Mentions of sex just so you guys are warned. Enjoy!

Nico's POV

He knows the soft comforter of Will's bed well. The delicate scent of pine from the spray his mom is obsessed with, the feeling of Will's chest underneath his head. The moon is high in the sky, the glow shining just past the glass of the window. He should be feeling contentment, the same happiness that he always feels. But there's something off about that night, a nagging worry that starts in his head and spreads to his aching heart and down to the very tip of his fingers. His entire body throbs with worry and when he picks his head up off of Will's chest Will frowns, running a finger down the side of Nico's arm. 

"Something wrong?" Will asks with a silky smooth voice. It was that voice that drew Nico to Will in the first place, that made his head turn in the hallway and his heart explode in his chest. 

"We've been seeing each other for a while, right?" Nico says. 

"Yeah."

"And we both like it, right?" 

"Yeah," Will says, a grin flitting onto his face. That grin had been the one that had shown up in Nico's dreams for weeks after seeing it for the first time, the one he had seen just before they had slipped underneath Will's covers for the first time. 

"So, like, what are we?" Nico asks, his heart pounding in his chest. He's overheating as if he's in the ninety-degree sun instead of underneath a thin comforter on a November night, and he just hopes that Will can't tell. Part of him doesn't want to be asking this question, but he needs to know the answer. It's been on his mind for ages, slipping into his dreams and distracting him from everything else until it's the only thing he can think about. 

Will frowns, running a hand through Nico's hair. Nico loves it when he does that. It feels more intimate than the kissing, the sex, anything they've ever done. It makes Nico feel cared for, and he hopes that Will never stops. Will searches Nico's face for a few more seconds as if trying to memorize Nico's face. Nico hopes he is. 

"We're whatever you want us to be," he says finally, hesitantly, as if he's trying to navigate through a landmine-strewn field. Nico bites his lip- that only left him with more questions, more fear, but Will has already moved on from the topic, and it's clear that he doesn't want to talk about it more. "You wanna watch something? I'm in the mood for a comedy." His laptop is already on the bed, the comforter falling as he sits up to reveal a bare chest. He looks like a greek god as he sifts through Netflix's plethora of options, his other arm curled around Nico's waist. 

"Yeah, sure," Nico says as if he'd have any say in the matter. Will's laptop was already out before Nico opened his mouth. 

"Great," Will says as the movie begins. He leans back against his pillows and Nico has no choice but to follow suit, snuggling up against Will's body as the movie begins. It's warm and soft, more comfortable than any blanket Nico has ever had. He should be happy, to have nailed down one of the school's most sought-after bachelors. But there's still something wrong with the picture, and it's throwing Nico off. 

Will presses a soft kiss to Nico's forehead, running a finger up Nico's jawline. The way Will looks at Nico makes Nico feel like the most beautiful person on the planet, but sometimes he's scared that's all Will sees. "You're the best, you know that?" Will says, with a tiny smile on his lips. 

"Don't worry," Nico says with a grin that simply oozes confidence he doesn't have. "I know." Will laughs, clearly convinced by Nico's facade. He hugs Nico closer as the movie plays on, peppering his face with kisses and stroking his back, but Nico just can't seem to enjoy it. The same nagging worry is still in the back of his mind and he can't seem to shake, no matter how hard he tries.

------

"Hey, Perce, can I ask you a question?" 

"Sure," Percy says, setting down his slice of pizza on the grease-stained box. There are empty soda cans scattered across the rug of Percy's floor, clothes with the faint stench of body odor drifting off of them. It is a disgusting place, but over the years of friendship growing stronger, it's started to feel more like home than Nico's house ever will. "What's up?" 

"When did you know things were serious with Annabeth?" Nico plays with the crust of his pizza, staring down at the bubbled bread of the crust. He hears Percy sigh next to him, and a body shifting closer to him on the floor. 

"I'm not sure how to explain it," Percy says. "It's just- we went on a first date, and then a second, and a third and a fourth, and we got closer and I just realized what an amazing thing that I had, and I knew I couldn't lose it. Why are you asking?" 

"I need some advice," Nico says. He's still staring at his bubbly pizza crust as the details of his most recent relationship come to mind; the casual feeling that it holds, the quick texts shot back and forth, the strange distance between them that Nico just can't seem to make up. 

"Is this about Will?" Percy asks gently, setting a hand on the small of Nico's back. Nico plays with one of the crust bubbles, puncturing it with the tip of his finger. 

"Yeah. I mean, we've been seeing each other for almost two months, and I just don't know what I'm supposed to think about it. Like, I like him, but is it weird that we haven't talked about what exactly we are yet?" Nico asks, a hint of desperation in his voice. He hears Percy sigh deeply, and he rubs Nico's back the way a mother would a sick child. 

"Will's a cool guy," Percy says carefully as if trying to navigate around Nico's feelings. "He's kind of a player, though. He gets around a lot. He's a popular dude. He's the type who-"

"I get what you're trying to say, Percy," Nico says dryly. "Will has a lot of sex." 

"Maybe it isn't best to put all of your eggs in one basket," Percy says. 

"Cut it out with the cheesy sayings and get to the point." 

"It's not like he's ever made any sort of commitment to anyone else he's slept with ," Percy says. "He's never been in a serious relationship. I don't know him that well, but I don't think he's looking for anything real. And you're not the type of guy who's just looking for casual flings. If having sex with him makes you happy then you have my full support, but if you're looking for something serious, he's not the place to go." Nico sighs heavily as Percy pats him on the back. "Sorry, dude." 

"Nah, it's fine." He puts a smile onto his face, even though he knows it doesn't reach his eyes. "You're probably right, anyway. It's not worth getting my heart broken over something that was never serious in the first place." Percy pats his back, smiling a warm smile that makes Nico feel as if he's being pitied instead of supported. 

"That's the way to think about it," he says. "Anyway, you wanna watch something?" 

"Sure," Nico says dully, picking at his pizza crust. It's gone cold by now. As Percy scrolls through the comedies, chatting Nico's ear off about his new favorite actor and this amazing movie he just saw that Nico has to watch,  something about the scene feels a little bit too familiar to him.

------

He ignores Will's texts for days, leaving him on delivered and pretending that he doesn't exist as he tries and fails to sort out his feelings. He can't deny that they exist because his chest feels tighter every day he isn't with Will, but if Will has ever felt the same way, he hasn't let on. Nico had hoped that with a little bit of distance, he'd be able to delve back into the relationship with fresh eyes. But after a week of no developments, he's realized that the problem is out of his hands. He needs the advice of a professional and, lucky for him, he knows the goddess of love herself. 

"Piper, I'm having guy trouble." 

"Aren't we all," she says with a sigh, stretching her arms over her head as she yawns. "Jason's been super busy recently, we've barely been seeing each other." Her hair swings behind her as she stretches, one single glossy wave of brown that glitters in the light of the school library. "Anyway, what's up with your guy?" She sits back up, giving him one of her warm, gleaming smiles. 

"When did you and Jason start to get serious?" 

"Well, we started out as just a super quick fling," Piper says. "And I've had other flings before, and they haven't really meant anything. They've just been once. But we kept seeing each other, and we started to develop feelings, and then when we went to homecoming together it got real and we've been solid ever since." Her smile widens and she tilts her head as if trying to pick apart Nico's every emotion. Nico shifts, drawing his black jacket tighter around his body. He's scared that if he gives Piper the chance, she'll be able to. "Sounds like you and Will, doesn't it?" 

"I-" Nico feels his cheeks flush, and he draws his jacket so tight he feels as if he's drowning in it. He feels like he can feel the eyes of every single other person in their study hall staring at him, desperate to pick apart every aspect of his love life. He glances around him, and heads turn away, giggles springing up in groups of two or three. "How are you so good at this?" 

"I've had a lot of good experiences with relationships and a lot of bad ones," Piper says. "You learn as you go along, Nico. And you wanna know the most important thing I've learned?" 

"Yeah," Nico says, leaning in. He's scared that if he doesn't hear it he'll miss it forever, this crucial piece of advice that seems to have led Piper in the perfect direction. 

"No one else can tell you what to do," Piper says. Nico sighs and Piper's sweet smile turns into a self-satisfied grin. "That perfect piece of relationship advice doesn't exist, because no two relationships are the same. You have to do what you think is best, and I think that you're going to have to talk to Will yourself. I'm guessing that's exactly what you didn't want to hear." 

"Yeah," Nico says, a shaky laugh escaping his lips. "You got it perfect. Again. I don't know how you do it." 

"Like I said, I'm experienced," Piper says. "It's like I'm training you in the field of romance. But honestly, my best piece of advice is to talk to him. I can't define your relationship for you." She sighs, standing up and patting Nico on the shoulder. "I'm gonna grab a snack, you want something?" 

"No, thanks." Nico sinks lower on the couch, crossing his arms over his chest and frowning. There's a headache collecting behind his temples and he heaves a heavy sigh. "I have a lot to think about." Piper smiles, giving him one last pat on the shoulder. It's comforting- she's only a year older than him, but somehow it feels like someone much older than him giving him a piece of advice that will guide him for the rest of his life. 

"First loves are hard, Neeks," she says. "You'll figure it out." He nods, staring dully at the opposite wall and he can hear Piper walking away, the last person offering him a bit of sanity lost to the temptation of the snacks in the library closet. And as he's left alone to stew in his own thoughts, only one possible option comes to mind.

Will's POV

"Hey, Will? Can I ask you a question?" 

"Shoot," Will says, running a finger down the middle of Nico's back. His skin is softer than he thought skin could be, his hair feathery on Will's chest. When Nico stares up into his eyes, Will is reminded why he fell for Nico in the first place, why he couldn't stop staring at him in the hallways, thinking about him when he went to sleep at night. 

"What is this? Like, what are we? We've been seeing each other for, like, twice a week for a month, and we still haven't really defined anything." Will feels his heart skip a beat in his chest and he bites the inside of his lip, avoiding Nico's eyes. He wants to say the right thing, he really does. He just doesn't know what that is. 

"What do you want us to be?" he asks carefully, expertly avoiding the question. He doesn't know when it happened, the shift between physical attraction and emotional. But somehow amid the times they've seen each other, the jokes exchanged and the stories told, something blossomed between them that Will had never expected. He's had flings before, but none of them have ever made him feel the same way he does with Nico. 

"What do you want us to be?" Nico replies, his tone just as eerily calm as Will's. Will stares at the back wall to avoid the question the best he can, fighting to find an answer that will satisfy and avoid Nico's question at the same time. He doesn't think that such a thing exists. 

"Why are you avoiding the question?" Will asks.

"I asked you first," Nico shoots back. He glares at Will and Will heaves a sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. 

"What's going on, Neeks? Why are you asking?" 

"I just want to know," Nico says, his voice desperate. There are tears glittering in the corner of his eyes, and Will feels trapped. "Like, I think I'm getting actual feelings for you but other people told me that you didn't get into serious relationships, and I-" his voice cracks and he shifts away from Will, wrapping his arms around his chest. "I want to know where I stand." Will's heart drops in his chest and he places a hand gently on Nico's arm, squeezing it lightly. 

"First of all, I want to know who's giving you relationship advice." 

"Well, I went to Piper after a little bit," Nico says carefully as if he's avoiding the real truth. "But I talked to Percy first." 

"See, that's your first problem," Will says with a laugh. "You went to Percy for relationship advice. He got lucky with Annabeth, but that dude is a dumbass when it comes to love. And what did Piper tell you?" 

"She told me to talk to you," Nico says. 

"You should have talked to me before anyone," Will says. "Because I wouldn't have told you all the rumors, that I'm a player who isn't looking for anything serious. I would have told you that I liked you, too, that I've never had such strong feelings for someone this early on, and that I want to get to know you, like, really get to know you." Nico blushes and Will runs a finger along Nico's jawline, kissing him slowly. "Was that what you were hoping to hear?" 

"Yeah, that's pretty much what I was looking for," Nico says, a grin playing across his lips. He leans into the kiss, wrapping an arm around Will's waist. When he pulls away there's something youthful in his eyes, something resembling hope. "Maybe we should go grab breakfast tomorrow morning? There's the coffee shop downtown." Nico's body heats up on top of Will's within seconds. Will rubs his bath soothingly, planting a kiss on Nico's forehead.

"Sounds great, Neeks." It's such a small nickname, so simple, but Nico's entire face lights up when Will says it. Nico's body is warm in Will's arm, and when he sets his head down on Will's chest, his hair is soft and feathery. His body shudders in a sigh and he snuggles up closer, his eyes fluttering shut. It is late, after all- the moon is high in the sky, and the neighborhood has long ago fallen silent. Will could stay like this for hours, with Nico's body on his, skin touching skin. It's better than the sex, better than any sex Will has ever had. This is real, and Will wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. 

Hi guys, I hope you liked it!

Nina