Inheritance - a sequel to Shelter

It's Time to Begin - Nico

After some cuddles, they decide a shower would be ideal for a restful night's sleep.

While Will takes his shower first, Nico changes the sheets and tosses the old set into the Hades cabin hamper for the cleaning harpies. He'd waved off Will's invitation to shower together, arguing that they'd be done faster apart.

He worries his lower lip with his teeth as he picks up the ace bandage Will is always fiddling with, and then spots Will's doctor bag by the door. It's not the same as before as Apollo had taken that one away a few months after Pythia became a part of it. He recalls how reluctant Will had been to part with his old gift. But Apollo had insisted the replacement he offered was top of the line with newer features: it could transform from a doctor's bag, to his bow, to a staff, and now, a guitar. Will had reluctantly said goodbye to Pythia and handed Apollo his staff.

Was that what started this change? It had happened only a couple of weeks before the time shift, and as far as Nico can recall, Will hadn't seemed different. Nico's pulse throbs in his temples. He hasn't slept enough to dwell on this line of thought.

He crosses the room and brings the bag back to the bed, then opens it to put the bandage inside.

"Hey," Will says, his voice soft.

Nico jumps, his heart racing. Will has never told him to not look in his doctor's bag, but Nico can't help feeling like he's been caught doing something wrong. He closes the latch on the bag and turns, handing it to Will.

"Just putting the uh, your bandage away," he says, still jittery.

Will cocks his head to the side, looking at Nico. His eyes are soft, his forehead creased in the middle. He tosses the bag to the foot of the bed. He doesn't look away, his expression open and concerned. Nico doesn't know why he still feels like he's being judged.

"Are you okay? You look ready to jump out of your skin."

Will climbs onto the bed and wraps his arms around Nico from behind, holding onto Nico's chest, and resting his chin on Nico's shoulder.

The closeness helps. Nico can feel his pulse slowing down, the cold sweat on his back warming. "I'm fine. Just worried about you," Nico tells him.

Will presses his fresh-from-the-shower-warm lips to Nico's neck, then smiles against Nico's skin.

"I saved you some hot water. Hurry up and come back 'cause I want to cuddle some more."

Nico chuckles. He's being ridiculous. He sighs and squeezes Will's hand against his chest. Will lets go of him and crawls under the covers after Nico stands up. The sight of Will lying back in Nico's bed, waiting for him to come back, his damp blond curls, his heat flushed face making his freckles stand out, is enough of an incentive to get showered and then come back as soon as possible.

XxxX

Nico walks back into his room, one towel wrapped around his hips and drying his hair with another, to find Will staring up at the high ceiling. The shattered look is in his eyes again. They're glassy with unshed tears. Nico pulls back the blankets and leaves his towels on the floor. He climbs into bed and wraps himself around Will. Will lifts his arm, automatically assuming their cuddling position and hugging Nico close, his hand cool on Nico's hot skin.

Nico's mind wanders over the events of the previous day as Will runs his thumb back and forth on the skin above Nico's elbow. Finally, he speaks up. "Tell me what happened ... Lou Ellen, she's ..." He stops, his spine going cold as a horrible thought occurs to him. Will stops moving his thumb, his breaths going silent. Nico no longer has access to his Underworld powers. All this time, he'd counted on Lou Ellen being fine, that he'd sense it if she died ... He swallows past a painful lump in his throat.

"She's not dead," Will says, strained. His ribs tremble under Nico's cheek, like he's trying not to break down. "But there's nothing I can do to help her. She's ... insubstantial, fading. It's like what happened to you ... overdoing the shadow-travel, but different." Will keeps talking, his words spilling out as if he simply can't keep them inside any more. "It's like the Mist. She looks like a projected image, like a hologram. But with Mist magic, I'm not sure if it's actually her, or if she was abducted and somebody left a Mist version in her place. Hell, she could have done it herself to sneak off without getting caught, but that isn't really like her. I dunno. I've run through so many scenarios and come up with nothing. And with Cecil freaking out, his nerves got mine ramped up too, and I just had to get away. Chiron doesn't know what to make of it either, and, well ... I think he sensed that my being there was only making Cecil and my fears grow. He told me to go and sleep, that he'd work on it ... ask around." Will stops talking and sniffles, his body shuddering under Nico's cheek, his tears finally falling. "She's my best friend, you know? Other than you, and I just feel so helpless."

Nico listens, horrified. He's never felt more useless than he does right now. He'd always downplayed in his own mind, how much his Underworld magic meant to him, how much he had tied his identity up with it, and now that it's gone, he feels just as helpless as Will. He casts around for something to say, to not show how shaken up he is by the news. The last thing he wants is for Will to turn around and try to comfort him, when Will needs comforting himself. "What about Cecil? How's he doing?"

Will scrubs his free hand over his face, pinching the corners of his eyes and clearing his tears. He takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Clovis said he'd keep an eye on him. I thought the Hypnos cabin would be the best place for him. Sort of give him a chance to recharge and not have to deal with wondering what happened when there aren't any answers, especially when there's nothing he could do to help, at least until we find something to go on, some hope to hold onto."

Nico nods. He moves his hand over Will's chest, finally able to touch him close up, to feel how plump and firm Will's pecs are under his palm. It sucks he can't enjoy it more.

Will hums softly above him, a contented sound. "That feels good. I've missed this: sleeping with you, being able to just be. Only one more summer until Mr. D will be out of our hair. I mean, if ..." He sighs and stops talking.

Nico catches the end of Will's unfinished sentence without needing to hear him say it. If you agree to come with me to Oregon afterwards.

He wants to tell Will that he'd go with him anywhere he wanted after camp, that he wants to live together, to share a place, a house, a bed, but if he said it now, Will might think he did out of guilt or unintended pressure. Nico doesn't want that doubt to exist even as a passing thought. If (when) he makes a decision, he's going to make it clear it is his choice and only when there isn't a risk of Will thinking it was made from any sense of duty.

After a long pause in which Will's breathing becomes slow and even and he's on the cusp of sleep, Nico asks: "Did you tell Chiron about your dad going supernova and disappearing? Any idea where he went?"

Will breaths a long sigh, and then yawns. "I forgot. Wasn't thinking about him at all. I'm really sleepy."

Nico holds him, not caring about how their skin sticks together with the shared body heat. It feels good to just be, like Will said. "I love you, Will," he says, his eyelids heavy and closing on their own.

Another long pause.

Right before Nico sinks into unconsciousness, he hears Will's whispered words. "Me too, Nico. Love you."