Lives Collide, Harm(fully)(lessly)

Chapter 12

Nico spent the rest of Christmas break with Will, never leaving his side unless he was with Percy or Annabeth. He didn't trust himself alone, and didn't trust himself to see Dominic Cook again. Despite knowing very well where the son of Apollo was coming from in his decision, Nico still felt anger whenever he thought about him.

On the last day there, Nico came face to face with him in the infirmary amongst the other injured campers after a violent Capture the Flag game.

"Dominic." Nico clenched the clipboard in hand, having been helping on small cases so that the healers could get to those who were more injured. "You're here."

"Er, yes, I am." Dominic was sitting on one of the beds, his hand holding a bloody towel to his other wrist. "Can Will come over?"

"You're stuck with me," Nico declined. "Will's busy with the son of Ares that got stabbed through the stomach."

"You look like you're going to stab me through the stomach," Dominic said. "No offense, but seriously, Nico."

Nico forced his face to go slack as he tried to fight the anger off. He knew it was irrational, knew he shouldn't be angry with his old friend that sat before him. But he found himself looking around for Will in fear that he wouldn't be able to control himself.

"Show me your wrist." Nico set the clipboard down on the bed and pointed to the son of Apollo's injured wrist. "I'm not one of you healers but I can see if it's broken or not."

Dominic kept his wrist close to himself. "Not until you answer a question."

Nico pursed his lips. "Fine. You're the one bleeding, not me. What's your question?"

"Are you mad at me?" Dominic asked. "I...I know I left you at Hogwarts, but I thought you understood my decision. Even if I hadn't chose it myself, Apollo was telling me to in my dreams. I knew I should live here instead of Hogwarts."

"I know," Nico grumbled. "I know why you did it. But I still lost my best friend. Let me see your wrist."

"You didn't lose me," Dominic argued. "We could still be friends if you actually talked to me and answered some IM's. That's your fault. You push people away, Nico."

"Yeah, I get it, I've been told that a lot." Nico grabbed Dominic's wrist and pulled it toward him. When he removed the towel, he saw how broken it really was. "How many times have you broken your wrist now? Two?"

"Three." Dominic watched as he poured nectar on it. "How's...how's it going with Sirius Black?"

"He's still on the run." Nico said as he worked. "Harry and the others are scared, but there's dementors everywhere and I've been keeping an eye on the souls in the castle every night. Dumbledore actually asked me to."

"Do you think he's going to try to get Harry?" Dominic asked. "Like, it seems like nobody in their right mind would try to infiltrate Hogwarts like he is, but..."

"But, he's not in his right mind," Nico said. "He went through Azkaban. That's said to be hell."

Dominic watched him in silence before clearing his throat. "You still really haven't answered. Are you mad at me?"

Nico nodded. "I'm trying to let it go. Believe me, I am. You just need to give me some time. Holding grudges...it's one of my fatal flaws."

"One of them..."

"After growing up with the Weasley's, I think I've got another." Nico shrugged helplessly. "Who knows, really. But loyalty proves to be a problem for me, too."

"I can see why," Dominic said. "You're focused on protecting the people you have because you've lost so many."

Nico wrapped Dominic's wrist, his eyes not leaving the bandages. "What about you, mister psychic? Feel anything interesting lately?"

"Not really." Dominic moved his wrist to his chest and held it close. "Thanks."

"No problem." Nico stood up and grabbed the chart, writing a few notes with a discarded pen. "You're good to go, Dom."

Dominic didn't move from the bed. "Are you leaving for Hogwarts soon?"

"Tonight," Nico said. "School starts tomorrow."

"How's Anubis?" Dominic asked. "Did you bring him here with you?"

"I forgot, but he shadow traveled to me soon enough." Nico grinned sheepishly. "I can't believe I forgot him, to be honest. But he likes it here more than he does at Hogwarts. He's got lots of people to play with here."

"You're taking him back with you?"

Nico nodded. "Course. He's my dog."

"Damn..." Dominic grinned. "I was hoping I could keep him."

Nico rolled his eyes. "When I die, you can have him. That's it."

"Better than nothing."

~~~~~~~~~

Nico sat on the porch of his cabin with Anubis at his feet, petting the half-hellhound absentmindedly as he watched the campers go by. Will was beside him, his tan arm wrapped around Nico's small shoulders.

"You'll visit?" Will asked.

Nico nodded. "Every weekend."

Will kissed his cheek, an action that made Nico's face turn red. "I'll be waiting."

"And...and it'll all be alright," Nico told himself. "It'll be okay. No one will go to war."

"Exactly," Will grinned. "It's finally a peaceful time for us demigods. The wizards...they're at their war time... Are you going to fight with them against that evil wizard?"

Nico looked over at him. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I?"

"More like I hoped you wouldn't..." Will held him closer. "I don't want you to die, whether it be from an evil wizard or a Greek monster."

"I know, but they're my people, my family. I can help change the outcome, I can save lives. And I'm going to protect my home as much as I possibly can." Nico pulled Anubis on his lap and held him close. "I want another war as much as anyone does. But I'll fight when it comes."

"Be safe, call me if you need anything," Will sighed. "I know non wizards have no place there, but if you need help, tell us. And try your hardest to come back to me alive."

"I will," Nico assured him. "I'll try my best. But I can't promise I will."

"Yeah, I know..."

"I think we have a couple years, anyways," Nico said. "Voldemort isn't physically powerful right now. I don't know how he'll get a new body and everything, but Rachel sure thinks he will. So I think we have some time."

Will swallowed audibly. "But...if you do die...I hope you're aware that I'm coming to the Underworld to see you, whether your dad's up for that or not."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Demigods and their stupid heroism." He smiled. "But I wouldn't be against the visit."

Will poked one of Nico's golden freckles. "Persephone's blessing somehow made you cuter, I didn't think it was possible."

Nico swatted his hand away. "Yeah, yeah, you're a romantic son of Apollo. We're in public, William. Don't act like a son of Aphrodite."

"What if we go inside?" Will asked. "That's out of the public eye."

Nico elbowed him lightly. "You never change, Will."

"Is that a good thing?"

Nico nodded.