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NICO

In Nico's head sirens and bells were blared, warning him that everything he was doing that had something to do with the name of Will Solace was purely and utterly wrong.

However, there was also his heart, that thing in the center of his chest that told him that it liked to be with Will every single time. His heart soared every time Will's pale blue eyes would twinkle like stars at him, when Will would flash his vibrant smile brighter than the sun and when Nico would be able to hear his cheerful laughter, the most wonderful sound he had ever heard on Earth.

But then again, it was weird because everything inside Nico was already dead so why there was a raging battle in him fighting between what was right and what made him happy. There was too much going on in him that he didn't feel so dead at all.

And there came a point that the said battle physically exhausted him. So he let his heart won because it was easier to embrace rather than to fight it. Maybe because his heart would be able to solve the mystery of Will Solace.

Little did Nico di Angelo know, that the answers would come rushing to him like a flash flood half an hour later. And he wasn't prepared for what he would learn half an hour later.

Nico found Will Solace talking to a small crowd in the almost deserted lobby of JHH. The crowd consists of a blonde, he knew as Annabeth Chase-Jackson, beside her was his husband Percy Jackson who was back to his good health as he could already stand firmly on his two feet. There's also another blond, this time a guy with eyeglasses sitting in a wheelchair. Behind the wheelchair was a gorgeous woman with dark tanned skin and chocolate brown uneven hair.

"On the contrary, Doc," Annabeth told Will. "When Percy found out that I was pregnant, he was sitting very still that I thought he turned into stone as if he saw Medusa's eyes!"

That earned a laugh from the rest of the crowd.

"Hey!" Percy complained. "I was shocked you know. What was I supposed to do?"

"Man, I was betting for more of a Kelp-headed stunt or reaction." The blond sitting on the wheelchair shook his head amusedly.

"Not you too," Percy glared down at him.

"Anyway doc," Annabeth interrupted. "We would like to invite you to Percy's birthday this weekend since you just live a few blocks from us."

Nico thought that these people had been pretty close with each other ever since Will had bumped into Annabeth while on grocery shopping. They learned that they live not far from each other. Will being a friendly ball of sunshine to everyone had started talking to Annabeth about random things as they shopped like they were good ol' friends. Not that Nico had secretly stalked Will during his free period.

Will smiled, his usual bright smile."Sorry, I'll pass. I have other plans this weekend maybe next year?"

"Sure Doc no problem," Percy grinned.

"Anyway," Will switched into doctor mode as he looked sternly at Percy. "Percy, even though you can now stand on your two feet. Please do not restrain yourself okay. Annabeth was kind of worried since you decided to go back to your work immediately. But I really do appreciate it if you are going to be a little bit low on your job at the moment. Give it a month or two."

"Yes Doc," Percy grumbled almost hesitantly and held Annabeth's hand.

"So do you too, Jason." The doctor turned his attention this time to the blond in the wheelchair. "You've just been discharged an hour earlier. Strictly follow Dr. Knowles' orders." Then Will glanced up at the girl behind Jason's wheelchair. "Strapped him to bed if you must, Piper."

The girl named Piper grinned. "With pleasure, Doc,"

"Hey," Jason grumbled too.

Soon they all bid farewell to the doctor and Nico walked towards him. Will immediately saw him and smiled.

"Hi," Will greeted quietly

Nico just gave him a nod in response.

"I am really looking forward to this weekend." Will sighed contentedly as they both walked side by side. "Of course, I am going to see my mom again after a very long time and you're going to meet her."

"I still don't understand why you're going to drag me there though…."

"And I still don't understand why you don't get it that I want my friend to meet my mom," Will said exasperatedly.

"Do all of your friends meet your mom?" Nico raised an eyebrow at him.

"Just the friends I am close to…. "

They stopped in an empty hallway. Nico turned to him with his hands shoved in the front pockets of his aviator jacket. "Are we really that close now?"

"Of course," Will grinned. "Can't you feel it?"

"Barely," Nico deadpanned.

"Hey!" Will said. "Admit it or not, you considered me as your friend because you agreed on this."

Nico sighed. "I'm just tired…"

"Tired?"

"Let's just say that I am tired of treading against the current. I decided to go with the flow now. I found out that it's convenient that way."

"I am afraid I don't follow…"

"I just want to be with you Solace, is that enough explanation?"

Will was silent.

"Anyway," Nico continued. "I have to go. Another soul to escort,"

"Y-yeah, I-I also have surgery to perform." Will stammered. He looked a bit flustered though. Nico wasn't sure why.

Nico nodded. He looked at the blond as he stumbled along the hallway. Nico shook his head at the doctor's clumsiness. He disappeared in black smoke.

After escorting the soul, Nico wandered on an empty alleyway in the middle of the night. It was quiet and Nico liked it. But then the quietness was shattered instantly...

"NICO!" someone hollered behind him.

Nico turned and found himself being crushed into a hug by none other than Bob Iapetus. He was being lifted from the ground as Bob continued to squeeze him. If he was just a plain mortal, Nico bet that his ribs would crack in an instant.

"Bob. I told you. No touching." Nico said quietly.

"Sorry." Bob put him down but still grinning. "I was just glad to see you again. I missed you, my dear friend. Didn't you miss me?"

Nico snorted but deep inside he was glad to see the fellow death angel again.

"But where have you been?" Nico asked. "I didn't see you in a while."

"A usual, punishment, I've been to California. Don't ask the details of it. You wouldn't want to know." Bob answered. "But on some good news, I am back on death angel's job. The higher-ups did not take my license, for the time being."

"That's great Bob!" Nico exclaimed. "I told you, you'll be back."

"Yeah, right." Bob smiled. "So how's my dear friend while I was gone?"

Nico paused. That's when something hit him. He gazed up at Bob. "Actually, I've been looking for you these past few weeks…"

Bob's face lit up. "Ah, you're going to ask me a question, right?"

"Right," Nico rubbed his neck uncomfortably.

"Something's bothering you," Bob observed.

"Well yeah..."

"Let's talk about it." Bob decided.

They both sat on a fire escape. Nico's legs were in between the railings and feet dangling over. Since Bob had enormous legs that wouldn't fit in the gaps of the railings, he contented himself with sitting Indian style and occupying most of the space. Nico didn't mind that.

"I don't know where to start," Nico admitted, looking down.

"Well, what's bothering you then?" Bob asked.

This time Nico stared at Bob. "Will Solace."

Bob frowned "Who?"

So that's when it started, Nico started talking about Will Solace. It surprised him that words suddenly poured out. He was able to let out the words that had been confined deep inside him for a long time. He told Bob his confusion and just everything about Will.

Bob listened as Nico talked barely pausing. When he was done he was almost out of breath. But he felt good that it all came out. He felt lighter.

"So what do you think about it?" Nico asked.

Bob stared at him.

And Nico did not like the way Bob stared at him.

"Bob?"

"Nico," Bob took a deep breath. "Do you still know what love is?"

Nico frowned. "What?"

"Love, a human emotion..."

"Hold on," Nico interrupted. "How this love is connected with what we are talking about?"

"Oh Nico, because I think that's what you feel for that Will guy. You love him."

"No," Nico said looking at Bob like he'd grown another head.

"Yes, Nico from the way you talked about him, you've seemed to care about him. I think you're falling-"

"Stop!" Nico gripped the railing and shook it with so much force that the whole fire escape shuddered. He felt faint all of a sudden. "This is impossible. How- death angels couldn't fall in love, of all things."

"But you already felt it the moment you first met. Death angels can fall in love sometimes… although it's a rare case." Bob argued.

"You're lying," Nico couldn't look at him.

"Why would I lie about it?" Bob asked softly. "You are my friend Nico..."

Nico closed his eyes as he leaned his forehead on the cold metal pole of the railing. Of course, he had already forgotten what love was. That was one of the many things that had faded when you had become a death angel. Again, Bob's statement seemed so wrong but it was making sense to him…

However, if that was the case, it was clear to Nico that he was breaking one of the three sacred rules.

Do not let your dead heart tarnish with human emotions