LIABILITY - WILCO SOLANGELO

Ch. 18

WILL POV

 After I let Nico turn around after checking Percy's scars, I was amused to see the grumpy pout he wore. It was cute and childlike. We both knew that seeing Percy's wounds would have triggered him and I was going to give him a cryptic explanation when Percy spoke, "Look Nico, it's not that I don't trust you with my scars. It's just that, if Will asked you to turn around. He probably has a reason. After all, he's always checking in on you and I'm sure he knows you better than we do." Percy looked at me, raising his eyebrows, asking me if I was taking care of their little brother, begging me to take care of him. I nodded subtly while Nico began to say, "Guys I have something to tell you-"

 And then he collapsed.

I rushed to Nico as did Jason, while Annabeth restrained Percy from getting up and over-exerting himself. I went to pick Nico up but my hand practically passed through. A lot of effort later and we had shifted Nico to the infirmary, even though he had just passed through the bed. So now he lay on the floor of the infirmary with the curtains wide open. No one really knew how to help Nico. At first, I was afraid that the sunlight would make Nico fade more but the journey from cabin 3 to the infirmary had brought visible improvement and so I had opened every curtain and window as wide as I could. Now I sat in the room, head in hands watching Nico, lie on the floor. I contemplated, opening his jacket so as to expose more skin to sunlight but I was scared, more scared than I had been in a long long time. This was something completely new to me - something I couldn't heal. And I was afraid.

Percy had IMed Hazel to see if she knew how to help but she seemed clueless. To our luck, Reyna had overheard the conversation and was now heading to camp with a Coach Hedge - the legendary satyr with powerful karate and a fearless fighting spirit - though Nico always laughed and told me that was a "nice way to put it."

Gods- Nico- he looked so frail. The sunlight seemed to make him a bit more solid and I bent down to hold his hand. I was relieved when it didn't pass through. It was still shadowy but at least it had mass. I could feel the darkness radiating off him and remembered the battle against Gaia. I had sensed the same dark magic then. 

That's when Reyna and Coach Hedge stormed in. Reyna cursed loudly while Coach Hedge tutted. "C'mon Cupcake," he groaned, "How many times do I have to tell you not to get in this kind of a mess? You've got 20 situps waiting for you when you're awake, di Angelo." 

In any other, situation , I would have died of laughter, but the mood was too glum. Coach Hedge shooed everyone from the room including me saying "I'm gonna have to strip him bare and you don't wanna see that." I briefly wondered if he knew about Nico's self harm. He must have known. He's fixed Nico before too. Even as the others left the room, I lingered behind. Coach Hedge snapped at me. What you waiting for Solace? So eager to see the boy naked? I blushed and died internally but said nonetheless, "You asked them to leave because of his scars right?" Coach Hedge's experience dropped from serious and in charge to sad and hopeless. "Y' know about them?" he asked me and I nodded. "You can stay then." I stood in silence as coach Hedge began working on healing Nico. An hour later he was done and Nico was covered in bandages and herbs in a half sleeve tshirt and shorts I had grabbed. His skin was covered with Coach Hedge's nature magic bandages and his cuts couldn't be seen. As coach got up, he sighed and looked at me, "Help him. Please. He doesn't let me and I don't see him enough. I try to check up on him but he lies through his teeth, this one. Once or twice I called him just in time." He shudders terribly and makes a sign of warding off evil and now I at least know who was saving him when he needed it. Coach continued talking. "I'm afraid of what'll happen if I don't find him. But honeslty, I got a feelin' Hades has taken to this one no matter what he says. Sends ghosts and spirits to watch over him and help him. But that's no way to fix him. Not much Hades can do but this cupcake needs people around him no matter if he pushed them away." Coach Hedge sighed and then on a lighter note added, "Needs a proper whacking with my club, honestly." For a moment his expression makes me wonder if he was only joking. I just nod. But in my mind I promise him, I will help Nico. I will.