Author's Note: I initially envisioned this as part of a longer story, but most of the rest of the story will be significantly darker in tone, so I decided to make this into a prequel story.
This is essentially Solangelo fluff with a bit of gothic flavor - curtesy of Nico. Who else?
Also, this story does help establish a certain mood that settles over Camp Half-Blood, which will be an important aspect of the next installment.
oooOoooOoooOooo
Nico smiled in spite of himself, as he watched Will stitch up the patient's arm with the utmost care and gentleness.
"It won't hurt very long," Will assured his patient, a younger boy. "I promise..."
Will smiled for the boy, and Nico just couldn't help finding his boyfriend precious at times like this.
'Will was made for this job,' Nico thought.
He wasn't like some medics and doctors who act detached and indifferent toward their patients. Will was warm and affectionate. Anyone in his charge would be left with no doubt that he cared.
Will finished the stitch and tied it off, carefully cutting the string.
"It'll heal in about two days," Will asurred the boy with a clap on the shoulder. "If it hurts too much, come back."
"Thank you," the younger camper said, practically skipping out of the tent.
Nico noticed that as soon as the kid had left, Will's expression became anxious. Nico thought that his boyfriend had been wearing that expression just a little too often lately, but it wasn't without reason.
"You're worrying about that again," Nico pointed out with a sigh. "I'm sure the Council will figure it out in no time. Try not to worry too much..."
"I can't help it," Will said. "You and half the other campers say that the Council will figure it out. I just can't see how, when they have no idea what is causing it. Face it, Nico. The idea that your dad might be doing it is popostrous. Why would Hades manifest an aura of fear into this camp every single night? Why would he want everyone to think him a menacing, unseen presence hiding in shadows? He wouldn't do that without a reason at least, and I don't think he has one."
"No," Nico agreed. "Not that I pretend to understand all my dad's reasons and ways, but I'm aware of nothing that should cause him to hide in the shadows here. I'm not aware that he has any enemies here."
"You agree with me then?" Will pressed Nico. "You agree that only some kind of presence could be causing this mood of fear to fall over the camp? This fear that everyone has been feeling every night at dinner must come from a something."
"Alright," Nico relented. "I'll admit it is worrying. Because usually outside presences can't manifest inside of this camp. That makes me think that it is probably something on the inside - but what?"
"Just supposing it were a ghost," Will suggested, "...could you sense that it was?"
"Not necessarily," Nico confessed. "There are ways that ghosts can hide themselves even from children of Hades if they try hard enough. Usually, we children of Hades can see something that others can't see, even with the most elusive of ghosts. However, ghosts can find ways to cloak their astral bodies. I'd be worried if it were a ghost, and they had that kind of power. Only very specific kinds of people could become that sort of ghost. Most of the possibilities aren't good, I can tell you that. Now, let's go do something like visit the camp store. It does no good to wonder about what isn't yet known."
Will agreed, and he had been wanting to buy some new wares at the camp store to decorate his personal space in the Apollo cabin.
...and yet, as he and Nico headed in that direction, Will felt a coldness fall over him like a blanket.
He turned back toward the medic tent, looking into the trees beyond. He had a feeling something was watching them, but there was no one to be seen.
Shaking it off, Will walked into closer step with Nico, and reached for his hand. Nico didn't withdraw like he did when he was in one of his moods.
He and Will understood each other better than anyone else understood them, and Nico could tell that Will needed that touch just now.
Nico paused, deciding that Will needed something else. He squeezed Will's hand gently and leaned in to place the lightest of kisses on Will's cheek.
Will accepted the offered comfort and pulled Nico into an embrace, feeling all his anxiety of moments ago melt into the comfort of Nico's arms.
oooOoooOooo
A daughter of Aphrodite was manning the checkout counter of the camp store today. A girl by the name of Lacey.
"I'm looking for decorative," Will explained. "I should know where it is. Except that I'm not usually on the lookout for decor in here, you know?"
"Oh I understand," Lacey said with a light blush when Will smiled at her. "There are some decor stuffs in the far right-hand corner, I believe."
"Thank you!" Will said with an enthusiastic wave.
Nico scowled slightly.
"She liked you," he said in a displeased tone of voice.
"She couldn't help it Nico," Will pointed out good-naturedly. "A lot of girls find me good looking. Don't you?"
"Alright Solace," Nico said with a hint of sarcasm. "Don't go getting a big head!"
With that Nico reached for a black candle and changed his mind, instead going for a replica ancient skull.
He picked it up and smiled one of his dark little smiles that he gave when indulging his inner-goth.
"I think I should buy this for the Hades cabin," Nico said, holding the skull directly in Will's face. "What do you think?"
Will gulped and forced a light laugh.
"I think you have a dark sense of appreciation."
"Took you this long to notice?" Nico joked.
Rather than answering, Will held up a hideously bright orange shawl for Nico to recoil from. Turn about was fair play...
"That's hideous," Nico told Will honestly.
Will wrapped his arm around Nico's waist and pulled him close.
"We'll never share the same tastes," Will chuckled. "...but I love you anyway!"
"Well, usually I can't stand anything bright or sunny," Nico said honestly. "I'm not sure why I like your brightness."
"I'm the sun to your moon."
"That's pretty cheesy, Will."
"Yeah," Will agreed with a bright smile.
Nico feigned a sigh of annoyance, but really he found what Will was doing endearing.
Still, he decided he'd make for the front of the store with his skull and leave Will behind - just for dramatic effect.
'That brat,' Will thought, smiling in spite of himself.
oooOoooOoooOooo
Well, that's it for this installment. Now that I've got the Solangelo fluffiness out of everybody's system, we can proceed to a much darker story.