Solangelo one-shot

Jason's back. That's the first thing that comes to my mind when I wake up this morning. That and what kind of chariot Will and I are going to build for the end of summer games. I wasn't going to participate but Will forced me to anyways. With Jason gone, I was getting kind of lonely since I've been eating all my meals alone. Why am I eating all my meals alone? Because I'm the only one in my cabin, and all campers sit at their own table with their cabin. There's no one else in Jason's cabin either, so we usually eat together. Why isn't there anyone in my cabin? Well because I'm the only son of Hades currently alive—to my knowledge at least. I'm a demigod, by the way. Half-blood, if you wish. I'm Nico de Angelo, son of Hades and Prince of darkness. Prince of naps too, as Will says.

After I wake up, I stumble through my cabin, to the bathroom to get ready. I hate my cabin. Who ever designed this deserves eternal punishment. I mean, they made the beds like coffins, with green torches on the porch. Okay the green torches are super cool, but still! I know i'm basically as pale as a vampire but that doesn't make me one! Yawning, I throw on my new shirt from last night, a black t-shirt with 3 silver skulls, it's almost identical to the one I used to wear before getting attacked by wolves—long story. Will gave it to me as a present last night, he said it was to "thank" me for helping in the infirmary the past few days. Ever since the war with Gaea ended, Will's been hard at work, trying to get everybody healthy again. I mostly just get bandages and food for Will. I blush as a think about last night by the campfire, the conversation with Will. Then, pushing away the feelings, I try to distract myself with chariot designs. It doesn't work. My mind keeps going back to the moment when Will looked me in the eyes and said "thank you" and pulling the shirt out of his backpack. I decide to think about breakfast as I briskly walk down to the pavilion. I get breakfast with everyone else, not bothering to look anybody in the eye. I'd like to think they all care about me, but a small voice in my head keeps telling me they don't. Walking over to my table, I see Piper McLean, staring at me. We lock eyes, but she breaks away. I've never really talked to Piper, but I know I don't like Cupid. They say Love and Death are similar so maybe we'd get along. I don't care enough to find out. After breakfast, I start to walk towards the arena. The Apollo cabin already headed over there to work on their chariots, so Will should be waiting for me.

"Nico, wait!"

I stop and turn around. Piper is walking towards me, looking rather nervous. I usually make people nervous. Her brown hair was braided down the side of her face. She was pretty, I guess, but not really anything special in my eyes. She walked a little closer. She was about my height, a little taller. I'm pretty short for 14, so I've gotten used to it.

"Nico. I just wanted to tell you, I saw you and Will last night." she started to explain.

My heart started pounding. What did she see? What did she think? I tried to brush off the worry but it didn't work. I decided to go for a chill answer. "So?" I asked, hoping I would sound confident and not scared.

"So, what you're feeling is okay. I saw you pull away when Will leaned in closer. My mom is Aphrodite. I know true love when I see it."

My heart pounded louder in my ears. No. I didn't feel anything but friendship for Will. I know i didn't chose to be the way I am, but sometimes the world is just too unfair. I've tried to convince myself Percy was just an exception. Just a fluke, but Piper's words convinced a small part of me, maybe it wasn't. I wasn't about to let her know that though. "You don't know me tho," I protested. "You've never talked to me before, never cared, you don't even know what's happened to me!" I let anger boil up, resentment, trying to push the feelings down stream like a tide of emotions.

Piper was clearly getting frustrated. "I know what happened with Cupid." She blurted. "Jason told me."

All the anger drained. Nothingness was left. "Jason did what?"

All of a sudden, a streak of sunlight reflected off a tuft of blonde hair coming over the hill. It annoyed me that my first thought was Will. Jason ran down the hill and crash-hugged into Piper, beaming with happiness. He smiled at me with annoyingly white teeth. I clenched my fists.

"Nico! How are you?" he asked me. He reached out, like he wanted to shake my hand, or worse, pull me in for a hug.

Saying nothing I walked away.

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I found Will down at the arena. I want to say I was nice to him, but that would be a lie. As soon as I got down there, irritation swept over me. Stupid Piper and even more stupid Will. I was thinking about all the ways I could punch Jason in the face when I heard will call my name. I snapped out of my trance.

"Are you okay, Nico?" Will asked, his blonde hair was almost white in the sunlight. It swept over his left eye, covering it slightly. He had the body of a surfer, muscular but lean. Tanner and better than Jason would ever.... I stopped the thought there.

"Im fine," I grumbled. We were the only ones in the arena. All the Apollo kids left early. "Fantastic. You know I'm so fantastic that I just want to punch a wall!" Before I could stop it, all the emotions poured out of me like a stupid river again. I was crying and babbling on and on about stupid Jason and Piper. At the end of all of it, I felt like nothing. Again

Tears were rolling down my face. My hands were red and hot. I looked at Will. He was just standing there, staring at me, like he was when I first began my rant. I looked down at the ground. No way would Will still want to be my partner after this incident. Then, I felt something pressed against my body. Will's arms were wrapped around my body. I stood in shock for a few seconds, until I wrapped my arms around him too.

"It's okay Nico. You're okay," he said softly. It made my heart beat like a small butterfly. "It was hard for me, too. It'll get easier and better. Time will be the ultimate healer."

And with that, I closed my eyes.

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It was the next morning and I was fidgeting like crazy. I tucked the small piece of folded paper in my pocket. It had one word showing right now: Will. After breakfast, I walked down to the pegasus stables, where I knew Will would be having his lesson. He waved when I saw him. I blushed. My mind was buzzing with excitement and nerves. I was hopped on adrenaline. I stopped when I was 2 feet in front of Will.

"Hey, Nico!" He said. He smiled with the rays of a thousand suns, warming my heart to the core. As much as I hated it, Piper was right.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the paper. I handed it to Will, saying. "It's not the best, but I'm not the sun of Apollo."

Will held the note in his hand. "That would be me," he said, laughing slightly. He opened the note, his eyes grazing the page. It took him longer than normal, since like most demigods, Will was dyslexic. His smile faded. My heart was beating in my ears. "Roses are red, Violets are blue, Will Solace I like you. heart."

My nerves acted up. Why did I write this, and why did I add the heart? I could have played it off like I like him as a friend but no. Stupid Nico.

Will's smile returned. My heart beat calmed a little. "It's not the best poem I've ever read. I expected more from you Nico."

Now I was smiling, "Shut up, Solace. Now is that a yes?"

Will pretended to look thoughtful, "I don't know. I guess. You're not half bad."

"Right back at you, Solace."

He smiled at me, and laced his hand through mine as we walked towards the beach.