SUNSHINE and DARKNESS

"Anyone could tell from here."

Summary - Will has a day off from the infirmary and Nico planned a nice picnic for them.

Warnings: Jason is alive here. But he and Piper have broken up

Word Count - 2,652

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After a very taxing week, Will had finally managed to get a break from the infirmary for an entire day. Springtime had meant a lot of hay-fever breakouts and allergies going around. His last patient had been discharged last night, and Will was beat. That morning, he was surprised to find his boyfriend waiting by his door at 9am, a basket in his hand.

He and Nico had been dating since November after a month of back and forth flirting. Coming out was a huge ordeal to Nico, and everyone had made sure to make the son of Hades accepted. He had even gained higher levels of respect from several campers. Even though they had both been dating for a while now, they never put their relationship on blast. It benefited them both that way. Nico was a private person by nature, and Will disliked nosy people putting their two cents in his relationships. He knew Nico wasn't a fan of PDA and so they kept their interactions to a friendly level in public.

Nico had been through a lot for a 15-year-old boy. And Will understood Nico's need for space and privacy, but that did not stop him from being proud of his boyfriend. He could see the effects of therapy on Nico, how he seemed to leave his shell some days, how he sometimes had a spring to his step. There were rare moments and days when Nico would not shy away from affection. Sometimes he would be bold and initiate a kiss or a hug, not caring if someone was around.

It was one of those rare days. Nico had risen early, by his standards, and was standing in front of the Apollo cabin. Nico always made sure to wake up no earlier than 10am. Always waking at noon, that is if he had slept that night. Will was thankful that he was dressed and ready for the day. He raised a questioning eyebrow, noting Nico's appearance.

"Good morning," Nico greeted cheerfully. He stepped forward, setting the basket aside, and gave Will a hug.

"Morning to you too sunshine," Will replied as he returned the hug, and Nico pressed a kiss on his cheek. That was all the confirmation that Will needed to know that Nico was in one of his rare and affectionate moods today. He felt like it was a prize for all the hard work he did. "I feel like there is a catch," he confessed, feeling a bit ashamed. He invited Nico in while he went to wear his shoes.

"It's your day off," Nico answered as if it was the most obvious thing ever. He gave Will one of his softer smiles, "I want to spend the day with you."

Will felt his heart skip a few beats at that statement. He laced their hands together and went to the dining pavilion to get breakfast. He may have already eaten a few hours ago, but Nico hadn't. Will didn't mind accompanying Nico and sitting with him while he ate. Nico ate two sandwiches before standing up and dragging Will with him.

"You barely ate anything, two cheese sandwiches and a juice is not a proper breakfast," Will protested, tugging at his boyfriend's hand. He wanted to drag Nico back to eat; it was still several hours before lunch would be served.

Nico just raised the picnic basket as if it was a proper reason, but that only served to confuse Will. "I'm taking you to a picnic, I just wanted to have something light before we go," Nico explained. Will looked down at his clothes and deemed them appropriate for the occasion. A pair of shorts, a worn but comfy hoodie, and slip-on shoes. Nico was dressed similarly as he always did, jeans, a shirt, and a jacket, all in black.

They linked their hands together and made their way to the strawberry field. Taking their time and swinging their hands as they walked. Will was humming a tune under his breath, and Nico had a small blush decorating his cheeks, a smile on his face. They wandered around the field before they settled in a spot that was far away from the noise and other campers, but close enough for them to rush in case there was trouble.