~~Long time no see yet again dear readers. I must admit I haven't been too active as I've been lacking inspiration and energy to do absolutely anything. It's just that time of the year when my mind betrays me, but I owe it to you all not to be a coward and retreat into a hiatus. I will try to write at my best, but please forgive if my writing lacks a spark.. I love you all! Don't forget to send me in requests for songs you want featured 3 you can even send me ideas for one-shots or AU ideas. I'm open to anything that will keep me busy x)

Song: Roll away your stone by Mumford & Sons

Playlist for fic: /spacedustdreamer/mortal-music

Enjoy~~

If asked for a reason why, Will probably wouldn't have been able to give a valid explanation for his intent on overworking himself lately without looking like a coward. He had been extra careful to keep himself busy and never let a moment go to waste. He was the first one up every morning, washed and dressed within minutes before rushing to complete the first activity or task of the day. He was the first one to finish eating at meal times and usually left his seat at the table, alongside a still half full plate, before any of his siblings noticed. Training sessions went by like a flash as he seemed to work harder than he ever had before. And every spare moment he had was spent at the infirmary, tending to those in need of medical attention, or organising the shelves and cupboards every hour, or counting and recounting the supplies of Ambrosia and Nectar until he lost count and had to start all over again.

It was almost a relief, to Will and everyone around him when Capture the flag rolled around and the injured camp members piled in, creating a stuffy air around the wards and taking up space in every bed, chair and then some. It gave Will a moment to focus on something he was really good at, however it was obvious to him that his half brothers and sisters didn't feel the same excitement and relief that he did.

Whenever Will passed by another healer he felt their eyes creeping up on him. They would whisper or mutter to each other. A few hesitated as if they didn't trust his judgement or advice before quickly rushing along to whatever duty they had to perform next; providing painkillers, healing wounds, resetting bones was always a tricky one, giving out Ambrosia or Nectar.

After a while of funny looks and irritating whispers, Will snuck a glance in the nearest mirror, a small square shaped one on the inside of a cupboard door. He almost didn't recognise the young man staring back at him. He shared the same golden hair and blue eyes but the eyes that watched him seemed wilder, yet tired. As if the body they belonged to was already running on empty. His complexion seemed pale, as if he were permanently in a state of shock.

It suddenly stuck Will just how tired he was. How long had it been since his mini freak out? Two days? Three? No, Four. Four days he had spent hurrying himself along, all in an attempt to avoid Nico.
Well not Avoid as such. That was such a strong word.
More like, resist communication.
No, that sounded bad too..

Whatever way he put it sounded bad and cowardly in his mind. He had panicked. After his last little round of nursery rhymes with Nico he had panicked. It was rather ironic. How much stress had Will Solace, Leader of Apollo Cabin and possibly the best healer, or at least the most relied on. The younger campers in his cabin looked up to him. And there he was, walking round in a trance like a zombie with a sugar rush, all because he had mistakenly sung a measly little love song to Nico di Angelo.

Well enough was enough. Will had to do what was expected of him as a leader and take a break in order to regain composure, If he wasn't fit to take responsibility for his own well being he wasn't fit to lead a cabin.
Being roused from a nap is never nice, especially when it is a calming dreamless sleep, a rarity for demigods. But alas Will was woken by the sound of excited chattering outside. He stood up from his bed and looked out of the window. Demigods were all walking towards the campfire, grinning and laughing. After weighing up his options Will decided he could afford a couple hours surrounded by friends. He pulled on his shoes, glad he had napped in his clothes, checked his hair in the mirror and chased a few fellow demigods down the path towards the sound of music and the warm glow of fire beyond the trees.

-(page break)-

Nico had no problem with the campfire sing-a-longs. At least he didn't when he wasn't urged to join in the singing and festivities by the ever happy-to-sing-in-front-of-a-crowd Apollo cabin kids. What made it worse was that some of the Aphrodite kids had suddenly felt the need to become active and involved in camp activities.
It had started when Jason and Piper had begun swaying absentmindedly to the music from where they were sat. A few of Piper's closer friends in her cabin squealed at their leaders 'cuteness' with her boyfriend. They eventually made such a fuss that somehow Piper and Jason had ended up stood in the middle of the crowd, smiling and laughing as they danced. The Apollo kids leading the sing along switched to a faster paced song, and boys and girls from the aphrodite cabin alll around the circle stood up, grabbing others by the hand and leapt around like very image conscious rabbits on a sugar high.

Eventually they got past their excitement and seemed to circulate into some sort of dance around the fire. Occasionally swapping between partners and continuing the pattern.
It seemed bizarre and way too well formulated for this not to have been planned beforehand. However the occasional yelp of toes being stood on, or flushed faces following a wrong step, and embarrassed laughter seemed to prove him wrong. Whatever crazy ritual this was, it was definitely natural, un-planned and almost admirable. Nico smiled as Hazel span past him, partnered up with a bumbling, blushing Frank. It could have been his nerves, but Frank had the worst case of two left feet Nico had ever seen. Nico glanced down to make sure Frank hadn't turned into a horse from the waist down or anything, it would explain the stumbling. Regardless, he and Hazel looked over the moon in the thirty seconds of dancing they shared before they were spun off to their next partners.
It was strangely admirable to watch, this forest full of natural born and bred warriors and heroes, working in almost complete harmony for something other than cutting a monsters head off.

Nico would have kept his smile if a daughter of Aphrodite hadn't swept past him, pulling him up into the whirlwind of music and movement. His shoulders stiffened immediately at the unexpected contact but he knew how these things worked. He just had to grin and bare it until he could dance his way out of the circle, just without the grinning. At least that was the plan, until he caught the sound of a familiar laugh.

Nico stepped around his dance partner in rhythm with the rest of the group just in time to see Hazel partner up yet again with Frank. His heart warmed slightly as he regarded the expression on his beloved half sister's face. Pure and warm, as if she had never suffered as much as she had. It lasted only a second, but he saw it. Then as she smiled, wise once again beyond her years and strong enough to face unthinkable suffering, Nico felt an un-explainable amount of pride. She wasn't Bianca, She could never replace her. But she was Hazel. His other sister, and he could never ask her to be anything else. Not a replacement, not a consolation prize. Just Hazel.
They had been through so much hardship, but to see her happy like that made everything seem worth it. She was definitely a beacon of light in his crazy dark life.
And speaking of beacons of light, Nico was whisked off through the music, away from his current partner and away from his sisters laugh, into the arms of his next partner.

"Solace," Nico muttered plainly, but inside he was practically tripping over himself. He was suddenly very conscious about the fact that his palms were becoming sweaty and his chest began to ache.
Will simply smiled and continued following the dance steps.
Nico held his tongue. Maybe people weren't supposed to speak during this? It could have been some crazy camp tradition after all? He was just grateful for all those years ago when Bianca would drag him around the living room dancing excitedly. Bianca had convinced him that dancing was a fun and important skill, and so they learnt to dance in their own fun way. Bianca knew the basics but they were too young and would always turn it into some bizarre game, not that either of them minded.
Time had seemed to drag on a lot more since Nico had seen Will. He hadn't really seen him around camp that much at all and he looked slightly different from when they last met. Will seemed much more tired, almost apologetic.

Eventually, after a few seconds that seemed to last hours, Will spoke up. "Didn't expect to see you dancing."
"You don't ever expect much though do you?" Nico didn't expect or mean for his words to come out sounding so harsh, he didn't actually realise until Will looked away, avoiding his gaze. "Do you know what's even happening right now?" Nico asked, eager to clear the awkwardness from the air between them.
The other boy laughed as he watched the other campers dance around them "I have no idea," He glanced back at Nico, his grin seemingly playful, "I'm not complaining though. It's a nice change."
In a series of swift movements Will raised Nico's hand above his head and span the shorter boy around once before falling back into the formation of the dance.
Nico felt a lump form in his throat, "What is this? The Nutcracker?"
"Not a ballet fan, di Angelo?" Will laughed again, his blue eyes glittering as he gazed off at the crowds again.

There was this unmistakable air around Will that Nico couldn't help but find insultingly infectious. This kid radiated good vibes. Everything about him was almost too chilled out and Nico was trying his best to keep his guard up in the ridiculous situation. It was humiliating enough without this blonde ray of sunshine turning the whole charade into some silly game.
It made Nico almost angry at how fine Will was with all of it. He could feel his ears burning up, he clenched his jaw, biting back any words he may let slip.
Will's smile faded, "I think.. I was avoiding you these last few days."
Nico's heart thudded uncomfortably, "What?"
Will's face seemed to flush red, but it could have been the fire playing tricks with the light. Before he could explain the lines shifted and Will was pushed aside as a young girl from the Hermes cabin replaced Will as Nico's new partner, something she looked less than happy about.

Honestly, that was the last straw. All he needed was one more thing to tip him over the edge and that had truly been it. Nico ripped away from the circle of dancing campers, (the daughter of hermes looked more relieved than shocked.) Nico didn't realise until he was halfway engulfed by darkness that he was shadow travelling away from the fire and into the safety of his cabin walls.

#Angst #STOPME #PleaseTommyPlease #OopsWrongFandom #SrslyTho #Loveyouguys #SendMeSongs