Will Solace had taken a particular interest in the son of Hades. He seemed like a cool guy, and Will would consider them friends (although he wanted it to be more than that), and he hoped Nico did too. He didn't understand why everybody was so afraid of the guy. Sure, he could summon ghosts, skeletons, teleport, and turn you into a ghost, but he was still just a 14 year old kid. In fact, Will thought all of those things were pretty cool. Nico seems to fool a lot of people, but Will could tell Nico was holding a lot in. Healer's instincts, or whatever. What he really wanted was for Nico to trust him and hopefully not hate him. He thought he was getting somewhere when Nico turned serious, but then he just shrugged off Will's question.
"You want to know why I'm always so happy?" He wasn't entirely sure why he was saying that, but he figured he would have to do something to get Nico to trust him. Or at least form a connection with him deeper than their non-stop banter. He was pretty sure Nico didn't mean all of the things he said.
"Not really," Nico grumped. See? Like that for example, Will was pretty sure in Nico-speak that meant yes. So he kept talking.
"Well, it's because that's what people expect from me. To be the happy, non-confrontational, peacemaker kid." The more WIll thought about it, the more he realized it was true. He wondered what he would be like if he went to this whole new place where nobody knew him and expected anything of him. He wondered what he would be like.
"Non-confrontational? Peacemaker? You've kept me trapped in here for days!" Nico said with exasperation. That was another reason Will liked Nico, Nico didn't really know him yet so his image of Will wasn't set in stone yet. He felt like he could more of himself around Nico.
Will laughed, "Well, you're a bit of a special case. You I have to confront, otherwise you'd be a puddle of darkness. And you know what di Angelo, I think I'd rather you stay alive. I think you're a lot more fun than you let on. In fact, once you get out of here, we're going to go climb the wall together."
"Why would you want to do that? Why would anybody want to do that?" Nico's cheeks reddened, and the possibility of Nico actually liking Will crossed his mind. It filled him with hope, but he pushed it aside. There was no way.
Will rolled his eyes, "Maybe because there are people who like you?"
Nico raised an eyebrow, "Really, who?"
"Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Hazel, Jason, almost everybody who takes the time to get to know you, me."
"Why would you like me?"
Will sighed, this kid had serious self-esteem issues, but Will understood that. He was just a little better at hiding them. "Because you aren't as horrible, scary, mean, evil, and lethal as you look. And you aren't a bad guy."
"How would you know?"
"Well you've been lying in that hospital bed doing nothing for the last two days, so not the most threatening impression."
"I'm lying there because you wouldn't let me leave." Nico looked annoyed, which Will liked. His cheeks reddened, and he scrunched up his nose and Nico just looked really nice when he did that. It made Will want to kiss him, but Nico would probably send him to oblivion if he did that. He didn't even know if Nico was into guys! He was probably just being stupid. But he figured he could keep this going for a bit longer.
His eyes twinkled. "So you're saying that you listen to me?"
Nico looked flustered, "No!"
Will raised his eyebrows, "Well, sure looks like it." Will loved teasing Nico, because he got flustered so easily and Nico looked adorable when he was like that.
Nico opened his mouth to say something in response but just let out of a huff and flopped back on the bed. "You're impossible."
Will smirked. "I do my best. You don't need to look so miserable, it's not like you're my prisoner."
"I am."
Will relented, "Alright fine, we're going to go climb the wall together. Now. But no dark magic or you'll probably have to stay here for a month."
"I'd rather stay in bed." Nico huffed.
"You're coming with me." Will smiled, "Doctor's orders."
"Fine, but then you have to leave me alone."
"Deal." Will started walking out of the infirmary, "Are you coming?"
"No." Nonetheless, Nico heaved a sigh and got up.
They were stopped by Chiron before going up on the wall. He turned to Will.
"Is he well enough to do this? I understand you've been taking care of him."
Will playfully shoved Nico, "Yeah, he'll be alright. He needs some exercise, anyways. I'll be with him the whole time. Isn't that right?" Will turned to Nico.
Nico grumbled something under his breath, and Chiro let out a small laugh. "Alright, go ahead then." He stepped out of their way.
Will attached their harnesses, and they started up the wall. They climbed the first bit in silence before Will spoke. "Isn't this fun?"
"I guess so," Nico said. That excited Will way more than it should've. It was the first time Nico hadn't blatantly shut him down. He was honestly expecting the answer to be no, so that was great news to him.
"Is that a yes?"
"Maybe." Nico turned away from Will.
Will heart started beating a mile a minute, maybe he actually had a chance with Nico. He tried to seem unaffected though. Well, not quite unaffected, but not overly excited either. It was truly an art. "See? I knew you would enjoy this."
Nico rolled his eyes, "Yeah, what shorter than the average 14 year old doesn't love participating in sports that largely have to do with height and wingspan."
"I see," Will looked at Nico, who still wasn't making eye contact. "So if it isn't the rock climbing you like⦠then it must be me!" Will worried that he might've come off too strong. He probably sounded more egotistical than Narcissus himself. He was tempted to add something, but he figured his dumbass self would probably just say something even stupider. He turned away from Nico unable to say anything else, blushing. Now neither of them could look the other in the eye.
