The Sun in the Shadow

Chapter 4

​The third day of Nico's time in the infirmary was a relaxed one. Will insisted on only letting Nico complete the most simple tasks, making sure the pale boy got his rest, despite sleeping for two days.

​"No no! Let me!" Will called out for the seventh time that afternoon. He grabbed the water jug from Nico, shoved him back into the pillows, and ran to refill it. Nico hadn't even tried to resist. Instead he merely watched with half-lidded eyes as the blond camper filled the water jug and then walked slowly back towards the bed, careful not to spill.

​"Will, stop," Nico said as Will placed the jug on the table and poured Nico a cup. Will looked up and Nico threw the covers back while swinging his legs over the bed and watching him.

​"What's wrong?" Will asked, his voice a little to caring for Nico's liking.

​"Stop dotting over me like I'm some weak child." Nico stood and faced Will. The words he needed to say came out slowly and defiantly. "You've seen me in battle, you know I can take care of myself. I'll let you keep me here for the rest of the day, but I won't let you treat me like a helpless cub." The words were hurtful, even to Nico, but they were true. He hoped Will saw them as such and not just another childish complaint. Nico pushed Will away and made to walk over to the lounge, but a firm hand caught his waist and pulled him back.

​"You're not helpless," Will said, his voice no longer soft but hard and defining. "You are not a child and are certainly not weak." Will's hand was still holding Nico's waist and their bodies were so close together that there hips were touching. "You are the strongest most heroic half-blood in this camp and you have more resilience in you than in half the camp put together."

​Nico was staring into Will's eyes with a stoney glare, but it dropped when Will's head sunk down and he pulled Nico even closer. Nico was about to push away and complain about the close proximities, but then he felt a small drip on his hand. A tear. Will's tear.

​"You are the strongest member in this camp, so I have to keep you safe." Will looked up and Nico's eyes widened at seeing the tears streaming down his tanned face. "I can't let you die, not like I did for all the others. You are too strong to be lost. Too treasured to die." Will's words were choking and his tears were all too real for Nico. The pale boy opened his mouth to speak, but in that moment Will's arms dropped from his waist and his head hung low again. "Excuse me," he said, swiping the tears away. "I have duties to attend to."

​And with that, Will Solace strode past Nico and into the private rooms of the infirmary, leaving Nico tingling where his arms had hugged him and silently missing the heat they had given him.

-0-

​Will took the back door outside and leaned up against the wall of the infirmary building, breathing hard with chin pointed to the sky. The tears had stopped and his heartbeat was slowing, but the hurt still resided.

​Nico didn't want his help, didn't want his care. It was the only thing he could offer to him and Nico didn't want it.

​A last stray tear slipped by and it was quickly rubbed away.

​Sure Nico wasn't anywhere near dying now, but he had been. Nico Di-Angelo could have fallen on the battle field or never woken up from the sleep that Will had sent him into. The strong son of Hades could have found himself in a dark world under the ground where Will wouldn't be able to reach him. Nico had to understand that healing was what Will could do, healing was what could save his life. And that was the most important thing to Will. Nico's life.

-0-

​Nico had gotten back into his bed after Will walked away. Something reminded him that this was a chance to escape or at least do something other than lie down. But that is exactly what Nico did. Without saying a word or even grabbing a book. He simply lied back down and pulled the covers up to his mouth, staring at the clock on the wall but not paying attention to what it was saying.

​Will called him strong. Heroic. Resilient. Treasured.

​Was he really all those things? Was he really full of strength? Was Will certain that he was actually a hero, actually resilient? Did Will believe him as a treasure?

​It was far to much for Nico and an emotion slipped out of his grip. Then another. Then a third.

​Fear.

​Sadness.

​Pain.

​Three feelings he never wanted Will to endure as Nico had. Though, by the sound of it, he already had. Still, Nico came with a conclusion and whispered it to himself just so that he himself could try believe it was true.

​"I do not care for Will Solace."

​I can not, for otherwise he will only suffer.