please don't take my sunshine away- solangelo

Nico Has a Mental Breakdown- Will

     Nico had been staying at the infirmary for the past two nights because one, Will wanted him to so he could check on him; two, no one was sleeping there anymore; and three, even Nico agreed that the Hades cabin was creepy and needed a makeover.

Will was checking up on him before he clocked out for the night.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Will asked.

"It hurts," Nico whispered. His dark eyes were filled with pain.

"What?"Will sat next to him, and the infirmary bed creaked.

"Everything. Have you ever been stabbed?"

"Uh..." Will couldn't quite recall, but it was likely.

"It feels like I've been stabbed over and over again, Will. First, by my mom. She left. Then by Bianca. She left me, too. Percy didn't protect her. Everyone thinks I'm creepy. I also went to Tartarus. I also shadow traveled halfway across the world. With a statue." Nico took a breath. "I don't think being stabbed is good for your health," he said matter-of-factly. "It also makes you do bad things. I've done so many bad things, Will, I'm horrible."

"Nico, you're not horrible." That didn't really sum up what he wanted to say. Will wished he could help the son of Hades, but emotional pain wasn't something he really knew how to heal.

So he just hugged Nico. That probably wasn't a good idea, considering how the guy despised physical touch, but Nico didn't resist. "No, you don't understand. I really, really am."He buried his face in Will's shirt and started crying.

Will was surprised. Usually Nico showed little to no emotion whatsoever, but here he was, sobbing into Will's chest.

He just held him, not wanting to say anything that would embarrass Nico.

Nico curled his arms around Will's waist. Butterflies erupted in Will's stomach, and he knew it was selfish, but he felt happy comforting Nico. Who probably wouldn't even ever like him. Will brushed the thought away. He did not want to think about that right now; he had plenty of other things to worry about.

Nico's quiet sobs subsided, and he adjusted his head, but held his embrace. Will could tell he was exhausted. Will scowled at that. Of course he was. It was all that Underworld magic that was draining him. I mean, he literally shadow traveled halfway across the world carrying a Roman, a satyr, and a giant statue of Athena.

Will made a mental note to "doctor's orders" Nico to stop all that Hades stuff until he recovers. He glanced back down at the adorable dark haired boy currently consuming his thoughts.

Eventually the rise and fall of Nico's breath slowed, and he was fast asleep. Will stayed there for a while. Nico's arms were still wrapped around his waist, though his head was back on his pillow.

Will gently removed Nico's arms and replaced the space created by his absence with a stuffed elephant from the infirmary closet.

He walked out of the infirmary, not wanting to leave Nico, but he had to go back to the Apollo cabin.

Will passed by Annabeth, who gave him a questioning look. He looked down at the wet spot on his shirt created by Nico's tears. "Medical stuff," he shrugged. "Mmm," she said, and Will could tell she was not quite convinced, but Annabeth dropped it and continued on her way.

Will changed and crawled into bed. He closed his eyes, and smiled softly when he was met by a boy with sad, tired eyes. His heart ached for Nico. It wasn't fair what he had to go through.

He drifted off to sleep, his dreams peaceful... with just a sprinkle of Nico di Angelo.

Nah, his dreams were literally just about Nico.