Will was walking down to the Hades Cabin when someone grabbed his arm and yanked him out of his path towards the Poseidon Cabin. When they arrived Will was relieved to see none of the meal he was carrying was lost.

-It's been a week, Solace!-

-I know, Jason.- he answered trying to remain calm.

-Look man, I trust you because you healed Annabeth and me... But what did you do to Nico?!-

-If he wanted time to be alone then I think he can have it. If he wants to stay inside and hide for awhile it's alright. If he doesn't want to trust me enough to tell me anything, then is okay.-

-Solace, listen. I know you swore to help him, but I don't see any progress.- Jason said a little bit more calmly but his eyes betrayed his pacific exterior, he looked ready to kill someone.

-Grace, please, this is a long process and everyone goes at their own pace. That's why I told you that you needed to be patient. Since the start I warned you, and everyone said that it was fine! You, and everyone told me that they would wait, that they wanted to see Nico getting better. Well, guess what? He will take long to heal!-

They continued screaming at him, but Will didn't care, this week had been difficult and he knew that this would affect him emotionally too.

***Flashback***

-Good morning, sleepy head.-

Will grabbed they breakfast resting on the nightstand and gave it to the son of Hades.

-You missed breakfast, so I brought you some. How are you feeling?-

No answer.

During that whole day the healer tried to do some conversation, but failing every time he tried. After lunch he gave up, understanding that every attempt to talk would be useless. Nico remained in his bed, curled up, not talking, not moving, just eating and standing up when he needed to go to the bathroom, but otherwise he would stay immobile. After the bonfire, the son of Apollo went to the Hades Cabin to say Goodnight, just when he was leaving again a trembling hand grabbed his wrist, teary eyes pleading him to stay. And he did.

Everyday has been the same, Will going back and forth, bringing food, alternating time at the Infirmary and returning to Cabin 13. He would sit next to the Italian, sometimes he even moved so his head was resting on top of Will's lap. Will would caress his hair until both boys fell asleep. They never talked, the blond didn't push him to. He knew the dark-haired demigod needed time, and he was willing to gave him all time he needed.

Screaming interrupted his flashback, Jason and Percy were almost grabbing him by his precious hair.

-Why do you even help him?- said the sea-green eyed demigod.

-Why are you so interested in him?- retorted the son of Jupiter.

-Why do you keep him from us?-

-Why doesn't him want to come out?-

-Why can't he become better faster?-

Why this, why that? The wouldn't shut up. Will understood they were worried about Nico but this was getting ridiculous, now they were treating him like some sort of criminal. Enough was enough. Solace was a very patient person but he had already lost it.

-BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE HIM!— everything went silent after that outburst. It even seemed that the sounds outside were muted, but he wasn't backing down, he was satiated— You know what? I don't care if you don't trust me, I don't care you punch me or kill me even, I'm going to get him better even if it takes all my life, he can take every freaking time he wants! This is a slow process, S-L-O-W, slow, got it?! Now if you don't mind, I don't want Nico to starve because his friends were being assholes! Excuse me.-

With a bang on the door he was sprinting towards the 13th Cabin. He entered and tried hard to not show his discomfort. He gave Nico his breakfast and sat down on the other bed in the cabin, putting his head on his hands, calming himself.

-You know? You have to over-protective brothers trying to kill me because I don't say anything from you... Jason and Percy, well you can say they're worried to death about you, Death Boy.- he said chuckling.

He stood up and walked over to where Nico was curled up. He sat down next to him, caressing his hair, as always in this past week.

-You have lots of people who care about you, Neeks. Jason, Percy, me... Guess what happened like two nights ago? I was dreaming, remembering that time when I lived with my mom, she was baking brownies for me, I was sitting at the table of our little farm and then a really tall man, with black robes and black silky hair was sitting next to me. It was terrifying, he introduced himself as Nico's father, and it was hilarious! He told me 'you better take care of my son, or else...' he just left it like that. When I woke up I couldn't help but burst with laughter, I mean, how many times you get threatened by the Lord of the Underworld? And he isn't the only one... you know what Reyna and Hazel did? — Will giggled, smiling at the memory— They took Arion, three days ago and arrived here, looking for me. Reyna slammed me against a wall and Hazel pointed me with her spatha, at the time I was so scared until they began talking on how they were going to kill me if I did something bad to you... My point is, you don't have to feel alone, they care about you, I don't know if it matters but I care about you too. You have all the time you want to get better, as long as your goal remains being to be happy for yourself and not for the people around you.-

It had been a very long day, running around the Infirmary and Hades' Cabin, to say that the son of Apollo was exhausted was an understatement. He opened the door carefully in case Nico was already asleep. He took off his shoes and his pants, tucking himself on bed next to Nico, always respecting his personal-space issues. He was dozing off when he heard a voice he surely missed.

-Thank you, Will.-

He turned around to find the son of Hades looking at him, slowly closing his eyes until he was snoring slightly.