For weeks Nico didn't look at the figurine properly, he didn't need it anymore to keep the loneliness away or to remind him of Bianca. It just stood on the shelf in his cabin and looked down at him with its gloomy expression. Nico touched it after weeks again, when Will told him that he had to go on a quest.
They sat in the strawberry field, when Will told him about it and for once Nico hated the weather control in Camp Half-Blood for always having this sunny, perfect weather.
"It's going to be dangerous and they'll need a healer", Will said without looking at Nico. "You know I'm the best. I have to go, Nico, I couldn't live with myself if I sent Kayla or Austin or one of my other siblings and something happened to them."
Nico understood. Of course, he understood. He'd take up any risk if it only meant he could keep Hazel save, but that didn't mean he had to like it and the dead grass around his feet clearly showed it. Will put his arms around him and kissed him. Desperately.
"I'm so sorry. I love you so much", Will whispered.
That night Nico picked the figurine up, held it to his chest and cried himself to sleep.
When the morning came Nico found Will already at the border of the camp surrounded by his siblings and the Seven. Nico pushed through and threw himself into his boyfriend's arms.
"Two things", Nico said to him. "First: If you get yourself killed I'll personally go down to my father's place, see you be put in the Field of Punishment, I'll think of a punishment myself and you know I can be very creative."
Will didn't seem very scared by this. He even laughed.
"Second", Nico continued and put out the figurine of Hades, "take this. It might keep you save."
"Of course it will. Thank you", Will said and kissed him quickly.
But Nico wasn't done with just one little peck. He put his arms around his neck and pulled him down to him. His lips tasted of sunlight as they always did.
"I love you", Nico whispered when he was done.
Will seemed a bit dazed but he smiled. "I'll see you."
It took weeks until Will came back. Nico shouldn't have been surprised, the Argo II tour had taken months after all, but that didn't stop him from worrying and feeling quite a bit lonely. The Seven and some of Will's siblings tried to distract him (Nico suspected a lot of money had been promised to the latter) but it helped just a little bit. He couldn't stop himself from thinking of Will whenever he saw Hazel snuggling with Frank or Percy and Annabeth kissing or Piper sitting on Jason's lap or Leo and Calypso arguing in their cute couple - ly style.
He started to hang out with Reyna more but she didn't have so much free time and he didn't want to be in the way, even if she did assure him that he wasn't.
It was another of those nights spent around the campfire when Will came home. Nico, the odd one out, squeezed between all the couples. They all tried to cheer him up and tried to make him feel included, but it still felt odd to him.
"Guys, I'm going to bed", he said when Jason fed Piper her third s'more.
"Okay. Good night, Nico. See you in the morning", they all said and petted his back.
He made his way through the dark camp, but suddenly he stopped when he saw a figure sitting on the steps of his cabin. His first thoughts were: It can't be, this has to be a dream.
"Hey, Death boy", Will said and stood up. "Did you miss me?"
Nico started laughing and crying at the same time. Needless to say, the kiss they shared was one of the best both of them ever had had.
Later that night when they were lying on the bed, their bodies covered in sweat, Will sighed.
"I have to tell you something, Neeks."
"What is it?", Nico asked worried, horrified by how guilty Will sounded.
"I lost your figurine", Will whispered. "I'm sorry. There was this monster and Kyle was bleeding and-"
"Did it save you?", Nico interrupted.
"Definitely", Will answered immediately. "I would've gone insane without it."
"Then it served its purpose", Nico said and gave his boyfriend a peek on the cheek. "And now sleep."