All the Ways to Love You

The Color of Our World (Part 3 of 3)

***

It was not like this was the first time Nico had to leave the camp to do something that Hades asked him to.

But this was the first time he could not wait to go back to Camp.

He could not wait to go back to Will.

The cool breeze was gently soothing their skin as they sat on the grass. Afternoon sunlight seeping in through the leaves of the trees that they were sitting under.

"I'm glad that you're back," Will said, half-whispering. His eyes were on the flower crown that he was weaving.

Warm air filled Nico's chest and that tiredness he felt whenever he had to shadow travel faded.

"Oh, really?" Nico asked, half-teasingly.

Will only spared him a glance. His eyes quickly darted from Nico back to the flower crown in his hand that was almost finished now.

"Yeah," Will finally answered. "It's just nice to have you back."

Nico smiled. He didn't know why but he just wanted to smile.

Will turned, now facing Nico. He held the flower crown in his hand, and a smile on his lips.

"Come here," he said.

Nico tried not to giggle but failing. The warm bubble inside of him was bursting out into giggles and Will was also letting out that cute laughter and gosh, Nico could just listen to Will laughing like that for the rest of his life.

Nico leaned forward a little and Will put the flower crown on his head.

"There," Will said.

Will was staring at him with that look again, like Nico was the one hanging the stars in the sky for Will.

(But if Will asked him to do so, Nico would)

"I'm happy that you're here," he said again.

"Why? Because you miss me?"

The shade of Will's face got brighter and he looked away.

When people blushed, his mother once said, their cheeks were bright red, softer than red roses but brighter than cherry blossom.

Nico thought Will was more beautiful than roses or cherry blossom, whatever their color are, whatever Will's color was.

"So what if I miss you," Will mumbled. He was still stubbornly avoiding Nico's eyes, fixing his eyes on the grass.

"That's good if you miss me," Nico said, making Will turn his head back to Nico.

"Why? Why is it good?"

Nico chewed his lower lip and his heart was thumping and why, why Will had to be so beautiful?

"Because..." Nico said, can't stop himself from staring at Will's lips. "Because..." Nico tried to continue but his throat was dry and his heart just could not stop beating so fast, too fast. "I... I miss you too," Nico finally said.

A beat of silence.

Nico still could not stop himself from staring at Will's lips and he was absently thinking whether it was him that was leaning forward or it was Will because it looked like their faces were closer now or maybe it was-

"Nico?"

Will's voice was trembling with something.

"Yes?"

Nico's voice was trembling too and it might be because of the same thing.

"Are you..." Will's face was so close now, his freckles were soft dust of darker shade against his skin. "Are you...going to kiss me?" he whispered.