IF TIME STOPS 『nico di angelo x reader』

Chapter 3: Please Don't Turn Me Into a Donkey

After a quick shower and changing into the clothes that Will had prepared for her ( an orange camp half blood shirt and washed out jeans), they headed down to the pavilion where the campers were gathering for dinner. Even from a great distance (Y/n) could already smell barbecue and hamburgers in the air, it already was enough to make her drool hungrily. But before they could head straight to pavilion, they had to pass many things first which meant having a tour before the dinner.

Will showed (Y/n) the cabins and explained how before the second Titan war and the Great war, they had started with 12 cabins — for the honorary olympians who had seats on Mt. Olympus. Now, they had built more for all the gods with another batch of cabins for whenever their roman demigod siblings or friends wanted to visit. There was even an arena, an amphitheatre, even a rock climbing fort that spilled lava (which could not be safe) and finally, they came to a stop in the pavilion.

The pavilion was an open space with no roof lighted with torches around each column, (Y/n) wondered what happens if it rains inside but remembered how Will explained that the camp was enclosed in magic so not only is it invisible to the human eye but it can also keep out unwanted weather such as, yeah, rain. 

Campers sat in their respective cabin tables, eating and chattering amongst theirselves joyously. There was a couple of tables that were empty, one table only occupied one guy whose back was turned to her. Since she was unclaimed, she was to sit with the Hermes cabin but before that Will had to take her to a guy called Chiron. Apparently, according to her knowledge and Will's introduction, he was the original Chiron —the one who taught Hercules and Jason. She wasn't too anxious to meet him but something about him rang a faint bell in her mind.

Will put a hand on her shoulder, gently leading her to the tables in the front where she saw two men dining in silence. Will steered her towards the man on the right, as if that made any difference in the direction they were going. The (H/c) haired girl was unconsciously aware at the silence that was growing in the pavilion, the campers who sat in the seats quieted down the moment (Y/n) passed them. Their stares boring into her.

She glanced at Will who seemed indifferent at the stares that the campers were giving them. "Why are they looking at us?" She whispered, letting her eyes wander among the campers slowly. Will did the same.

"Because," Will breathed out, his cheeks tinted pink. "Uh, you're pretty." He wouldn't dare glance down at the girl in front of him, who only stared at him skeptically in reply.

"Funny joke." Will heard her mutter as she puffed out her cheeks. But it was true, if she had noticed the people staring at her at all she would have noticed the look of envy the girls gave her along with the mixed stares full of awe and longing that the other party had. At the near end of the pavillion, his siblings sat huddled together glancing at him. He caught the eye of one of his brothers, Austin, who winked and gave him a thumbs up.

"Good job!" Austin mouthed. Next to him, Kayla — one of Will's sisters — silently nudge him in the head. Will shook his head in disbelief, though he tried not to laugh, and steered (Y/n) towards Chiron.

Chiron sat in front next to the Camp Director, Mr. D. Will figured that the centaur was posing as a human today as he was sitting on his magic wheelchair. Where the rest of his horse body went? No one knows and Will wasn't sure he'd like to find out. As they came nearer, he could hear Mr.D pestering Chiron about pinochle — a game that Will knows nothing about.

The son of Apollo stepped forward clearing his throat, bringing the attention of the two men to him.

"And," Mr. D started, narrowing his eyes at Will. "What business does Wally Sylvester have with us?"

"Um, it's actually Will Solace." He corrected the god of wine patiently. "Well, um —"

"I don't have all day Stephenson." The god sighed, waving his hand towards one of the satyrs behind him who hastily brought up a bowl of grapes.

(Y/n) peeked through his shoulder, staring intently at the adult before her. "That's a god?" She asked Will silently. Will tensed, and Mr. D dropped his hand from the bowl. Purple flames danced dangerously in his eyes.

"Would you like to test me child?" He asked, peering forward. "Who are you to question my status?"

(Y/n) squeaked, hiding behind Will who was tall enough to conceal her. Beside the fuming god, Chiron sighed. His eyes twinkled with kindness. "Child, come on out, it's perfectly fine."

Mr. D spluttered, "P-perfectly fine? That girl insulted me! I should change her into a donkey for the better of it."

Above, thunder rumbled. Mr. D scoffed in disbelief.

"Mr.D no one's going to be changed into a donkey." Chiron glanced apologetically behind Will. To the girl hiding behind him. A second passed, and a tuft of (H/c) hair peeked through the shoulder of Solace's shoulder.

She stepped forward, looking down. Her face hidden under the dark cascading veil of hair. She bowed to Mr D, apologising silently. The fire in the god's eyes softened and he turned away, slightly miffed that he won't be allowed to change a mortal into a donkey.

"It's fine now child." Chiron said kindly. "You can look up you know, we're not monsters."

Will watched everything silently. He watched (Y/n) look up into the faces of his teacher and their camp director. He watched their faces morph into something unreadable — disbelief, fear, affection and worry. He watched as the fire in Mr. D's eyes died and changed into something he couldn't express. It dawned on him that the both of them knew her long before. That explained Chiron's hesitation when Will asked if he had known her. The two men exchanged a glance, a glance that could possibly change everything.

"You're awake."