Light & Dark

Chapter 19

To save himself further embarrassment, Will had elected to sleep in the Pegasus stables. It was practically the only place he could find where he could sleep alone, be warm and not be seen going there. He discovered a comfortable arrangement of horse blankets in the tack cupboard that would serve for a bed.

This would have been the perfect hiding place.

If only.

If only it hadn't been Piper's turn to clean the stables the next day. If only she hadn't decided to come early so there would be no breakfast to throw up when she shovelled the horse manure. If only she hadn't gone into the cupboard to fetch the tools she needed at the exact moment Will had moaned in his sleep, "Oh, Nico..."

It only took a few seconds for Piper to realise, recover and react. She ran as fast as she could for the Hades cabin, knocking over a bunch of things in the process. She didn't stop to check if Will woke up, but he probably did.

She confirmed this when she found Nico to have abruptly awoken a moment before she burst into his cabin. 

"The dreams. They're being engineered by Aphrodite and Eros to set you up with Will Solace."

Nico's face darkened. "Eros. That insufferable-"

"You don't understand. They're mutual dreams."

"What?"

"You and Will. Both in same dream. Dreaming same thing. Controlled by love gods," She explained, moving her arms wildly.

"What the Hades." Nico stated.

"Yeah."

"That is messed up."

She nodded.

"Aphrodite said it was because you already liked each other," she probed.

Nico looked surprised but pleased. "Oh. So he likes me back," he smiled. "That's new."

Piper raised an eyebrow. "You realise you just came out to me?"

"I guess I did." Strange, though. He didn't feel terrified. Actually, he hadn't even noticed. This was also new.

Nico was silent for almost a minute, deep in thought. He looked distinctly uncomfortable. 

Eventually Piper couldn't stand it. "I'm sorry I said anything."

"No, it's not that. You're fine," he said, waving his hand.

"What then?" she questioned.

"Um." Said Nico,  looking determinedly at the floor.

"What?" she whined.

"Do you want to know?"

"Definitely."

Nico looked up. "Well I was just wondering..

...Does it count as losing your virginity if it was in a dream?"

Piper raised an eyebrow. She scanned his face for any humour. When she realised he was serious, her other eyebrow followed suit. "You're not kidding." 

Nico cringed. "Nope. It's really awkward." He was right.

At that exact moment Will ran in. "Piper, what happened? You woke me, then ran away...? You were seen running here?" 

Then he turned and looked at Nico and a most telling blush crept onto his face.

"You're right, it's really awkward," Piper said to Nico. Then she left the two boys alone to deal with themselves.