And here's the next chapter :) Thank you everyone so much for the reviews! They make my day :3
Nico was feeling a strange mixture of relief and disappointment when he didn't see much of Will for the next week. It wasn't surprising really, since Will was busy with entrance exams to get into medical school, and Nico was glad that Will was too preoccupied to notice how Nico's gaze had been lingering on him for longer than usual lately.
Nico couldn't get Will out of his mind AND he'd started to have dreams of kissing Will. Which was not good. Nico kept trying to tell himself that Will was just a player and that Will was for gods sake, not gay, but it was hopeless. He was heads-over-heels for the boy.
They were in music class and Will's head was nearly face down on the music stand. Nico hated how the circles under Will's eyes were starting to look permanent, but he kept his mouth shut, knowing Will would just wave it off. Their teacher, Mr. Pan, strode up to the front of the class and announced that they would be doing in-front of class assessments. Most of the class was horrified by this, especially when the curly-haired man grinned at pointed at Grover.
"You're up."
As Nico was internally panicking about how to get out of doing a solo performance in front of the rest of the class, Grover performed well, despite his surprise and initial nervousness. After a jolly harmonica tune, Grover sank back into his seat with a sigh, as Percy clapped him on the back. Mr. Pan glanced around for his next victim, and his gaze settled on Nico.
No no no no Nico chanted in his head. His prayers went unanswered as Mr. Pan said, "di Angelo, you're up next."
Nico glanced to the side and saw that Will's head was settled on the music stand and that he was snoring softly. Sighing, Nico stood up, at least he wouldn't make a fool of himself in front of Will, he thought wryly as he stepped to the front of the room.
He hesitated, unsure of what to do, then he began to sing softly.
Close your eyes
I know what you see
The darkness is high
And you're in ten feet deep
But we've survived
More terrible monster than sleep
And you know i will be here, to tell you to breathe
Tu sei il mio soldatino (you're my little soldier)
la ragione per cui vivo (the reason i live)
non ti scordar di me (don't forget me)
io vegliero su di te (i'm watching over you)
stumbling lost
The last choice of all that you meet
It's the cost
Of rulling those 'neath you feet
Paths you've crossed, and trust you're trying to keep
You're exhausted
Listening for a voice that can't speak
Ma nico mio caro
Tu sei il mio soldatino (you're my little soldier)
la ragione ho vissuto (the reason i live)
non ti scordar di me (don't forget me)
io vegliero su di te (i'm watching over you)
So you run
Through shadows you roam
seams undone
By the love you thought you could own
but he's just one
Of many that you might call home
And maybe someday, the bitter will fade from your bones
Fade from your bones...
eri il mio soldatino (you were my little soldier)
ora un principe oscuro (now a dark prince)
ma anche per te, c'e una luce (but even for you, there is a light)
che ad un'altra vita ti conduce (that leads you to another life)
Nico smiled and blushed as the everyone cheered. Jason and Percy were giving him a thumbs up and Piper was beaming widely. Hazel had tears in her eyes and faint smile on her face, recognizing the song as the lullaby Bianca used to sing to Nico. Will was giving him a standing ovation, and wait...Will?
The blonde haired boy looked perfectly awake as he whooped for Nico. The singer felt his face warming up dangerously as he soaked in the admiration from his crush. So instead of sitting back down, Nico mumbled something about having to go the washroom and sprinted from the classroom.
Nico splashed water on his face and dried it off with a paper. Get a hold of yourself he berated. It's just Will Solace. Good looking, kind, funny...ARGH.
Giving up, Nico stormed from the washroom, only to collide with the object of his desires. Will grinned down at Nico, his hair sticking up in odd directions from his impromptu nap. "I didn't know you could sing like that."
Nico froze like a frightened deer, then shrugged in what he hoped was a careless manner. "Everyone sounds good compared to you, Will." Yawning, Will draped an arm around Nico.
"Let's go outside for a bit," he suggested. "Mr. Pan is going to catch me falling asleep if I go back."
Nico squirmed under Will's arm, half of him wanting to pull away and the other half wanting to snuggle closer to Will. He looked up under his eyelashes and sighed. There was no way he could ever say no to that face. The two boys sat on the back steps of the school, Nico on the top step and Will one below him. The air swirled with the fresh scent of spring and new beginnings. Will yawned and leaned against Nico's legs. "You're really good," he slurred.
Blushing, Nico twined his hands in Will's hair absentmindedly, making a face as his fingers came away coated with gel. "Thanks," he murmured.
"What song was that anyways?" Will asked, eyes closed.
Nico stiffened. Will noticed and sat up straight. "Sorry, touchy subject?"
He could have left it, but for some reason Nico wanted to tell Will; he wanted to unburden himself from the dark thoughts that plagued him at night. With those understanding, compassionate eyes trained on him and nothing but a willingness to be helpful shining through, Will seemed like the perfect person to open up to. "It was a lullaby Bianca, my older sister, used to sing for me. She died just over a year ago," Nico said slowly. Will leaned back against Nico and gave his ankle a slight squeeze to indicate that he was still listening. "She was dating a guy named Ethan at the time. I didn't really like him, but Bianca just thought I was upset that she was spending more time with him than me. We had been arguing, but before she went to a party, Bianca came to my room and gave me a little statue of Hades as sort of a peace offering."
"Your favourite Greek god."
"Yeah," Nico whispered, pleased that Will had remembered, "I was...less than gracious about it though. But we made amends and I promised myself that I would go buy her some flowers -lilies were her favourite- tomorrow after she came back home.
"She never came back though," Nico wiped a stray tear from his eye almost angrily. "Ethan had been drunk and he got in a car accident, killing both of them. I never forgave Bianca for leaving me."
Nico shrugged helplessly, "I was angry for the longest time, still am, I guess, about the fact that if she had just listened to me, then she'd still be around. I was also mad at myself for not ending off on a better note, I should have told her I loved her or something." His voice trailed off.
Turning around, Will looked deep into Nico's eyes, turquoise into obsidian. "You know it's not your fault," Will whispered. His hands intertwined with Nico's. "And trust me, she didn't mean to leave you. I'm not going to say forget about it, but be happy. She would want that for you."
Nico hiccuped slightly, embarrassed, but not wanting to pull away. "It's difficult to let the past go," he said.
Will gave his hand a squeeze, and leaned back, closing his eyes. "Then don't, just focus on the future more," he sighed. "Don't lose sight of the new people in your life because you miss the people in your past."
Nico couldn't help but wonder if Will was referring to himself. As the other boy relaxed against him, Nico could have sworn he heard a quiet, no louder than the breeze rustling through the trees:
I think I'm in love with you
Because sleepy Will is an honest Will lol :) Please review, I was hesitant about putting the song there, but I actually saw it in another fanfic and was like OMG BEST NICO SONG EVER! #mustsharewiththeworld
Anyways, the next chapter will either be up on Sunday...or next Friday and it'll be from Will's POV for the first time :D