Light & Dark

Chapter 17

Will had noticed Nico avoiding him all day, but he couldn't blame the guy. Will wasn't exactly being friendly and welcoming. He had been too embarrassed about this dream he had. So he had kinda stayed away from Nico too, just so he wouldn't have to blush and stutter and be all pathetic. He hoped Nico wasn't upset about it.

Over the next few days, however, his perspective of what an embarrassing dream was shifted dramatically. It went something like this:

That night, Will thought he was dreaming about the time he dragged Nico behind the Big House to read a book.

He only realised this wasn't true when he noticed there was no book to drop in shock as dream Nico pushed him up against the wall and pressed their lips together.

He had no time to resist and the dream did not stop right before this time. Will knew this for sure.

He had never been kissed, or kissed anyone, before. And despite the fact that it didn't really exist and Nico didn't really kiss him, Will considered this to be his first. It felt so real, it might as well have been.

He had to remind himself, when he saw Nico the next day, that it wasn't ever going to happen. Nico wouldn't want to be with some random healer kid. He liked heroes, like Percy. People who were important.

The next night, he dreamt they sailed out from camp in a small boat and, where no one could see them, made out under the stars. 

"I wish you were real," he said to the dream Nico.

"I wish you were real," Nico replied.

Will woke up before he could figure out what that meant. By the time he woke up, he couldn't remember what was said.

These first few dreams were sweet, romantic and calm. The next night there was a definite shift in mood.

Will lost the details of this dream. It wasn't a scene, like the others; rather it was a collection of feelings and... sensations.

He could only recall snatches: falling onto Nico's bed with his body on top of him, a hot and passionate kiss, speed and desperation instead of romance. Then taking a very fast, definite dive south.

Will woke in a state. He had to wait for certain things to settle down before he could manage going to breakfast.

And every time he saw Nico, all he could remember was his dream and  those sounds and being close to him. His temperature seemed to double every time they saw each other.

He really was losing his composure. How long could he be around his friend and keep pretending not to be absolutely out of his mind? It was only a matter of time before Nico would start to notice. Although Nico had seemed a bit distracted lately.

It was like he had two Nicos, only one of them was much less averse to being touched.

No matter how much he tried to pull his head out of the gutter, the dreams only continued to the point where his siblings had started teasing him about it. He did share a room with them, after all, and they weren't stupid.

One afternoon he overheard them talking amongst themselves whilst he was outside the cabin.

"I think it's either an Aphrodite or a Demeter chick."

"No, but he always plays volleyball with that group of girls from the Hermes cabin,"

Will smiled to himself. Sometimes a kept secret could be useful indeed.