Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus are the intellectual property of Rick Riordan. We own nothing but the plot.

Nico

I was disappointed when Kayla was the one to talk to me. It had been to be expected that Will would be upset, but I had expected that he'd be at least a bit rational. I listened only with half an ear when Kayla explained to me that I had to eat more, especially more 'healthy' things such as fruits and vegetables. My eyes were fixated on Will only. Every now and then he'd look up and meet my gaze, and then he'd look down and hastily begin to talk to one of his siblings.

When I had zoned out for the third time in a row, Kayla rolled her eyes and told me to 'clean my goddamn plate for Olympus' sake'. Unenthusiastic, I ate a few more bits before pushing the food away and head to the infirmary. Will's sister followed me. After she had checked my values by simply touching my wrist and focusing (one of Apollo's gifts – whether Will could do that, too?) and scribbled them down into my file (since when was there a file for me?), she let me alone.

It was too early to go to bed, and I wasn't exactly tired, so I just sat down on the bed and waited. Not for anything in particular. Just waiting in general. Waiting to get tired, maybe. But inside my head, an intense argument took place. I could – figuratively – see a little Aphrodite and Hades fight each other, all pink respectively black. The emotional part of me, the one that resided inside my heart and stomach, told me to find Will and kiss the Hades out of him. The scared part of me, that had kept me alive for many years, told me to run away as far as possible, away from these confusing feelings. The rational part of my mind had decided to take some time off, only leaving me a note that read 'find Will and talk this out'.

Still unsure which instinct to follow, run away or find Will, I got up and left the infirmary. From afar, I could hear the campers singing at the campfire, but I didn't feel like going there at all. I walked past the cabins, heading for the forest. I strolled around among the trees, kicking dirt and stones around. With nothing to think about, thoughts of Will unaskedly popped up in my head. I noticed that I had begun to compare him with Percy subconsciously.

There weren't many similarities. Unlike Percy, he wasn't a big hero to look up at. He was a hero in his way, yes, but his acts of heroism took place after the battle, when it came to stitching up people and saving their lives. Unlike Percy, he wasn't particularly talented in fighting, which wasn't necessarily negative. And unlike Percy, he seemed rather uncomfortable when he was at the center of attention. All in all, he was at least as admirable as Percy, but in a completely different way. And unlike Percy, he certainly wasn't unattainable. Sure, I wondered why he even bothered to be around me, but Will had signaled that he was willing to be my friend.

I hoped that 'friend' wasn't the limit of what he was willing to be.

It was already past curfew when I returned to the infirmary. The daughter of Apollo who had the night shift sent me a disapproving glance, but didn't dare to say a word, what saddened me. I didn't want anybody to be afraid of me. But people were. During the weeks after Manhattan, I had seen people flinch when they realized that I was around. The Seven and Will plus Will's friends were the first who weren't afraid of me. And I had only known Will for a few days, so that didn't count.

Pulsing veins in the ground. Poisoned air. The ground made of shattered glass cut his hand.The air bit his skin, and every breath he took burnt his lungs from the inside. Every now and then, a bubble would pop and give birth to a new monster, another offspring of the Earth Mother, some of them too horrible to name them. The shadows, usually allies of his, were his enemies down here, trying to embrace him and never let him go.

His body barely found place inside the bronze jar. The voices of the giants, muffled so that he wouldn't understand every word, talking about their plans outside. The pomegranate seeds, one of them disappearing each day. The air, so thin that he could barely breath, merely enough to keep him alive, but still thin enough to make him feel like suffocating, every second.

His vision became blurry. In reality, he had been almost unconscious, but in his dream, he began to pant, faster and faster. He began to scream, scream names. His mother was dead, yet he kept screaming her name, her name and Bianca's, Hazel's, Percy's name, Will's name…

Will? He hadn't even known Will back then… but nonetheless, he screamed his name while he was slowly dying in this dream version of the jar in Rome.

"Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllll! Will! Help! Please! Will!"

I bolted up, screaming, crying, panting, and almost head-butted someone. As I slowly woke up, I noticed that I was sweaty all over my body, my throat dry from screaming, and that I was clinging to somebody's shirt. Somebody was speaking. As I turned my head, I saw that it was Will. Will was holding me tight, murmuring something along the lines of 'everything will be okay', and I just wrapped my arms around him, sobbing onto his shoulder and resting my head against his chest until I fell asleep.

Will

I saw Nico look over at me occasionally, and couldn't help but feel a spread of happiness inside of me. This confused me, because I was supposed to be angry at Nico. Of course, it was foolish of me to react so fast. Nico did look remotely guilty in some way, and besides, he might've been in an emotional state.

I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze, but I did anyway.

Austin was watching me in amusement, shaking his head. "Lovebirds. What did I tell you?"

"We're friends," I retorted. "I mean, I am aware that people assume we like each other, but not that way. Besides, it's . . . it's impossible."

"Dude, you're usually the optimistic one. I have never seen you this sad in your entire life. It's obvious that you need to admit your crush."

Austin's words surprised me, yet it made sense. "Yeah," I nodded. "You are right! I have never given up on him, and why now, when we actually know each other?"

"Awesome, glad to help, dude." Austin went from the table, something about, 'Got to talk with Kayla', while I was left alone with my thoughts.

Rejection didn't scare me at all, but I was afraid of pushing Nico into something. And what was his relationship with Jason, even? This whole thing was completely frustrating, because I was always questioning everything.

I noticed that Kayla already left with Nico, so I stood up hesitatingly, about to go find them - but changed my mind. Instead, I went to my cabin, sitting on my bed. I was not ready to face my feelings - not yet. Ever since I was angry back in the Zeus cabin, it will be strange to confess my infatuation with the son of Hades later.

Closing my eyes, I remembered the first time I saw Nico . . . at his age, he was so brave, and looked exactly like an angel, just like his last name. Beautiful and graceful, but fragile in a way. Like if you hurt him emotionally, he'll break.

Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

"Will? Will, wake up!"

"Come on, dude!"

I blinked, shifting to my side. "'Uh? Wha -?"

"Nico! It's Nico, you idiot! Wake up!"

I did, at the mention of the name. "What about Nico?"

"He - he's having a nightmare. It's horrible," Kayla cried.

"We're trying to wake him up," Austin continued, "but it's not working. He must be scared. We need you to help him."

I rolled out of bed. "Okay, I'm going." I pulled on my shoes, fumbling because the sleepiness never left me completely. When I opened the door and ran to the infirmary, I panicked for Nico. Demigod dreams were dreadful and frightening. They were vivid, and haunting, weighing in your mind to make it even more horrible than it already was.

Once I got inside the hospital, right to the room where Nico was, I could see him thrashing and whimpering, like a feral animal. "Nico?" I breathed. "Nico! It's okay!"

His voice gradually went to screaming, "Will! Will! Help!"

"I'm here, Nico, don't worry," I soothed. I went over and wrapped my arms, around him, restraining him from writhing. His voice was filled with complete fear; raw and emotional.

His hands gripped my t-shirt, "Please! Will!"

"Shhh, everything will be okay," I promised.

He buried his face in my shoulder, his breathing steadily slowing down. He eventually fell asleep in my arms, his body pressed against mine, and unsure what to do, I just held him.

Everything will be okay.