Inheritance - a sequel to Shelter

The Second Hand Unwinds

Nico is slow to gain awareness. The first inkling he has that he's no longer dreaming is the warmth. He's practically burning up. The next thing he realizes is why he's so hot. A voice vibrates against his back, humming a quiet hymn. Will. He smiles and savors the moment, Will's bare chest radiating heat and healing, his scent familiar and welcome to Nico's nose. But then he recalls where he's just been and the severity of what the choice he and Hazel were forced to make.

... you must return without your Underworld powers.

He opens his eyes a crack, wincing as he realizes he's not in his own cabin but in the big house infirmary.

Great. Just what I need.

He shifts, trying to separate himself from Will enough to clear his head.

"Aha! Looks like we've got a live one!" Apollo's voice.

Nico screws up his face, and groans into his his pillow. "Will, why do you always have to crawl into bed with me when people are going to walk in?"

Another voice chimes in, Will's youngest sister. "Yeah, Apollo. We should give them some privacy."

Will chuckles and yawns, rolling onto his back, though it doesn't seem to lessen the heat coursing through Nico's body. "C'mon, you know you heal faster when we're skin to skin." He rises up on his elbows, taking half the sheet with him. "When did you guys get here?"

Nico pulls his pillow over his face. Maybe he'll suffocate and the embarrassment will end. He's thankful he's at least wearing his jeans. Nothing quite like waking up to the sunshine family reunion.

"Just came by to check on you. I've been showing Liz the ropes around camp. She's gonna be a force to reckon with, I'm telling you. Shoots a bow with the same grace as Artemis."

"That's fantastic, Liz," Will says. Nico yanks the sheet back to cover his shoulders, and pulls his pillow even tighter over his head, trying to block out the light. Will's voice is muffled, but he can still hear him. "We'll meet you in the rec room in half an hour. I just want to make sure he's feeling okay."

"Sure thing," Apollo says, entirely too cheerfully for Nico's tolerance, and worse, he can hear him perfectly clearly as if Apollo's letting him know that even pillows won't keep him hidden from the camp director. "C'mon, kiddo, and what happened to calling me dad? You used to."

Nico loosens his grip on his pillow so he can hear them leave. "You looked older before, but now you're like Will. It feels weird to call you dad." Liz's voice grows fainter as she and Apollo head down the hall.

When they're alone, Will sinks back on the bed and spoons up behind Nico. He pulls the pillow off Nico's face, then splays his hand across Nico's sternum, pulling them back to chest.

Nico feels his face flush even hotter when Will kisses the side of his face, the tops of his ears, and then shifts his hips, prodding Nico's backside with what feels like a very eager groin.

"Seriously?" Nico asks, though his body responds to Will's arousal without his permission. He turns in Will's arms, kissing back when Will peppers his lips with more kisses. "Is this really the time?"

Will stops, his eyes and lips turned down so he looks like a poor pathetic puppy who's just been told to stay down. "But Mr. D is finally gone. It's been forever..."

Nico cocks an eyebrow and glances at the door. Apollo is waiting to talk to them with Will's little sister hanging around. He looks back at Will.

"Yes..." Will says, grinning sheepishly as he forces himself to get up. "You're right. It's not the right time." He groans as he gets to his feet and starts rummaging through his backpack.