It's that time of year. Merry Christmas everyone!

"Nico!"

The yelling alone would have woken Nico DiAngelo. He'd always been a light sleeper. So he didn't need the load banging on the door. Or an ultrasonic whistle.

He started to rise, but was hit by a wave of icy wind from the windows of the cabin (you'd think, with the whole demigod thing, that they'd have double glazing. Apparently not). Shivering, he grabbed a blanket from the top of the bed, wrapping it around his shoulders like a cape. Cursing quietly with every step on the dark wood, he stumbled across the cabin and swung open the door.

Just as he'd known it would be, a familiar blue-eyed face was staring back at him.

"Will. What in Hades name-"

"Emergency!" Will darted past Nico into the cabin, pulling the door shut behind him. Nico hadn't every noticed the snow that had been swirling around outside until he saw tiny flakes scattered though his boyfriend's hair.

The son of Apollo didn't look particularly distressed; more excited, and a little cold. Nico guessed that this was a Will emergency. They didn't tend to be quite as dramatic as Nico's idea of a calamity.

"An emergency that required you to wake me up at," he checked the clock on his bedside table and groaned. "Six in the morning. This had better be good."

Will crossed his arms, playing at being indignant. "Do you not trust my judgement?"

"Not really." Nico wandered back across the room and collapsed back onto his bed. Pulling another blanket around his shoulders, he leant back against the wall and sighed. "Go on. What's the 'emergency'?"

"It's nearly Christmas-"

"Yes, I was aware of that." Nico cut in, already not liking where this conversation was going. He'd bought presents already, and had even written a few cards. What else had be forgotten?

"And every cabin around camp is decorated-"

"They are?"

"Yes! Are you blind? Ever Ares put tinsel on the barbed wire. Every cabin. Except for one."

The Italian boy groaned again. "I am not putting a load of glitter around my cabin."

"But it's Christmas!"

"I don't care! How can this place be all dark and peaceful if there are sparkles everywhere?"

"It's a Camp tradition to decorate." Will whined.

"Why?" Nico ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "Why is it a stupid Camp tradition? Not everyone here even celebrates Christmas, so why on earth-"

"Because it's fun." Will snarked. "Do you even remember fun?"

"Of course I do!"

"Prove it. Put some decorations up."

"Sometimes I really hate you." Nico whined, flopping over and burying his face in his pillow.

"Sure you do."

He felt the bed sag as Will say down next to him, and reached out blindly to swat at him. "I do. You're so annoying."

"I think we should put tinsel around the windows." Will grabbed hold of the flapping hand, preventing the pathetic attack without any effort. "Hecate could enchant the room to make it look like it was snowing. And we could put Santa hats on those skeletons in the corner."

Nico was sitting up again in a spilt second, arms wrapped around Will's shoulders, holding him back. "Don't. Touch. My. Skeletons."

A few hours later, they had reached a compromise. Just about. The were still a few things each wanted to change. But both of them admitted that the cabin looked pretty good.

Nico had refused to let the decorating go overboard. The most dramatic change was the fairy lights running around the edge of the ceiling, which twinkled and flashed and generally made the whole cabin look 'less like Tartarus took a course on interior design.' There were a token few paper snowflakes hung up alone the walls - the best Will could achieve, after a mysterious zombie drove away the Hecate magicians. A Christmas tree was set up proudly by the door, small skull ornaments adorning the branches (where they had come from was anyone's guess).

It was undoubtably festive. But still distinctive, and still, unarguably, fitting for the Hades cabin.

The boys sat on the bed next to each other, admiring their hard work. Will's head was leaning on his boyfriend's shoulder, and their hands were resting on the blankets, casually twined together.

"See. This isn't so bad." Will mumbled, voice muffled by the cloth of Nico's shirt. "You just made a huge fuss about nothing."

"I still don't see the point. It's all going to be taken down in a few days."

"You're such a grinch." Will muttered, but the smile was clear in his voice.

"I don't hate all of Christmas. Presents are good."

"Of course they are. They're presents."

"I don't see why I can't open them all now." Nico whined, opening his eyes briefly to stare at the pile of presents he'd arranged under the tree.

"Because it isn't Christmas yet. It's only a few more days."

"It seems like ages."

"It'll be here before you know it. I promise." Will's lips gently brushed against his cheek, before they lapsed back into comfortable silence.

Will broke it after a few minutes in a gentle whisper.

"Merry Christmas, Nico."

"Merry Christmas, Will."