Time heals

Nico POV

When I was done in the shower, I wrapped a towel around myself and exited the bathroom.

I only had a split second to register that someone was in the room. I yelped and dashed back into the bathroom.

"I'm sorry!" Will Solace's voice said, sounding panicked and embarrassed.

"What are you doing?!" I demanded also panicked and embarrassed. "Get out!"

"I didn't see anything!" Will called. "I swear!"

Thank the gods for that at least. The last thing I needed was to feel more self conscious in front of the son of Apollo. Obviously I didn't care that much, but... well... it's hard not to when he was practically perfect. It was like standing next to Percy or Jason. Plus, I didn't want anyone to see my scarred torso. Ever.

"I left some clean clothes on your bed," Will called. "Your friends dropped them off. I'll come back in a few minutes, okay?"

"Do us both a favour and never come back, okay?" I growled without thinking.

Will didn't reply and when I heard the door open and close, I stepped out again and started to dress. I tried not to look in the mirror. I knew I wouldn't like what I would see. I was the kind of person that other people crossed the street to avoid. In my half dead state, I would probably look bad enough to scare myself.

I knew it had been Jason to leave the clothes because he'd picked out an all black outfit: a t shirt and joggers (I didn't own any joggers but these were clearly Roman with the SPQR logo at the hip). When I was dressed, I got back into bed because even though I'd just slept for ages, I was still a bit winded from the exertion.

Right on cue, Will Solace knocked tentatively and came back in the room. He looked tired and a bit sad. I kind of wanted to ask what was wrong but I was still annoyed at him and I didn't really care anyway.

"Sorry again," he offered.

I scowled. "Do you watch all your patients shower?"

I knew I was being unfair but I couldn't help it. Something about him really got under my skin.

Will sighed. "Do you really think I'm like that?"

When asked directly, I couldn't exactly lie to his face. "Well, no, but-"

"I came in two minutes before you got out," he said. "I thought you were just using the toilet so I sat and waited."

I rolled my eyes. "Still sounds suspicious to me."

"You're right," he replied. "I spend my days sitting in infirmary rooms while my patients shower. It's how I heal so many people."

"You don't have to get sarcastic with me," I grumbled. "You're the one who invaded my privacy."

Will walked over to my bedside. I'd never seen him this up close before but I realised his tan face was covered in freckles. Of course he was the son of the sun god. He even looked a bit like Apollo.

"I'm sorry," he repeated again, his blue eyes shining with sincerity. He held out his hand. "Do you forgive me?"

A hand shake for an apology? Extremely lame. Why this guy was obsessed with taking my hand, I didn't know. He couldn't blame it on a baby satyr this time though, so he must've been at least a little genuine. Sure, it was probably mostly a ploy to feel how sick I was again, but I was already in the infirmary. I took his hand. It was extremely warm, and soft and he also had freckles there...

I let go almost immediately.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?"

I scowled. "I am not a child you're teaching to make friends!"