Ghost King in Gotham

NICO DOES A STUPID

A/N:

I know that in the books, Nico stays in the infirmary for three days, but I'm changing it for this book. Instead, he will have been in a coma for a week, because I don't want to give him time to bond with Will (it'll come later, I promise). Also, I upped the repression factor on Nico by ten, so he's super gay but super sad about it.

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Nico wakes up...somewhere. He doesn't recognize the room that he's in, but, based on the fact that his cot is separated by two thin partitions on either side, and that he can see several other cots in the room, he guesses that it's some sort of infirmary.

And just like that, the memories come flooding back.

Nico traveling with Coach Hedge and Reyna across the Atlantic, the Athena Parthenos in tow. Nearly dying in the process.

Camp Jupiter's siege on Camp Half-Blood.

Octavian being launched into the sky, heading straight towards where Gaea and Leo were fighting.

And...Leo. Exploding himself to stop Gaea.

Nico remembers what he felt when he saw that explosion. He felt Leo die.

He chokes back a sob, bringing a hand to cover his mouth.

Most people would probably be crying in the event of a friend dying. Because Leo had become a friend, despite how annoying Nico found him at times. But Nico isn't just anybody. He's a Son of Hades. He had already lost his mother and his sister. He isn't bothered by death, not anymore.

Still...it hurts.

Nico sits up, his muscles aching with disuse and his head feeling groggy, and almost passes out immediately, tilting sideways.

He's still trying to stand up when Percy walks in.

Percy doesn't hesitate to rush to Nico's side, steadying him.

Nico does his very best to not flinch away, but he can't stop his grimace. It's not that he's uncomfortable because it's Percy, but it's not not that.

Percy, dense as he is, doesn't notice Nico's discomfort. Thankfully, he backs off after making sure that Nico isn't going to immediately fall over.

"Was I out for long?" Nico asks, his voice rough with disuse.

A shadow falls over Percy's face, "Yeah, it's been a week, man. You were sort of...transparent...for a while there. We were all pretty scared for a while there."

Nico glances over at him from where he had been tracing designs in the fabric of the blanket with his eyes, "Who's 'we'?" He asks, coughing to clear his throat.

Percy smiles, "You know, us! Your friends?" He thinks for a moment, "And Will Solace."

It takes Nico a moment to remember who Will Solace is. His brain isn't working at full capacity after being asleep for a week. Who would've guessed?

"Apollo camper?" Very eloquently put, Nico.

"He's the one." Percy says.

Nico narrows his eyes, "Why would he be worried about me?"

Percy shrugs, "He is your doctor now."

"What?" Nico is pretty sure that he doesn't have a doctor. At least, the last time he checked.

It's at that moment that someone else walks in. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Will Solace.

"I'm head of the Apollo Cabin. I'm everyone's doctor." He says, gaze meeting Nico's. He grimaces, "You really shouldn't be up."