Chapter one
Nico was falling.
Darkness was his reality.
He felt around blindly for his sword but of course it wasn't there. Besides what would he have done with it? Attack the air? The temperature dropped, ice seemed to seep into his very soul. Tartarus - the essence of terror loomed before him. He couldn't slow down. The several shades darker abyss opened up to swallow him...
Nico woke with a start, bolting upright in bed with a hammering heart. Even after so many months had passed, his time in the immortal hell still invaded his sleep. Moonlight filtered through his skylight and illuminated beads of sweat on his chest. Looking up into the full silver ball of light he could've sweared he saw a silver hair nine year old girl twirl gracefully through the air - the light bending to serve her
as she drew a arrow and shot whatever nasty monster was out their. Artemis was on the hunt and Nico almost felt sorry for the poor creature that had made an enemy of Eternal Maiden.
But nonetheless he felt safe. A goddess was close at hand and that reassured him. The person lying next to him shifted under the sheets and a muscled hand wrapped itself around his waist.
"Nico why aren't you asleep?" Will Solace mumbled, his eyes half open. Nico felt his heartbeat speed up - not from fear this time but from sheer awe. No matter how many times he woke up to the sight of his boyfriend draped around him, he still couldn't believe his luck. If Artemis was the guardian moon then Will was Nico's personal sun. Just looking at his tousled hair and lithe body made blood rush to his face.
Will sat up, all trace of sleep gone and replaced by worry. It was then Nico realized he hadn't answered and was probably gapping at Will like an idiot.
"I'm fine" he squeaked and then closed his eyes in mortification. Holy Hades could he be more embarrassed. He cleared his throat.
"I'm fine" he repeated in a more normal tone.
"No you are not " Will murmured quietly.
"You had a nightmare didn't you?" a look of guilt crossed his face.
"I should've been awake to comfort you" he muttered, his golden eyes were suddenly angry and all his muscles - each and every one of them that Nico had personally explored mind you - clenching.
"Hey take it easy" Nico said trying for a light grin but it came out as a grimace instead.
"I've been getting them for months now, its no big deal" he shrugged. Suddenly he was pinned down to the bed, Will hovering over him, his liquid gold eyes smoldering into his own dark ones.
"Anything about you will always be a big deal to me, okay death boy?" he ruffled Nico's hair and met his scowl with that smile, that instantly warmed Nico and curled his toes although he would never admit it.
"You're a dork" he muttered instead, willing the blood - unsuccessfully - to leave his face.
"I'm your dork" he kissed Nico's neck and rolled to one side, pulling the "lord of death" into him and burying his face into his neck.
The nightmares didn't return. of course they didn't. Nico had Will right there and for the first time in months he slept and slept.