The second best under water kiss of all time

Gorgan's Blood 2

POV: Will Solace

The morning is misty and a fog hangs just above the grass as we walk towards the bus station. I shiver as the wet air and sharp wind cut through my hoodie which now looking at it was definitely the wrong choice, Nico puts his arm around me to warm me up and I lean into him trying not to shiver again. 

Thank the gods when we got there the bus comes right away and I push past the others to get on the bus and in the warm heated interior as soon as possible. Nico just laughs and takes a seat next to me while Percy and Annabeth take the ones across the aisle. The bus is almost empty except for a young mother with her small boy and an middle aged man neither of whom look suspicious in any way. After noting this I let my body relax slightly but stay still quite alert. I turn to Nico and attempt to brush some of his messy hair out of his face. He smiles back at me before leaning into his chair and closing his eyes.

"Sleepy are you?" I chuckle getting a half smile in response from him.

"You know if we ran into trouble and you were asleep it wouldn't end well for you." I note studying his face which seems to show little emotion at the moment. 

"Fine. I'll wake up then." He sighs in mock exasperation opening his eyes and sitting up.

"Hey Percy, I don't suppose you have a plan to find a Gorgan with no quest or any idea where they are." Nico suggests glancing at Percy.

"Well if you keep saying their name so loud I doubt we'll have any problems." Percy says turning to face Nico.

"Was that passive aggressiveness I here in your voice." Nico replies pretending to be appalled as I notice an old lady walk on the bus, she appeared to be blind except instead of using her cane she's using her nose.

"Um, hey sorry to interrupt your little argument but a suspicious old lady just got on the bus and we've got to get the hell out of here." I explain nervously as they all just stare at me dumbfounded.

"What are you guys waiting for, go!" I whisper just loud enough for them to hear. We sprint of the bus as fast as we can and Nico (being tee last person in the line) barely got off before the doors shut. We stand there for a moment panting in disbelief before Percy faces us and prepares his arms for encouraging gestures (oh shoot another pep talk, trust me I know it when I see it).

"Sure we narrowly missed that monster attack but now we're stronger than ever and we'll find another way to get wherever we are going." Percy proclaims triumphantly but before he can continue to explain his plan he's interrupted by a snake like voice from the bushes.

"Oh young heroes, foolish young heroes. You don't hunt a Gorgan, a Gorgan hunts you my dear prey." She says all to creepily for my liking.

"Will, start preparing the formula for the blood." Percy mumbles to me under his breath. I sling the backpack off of my shoulder and fumble with the medical viles for what felt like a minute but must have been longer because when I look up they have already began to fight. I watch in awe as Percy and Annabeth fight. They are like a well oiled machine, Percy swings making the Gorgan swerve and expose it's unarmed side to Annabeth who slashes it with her dagger. Nico stands in front of me and doesn't even let the monster get anywhere near as if he's forgotten I'm a demigod too and I can hold my own in a fight if necessary. 

I continue to prepare the medical stuff so we can put the blood straight in and be ready. The sounds of battle rage around me but I keep my head down not daring to look, the set up is almost finished but I don't even allow myself a peek to see who's winning silently praying to the gods that it's my friends. Finally curiosity gets the best of me and I look up just in time to see the final swing by Percy but as he cuts off her head she swings her arm and knocks Annabeth's dagger out of her hands and sends it flying towards me. I freeze watching the blade hurtling at me and just before I have a moment to proces my rapidly approaching death Nico jumps in the way without a seconds hesitation. The dagger hits him in the heart and even as he lands in front of me and I fetch some ambrosia out of my bag I now it's useless.

"I new this was coming Will don't be sad. My father came to me in a dream and told me I would die soon on a quest protecting you and I never considered not doing it or avoiding it once if it meant saving you. Because I love you and I want you to know that given the choice of it meant saving you I would do this again." Nico confesses to me as I feel the hot tears sliding down my face.

"You mean yesterday when you told me how much you loved me that was because you knew you were going to die?" I ask all of a sudden feeling utterly betrayed.

"I'm going now Will, listen, I love you." He whispers hoarsely holding my hand.

"Why! Why Nico? Why couldn't you have let me die." I scream at him but I can tell from his hand that I'm holdin that he truly is gone.

"I love you too Nico." I whisper in his ear but I know it's to late, why couldn't I have told him that when he was still here. Why was I so stupid? I am vaguely aware of Percy and Annabeth trying to make the Gorgan's blood and miserably failing.

"It's too late." I grumble at them "It's too late for the medicine and it's too late for Nico." I cry not bothering to look at them. They come around me and give me a hug which I don't bother to stop. 

"He's gone guys, he's gone and it feels like a part of me was ripped out at the same time." I weep and some sick twisted part of me finds comfort when hear them crying with me knowing I'm not the only one who cares.

"I'm sorry Will." Annabeth says sincerely.

"We're sorry Will." Percy corrects hugging me tighter. I hold the limp body of Nico Di Angelo in my arms and as if Nico is watching us from somewhere below he uses his last ounce of power to shadow travel us back to camp.