Solangelo

Chapter 16

On his birthday morning, Will woke up to the sound of his boyfriend's soft snores. They had stayed up till three in the morning the night before, just talking and, Will blushed a little at the thought, kissing. His phone, which he wasn't really allowed to have in camp, buzzed with a happy birthday text from his mum and then a few from his old school friends but Will didn't want to check or reply to any of them right now. 

He just wanted to stay with his arms wrapped around Nico.

Nico's nightmares had been getting progressively worse over the last few days so he slept much less than usual and the few, precious moments of sleep he got were never deep enough to have any effect. A few times, in the night, Will could swear he saw shadows seeping from Nico. These shadows, they were sad, they made you feel like how a dying animal's howl did, full of this sharp sense of a pain that isn't yours but you feel nevertheless, nothing in comparison to what the person is going through.

Will's arms were wrapped around him protectively as he thought about it. He would protect Nico. He would make sure no one hurt Nico again. Nico had been through more shit than anyone should ever go through and Will was going to protect him from any more that could ever come his way.

Nico started to stir and Will tried to make him go to sleep again, but he didn't. He squinted at Will and smiled, stretching himself before kissing Will's temple, "Happy birthday, Solace. How does it feel to be old?"
"I wouldn't know, ask yourself."
He smiled at Will and if Will was an artist, that smile would be his eternal muse. He was so horribly, catastrophically in love with Nico and it was the best thing he had ever felt.

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Nico, Cecil and Lou clapped and sang a horribly off-key happy birthday as Will blew out the candle on his cupcake, laughing as Cecil tried to shove Will's face in it but Lou held him back. Will picked up the cupcake and offered Nico a bite who took it with only a second of hesitation and then pulled Will into a kiss
"No! Stop! My eyes! My innocence is gone. Ahhh!" Cecil started saying, teasing the two.
"I'm pretty sure your innocence was gone before that." Lou said, wiggling her eyebrows and Nico started to laugh as Will's eyes widened at the suggestion.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

That evening, Nico and Will went into New York with a basket in the truck. "No," Nico said as Will reached for it," You're the birthday boy, I'm going to set it up." Will laughed a little as Nico took the basket and the blankets over to a little spot in the trees that he couldn't see and then returned with neither, reaching for Will's hand.

"You are going to love this."

The blanket was spread in a clearing with the picnic basket on it but that wasn't what Nico was talking about. There was a skeleton with a guitar, playing a familiar tune Will couldn't quite place, "No magic, Angelo! It was doctor's orders!"
"I'm sorry I was too busy looking at the doctor to pay attention."
Will stopped short, a blush colouring his face at Nico's directness. In the infirmary he had seemed to insecure around people but now he was a whole different person and Will fell in love with him all over again as he laughed freely at Will's expression. 

Before he could stop himself, Will said three words that made Nico's laugh subside and look at him seriously, "I love you."
"You- You what?"
Will knew he wouldn't be confident enough in himself to ever try again so he repeated himself," I love you, Nico."
Nico looked at a loss for words, as if trying to process and then, "I love you too."

AN - Hey sorry I haven't been that active, my dog got sick but she's better now, anygays, did you like this chapter? I feel like my writing style has changed since I last wrote, idk if it is better or worse.

Did you like this chapter? What do you think happens next?