Without A Shadow of a Doubt // Solangelo

1 - three days

__Nico__

I trudge away from Percy, a sudden relief flowing through me. I'd finally done it. I told him how I felt.

With that looming weight suddenly gone, I feel a heavy exhaustion pull at my muscles. I realize exactly how much shadow traveling I'd done within the past few weeks, and take note of the toll it's taking on me.

My feet drag up the steps to my cabin. "What'd you say to Percy?" Will Solace's voice surprises me, making me jump and miss a step. I fall forward on my hands and knees, my head reeling as I hit the ground. "Oh, my gods, Nico-" Will rushes up to me, reaching to help me back up.

"Get off me." I sneer back, trying to pull my arms away.

Will takes a step back, palms raised. "Got it, sorry."

I take a deep breath before grabbing the railing to pull myself back up. Now that I'm on the ground, it feels like my muscles are giving up on me.

"Do you need help?" Will pipes up again, taking a step closer.

"No." I reply shortly, sternly. My jaw clenches as I struggle to pull myself back up to my feet. This is so embarrassing.

"Nico, it's okay if you need-"

"I said I don't need your help. Leave me alone, Solace." I grumble between pants for breath. Will, however, refuses to leave.

"Now, I know you don't mean that, Nico." He hums sweetly, crossing his arms. "We all say rude stuff when we're sleep deprived."

"I'm not sleep deprived." I retort. Finally, I give up on trying to pull myself up and just sit there on the ground.

Will snorts. "Why are you still on the ground?"

My cheeks blush red, embarrassed by his laugher. "Don't laugh at me."

Will seems to then realize why I'm not getting up. "Can you not get up?" His smile immediately falls. "Oh, Nico, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

I cross my arms. "Can it, Solace."

"Either way, you promised me 3 days in the infirmary." Will reaches down to help me up, but I flinch away.

"I don't need to go to the stupid infirmary."

"You obviously do, considering you're not even strong enough to get up off the ground." He crosses his arms as he watches me. "Come on, Nico."

Against my will, Will wraps my arm around his shoulder and starts to help me across camp. "I don't want to-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Will sighs, watching the ground as we walk to make sure we don't trip over anything.

We walk in silence for an awkward 5 minutes as we make our trek across camp. Once there, I groan as I look up at the infirmary. "This is so stupid."

Will scoffs, "Taking care of yourself isn't stupid, di Angelo."

I sigh in response, rolling my eyes. "So I'm tired, that's nothing I can't fix in my own bed." He guides me through the infirmary. My face burns beet red as a few looks are cast towards us. They're probably confused as to why Will's helping me.

Will rolls his eyes at me as he helps me into a private room. "Regardless, I want to keep an eye on you." He helps me sit down on the bed, pushing my shoulders lightly so I'm laying down.

I cross my arms in defiance. "I don't need anybody's eyes on me."

"Too bad." Will replies as he pulls out a clipboard. He attaches a paper to it and immediately gets to work on writing down notes.

I wonder what he's writing, but I keep my mouth shut. My head leans back against the bed almost involuntarily, as if sleep were already pulling me under. Will notices my sudden drowsiness, his eyebrows bunching in concern momentarily. "I'll let you get some rest." He gives me a small smile, then leaves the room and shuts the door behind him. Will turns off the light as he goes, drenching the room in darkness.

My mind lulls away, hopefully to a dreamless sleep.

Damn it, Solace.

_____

-chocolate chip cookies