A/N: Hey everyone! This is just a cute little Solangelo one-shot that I wrote because I recently went to see this opera myself, and I fell in love with it. I really hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I am very obviously not the middle-aged troll that is our beloved Uncle Rick, so I don't own any of these characters!

Word Count: 3810 - Published 5/16/24

The morning of January 28th, Nico woke up to chirping birds and distant yelps in his warm, cozy bed in cabin 13. He reached over, searching for the familiar warmth that usually laid beside him. Finding it, he curled into his boyfriend lovingly and planted a kiss on his shoulder, closing his eyes once more.

"Good morning, Sunshine." Nico heard a warm voice mutter from next to him. "Happy 16th birthday." Nico simply smiled as Will rolled over to place a soft kiss on his lips.

"Morning, Will, thanks." He happily grumbled in response.

The two spent the next hour or so laying in bed, simply enjoying each other's company. Hearing the signature sassy tone of the son of Poseidon outside the door, they eventually decided it was time to prepare for the day. After getting out of bed, changing, and attempting to tame his hair, Nico braced himself for the horde of teenagers most likely waiting to ambush him with birthday tackles. Sure enough, when the Italian opened the door, he barely had the chance to recognize the face of the tall, raven haired teen barreling at him.

"Oh, oof, PERCY! GET OFF ME!" Nico yelled in annoyance from the ground of the front porch. Percy just laughed and beckoned for more people to join the dog pile. Nico could see Annabeth and Hazel laughing on the side, and he playfully glared at them which just caused them to laugh even harder. After much grumbling, Nico managed to get out from under the boys, leaving Frank, Percy, Leo, and Piper laying on top of each other. He ran up to give his sister a huge hug and kiss on the forehead, giving just as big of a hug to Annabeth.

Having being given many hugs and 'happy birthday's from other campers, by the time dinner was over, Nico was absolutely exhausted. However, he knew Will was planning something due to the hushed conversations with friends and knowing looks from Chiron. Having left the campfire early, Nico was sitting in his cabin peacefully when he heard a rhythmic knock at the dark wood door. Will.

"Oh hello, Sunshine, can I come in?" Will chimed as the door opened. He was wearing a dark blue button up long sleeved shirt, with dark gray dress pants and nice sneakers. NIco was absolutely dazzled by both the outfit and bright smile on Will's face, and quickly pulled him inside after recovering from his initial shock.

"Well, uhm, you look very nice. What's the occasion?" Nico smirked, both playing along and desperate for Will to tell him where they were going.

"You'll see, Neeks, but get dressed quickly! Our ride is almost here!" Nico simply stared at him with an expression of pure excitement, before snapping out of it and turning to his dresser. He grabbed his best outfit (a black button up and slacks) and pulled it on quickly, rushing to the bathroom to re-brush his teeth and hair.

After looking at himself in the mirror and taking a few deep breaths, he stepped out into the main cabin to meet his boyfriend.

"Shall we?" Will asked as Nico walked in. The Italian nodded, linking arms with his beautifully dressed boyfriend. They smiled at each other and stepped out of the cabin, laughing and bickering as they crossed the camp to the hill. They both took a deep breath as they passed Thalia's tree, spotting a familiar zombie chauffeur waiting for them. Nico looked at Will in surprise, and he just smirked in response.

"I had some help from our fathers, they arranged for Jules-Albert to come get us." Nico looked at his boyfriend with a look of amazement, before starting to question him. "And yes, before you ask, you don't get to know where we're going." Nico grumbled at this, while Will just looked at him knowingly. "C'mon, just get in! You'll figure it out soon enough!"

"Okay, okay, I'm getting in!" Nico exclaimed as he stepped into the deathly vehicle. With a small nod to Jules-Albert from Will, they were off. Nico didn't know New York City very well, obviously, but he had enough sense to realize that they were approaching the Broadway theatres. It was at this point that Will grabbed a blindfold and placed it over Nico's eyes, earning a playful slap in his direction in return.

"Hey! How come I have to wear this?"

"Well, if you keep looking around, you're gonna find out where we're going."

"And where is that?"

"Oh, you'll see."

"Will I like it?"

"Hopefully." Will chuckled. The couple felt the chariot make a few more turns before coming to a graceful stop. Will sighed in excitement while helping his blindfolded boyfriend out of the carriage. With a nod to Jules-Albert, the boys were left alone on the busy Broadway street. With much help from Will, Nico managed to make it into a mysterious theatre lobby with, from what Nico could tell, carpet flooring that buckled beneath his shoes and warm orange lighting. Will grabbed the other's hand and led him to a small, empty corner.

"Okay, are you ready?" Will asked excitedly.

"To see where we are? Hades yes." Nico exclaimed. Nico turned away from his boyfriend to allow him to untie the blindfold. Nico felt the blindfold fall onto his left shoulder as he blinked, opening his eyes. What he saw nearly brought him to tears.

They were standing in a majestic theatre with bold gold columns and, as Nico had guessed, warm chandeliered lighting. The carpet beneath them was a plush red velvet with hints of gold and maroon scattered throughout. The walls were intricately panelled and covered in a delicate cream wallpaper, with high arches throughout and domed ceilings. The lights consisted of 3 large hanging fixtures draped in stunning crystals and gems. They were standing facing a huge wall covered in photos advertising a performance. Not just a performance, though; an opera, Nico's favourite. He scanned for the name of the production and found it, gasping. La Traviata. Nico could only admire the incredible sight silently, with a look of pure amazement upon his face. La Traviata was his favorite opera, and had been since he was a young child in Italy. He didn't think it would be running in the states, as it was competely in Italian. Will apparently couldn't sense Nico's excitement as he was immediately concerned at the silence.

"Neeks? Are you okay? Do you like it? If not, we can totally–"

"Yes, Will! I love it!" Nico turned and jumped into his boyfriend's arms, giving him a bigger hug than he thought he ever had in his life. They rested there for a few seconds; enjoying each other's hold and breathing in the moment. After they let go, they turned, holding hands, to face the main entrance together.

"Shall we?" Will asked. Nico nodded excitedly as they stepped through the embellished doors into the huge theatre. The ceilings were sky-high; beautiful images depicted on them. The walls were gold and ornate, with arches and pedestals and velvet lined boxes where impeccably dressed people were sitting. The main stage itself wasn't visible yet, an elegant dark satin curtain falling loosely over the panelled stage floor. Above the stage he noticed a strange white box. The pure white, blank rectangle was a stark contrast to the gorgeous antique theatre. Nico was about to tap Will to ask what the purpose of it was when a message appeared, being projected from the top of the theatre. It read, in neat typing, 'Please remain seated. The show will continue shortly.' Subtitles, Nico thought, So people like Will can understand it too.

The two engaged in mindless chatter, with a lot of discussion of older performances and more modern elements. Opening the small booklet given to them, they noticed that the actors were incredibly diverse. Right next to the name of each actor was a small bar showcasing their preferred pronouns, and on the last page, there was a progress flag and small text saying everyone was accepted at the opera. Nico and Will both spotted this at the same time and looked at each other, grasping hands once again. Nico especially appreciated the gesture of inclusivity, which made him feel accepted and even more excited for the performance.

They both gasped as they saw the lights begin to dim around them, and they heard the first few beats of music. When the curtains opened after being graced with the overture, there was quite a sight to see. There were probably 50 or so actors on a superbly decorated stage, all dressed incredibly. Each of the women wore brightly coloured dresses with pearls and ruffles, their hair up in elaborate styles only acceptable for stage. The men were wearing tuxedos, each with a different element of fun incorporated on them. The stage was set to be a party at the stunning mansion of Violetta, a bachelorette who loved to host and refused to settle down. Violetta herself was on stage, dressed even more incredibly than the rest of the cast.

As the first people began to sing, the whole audience gasped. The voices were beautiful, piercing the soft instrumental music with their high pitches. Nico wasn't a singer by any means, but he could recognise the incredible talent that all of the cast members possessed.

After a spectacular dance number, the rest of the guests left the stage as Violetta stayed on and inspected herself in the mirror. She had just recovered from a bad spell of her chronic illness, and kept saying how sickly she looked. A young man named Alfredo came on stage, and they spent the next few numbers talking and professing their love to each other. Violetta was torn; she loved Alfredo, but couldn't bear to leave her life of luxury. Eventually, they came together in an embrace and the curtains closed as the theatre lightened.

"That's it?! So we just don't know what happens?!" Will exclaims, turning to Nico. Nico just laughs and gives him a heartfelt response.

"No, caro mio, that was just the first act. There's two more after this intermission." He laughs.

"Two more!? Ugh, I can't wait that long!" Will groans. Nico just smiles lightly, the soft smile that only Will ever sees. Will grins in response, pulling his boyfriend close to him.

"So, I take it you understand it so far?" Nico remarks.

"Yeah, somewhat. My dyslexia isn't nearly as bad as yours, so I can just read the subtitles. I figured you could just listen to the lyrics and understand them, since they're all in Italian. I actually asked Hazel what you would've liked, so you can thank her for the idea."

"That's really sweet, thank you. You didn't have to do that!"

"Of course I did, Neeks. You're my boyfriend."

"Thank you, caro mio."

The two stayed together for a while, enjoying each other's touch as the theatre began to fill up again. The lights flashed; the show would begin again soon. Finally, as the rest of the audience filed in, the doors closed and the lights went dark, and a familiar beat started up again. The stage was different this time, a bright house in the countryside. Alfredo and Violetta had been happily together for three months, enjoying each other's company. Alfredo then found out that Violetta was selling her luxury property in France, and ran off to the city to buy it back. While he was gone, his father came to pay Violetta a visit. He told her that him being with her was a disgrace onto his family, and eventually, Alfredo's father convinced her to leave him. They went weeks without contact; both heartbroken and in despair. Eventually, they saw each other at a party of their mutual friend. Violetta lied through her teeth, saying that she wanted to leave in order to not pain him. He got very upset and called her some names, most of which caused the audience to recoil in horror. Suddenly, on the note of Alfredo getting kicked out of the party, the lights went up again.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Will exclaimed, annoyed at the cliffhanger. Nico simply laughed again. "They can't just leave it like that!"

"Calm down, gods, be patient!" Nico scoffed lovingly. The two simply made small talk to pass the time, both eager to see the rest of the production. They both practically squealed as the theatre became dark once again. However, the entire feel of the show was different now. They were back in the mansion, but it was dark and torn up. The mirror Violetta used to pick apart her reflection was cracked and dusty, with cobwebs forming all up the walls and in the chandeliers. There was a single chaise on stage where a sickly looking Violetta was laying. She was coughing into a handkerchief and struggling to breathe. A helper was by her side. Violetta requested to call a doctor, who arrived promptly and informed her that she didn't have much time left. She called for her love, Alfredo, who came quickly to her side, along with his father. Alfredo restored some life in Violetta, and Alfredo's father apologised for all of the heartbreak he had caused. They heard singing in the streets, and Violetta said that her pain was gone. She announced that she would continue living, dancing around with her love.

Nico looked over at Will and noticed him smiling hopefully before grabbing his arm. Violetta was dancing with Alfredo before she collapsed on the ground. She took her last shaking breaths and died in the arms of her love, at last in peace. She had spent her last moments with him, and they were together until the very end. Will let in a shaky breath and Nico turned to look at him once again. He had tears running down his face, his blue eyes glazed over in the light from the stage. The curtains closed and the lights went up.

"How? How is that fair? She just dies in his arms?! That's cruel!" Will said, letting out a small sob. Nico looked into his glossy eyes with a look of sympathy.

"I know, my love, I know. It's heartbreaking." Nico comforted him. "But it's okay, it's just a story, Will."

"Still! It's horrible that he had to go through that. Imagine that!"

"I understand it, mi amore, it hurts every time." Nico said softly. When they stood up from their seats, they embraced tightly. They stepped out of the elegant theatre into the dark, busy streets of Manhattan, and took a deep breath at the same time. Will pulled Nico into a dark alleyway and pulled out a flip phone. Nico gave him a very startled and questioning expression. Demigods couldn't use cell phones, they attracted monsters. Nico certainly did not want to be fighting monsters on his birthday. Will clearly saw his expression and answered quickly.

"I had Leo make us a monster-proof phone so that we could call camp. Chiron said to call him and he'll send Jules-Albert to come pick us up so you don't have to use your powers."

"Oh. That's really nice of him, actually." Nico smiled softly. He was touched by the idea that Will and Leo would go out of their way to allow him to one, be safe, and two, not use his powers.

"Of course, Neeks, both of us would do anything for you." Will smiled as he dialled a number on the phone. Nico grinned even harder at this, genuinely smiling, which was rare for him. Nico watched as Will began talking to Chiron. They talked quickly, saying goodbye after only a few seconds.

Not even 30 seconds later, Jules-Albert came around the corner and into the alley. They both hopped in and spoke little over the drive. They were simply breathing in the moment of the wonderful date they had just had.

After a while, they arrived at the familiar hill leading up to Camp Half-Blood. They could see Thalia's pine tree in the distance, and got out of the vehicle. The two boys slowly walked up the hill, enjoying the squelch of the dark, icy grass and the sound of the crickets in the forest. They passed through the border and made their way into the camp. However, instead of splitting up once they got to the ring of cabins, they both walked into the Hades cabin together.

Now, there was a rule that a boy and a girl were not allowed in a cabin alone together. In Will and Nico's case, there was a big loophole. One of the perks of being gay was that nobody could tell them off because technically they weren't breaking any rules.

The couple kicked off their shoes once stepping inside, collapsing on Nico's bed.

"Wait. I have an idea." Nico said after laying down. There was a trellis on the outside of the cabin that used to hold plants, but became bare and empty during the winter months. The roof of the cabin had been cleared off after Christmas, so there was an opportunity to sit on the slightly slanted roof and go stargazing. That was precisely what they did, laughing and grinning as they put their shoes back on. They walked out into the night and ran to the back of the cabin, laughing as they approached the trellis.

"Careful, caro mio! Go up slowly." Nico remarked as Will began to climb before him. Once they both made it up, they walked across the roof and found a nice, non-icy spot. They laid down together, Nico curling into Will's chest as they stared up at the stars.

"So, final thoughts on the show?" Will asked after they had been there for a bit.

"Hmm, well, it's much different than it used to be, but it was really amazing. In the 40's, the show was much less grand and much more rough around the edges. This was so... put together. The production quality was, like, insane."

"Yeah, I get that. The current productions are always really good, and really flawless. I really loved it, but I couldn't wrap my head around the ending." Will replied.

"I get it, it's hard to think about. I love it, though. It shows how... delicate love is."

"Wow. Wow. I really like that, actually." Will says softly. "I love how you talk about love. It's so powerful."

"Thanks, I guess. It's always on my mind since losing people I love, especially Jason. I've been thinking about him a lot more recently. He was always talking about what he was gonna do for my birthday."

"I understand, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, no, it's okay. I like talking about it. It makes it feel like he's still here, almost."

"Okay. Well, we can always talk about anything you want, okay?"

"Okay," Nico replied softly.

"Um, actually..." Will blushed.

"Yeah?"

"I kind of have something for you. I know you don't like gifts, but it's nothing big, I promise." Will said.

"Uh... okay, I guess." The two sat up slowly, and Will reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a small black drawstring pouch. He opened up Nico's palm and placed the parcel in there, closing Nico's fingers around it. Nico opened his palm and untied the strings. He loosened the pouch, pulled out a delicate chain necklace, and gasped. It was small and silver, with a tiny sun emblem. There was a small black obsidian circle in the middle of the moon, which stuck out slightly. It was perfect for Nico.

"Uh, if you tap the circle while wearing it, you hear something. Do you want me to put it on you?" Nico nodded softly yet excitedly. He scooted around so his back was to Will, and handed him the necklace carefully. After a bit of fiddling, the blonde finally managed to attach the clasps and put the necklace on. Nico felt the chain around his neck with his hand as he swivelled back around to face his significant annoyance. He took a small breath and looked at Will before pressing on the tiny sun emblem.

He could suddenly hear a familiar song ringing through his mind. It wasn't like he was hearing it out loud; it was as if it was ingrained in his mind. The song was the song that Will sang to him that very first campfire after the war and three days in the infirmary. The song that made him really fall for Will. The song that he sang to him at every possible, special little moment together.

He remembered that first campfire clearly. Will had brought out his guitar and strummed the opening notes to what would become his favourite song, Blackbird by The Beatles. The lyrics were perfect and powerful. Will had loved The Beatles forever, and he introduced them to Nico after they became close. Nico grew to love the band as much as Will did, knowing all the words to the songs on albums like Abbey Road and Rubber Soul.

So as he heard it ringing through his brain that night, the love of his life by his side, he started to cry. Nico couldn't remember ever crying about being happy and he never thought he would, but here he was. Will didn't have to hear the song to understand that Nico was happy. But for Nico, happy wasn't the right word. He was overcome with his emotion, simply calling himself happy seemed like an understatement.

He heard the lyrics, 'Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take those broken wings and learn to fly,' and finally understood what flying felt like. Sure, he still had cracks, just as any person would. He had PTSD, depression, and anxiety. He had lost so much at such a young age. But he was flying. No words could describe the gratitude he felt to Will at that moment.

So he simply settled for kissing him instead. They wrapped around each other, somehow managing to make it down and into the cabin after what felt like hours. As they curled up in Nico's bed, having managed to get somewhat ready to sleep, Nico whispered to Will something he never thought he would be able to say to another person again after Bianca died.

"Buonanotte, mio ​​sole. I love you."

(Translation: Good night, my sunshine.)

A/N: So yeah, that's it. I love these two so much, and I thought the story was cute, so I decided to write it! Honestly, while watching the opera, I could not stop picturing this story happening, so I'm glad I could bring it to life. Thank you so much for reading, I hope you liked it!

<3 Ayden