"Come back, come back, come back…"

The words were looping in Nico's ears, and it took him a while to realize it was someone saying them, over and over, in a worried tone, almost pleading. Light hit his closed eyelids—sunlight, judging by the warmth that came with it—and the voice kept going. Someone was holding his hands, a little too tightly—almost painfully so.

"Ow," he said, more as a reflex than anything. He tried opening his eyes, but the light blinded him, adding to the overall pain he felt, and he closed them shut again.

"You're awake!"

Nico recognized the voice at last. It had belonged to a ghost Nico had thought was gone, but he'd heard it again when the spider attacked.

That thought brought back memories, and with them, curiosity. "I should be dead," he said. He'd felt he was fading, and known what it meant. He'd drawn too strongly on the Underworld's power, and was returning to it. Dying—fading. Bianca and Hazel wouldn't even have known he was gone until they tried to call on his shade.

But there was no sunlight to sear people's eyes in the Underworld, so obviously that hadn't happened. He forced his eyes open, blinking rapidly to accommodate to the light.

"Hi there." There was a half-smile on Will's face, concern, worry and relief mixed together. There was also something else, something Nico couldn't quite place—the ghost was jittery, and in spite of his hands still clutching to Nico's, he seemed to be trying to keep away.

Nico was lying on his couch; he took his time sitting up and settling comfortably. Will seemed unwilling to let go of his hands, so it was a little more difficult than it should be, but Nico couldn't bring himself to ask him to let go. The contact was comforting, anchoring him to life—which was probably odd considering Will was a ghost. "What happened?" he finally said.

"The spider was what killed me, I think. It came back for you, and— well, you already know what happened. Dude, that was amazing—"

"Yeah, I know all that. But then what? I was fading."

"I know. That was scary. But I've always been a good healer. You could say it's my one talent. And I think holding you worked too, somehow?"

It was working, as far as Nico could feel. Which was a little weird to think about, since Will was a ghost. "Thanks."

Will's smile grew less hesitant. "You're welcome. Although you shouldn't use those fancy powers for a while. Doctor's orders." He took a deep breath, then added, "You and I, we kind of started on the wrong foot, didn't we? I'm sorry. I've been an arrogant jerk."

"Arrogance kind of runs in the family, I think. I've met your dad, once, you know."

Surprisingly, Will didn't take Nico's bait; instead, he had a hopeful look at Nico's words. "Can we start over?"

Nico smiled back at him. "I'd love to."

Will held out a hand. "I'm Will. I died here, and you avenged me last night. Mind if I haunt the place for a while? I can't pay rent, but if I can bring you back from the brink of death again, it'll be my pleasure." With a grimace, he added, "Not that I want you to nearly die, of course. Man, this is awkward."

Nico couldn't suppress a chuckle. "Nice to meet you. I deal with ghosts all the time, which makes me tired and a little grumpy most of the time. Also—" he looked down at himself, "I'm covered in monster blood right now. Do you mind if I go get a shower and get changed? Without barging in on me?"

"I'm not making any promises. I mean, there is no door."

Nico glared at him, but there was a spark in Will's eyes—one that inspired trust. One that Nico was hoping he identified properly.

Nico emerged from the bathroom feeling somewhat refreshed, but at least he was clean now, and wearing fresh clothes. Will looked at him expectantly from the couch.

"You look human again."

Nico ignored the quip. "There's something I don't get," Nico started. "Where were you the past week?"

Will's expression grew regretful. "I thought you didn't want to see me anymore." So it had been intentional, then. The fact that he could become invisible to Nico's perception was nothing new, but the ability kept surprising him nonetheless. Maybe it was a demigod thing; the other two had also been difficult for Nico to sense.

"So that spider is what killed you?"

"Yeah. The memory came back when I saw it. You should go check the attic in this house—I think that's where it came from. I hope she doesn't have a nest."

"I will. But—I don't understand." Will stared at him, intrigued, and Nico continued. "Since you couldn't remember how you died exactly, I thought that was your unfinished business. It happens a lot. But now I killed the spider, and you're still here. So…what is it, then?"

An uncomfortable grimace hovered over his face, and he seemed to squirm, though not physically; it was as if his essence was wavering away from the visible realm. "Well…"

"Well what? What is it?"

"There was a…kind of a gateway. After the spider died. It wasn't a literal door, but, you know, a passage I could sense more than see. But you were dying, I couldn't leave you there."

Nico stared at him, speechless at what Will had just said. "That was the way to the Underworld."

"I gathered."

"And you just ignored it?"

"You needed help! Your hands were slipping to the floor, but when I took them, suddenly they were solid again! I couldn't just leave!"

"But—Will, it might never show up again. You might be trapped here forever."

Will stared—this was apparently news to him—but he quickly regained composure, and with it, a bright smile. "Worth it."

"This is serious—"

"You're right, it is. You could have died. I'm already dead. Whatever happens…"

"You could become a restless spirit—a monster of your own," Nico said. Why was his voice breaking at this? He shouldn't be so emotional over this. "Even if you don't, I'm not worth eternally wandering the mortal realm as a ghost."

"You really think so?"

Nico opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, Will crept across the couch, pressing their legs together. The sudden contact cut off the flow of Nico's thoughts as warmth flooded his body. It was more than Will's body—and how was a ghost so warm?—but the intensity in his eyes, the pain at Nico's self-deprecation and something else, that spark Nico had just seen moments before.

Mesmerized by Will's gaze, Nico was barely aware that he was still moving until one of his hand was brushing up hesitantly against Nico's cheek. Until Will bent closer, and sealed their lips together.

His kiss was a little awkward, especially considering their position, and it held more passion than skill—hesitant, almost exploring, in a way Nico hadn't been kissed in years. But Gods, there was passion in the urgency with which Will pressed himself against him, and Nico succumbed to it, letting him closer, letting him in. It had been a while since he'd been kissed, and he was fairly sure none of his exes had ever kissed him like that.

When Will pulled away—only slightly, reluctantly—they were both out of breath. A ghost out of breath, now that's a funny image. "As I said, it was worth it. I don't care about the consequences."

In any other circumstances—if they hadn't been so close, if Nico's nerves hadn't all been tingling—he might have laughed at his brashness. Instead, he was speechless, and he hated that. So he did the first thing that crossed his mind, hooked a hand in Will's hair and pulled him closer for another kiss.

This time, he took control, guiding Will's lips and tongue with his, and guiding Will's body with his hands and legs as he settled more comfortably on the couch, with the other boy on top of him. He was responsive to every touch, every hint of movement; pliant under Nico's wordless commands; moving with enthusiasm restrained only by nervousness; and Nico loved it all.

There were stars in Will's eyes when they parted again, his smile radiant even as Nico's hand moved caressed his back and elicited a visible shiver through his entire body. Breathlessly, he said, "That went well." Nico chuckled as Will caught his breath, and added, "Please tell me I didn't fuck up too much."

"You didn't fuck up." Nico kept his gaze locked with Will's, deciphering layer after layer of emotion. "That was your first kiss, wasn't it?"

"That obvious?" He paused, as if expecting a mockery, but Nico knew better than to press on someone's insecurities. "Yeah. And I'm dead. How ridiculous is that?"

"It's not," Nico said, reaching a hand to cup Will's face. "It's kind of cute."

"So… now what?"

Nico was tempted to say 'bedroom, now', but Will's hesitation made him reconsider. If that was his first kiss, then he might not be ready to have sex just yet. And Nico wasn't desperate to get laid, no matter what Hazel might say. "How about you get off me? Some of us need to eat."

"Right. Sorry." Will pushed himself to his feet, and offered Nico his hand to get up too—which Nico took, after a moment of hesitation which he hoped Will hadn't noticed. "I can make you something, if you want?"

"I—" Nico glanced at the damage the spider's leaps had caused to the kitchen, then at the clock. "Do you know if you can leave the apartment?"

"Yeah. It's not easy, but I can."

"We could have lunch somewhere. Together, I mean. Unless it's too difficult, I don't want to—"

"No, that's fine." Will's eyes were shining at the offer—maybe an exaggerated response, but Nico supposed a dead person had every right to be emotional.

Gods, he's dead, and I kissed him. And now I'm taking him out for lunch. Odd might be a regular occurrence for a demigod, but this was still out of the ordinary. But he was the Ghost Prince, so maybe it was fitting for him to go on a date with a ghost.