I hate Valentines Day!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

Nico's POV

It was a good day as far as days go for being a gay son of Hades. So far Solace hadn't bothered me once and I spent my time shadow traveling to different places close to camp.

I crossed the border to camp and turned around to see the sun still shining over the Manhattan skyline in the distance. I looked back over at the many campers milling around in the distance only to come face to face with an Apollo camper by the name of Austin.

He was so close I could smell his cheez-it breath which made me scrunch my nose up in distaste. I made a back-off movement with my hands and he took the hint and stepped out of my personal space bubble and then proceeded to speak.

"Will says he doesn't want you shadow traveling to much since what happened after the war."

I heaved a sigh of frustration at this little fact he'd just told me. Why did Solace feel the need to check up on me so often? And how did he even know? It's not like I was obliged to listen to his "doctors orders" anymore. And now here the guy is thinking that he can tell me not to shadow travel even after I got out of the infirmary.

I pinched the bridge of my nose after remembering that Austin was still standing in front of me.

"Okay," I told him. "I can't make any promises to follow his instructions but if he disagrees to let me go where I want to, then tell him he can find me at the arena."

He nodded and then turned around and took a few steps down the hill into camp before turning around with a look of sympathy.

"Nico? I just want to warn you Will probably isn't going to agree with letting you shadow travel. But seeing as you probably already knew that I'll be on my way."

I saw him head back down the hill into camp before making his way over to the volleyball court where a few campers were playing a game.

I waited for his retreating figure to disappear from my sight before I myself made my way down the hill and went to the arena to get my mind off a few things.

⚔⚔⚔

"Stupid,"

Slash.

"Doctor."

Swish.

With every insult to the blond haired blue eyed son of Apollo I cut off another training dummy's head and reveled in the sounds they made as they fell to the ground. Violent, I know. I proceeded to mimic him while practicing strategy with my sword.

"'Doctors orders' he says."

Thump.

"'Only for a bit'" he says"

Thump. Thump.

I barely noticed someone else training as well in the arena, but right now I didn't give a crap.

"Hmph. 'No shadow traveling' my as-"

"Neeks?"

I let out an angry sigh and turned to face him.

"How many times do I have to tell you Solace? It's Ni-co. Nico. NOT Neeks! Okay!!"

He smirked at me and folded his arms over his chest, making his biceps flex, which in turn brought my attention to his arms.

"How many times do I have to tell you Nico? it's Will, not Solace."

He shook his head when I didn't give him a reply but then noticed me putting light armor on and took it as his initiative to put on some himself.