Solace, Solace

Chapter 6

The sun was setting, and from his cabin window Nico could see everyone setting up their floats for the parade. The Aphrodite one was nice but lame: just hearts and drawings of people kissing everywhere. The Efesto one was by far the best: it had rainbow fire spewing out the top, rainbow pancakes (no doubt Leo's idea) and had flashing rainbow letters spelling out PRIDE at the front.

Nico was planning on watching the parade from the sidelines, maybe even just from his cabin window, and would definitely not be riding any floats. Just then, someone knocked on his door.

"Hey, I know I asked you earlier if you wanted to ride the float, I'm assuming it was a no?" Leo scratched the back of his head waiting for Nico's answer.
"You assumed right." said Nico flatly and began to close the door.

"Wait! The parade starts in 10 minutes. Aren't you at least gonna come watch? Don't you wanna see the floats?"

Nico contemplated for a moment and then stepped out the door, closing it behind him.
"Atta boy!" said Leo putting an arm around Nico's shoulder.

Nico stared at all the humongous floats around him in awe. Leo left his side to go talk to another Efesto kid. Nico walked around, demigods running around everywhere, when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He quickly turned to see the sun of Apollo smiling down at him.

"I was looking for you," said Will. "Wanna join me on the Apollo float?" Nico hesitated, he really didn't want to ride any float.

"No, that's not really my scene," he said.
"Well, at least come and see it"
Nico really didn't want to, he would see it from the audience anyway, but did not have time to reply before Will grabbed his wrist and was pulling him towards the Apollo float.

It wasn't very big and tall like some of the others, but it had flags everywhere and the silhouette of many couples in front of a glowing sun. Will stepped onto the float and offered his hand to Nico. "I'll show you around," he said.

Nico was nervous because people were getting ready to start. Yet, he grabbed Will's hand who pulled him onto the float. 

The horn blew signaling for the parade to begin. "Okay people. Positions!" yelled a girl dressed as a rainbow Cupid.

"Will, I should go," said Nico turning around to leave.
"Too late. It's alright, you're welcome here on our float." said a guy passing by wearing a rainbow tophat.

Will turned Nico around and cupped his face with his hands. "I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "It's gonna be okay."

He let go of Nico's face and locked their fingers together. He sighed and looked at Nico, who didn't object. He liked the feeling of they're fingers intertwining together, but his spiders were back and there were a lot of them.

Music started playing and the floats began to move forward slowly. They were right behind the Ares cabin. When the floats came out the audience cheered loudly. The judges, Chiron, Hedge, and Rachael were sitting in the front smiling and scribbling on their pieces of paper.

When the Apollo float came out Nico's face turned bright red. He felt like all eyes were on him and Will who was just standing there, holding his hand. Will leaned in and kissed Nico's cheek, making him blush even more and he bit his lower lip.

Nico could hear people from. the audience yell "How cute!" "I ship it!" "Awwww" Nico squeezed Will's hand harder. He didn't want to be there, he wanted to jump off the float, but he was petrified and couldn't let go of Will's hand.

"Wi-Will-" Nico stuttered
"Yes?" said Will putting one hand on Nico's cheek. Nico tried to take deep breaths but his heart was beating so fast he couldn't keep up.

He let go of Will's hand and jumped off the float and ran back to his cabin, leaving Will standing there alone. Nico didn't hold back his tears: he was sobbing.

+++

Jason had come to comfort him,  so had Leo, Percy, and Piper. One at a time Nico would open the door, see who it was and immediately close it. He didn't want to talk to anyone, tonight he would probably shadow travel somewhere else, get away from camp.

He heard a knock on the door and from inside the cabin said "No."

He had a feeling just from the knock that it was Will, he half wanted to talk to him, but then again he what would he say? Social anxiety? Stage fright? Oh please.

There was another knock: definitely Will. "Nico," he said softly but loud enough that Nico could hear it. Nico didn't reply, hoping he would just give up. He knocked again. "Nico, c'mon."
"Go away."
"Please? I'm sorry."

Nico could imagine the son of Apollo's face, full of guilt. He couldn't bear even the thought of it and got up and opened the door.

As soon as he saw Will's perfect face, perfect eyes, perfect hair, and perfect body, he regretted opening the door. "Crap," he thought "The spiders are back."