Utopia | Percabeth Royalty AU

5.

Nico looked up at Annabeth with gaunt eyes. Despite being a few years older than her, he seemed very small. "The rebels," he choked out. "They attacked our summer cottage by the sea. I was the only one who made it out alive." His voice cracked and he let out a sob, letting his gaze drop miserably to the back of the horse. "They killed- they killed Bianca."

Annabeth gasped. Bianca had been Nico's older sister. The two were almost inseparable. Bianca  had always been helpful and comforting to anyone in need and Annabeth couldn't imagine Nico without her. She felt her eyes water. "Oh Nico, I'm so sorry." She reached out to place a hand on his shoulder but he shrugged her off.

"I'm fine, I just need to see a healer about my leg."

Annabeth knew that he wasn't fine but saw no point in arguing. "Alright, I can take you to my cousin, Will." She turned to Piper and Reyna. "You two go back to the stables, I'll take Nico to see Will."

"Alright Annabeth," Reyna seemed shaken. Annabeth knew that Reyna and Thalia had both always looked up to Bianca. The blonde drew her horse alongside those of her friends and gave them each a quick hug before they turned and raced back towards the palace stables.

Annabeth and Nico took a different route around to the wing of the castle where the infirmary lay. Annabeth deftly swung off her horse and tied it up at a trough but she saw, to her great consternation that Nico was having great difficulty dismounting from his steed. When he finally managed to swing himself off of the horse, his legs buckled underneath him and Annabeth rushed to catch him before he hit the ground. He winced as she caught him and muttered curses at his injured leg as she lowered him to the ground. As soon as he was in a sitting position, propped up against the feed trough, he passed out. Annabeth yelled for help as she tied off his horse next to hers.

A healer who Annabeth recognized as Kayla appeared at the doorway and rushed outside when she saw Annabeth crouching on the ground next to Nico. "Annabeth what happened, who is this?"

"Kayla," Annabeth sighed with relief. "Thank god you're here. This is Prince Nico diAngelo of the southern kingdoms. His summer home was attacked. Can you stay with him? I need to go get Will."

"Oh of course!" Kayla exclaimed, going to crouch next to Nico and pulling a flask of water and a pain elixir out of her pouch. "Will's helping Austin at the front desk."

"Thank you so much Kayla." Annabeth ran inside, walking briskly to the infirmary check in center. "Will!" she exclaimed, seeing a head of blonde hair behind the counter.

He turned and smiled. "Annabeth, how nice of you to visit. Look, Austin and I just finished working on this-"

"Never mind that now," Annabeth panted, cringing at her bad manners. " I need you to come with me."

Will looked confused. "What, why?"

"I'll explain once we get there. Come on Will let's go!" She tugged impatiently on his arm and with a reluctant call to Austin that he would be back soon, Will relented and let Annabeth pull him along.

After they left the welcome center, Annabeth broke into a run, dragging a puzzled Will along with her. They broke into the fresh air and Will doubled over panting before spotting Nico and straightening up.

"Who's that?" He asked with a strange look on his face.

"This is who I dragged you out here for, idiot. He's Prince Nico of the southern kingdoms and his summer home was attacked. The rebels got his leg pretty badly before he escaped," Annabeth explained.

"He's kind of cute," Will blushed.

"We have no time for any of your gay shit Will," Kayla spoke up from the ground with an eye roll. "It's worse than a leg wound, Annabeth. His spine seems to have suffered a hit as well, it's a miracle he's made it this far. I gave him some pain medicine but I don't know how much that will do for him."

"This is why I need you Will," Annabeth explained. "You're the most qualified healer here. I want you to take him to a private room and stay with him, attend to his every need. Notify me of any developments, please."

Will smirked, "Are you sure you're not ready to be the queen yet. You're pretty good at handing out orders."

"Oh shut up Solace, this is serious," Annabeth punched her cousin on the shoulder.

"I agree with Annabeth," Kayla piped up. "He's going to need constant medical attention. I don't know anyone better for the job than you, Will."

Will blushed. "Alright, alright I'll do it."

"Thank you so much Will," Annabeth hugged him. "Now, can you two handle him? I need to take the horses back to the stables."

"Of course," the two healers chimed together.

As if woken by all the discussion around him, Nico opened his eyes. "Who's this?" he asked, pointing deliriously at Will.

"Nico, this is Will. He's my cousin and he's going to be taking care of you for a while," Annabeth explained.

"Good," Nico muttered. "He's a cute doctor." Seemingly satisfied by this proclamation, Nico's head slumped back onto his chest in a dead faint.

Kayla smirked at Will. "It looks like we may have finally found you some boyfriend material William."

Will blushed, "He's just a patient. And besides, I couldn't date a prince, I'm just a healer."

"Well look at Annabeth," Kayla retorted. "She's marrying a Prince and she's just a councilor's daughter."

Annabeth smiled, untying the horses. "Well, as interesting as this lovely argument over Will's possible boyfriend is, I'd better get back to the castle. Percy's sure to have found out by now and be looking for me."

"Have fun with your betrothed Annie," Will teased as he went back into the infirmary carrying the sleeping Nico bridal style.

"Don't let your little crush distract you from your work Willy," Annabeth retorted as the door swung shut behind her cousin and she led the horses off to the stables.

***

Annabeth had been right about Percy. As soon as she got back to her rooms, Percy sprung up from her desk where he'd been waiting for her. "Thank god you're alright," he cried, wrapping her tightly in a hug.

"We've really got to stop meeting like this," Annabeth laughed, gently detangling herself from his arms. "We get engaged and every time we meet seems to be a distressed you waiting for me in my rooms."

"Oh ha ha Wise Girl," Percy responded sarcastically. "But I have a genuine reason to worry. The rebels are moving closer and they even dared to attack members of a royal family. Father is livid. You'd better get changed, he wanted to see you as soon as you got back to hear the story from you. Reyna and Piper already recounted their versions but I think he trusts you the most and it is not fitting to host an audience with the king in dirtied riding clothes."

Annabeth laughed. "I suppose you're right. Now leave me, or at least wait outside. I need to bathe without you watching me."

"Ugh fine," he dropped a teasing kiss on the back of her hand. "My queen. But I'll be right outside if you need anything."

"Ok Percy," Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Now please leave."

A/N

So here's an update. This chapter was really fun for me to write bc of Solangelo and Will Solace is my wonderful child. This isn't rlly much of an AN but it's 12:30 am so I should probably get some sleep.

Until next time my dudes,

-Lailz

[WC ~ 1260]

[CP ~ 4.2.17]