Solangelo 3

Part 34

NICO

Almost as soon as Annabeth starts talking I realise that her plan isn't so much a plan, as a concept. She goes on about tracking the twins with some weird psycho connection they share with Will. It's the product of the Athena cabin and the Hecate cabin working together. I'm not too sure. Will seems to get it.
But as she's speaking, I sit beside Will's bed, realising, once again, that I'm going to have to fight again. There's no situation that could possibly lead to a peaceful resolution.
Annabeth leaves with a small collection of Will's DNA so that they can start the tracking process, and leaves me and Will in the infirmary.
I don't realise myself sinking into a disassociated state, but when Will shakes my shoulder, I jump.
'Gods, Sorry. Thought you were ignoring me.' He says, 'you okay?'
'What?' I ask, confused.
'I was literally talking to you for about five minutes, Nico.' He says, 'what's up?'
'No. I'm fine.' I say, standing up suddenly, 'you haven't eaten. I'll get you food.'
'Nico, slow down a sec. Talk.'
'I'm fine.' I insist.
'Alright then, fine. I'm coming with you.' He says, moving out of bed.
'Hey, no. You're recovering.'
'Sorry, but you used to leave whenever you wanted when you were ten times as bad as me.'
'But I'm an idiot.' I say, supporting him as he stubbornly stands up.
'Well so am I.' He says, and kisses me quickly, before falling into step beside me, using me to lean on as we walk out the infirmary.
'I don't believe that.'
'So.' He says, as we step outside, a cold breeze surrounding us, 'you going to tell me what's up? Or do I have to beat it out of you?'
'You threatening me?' I ask, as I take off my coat and drape it over Will's shoulders.
'Should I?' He asks, 'Nico, come on.'
'I just...' I sigh, shaking my head, finding it hard to actually say out loud, 'I just...I don't want another fight. We lost...we lost Jason. Jason. How the hell....' I shake my head, 'I've just realised how...how lucky we've been in the past, all of us. And I feel like...I just feel like it's catching up with us.'
'I get that.' Will says, carefully, 'you know I don't expect you to come.'
'Yes you do. You do. Whether you want me to or not is different, but you expect me to.' I say, 'and if I don't come, what if I was the only one who could save you from something? Do you think I could live with myself if something like that happened and I wasn't there?'
He stays silent, watching me.
'Whatever happens, I'm coming. I know that, nothing will change that. I just...I resent it. I hate that we have to keep fighting to...to be happy. I hate it.'
'One day we won't have to.' He says, gently.
'Yeah. Yeah, I know.' I say, 'I'm just sick of it.'