luce del sole (sunshine)

three | will

"You can't leave," Will demanded Nico to sit back down. 

"I promised three days, Will, it's been three! Let me go!" Nico tried to weave around Will, but the son of Apollo stuck his hands out. 

"No, there's no way, Nico. You're still unstable." 

"That's my problem," Nico seethed, "let me by, Will." 

"No." 

"Will!" 

The other patients in the infirmary had all been let out that morning, and Will had convinced Nico that his three day sentence didn't end until nightfall. Now, Nico was still on the brink of vanishing and he wanted to leave. 

"Nico, sit down!" 

Hazel shoved Will out of the way and stood in front of her brother. Will stumbled back against another bed. He hadn't even known she was in the infirmary. 

"Hazel! Help me out here," Nico whined. 

"If Will says you can't leave, you can't leave," his sister reasoned with him, "sit down." 

"No!" Nico yelled, "I'm fine!" 

Hazel turned on Will, eyes worried, and pointed at her brother. "Is he fine?" 

Nico wheeled on him too, eyes begging him to say yes. Nico deflated when Will shook his head. Hazel was scary, though, and Will couldn't make himself say it. He swallowed his words and took a deep breath. "He's not fine at all, in more ways than I can help with." 

Hazel raised her eyebrows, and Will continued. "He's going to disappear if he keeps using magic, or if he does too much physical activity. I think bed rest would be the best move for the next week, maybe two. That's not what I'm most worried about though." 

Hazel waved her hands for him to continue. "Go on." 

Will swallowed and looked anywhere else but the small, pale boy in front of him. "He doesn't seem to care. It's like he doesn't mind disappearing forever." 

Hazel sagged her head, but Nico's eyes set ablaze. "That's none of your business, Solace," he hissed. 

"It is my business if you're my patient," Will muttered back, "I'm just pointing out what needs my attention." 

"It's. Not. Your. Business," Nico muttered. 

Hazel looked between both of them, her lips fighting a smile. What she would find funny at this moment, Will had no idea. 

"Nico, you're not leaving. Will, do whatever you have to," Hazel demanded. "I have to go to archery, but I'll be back after dinner. Want me to bring you something?" 

"No, Kayla is bringing dinner," Will assured her. 

"No one showed yesterday," Nico mumbled as he sat down hard on his cot. "You were starving all night." 

"Austin isn't quite as reliable when it comes to food," Will smiled sheepishly at Hazel. "Kayla will get food here."

"Austin was with Lou Ellen last night." Hazel smiled. "They went on a walk and missed most of dinner." 

"That explains it." Will thought of his brother, and Lou Ellen. He'd never imagined that.

"I'll come check later anyway," Hazel said, "to make sure. Will, don't let him fool you. He's not fine." 

Nico huffed. "I can hear you." 

"I know." Hazel left the infirmary with a smirk. 

Will turned back to face Nico again. "Just you and me again, huh?" 

"Wouldn't be if you'd let me leave." Nico threw his hands up. 

"We're not having this conversation." Will shook his head. 

"So what do we talk about? We don't exactly have a lot in common." He rolled his eyes. 

"We could relive my mother kicking me out," Will said, "or the time my brothers died." 

Nico stared at him, eyes wide. 

"See, I can be as depressing as you," Will teased. 

Nico mumbled under his breath, and Will didn't catch it. 

"What was that?" 

"It doesn't suit you," Nico admitted, "sadness, that is. It doesn't suit you." 

It was Will's turn to stare. Nico ran a hand through his hair. 

"Why didn't you stay?" Will asked suddenly. 

"What?" Nico chuckled. 

"Why didn't you stay? After the Battle of Manhattan. You just...up and left. Why don't you ever stay in one place?" 

"People don't quite like having me around," Nico explained, "I'm depressing, gloomy, and carry death wherever I go. People have trouble being my friend." 

"That's not true. Percy and Annabeth loved you, Chiron too. Others would have accepted you." 

"Yeah?" Nico chuckled humorlessly. "I don't think so." 

"I would have," Will muttered. 

"Would you?" Nico raised his eyebrows. "Why?" 

Will didn't have an answer for him. He wasn't sure why he would have accepted the son of Hades, other than the fact that Will believed deep down that no one, no one, deserved to be left alone. Especially not someone as soft as Nico di Angelo. Will assumed though, from his limited time with the small boy, that Nico wouldn't enjoy being called soft. 

"I don't know," Will said quietly.

"Exactly," Nico said with a sad smugness. 

Nico's eyes were sagging now, the boy was tired. He'd had a screaming match with Will and his sister, and stood for some time earlier that day. Will could imagine how exhausted he must have been. 

"Get some rest," Will said softly, "you need it."

For once, Nico didn't argue. He laid back onto his cot and sighed. "I don't know why I'm so tired," he said in defeat.

"I do." Will chuckled. He threw the blanket Nico had throw when he wasn't allowed to leave back over his small body. Will had never noticed how frail he was. He was surprised the dark haired boy could hold a sword. 

Nico sighed again and pulled the blanket over his chin. "Go away," he muttered when Will sat on the cot next to him, not leaving to his chair on the other side of the room as he usually would. 

Will snorted. "Fine."