The Sun in the Shadow

Chapter 15

AUTHORS NOTE: I am on vacation right now and will be for the next three weeks. I love all you guys and really do want to continue writing, but I am out of the country and so I am not finding as much wifi to write on. Anyway, I just wanted to inform you guys of this in case I do not update for long periods of time. Cheers! Or as they say here, Ciao!

When Will awoke, he was in the infirmary, gently tucked in one of the beds. His head felt like something had rammed into it a hundred times and every muscle felt as tight as a bowstring. More or less, he felt really, really bad. But the first thing he thought of was not his pain. It was Nico Di Angelo.

"Nico," he breathed softly, trying to wake up and open his eyes, trying to get someone to help him find the only person that had mattered more to him than an entire camp.

"Not yet, sunshine," a familiar voice said, chuckling a bit. "You promised me three days of rest in case you don't remember."

Will shot out of bed quicker than either of them could think he could have and tackled Nico to the ground, hugging him with more strength than a cyclops. He let go quickly as not to hurt Nico but before he could say anything Nico grabbed his arm and flipped him around so that now Nico was crouching above Will with his arms pinned above his head.

"Not yet, Will," he said again, not laughing this time. "I still haven't forgiven you for what you've done." At this Will sunk a little farther into himself.

"Nico I'm really sorry for telling you that morning, I was stupid and inconsiderate and I shouldn't have put that pressure on you," Will said, pulling himself free of Nico's grip and then standing up. Just as quickly Nico pinned him on the bed.

"Not that, idiot," he replied, "Though I guess I haven't forgiven you for that either. I mean coming into the underworld, coming to save me in the land of dead." Nico stared at Will for a while, watching as his face turned from surprise to confusion.

"Wait, what?" he asked, not even struggling against Nico's grip.

"Will," Nico started and then squeezed his hands tighter around Will's wrists, turning his face away for a second. "You went out of your way to save me. You almost killed yourself when you bent that much light in a place of shadows. If you had died at any point on that mission, I wouldn't have been able to endure it." Nico looked at Will, straight in the eyes. "Will, I may not know my feelings for you yet, but losing you would be too much. I don't want your name to be printed on the people who died because of me, I don't think- I just-"

Nico released him and fell back into a crouched sitting position. Will rubbed his wrists and sat up, staring at Nico. He couldn't help loving how much Nico had cared, not just for him but for everyone. Even if he looked scary, Nico really was a kind person with everyone's lives in his heart.

"Nico," Will started and made to grab Nico's hand, then thought better of it. "I never want to make you feel that pain. I know that you're scared of what will happen, but Nico I would go through all of it again to save you. That and more.

Will was expecting a grateful smile. He was expecting a kind 'thank you.' He was not expecting an enraged charge to the face.

"NO, YOU DON'T GET IT!" Nico pinned back his shoulders. Towering over him and casting a shadow over Will. "Will, you need to promise me you will never, ever do that again. You need to promise me you won't put Annabeth and Percy and Hazel and Frank in danger again because of me. You need to promise you will never come after me, no matter how much pain I am in." He stared at Will and his eyes looked almost scared, but Will didn't catch it.

Will tried to push Nico off, but he was too strong. "Nico, I'm not promising anything." He tried again, failed again. "Nico you have people who love you and want to save you. I'm never going to promise not to and they won't either. I think that-"

"No! Will you have to do this!" Nico cut him off and Will caught the frenzied glint in his eyes this time. "You have to promise me you won't try again. I can't have you guys die!" Nico's strength lessened and Will was able to push him back, watching as Nico grabbed his head and pulled it towards the bed. "You guys can't die because of me, you can't die saving me. It can't be my fault." But he sounded like he was taking to himself and not to Will.

Watching, Will grabbed Nico and pulled him into another hug. Nico didn't protest but grabbed at Will's shirt. He shut his eyes tightly and a sob ripped out of him. Will held Nico tightly as he cried, burying himself in Will's shoulder and weeping. Will didn't ask why, he didn't complain. Though he guessed it had something to do with the coma Nico had been in, Will didn't pry. He just held Nico while he needed it and helped dry his tears.