Misery Loves Company

The Fates were Laughing from Olympus

A/N Short Chapter sorry!

Nico was riling up the Arai one moment, his mind churning through battle strategies as he tried to lure the monster to the ground. The next moment, he was in agony as if his body was being torn apart.

He couldn't stop himself as he fell to the ground gripping his head as his wings and body flickered in and out of solidity, his face contorted in anguish.

The Arai paid him no mind however, despite his weakened state, it had its eyes locked on a new target. Nico could barely manage to tilt his head to see what it was looking at, and his heart dropped.

"Son of Apollo, how kind of you to join us." One of the Arai giggled, landing behind Nico and kicking him aside. It looked at him with glee as he failed to pick himself up from the ground. What the Hades was going on?

"Perhaps we should thank you, young demigod. You have made this much easier." The other Arai flew down, hovering off the ground in front of Will. "Your skill set would be a great asset in our masters endeavours."

That was when Nico noticed the light that lit Will's palms. Oh the Fates were laughing down at him from Olympus.

In the five years since Nico had left Camp Half-blood his powers had grown tremendously, through the help of his father, training and years of fighting the Arai and the other creatures the Goddess sent after him. He could no longer fade from overuse of his powers, Hades and Thanatos had ensured that. But the Fates needed balance, he was powerful, especially after having been given the blessings of several Olympians, he needed a weakness - apparently.

It had developed after he took up the title of Prince of the Underworld and Heir of Lord Hades, a sensitivity to light and life. The opposite of his shadows and death.

Sensitivity was an understatement, he thought as Will's blazing hands continued to send torturous jolts through his body. As he began to fade.

Gods he didn't miss this feeling. It had been four years since the last incident and he was not enjoying getting reacquainted.

He'd lasted five years, he wasn't about to get dragged into Tartarus again because his ex-boyfriend got himself involved.

Nico groaned before slamming his palm into the road, trembling at the rush of energy that drained out of him as he opened up a gorge straight to Tartarus. The Arai watching over him was sucked inside, banished back into the Pit, but not before it said, "She will know your weakness now, Prince of Darkness. Your fall draws near."

Then it was gone, the narrow canyon closing back up at Nico's will.

Only one left now.

The last Arai glared at him angrily but turned back to Will. Nico felt the control of his body return to him, the pain of the pure sunlight finally leaving him and his body and wings becoming corporeal once more. Thank the Gods.

He would not allow himself to be delivered to Akhlys, he had evaded her for five years, he would continue to do so. But first he had to help Will, then he could disappear once more.

Will had drawn a Celestial Bronze dagger as the monster approached him.

Cazzo! He didn't know about the Arai's curses. The last Arai was smart, unlike its sisters it hovered too high off the ground for Nico to banish it using his geokinesis.

Nico didn't get the chance to think of a new plan, not as Will drew back that dagger, aiming it at Arai's chest.

He could pray it would miss? Who was he kidding? Will was a son of Apollo; his long range aim was practically blessed.

So when Will pulled his wrist back prepared to throw, Nico beat him to it.

"Fottuto idiota, sei fortunato che ti amo!" Nico muttered, shadow-travelling so he was stood behind the hovering monster.

A Stygian Iron throwing knife pierced through the Arai's ribs and into its chest from the back before Will could release his own weapon.

The Arai fell from the sky, landing in a heap as it began to disintegrate. It turned to face him in its final moments.

"I wonder what curse I shall give you son of Hades." It cackled before crumbling to gold dust, it's soul sucked into the dagger.

The two ex-boyfriends and fated soulmates stared at one another for one moment, two moments...

Then Nico collapsed. 

End Notes: Thanks for reading. What characters would you like to see Nico/Will interact with in this fic? 

~ Sarcast x

Translations (from google translate so apologies if inaccurate):

"Fottuto idiota, sei fortunato che ti amo!" = You fucking idiot, you're lucky I love you!