luce del sole (sunshine)

two | will

"She called again this morning," Rachel muttered across the Apollo table. 

Will and Kayla sat facing each other. Normally, the Apollo kids from New Rome would be joining them- their siblings- but they didn't show today. Rachel was leaning across the table, trying to act casual. Will had never wanted the camp to know about his mother, but someone had to know. Austin and Kayla, obviously, but someone from the Big House. Rumors spread like fires here, and Rachel was the best person Will could think on. 

Kayla grasped his hand across the stone. Rachel patted his shoulder, but moved on to throwing out her tray so others wouldn't wonder. Will sighed. 

His mom wasn't the best parent. He'd even take Apollo over her. She'd raised Will on their little farm in Georgia until he was thirteen. He always had these mishaps; whistling too loud, throwing his arms wide and suddenly the room was dark, healing his broken thumb by looking at it. She threw him in an insane ward once. Another time, she tried to get their priest to perform an exorcism. The memory of the Catholic man trying to rid Will of his Greek ancestry was almost enough to make it okay. 

When he told her Apollo had come forward, with a satyr named Al, and claimed him, she tried to kill Will. She hadn't known Apollo was a god when she met him in the little run down bar in their town. She was religious as they came. 

So Will ran away from the hospital with Al, (who died in the Battle of Manhattan) with three broken ribs and internal bleeding from his mother. 

He hadn't heard from her for four years, which was fine with him. He had actually almost forgotten that he had family outside of Austin, Kayla, and the camp. Then last year, he saved a little girl from getting hit by a car. He was all over the news.And suddenly his mom was calling camp. 

He answered the first time.

Apparently, Apollo had come clean with his mother, explaining everything. She believed him now. She wanted him to come home. 

Will couldn't figure out if it was the reward money he'd earned- which he gave to the camp- or if she'd actually changed. He was sure it was the former. 

He didn't answer any other times. 

She kept calling. Usually once a week, sometimes five times a day. Rachel always told him when she would call, but Chiron always told her Will was busy at the moment, and couldn't speak. Will owed the old centaur a game of ping pong next time he was home, because his mother wasn't easy to please. 

Will would know. 

Annabeth pulled him from his thoughts. With the cleanup still underway, she and Reyna had taken charge. The blonde stood on the Athena table. "Everyone, mandatory two hour rest. We all need it, despite how much we think we don't." She seemed to aim it at the Argo II crew. The six remaining of the prophecy hadn't slept in days. Will even had a hunch they were going out at night, still hopelessly searching for Leo. The thought made Will's stomach drop. He'd done the same thing for both of his dead brothers. It only made you hurt more. 

Will squeezed Kayla's hand again. "Go ahead. I'll catch up in a second." 

Kayla nodded, following his gaze. "Alright. Austin will be coming down in a second to eat. If you need a break-"

Will stopped her. "I'm fine." He pecked her forehead, something he and Austin did frequently. It annoyed her to the ends of dawn, but she didn't even roll her eyes this time. Will smiled. "See you in a minute." 

For such a battle, the infirmary was strangely empty. Even so, they had to have someone posted at all times. Mainly for Nico. That boy was going to make himself disappear, and the son of Hades didn't seem to think that was a bad thing.