Sunny Shadows

After The Infirmary

Hi Guys! Just a quick note before I start: This story takes place three months after Nico spent three days in the infirmary.  Thank you so much for reading, and comment your suggestions. I would love to hear what you all think!

Nico hadn't seen Will in three months.

It wasn't that he didn't want to see him, because he did. It wasn't even that he didn't try to see Will. Nico had been taking different routes across camp ever since the infirmary just so that he could cross paths with him. It was like the Fates were dooming them to never be together. Whenever Nico saw Will he was always with his friends. Or Nico was talking to his friends. Or he only had 5 minutes to get to a game. Really just stupid reasons, but it was enough to keep them apart.

After a couple months of this near-missing, Nico was done trying.  If Will wanted to be his friend (or more) than he would have to try himself. Nico stuck to this pact religiously. He didn't avoid Will, but he stopped taking the long way to his cabin and trying to get onto Will's Capture the flag team.

That is, until Nico joined the archery club.

It had seemed like a good idea at the time; Nico could go a couple of times and learn to shoot. Then, when he had to go to the underworld the next time, he would be ready. And, for an added bonus, Chiron would be pleased with him for joining in camp activities.

But then, Nico actually had to go to a meeting. It turns out the archery  is not something that anyone is good at. In fact, the archery club was for experienced archers. Since people just assumed he knew what he was doing, he received no instruction on how to shoot a bow. When he went to collect his arrows off the ground, he learned the hard way that you shouldn't go out into the range while others are shooting.

So, when Nico suddenly found himself with an arrow to the arm, he was filled with more than just pain; he was nervous.

He was going to see Will again.

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Will's POV

"Where is he?" I asked the members of the Archery Club. They exchanged glances before pointing down range to a skinny young boy whose arm was covered in blood. 

"Thanks," I called back while running down range toward him.

The injury was worse than they made it sound. The arrow had been wedged deep into his upper bicep, probably in the bone, and he had lost a lot of blood already.

I had turned him over to check for other injuries when I realized who it was. Nico.

Nico had been on my mind almost constantly since he left the infirmary. I couldn't help but worry about him. I often thought about how I should have kept him in the infirmary for one more day; he might have been better off.

Whenever I saw him at camp I couldn't help but avoid him, as I knew that if I saw that he was hurt or sad or even mad (at me or whoever) I would have to fix it.

I wasn't even sure that Nico liked me. I mean, sure, I was his friend. But I kind of wanted to be more than friends. Did Nico even like guys?

As I carried Nico to the infirmary, I couldn't help but worry about all of the bad things that could happen to him. I was torn between wanting to heal him myself (so that no one would do it wrong), and wanting someone else to do it (in case I messed up). I couldn't stand the idea that Nico was in pain. I was going to have to do it myself.

Three hours later, the arrow was removed from Nico's arm and he had been given more blood. I was trying to decide the best time to change the bandages when Percy Jackson walked in.

"What's up?" I asked. Percy Jackson was a camp hero, but in my opinion he was kind of suck up.

"I needed to get some ambrosia for a trip I'm taking with Annabeth and Grover. I have a note from Chiron," he said.

"Okay, hold on one minute," I said. Nico's room was on the way to the supply cabinet. I poked my head in.

Nico was tangled in the covers of the bed, and his bad arm was underneath him in a painful position. I crept in without a sound and lifted him into a more comfortable sleeping arrangement. After I set him down, I brushed the hair off his face and pulled the blankets overtop him. When I turned around, I saw Percy watching in the doorway. My face turned bright red.

"You like him, don't you?" He whispered. My face turned red and I shrugged. I pointed to the hallway outside. I didn't want to wake Nico.

Percy followed me to the supply closet. "It's okay if you do. I think he likes you back," Percy said.

"Here's you stuff. Have a nice trip," I said, handing him the bag. I just wanted Percy to leave.

"Bye Will," Percy called.

I was going to have to sort my feelings out soon. If Percy Jackson could figure out I had a crush, I must have been pretty obvious.