~~Hi Hi!

So this is part two of chapter 7 - You Only Live Once!

This chapter is using the second song by the Strokes

sorry for the sort intro, I hope you like this chapter!

Song: I'll try anything once

Playlist for fic: /spacedustdreamer/mortal-music

Enjoy!~~

Will stared back at Nico as his dark eyes tore through the darkness between them and into Will's soul. Time ticked on and the music still filled the air around them. The track eventually stopped and went onto the next, another version of the same song, a demo if he remembered rightly, although he could have been wrong. Seconds passed before Nico looked away, shaking his head; his dark hair catching the movement and falling in a slightly different position, yet still framing his face like a dark halo.

"I didn't really think you were upset about what I said back at the campfire until you threw me out earlier." he felt stupid admitting that but also relieved.

Nico made a sound that seemed to be a mix of a laugh and an exhalation of disbelief as he dropped his sword on his bed. He crossed his arms across his chest and turned to stare out of the window at the moonlight. Will stared at Nico's arms. They were thin yet well toned as if he substituted meal times for sword fighting lessons. The moonlight placed a haunting paleness to his skin that contrasted greatly against his dark shirt making him seem even more ghostly.

He continued, sensing no obvious protest or aggression from Nico, "I thought you were just done with social interaction for the day or something, just like your usual broody self. But I followed you. I figured it would be the only chance I'd get at catching you for a while"

Will also realised in that moment that there were no lights on inside the cabin. The only source of light came from the moon, casting shadows darker than the sun could and making surfaces glitter with a timeless glow.

"I did follow you. For a while at least, until you quite obviously shadow travelled that is. Which is a ridiculous waste of energy." Will took a breath and continued. "So I ran all the way here. I guessed it was where you'd be. Pretty good guess huh?"

No answer - Nico's shoulders seemed to tense slightly. It seemed that after all their meetings lately, the only part of Nico di Angelo that Will had become more familiar with was his back.

"And after I tried to speak to you about what I said, you turned on me and shouted at me to leave. So I figured that I was the reason you left."

Silence hung heavy in the air, causing a lump to form in Will's throat.

"I was being pretty dense. It wasn't right to avoid you, i was just afraid. and -" he paused for another breath, shaking away his nerves. "I don't want to be the reason you leave places."

It's now or never, he thought as chewed on his lower lip, the sharpness of the action giving him the mental kick up the ass he needed.

"If anything, I'd like to be the reason you'd stay." As soon as the last word left rolled off Will's tongue, the Son of Hades tensed further.

Will seemed to be getting nowhere so he walked over to stand behind Nico and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Death Boy?" he said jokingly, but the other boy pulled his shoulder away.

Will tried again, placing his hand where it had rested before speaking softly, "Nico?"

Nico tried to pull away again but this time with less resistance, Will took this as a chance and continued to gently speak the other boys name, eternal choruses of "Nico? Nico.. Nico," until the word was barely a whisper lingering on his lips. He also eventually managed to carefully turn the boy around to face him and, in a reckless burst of courage, pulled him into a delicate embrace.

It seemed bizarre for Will to feel two heartbeats but he soon realised that he was holding Nico so close that he was also feeling his heartbeat as well. Two unnaturally fast thumping hearts in the darkness drowned out only by the music playing across the room.
Tense was probably an understatement to describe how Nico looked, his shoulders were still squared and his breathing was hitched. Will knew how much he hated physical contact but he also didn't know what else to say, or do.
Will took a shaky breath, surprised at just how much he was trembling in the embrace. In another reckless moment driven by courage he stepped to the side slightly, swaying Nico with him, slowly and cautiously at first, until the two were dancing calmly to the music.

"What are you doing?" Nico's voice questioned, his head resting against Will's shoulder as if he were starting to relax slightly. His voice seemed on guard still. Will wondered if he was trying extra hard to keep up his exterior after his body had betrayed him by acting so relaxed in his movements.
Will honestly didn't know what he was doing; It just felt right. "We didn't get to finish our dance earlier," He mumbled.
Nico ever so slightly tightened his grip around Will and grasped onto his shirt. "You disgust me." his voice didn't sound harsh in that sentence. In fact it sounded as if The Ghost King himself were smiling through his words. And honestly, Will couldn't be happier at the fact.

All too soon the song ended and Will was still holding a rather quiet Nico in his arms. The current fragility and vulnerability that he was displaying to him in the moment caught Will off guard. He wondered if Nico would open the earth beneath his feet any moment to swallow him up so that he could never speak of the moment to anybody, nor remember it himself. But Will would never forget this moment. It was one of those precious little slices of time that were made to be remembered eternally.
Will loosened his grip slightly, yet once again to his surprise his dance partner tightened his grip.

"Don't go yet" he paused, "Solace." His voice had a slight edge to it, almost as if he were hesitant to speak, but he also wanted to reinstate his pride to the situation. Nico definitely didn't speak his name with the same amount of malice as earlier.
Will smiled and wrapped his arms around Nico again, "Sure thing, di Angelo." Will mimicked his tone, which earned him a half-hearted punch in the gut.

Worth it.

~~This will be the last chapter for a while guys as I'm going on a trip. But hold onto your hats! things can only go up from here! or horribly wrong :) ~~