Ink and Ashes

#19

*I think the contents of this chapter will make up for the fact that it's late :)*

"W-what?" Nico stared at blond in shock.

Will looked at him confused, "I need to check out your leg. I can't do that with your pants on."

"You don't have to do that."

Will shook his head, "I'm sorry. I know it's uncomfortable but I need to see how damaged it is. My mom could do it, but I felt like you would be more comfortable with me doing it since I have all the same scars."

Nico just shook his head, bringing his knees to his chest so Will couldn't force them off him.

Will sighed, "Okay, do you have any shorts you can change into then?"

Nico shrugged, he didn't have any other clothes.

Will looked confused, "You don't have any shorts?"

Nico shook his head, staring down at his hands.

"Now that I think about it, do you have any other clothes? I don't think I've seen you wear anything but that jacket and your shirt since you came to stay with us."

Nico shook his head.

"Oh," Will seemed a bit lost, "Then I guess you can borrow some of my shorts. I don't think I have any dark ones, and they might be a little big on you, but they'll probably work."

Nico didn't say anything as Will got up and went over to his closet. He came back a minute later with some khaki shorts. He gave them to Nico.

"You can go change in the bathroom."

Nico stared at the shorts in disgust, "I'm not wearing these. No offense but they're ugly."

Will snorted, "I guess I can ask Kayla to borrow some of her shorts, though do you really want to be wearing my sister's shorts?"

Nico blushed, "I'll wear yours."

Will smiled and helped Nico to the bathroom, but Nico refused to let him help him inside.

He walked into the bathroom, not really wanting to actually change, and he looked in the mirror for the first time in a while.

He looked rough, his hair was messy and his eyes were bloodshot. He had eye bags and scraps on his face.

He hesitantly lifted up his shirt, wanting to see the marks from the night before. His torso was covered in bruises and scrapes.

He was about to drop the shirt again and change, when he noticed something. Something was different about his soulmark. He hadn't looked at it in a while but he was sure it hadn't looked like that before.

He lifted the rest of his shirt and stared at the spot right above his heart.

Will's mark had changed, it had turned from his rainbow heart to a simple red one. With Nico's luck that probably meant Will had gotten one look at him and decided he wanted to be straight now. Nico's probably ruined his entire taste in men.

And then there was Nico's.

He gasped when he saw where the two drops of blood used to be. That mark had defined Nico's life for so long, his entire life and purpose had changed after his mother and sister died.

But now the mark had changed.

In its spot was a new tattoo. A new soulmark. It looked like a burst of light. And Nico immediately knew what it represented.

He'd forgotten about changing by then, he dropped the shorts and walked out of the bathroom, over to Will who'd been standing outside.

"Nico?" Will looked confused, "Why haven't you changed."

"I need to talk to you." He muttered, looking down at his feet. He kinda regretted coming out now.

"Shouldn't I check your leg-"

"This is important." Nico interrupted. He was not in the mood for a "check up," or whatever. He needed to talk to Will about this.

"I- Okay." Will smiled and led him back into the room, leaving the door open.

Nico hesitantly closed it behind them, he didn't want to make Naomi mad, but he also wanted to have this conversation in privacy.

Will looked surprised but didn't say anything. Nico followed him over to the bed and sat down next to him.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, Nico not having the courage to actually start the conversation, until Will broke it.

"What's wrong Nico?" He seemed concerned for Nico again, "You look nervous."

Nico looked down at his hands, mustering up the courage, "Why are you actually trying to fix me?"

Will looked confused so Nico elaborated, "You're constantly trying to help me. First it was the homework. Then trying to help with my dad. Then picking me up after Thalia found me the first time. Then when dad died. Then Thalia again. And now you're trying to help me with my leg. What are you getting out of helping me?"

"Nico." Will looked sad, "I thought I made this clear, but I love you. I don't want you to be in pain or have to suffer. I want to be able to take care of you when you can't take care of yourself, no matter how many times you say you can, I know you still need help sometimes."

Nico stared at him in shock, and he continued.

"I know you might think it's just because you're my soulmate. At first that's what I thought too. But now I know, even if we weren't soulmates, even if we'd never met and both of our lives were completely perfect. I'd still wish I'd had you. I want to be with you, and I want you to be happy. And if that means doing something as simple as your homework, or as difficult as going to pick you up in the middle of the night, I'll do it. Because I love you Nico."

Nico could physically feel the air leaving his lungs. He didn't know why, actually it was probably what Will had just said, but he didn't want to argue. He wanted to be with Will too, he'd just always thought Will didn't deserve him.

And Will still didn't. He didn't deserve all the problems and struggles that went with being with Nico. But knowing how amazing Will was, he'd probably stay with him, no matter how difficult it was.

So Nico made a promise to himself right there and then. No matter how difficult and impossible it might seem, he'd try and fix himself. He'd do whatever it took to make himself someone a fraction of a percent worthy of Will.

Because he loved him back.

He stared at the boy's sky blue eyes and knew that. He actually loved someone, and that someone loved him back.

It was a miracle.

But Nico wasn't in the habit of letting miracles go to waste.

He leaned in and after a moment of hesitation, he kissed Will.

At first Will didn't kiss him back, he was about to pull away and apologize. Probably dig himself into a hole and never come out. But then he did.

Will cupped his face in his hand and kissed him back. And it was amazing.

Nico could feel the butterflies flying in his stomach. He didn't think he'd ever voluntarily kissed someone, but it felt amazing.

After a few seconds Will pulled away, his face bright red and breathing deeply. Nico was speechless.

Will looked up and met his eyes, giving him that blinding smile that blew his world away.

"Don't think that's gonna get you out of me checking your leg."

Nico just laughed and Will leaned in to kiss him again.