A/N: Hello, I'm back from hibernating. Yes, I have returned! And I just finished Blood of Olympus. Hahahaha, yes, I have written my my first two SolAngelo Fanfictions while I was still halfway from finishing the series. Hehehehe, silly me.
Anyway, my mind is now filled with SolAngelo fluffiness, so no worries, I guarantee you that you wouldn't regret reading this fanfic of mine.
Nico: And if they didn't like it?
Me: I'll refund everything.
Percy: Er, they didn't even pay you.
Me: I'll just give them a splah of River Lethe to make them forget they read this.
Jason: You're...creepy.
Me: Thank you.
Disclaimer: No, I'm pretty sure I'm not Rick Riordan last time I checked. And this series are not mine even if that'll be like dream come true. Only Mikhail Walker and some new OCs are mine.
ENJOY! Please review, I'd appreciate it.
"Soldatino"
Chapter Two: Newcomer
WILL SOLACE
It was currently Wednesday. Most of the campers in Camp Half Blood volunteered on helping with the camp's renovation and recovery. Many had also vowed that they wouldn't return to their families this Spring to tidy up those who were injured, and to repair the damages done by both (very few misled) Romans, and those stupid enemies of them like Gaea, Titans, Giants, and others that if Will named them all, he was pretty sure he'd die and still wasn't finished.
About a month just passed, Chiron's announcement weeks ago was postponed suddenly, and he wasn't so confident that everything was as peaceful as many tried to portray. He knew. He was the 'doctor' of the camp, people came in and out of the infirmary asking him things more than healing physical wounds.
There were some (about three) who were still in comatose state. There were those who were gravely injured, all he could do was pray them to his father. There were also some who were still having hell-ish nightmares even he didn't know how to solve. Chiron was also having some problems with about seven campers who refused to try fighting lessons again because of how terrified they had become.
Days has passed since he sent the lit of sunray to Nico that said 'Rest Well.' He didn't know if he was imagining things, but he could somehow feel that Nico was now trying more to open up even how hard it was for him. He raised a hand, and realized he was glowing again. He always glowed when he was healing or when he was feeling a very tremendous emotion. He knew it was the latter. It had always been the latter since Nico di Angelo has re-returned in the camp...despite wearing a Hawaiian shirt that didn't match his usual glare.
Sure, Nico was a son of Hades, but that was why he was kind of drawn to the kid. Nico was the Ghost King, he fought and had major roles in both Titans' and Giants' Wars. He used his shadow travel powers to travel down two other people along with the forty feet statue of Athena back in Camp Half Blood just to connect the two camps. He used his zombies and ghosts to distract the Romans. Yes, Nico was thin, had sunken eyes, had dark circles under his eyes, had almost-as-pale as ghost skin, gloomy personality; he was startling (literally), kind of scary, always glaring, always pushing others away but as Will watched him grow and recover, he realized that Nico's eyes were chocolate brown, his smile was mesmerizing and his laugh was something everyone would like to hear.
He sighed. He just finished all his infirmary duties, and was now just being struck by boredom. He sighed again, and lifted his eyes when his shadow on the ground met another one. He couldn't help the smile on his face. "Nico!" He greeted to the son of Hades before him. He smiled wider when he noticed that about five younger and newer demigods were following right behind Nico. In his arms was Chuck Hedge, who now could walk a little slowly and swing his plastic baseball bat. The baby satyr grinned and reached for Nico's face.
Will's heart thump loud when Nico bowed his head and let Chuck touch his nose then cheeks. Chuck giggled and pinched Nico's nose, which made the Ghost King playfully frown at the baby satyr. His intestines twisted in admiration when the son of Hades crouched and let the other demigods tell him their stories as he nodded, and smiled slightly at each. He looked awkward and inexperienced, but Nico did his best and looked almost like a dark angel whose wings would flutter open any seconds now.
Will smiled, stood up and took some younger demigods' hands while others held onto Nico. "Hey." He greeted.
The son of Hades huffed, "I just came over because I thought your dull expression could almost raise a zombie out of the ground. Figured I should stop it from happening. Because only I can be the Ghost King." He responded, and looked down at Julie, the new demigod of Iris. "Look, a rainbow. Your mom wants to say hi."
They all looked up, and indeed, there was a rainbow up there in the sky. So colorful. So beautiful.
Julie smiled. "Hi, Mom!" She shouted.
Chiron smiled as he went out of the Big House, and saw them. "You two can take a little break. The campfire is starting after few minutes. Young demigods, do approach your cabins now. You can play with your big brothers later on."
There were sync, "Bye Big Bro Nico, Big Bro Will!" before the young and newly claimed demigods ran towards their respective cabins.
Chiron nodded at them before returning inside the Big House. Will somehow saw something blonde inside, but he wasn't particularly sure, so he let it go. "How's Chuck?" He asked as they now walked side by side towards the dining pavilion where almost everyone was at war just to get the greatest and finest steak that was in all-you-can-eat offer tonight.
"He's as energetic as his father." Nico complained in a whisper as Chuck slept in his arms. "So..." He said. "are you going back to the infirmary now?"
He smiled, and shook his head. "Nah, I'm done. Besides, it's our turn to sing in the Camp Fire."
"Now that you mentioned that, I never heard you sing." The son of Hades mumbled. "Nevermind, don't demonstrate. I've had enough of your ultrasonic whistle."
He pouted. "Don't judge my singing by my special ultrasonic whistle. That whistle is just meant to sound like that!" He defended and rolled his eyes. "I sing very nicely, thank you very much."
"Unconvinced." Nico replied with a smirk. "Anyway, why are you following us? What do you want?"
"You're the one who approached me first."
"I did, and that's just because of the reason I told you earlier."
"What was your reason again?" He asked with the best I-have-no-idea what-that-is-but-I-actually-do-know tone.
"Ugh, fine, whatever!" Nico grunted. "No physical contact." He reminded with a glare. And Will would never admit that he got envious of how cozy Chuck looked in Nico's arms.
He smirked with the son of Hades' flustered expression when he tried to mess the son of Hades' hair. He grinned even more when Mellie Hedge approached them, took Chuck back, and giggled when Chuck waved his baby hands at Nico as they walked away.
"That kid likes you." He noted.
Nico tucked his hands in his pants' pockets. "He should be attached to you. You're the one who delivered him." Nico replied as they stood in front of the Hades' Cabin. How they got there, he had no idea. He was too busy looking at Nico's eyes as his orbs met the sunset.
He shuddered at the memory. "Don't remind me."
He couldn't help smiling when Nico grinned a little at his reply. "You're such a weird person, Sunshine." He commented. "I wonder where the others are."
"NICO!" Synchronization of voices shouted from meters behind them. Will watched in surprise as five arms tackled the son of Hades. Annabeth, Percy, Jason, Piper and Leo hugged the Ghost King so tightly, Will himself twitched in imaging himself in that situation. Leo had suddenly appeared days after he burned Gaea. Behind him was a caramel-haired Titaness, Calypso, the daughter of Atlas. He didn't get much of the story for he wasn't part of the Argo II but he figured Leo used something called physician's cure that brought him back to life, he found Ogygia again (Will didn't get that), brought Calypso as they escaped. It seemed that love conquered her curse since she suddenly burst into light nights after she arrived and Zeus said the words: 'Calypso, your curse's lifted now, but you will remain as a mortal now, do you abide-' She eventually said 'Yes.'
He watched in the sideline -Calypso has joined the circle- as the seven talked about things he couldn't relate with. Maybe that was one of the disadvantages of just being a healer, and not someone who could come into quests like the Seven in the Prohecy.
He blinked, though, when Nico approached him. "It's time for the Camp Fire."
"You're going?" He asked. He was pretty sure the son of Hades never appeared on Camp Fires. Heck, did Nico ever appear in any social events?
"Yeah, these people bugged me to do so. I even swore on River Styx. So yes, I'm going."
"Yes!" He shouted happily. His cheeks reddened when he saw the grinning/mischievous faces of Nico's friends behind the ever-dense-and-oblivious Ghost King. He cleared his throat. "Let's go?"
He didn't know why, but his hand moved on its own, and grabbed Nico's wrist. Since the latter didn't complain, he just held onto it even until the Camp Fire began.
#LINEBREAK
After their Cabin was done singing, Will was surprised to see Nico sitting beside him. "Oh, that's rare." He murmured in a questioning tone.
"Shut up. You think I wanna sit with those three couples? I mean seriously, they were talking in shushed voices, they were gazing intently on each other, so in love...And where did that leave me?" Nico ranted. "Moping on my own. I've had enough of that for so many years."
He laughed whole-heartedly. "I know. You think I never noticed how the shadows blended with you?"
"Shut up."
"Are you Italian?" He asked after awhile of silence between the two of them.
Silence. Awkward.
"Sorry, I didn't mean…I was so distracted when you first arrived that I didn't really know much about you…I mean, uh—I-" He stuttered. Wow, if Apollo was here, he'd be so proud of him. Will just found out how great he was with words. And yes, he was being sarcastic.
"Yes, I was." Nico cut in, and Will didn't comment on the usage of past tense. "Do I still have my accent?" When he nodded, Nico grimaced. "I really should get rid of-"
"Don't." He interrupted abruptly, and when the son of Hades didn't say anything, he quickly added, "Your accent is kind of captivating. It was nice in the ears."
Nico looked up as he looked down. His cheeks reddened, so did Nico's. But he held the son of Hades' gaze until even their ears were burning. With his Italian pale skin, the Ghost King looked so adorable with those rosy cheeks and ears of his.
They just looked away from each other when he heard the murmurs that began to revolve about the two of them. "...So cute…!"
"Staring...each other...Will and Nico…Gaaaah!"
"Nico...looked...someone's eyes...and...it was Will...adorable..."
"Can I summon skeletons to strangle my cousins?" Nico grumbled as Percy and Jason squealed in the other side of the crowd. He felt even more embarrassed when the two other sons of the Big Three made kiss-y noises.
"No Underworldy things. If you try summon skeletons, you'll fade." He scolded, and then took one of Nico's hands. When the dark-head tried to pull away, he kept his grip tight and firm. "I'm going to examine it." Wasn't particularly a lie, but also just half truth, yet if he'd be honest with himself, he liked how Nico's cold hands complemented his always warm ones. "So tell me..." He began again to make the Ghost King forget he was holding the other's hand and get self-conscious of it. "What's your favorite meal? Except McDonald's, seriously, that will kill you someday."
"Pasta. Any pasta." Nico answered. "Hey, Will, do you always glow?"
He smiled. "It depends. But it started right after I was claimed. Guess Apollo bestowed it to me." He answered. "Why aren't you wearing your black shirt?"
"Because I don't have any of that anymore. So I settled with the grayest shirt I can find." Nico answered. "How badly am I fading away?"
"So badly that if you try to shadow travel, you might die and become one with the shaows." He mumbled with a serious tone.
"Hah. Then I can be the literal Ghost King."
"Not. Funny." He grumbled.
"…Sorry, I didn't intend to make it sound like that." The son of Hades murmured.
He hummed in thought. "To compensate on kind-of irritating me, can you tell me things you don't usually tell the others?"
Nico's eyes widened. But he still hadn't pulled his hand away, which somehow sent happiness all over Will, that he was using all of his will (sorry, bad pun) power to stop it from spreading around his body. "You mean...my secrets?"
"Not all."
"What the Hades? What's the point of them being secrets then?" Nico grunted before rolling his eyes.
"I just feel like I ought to know. I am your self-proclaimed personal doctor, no don't comment don't you ruin my dream, because of your super duper weird case of fading. At least give me things that would kind of lessen the gap between us. Don't worry, I am great at keeping secrets." The last part wasn't all lie too, but it was kind of hard not always being honest. One disadvantages of being Apollo's sons.
Nico turned a little silent. "I've gone through Tartarus myself...all alone."
"What?" He gasped. "And you survived?" He added with a lowered volume since some had turned their heads and began to stare at the two of them.
"Barely." Nico mumbled. "I cannot forget, though, everything I experienced down there. The curses. The goddess of misery. Those rivers of Cocytus, Lethe, ..." He trailed off, and bowed his head.
He wanted to comfort the son of Hades when Chiron suddenly stood before everyone. He took a deep breath. "All ears, heroes, I need all of your attention." When the campers quieted down, he resumed, "Thank you. Since Gaea's defeat, the Olympians had started claiming their demigod children again. And I know, not uncommon. Night after night, we celebrate those who came arrive that day. Night after Night, new campers introduce themselves. And the usual comes today. Today, another demigod arrived safely and I'd like you all to meet him." He announced and everyone clapped.
Will watched in silence as a guy with mop of golden hair, super blue eyes and tanned skin stood in front of them. His body as muscular and surfer-like as some of Will's own half siblings. He gulped as he realized that among all Apollo's sons...this one looked most like Apollo. "Hello! Good evening! I'm Mikhail Walker, fifteen years old, I was claimed days ago, but there was an emergency at home so I just re-arrived again. Yes, I'm one of Apollo's." He introduced with a carefree grin.
"Mikhail, you mentioned that you might know someone here, didn't you? It'd be fine with me if you sit beside him of her so that you'd get comfortable. You might seek for him or her now, if you'd like." Chiron reminded.
He mutely looked as Mikhail looked around the crowd. He even heard excited giggles from some in the Aphrodite' Cabin's side. Others also followed Mikhail's gaze as he scanned, as if wishing it would turn out to be him.
"...Nico?" Mikhail asked as he looked at the one seated right beside Will. Before the Italian could reply, everyone was brought to shock when the new demigod walked quickly towards the son of Hades, knelt, and hugged him. Will had unconsciously let go of Nico's hand in the commotion. "Nico!" Mikhail repeated in glee, and hugged the Ghost King tighter.
He was ready to pull Mikhail away from the stunned Nico when the latter snorted and smacked Mikhail's head. "Let me go, Mik-Mik, or I'll kill you. I told you before, I hate physical contact."
There was a sudden pain in his chest when he realized that Nico was actually smiling. This new demigod made the son of Hades smile. For an unknown reason, he stood up, and pulled Mikhail away. "Hello to you too." He said. "I'm Will Solace, Apollo's Cabin's head counselor. Uh, enough hugging now? We've gotten your point that you know Nico." Even to his own self, he knew how stern he just sounded.
Mikhail stood up as well. Dam, he thought, this new one is as tall as me. "Oh, alright. I'd be in your care." He then looked down at Nico. "I'm going with Chiron first, I'd catch up later...uh, son of..."
"Hades." Will replied. "He's son of Hades. The Ghost King. Now, go, Chiron's waiting." He grumbled and pushed the newly claimed towards their supervisor.
As they cooked marshmallows, he decided to sit right beside Nico again. "How did you even know that guy?"
"You talk like he's not as energetic and annoying as you." The other replied.
"I am not annoying." He complained. "And I just annoy people who don't like being annoyed. I enjoy it."
"Ha-ha, Sunshine, funny." The son of Hades mocked. "I met him months before I disappeared to find the Doors of Death. I was looking all over the world, and one day, I kind of ended up shadow travelling in front of their house while he was gardening. He was so freaked out, he fainted. Yes, it was hilarious. I knew he was demigod at first look, but figured not to interfere with whatever the Fates were planning. Anyway, since he was living alone, I decided to take care of him since I did appear like a ghost suddenly before him. He woke up, and because he was as annoying as you- he pestered me to eat first since I looked like a skeleton. I ended up staying over for about two days because he didn't let me escape until I looked better. Yes, he had guts when he was the one who fainted in shock. So...in the end, he kind of left an impression on me...so I called him Mik-Mik to annoy him. He's sort of caring and weird...and a klutz. So...yeah, the end."
That was the longest paragraph Will had ever heard from Nico. And it sort of irritated him that it was because they talked about Mîkhail. "If I was him, I made you stay for a month. Seriously, when you reappeared you were like the Angel of Death."
"Shut up." Nico grunted. "Ugh, me and my stupid ever-so-accurate name."
"You do look like an angel." He insisted, and then blushed. "So-sorry-"
His mind blew up when Nico chuckled a little. "Idiot."
"Oh my gods!" He gasped as his cheeks reddened even more.
"What?'
"You just chuckled! You chuckled!" He panicked.
"What, did you think my facial muscles are dead?" Nico retorted.
He smiled sheepishly, and stared right at those dark brown eyes the son of Hades possessed. "...Yeah?"
He couldn't help laughing back when Nico stifled his laughter. They were in that situation for the whole Camp Fire, but neither of them cared as different topics emerged between the two of them. Will figured that he was fine with this. He was absolutely sure that he just found out one of main purposes in life-making Nico happy.
#LINEBREAK
Will nodded as Mikhail stood in his archery outfit for their Archery Class. Days passed, but he was still wasn't sure why his nerves were always in verge of blowing whenever Mikhail was near...near Nico, to be accurate. "Alright then, let's start."
The two of them stood beside each other with a meter gap between them, and faced their targets. In sync, they released their bow's string, and both hit the center.
"Should I applaud? Or are you really showing off your skills?" A cold voice asked from behind them.
They both turned, and found Nico di Angelo behind them while holding a very cute baby satyr, who was pinching both of Nico's cheeks this time. "Who wants to take care of Chuck for me? I'd like to-Oof! Gah!"
Will's eyebrow twitched when Mikhail hugged the son of Hades again. "Let him go, he'd die." He scolded, and tried to pull the other away from the Nico again. Mikhail unwillingly released the Ghost King.
The son of Hades sighed in relief. "So who wants to hold Chuck for awhile? I want to practice my Archery skills." Nico asked while Chuck Hedge grinned and swung his baseball bat.
"I'd take care of him." Will Solace and Mikhail Walker answered at the same time, and in sync, offered a hand to Nico.
He turned to cast a silent glare at Mikhail. "I'll do it."
Mikhail glared back. "No, I will."
"I will."
"No, I will."
And everyone around the camp shivered when these two sons of Apollo glared daggers at each other while Nico's head swiveled back and forth between the two.
Everyone that watched was sure.
The war has begun. The weird, out-of-this-world kind of war.
A/N: Yay! I'm done, finally! It took me more time than usual because I was typing using my tablet. I hope you guys liked it.
Yes, there's still a long way to go. Any scenes you wanna suggest? I'd try to apply or add it in the story to spice it up.
Sorry about some OOCness.
Please leave a review, I'd appreciate it!
