Take the pain,
Ignite it

- Holding Onto You, Twenty One Pilots

c h a p t e r  1 : n i c o
t h r e e  y e a r s  l a t e r

Nico was never tired of those infinite blue eyes, the way that glistened in the sun from the radiation. Somehow, their presence continued to enlighten him in way that no other object, person, or feeling had the ability of doing. He'd missed the green eyes when they subdued into a dark gray color after the Tartarus incident. It took everything in him in order to explain the circumstance of his death to Will. After all, it was difficult to witness that person that you cared about to lie limp in charcoal, blood seeped through his chest. Time was what Nico desired, and Will was willing to provide the Hades boy time. Time and space.

Only now Nico wished nothing more than to be cradled by the new minor god. Three years had subsided since Will was altered in a celestial being. Therefore, he had to accomplish the tasks  and standards that were required of him. Thus was the agreement Nico had acknowledged to, except when he had turned away Will to accept time, he'd lost his friend.

There was no mistaking the profound connection between Will and Nico, yet the time in between their appearances didn't accommodate to their relationship. There was still no doubt for the love that separated the boys, though they maintained their distance besides the moments that Will visited Camp Half-Blood occasionally.

Will would pass through to welcome new visitors, accompany his friends and siblings, and healed guests at the infirmary. Nico tended to the bare Hades cabin while he also taught campers how to fight with swords and armory. Most of their friends progressed in their relationships, unlike themselves. Percy and Annabeth had a lovely daughter by the name of Sally, in honor of Percy's mother that he immensely longed for. Hazel and Frank were no head leaders of Camp Jupiter by recruiting and stabilizing the camp. Jason started to seek out Leo, but Piper stayed behind to assist in creating the minor gods statues. Everything seemed to be settling down, although Nico missed those infinite blue eyes. 

But it wasn't long before he'd see them again.

*****

"Nico," the holler of a young voice spoke from the dead silence which cascaded over the bare arena. Recently he discovered that when he trained by himself he had the opportunity to ponder over things, process them without the pressure of others that surrounded him. The sufferings in his life were just a mere year compared to the thoughts throughout his mind. When Nico faced the camper, he locked eyes with a small girl by the age of about thirteen. He'd seen her around, although there was never a chance to introduce himself. She sighed a minute before she continued, "My names Alisha, and Chiron has requested your presence."

"Request granted," he chuckled, but the girl was not amused as she bounced back towards the cabins with her blonde curls to follow her. A breath of frustration was released from his nostrils before he placed his sword down and retreated towards the shape of a man collided with a white horse. Normally, Chiron abstained himself from a chat with Nico, most people did. Nevertheless, Nico huffed as he approached Chiron while scenarios twirled throughout his head on what possibly could have caused Chiron to require his presence.

Once Nico was in range Chiron acknowledged him and started, "Nice to see you again, Nico. Training I presume?" Chiron coughed a bit, his voice rough and hostile. For several weeks Chiron has been quite sick, this explains as to why he's had campers request for counsellors. Nico nodded in a response when Chiron's eyes lingered onto the valley, kids played volleyball along with other sports. "It seems that Will Solace is coming to visit this week from Olympus. Since my illness, I've been less capable. Therefore, it would be my honor if you could perhaps run the camp while I tend to my medical needs? Will has promised me some healing hours and I'd like to refrain from stress as much as possible. Do you think you can do that for me?"

The Italian's breath sucked in, his heart started to beat rapidly at the thought to order children to designated places, or gather them together. After all, people barley noticed his existence, why would they accept him as a leader? Nearly all of Camp Half-Blood trusted someone as strong as Percy, or as talented as Frank. No one would answer to the Son of Hades. He heaved a breath and replied, "No problem, Chiron." Perhaps it was the fluster in his cheeks about Will coming to visit that perked him up, but the idea of having to let Chiron down wasn't on Nico's agenda.

Chiron smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Di Angelo. It has been hard on you for sometime now. It is my hope and belief that you'll find something to help you forget one day. Maybe even someone." Then he vanished away with hooves to carry him while Nico's heart was absent in the thought to lead the camp.

Before he could call out to Chiron, the faint voice which seemed to keep him living whispered, "About time I saw you, Death Boy. I was beginning to worry you weren't coming to visit me down at the infirmary." The silk in Will's voice was too familiar to Nico's blood that pumped too fast. A shiver practically rolled its way across Nico's spine in adoration. The blue eyes he longed for every moment were the next portrait he saw before he tackled the minor god in a breathtaking hug. It was unlike Nico to proceed with such an action, yet he'd waited for those arms to touch him for far too long.

Since the years had passed, Will had aged despite being immortal. Zeus explained the possibility to age until around the age of a normal grown man in his late twenty's or early thirty's. From the former three years Will had grown a few inches with his hair a healthy, clean cut while curls spiraled in various directions. His body was more toned as well as kissed with the sun which accompanied his many freckles. Though the color of Will's eyes never faded, such was the characteristic Nico sought out every day. Nico had changed drastically with every aspect. He'd eased to almost Will's height, while his build remained skinny along with healthy and fit. His hair stretched to his shoulders, bangs his the left side of his face accompanied by his chocolate brown eyes.

Will's cheeks flamed with Nico in his grasp, but Nico didn't mind. Once they detached they gazed into their recognizable eyes as though they could have glared for days on end. "Didn't know you were coming. Otherwise I may have stopped in." Nico winked which caused Will to snicker. Since the event Nico had grown quite into a flirting stage. He'd managed to slip pass the odd part of himself and face the fact with himself liking Will Solace. He didn't regret any of it.

"'May have stopped in'?"  Will wondered, "Sounds like I was gone too long. Miss me too much Angel?" Nico had also developed a fondness to Will's nicknames. As much as he hated to admit it, it brightened his day. When Will and himself hadn't seen each other much do to circumstances, he grasped onto every single, simple memory. He'd hoped that he could kindle such memory with necessary. Their former connection had evolved into something more personal since Nico had lost Will. This time, he wasn't letting go.

"Perhaps." Nico stated with a plastered smirk. Again, he found himself to wander into those delicate blue eyes that always captured him. He felt captivated by them, and it nerves ceased to amaze him. He could only wish that he could witness those eyes the rest of his days.

"Sounds like we've got some catching up to do then. Come sit by me at dinner. We'll talk some more." Will suggested before he twisted his arm in angle which gathered mist around his ankles that progressed to his body. Then he was gone.

*****

Nico couldn't stop himself as he nibbled on his lip in thought of Will Solace. It had been a few months at the least since he'd even glimpsed at the son of Apollo. Since he'd appeared at Camp Half-Blood, he's the only thing that's buzzed through Nico's mind. The way his hair twisted into curls, his ocean eyes, and his freckles which scattered about his face. If only he could have Will beside every moment of the day. Then he'd never forget the face of the one he'd came to love.

There it was. The word he had tried to reject so many times in the past few years. Love. He couldn't possibly love Will Solace. Could he? Perhaps they had grown closer throughout the years, but loving someone and caring for them was rather different. The last time he could remember stating the most three overused words were when Bianca was present. Often times, he'd find himself inform her how much he loved her by telling her at times that were inconvenient. He wanted her to know. Especially when he had told her of his affections for males instead of females. After some troublesome situations he'd come to conclusion of his sexuality while Bianca offered it was just a phase. Something that he could get over. It wasn't that she minded him being gay, but she wanted him to be firmly set in it.

Maybe that's why he couldn't let her go easily. She helped him some to terms with he was. Why he never felt that he could love a woman. There was not discouragement from her, for she supported him in every possible aspect. Now that he had lost her, he didn't have anyone to up to. To make him question.

Dinner could not have come slower for the anxious Son of Hades. The whole time he twiddled his thumbs in nervousness, his palms began to develop a sweaty feel to them. When dinner did return, he rushed from his cabin into the open night. Campers had already started to herd towards the plates and silverware. Once Nico had awaited the moment to obtain his own utensils, his skin chilled with the feeling of the wind as it dispersed down his body. The laugh of a recognizable voice produced from the air that only caused Nico to fluster more. "Bones and Stones, you decided to show up."

"Quit it. Before all you're made of is bones and stones." Nico barked back in a sarcastic way. This only encouraged Will, this didn't surprise Nico as he felt Will smirk in a challenge.

"Sorry, Princess. Didn't mean to anger the lovely lady." Will stepped closer to Nico to wear his chest had brushed against Nico's plate with nothing but the contents of ice cream. He hadn't planned to eat anything else until a flicker from Will's powers made the ice cream disappear and be replaced by a large meal.

Nico moaned in annoyance, "Willlllllll." he dragged on. The son of Apollo always had an intensity for being sure Nico had more than a healthy apatite. This was why he didn't mind not having parents. No one bossed around a son of Hades. Not on his watch. Nico scoffed before he shuffled his food into the trash and scooped another pound of ice cream onto his plate. Will huffed in irrigation and joined Nico at the Hades table. "What were you doing in Olympus before you decided to show up?" Nico questioned, a statement to start a conversation that Nico was determined to have. When he first realized that he had a crush on Will, he constantly avoided. This was his chance to speak to Will, evolve into something more serious.

"Apollo has been training me. Yesterday, I requested to come visit and Zeus agreed as long as I trained while I was down here. He says that I'm a great learner, he only wishes that my teleportation could progress. Most gods can appear in any location desirable, but my powers can only locate a place in about a few miles. Otherwise, he's impressed."

"It's too bad your always gone. Makes me miss you." Nico muttered, more a statement to himself that anyone else.

"Did you just admit to missing me, Princess? Might just have to make some separate time to catch up." Will joked.

"I wouldn't mind. Go see a movie or something perhaps?" There was no protest from Will, but his lips pursed in thought and his eyes brows raised in amusement.

"Are you asking me out a date, Di Angelo?" Will was clearly kidding, but Nico took it rather seriously.

"If that's what you want to call it, sure." Nico shrugged in all seriousness, not effected by Will's joking manner.

Will gulped and sucked in a breath with realization on what Nico was implying, "I, uh, can't." There was a change in mood, Will's face became heated and sweat trickled down his neck in agitation by something.

"What? Why-" Nico started before he was interrupted.

Will flailed his hands in exasperation and snapped back, "I just can't Nico! Okay?"

"Yeah, whatever." Then Nico jumped back from his seat and tossed his food onto the floor. The pleads from Will were heard, except Nico sulked on down towards his cabin only to ignore the desperate cries.