Solangelo One Shots (fluff)

Story XLV

Nico blinked blearily, the bedroom was pitch black aside from the faint light of a screen to the side of him. He was lying on his side, but peaked over his shoulder to squint at the source of the light.

Will was sitting upright, against the headboard, with his laptop resting on his legs. Nico grimaced as his eyes drifted to the bright white screen of the computer. His sleep blurry eyes barely caught the image of an article? Or maybe an assignment? He couldn't see from where he rested.

He groaned and looked at the clock. 3:30 am. Why on Olympus was Will awake?

"Will," Nico said, his voice heavy with sleep. "I know you rise with the sun, but isn't this a bit early, even for you?" he flipped over, draping an arm over Will's lap, the side of his arm brushing the cold edge of the laptop. He flinched away from it and pulled himself into his boyfriend's body, squishing his face into Will's side, his nose brushing under the hem of his shirt.

Will hardly acknowledged his presence, his eyes glazed over the screen, and deep eyebags sunk into his golden skin.

Nico took a breath. "Will, sunshine, please," his tone was soft and still sleepy, but he raised his head and gazed at his boyfriend. He lifted a hand up to brush his thumb over one of Will's eyebags, gently turning his head to look at him.

"I can't sleep, Nico. I've been trying but I'm too worried about tomorrow," Will's eyes were heavy as he looked longingly down at Nico.

Nico heaved a sigh, scooting up and shutting Will's laptop. There was a faint yelp of protest, but Nico ignored it as he placed said laptop down on the ground, before he wrapped himself firmly around his boyfriend and yanked him down into the mess of blankets that swaddled them.

"I know you're nervous about tomorrow, but it will all be worse if you don't sleep," Nico rolled back and tugged Will into his chest, practically suffocating his poor boyfriend in his shirt. Will wrapped his large arms around Nico's small waist, nuzzling into him and tangling their legs together.

"You're right," Will relented. "But the first exam is tomorrow and I can't fail, Nico. I just can't," his voice cracked and Nico felt his body tense with anxiety.

The first, and arguably the hardest, of the medical board exams were tomorrow and Nico understood Will's nerves. But he also knew Will and he knew that Will was the best medical student, and would pass with flying colors. The amount of things Nico knew just from hearing Will talk about what he'd been learning or studying was a lot. He knew that Will knew everything he would need to know. But he wasn't sure Will knew that.

Nico ran his fingers soothingly through the unruly mop of golden curls on Will's hair, rubbing his fingertips into his scalp. "You are going to do great," Nico said, soft but confidently. "You are going to sleep here with me, snuggle up all nice and warm, and then in the morning, you are going to ace that exam,"

Will peeked his head up, his eyes obscured by a few curls. "How do you know that?" he asked, quiet and unsure.

Nico sighed and brushed the hair from Will's face. "Because I know you," he started. "Because I know how smart you are, and how hard you've worked, and how an amazing doctor you will become; how an amazing doctor you already are," he saw a faint blush dust Will's cheeks.

"Because you are Will Solace, the most kind, warm, intelligent, caring, and dorkiest person I know. Because you are the love of my life, and because nothing you do could ever be a failure in my eyes. Because you learn from what you do wrong and you always strive to do better. Because you never give up," he ran the backs of his knuckles over Will's cheek, feeling the warmth.

"I know, because you never gave up on me, no matter how many times I have tried pushing you away, no matter how many times you've had to put me back together. You don't give up so easily on things you care about. Even if you fail—which is so unlikely I can't even fathom the possibility—you can always retake it. You will get a good night's rest and you will pass your exam," Nico reached over and adjusted the blankets so they were tightly wrapped around them, both the weight of them and Will soothing. He threw his legs over his boyfriend's and pulled him down so far he wanted them both to dissolve into the mattress.