Chapter Text
Maybe the fact that Cabin Thirteen hasn't changed a bit since he and Nico's departure shouldn't surprise Will, but it does. Truth be told, Will isn't sure that he will ever not be surprised by the things that remain constant, even as the world around them changes.
Because in the months since they had first left this cabin for good, Will and Nico's life has been nothing but change. Both of them had grown as people, had experienced so many new things, both godly and mortal. And yet, stepping back into this cabin, seeing its familiar obsidian walls, the large and finely-decorated bed in the corner, made up just the way it was when Nico left it, the ornate windows and their bloodred velvet curtains drawn tight to block out any light…
Just standing here, gazing over everything once more, is enough to make Will feel like a seventeen-year-old camper all over again. Enough to make it feel like not a day had passed since they left.
This week was the start of what Chiron seemed to hope would be a new tradition here at Camp; the year-round kids were currently on a field trip in the Underworld, meeting Menoetes and being given a tour of his farm so that they could learn more about where their nectar and abrosia came from. After that, Mister D. was taking them across the country on a bus trip to visit the various monuments and shrines to the gods in America, but the main purpose had been to get the "littles" out of camp for ther week so that the old campers— the ones who had graduated or aged out of Camp Half-Blood, the ones who were currently building a life out in the world, whether it be at New Rome or in the mortal world— could have a sort of reunion retreat. It was a chance to catch up with old friends, a chance to see how the New Rome program was working for the demigods, a chance to exchange advice and life stories about living in the mortal and demigod worlds alike.
Now more than ever, more and more demigods were living to adulthood. For the first time since the beginning of camp, demigods everywhere were being allowed to live the lives they wanted outside of the constant threat of monsters, death, and war hanging over their heads.
It had taken the efforts of many demigods before to reach this point; Percy, demanding that the gods actually claim their children. Annabeth, working to build and design cabins to ensure that all gods and campers had a cabin at camp. The many demigods who had come together to end the rift between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. Jason, who dedicated his life to ensuring that all minor gods had shrines and offerings paid to them, and those who picked up the work after his untimely passing. Apollo, who was now representing and looking out for demigods up in Olympus. Leo, who was working tirelessly to create a working portal system between Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood.
And most recently, Nico and Hazel. Both of whom had worked to ensure that monsters were given a choice beyond just hunting demigods all their lives. Who were working to reform monsters to mythics, and were building the auxilialegion to allow them to assist in protecting New Rome.
Will was so proud of Nico that it hurt. He tells Nico that, as frequently as he can, something which never fails to make Nico roll his eyes, though Will can always tell that Nico secretly enjoys the praise.
Will is brought back down from his thoughts by the sound of Nico closing the door behind them, by the feeling of his boyfriend stepping closer. He feels Nico's shoulder brush up against his, and when Will turns, Nico is still holding his overnight bag, his dark eyes dancing across the interior of the cabin as well, the corners of his lips curled upwards ever so slightly as he takes it all in. He seems to settle a moment, his eyes slipping shut as he inhales slowly through his nose, breathing in the scent of pine and warm earth, the scent that Will had come to associate with his Nico, with the nights that he spent in Nico's cabin.
It's been nice having a life outside of Camp Half-Blood. But it would be impossible to deny that coming back to this cabin still feels like coming home. For both of them.
Will feels his own face break out into a wide smile at the sight of Nico like this; quietly content and devastatingly pretty in all the ways that Will has grown to love more and more in their time together. He leans over and bumps Nico with his hip, which makes Nico let out a small huff of surprise, his dark eyes peeking open as he gives Will a look that's all unbearably fond exasperation and quiet adoration.
"What?" he deadpans. Will chuckles, brings an arm up to wrap around Nicos' waist.
"Nothing, just…" Will smiles, kisses the side of Nico's head, "…good to be back, right?"
"Hm." Nico gives a small roll of his eyes before stepping forward, setting down the overnight bag next to the bed, and leaning back to stretch, wincing slightly as his spine pops in protest.
To anyone else, it would be a dismissal. But after so many years as an official couple, Will is now an expert at recognizing the little signs in Nico di Angelo; the tiniest hint of a chuckle beneath his breath, the small spark of affection in his dark eyes. All of these small cues give Will the courage to step forward with a wide grin, wrapping his arms around Nico's waist from behind and pressing his nose to Nico's shaggy hair. He closes his eyes, lets out a contented hum of his own. He can practically feel Nico's eyes roll in exasperation.
"What are you doing?" Nico asks, a faint hint of amusement in his voice. Will shakes his head, grips a little tighter.
"Shush. I'm currently in the very lengthy and complex process of recovering from the Gray Sister's cab."
"Oh, are you?" Nico chuckles, resting his hands over Will's before leaning a bit more firmly back against him. "I don't recall the cure for motion sickness having anything to do with hanging off of me like a backpack."
"Well, I go to medical school, and you don't," Will shoots back. He tightens his grip, leaning down until he can press his chin to Nico's shoulder. "Besides, it's an experimental new procedure. One that I've been put in charge of testing."
This finally gets Nico to fully laugh, low and so adorable that it makes something in Will's chest go gooey. He turns in Will's arms, looping his arms around Will's neck.
"And the result so far?" Nico questions cheekily, his hand coming up to cup Will's jaw, his thumb tracing the curve of Will's cheekbone as he nudges Will's nose with his. Will feels a grin spread across his face, feels a bashful heat rise to his cheeks as he turns to press a kiss to the inside of Nico's palm.
"Promising," Will murmurs, leaning forward and tilting his head to muffle the last few words against Nico's lips. "Verypromising, actually…"
Kissing Nico is far from a novelty these days, especially since the two of them have their own apartment in New York now, but Will still treasures it. He knows so many more kinds of kisses now than he did before; sleepy kisses that Nico presses to the corner of Will's mouth in the early hours of morning, rushed kisses that Will has to sneak in before dashing out the door, already running late for his class. The kind of kisses that Nico always presses to Will's curls when he's hunched over the office desk in their apartment, completely focused on the anatomy diagrams and various papers that are spilled across the wooden surface like fallen leaves, and Will's personal favorite, the kisses that he peppers over Nico's nose and cheeks until Nico scrunches up his face in faux annoyance, halfheartedly shoving Will away.
Will keeps waiting for the day that they lose their novelty, keeps waiting for routine to wear down the value of affections such as these, like a stone held beneath running water, but they haven't. Each press of their lips is still precious, each kiss a kind of small discovery, a reminder of the love they've shared for over five years now.
This kiss, here and now, is no exception. Nico's lips still taste faintly of the coffee they had picked up this morning on the way to meet the Gray Sisters, and when they curve up into a smile against Will's, he can feel his own mouth mirroring the movement, stretching and shifting until they're both just smiling against each other's mouths. Which, admittedly, makes it significantly harder to kiss, but the fuzzy feeling that always fills Will's chest in moments like these makes it so completely worth it.
"Idiot," Nico mumbles, the kind of murmuring affirmation that carries no real bite to it. Will just laughs, chases Nico's lips when he pulls back, but Nico turns his head with a playful grumbling sound, so he settles for kissing the patch of skin just next to Nico's lips. Then the edge of Nico's jaw. The place just beneath his ear. Nico has to gently shove at his chest for him to finally let up, though neither one of them seems to want to break the embrace.
It's moments like these, the quiet kind, where he gets to fully indulge in piling affections on an adorably grumpy Nico, that Will finds himself filled with a sort of quietly aching gratefulness.
Because while Will was growing up, especially as a queer person in the South, and especially as a demigod, Will never thought that a life like this would be possible for him. He used to think that he wouldn't even live long enough to see himself turn nineteen, much less that he would be able to do it with a boyfriend that he loves more than life itself, all while studying the thing he's always wanted to do. Medical school used to be a passing daydream, and now, it's a reality. His reality. He's not sure if he's ever going to be able to fully believe it.
And Will never thought that he could be this happy— especially after all the people that he'd lost over the course of his life, especially with all the grief for his siblings and fellow campers, who gave their lives to help make the world a better place for demigods everywhere. He always thought that he would need to forget those who came before him in order to be truly content in life.
But if there's one thing that the son of Hades has taught Will in their time together, it is that happiness is always possible, even after a life filled with loss. That it was possible to remember those who had passed with fondness and to carry their memory with him into a brighter future. That some days were harder than others, but all of them were worth living.
He loves Nico for that. Loves that Nico continues to teach him something new about life every day, all without meaning to.
Will glances around again, lets himself sit in the feeling for a moment. He knows that Nico feels it too, knows that Nico is every bit as grateful as he is, every bit in awe of leading a life that he never thought possible. The silence is comfortable, warm, and filled with the kind of contentment that comes with enjoying a hard-won lasting happiness. Perhaps, if they both decided, it could go on forever. Will is almost tempted to let it.
That is, until Will's eyes land on the bed behind Nico. On the dark covers, the deep red silk sheets, the soft pillows that were always covered in strands of Will's golden hair.
A smile forms on his face, mischievous and nostalgic all at once.
"You know," Will hums absentmindedly, letting his hands move to cup Nico's waist, dipping his thumbs underneath the hem of Nico's t-shirt to teasingly skim across the skin underneath. "Being back in this place brings back some… fondmemories."
He waggles his eyebrows exaggeratedly at Nico, whose brow furrows for a moment as he thinks. Will watches as Nico's eyes widen briefly in recognition before rolling in annoyance, closing for a moment as he lets out an exasperated groan.
"You're insufferable, Solace."
"You like it," Will beams, glancing back down at the bed again. "Gods… I remember so many nights spent here…" He pulls Nico a little closer, guiding them to sway back and forth a little in a strange sort of dance. "… finishing up after a long shift at the infirmary… sneaking over to your cabin…" He grins, pressing his lips to Nico's ear and letting his voice drop in a manner that he hopes is enticing. "Climbing into bed with you…"
"Will…" Nico hums, low and warning.
"We barely knew what we were doing back then," Will continues, letting his voice go husky as he pointedly ignores Nico's halfhearted protestation. "More fooling around than anything else…" He feels his smile grow even more, almost wild now, and he presses it to the side of Nico's face. "But oh my gods… You were a fast learner, weren't you—"
"Nice try," Nico interrupts smoothly. "We're not doing that while we're here."
Will makes an offended noise, pulling back to give Nico an incredulous stare.
"And why's that?" he demands, slightly more high-pitched than he intended. Nico gives him yet another fondly exasperated look, his mouth twisting slightly like he's barely suppressing a laugh.
"Because," Nico says, mimicking Will's whining tone, "all of the senior campers are stopping by for spring break as well." Nico wrinkles his nose. "Besides, I don't want to deal with Percy's cheeky little remarks the whole week."
"No one has to know," Will says, exaggeratedly batting his lashes at Nico. "I could be so quiet for you—"
Nico snorts, apparently thoroughly unconvinced. "Doubtful—"
"Come on!" Will groans. "Just for old time's sake—!"
"We have a perfectly good apartment and all the time in the world after this week," Nico replies easily. "And you have siblings who miss you. You know, the ones staying in your own cabin with you this week?"
"I see them all the time!"
"Will—"
"We keep in touch, you know! I got coffee with Kayla just last week—"
Nico cuts him off with a kiss, the kind where Will can feel the puffs of Nico's fond laughter against his lips. And Will is going to protest, really he is, except Nico laces his fingers through the blonde curls on the back of Will's head, his paint-chipped nails scratching pleasantly against Will's scalp as he does so, which is a dirty trick that never fails to make Will melt right into the kiss. So by the time Nico finally pulls back, Will is completely speechless, dazed, and warm inside as Nico drags his hand down to grip Will's chin, giving him a playfully scolding look.
"You're lucky you're cute," Nico mumbles cheekily. "And you're lucky that I'm being very firm about this whole thing, because otherwise, I'd do something about that motormouth of yours."
The smug promise brings a rush of heat into Will's cheeks, the kind that he knows means his freckles are glowing a rose-gold color against his skin. It makes his whole body go hot with need as well, but before Will can make any kind of move to try and change Nico's mind, Nico is already pulling out of the embrace, shoving his hands into the pockets of his aviator jacket, and stepping around Will as he makes his way to the door of the cabin. As soon as he's out of reach, Will lets out a sharp exhale, closing his eyes, tilting his head upwards with an annoyed sort of grunt, and silently cursing whichever god gave Nico the audacity and the ability to be this good at pressing Will's buttons.
"You coming, sunshine?"
Will opens his eyes, turns to see that Nico is standing in the open doorway of the cabin, turned to face Will with one hand still shoved in his jacket pocket and the other on the door, his brow raised in an expression so unfairly attractive that it almost pisses Will off.
"I hate you," Will grumbles. Nico snorts.
"Yeah, I bet." He smirks, giving a small jerk of his head. "C'mon. We got people to catch up with."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next few days, at least in Will's opinion, are an inescapable nightmare.
Will had (foolishly) thought that Nico would eventually give. He'd been convinced that the whole "waiting for sex until they got home" was a joke that Nico had told to tease Will, and that eventually, Nico would absolutely be down to romp in the sheets for old time's sake. After all, it wasn't like Nico, and him were strangers to having sex in riskier places; they weren't voyeristic about it, but they'd definitely done it a few times in locations that were outside the apartment (the most memorable of them being the janitor's closet in one of the buildings on campus).
On top of this, they were no stranger to teasing remarks and pokes from the likes of Percy, Annabeth, or really any of their fellow campers who knew that they were sleeping together. Hell, they weren't strangers in the slightest when it came to having sex on the grounds of Camp Half-Blood— like Will had said, it was an affair that they had conducted multiple times back when they were both year-round campers living there.
But no. Apparently, Nico had been deadly serious about not having sex in his cabin during the reunion retreat.
(If Will wasn't so appalled by the whole thing, and if he weren't so damn horny right now, he'd probably be able to think of some clever pun regarding a son of Hades being "deadly" serious about something. The kind of pun that would no doubt make Nico laugh in that way that he always does whenever Will does something especially dorky— the type of laugh that he tries to hide, and the type that he always denies after the fact because he doesn't want to let Will win whatever cheeky argument they're having, but the kind that both know was real.)
(But, as stated earlier, Will isn't exactly in his right mind at the moment. And that fact is something that he knows Nico loves, the smug bastard.)
But it's been five days of the retreat. Five days spent together, five days of waiting, and still, absolutely nothing has happened. It's not for lack of trying, either; Will's tried just about every strategy that he can think of at this point to get Nico to crack, and each passing day renders them more and more desperate.
At first, he dutifully spent the night in the Apollo cabin with Austin and Kayla, thinking that if distance really does make the heart grow fonder, maybe it could inspire Nico to do something with that newfound fondness. Ideally, something involving both of their clothes off and tangled sheets. But the whole "casual" approach that Will was going for there was ruined on night two when he ended up on Nico's front doorstep, hair rumpled and arms crossed, scowling as he confessed to Nico that he already hated the sound of Austin's snoring, and he missed sharing a bed with Nico at night. And of course, it seems that Nico was expecting that exact outcome, because Will could swear that he saw Nico biting back a laugh as he stepped aside and let Will in.
Then, Will tried plastering himself on Nico. He took every opportunity— whether it be during guard in a match of Capture the Flag, while roasting s'mores at the campfire, or even during an archery competition hosted by Kayla— to press up against Nico and wrap himself around him, pressing kisses to Nico's hair, cheeks, the side of his neck or the curve of Nico's shoulder through his jacket. But none of it seems to have any effect on Nico outside of him rolling his eyes affectionately and turning to kiss Will's cheek in return.
(Which is actually incredibly sweet and adorable, all things considered. It makes Will feel all happy and fuzzy inside, but it still drives him crazy because he's not trying to be cute; he's trying to get railed. Ideally, as soon as possible.)
(Who could have guessed that getting laid by your own boyfriend of five years would be such a tricky thing?!)
That isn't to say Will isn't having fun on this retreat, either; no, this week has honestly been pretty great in terms of how much fun Will is having. In many ways, it's the exact kind of vacation that Will needed after a stressful semester and a half of med school. Winter is always rough for children of Apollo, what with the lack of sun and all, and it's been wonderful to laze around in the sun all day, especially in a place that doesn't stink of engine exhaust in that specific way New York always does.
And Will loves being allowed to fully throw himself into spending time with old friends. He and Nico went on a double date with Piper and Shel, the four of them rowing out into the lake and spending the day chatting and getting to know each other. He played a match of volleyball with Percy against Leo and Annabeth, and by some miracle, actually managed to beat them. He ate delicious food with old friends, sang around the campfire at night, and, of course, participated in all of the reunion activities that Chiron set up for the campers (ergo, the archery competition and Capture the Flag game).
Still, by the time the fifth day had rolled around, Will was getting pretty… antsy, you could say.
A fact that is definitely not helped when Nico slid up next to him at breakfast, pressed a lingering kiss just beneath Will's ear, and whispered in a sinfully husky tone, "Doing great, sunshine. Almost there."
When they eventually get back to their apartment in New York, Will is going to pounce on him. That is, if he hasn't died of horniness before then.
But again. It's not so bad.
It's bad right now, but that's just because Will is currently sitting in the stands of the training ring, watching Nico spar with Leo. And Nico always looks mouth-wateringly good whenever he's in the midst of combat; dark eyes blazing, a quietly cocky sort of smirk on his face, his features appearing sharper and impossibly prettier in the glow of his Stygian iron sword. He'd put on a bit of eyeliner this morning, too, the fucking smug son of a bitch, and there was no way that Nico didn't know what he was doing, because as soon as he'd walked out of the bathroom in the cabin that morning, Will had immediately lost the ability to speak. Nico had stood there, fighting back a smile as Will's sentence morphed into the spluttering of random syllables, clearly enjoying the truly agonizing suffering that Will was going through; Will, the boyfriend that he was supposed to love, not torment, thank you very much.
It's hard to date someone like Nico sometimes.
Hard because Nico is the perfect combination of good-looking and incredibly-perceptive, and that means that he always seems to know exactly how to drive Will crazy in every way imaginable.
Will's so distracted by Nico— who has locked blades with Leo, his teeth bared and eyes alight with a rivalrous heat, the kind that makes Will's heart clench with yearning in his chest, as the two of them try to out-muscle each other— that he doesn't even register that someone has sat down next to him.
At least, not until he feels a hesitant tap on his shoulder, one that startles Will so badly that it nearly makes him jump out of his skin with surprise. As it is, he lets out an undignified yelping sound, one that Nico will definitely hold over his head for a few weeks if he heard Will make it, nearly falling off the edge of the bleachers in his fright. The hand quickly retracts from Will's shoulder, as if it had been burned.
"Sorry!" a voice says, scrambling and pitched with a mixture of surprise and total mortification. "Didn't mean to scare you, I swear!"
A wave of guilt and embarrassment alike washes over Will, so powerful that he feels his cheeks go bright red. He quickly tries to play it off, though that effort is ruined by the unnatural pitch of his voice.
"No, i-it's totally fine!" Will chokes, pressing a hand over his racing heart. "Sorry, just was lost in thought—"
As soon as his eyes land on this new person, he feels his face twist into a puzzled frown, his already-befuddled mind confused as it tries to piece together the familiar-yet-foreign features of this stranger.
It's a boy, one around his age if he had to guess. Will's eyes land first on his chestnut-colored hair, the kind that appears carelessly rumpled in that effortlessly-attractive way that Will can never seem to manage with his own bushy curls. There's a small scrape on his left cheek, a sort of ethereally-pretty quality to his hazel eyes that Will knows is inherent to a child of Aphrodite, and he's wearing a nervous sort of half-smile, the kind that seems to show off his perfectly-straight-and-whitened-teeth. It's all familiar, but it's the kind of familiarity that's dulled with time, like Will had seen him at one point in time, but years had passed without a reminder.
He wonders if it would be impolite to ask, but he can't seem to come to a conclusion on the matter, so he ends up just staring mutely at this guy, blinking at him in a manner that no doubt looks incredibly stupid and decidedly uncool as he tries to puzzle out a name. The guy quickly straightens, reaching up to brush away a strand of perfectly-done hair that had fallen across his forehead, clearing his throat before holding out his hands and giving a small smile.
"Been a while, huh, Solace?" he says. His voice only further confirms that Will does, in fact, know this person— it has a quality that makes Will think of fine velvet, which tugs at something forgotten in the back of Will's mind, and still, no name comes to mind. The guy waits a moment longer before letting out a small sigh of disappointment, his cheeks darkening as his hand comes up to rub the back of his neck.
"We used to be canoeing partners?" the guy tries again.
That is what finally breaks through the fog of Will's mind. He makes a noise of excitement, nodding quickly.
"Oh, yeah! Yeah, I remember! You, uh…" Will snaps his fingers, then points to him again. "You were the guy who was scared of fish! The one that always made me drive them away from our boat with the paddle?!"
The guy flinches at the memory, but his face lights up in a smile as well. "Yeah, that's right! It's—"
"—Oliver Jensen!" Will finishes with a bright laugh. With the name now slotted in place, memories begin to flood back, as if a dam in Will's mind had been broken. "I remember because you were always in the infirmary! Gods, what was it? Once a week at least, right?!"
"That's me!" Oliver beams. It's such an unexpected surprise, seeing an old and forgotten friend again, that it makes a rush of euphoria spread from his chest, the sensation making Will feel suddenly dizzy with excitement.
"Holy Hera, what's it been?!" Will lets out a disbelieving laugh, opening his arms and accepting the hug that Oliver offers him. He claps him on the back before pulling back with a grin. "Six years or something?!"
"Just about!" Oliver laughs, his cheeks turning a shade of rosy pink that matches the sunset just behind him. "Remember, I, uh… I left camp when we were both about thirteen, I think? So that my dad and I could move to Germany. You remember that, right?"
"Yeah!" Will exclaims, nodding eagerly, his hand coming up to push his curls away from his forehead as the memory of Oliver's departure rushes forth, filling his mind with the long-forgotten images of Oliver being led out of camp by one of the satyrs, suitcase in hand. "Uh… boarding school, right? How'd that go?"
Oliver's face falls slightly, though he lets out a small chuckle. "Oh, about as well as you'd expect," he jokes weakly.
Wil's heart sinks; it's not the first time a demigod at camp was forced to leave so that a parent could move them somewhere new, but he knows far too many campers who struggled afterwards. He's not sure what to say to comfort Oliver, so Will gives a sympathetic wince, which seems to be enough, because Oliver nods gratefully, shifting slightly before continuing.
"Yeah, between trying to learn German and constantly looking out for monsters, I didn't exactly have the time to enjoy all the 'wonders of Berlin,' as my dad put it."
"You're alive, at least," Will reassures him. He reaches out and claps Oliver on the shoulder, giving him a crooked smile. "That's more than a lot of demigods can say, right?" To his surprise, Oliver's eyes follow Will's hand as it retreats, his expression strangely awed.
"Yeah, guess so," Oliver laughs, his fingers drumming nervously against his knee. Will decides to ignore it, refocusing his attention on Oliver's face.
"Well, what brings you back here then?"
Oliver shrugs. "Heard about New Rome University through the grapevine. Moved back here and haven't looked back since." He laughs nervously, elbows Will with just a little bit too much force, though Will quickly covers his grunt of surprise with a laugh of his own. "No sign of you there though, huh?"
"Nah," Will agrees. "Nico wanted to experience life outside of the world of gods and demigods, y'know? Plus, I didn't exactly love my time at Camp Jupiter—"
Oliver raises a questioning eyebrow at Will, but Will shoots him a look that says, don't ask, so Oliver just laughs again, gesturing for Will to continue.
"—so we got an apartment in the city, and now we're both attending Columbia University!" Will finishes proudly. Oliver's eyebrows raise in surprise.
"Isn't that, like… an Ivy League school?"
"Sure is," Will grins. "Nico and I were both doing a program near camp at the time— trying to earn a high school equivalency degree, I think it's called?— When we ended up getting enlisted to help Hades with rearranging the Underworld setup. You know, to help with all the new monster-converts coming in? Anyways, afterwards, we both got spots at Colombia as a kind of 'thank you' gift from Nico's dad."
He glances over at Nico, who is currently summoning the Coacoa Puffs from their hideout in the Underworld to swarm a shrieking Leo. He's unable to restrain the fond smile that softens his features at the sight; it's always a treat to see Nico having fun like this. Always a treat to see Nico with friends.
"It's probably cheating or something, getting in like that," Will continues. "But… Nico and I both really like it there. Makes us both really happy, you know?"
Something crosses Oliver's face, darkening his expression briefly. It's only then that Will realizes he must have hit some kind of nerve.
He curses himself internally; it was probably incredibly insensitive for Will to brag about being illegally accepted to an Ivy League college. Maybe Oliver had been hoping for an Ivy League education of his own, or maybe he was struggling with his academics at New Rome. Either way, it was in poor taste for Will to be bragging like he was. Not all demigods were as lucky in terms of gifts from their godly parents as Nico was.
Oliver glances back up at Will, his teeth sinking into his lower lip before he reluctantly mumbles under his breath.
"So… you and Nico?"
Will blinks. He feels his brow furrow in confusion, but he quickly smooths it out again.
"Yeah. You, uh… you didn't know?"
"No, I knew," Oliver says quickly. Far too quickly, actually— he's almost certainly lying, but Will doesn't call him out for it. Instead, he remains silent, watches with increasing confusion as Oliver glances up at Nico, his expression darkening further as he watches Nico take advantage of a fully-distracted Leo to swiftly disarm him, judo-flipping him to the ground before planting a boot on the center of Leo's chest. He straightens himself, resting his sword on his shoulders and giving Leo a smug sort of smile that makes heat pool in Will's stomach.
"I, uh…"
There's a strange sort of fear in Oliver's voice, one that draws Will's attention back to him. He glances over at Oliver, concerned, and Oliver swallows, his fingers resuming their nervous tapping on his knee, faster now than before.
"I actually came here to say that… that…"
Will reaches out as if to comfort Oliver, but before he can, Oliver sucks in a deep breath, like he's steeling himself for something, before turning to look at Will. His expression is strange— weirdly intense in a way that makes Will draw back slightly.
"I was faking it a lot," Oliver manages. "The injuries that always got me into the infirmary, I mean."
Will frowns slightly. It's an admission that's as strange as it is unexpected; truth be told, Will's not really sure whyOliver is telling him this. He shakes himself out of his thoughts, giving a small shrug of his shoulders.
"I mean, you wouldn't be the first," he reassures Oliver. "Plenty of kids just like the attention, y'know? They usually had absent parents, or parents who never paid any attention to them, and they just liked having someone who gave them some love and affection—"
"I used to sneak in and peek at the schedule for the infirmary," Oliver presses on. He falters for a moment, glances over at Will before looking ahead again, jaw tightening with resolve.
"And I… I would see when you were working. And then I would fake an injury."
It takes a second for the implication that Oliver is putting forth to click into place for Will. But when it does, he feels his eyes widen at the realization. His throat closes up so fast that Will ends up inhaling saliva sharply down the wrong pipe. He breaks into a coughing fit, one that he tries to press into the crook of his elbow. The minor-choking that Will is currently going through renders him unable to reply to this weirdly sudden declaration of love, but Oliver seems unfazed by the whole thing, a strangely fond sort of smile spreading across his face.
"You used to be this beanpole of a thing. But, now… I mean.." Oliver chuckles, his eyes running over Will's form appreciatively. "Damn, Solace, you really grew into your looks."
All things considered, it's always nice for Will to hear that he's attractive. Still, the entire thing catches him completelyoff guard, because, well…
Will hadn't ever considered that someone else besides Nico was even capable of considering him as a romantic prospect. In his mind, he was so thoroughly Nico's— he thought everyone could sense that. The thought of it being any other way was almost laughable. In all their time together, he'd come to think of this fact as a given. One implicitly understood by the world at large, the kind that was as plain as day.
Well, apparently not.
"Oliver—" Will's interrupted by another cough. He thumps his chest, forcibly clears his throat, but that only seems to make it worse. He can feel his face going scarlet, and now he definitely looks like an idiot, probably like a tomato who's currently choking on his own spit, but he can't seem to stop. He brings his elbow back up, managing to choke out, "Uh, I'm— I'm flattered, really—"
"I know it's a long shot," Oliver continues, chuckling like he can't believe the words coming out of his mouth either. "I know it's kinda… kinda crazy, I guess?— Going after a guy with a boyfriend, I mean— I know I'm not some super powerful demigod or whatever, but I figured—"
"I— no! I mean, hah, don't say that about yourself, I'm sure you're great—!"
"—I figured I'd give it a shot, y'know? For old time's sake."
The coughing finally, blessedly ceases, though much to Will's humiliation, his eyes are watering. Great. Now he looks like he's getting all choked up over Oliver's confession. And based on the way Oliver is looking at him, he's definitelygetting the wrong idea about Will's feelings on the matter. So he lowers his elbow, waves a dismissive hand with a laugh that he hopes sounds self-deprecating.
"There's no need to—"
His attempt at a rambling dismissal is cut off when Oliver suddenly places a warm hand on Will's knee, right where the hem of his cargo shorts ends. The action is so sudden, so bold that it halts Will's thoughts in place, makes his whole mind go blank in the most deeply unhelpful way.
Gods, this is probably the worst kind of state to be in at this particular moment, because Will is already bad enough at talking, but it always gets so much worse when he's flustered or nervous, and he's definitely both of those things right now. Unable to do anything else, he just sits there, lips forming the start of various vowels and consonants that never actually make it past a few strained choking noises.
"—I wanted to give it a shot," Oliver repeats breathlessly, his thumb rubbing circles into the muscle of Will's thigh in a manner that Will thinks is supposed to be soothing, but actually just makes Will's hair stand on end. "You know, see if maybe now that I'm older, and I know how to actually woo someone—"
Will's just managed to regain his voice again, and is just about give another attempt at some kind of gentle rejection, when he hears a strange sort of whooshing sound behind him.
The sound, as threatening as it is familiar, makes him freeze in place. Oliver doesn't even seem to notice, still talking eagerly with his hand on Will's knee, but Will knows that sound. Senses the dark-haired boyfriend, who no doubt accompanies it.
He feels Nico's presence in the shadows behind them a few moments before he sees Nico step out between the two of them, his boot pointedly colliding with Oliver's arm in a way that seems almost accidental. Oliver yanks back his hand with a noise of surprise, and then Nico is wedging himself between the two of them on the bleachers, giving Oliver a smile that radiates a sort of dark smugness, a barely-restrained anger.
"Sorry," Nico shrugs, voice flat and sarcastic. "Was an accident."
The relief that Will feels at Nico's intervention is surpassed by the confusion that he feels as he takes in Nico's current state. Oliver also seems to pick up on the fact that Nico's apology is very much not genuine, and Will watches Oliver's face twist into a scowl, watches his mouth open as if to retort.
But Nico is already turning away, dark eyes meeting Will's as he gives him a tight smile.
"Hi, Will. Miss me?"
Will doesn't even get the chance to try and introduce Nico to Oliver before Nico abruptly interrupts him, lacing a hand through the hair on the back of Will's head before tugging him forward into an absolutely searing kiss.
Will makes a noise of surprise against Nico's mouth, but Nico either doesn't notice Will's shocked state or doesn't care, because he immediately sinks his teeth into Will's lower lip, taking the opportunity provided when Will's lips part in a gasp to delve his tongue into Will's mouth. His hand tightens in Will's hair, and then he's devouring Will, kissing him so thoroughly that by the time he's pulled back, Will is dazed and breathless.
When Nico pulls away, Will finds himself leaning towards Nico again, like he's being drawn in by a kind of gravity that only Nico has, his clumsy lips landing on the curve of Nico's cheek. It takes him a moment to realize that Nico has returned his stare to Oliver. When he lifts his head to look, he's taken aback by the look on Nico's face, a kind of faux-innocent expression that's betrayed only by his eyes, which seem to blaze like a pair of burning stars, sharp and unforgiving.
Oliver stares at the two of them, apparently at a complete loss for words.
"Sorry, were you saying something?" Nico asks, his tone so condescending and sharp that it makes Oliver draw back even further, his throat bobbing as he swallows nervously.
"Um… no," Oliver says with a forced laugh, gesturing weakly to Will. "I was just, uh… just…"
He trails off, but Nico doesn't let him off the hook. Just stares at him expectantly, in a manner that conveys that no answer that Oliver could ever dissuade Nico's possessive anger.
And so, after a few moments of hopeless floundering, Oliver seems to give up completely. He stands, his posture stiff as he mumbles some kind of farewell to Will before hurrying down the steps of the stands, apparently too intimidated to look back.
Will looks back at Nico, mouth agape with a mixture of shock and disbelieving admiration. Without missing a beat, Nico shrugs, releasing his hold on Will.
"Hm. Guess not."
Will watches, an incredulous laugh bubbling in his chest, as Nico stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jacket. When Nico doesn't say anything more, Will lets out a bark of laughter, teasingly bumping Nico's shoulder with his.
"You didn't have to do him like that," he scolds playfully. "He was just—"
Nico turns to look at him. Will's voice trails off as he meets Nico's eyes.
He's… well, some kind of insanely-hot combination of absolutely furious and ridiculously smug. His eyes are blazing again, hot and unforgiving, but most of all, they're dark— dark in a way that makes a familiar heat pool low in Will's stomach, makes his whole face go hot, makes his skin begin to tingle in anticipation.
Because, oh, Will knows this look. It's one that Nico has reserved solely for Will and Will alone; the kind that promises a sleepless night for both of them tonight, the kind that conveys desire and a sort of hunger that is as powerful as it is primal.
Will wonders distantly if this is Aphrodite's doing. If she's finally taken pity on Will in his crusade of pathetic yearning, sent him some kind of divine favor in the form of an overly-romantic childhood acquaintance. He makes a note to burn a generous offering of thanks to Aphrodite at the next meal, just in case she had a hand in this.
"I'm beat," Nico murmurs, low and inviting, almost a growl.
"Me too," Will laughs breathlessly. He leans in, trying and failing to conceal the rising excitement in his voice. "Want to, uh… retire to bed in your cabin?"
The last thing that Will sees is Nico's sly grin, almost gleeful in its dark excitement.
Then, they're both melting into the shadows, the world tilting sharply on its axis as Nico fists the front of Will's hoodie and drags him forward, plunging both of them into spinning darkness.