When Will woke he didn't know where he was. He saw white. He thought that he was still captured by the Creature, but he remembered returning to Nico. He touched his mouth, his lips had holes in from where he had ripped the stitches apart. He sat up slowly and carefully. On a tray at the end of his bed was a plate of something. He looked at it and tried to move towards it. He felt his stomach ach and growl. He gasped and shrank in fear. He waited for the whip.
"Will?" The Coach asked walking into the room, "What are you doing?"
Will looked at the Coach. It took him a while but he remembered that he was a friend. He pointed to the tray with a shaking hand.
"What is that?" His voice was hoarse from lack of use.
"Youre kidding, right?" When Will only looked at him blankly he said, "its food, Will."
Will tried to remember food. He only remembered a whip. He tried not to shake but he couldn't stop.
"Will, that food is yours. You can eat it."
Will had tried his hardest not to cry but he didn't have the strength to hold back the tears. He knew it was coming, The whip or the fames. He waited but nothing came. He was being a fool, a worthless pig and no punishment was coming his way. A look of utter confusion took over his face.
The Coach handed Will some water. He didn't have the strength to hold the glass, so he rest it on the bed.
"Is this my punishment?" He asked calmly, "What is it, poison?"
"Its water. It makes up 80% of your body."
"There is poison in my body?"
"No! Its not poison or a punishment."
Nico fell out of the chair that he was sitting on. The fall woke him up. He dropped the book that he was holding. He hit his head on the edge of the bed. The Coach left the two boys, knowing that they would need to talk.
Nico retrieved the 'English to Italian' dictionary that he had found in Wills draw.
"Hey, Will. You should drink that." He said pointing to the glass of water.
Will looked at the glass of water. He picked it up with two hands and placed it to his cracked and damaged lips. He poured the water into his mouth. It felt like magic. His mouth was a desert that had been a year without rain. The cool liquid ran down his throat bringing his empty body back to life.
"What was the thing in this glass called again?" Will asked quietly.
"Water." Nico said bluntly.
"Oh yeah," Will laughed weakly, "It was wonderful."
"You can have some more."
Wills face lit up, "Seriously?"
Nico got up and went to fill the glass up. He put in two ice cubes. Will was still confused about the whole water thing. Nico had to explain how ice was formed. Will was like a small child, Nico found it amusing but deeply saddening at the same time.
"What do you remember?" Nico asked handing Will his sixth glass of water.
"Remember...I don't know. Everything is fuzzy."
Will froze with fear for a moment. He got out of the bed and backed away from Nico.
"I didnt do anything wrong!" Will cried, "Please not the whips again."
Nico didn't know what to do he just stood there watching in horror.
"You want to burn me?" Will began to shake, "STOP!"
Nico broke out of his shock and ran to Wills side. He held him tightly. He felt Will pushing away and he let go.
"Who are you?" Will growled, "Has the Creature send you to do his dirty work?"
"No, Will is me. Its Nico. Snap out of this!" He pleaded.
"Child of Hades. You are working with the Creature, I can smell it on you."
"What? Will you're speaking madness."
"Stop taunting me! Hurry up and get it over with, just kill me."
Will sunk to his knees. His skeleton like body was tired and it couldn't support him any longer. He looked up at Nico. Tears began to blur his vision,
"I dont know what came over me. Nico, I'm sorry."
Nico crouched so he was level with Will. He kissed his cheek then flicked his forehead.
"You better be sorry. Don't tell anyone that I kissed you."
Nico planted his lips of Wills. It felt like the world disappeared and it was only them. Nico lost his balance and fell on top of Will. Nico had his hands by Wills head, one of Wills legs was in between Nicos. Nico bent his arms so he could kiss Will, their lip touched only for a moment when Nico pulled back.
"Will...is that your jeans again?" He whispered.
Will scanned Nicos face trying to make sense of the comment and trying to remember when he said something like that. When he made the connection he turned bright red and cursed. He tried to push Nico off of him but he didn't have the strength. The cut that ran down his arm caught his eye, a sick feeling filled his stomach.
"Can you get off me, Nico?" He murmured.
Nico pushed himself up and sat up, Will struggled to get up, he held onto the framing of the bed then leant against it. Will closed his eyes softly.
"Will, are you asleep?" Nico half whispered.
"No, just resting." He took a sharp breath and groaned, "I wish Apollo would stop with the whole being in Tartarus thing."
"Are you okay?" Nico said sliding over to him.
"Yeah, its happened before, I think he's fighting something." He clutched onto his rib, "Yeah, he's fighting something with teeth." Will closed his eyes again and muttered, "Nico, tell me a story."
"Once there was-"
"No! Tell it to me in Italian."
"Oh yeah, I was meant to ask you about that. You are learning Italian?"
Will nodded sleepily and rested his head on Nicos shoulder.
"Per te." Will whispered.
"You do so much for me Will."
"I like making you happy. Now tell me a story."