He Loves Me?

13

The squelch sound Nico's sword made as it went through the beasts eye was not a pleasant one, nor was it one he'd particularly enjoy hearing again. If he lived to see another day. Some strange part of him held out a spot of hope that he would live, some sort of fear of dying. Don't be ridiculous, he thought. He pulled his sword out from the eye and jumped as it's tail whipped around to trip him up. He gave it a feral grin. You can't kill me that easily. His smile dropped as the monster gave a snarl and hissed a stream of poison at him, singeing his shirt. He rolled out of reach of the acid and send a volley of bones flying towards the drakon. Or tried to, anyway. A single bone - was that really a finger bone - flew towards the beast. Nico almost laughed at how pathetic it was. He would've if it weren't for the fact that he was about to become a monsters lunch.

The drakon roared and pinned Nico beneath 2 gigantic claws. Well, isn't this great. Some part of his brain said mockingly.

Shut up. He said back.

He closed his eyes miserably and waited for heat to consume him, but it never came. Instead came a piercing whistle, along with a flash of blinding white light. Nico tried to mentally shut out the sound, as his hands were still being held underneath him by the drakon, but failed drastically. Suddenly the monster was lifted off Nico and smashed into a huge oak tree. It got back up again, shaking and rearing it's head, but was slashed at by a whip of light. Nico looked up to the source and found Will staring down the beast, encased in a glowing ball of sunlight. He raised his hands and send another beam of light straight into the monsters eyes. Nico let out a heroic noise; something along the lines of ughhhh.

Will sent his flaming (flaming? More like sunlight) whip careening for the monster. It hit home. The drakon disintegrated, leaving a nasty piece of hide as a spoil of war. Nico's head fell back. He heard a thump and saw that Will had collapsed. Nico's world slowed. Stopped. Started again. He ran over, feet dragging along the ground, and fell to his knees beside the boy. He felt Will's pulse. Nothing. Panicking, he yelled for a healer, but they were too far away to hear his exhausted cries. He let his sword down and cursed himself. Why, why, did he have to be filled with darkness. He had nothing, no blinding smile or soothing power that could heal his friend. Maybe it was too late. Maybe it was over. A tear trickled down the son of Hades's cheek.

Nico clutched Will's arms and started dragging him up into camp, but he was too heavy. He collapsed under the weight of the tall boy.

Nico groaned. He pushed Will off himself and crouched beside him. He hooked his arms under Will's and pulled.

"You're not dying on me today, Solace." He snarled.

Nico dragged him up to the Apollo cabin and knocked on the door.

"Kayla," he gasped. "Austin!"

They opened the door. Kayla's eyes went wide and she caught Will as Nico's arms gave out and he dropped to the floor like a bag of stones.

-x-x-x-

Will woke, only to find himself constricted by tight cotton sheets. As the memories from last night poured in, he winced. He felt tired to his bones. He tried to sit up, but the sheets were too tight, and that's when he noticed the boy sleeping in the bed next to his. Nico. The familiar raven-haired boy stirred, as if he was awakened by Will's stare. All Will's memories of last night finally burst into his mind with startling c,amity, and he gasped. He remembered calling on Apollo, asking him to bless him, just this once, with a helpful combat power. The wish had been granted. And then the power became too great so he collapsed. Real heroic of him. He snorted. He also remembered Nico, pinned under the drakon's talons, ready to accept the fact that no one had come to help him. He glanced at Nico again, and was startled to see two chocolate eyes staring back at him. He opened his mouth to say something.

"Urrgghhhhh." Was all that came out.

Nico started to laugh, but it quickly turned to a cough as he clutched his side. Will forehead scrunched in concern.

"What's.... Matter?" He cursed his inability to speak.

"Broken ribs." Nico groaned. "You fell on top of me when I was bringing you here."

Will blushed and stuttered an apology.

Nico went quiet for a second, then spoke up.

"Why did you come back?"

"What?" It was easier to speak now.

"Why did you come back?" Nico repeated. "I didn't think anyone would."

Will's eyes widened.

"Of course I came back Nico! Why wouldn't I?"

Nico shrugged.

"Well... I-"

Nico was cut off by Will wrapping his arms around him. He stiffened, but slowly encircled Will with his own arms, resting his head against the taller boy's chest. Will curled protectively around Nico and started to rub his back, resting his chin on Nico's head. Nico let out a small sob and clutched Will tighter.

The two boys stayed like that for a while, one crying and the other comforting.

But both of them home.

A/n - ty so much to the people who vote and comment! It seriously makes my day :)

We (the family and I) just drove past a dam and I said 'I could use the dam restroom', then I got asked if I needed to go to the bathroom and I started laughing so hard.

I think the cold is getting to me.

-L xx