Archive of Our Own

Percy had lost track of Nico somewhere around half an hour ago, but he wasn’t too worried. It was a Halloween party, after all; Nico loved Halloween. 

It was Annabeth who found him at the Hermes cabin’s makeshift bar (18 and older), holding a very purple drink with his face half-buried in his arm. She dragged her boyfriend over and Percy took a seat next to him, nudging his shoulder. 

“What you drinking?” he asked. Travis Stoll looked up from behind the bar. 

“Violet Crush,” he said. “Malibu, blue curacao, red sourpuss and Sprite. Very sweet. That’s his fourth one, I think; probably the last one I’ll make for him. Pretty sure he’s drunk.” 

Percy chuckled; then he heard a sniffle. He looked down in alarm. “Nico? Are you—are you crying?”  

Slowly, Nico lifted his head. His eyes were soft and filled with tears, dark and open, and the droplets clung to his eyelashes, making them look dark and long and heavy. His under-eyes were red, and so was the tip of his nose, which he wiped on his napkin. 

“Nico, what’s wrong?” Annabeth asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. Nico shook his head. She squeezed. “Hey, we can’t help if we don’t know the problem. What’s the matter? Did somebody say something to you?” 

Nico wiped his nose again and mumbled something too quietly to hear. 

“What was that?” Percy asked, leaning in to try and catch the words over the noise of the party. Nico screwed up his face. 

“ I WANT MY BOYFRIEND!” he all but wailed. Percy and Annabeth exchanged surprised looks. “He’s been too busy and I miss him!” the son of Hades continued. “We haven’t even cuddled in, in like—like three days! I want my boyfriend!” 

He sniffled miserably and scrubbed at his eyes with his sleeve. Percy raised an eyebrow. 

“He’s in the infirmary, running movie night for the patients, right?” he asked. Annabeth nodded. 

“Mm, he volunteered so his siblings could come and have fun, but I think Kayla is relieving him in a couple of hours. They’re watching horror movies, though.” 

Percy shrugged. “So what? They’re just watching movies. I’m sure Will would rather we bring Nico to him than leave him here in this state.” 

“True,” conceded the blond, pursing her lips. She shook Nico’s shoulder and he focused blearily on her. “Okay, Nico, come on,” she said with a smile. “We’re going to take you to your boyfriend. He misses you!” 

“How much do we owe you for what he had?” Percy asked Travis as Annabeth coaxed the raven to his feet and led him outside. Travis snorted. 

“Nah, that was all I needed,” he said. “Mr. D. and Chiron got us the alcohol, so the drinks were free anyway. Besides, that was the only time I’ve ever seen Nico di Angelo be cute. Totally worth it. Once in a lifetime.” 

“Fair enough,” Percy muttered, tucking his wallet away. “Alright, thanks, man!” 

He jogged outside to join his girlfriend and together, they half-carried Nico to the infirmary and slipped inside. 

The movie was playing on a screen on the far wall, and all the lights were off. Various cots with patients on them had been dragged into the middle of the room, and a huge sectional couch with an ottoman pushed up to be extra seating had been moved in as well, probably from the Big House. 

Will was sitting in the corner of the sectional, computer mouse on the table beside him. He glanced over at the sound of the door and shot upright upon seeing Nico. With a whispered apology, he hopped the back of the couch and circled the group towards them. 

“Look, Nico,” Annabeth whispered. He looked up and lit up like the sun at the sight of Will making his way toward the three of them. Releasing Annabeth’s shoulder, he stumbled forward, nearly falling into Will’s arms as the medic leapt to catch him. 

“Nico? Hey, hey, what happened? What’s wrong?” Nico didn’t answer. 

“Will!” he said happily, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s neck and clinging. Will narrowed his eyes. 

“Are you drunk?” he asked, then turned his gaze to Percy and Annabeth. “Is he drunk?” 

“Oh yeah,” Percy said, nodding vigorously. 

Annabeth rolled her eyes. “We found him crying at the bar. When we asked what was wrong, he started bawling and said he wanted you. He says he misses you,” she explained quietly. “Travis gave him four drinks. He should be okay with some time and water.” 

“And cuddles,” Percy added, grinning. “He was specific about the cuddles.” 

“Cuddles,” Nico mumbled tiredly into Will’s shoulder. The son of Apollo sighed and bent down, grabbing his boyfriend by the thighs and hauling him up into a princess carry. “ Whee,” Nico said. Will chuckled despite himself. 

“Okay, Lord of Darkness,” he muttered. “Let’s get you somewhere safe for the moment. I’ll come sit with you in a second, okay?” He carried Nico to the couch and set him down in his spot, carefully detangling himself. “Be right back, baby. Be quiet. I’ll be right back.” 

Nico nodded, watching with big doe eyes as Will jogged back to Percy and Annabeth. “Do you guys know what he drank?” 

Percy shrugged, but Annabeth piped up. “Travis said a drink made of Malibu, blue curacao, red sourpuss and Sprite,” she reported. Will sucked on his teeth. 

“Four of them?” she nodded. “Shit. That’s a pretty strong cocktail to be having four of.” He ruffled his hair absently. “Okay. Thanks for bringing him. I’ll get him some water and take care of him for tonight. He’ll probably sleep with me, so don’t worry too much if you can’t find him in the morning.” He paused. “And this goes without saying, but I’m not going to touch him. Not while he’s drunk. So, don’t worry about that either.” 

“Yeah, course,” Percy said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Night, man. Have fun!” 

“Hey!” Nico said from the couch, prompting a couple of annoyed shushing sounds. “Don’t touch my boyfriend, he’s my boyfriend!” 

Will ducked his head to hide his grin. “Aw, man, he’s cute,” he said happily. “I love when he gets jealous.” He turned his head and pressed a finger to his lips, smiling as Nico settled reluctantly, pouting at them. “Okay, have a good night.” 

“You too,” Annabeth said, and she and Percy made their way out of the infirmary to head back to the party. 

Will hopped the back of the couch again and settled into his spot, pressing Nico against the arm of the thing. “Miss me, baby?” he cooed quietly. Nico nodded and he smiled, wrapping his arms around the younger demigod. “C’mere.” He tugged Nico’s legs across his lap and Nico snuggled into his arms, pressing his entire body into Will’s side and nuzzling against his neck happily. Will kissed his hair. “Need anything, sweetie?” he asked. Nico shook his head. 

“’M happy,” he said, snuggling into his spot. “You’re warm. I love you.” 

Will hugged him, resting his cheek against soft black hair. “I love you too, Nico,” he whispered. “You’re so cute.” 

Nico beamed against his chest. Will’s heart fluttered, like it always did at the rare sight of his boyfriend’s uninhibited smile. Nico was so pretty. He really, really was. 

They settled in to watch the movie together. Within a few minutes, Nico was shrinking into Will’s side, hiding his face as the demon chased the girl around on the screen. 

“I’m scared,” he whined. Will kissed his temple. “Will, I’m scared .” 

“Awww.” Will rubbed his arm gently, tucking him just a little bit more into his lap and dragging the blanket off the back of the couch to wrap around him. “I’m here, honey. You’re okay. It’s okay, I’m here.” He smiled. “You want to go to bed?” he asked, humming in question. Nico shook his head vehemently. 

“No, you have to stay here,” he mumbled. Will grinned. 

“Well, I can leave long enough to get you tucked in,” he crooned, smoothing Nico’s hair behind his ear. “Then come back, finish out the movie and Kayla will come take over in an hour, so I can come join you then.” 

“Wanna stay with you,” Nico whined. Will kissed his forehead again and rubbed his back in comforting circles. 

“Okay, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Okay. I’m here.” 

He held Nico close, tucked into their little corner on the couch, until the son of Hades began to doze off in his arms. Kayla ducked in a few minutes to the end of the movie and caught Will’s eye. She raised an eyebrow as she made her way over and ducked down beside him, lowering her voice so as not to disturb the film. 

“What’s this?” she asked. Will grinned at her. 

“Percy and Annabeth brought him in,” he chuckled. “Said he got drunk at the party and started crying for me. He’s been very cuddly. He got scared at the movie, but he didn’t want to leave. He said he wanted to stay here with me until we could go back together.” 

Kayla muffled her laugh in one hand. “Awww,” she said. “Go on, lover boy. I can take it from here. Go take care of your baby, you know you want to.” 

Will wrinkled his nose at her, but carefully shifted Nico fully into his lap so he could pick him up when he stood. Nico made a sound of sleepy surprise, but a second later, he wound his arms around Will’s neck and buried his nose in his collar. 

“Will?” he asked. 

“Hmm?” 

“Where’re we going?” 

Will kissed his cheek. “Kayla came to take over, so we’re going to bed. Aren’t you sleepy, baby? You were dozing off on me.” 

Nico hummed softly against his shirt. “You smell nice,” he mumbled. “Sleepy.” 

“I know you are,” Will whispered, squeezing him close as he made his way toward his cabin. He pushed through the door and was pleasantly surprised to be the only one there. Austin must still have been at the party, playing. “Come on, bedtime.” 

Nico cooed when Will lowered him into the blankets. He lifted his hips a little when his boyfriend tugged off his skinny jeans, and happily squirmed into the hoodie the man provided him. 

“I love you,” he sighed when Will climbed under the covers next to him. Will laughed, pulling the raven close and tucking him in under a good three blankets. He always got cold. 

“I love you too,” he whispered. “Especially when you cry for me and cuddle up to me.” 

Nico humphed. “I wasn’t crying,” he mumbled. Will brushed the salty tear tracks under his eyes and raised an eyebrow. 

“Bawling like a baby,” he whispered teasingly. “But it’s okay. I got you, didn’t I? Kept you safe and sound in my arms as soon as you came to me.” He kissed Nico, chaste and sweet. “Let’s get you some water, baby. Then sleep.” 

“I have to pee,” Nico complained. “I’on know if I can stand up.” 

“Okay.” Will helped him out of bed and led him carefully into the bathroom. When he let go, Nico started swaying dangerously and let out a soft whine. Will pressed his lips together. “Want you to lean back, sweetheart,” he murmured. “I’m gonna hold you up, but I’m not gonna look, I promise. Just going to make sure you don’t fall. Okay?” 

“Okay.” Nico nodded quietly and fumbled with his boxers, tugging them down. Will wound his arms around a slim waist and tucked his face into Nico’s neck, breathing him in from behind. Nico leaned heavily against his chest, and a second later, the sound of water hitting the toilet echoed. Will flushed, but kept his face hidden. He and Nico had messed around once or twice before, yes, but he didn't think his boyfriend would appreciate knowing Will had watched him pee.

Eventually, the sound faded off. Will heard him take a piece of toilet paper and fumble with it for a second, and then the toilet flushed and cloth shifted at Nico’s hips when he pulled up his boxers. 

He untucked his face from Nico’s neck and kissed his shoulder. 

“Good boy,” he whispered, and Nico whimpered like that was the best thing he’d said all night. “Wash your hands and let’s get you some water, baby boy. Then bedtime.” 

Nico did as he was told. Will got him a glass of water and instructed him to drink the whole thing; then he picked him up just to playfully toss him into bed, making him giggle. Giggle; not the usual choked off chuckle that was Nico’s laugh, but a full, bright, sweet-as-sugar giggle like a child. 

Will climbed in after him and hugged him tight. Nico cuddled up to him, wrapping both of his legs around one of Will’s, his arms around his waist, and pressing his whole body up against him. Will shifted until he could get an arm beneath his boyfriend’s head and tucked the other around his waist, and Nico sighed happily as he melted against the blond’s chest, breathing in his scent. 

“I love you so much,” Will whispered, pressing his nose into Nico’s hair, overwhelmed by the feeling in his pounding heart. “You’re so sweet, Nico. My angel, my baby star.” 

Nico cooed sleepily at him. “Love you too,” he mumbled softly. “Love you so, sooo much. Wanted to see you so bad.” He nuzzled into Will’s shoulder happily. “’M so happy you snuggled with me… missed you so much.” 

Will smiled into Nico’s hair and hugged him tighter. “I’ll always, always make time to snuggle with you as long as I know you want me to,” he whispered. “You just have to tell me, honey.” He kissed his forehead, stroking his hair with the hand currently splayed out under his head. “I’m sorry I haven’t made time for you, lately. I haven’t been a very good boyfriend. I’ll do better, I promise.” He kissed him again, but there was no reply. 

Upon glancing down, Will was treated to the sight of Nico passed out cold in his arms, mouth half open and huffing little warm breaths into the crook of his neck, small hands curled tightly into the back of Will’s t-shirt. His eyes were shut and his face was soft and open, peaceful, and his body was slowly growing warm in Will’s protective embrace. 

Will huffed, amused. “Sweet dreams, death boy,” he whispered, kissing the tip of Nico’s nose, then his forehead, then each of his eyelids. “I love you more than anything.” 

Nico just sighed and snuggled a little closer in his sleep, until he was nearly laying on top of the son of Apollo. Will smiled and stroked his hair, and when he closed his eyes, he was so content that he dropped off in minutes. 

Supply runs were about the most annoying thing Will had to do as head medic. Theoretically, he should have been able to simply write out a list and hand it off to the Stolls. But they couldn’t even pronounce half the medications, let alone actually matching bottles, and they were far too likely to simply grab a bunch of Tylenol off the shelf and call it a day. 

So, here Will found himself, crammed into the back of an obnoxiously painted minivan with two sons of Hermes and a daughter of Hecate belting out ACDC’s “ Highway to Hell” along with a staticky, out-of-date radio, all very off-key. 

He sighed and rubbed his temples, carefully maneuvering the bag of medications out of his lap and onto the floor between his feet. At least the two-day trip was finally over and they were headed—wait. 

“Guys!” he barked, just barely loud enough to be heard over the screaming. He hated raising his voice, but certain company demanded it. They turned to look at him warily and he grinned to show them he wasn’t angry. “Could we stop by McDonald’s? Nico’s been pouting because I won’t let him shadow-travel to go and get some.” 

Travis laughed, but obligingly pulled into the drive through. “Yeah, man, coming right up!” he said cheerfully. “What’s his order?” 

“Get me a Big Mac!” Lou Ellen piped up. Connor requested a McChicken meal, and Travis looked expectantly at Will, who smiled. 

“Cheeseburger Happy Meal,” he said. “With fries, not apple slices. And a small Coke. And a toy.” 

Connor blinked. “Sometimes I forget your boyfriend can actually be cute,” he said, sounding slightly put off. It’s jarring every time I’m reminded.” 

Will beamed. “He’s adorable,” he confirmed. “He likes to collect the toys on his shelf. He’s got one for every time we went there on a date.” 

“Awww.” Lou Ellen shot her friend a grin, kicking back in her seat. Will blinked; he hadn’t even realized these seats could lean back. No, wait, they couldn’t. It was just that broken. “You guys are a really cute couple, Solace. When you get married, I want dibs on the bridesmaid position. Grooms-maid. Whatever.” 

“Sure thing,” Will agreed, occupied with righting the medication as Travis punched the gas. “Wait, what? Married? We’re not getting married.” 

“Oh, please,” scoffed Connor, turning around in his seat. That was definitely not safe, Will thought to himself. Then, Nico would have cuffed me over the head for nagging that hard. He grimaced. Maybe he was a little too attached. “You’re totally going to get hitched. Come on. You don’t want that, Willy-boy? Don’t want him to introduce you to people as his husband? Don’t wanna wake up to him every day? Don’t want to... I don’t know, see your ring on his finger every time you see him?” 

Will blushed. Connor didn’t need to know, but he had absolutely imagined that on his own—how pretty Nico would look with Will’s ring on his finger, and how wonderful and warm it would be to hear him call Will his husband. But he was happy to take it slow. They were only sixteen and eighteen, after all, and Will had only been eighteen for a couple of months. 

“Shut up,” he grumbled, and Connor guffawed. It was cut off with a yelp as Travis smacked him without looking, trying to shut him up while he ordered their food, and Will snickered under his breath. Lou Ellen leaned closer as Travis pulled up to the window and the brothers engaged in some good-natured banter. 

“Don’t think I didn’t see that blush, Solace,” she teased gently. “You’ve thought about it before, haven’t you? And you like it. So, are you going to wait, or have you already planned it out?” 

“Wait,” Will said firmly. “I’m going to college next year—I thought maybe I’d ask him to move in with me first. I mean, I love him, but we’ve only been together three years. Isn’t it too soon?” 

Lou Ellen shrugged, leaning back even farther. Will was going to have to get someone from Hephaestus to look at this car, stat. “It’s different for everyone,” she said. “Some people know after a few months, and some people wait ten or fifteen years, and some people stay together their whole lives and never get married. There’s no rush. Just... do what feels right, yeah?” She smiled at him. “You’ll know when it’s time.” 

Travis tossed a Big Mac box at her and she whooped, diving for it. Will accepted the Happy Meal and then turned to look out the window as they pulled back onto the road—both to contemplate Lou Ellen’s advice and to avoid the frankly disturbing sight of her unhinging her jaw to inhale her food like a snake. 

When the time was right, huh? 

They pulled into camp just as the sun was beginning to set—it was October now, and the days were getting colder and shorter. Sometimes, Will really missed Texas. 

He was still contemplating Lou’s words as he stocked the medicine cabinet in the infirmary, but by the time he headed to his cabin to grab a hoodie and check on his siblings before heading to Nico, he’d mostly reached a decision. 

Nico was only sixteen, seventeen in a couple more months, and Will was about to ask him to move out of camp and into an apartment with him anyway. He was still a minor. Even Will couldn’t drink for three more years, and they had only managed to have sex twice. Things still felt new, even if they were fading into something more comfortable. It felt like an in-between space; Nico was completely, irrevocably his, and he was Nico’s just the same. But they were young, and things outside of the two of them were still so very uncertain. 

Being a demigod meant taking each day for the best it could be, because you could never know how many you would have—or how many your friends or family would have. But it didn’t have to mean rushing.  

For now, he would wait, and he would be content with what they had. Questions like marriage could come later, when they were surer about their places in the world in addition to their places with one another. 

Will tugged open his drawer and frowned, rifling through it. 

“Kayla, where’s my hoodie?” he asked, bewildered. “The Star Wars one.” 

“I don’t know,” Kayla called from her bunk. “Did you put it in the wash before you left?” 

“No,” Will muttered. He shook his head and opened the bottom drawer—then the middle. “Hey, all my hoodies are missing!” he said indignantly. “And my camp shirt!” He paused. “God damn it, my flannels are gone, too! Kayla!” 

“Wasn’t me!” she insisted. “Maybe Nico borrowed something?” 

Will groaned and shoved his drawer shut. “Nico doesn’t go through my stuff without permission,” he complained. “Probably Austin.” 

“Probably,” Kayla agreed. “Now shut up, I’m reading.” 

“You are reading fanfiction,” Will deadpanned. “That you wrote.” He ducked the pillow his half-sister chucked at him and skillfully weaved his way to the door. “See you! I’m going to stay over at Nico’s tonight.” 

“Have fun screwing your boyfriend’s brains out!” Kayla called.  Will flushed dark red. 

“We are not going to—look, there are things we just don’t do at camp!” he spluttered. She snorted. 

“Oh, right, so I didn’t catch him on his knees behind a tree during Capture the Flag, distracting you rather successfully by sucking your—” 

“ KAYLA!” Will snapped, and slammed the door shut behind him. He did not need the reminder of the time his sister had caught them.  

But oh, gods, Nico had been so, so hot. They’d been on opposite teams, and he had pushed Will up against the tree upon catching him getting a bit too close to his flag. Will had expected a jibe or a sword to his throat, but instead, Nico had pressed a searing kiss to his lips, over and over until Will stopped trying to speak between kisses. 

He’d moved his kisses to Will’s jaw, sucked and nipped along his throat—and just as Will made to push him off, determined to focus on the game, Nico had dropped to his knees and pressed his lips directly against Will’s crotch, dark eyes looking up at him half-lidded and wanting. 

Well, Will had never claimed to be good at saying no to Nico. 

He shook the thoughts away determinedly. Nico had been exhausted, lately, and it was late. The last stragglers were picking up the pace as they raced back to their cabins to avoid the harpies. Nico had gone on a very long errand for his father; something involving quite a bit of shadow-travel. He’d been tired ever since getting back three days ago. With Will gone the past two days on his own supply run, he was probably getting nightmares or finding it too hard to fall asleep in the first place. 

He didn’t need sex, or a blowjob, or frotting, or otherwise messing around. He needed rest—a lot of it. All Will wanted to give his boyfriend tonight was a Happy Meal, a kiss, and some good old-fashioned cuddles. 

“Nico?” he called, knocking gently on the Hades cabin door. There was no answer, so he raised his hand to knock again—then a harpy shrieked, uncomfortably close, and he changed his mind, shoving open the door and slipping inside. Whatever. 

He paused just long enough to confirm that the harpy wasn’t going to dive in and drag him out—oh, the privileges of dating a son of Hades—and then he turned to greet his boyfriend, and stopped dead. 

“Well,” he whispered to himself as his heart swelled exponentially. “That solves that mystery.” 

Nico was curled up in his bed, wearing Will’s favorite hoodie—the missing Star Wars one. His hands were curled around three or four of the missing flannels, pressing them to his face, and he had two more of the hoodies draped over him. Will made his way over, set the Happy Meal on the nightstand and gently lifted the bottom of the hoodie, just to see—yep. Nico was wearing his camp shirt underneath the hoodie. 

Will brushed a spill of soft, inky hair out of Nico’s eyes and tucked it behind his ear sweetly. Nico stirred, dark eyes scrunching shut and then slowly, adorably, blinking open and focusing on Will. 

He yawned. “Hi, Will,” he murmured, letting his eyes fall shut again. Then they shot open and he snapped upright in alarm. “Will! You’re back! What time is it? Oh, shit, this—this isn’t--I didn’t mean to go through your stuff, I just—I was just—” 

Will cut him off, taking a handful of his hair and tugging his head back gently so he could claim soft lips in a long, tender kiss. 

“I missed you, too,” he said warmly, pressing his forehead against his boyfriend’s when he pulled away. “So much. I wondered where all my clothes went. You build nests when I go away?” 

“No,” Nico said, flushed and embarrassed and oh-so pretty. Will ached for him. “This isn’t something I usually—I've never done this before, really. I just—I was so tired, and I was miserable because you weren’t here and I can’t sleep well without you, and I just needed to sleep. I was going to sleep in your cabin, but your siblings were bickering and throwing pillows at each other, so—well.” He shrugged. “I was already wearing these, and I was just tired, so I didn’t really think too hard. I just grabbed what I wanted and went back to my cabin. I don’t think they even noticed.” He shrugged weakly. “They smelled like you.” 

Will sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, toeing off his flip-flops and moving the flannels out of the way. He pulled Nico into his arms, dragging the smaller boy into his lap and hugging him tightly. “You can take my clothes anytime you want, Nico,” he said firmly. “They’re all yours—anything I have is yours. I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I love you.” 

“Don’t apologize to me for doing your job,” Nico reprimanded him, smacking his shoulder lightly. “I love you too. Thank you.” 

Will kissed him, running his fingers through soft hair, and smiled as Nico sighed and leaned into the kiss. “Sleepy baby,” he whispered when he pulled away. Nico managed a small smile. Will grabbed the Happy Meal off the nightstand and handed it to him with a proud flourish. Nico lit up. 

“You didn’t,” he gasped. Will grinned. 

“I know you’ve been craving one,” he said, amused. “I had Travis pull in and get it for you. Even turned on the sun-glow to keep it warm for you.” 

“You’re the best,” Nico moaned, tearing open the box and digging out the cheeseburger. Will kissed his forehead, shifting the smaller boy onto the bed so he could stand. Nico made a confused noise around his treat, looking up and tilting his head in question. Will grinned at him. 

“I need a shower,” he said. “You eat while I get clean; then I promise, I’ll come and hold you.” 

“Staying the night?” Nico asked. Will nodded, glancing at the door. 

“Yeah, it’s already about nine-thirty,” he said. “Don't want to get eaten.” 

“Right,” Nico said happily. “Hurry up, I missed you.” He took another bite. “If I finish this before you’re done, I’m getting in with you,” he said. Will backed away, holding up a hand. 

“Oh, no,” he said, snorting. “None of that tonight. You need rest and I cannot say no to you. Plus, Kayla was teasing me fifteen minutes ago about when she caught us in the forest, so, no, we are not messing around at camp anymore!” 

Nico smirked. “I just meant to shower,” he said innocently. “Maybe wash each other’s hair. Good to know where your head’s at, though.” Will groaned. 

“You little shit,” Will said, shaking his head. “Just shut your mouth and eat your food.” 

“ Technically,” Nico started, and Will flipped him off and made his way into the bathroom.  

When he emerged, clean and relaxed with a towel around his waist, he found Nico sprawled in his bed naked but for an open sweater, t-shirt ditched at the end of the bed. Nico held out his arms. 

“Come on,” he said quietly. “Come here.” 

Will smiled, ditching the towel in the hamper as he passed and sliding under the covers next to his boyfriend. Nico snuggled into his side with a soft, tired sigh. Will’s heart ached a little; he sounded utterly exhausted. 

“You okay?” Will whispered, rubbing circles into Nico’s back just to make him sigh. Nico hummed softly. 

“I am now,” he murmured, curling into Will’s warmth. “Welcome home.” 

The son of Apollo slid his arms around his boyfriend and pulled him close, one thigh pressed between both of his and arms tight around his waist and back. Nico melted into him happily, pressing a chaste kiss to the sun tattoo on his pectoral. When he pressed close like that, Will could feel the shape of his crotch against his thigh. It warmed his heart that Nico trusted him to fall asleep like this—pressed against the most vulnerable parts of his body, tangled together as if they were one being. Nico’s trust felt more like home than any place Will had ever known. 

“Thanks, honey,” Will whispered, breathing in the scent of Nico’s shampoo. Nico hummed against his chest, already half-asleep. He hadn’t brushed his teeth after the McDonald’s, Will noticed, but he found that he couldn’t bring himself to care. Nico was warm against his side; the camp was quiet and the mattress was soft, and gentle, sleepy breaths brushed against his collarbone, spelling out an airy tattoo of their own: the feeling of home against his skin. 

He closed his eyes, turned his face into Nico’s hair, and ran his fingers lovingly over the soft fabric of his sweater. 

“It’s cute that you steal my clothes,” he murmured. “They look good on you.” Nico huffed against his skin, and a second later, Will felt teeth closing gently around his collarbone for a second. “Vampire,” he teased. Nico grunted and released him, and Will turned his head down to kiss him with all the love he could muster. “I love you too, weirdo,” he said affectionately. 

Nico grinned, lazy and soft, against his lips before dropping his head back onto his boyfriend’s chest. “Goodnight, Will,” he said, voice laced with warmth and affection. Will chuckled. 

“Goodnight,” he whispered. He didn’t know who fell asleep first. All he really registered was that he was home, Nico was safe in his arms, and his clothes looked really good on his cute, sleepy boyfriend. 

This was what made it worth waiting. 

“Hey,” Will said, glancing up at the figure who’d just kicked him in the side. He shuffled over obligingly, watching as Nico dropped onto the bench beside him with a grunt. “Thought you weren’t coming to campfire.” 

Nico shrugged. “I can’t sleep.” He shifted closer and threw a leg over one of Will’s, letting it dangle off the ground. Will smiled at him. 

“Well, you’re always welcome to hang out with me,” he said happily, and rested a hand on Nico’s thigh absently as he returned his attention to the music. 

He didn’t realize he was tapping patterns out, drawing his thumb back and forth over Nico’s thigh, until his boyfriend squirmed beside him. He stopped, embarrassed. 

“Sorry,” he said. Nico just grunted, obviously half-asleep, and Will refocused on the music. Two or three songs later, Will was immersed, joining in his half-brother's enthusiastic song and belting out the lines himself with half the other campers—and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed he was once again tracing patterns on Nico’s thigh, tapping along to the beat, and Nico was shifting again. 

“Shoot! Sorry,” he said again, lifting his hand off Nico’s leg entirely. Nico grabbed it, quick as lightning. Without meeting Will’s eyes, he tugged it back to his thigh, pressing it against himself, and shifted again. Will realized somewhat belatedly that he’d been inching closer the whole time, and was now right next to him, albeit a few inches away from touching. He smiled. 

“I like it,” Nico said. “I put my leg there because I knew you’d do it. It feels nice, so shut up.” Will’s grin spread until he was beaming and he pulled his left hand off Nico’s leg. Nico made a sound of protest in the back of his throat, but it died out as Will put his right hand there instead and wrapped his left arm around the raven’s skinny shoulders. “Oh,” the son of Hades mumbled. It was a little awkward, with the space Nico had maintained between them, so Will dropped his left hand to the bench behind his boyfriend, leaving his arm to brush against his back. 

“Is that my sweater?” he asked. Nico shrugged. 

“If you leave it in my cabin, it technically belongs to me,” he said, straight-faced. Will snorted. 

“That’s not how ownership works,” he retorted, amused. “But it looks good on you. I like it when you wear my clothes.” 

“I know,” Nico said, shooting him a half-lidded side-eye that had Will blushing and pointedly turning his gaze back to the campfire and the singalong. 

One time—just once— he'd come prematurely. In fact, he hadn’t made it past a couple minutes of necking and a fast handjob from his boyfriend that was meant to be a tease, a bit of foreplay. Nico had been too sexy sitting on his lap with a hand wrapped around him, wearing nothing but his shirt, and he didn’t even think he’d made it two minutes. 

Nico had not let it go, and Will wanted to die of embarrassment again every time. He had returned the favor, of course; Nico hadn’t left unsatisfied, but they hadn’t made it all the way like they’d planned. It hadn’t been Will’s proudest moment. 

The son of Apollo returned to tracing patterns on his boyfriend’s thigh. Despite himself, he couldn’t help the smile that crossed his lips at the sound of Nico’s contented sigh, and he refocused on the songs, opening his mouth to join in, feeling light and happy. 

It was getting late and the campfire was just beginning to wind down. Austin promised four more songs, and the kids were allowed one last round of marshmallows. Will’s half-brother strummed his guitar, and Will barely managed to stop himself from jumping when something tickled his neck.  

He looked down to find Nico’s head tucked into the juncture of his neck and shoulder, cheek squished up against his chest. When had he gotten close enough to do that? Had he been inching in the whole time? 

Will smiled, noticing now that his attention was on Nico that his whole side was warm—Nico had been sneaky enough to snuggle right in against him like a sleepy cat and curl up pressed against his side, breathing him in. Will reached over and snatched the leg that was still on the ground, pulling it over his own with the first. Nico hummed softly, the only acknowledgement of Will’s manhandling. 

Will wrapped his arms around the son of Hades, cradling him against his chest, and tilted his cheek to rest against dark hair. It was getting long, he noted absently. Nico would want to have that trimmed a little, soon. He liked it just long enough to tie back, but not longer than his shoulders. It got in the way, he claimed. 

“Relax,” Will whispered when his boyfriend shifted. Slowly, he began rocking back and forth, and Nico moaned softly against his shoulder, the way he did when he was tired and felt good. Will smiled, kissing his forehead. “Hmm? You falling asleep on me, baby?” 

Nico just turned his head and bit Will’s shoulder, making him laugh. His smile was big enough that he had to release his boyfriend, but he didn’t seem all that put off by it. He snuggled closer, drawing his knees up in Will’s lap and sliding his arms around the blond’s waist. Will curled his hand around Nico’s left thigh, pressing both legs closer to him. His other arm stayed wrapped around his boyfriend, cradling him safe and close, and Nico’s breaths against his chest began to even out. 

Will smiled, a tiny, private thing, and rocked slowly from side to side, swaying Nico gently in his arms as he hummed the tune of the song quietly against his hair. 

He felt the exact moment Nico fell asleep when his body slumped, and carefully adjusted so he wasn’t too hunched over. Still, he stayed there instead of carrying his sleeping boyfriend to his cabin. It was a nice moment, warm and comfortable by the fire even though it was November, and Nico was a comforting weight against his shoulder, sleeping soundly out in the open, surrounded by people—just because Will was there to hold him. 

Will sat in one spot for half an hour, slowly rocking Nico and humming into his hair, fingers tracing patterns into his thigh. Despite the ADHD, he didn’t feel even a second of restlessness. 

“That’s all for tonight, folks,” Austin said into his microphone, smooth and melodic. Will loved his brother’s voice—it was made for singing, with the resonance of their father and a warm rasp that was all him. Black singers, Apollo had once told him very seriously, had bigger lungs and voices that had their own special sound to them—the kind of musical capacity no other race on the planet could quite match. It was true. Austin’s voice was both utterly unique and utterly familiar all at once, and Will admired him. When he grew up, he’d go places. 

The fifteen-year-old son of Apollo held up his hands, grinning at his audience. “No applause, no applause,” he said, waving down a few kids who’d started clapping. To Will’s horror, he pointed up the stands right towards his older sibling. “Wouldn’t want to wake up my big brother’s boyfriend, would we?” he taunted. Will glared at him, mentally taking back all his admiration. Austin was going places, alright. Austin was going straight to Tartarus, that was where Austin was going. Siblings.  

Will rolled his eyes so far back he saw his own veins as coos and ‘ awww’ s broke out around the campfire. Good thing Nico was asleep, or else there’d be at least one skeleton by now. He tightened his grip when his boyfriend shifted and raised a middle finger at his brother. Austin snickered. 

“Brotherly love, my dear sibling,” he teased. “Brotherly love. They’ve been like that for the last forty-five minutes, just so you all know. Will’s been fussing over him for more than an hour.” 

“Shut up!” Will hissed, loathe to raise his voice above a whisper. He settled for glaring daggers at his half-sibling, even as Percy and Piper both shot him thumbs-up signs and Annabeth surreptitiously snapped a couple of photos on her Polaroid. 

Will sighed, resigning himself to his fate of endless teasing, and carefully started unwinding Nico’s arms from his waist. The sleeping son of Hades whined against his shoulder, pulling a grin to Will’s lips. Still, he successfully relocated Nico’s embrace to his neck without waking him. He slipped his arm under the raven’s thighs and lifted him slowly, carefully, into his arms.  

Nico squirmed. “Shh,” Will whispered into his hair, holding him close against his chest. “Hush, shh sh sh. Don’t wake up. You will kill me if you wake up. Stay sleeping, baby star, I’ve got you.” 

Nico settled, like he always did when Will soothed him in his sleep. It made the son of Apollo’s heart skip a beat, and he pressed a kiss to Nico’s soft curls as he made his way back to cabin seven. It was chilly. The fact that Nico had bothered to locate and put on Will’s sweatshirt before showing up at camp said that he had likely been freezing in his cabin, so the warm, fairy-light-illuminated Apollo cabin was probably the better option. Besides, Nico loved the lights. And Will’s bed. And Will’s blankets. And Will. 

The healer kicked the bottom of the door until Kayla opened it grumpily, frowning at him with a toothbrush in her mouth. “Hmfglrf!” she said. Will shrugged, nodding at Nico in his arms. 

“Sorry,” he whispered. “Hands were full.” 

Her eyes softened and she stepped aside, allowing Will to pass by her, toe off his shoes and lay his boyfriend gently on his bunk. He sat on the edge and pulled the raven’s feet into his lap, grinning when he noticed Nico pawing at the sheets, searching for him. 

“Here,” he murmured, putting a stuffed bunny in his arms. Nico curled around it with a coo and Will shook his head fondly. “Give me that,” he muttered, pulling Nico’s feet back into his lap so he could unlace the combat boots and pull them and Nico’s yellow socks off. He unbuttoned the boy’s skinny jeans, carefully tugging them down his smooth, muscled legs as gently as he could manage without waking him. Nico had sensitive skin. He was always irritated after sleeping in his jeans. 

“C’mon,” Will crooned, moving Nico’s arms back through the sweater, pulling his shirt off slowly without fully stripping him. He helped the smaller boy back into the sweater once he had the t-shirt off—Ramones, of course, what else—and pulled the duvet over his shoulders. Nico mumbled something unintelligible and snuggled into the pillow, melting like hot butter. Will kissed his cheek and pushed himself up to dump Nico’s clothes in his laundry basket and find clean boxers. 

The cabin door opened and shut and Will looked up to see Austin make his way towards the wall, where he casually hung up his guitar. 

“Fuck you,” he said flatly. That did it, and Austin dissolved into giggles, pressing a hand over his mouth to avoid waking Nico. Kayla looked between them, emerging from the bathroom in a maple leaf tank top and pajama pants with penguins on them. Canadians. Will loved his sister. He pointed at her. “You’re my favorite sibling,” he said, and flipped his younger brother off again. 

“What happened?” Kayla asked, raising an eyebrow. She’d been on evening infirmary duty tonight, until Chiron relieved her at the end of campfire. Austin snickered, pointing at his brother as Will headed into the bathroom to pee and brush his teeth. 

“Nico was sitting in his lap at campfire, and when he fell asleep, Will started hugging him and rocking him and stopped singing so he didn’t wake him up—” 

“I was humming!” Will interjected indignantly through the open door. Austin rolled his eyes. 

“Humming into his boyfriend’s hair and cuddling the fuck out of him, the big teddy bear,” he snickered. “So, when people started clapping, I told them to keep it down so they didn’t wake up our big brother’s precious boyfriend.” 

“And then everyone looked at us!” Will hissed furiously, appearing in the door with a toothbrush in his hand. “Nico would have murdered you if he’d been awake!” He turned to Kayla. “Annabeth took pictures and everybody started making noises at us—embarrassing noises—and I almost woke him up when I picked him up and I thought I was going to die of embarrassment. Kayla!” 

Kayla just laughed harder, doubling over with her hand pressed over her mouth to keep herself quiet. “I have to talk to Annabeth about getting one of those pictures!” she said gleefully. Will groaned dramatically. 

“That’s it, you’re both dead to me,” he proclaimed, spinning on his heel to finish brushing his teeth. “I am an only child until the kids get back this summer.” 

“Will!” Kayla whined, draping herself over her brother’s arm. “Come on, you know he didn’t mean any harm! Besides, the whole camp thinks you two are cute. You’re right behind Percy and Annabeth for Most Popular Couple!” 

Will furrowed his brow, leaning over to spit and rinse his mouth. “That’s a thing?” he asked, flabbergasted. Kayla shrugged and he let out a long sigh. “You’re lucky Nico was asleep, or there’d be skeletons everywhere and he wouldn’t talk to me for three to five business days,” he grumbled. A groan sounded from the main room and the three of them froze, turning to look at Will’s bunk. 

Nico was awake, dark eyes glaring balefully from under a mountain of blankets. Will winced, but the raven’s gaze softened when it landed on him and Nico rolled his eyes almost playfully before reaching out for him. 

“Shut up and come to bed,” he said shortly. “I was only half asleep, and I don’t care. You’re the only one who thinks it’s a big deal.” 

Will softened. He pulled out his outfit for the next day, laid it on his dresser, and climbed over Nico to flop down in the sheets. Nico rolled over into his chest and Will grinned, draping an arm over his hips. He propped himself up on one elbow to watch as his boyfriend stretched lazily and closed his eyes, obviously content. 

“Alright,” he murmured, and laid down next to him. 

Austin screamed. 

Will shot up, ready to jump into action, and noticed his brother staring at his bunk, pale-faced. Bones littered the surface of the bed and half a dozen skulls grinned up at him. Will glanced down and found Nico hiding a smirk in the pillow. 

He burst out laughing. 

“Take that!” he crowed, rocking back with the force of his laughter. Austin glared viciously at him and cleared the bones off his bunk, dumping them in a heap on the ground. Nico waved a hand and they sank into the floor, leaving nothing but a slight earthy smell. “ Ha, my boyfriend can put bones in your bed.” 

“Go to bed, jackass,” Austin griped, flouncing down into his sheets and pointedly turning off the lamp by his bed. Kayla snickered. 

“Nice one, Nico,” she said, amused. “Night, guys.” 

“Night, sis,” Will said, and they both flicked off their own lamps, leaving the room lit only by the golden fairy lights glowing along the walls. 

Nico rolled over to face away from Will, who made a small hurt noise in the back of his throat. Pouting, he settled down and shut his eyes, only to be slapped in the chest by a flailing hand. He raised an eyebrow, but before he could ask, Nico found his hand and grabbed it, dragging it over his body pointedly. Will smiled, pulling his boyfriend back to lay tightly pressed against his bare chest. 

His lips grazed the bare skin at the back of Nico’s neck, and he pressed a kiss there. “Goodnight, my love,” he whispered. Nico shivered, but snuggled into him, sighing contentedly when Will tightened his arm around his waist. 

“Goodnight, Care Bear,” he said. Will groaned. 

“Let it go,” he muttered. Nico’s laugh was soft, like music. 

“Never,” he said, amused. Then he was yawning, and Will was pulling him close, and before long they were tangled together in the Apollo cabin, wrapped in Will’s blankets and each other and dozing off in the warm aura of family. 

Nico really was a part of Will’s family, now. 

“I’m bored,” whined the kid Will was treating. Samuel, Will thought his name was. “I want to go play at the beach!” 

“No,” Will said firmly. “Sorry, kiddo, but you can’t get this wet until tomorrow afternoon, okay? Here, come on. Eat your ambrosia and go find Damien and Chiara at campfire.” 

Samuel pouted, but did as he was told. As he chewed, Will’s gaze drifted to Nico, who was sitting at Will’s desk, face half-buried in his arms. His eyes met Will’s, soft and dark and full of puppy-love, and the medic’s heart skipped a beat. He saw Samuel off and made his way over to his boyfriend, skirting beds in the now-empty infirmary until he stood right in front of him. 

“Hey, gorgeous,” he teased, tugging lightly on a strand of Nico’s hair. Nico rolled his eyes, but leaned into it. “What you lookin’ at, hmm?” 

“You,” Nico murmured. Will’s heart warmed. 

“Yeah?” he breathed, turning his palm so Nico could rub his cheek against it like a cat. The son of Hades bit the meat of his thumb affectionately, sinking his teeth in just for a moment. 

“Yeah,” he answered. He looked up at Will, trusting and sleepy in the summer evening heat, and smiled faintly. “Can you cut my hair for me?” he asked after a moment. Will smiled, running his fingers through it. 

“Sure,” he agreed. “Go sit in the bathroom. I’ll be right there.” He dropped a kiss to Nico’s forehead and bustled around the infirmary, gathering his spray bottle, comb and scissors and putting up the on-break sign on the front desk. Not that it mattered—it was campfire time, and Will was pretty sure he was almost done for the night. 

He made his way into the bathroom and found Nico kicking his legs on his stool, leaning on the counter. He met Will’s eyes in the mirror and smiled sweetly. 

“Like you always do it,” he requested. Will nodded and got to work, gently combing out the tangles until it was soft and fluffy, then wetting it and combing it out carefully straight so he could snip off the ends. He’d learned this from the Aphrodite cabin in weekly lessons after Nico had confided that he hated having strangers touch his hair, especially with sharp objects. Nico had been asking him to do it ever since he’d found out. 

“I’m... really glad you learned to do this for me,” Nico said quietly. Will smiled. They had this conversation every single haircut. 

“Yeah?” he said, encouraging his boyfriend. 

“Yeah,” Nico sighed. “Feels good.” He paused. “I love it when you play with my hair,” he confessed after a moment. Will paused for half a second, then kept cutting. He hadn’t said that before. 

“You’re so sweet,” he murmured, smiling as he focused on the steady snip of his scissors and the sight of inky strands falling to the floor. “I like playing with it, too.” 

“I know,” Nico said. “You’re gentle. You’re always gentle with me.” 

Will put the scissors down and combed through Nico’s hair one last time, making sure there were no stray loose hairs. “Of course I am,” he murmured, and kissed the raven’s temple, making one eye slant half-shut in that pretty, cat-like expression he liked so much. “What do you think?” 

Nico eyed the wolf cut in the mirror, smiling when Will drew it back into the messy ponytail he liked to wear. “Perfect,” he decided. “As always.” 

Will kissed the top of his head and patted his side. “Take a shower,” he said. “I’ll get you some clean clothes.” 

“Yours,” Nico said shortly, and Will nodded. 

“Sure,” he agreed. 

When Nico emerged from the bathroom, dressed in grey sweatpants and a soft orange hoodie with a Pegasus on it and the cabin seven name and symbol on the back, Will was already sitting at his desk, scribbling away at infirmary forms. 

“Nobody but you ever does the paperwork,” Nico crooned, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend’s neck from behind. He pressed a kiss to unruly golden curls and Will hummed, leaning back against him as Nico played with his hair shamelessly.  

“Somebody has to,” he sighed. “Might as well be me. What else do I have to do?” 

“Could be cuddling me,” Nico suggested, shrugging. Will smiled. 

“Sit in my lap,” he said. Nico’s eyebrows rose. 

“Seriously?” he asked. “While you’re working?” 

Will shrugged. “No one needs my help and all I’m doing is filling out reports,” he pointed out. “Do you want to or not?” 

Nico pursed his lips. Wordlessly, he released Will and crossed the infirmary to the front desk. Will returned to his paperwork, pretending he wasn’t pouting. 

Before he had time to fill out a single line, though, Nico was back, nudging his shoulder to push his arm out of the way. He braced a knee on the edge of the chair, swung a leg over Will’s hips, and settled firmly into his lap, pulling himself securely against Will’s chest. 

“Oh,” Will whispered, running his fingers through Nico’s newly cut hair. Nico sighed, teeth finding the juncture of Will’s neck and shoulder. He bit down there, harder than usual, and then pressed a kiss to the spot and fell still. 

Will heard a wrapper crinkle and rolled his eyes as Nico’s jaw moved against his shoulder like he was chewing, legs swinging happily on either side of his lap. “You stole a fruit snack,” he accused dryly. 

“You can’t prove anything,” Nico answered, tone light. His free hand drew up and down Will’s back, warm and grounding, and Will chuckled as he returned to filling out paperwork—one-handed, now, with his other arm firmly wrapped around Nico’s waist to keep him from sliding. 

Nico finished his snack and leaned back to toss the wrapper into the garbage. Will grinned. “Aha,” he said. “Caught red-handed.” 

“Oh dear,” Nico sighed, playing along. “Don’t suppose there’s any way I could get you to look the other way.” 

“You trying to bribe me, di Angelo?” Will teased, smile growing as Nico nuzzled against his nose like a kitten begging for kisses. “Shame on you.” 

“Only shameful if it doesn’t work,” Nico murmured, sealing their lips slowly. Will leaned back in his chair, bringing Nico closer to his chest, and tilted his head into the kiss as his eyes fell shut. Nico sighed against his lips, fingers dancing through Will’s curls, and Will ran his thumbs reverently over the bones of his boyfriend’s hips. 

They parted with a wet sound. Will pressed another kiss to the underside of Nico’s jaw. “I love you,” he said. Nico hummed happily, kissing him once, twice, three times, chaste and intimate. 

“I love you, too,” he said, and wrapped his arms around Will’s neck. Will kissed him one more time and returned to his paperwork, pencil scratching on paper as Nico sprawled in his lap and dozed on his shoulder. 

“You know something?” Will said, turning his head to kiss the base of his neck. Nico shivered. 

“What?” he asked. 

“You only get clingy when you’re really tired,” declared the blond. “Do you ever think about clinging to me like this when you’re awake?” 

“Always,” Nico answered easily, tilting his face into Will’s neck to nibble at his skin. “But not how you think. I like to cling to you because it makes me tired.” His nibbles turned into small kisses. “I come to you when I’m ready to go to bed. The way you touch me, when you pet me and hold me close, it relaxes me; makes me sleepy. You’re so sweet to me when I get needy, and you smell so good, and you’re so warm. And I like how it feels when you hold me. When you make me feel small—in a good way, not emotionally.” He nuzzled under Will’s ear. “Cuddling like this is like coming home,” he admitted. “As soon as your arms wrap around me, I’m all done. Done fighting, traveling, training, working, even playing. It’s just—safe. You’re safe.” 

Will felt tears in his throat. He leaned back in his chair, abandoning his work, and kissed Nico so softly it almost hurt. 

He wove a hand through soft black hair, stroking gently, and Nico made a rumbling, purring noise in the back of his throat. Will smiled against his lips and broke the kiss. 

“Kitten,” he whispered, half a tease, half a pet name. Nico chuckled and dragged him back into another kiss. Will felt strong thighs wrap around his waist, tucking into the gap in the back of his chair, and he smiled as he hugged Nico tighter. Nico purred again, snuggling down into his arms, curling up small and safe against him. “I love you,” Will whispered between soft, sleepy kisses. 

Nico smiled, leaning back just as the door opened and Chiron stepped inside. 

He raised an eyebrow. “Am I interrupting?” he asked dryly. Nico shook his head. 

“He was doing paperwork. I wanted attention,” he said, and tightened his arms around the healer’s neck, pressing a kiss to his temple. “He let me sit in his lap while he worked.” 

“Uh-huh,” Chiron said, amused. “And how much work got done?” 

“All but the summary report for Samuel,” Will reported. “Inventory is done, too, and I changed the sheets before the kid came in.” 

Chiron nodded in acknowledgement. “Thank you, Will,” he said. “Go on, get to bed, now, both of you. “It’s almost curfew.” 

Will shifted, casting an expectant glance at Nico. Nico just held on tighter, and the son of Apollo snorted. “Alright, then,” he murmured, and slipped his hands under Nico’s thighs to support him as he stood. He hiked his boyfriend up his body, grabbed his bag from under the desk, and made his way out into the summer night. 

“Mine or yours?” he asked, smiling when Nico’s arms and legs squeezed him close. “Don’t make me trip,” he warned. 

“Mine,” Nico said. “Wanna be alone with you.” 

“Sneaky, dirty little son of Hades,” Will teased. Nico smacked his shoulder lazily. 

“Not like that,” he scoffed. “I just want to be with you. Just you.” He paused. “Besides, you had evening shift, so you don’t have to go in the morning. We can stay in bed and hang out.” 

Will kissed his shoulder and moved a hand to open the door. He set Nico down once they were inside and claimed first use of the bathroom. Nico went second, and Will changed into a pair of blue sweatpants he’d left here the week before. 

They curled up in bed together, and Nico laid his head over Will’s heartbeat, pressing a kiss to the steady sound. Will stroked his hair, warm and happy, other arm wrapped around his waist to tuck him close. 

“I love you,” Nico sighed, eyes half-closed and soft and oh so beautiful, and Will kissed him deeply, fingers tangled in his dark hair and thoughts swirling. He swept his tongue along Nico’s bottom lip and the raven let him in instantly, opening his mouth to surrender himself to the sweep of Will’s tongue against his, mapping out the contours of his teeth and cheeks, twisting around his own in a dance of push and pull and trust and falling, deeper and deeper, and Will knew he was never getting out.  

His thoughts cleared. 

“I have a question for you,” he breathed when they parted, Nico’s mouth still half open. 

The son of Hades tilted his head. “Yes?” he prompted when Will hesitated. Will took a deep breath. 

“I got into university,” he said. Nico nodded. He’d been the first to know, of course. “Harvard Medical is in Boston. Four hours from here.” 

“Not by shadow-travel,” Nico said with a sharp, fox-like grin. Will rolled his eyes. 

“Yeah, but I don’t want you to shadow travel to me every week,” he said. Nico’s face fell. 

“You don’t?” he asked, and fuck, he sounded hurt. Will gulped. 

“No,” he said carefully. “Because I don’t want you extending yourself that much every week.” He took a breath; let it out. “And... and because I don’t just want to see you once a week,” he whispered. Nico narrowed his eyes—then they popped open wide as it clicked. 

“Would you want to move in with me?” Will asked in a rush, before Nico could speak. “I know you’re not even eighteen yet, but—there's a supplementary school there where you could take courses to get your high school diploma. We could get an apartment near the university—I'm sure Chiron would help us out with rent, and I’ll be on scholarship at school, so maybe I can get a part-time job to pay the bills, and—” Nico kissed him hard, effectively shutting him up. He rolled on top of the healer, cupping his face, and pressed down against him. 

“ Yes,” he said, delight dancing in his onyx-midnight eyes. “Yes, Will, of course I’ll move in with you. Gods! And I’ll get a job, too. I’m not going to leech off you, even if you sort of want me to because you like providing for me.” He laughed, open and sweet, and Will melted under his weight. Nico kissed him again. “I love you,” he said through a smile, and Will could only flip him over and kiss him silly. 

“I love you too,” he whispered. “I love you too. I love you, Nico, more than anything. Stay with me forever.” 

He ducked down too fast and the skull ring jerked on its chain, whacking Nico in the chin. He winced. “You hit me with my own ring,” he said, mild offense crossing his face. Will grinned and kissed his cheek. 

“No,” he said. “This is my ring, now.” 

Nico’s eyes softened and he reached up to trace it, then slid up the chain to cup Will’s face. Will leaned into it with a sigh. 

“Then I guess you’ll have to buy me another one,” Nico whispered. Will’s eyes widened and he glanced down at Nico’s left hand, taking it in his own. Slowly, he pressed a kiss to the ring finger, and Nico shivered. Then he nodded, slow and certain, and Will lunged forward to kiss him breathless. 

They might—just maybe—have broken the ‘no messing around at camp’ rule. 

But really, how was Will supposed to resist a request like that?