Will and Nico

Part 12

NICO

My leg is still stretched out onto Will's lap. I would be embarrassed if he weren't so medical about it, talking about blood flow and keeping an eye on it. He's clearly professional.
'Isn't it usually over by now?' I ask, trying to listen for signs of victory. But it's silent.
'Whenever Apollo is in charge of a team the game is always dragged out.' Will explains, 'we always lose but we always almost win.'
'Well, technically Hades has never won, so...' I say, shrugging.
'Yeah, I guess that's right. You should have been in charge.' He says.
'Not really my thing.'
'It's not exactly my thing either.' He says, laughing, 'I have no idea how Kayla thought I'd actually be good at this.'
I bite my lip, try to hold it in. But I can't help but ask, 'is she your girlfriend?'
'What?' He asks, surprised, 'no. No, she's my sister. She's at the infirmary a lot, you'd recognise her.'
'Right.' I say. I just want him to mention he's straight, or that he has a girlfriend, or has had a girlfriend. Just something to stop me pining over him.
'And besides, I'm gay.' He says simply. Just like that, so easy. It doesn't even seem like a big deal. He says it so casually. He turns to look at me after I remain silent.
'Oh.' Is all I can say.
'I hope that's not a problem.' He says after a moment. And I realise how he's taken my silence. The complete opposite way.
'No! No. That's not...I'm not...' I fumble over my words, but he still doesn't get it. I don't want to say it. I just want him to figure it out. Put two and two together. But he doesn't. 'I'm...I'm gay. Too. Also. I am...'
I feel my face burning. I don't meet his eyes. I can feel him staring at me.
'I didn't...' He says, clearly surprised.
'Yeah.' I say. A cheer comes from deep in the forest. The dog turns and races after it, 'looks like you won.'
'Yeah.' He says, but when I look up he's still staring at me.
'We should...go. While the dog is...yeah.' I say. I move round and my leg starts bleeding again once I move it.
'Careful. Hold on.' Will says, moving down below me and helping me down. Once on the floor I take my sword and use it to help me walk. Will picks up his sword and we make our way back to camp.
We walk in silence, and as soon as we're in the clearing, I hurry off. Dissolve into the crowds. Will is almost instantly tackled by all of his siblings, celebrating. It's easy to disappear.