Nico shivered as a chill ran up his spine at the touch of the cold metal on his skin. He was tired and didn't see what the big deal was with shadow travel. After the most recent occasion in which he refused traditional travel and drained himself, Chiron insisted he had a check-up.
"Are you done yet?" he found himself asking with an irritable tone.
"Not quite yet," said Will Solace, a son of Apollo at Camp Half-Blood. He moved the stethoscope further down Nico's back and listened for any irregularities in his heartbeat. Satisfied with the results, Will drew the stethoscope from Nico's back and jumped up beside him on the table. Without looking at him, Will quietly informed him that everything looked normal.
"Are you okay?" Nico asked, sliding to the left, a smidge closer to his boyfriend.
"I'm good," Will said, looking down at his hands and fiddling with a loose string on his shirt.
"You're lying. What's wrong?"
"Nico... I told asked you not to shadow travel again but you did and now you're-" Will made a gesture with his hands to finish his statement.
Nico looked down and focused on Will's hands. "I'm sorry."
Will shook his head and took a deep breath before looking up and gazing out the window to watch the sunset. "I'm just really tired."
Nico slid until they were shoulder to shoulder and rested his head on Will's shoulder. "Me too. I want to take a nap."
"I wish I could join you."
"Can you not?"
"Nope," Will sighed and looked down at his watch. "Still have an hour left in here before I'm off."
"Oh," Nico stuck out his bottom lip in disappointment. He closed his eyes and fixed Will's hand in his own.
"But I can join you when I'm done."
"Mmhm," Nico moaned sleepily.
The next thing he knew, Nico was laying across the bed and Will was nowhere to be seen. He must've fallen asleep. He closed his eyes again as soon as he heard footsteps nearing his door. Arms slid under his back and he was lifted up against someone's chest -he knew it was Will.
"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Will said as he carried Nico out the door. It wasn't a typically long walk to the Hades cabin, but it was a hot one. Sweat started to bud on Nico's forehead as they walked under the blazing sun.
"Hey, Will," Nico heard Percy shout from somewhere near them.
"Hey, Percy. Need something?"
"Never mind, you look busy."
"It's all right. I have a moment."
"When you're done would you mind checking Annabeth's arm? She's got a pretty strange bite she doesn't remember getting."
Nico felt Will slouch a fraction. "Sure. I'll check it out in a few minutes."
"Great, thanks," Percy said before running off.
Will blew a raspberry at nothing before carrying on with the half-asleep Nico. They reached the Hades cabin and Will brought Nico in to lay him on a bed and kiss his forehead softly. "I'll be back. Hopefully sooner rather than later."
And he was gone.
Nico fell back asleep, but not before thinking about stupid Percy and stupid Annabeth, and not before wishing Will was right next to him.
Nico was awaken again, (he assumed) several hours later by Will swinging the door open noisily. He crawled into bed next to Nico, and wrapped his arms around him. Unexpectedly, Nico felt Will shaking and the back of his shirt stick to him from moisture.
He rolled over and wrapped an arm around his boyfriend. A glimpse out the window revealed it was past midnight. "What's wrong, Will? Are you crying?"
"It's been a long day. I was supposed to be off hours ago, but now it's 1:17am and I haven't gotten any sleep. I've slept five hours in the last three nights."
Nico brushed the hair out of Will's face and planted a kiss on his forehead. He pulled him closer and tangled their legs together. "You're so good at caring for others. Please care for yourself too. Just close your eyes, you need to sleep. I promise I'll be here when you wake up."
Will sniffled and buried his face in Nico's neck. "Thank you."
It didn't take long for either of them to fall asleep, and as Nico promised, he was there when Will woke up.
Only moments after opening his eyes and tiredly smiling at Nico Will jumped up and rushed to the door, muttering a small "Shit."
"What is it?" Nico sat up, jealous of whoever or whatever was stealing Will from him.
"It's 12:00. I was supposed to show up to help my siblings five hours ago."
"Will," Nico pulled his arm and dragged him back onto the bed, wrapping his limbs around him and giving him no means of escape. "I'm sure they all know you haven't been getting enough sleep. Otherwise they would've come looking for you."
"Nico-"
"Come here. Just stay a little longer."
"What if someone needs me?"
"Will, I need you."
Will looked conflicted for a moment before deciding to crawl back next to Nico. "You win this round. But if I get in trouble I'm blaming you."
---
Because I'm a sap and needed some Solangelo in the middle of the night one night, I wrote you this. More to come. Don't forget to vote and comment :D
-Cas
