𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄// 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐔

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓𝟖// 𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞

“But that’s adorable!” Hazel protested. 

Nico groaned dramatically, trying to hide his face behind his hands. His horse knickered and shifted beneath him, but he barely noticed. “It’s embarrassing, not adorable. Will probably thinks I’m weird and clingy.” 

Hazel gave him a smile over her shoulder as their horses picked their way down the trail. “If someone wrote me a cheesy love letter, I’d think it was the sweetest thing. If he thinks you’re strange for it, he’s the weird one, and he doesn’t deserve you.” 

Nico laughed, face burning red. “Alright, alright. I’ll let you know how he reacts.” 

“You better!” 

They lapsed into comfortable silence, no sound save for the scrape of hooves against pebbles. 

“How have you been adjusting?” she asked several minutes later. 

“I’m doing okay, I guess.” He shrugged. “A little stressed, but I’ll manage it.” He urged his horse closer and managed to brush his hand over her shoulder. “Are you doing okay?” 

“A lot better than I thought I would.” She turned to him, deep in thought. “I still feel off after Lou Ellen dying, but I’m learning to cope with it. I’m seeing a therapist.” 

“I’m happy for you.” 

 She smiled at him, before jerking her head to the winding trail before them. “Race you back?” 

He grinned. “You're on.” 

☀️☀️☀️

Will crossed his legs and leaned against the freezing wall of the cell, taking in his surroundings again and again. To his right were Duke Hakkam and Lord Pinkerton, while Perseus and Annabeth were in front of him, along with several Aureole sorcerers. At the far end of the cell, sitting cross-legged on a stool, was one of Jalgan’s soldiers, who eyed them all coldly. 

Over the past couple of weeks, interrogating Jalgan’s soldiers had become nearly impossible. They were all skilled sorcerers, and could withstand truth spells, even when they were restrained. Most of them held a nearly fanatical devotion to Jalgan, which made things even worse. 

Usually, Will’s parents would attend these…sessions, but due to time constraints, hadn’t been able to. So Will had decided to go in their place. He couldn’t quite place it, but something inside him demanded to know exactly what was going on in the dungeons. He trusted Perseus and Annabeth to be courteous to the prisoners, but he still couldn’t shake the feeling. Hakkam and Pinkerton attended on behalf of the Council, which Will guessed was a decent reason to be there, but that only made him more determined to be in the dungeons with them. 

Will had never thought he could step foot in a cell again without shutting down, and was honestly surprised he was able to accomplish such a feat. He was oddly proud of himself; he decided to take it to mean he was healing enough to be in those kinds of environments while keeping a clear head. He would get anxious when he first walked into the cramped halls, but it would fade a little with time until he could somewhat ignore it, and he didn’t even dissociate. He had mentioned it to Lee, who had congratulated him with a big smile. Small progress was still progress. 

After half an hour of casting spells and going back and forth, the prisoner’s lips continued to be sealed, and they were growing more and more frustrated. The group had withdrawn and were talking in hushed tones to each other. Will eyed the prisoner, and found himself walking toward him.  

The prisoner, whose name he couldn’t remember, cocked his head and looked at Will with distaste. His face was smeared with grime, but other than that he looked decent for a prisoner–he hadn’t been starved or subjected to torture. Will had personally made sure that wouldn’t happen.