Will Solace was genuinely starting to believe that his crush was under a blood curse of misfortune.
I mean, come on ! The first time someone related to him got featured in a prophecy, they died, the first time he was featured in a prophecy, he was kidnapped, dragged through Tartarus, and imprisoned in a jar, and now the first time a prophecy is made about him, it tells him to return to the place that traumatized him so deeply ? As a son of Apollo (and noted Nico fan), Will felt a shudder go down his spine at the mere thought of sending Nico back down there.
But, Chiron was right. Trying to avoid the prophecy was just stupid. Historically, it had only ever led to said prophecy coming true, from King Acrisius dying to a discus thrown by his grandson Perseus, to Oedipus killing his father and marrying his mother. Still, Will felt incredibly uncomfortable at the thought of sending anyone, let alone his crush, down into the abyss of Tartarus.
He had seen just how mentally scarred Nico had looked after he had returned from his first trip down there. It wasn't so obvious to the others, but to Will, who spent hours gazing at Nico from practically every vantage point he could find; who loved everything about Nico, from the way his cheeks pinked slightly whenever Will (or anyone) gave him a compliment; to the way his eyes sparkled in the moonlight as he sat near the camp lake late at night, unwilling to go to sleep, as Will looked at him, either from beside him, or through the Apollo cabin windows, which overlooked the lake, admiring the way the brilliant silver rays of light reflected off his crystal-blue irises, making them shimmer with light, like diamonds and sapphires; it was beyond clear just how much damage he had sustained to his psyche from his trip to Tartarus
Will suppressed another shudder as the memories came flooding back in. The way Nico had unknowingly isolated himself, and had unwittingly surrounded himself with an aura of death and decay, making every living being in a thousand miles fearful of him, the way he had looked, his eyes like shattered glass, his body pale and sickly. He hated seeing the one he loved going through that, and he hated himself, too, for being unable to help him. Some child of Apollo he was
Regardless, that was in the past, or at least it should have been. Nico had been healing, had been recovering, and then... and then that stupid prophecy... !
Will clenched his right hand into a fist, trying to steady his breathing before his anger overwhelmed him, and he accidentally blinded, cooked and/or deafened everyone around him (he wasn't entirely sure what would happen if he truly became filled with rage. Some children of Apollo began glowing with a brilliant light, some gave off piercing sounds, some began giving off heat roughly equivalent to about one-tenths of the Sun's heat).
Calmy, or at least trying-to-be-calm-ly, he turned on his heel and began walking towards the camp lake. If Nico was panicking as Will assumed he was, he would be there. Nico loved that place, and Will could sort of understand why. The lake had stood there for centuries, and barely anyone paid attention to it. It wasn't big, or flashy, and served no real purpose other than to simply exist. The moonlight reflected perfectly off the silvery-blue surface of the lake's water, making it shine like polished silver at night. There was always an air of serenity over the lake, as if the lake itself was a living entity, and it was telling you, "There's no need to be afraid. I will protect you". Will knew just how invaluable something like that would be to Nico, who had faced rejection at practically every turn.
At last, he came out of the small forest that surrounded the lake, and found himself standing a little distance behind Nico, who had curled himself up into a ball, and was currently hiding his face in his knees, as small sobs and whimpers escaped from him. Will felt his heart shatter as he listened to Nico cry. Calmly, without any sudden movements, he walked over to Nico, and sat down beside him.
"Go away", Nico said,, his voice slightly muffled by his knees and choked with tears and sorrow.
"Why ?", Will said, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as he softly touched Nico's shoulder, only to retract his hand when Nico flinched away from his touch
"You-You... I don't want you to...", Nico stumbled over his words before finally lifting his face from his knees, revealing it to Will, who could practically feel himself fall head-over-heels in love for the third time. The tears captured in Nico's eyelashes sparkled in the soft sunlight, making them look like small pearls or gemstones. His eyes were puffy and swollen from crying, and bloodshot, and yet Will couldn't help but get lost in them. His cheeks were pink with indignation as he struggled to articulate a response, and Will desperately wanted to reach out and pinch them, but knew that the gesture probably wouldn't be appreciated. His lips were... Will blushed a brilliant crimson as he desperately attempted to redirect his thoughts away from Nico's (admittedly beautiful) lips.
"Y-you don't want me to what ?", Will asked, still enamored with Nico's beauty, stammering slightly as he did so,
"I don't want you to see me like this", Nico admitted in a soft, quiet voice, blushing slightly as he did so
"I'm a healer, Nico. I've seen worse, trust me," Will reassured him in a soft voice, reaching out to touch Nico's shoulder, feeling a sense of triumph when Nico didn't pull away, but instead leant in closer
"I know, but I don't want you to see me like this. I don't want you to think of me... as a whiny child," Nico said in a quieter voice, seemingly embarrassed by his admission
Will smiled softly and reassuringly, pulling Nico into an embrace "Nico, if anything, I admire the way you reacted. Anyone else would have either fled camp entirely, or attacked the one who gave them the bad news. Not you, though. You're strong, Nico. I know you are... and I'm proud of you for that". Will suddenly felt something wet against his back.
"P-please d-don't l-leave me...", Nico choked out through the tears that were streaming down his face.
"Never", Will said as he held Nico tighter, holding him closer, and letting him cry on Will's shoulder
"They all say that...", Nico said, somewhat calmer now, and in a slightly dejected tone, as he struggled to break free from Will's grip, seemingly embarrassed
"I will never leave you.", Will repeated in an assertive, yet soft, voice, still holding Nico close, refusing to let him go.
That was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back, because Nico began crying when he heard that, and stopped struggling against Will, instead melting into the hug
