Solangelo One Shots (fluff)

Story LXVIII

This one's a little different in my opinion. It's kind of a different take on their relationship and I've had this idea for a while. WARNING: brief, and I mean pretty minor mention of potential self harm, you'll see what I mean.

Since they were friends and later when they started dating, Nico always noticed Will's... well, he had always called them "habits".

For instance, when he would be in the infirmary, either as a patient or just to help Will out, he noticed little things Will would do. They never really got in the way, but at first Nico found them strange.

He would mainly notice it when he would place something somewhere. Maybe he was helping organize the gauze and bandage cabinet, and he would put the gauze somewhere, then immediately, Will would reach over and put it somewhere else, lining it up perfectly and obsessing over tiny details; like having the cohesive bandages lined up by size and color order.

Nico never got upset about it. He understood, Will liked having things in their place. And sure, maybe it was a little odd that the moment Nico put something on a desk that wasn't usually there, or needed to find a place, Will would swoop in and line it up somehow, or just simply take it off and give it back to him to hold.

For a while Nico never asked any questions, Will hated germs, he loved when things were in their place, ready for use, easily accessible. It made sense, for the head of the infirmary to care about organization and cleanliness, but Nico got concerned sometimes.

He noticed Will had to have things done at a certain time, rigid schedules that led to shutdowns if they were disrupted. Shutdowns that concerned Nico. Will would get really anxious or have panic attacks or lock himself away in his office, not emerging for meals or the usual camp activities.

"Will?" Nico called as he knocked on the large wooden door to Will's office. "Will, can I come in?"

He didn't hear an answer, but it wasn't really a question either, he was going to go in whether Will liked it or not. He slowly cracked the door open and was greeted with Will at his desk, no lights on, with his head in his arms leaning on the desk.

"You weren't at dinner," Nico said gently as he approached, letting the door shut behind him, plunging them both into darkness lit only by the moon that shone through the blinds.

"Not hungry," Will mumbled.

Nico hummed and pulled up a chair, sitting next to Will. "Is there anything you need right now?" he asked, wanting to reach out but not sure if Will would be okay with touch at the moment.

"I dunno," Will mumbled again.

Nico sighed. "Will, I think you and I need to discuss some things," he said, his voice kind and quiet.

Will flinched and turned the slightest bit away from him. "I get it," he muttered. "There's no way you would want to be with me, especially when I'm like this,"

Nico pursed his lips and shook his head. "No, Will, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about," it broke his heart to hear Will say that. "Can I hold your hand?" Nico asked, instead of continuing.

Will lifted his head just slightly, eyeing him, then slowly offered his hand, palm up on the wooden desk. Nico took it, interlacing their fingers and squeezing his hand tightly.

"I don't want to break up, Will, I promise," Nico assured, rubbing his thumb across Will's knuckles. "Sorry I worded it like that, I just," he sighed. "I've been worried about you,"

Will gazed up at him from the desk, his eyes were a little glassy.

"I've noticed...things," Nico started. "I've noticed you obsessing over any imperfection, organizing like your life depends on it, and other things. Like that one shirt you loved but won't wear it anymore because something bad happened when you wore it. Or how if something isn't where it's supposed to be you start breaking down. Obviously, I don't know what it's like for you when you experience these things, but I want to know," brought his other hand up to brush the hair from Will's face. "I want to help you,"