Nico di Angelo has learned to survive by disappearing. He wears his shadows like armor and keeps everyone, even Will, at a safe distance. No one knows about the late-night panic attacks, the silent scars he leaves hidden beneath long sleeves, the feeling that he's always one step away from being left behind again. Not even Will - the boy he trusts most. Will Solace is sunshine to the world, a healer, a leader, the rock everyone leans on. But no one sees the cracks. Not the guilt of the siblings he couldn't save. Not the pressure to be "fine" all the time. And definitely not the way he pushes himself past breaking just to feel worthy of the love he gives so freely. They're in love, yes - but they're also in pain. And the longer they keep their walls up, the more those walls start to crush them both. ⚠️ This story contains themes of depression, anxiety, isolation, self-loathing, emotional trauma, burnout, survivor's guilt, intrusive thoughts, self-harm, religious trauma, grief, and mentions of death. Please take care of yourself and read with caution. 💛🖤

Nico di Angelo has always been a bit of a loner when it comes to the demigod camps, so he didn't expect much of a difference when he decided to stay at Camp Half-Blood. Which is fine! It just made it that much easier to keep hidden the secret residing under his sleeves. Will Solace is a down-to-Earth healer with a lot more darkness than he lets on. He's determined to help anyone he can who needs it. This includes the dense (yet admittedly cute) son of Hades, who might even be more stubborn than Will. After a nail-biting battle against the Earth Mother herself, these boys find themselves in the infirmary together for a promised three days. While they're certainly different at first glance, soon enough, they find themselves more similar than believable. As their relationship blossoms into something more, Nico gets a premonition of something coming, worthy of breaking the two apart. Will they be able to fight their apparent fate? TW: some mature language and themes such as s*lf h*rm All rights to Uncle Rick. These are his characters (with the exception of mine) and my plot. #1 in #Solangelo - Aug. 2024

Nico felt like Icarus. Fly too close to the sun, and your wings will melt. Fly too close to the sea, your wings will grow heavy. Nico had already flown too close to the sea. He had allowed his infatuation with Percy to rule his life, his decisions, for far to many years. His wings had grown heavy, and he'd drowned. Icarus had made a mistake. He strayed too far, entranced by the kindness of the light. The dark wouldn't be as welcoming, ushering you in with no hesitancy and crossed arms. That didn't work out so well for Icarus. So, Nico would allow this filter, this light, to cover him, shroud him in kindness, and possibility, and warmth. But he would not cross further. He would not succumb to the light only to fall forever into darkness. He would do what Icarus couldn't. Nico di Angelo would not fly too close to the sun. Cover art by viria!