|a/n: Technically this and the next chapter are reuploads because I messed up last time and uploaded before I was done AND uploaded the wrong chapter. Sorry for any confusion!! Also, I'm so sorry it's been forever since an upload.|
Will cursed as the train car swerved and he fell into another person on the train. He apologized and slid back to his seat. For the thousandth time, he wished he had cool powers like Nico and shadow travel wherever he wanted. He'd have to regulate it, of course, but at least he wouldn't be stuck on a smelly, tightly packed train heading across the country.
Suddenly, shadowtravelling didn't seem so bad.
He stared at the window and watched the trees whirr by. From time to time, he could catch glimpses of satyrs running into trees, or what used to be tree nymphs. He smiled to himself and thought about Camp Half-Blood. There were a lot of things they got right in contrast to what he had seen from Camp Jupiter. Treating their satyrs, no, fauns like they were dumb animals was insulting compared to their creatures who rescued unclaimed half-bloods and found the lost god Pan. Sure, a few of the elders may seem like they belong in Camp Jupiter with their lazy ways and fat bellies full of food from countless hearings that led nowhere and sometimes cost innocent satyrs their licenses...
"What was my point?" Will muttered to himself.
"Sorry?" A middle aged woman leaned across the aisle towards Will. He pursed his lips and shook his head. "Sorry," he echoed. "Talking to myself."
She nodded as if this solved all the world's problems. "Do that all the time myself. Don't know why..." she mused. "Of course, it's probably because that one time you fell off your sister's horse."
"I never fell off-"
She glanced back at Will with surprise."Oh not you, honey," the lady said incredulously. "I was talking about me."
Will nodded, smiled politely and turned back to his window. Hours passed before he became aware of his surroundings again. Finally, the train slowed and came to rest at the train stop. Will squeezed out of the car between the masses of people and took a deep breath of fresh air. It had been several days since leaving Camp Half-Blood, and the smell of clear air (well, air that didn't smell like sweat and confused old people) was almost intoxicating.
When he broke out into the sunshine, he hesitated. Why was he doing this? He really didn't even know the guy. Not really.
But kind of.
He had always watched the kid from a distance but rarely dared to say anything. He didn't scare him like the other campers, but he was scared of his own feelings. One of Apollo's kids liking Death's own? That was unheard of.The only reason anyone else knew about his crush was because he was "staring too long" at Nico whenever he was around. Whatever that meant.
When Nico was gone, there was some sort of emptiness and longing that lingered behind. Hades' cabin was empty again, and Will could only hope that Nico would come back from a quest with minor injuries that needed medical attention. And by golly, Will was going to be the one who treated those wounds.
Is it wrong to wish someone had a few injuries after a life-threatening quest? Will wondered. He grimaced and shrugged. As long as he wasn't really in danger of dying, he guessed it was okay. Back then, it was the only hope he could hold on to. He knew it was dumb since there were plenty of cute nice (available) people at camp. Most of the time, Will forgot about Nico and could focus on someone else. Unfortunately, Nico always popped back into his mind.
So that's why he had taken it upon himself to save Nico on this stupid one-manned quest. Because he could get his stupid face out of his head. After all that had happened the past week, he knew he had to get Nico back and keep him. There was no going back on his feelings now.
Will sighed and trudged towards a parked taxi. During one of his naps, his dad had revealed to him that he was pulling some strings to get him safe transport. But looking at his ride, Will wasn't sure this was a blessing from the gods. The driver was leaning on the passenger door and seemed to stare past every person that walked by. Even though it was a busy city, no one noticed the taxi driver except Will. Maybe that was a good thing since the driver had no face.
