Solangelo Oneshots

This is Home:

The Apollo cabin was quiet tonight, save the voices emitting from the old box TV they had dragged from the Big House, the speakers crackling and humming with each line of dialogue. The washed-out screen illuminated the dark cabin, revealing the mess of popcorn buckets and soda cans that littered the empty space between campers. 

Kayla, Yan, Jerry, and Gracie had long passed out, piled together on the floor like puppies while Austin was slumped in the corner of the couch, his feet tucked firmly against Will’s and Nico’s tangled legs. 

Nico had claimed the other end of the couch that night and apparently so had Will. His boyfriend was curled into his chest, his hand curved around two of Nico’s fingers. Bright blue eyes slowly grew tired as the movie wore on, pressing further and further into the other’s chest.

He glanced around the cabin as he combed his fingers through Will’s hair. A question lingered in his thoughts as the memories of today swept through his mind, – Bickering over which movie to watch, braiding Kayla and Yan’s hair, sneaking snacks from the pavilion – when did he start considering this home? 
 
An explosion from the screen made him refocus his attention. He couldn’t help but admire the cheesy CGI effects as the Death Star was blown apart. He’d never admit it to Will, but he secretly thought Star Wars was a little cool. How could he not; It was basically pirates in space. 

Will shifted in his arms, mumbling incoherently. A sharp pain followed as he jabbed his elbow into Nico’s ribs. He furrowed his eyebrows, gazing down at Will with every intent to scold him, but the scene in front of him made him freeze. 

The blond’s face was mushed into Nico’s chest, making his nose and forehead crinkle cutely. Curly hair stuck out in different directions and his eyelids drooped heavily, threatening to close with every blink. Nico’s hand was pulled close to his face, his warm breath ghosting over his skin every time Will recited a piece of his favorite dialogue. 

He was so beautiful. 

The question from earlier returned. Nico’s heart swelled, suddenly overcome with an emotion he thought he’d long forgotten. The urge to deny his feelings were strong – it was too intensive, too heavy, too kind for someone like him. But how could he when he was surrounded by warmth, comfort, and friendship. When everything he had ever wanted was right on top of him. 

“I love you.” 

The sentence escaped past his lips before he could stop himself. Will, suddenly less sleepy than before, turned towards him with wide eyes. The movie quickly became background noise as they stared at each other, those three words hanging between them like a loaded gun. 

Nico opened his mouth to take it back, but the words were stuck in his throat, constricting around his lungs. He felt his hands start to tremble and his face grew flush with every passing second that Will said nothing. Tears welled in his eyes and he let out a choked gasp before bursting into tears. 

“I love you,” he said again, much softer than before. Fear burned through his chest because when had he ever loved someone and it turned out okay? Nico was filled with sharp corners and rough edges. He was a traitor, a runaway, a freak. He didn’t deserve love, he hadn’t even come looking for it. Yet here it was, soft and warm, and he had no idea what to do with it or if it would love him back. He felt his bottom lip tremble and he cried harder, squeezing his eyes shut as he clung to Will tightly, afraid that if he let go, he’d never come back.

“I love you too.” 

The words were so soft that Nico was sure that he had imagined them. But Will was pressing kisses to his cheeks, the corners of his eyes, his jaw, all while whispering how much he loved him. Nico slowly opened his eyes, surprised to find Will still on top of him rather than waking up from a hopeful dream. His boyfriend was glowing faintly, his own face wet with tears. 

Will laughed, quiet and shaky. Nico noticed his hands were trembling and it dawned on him that Will was just as nervous and scared as he was. That he’s just as terrified of losing him. 

The cracks in Nico’s walls crumbled and tugged Will closer to him. 

“I love you.”