A/N: For some ungodly reason all my documents have all this funky coding surrounding the fic, so I think i've fixed it. Apologies.
Will removed the bedding from the used beds and put them in the laundry basket. His breath was even and his moves deliberate. Anyone to walk in now would just see Will, calm as ever. But inside his head thoughts whirled faster and faster; pressing his brain against his skull and giving him a splitting headache. He just couldn't get over how Nico acted after being asked to remove his shirt. Everyone was self conscious, well, maybe not Aphrodite's clan but still. When Will was 14 he was especially shy, he wasn't very built, not like the other kids. At 16, he'd kinda grown into his confidence. But Nico, he seemed to take it personally. Will was sure he hadn't offended the son of Hades but he still had a nagging feeling he had done something to upset him. Which left a horrible feeling in his stomach.
With everyone who could be, on the mend and out the infirmary, Will wasn't busy. He was about to shrug off his doctors scrubs before remembering he had giving his other spare shirt to Nico. It was to big on him, and the thought made Will warm. 'Nico?' Will jumped out of his daydream at the noise to find Percy Jackson standing at the entrance to the tent. 'Oh Will hey.' Percy smiled. That sucker had a pretty nice face, and whatever was hiding under his shirt would have been pretty nice too. 'Percy Jackson.' Will bowed then jumped onto Nico's bed. 'To what do I owe this pleasure?' Percy walked in and looked around looking a bit lost. 'I was just wondering if Nico was still in.' Will's gut dropped, and he didn't know why. 'He left about an hour ago why?' Percy shrugged. 'Just wondered.
Will nodded slowly. 'Soooo, how are you healing up? No more nosebleeds?' Percy chuckled. 'Nope, but if there is you'll be the first to know.' Will smiled, then noticed Percy lingering a bit. Like there was something he wanted to say. 'You ok?' Will pressed. Percy took a seat on the bed and took a deep breath. 'Just a bit worried about Nico, you know. He almost faded and I was worried I would lose him. It's a hard life being a demigod but I don't think Nico knows how many people love him.' Will nodded. 'I mean he's like my little brother, like I really care about him. Since me and Annabeth are heading off in a few days. I just wanted him to have some friends...' He trailer off looking embarrassed.
'Percy, Nico is one of the strongest demigods I've ever met. He's been through hell and back...' Will joked, then stopped, seeing the pained look on Percy's face. 'All I'm trying to say is, he'll be fine. He'll come round, and to be frank, I fixed him up pretty damn well.' Percy smiled, getting up. 'Just look out for him for me.' Will smiled and nodded. Percy waved and left the tent.
Nico, Nico, Nico. After all the shit he'd been through Will had no idea how to make it better or how to get through to him but gods, he was gonna try. He left the tent and marched over to the cabins, intent of befriending death boy, even if it killed him (which it might). He peeked through the window but couldn't see much, it was pretty dark. Maybe he wasn't in... He knocked. The door creaked open slowly revealing a slit of Nico's face, he was still wearing Wills shirt, which made him feel a bit giddy. 'Yes?' Nico mumbled.
'Can I come in?' Will smiled. Nico looked side to side awkwardly and pulled the door open a bit. Will let out a low whistle. Talk about depressing. A skull hung directly over his head and the room was lit with dark green flames, sunlight didn't even seem to penetrate the room. Leaving Will feeling cold and sad. 'Sorry for the er, interior design.' Shrugged Nico, sitting on his coffin shaped bed. 'Very Dracula.' Nodded Will. 'I thought you were a demigod, not a vampire.' Will joked. Nico smirked, an adorable half smile that made Wills head ache.
Nico looked up at Will. 'I'm sorry about earlier. I'm not very good with...' 'Humans?' Will smiled. Nico nodded. 'I'm not usually that er, freaked out. Guess still a bit in shock from the war.' Will gestured to another bed opposite Nico's. 'Can I sit?' Nico nodded. 'No ones over it, it was... devastating. So much pain, so many...' 'Deaths?' Nico answered. Will looked him in the eye. 'Can you... Like can you feel it?' Nico shuddered slightly and drew his knees up. 'It's not ideal.' He mumbled. 'Sorry.' Will managed. 'It's not your fault.'
'It's not yours either.' Will answered. Nico looked confused. 'What happened with Octavian... you were mumbling his name in your sleep. You can't feel guilty about that. He... He deserved to die.' Nico felt a spark of shock fly through his body. He never thought Will, the healer, would ever think someone deserved death. 'Some deaths you can't prevent.' He finished, looking Nico dead in the eye. Nico felt very hot and flustered, those blue eyes burnt into him like fire.
Will smiled, it didn't quite reach his eyes. 'Bet you think I'm mad right.' Nico shook his head, 'I've heard worse. I've done worse.' Nico replied. 'Such as...?' Will asked, cocking his head to the side, a lock of hear shook in front of his eyes. Interrupting Nico completely. 'I er well I, it's only happened once, but. I got really mad, Bryce Lawrence, he was- he was threatening Reyna, I couldn't take it. I just, exploded. I screamed. I-I turned him into a ghost, worse than that. I can't sense him. I think I obliterated him.' The silence killed Nico, he couldn't tell from his facial expression whether will thought he was a madmen or not. The silence stretched on. 'Shit Solace, say something.' Nico was breathing heavily. Will got up. Nico stumbled to his feet, about to stop will from going.
Will threw his arms around Nico into a bone crushing hug. Nico froze. Will could feel his heart hammering against his stomach and how soft his hear was against the base of his neck. 'I've heard worse.' Will pulled away smiling. Then he pushed the door open and walked away leaving Nico breathless.
As Will walked back to his cabin he had made his mind up. He was going to help Nico. No demigod should go through that alone. He had his sisters and brothers in the Apollo cabin, and his friends from home and in camp. But who did Nico have? Now the 7 had split who was gonna be there for him? Will wanted it to be him.
I've heard worse. The line replayed in Nico's head, he's not put off... Nico couldn't help himself. He grinned. He felt a warmth he hadn't felt before. He felt lighter. He laid back on his bed, a smile plastered on his face.
A/N: I have LOTS of ideas for this fic. Maybe a quest? Maybe a battle? I guess the only way to find out is to keep reading... ;D (And I hope I figured out the coding...)