ꜱᴘɪᴅᴇʀ ʙɪᴛᴇꜱ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀᴄᴀʙᴇᴛʜ/ꜱᴏʟᴀɴɢᴇʟᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴊᴇᴄᴛ

ᴇᴘɪʟᴏɢᴜᴇ | ᴡɪʟʟ

Will has so much fun now. Like, all the time. He's excited about the experience he's getting taking care of Sally. What kind of a pre-med student wouldn't want to get internship credits to watch Hallmark movies with his friend's mom? He loves taking her and Paul's new hellhound puppy, Caprese, for walks around the neighborhood. And gods, being only a short drive away from his boyfriend Nico- his boyfriend!- is just a dream!

But still. It's a little depressing sometimes, knowing how sick Sally is and how much she misses Paul and Percy... and Poseidon. That's always an awkward conversation. Will tries to stay patient. He's getting good at explaining people and things Sally can't remember without upsetting her or making her feel guilty.

When it comes down to it, though, things are great. Will's getting paid, but he doesn't even have to worry about covering the rent or groceries, so he can spoil Sally and Nico with special nights out and pay for his cellphone plan (oh yes, Leo got him and Annabeth their own monster-proof phones so they can stay in touch). He feels like he's been extracted from the real world and put into some happy fantasy world, yet somehow he doesn't worry that the rug is about to be pulled out from under his feet. He feels safe.

Sally walks into the living room, using the back of the couch for support. She's becoming frailer by the minute, a detail that Will's still figuring out how to share with Percy.

"What do you want me to make for dinner tonight?" she asks.

Will helps her onto the couch and then points the remote at the television.

Caprese is quick to hop onto the couch and curl up next to Sally. They've become close in the short time they've been together.

"We don't have to make dinner, remember? Paul and Estelle are coming home, so we're having that lasagna you keep raving to me about," Will says.

Sally smiles. "Any minute now, right?"

"Yep!" Will confirms. "Are you ready to go?" Paul should be back any minute now with Estelle. They're going on a trip to Montauk for the long weekend.

Sally nods. "Are you ready to go?" she turns the question around on Will.

Will's duffel bag sits by the door. He's all ready to go to Camp Half-Blood for a weekend with Nico, his boyfriend. "I'm all set!"

Caprese gives a happy "yip!" at that. He can probably tell they're about to take a trip.

Will pats Caprese on the head. "You're just gonna love the beach! Who's a good boy?"

Caprese wags his tail, rattling the couch back and forth.

"Oh, okay, careful, Caprese..." Will warns. Better not break the couch right before Paul gets back.

Sally laughs. "It's alright, Will."

"Yeah, but-"

"Caprese! Giu!"

Caprese gets off the couch and runs up to greet Nico and another larger hellhound.

"Nico!" Will shouts. "I can just drive to camp you know!"

"Nice to see you too," Nico says. "Sally, how're you doing?"

Sally waves from the couch.

Caprese scampers across the floor to meet his brother, the hellhound Nico shadow-traveled with. They happily sniff each other.

Nico utters a command to his hellhound. "Raphael, seduto."

Raphael sits. He cocks his head to the side, awaiting Nico's next command. What a good dog! Will can barely get Caprese to sit before dinner time.

"Listen, I know we were going to eat dinner and hang out at camp, but I just heard from Percy," Nico explains.

"How is he?" Sally asks. She misses Percy, but she seems to have gotten used to life without him. He's been on Hazel and Frank's honeymoon with Annabeth for a few weeks now, and he checks in constantly.

Well, he's been checking in constantly. Come to think of it, Will hasn't heard from him or Annabeth in a while. He just figured they were busy with questing things, but maybe...

"He's alright," Nico says. "So is Annabeth. But something weird's going on. They need... help."

"What kind of help?" Will asks.

"Just some different perspectives." Nico's great at sounding calm. He's obviously trying not to worry Sally, but if Percy and Annabeth are actually asking for help, something's wrong.

Something is very very wrong.

"I do miss my old roomie," says Will. He wipes his sweaty palms on his jeans.

Nico points to Will's bag. "Got everything?"

"I guess I'll grab a medkit and we can be on the way," Will says. He runs to the bathroom to retrieve his travel kit and some extra toiletries.

Shoot. Sally.

Will pulls his phone from his pocket and shoots a text to Paul, explaining that there was a demigod emergency abroad and Sally is ready to go. It might not even be worth it. They'll be here to pick Sally up at any minute, but he does it anyway, just to be safe.

Caprese jumps and presses his paws against Will's chest. "I'll miss you, buddy," he says. He likes having a dog.

"We might have to go in phases," Nico explains. "This'll be Raphael's first major jump. He's only ever gone to New Rome to visit Hazel before."

"Any luck?" Will asks. Nico's been trying for weeks to get Hazel and Frank to adopt a puppy.

Nico smiles. "Not yet. But I think they're close. They haven't met Luna yet."

Will picks up his duffel bag and then turns to Sally. "Paul says he'll be here any minute now; they're just stuck in some traffic."

Sally hugs him. "I can't wait to give that man a piece of my mind about texting and driving!"

Will pulls back and looks her over. She'll be fine. She's a little more vacant than she'd seemed at the wedding in New Rome, but Will read that being around family can be better for people with Sally's condition.

"Have fun in Montauk," Will says.

Nico feeds a piece of bacon to Raphael and scratches his neck. "Ready?"

Will sighs. "Hey, I've always wanted to go to Europe."

"You wouldn't have liked it if you went with us last time," says Nico. "Now grab on."

Well, what else is there to do but to grab on? Will's going to Europe!

Fin.