a hug?" Anubis asked.
The son of Hades blinked and looked around, no one was watching them. He finally nodded and leaned down and embraced the god.
He felt his body shudder as Anubis placed his arms around him and his forehead on his shoulder.
He heard the god whisper into his ear, warmth in his voice, "I've waited 5000 years for you, don't think I'm letting you go now."
Nico smiled, "Don't worry, I'm not letting you go either."
Another soulmate one. Btw, I love soulmate fics, so please give me more ideas if you want more of them :)
