Solangelo Oneshots

He's Lost (He's in a Safe Cave)

Nico isn't sure where he is. He's definitely not in a house.

It's cold and damp and there are tiny rocks making homes in the creases of his palms.

He curls himself up - chest to his knees - and listens to the dripping of water droplets from the stalactites.

A cave, he thinks triumphantly. Stalactites belong in caves. He must be in one of them.

On the one hand, this new piece of information cheers him up enormously. On the other, there are a lot of caves so it's not particularly helpful.

Shakily, Nico gets to his feet and starts to wander. He figures that he has to find light. Light means outside and outside means something other than the cave. He has to admit that he's not fond of the cave.

His footsteps echo, even though he tries to tread lightly, so he takes off his heeled shoes and walks barefoot. The ground is smooth in some places and painfully sharp in others.

He can't find the light but suddenly it's coming towards him. It's found him.

"Nico!"

Nico frowns at Will.

"Where did you come from?" he asks. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you okay?" Will retorts, his eyes frantic. "You can't just walk off."

"Why not?"

"You've been cursed," Will explains.

Nico scowls. "I think I'd remember that."

"That's the point! You have anterograde amnesia!"

Nico stares blankly at him. Will sighs.

"It's the inability to form new memories. Your long term memory will eventually start to go too. Think of it like magic dementia. Look, just please come with me. Percy's out looking for a cure. I'm gonna keep you safe."

Nico trusts Will. He knows he does. He loves him. He also thinks Will might have lost it.

"Let me keep you safe," Will says. "I love you."

He looks so desperate that Nico smiles in a way he hopes is comforting and takes Will's hand.

"I love you too," he says and that seems to calm Will down.

He follows Will because he isn't sure what else to do. He hopes Percy will get back soon.

-

Nico isn't sure where he is. Will's pressed up against his side, keeping him warm. His head kind of hurts and the floor is too hard.

Why aren't they sitting on a bed?

Oh, right. They're in a cave.

"Why are we in a cave?" Nico asks.

Will frowns as if it isn't a perfectly reasonable thing to ask.

"You were cursed," he explains. "We're hiding out here while Percy gets the cure."

"Who cursed me?"

"Mnemosyne. She's the goddess of memory."

Nico snorts. "What did I do to piss her off?"

"Nothing," Will says. "I think Zeus pissed her off and she's trying to get back at him. She mustn't have seen him in a while if she thinks he's concerned about his nephews."

Nico hums.

"Hey, don't leave me, okay?" he says, hugging Will's arm. "It stinks in here and it's boring."