Sunshine

Three Days

*Will*

I open the stable doors, smiling when I see Nico standing beside a greyish white Pegasus, a wide grin breaking the frown that's so constantly plastered across his face. The wind picks up as I step inside, blowing a few stray locks of hair into my face. I study him for a moment, trying to find the words to start a conversation.

"Hey Death Boy!"

Nico whirls around, eyes narrowing in annoyance at the nickname. He shuffles his feet nervously, kicking at some of the reddish dirt and fresh straw that is scattered across the floor as the smile disappears from his face.

"Don't call me Death Boy."

His voice is quiet, almost lost in the soft sounds of the stables and nickering Pegasi. I take a few steps closer, concerned when I notice the dark circles under his eyes. He hasn't been sleeping, not that he ever does, but it's getting worse. He turns to leave, stopping when I call his name again.

"What?"

I flinch at the venom in his voice, noticing the subtle shift from relaxed to tense. He twists his skull ring around on his finger, refusing to look back at me. His gaze remains trained on the wall just behind me, staring at the peeling blue paint and specks of dirt that blemish the wood. I finally gather my courage, brushing my hair out of my eyes and accidentally smudging mud across my cheekbone, causing me to blush harder than before.

"Are you coming to the campfire tonight?"

He looks at me now, tearing up a tad as he tries to cover it with a sharp glare. My smile melts away almost as fast as his did, anxiety clawing at my throat the longer the silence stretches. His glare softens, if only slightly, and I try to force myself to relax. He's still here, he's still talking to me.

"Why would I?"

I wince when his voice cracks, wanting to hug him when he starts wiping at his eyes.

"Because, everyone's going to be there."

"And?"

I freeze up, confidence crumbling further as I struggle to regain my composure.

"You should come with-"

He shadow travels away before I can finish my sentence, leaving me alone in the stables.

"That went well."

The wind shifts as I step outside, carrying the thick scent of manure and fresh cut grass across the lawn. I start back towards the infirmary, jogging across the freshly cut lawn and around a group of newer campers. Worry sets in when I see someone fighting against Jason and Percy, who are trying to drag the black clad figure into the building. Percy catches sight of me, worry etched on his face.

"Will! Hurry up, we need your help!"

I sprint over, wincing as I realise it is Nico that they are carrying between them, his movements slow and unsure. My heart breaks a tad bit when I realise they were struggling to avoid hurting him.

"I don't need to go in!"

He stops yelling when he sees me, falling still as I kneel beside him. I open my arms, praying to anyone that he trusts me enough to allow me to take him inside. Nico leans against my side, breathing heavily as his face pales more than usual.

"What's going on?"

"He's shadow travelling around camp again, I managed to catch him before he fell, but he passed out as soon as he appeared next to me."

"Let me take him in, thank you for grabbing him. I'll take care of him from here."

I curse myself silently for rambling on, blushing slightly as I rise and reach down to help Nico up. He falls heavily against me as soon as I let go of his arm, eyes rolling back into his head as he passes out. Percy and Jason rush forward to help me, stepping back when I pick him up. He's shed more weight since the last time I saw him, adding another problem onto my list of things I need to watch out for and add to a possible diagnosis.

"Get the door!"

Percy springs up, opening the door quickly to allow me entrance to the infirmary. I let it swing closed behind me, eyes already scanning the room for available beds. Nico makes a noise of surprise, fingers digging into my shoulder when he realises that I am carrying him.

"Shhh, relax. I'm finding a place to set you down right now."

He rests his head back on my shoulder, eyes fluttering shut as I tighten my grip around his frail body. Nico buries his face against my chest, mumbling something about letting him go back to his cabin.

"Will, over here!"

I turn around quickly, spotting one of my siblings waving me over to an empty bed towards the back.

"What happened to him?"

"Shadow travelling again."

She nods, running off as I set Nico down.

"Stop..."

"Stop what?"

"Stop. Moving."

I smile softly, pushing my hair back out of my face again as I grab a blanket for him. Nico grabs my arm as I try to walk away, grip weak around my wrist.

"Don't go...please."