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~~~fluffy~~~

Will shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "You're definitely closer to a drowned Hades, but somehow, it works for you."

He reached out, placing a hand on Nico's jaw, his thumb gently brushing against the soft skin. His gaze drifted down to the exposed skin above the towel, the memory of cleaning him earlier sending a fresh wave of heat through him.

Nico leaned into Will's touch, a sigh escaping his lips. His eyes, usually guarded, held a vulnerability that made Will's stomach clench.

"Did you find some clothes for me?" Nico mumbled, his voice raspy.

Will tore his gaze away, realizing he'd been staring. "Oh, right!" He dashed over to his bag, which he'd thrown on a chair earlier, and rummaged through it. "Here," he said, holding up a pair of clean sweatpants and a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt. "These should fit."

Nico took the clothes, his lips twitching into a faint smile. He turned away, disappearing behind the bathroom door again.

Will waited impatiently, his eyes glued to the doorway. He couldn't believe his luck. Getting Nico alone in the Hades cabin, under these circumstances, was something he wouldn't have dared dream of a few weeks ago.

Moments later, Nico emerged again, fully clothed and looking infinitely more human. He still looked tired, but the exhaustion was tinged with something else, a flicker of something warm in his eyes.

"Thanks," he said, his voice slightly firmer than before.

Will met his gaze, the air crackling with unspoken tension. Neither of them moved, a silent conversation playing out between them. Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, Will took a step closer to Nico.

Nico didn't back away. He stood his ground, his eyes searching Will's face.

Suddenly, Will closed the distance between them, cupping Nico's face in his hands. He leaned in, his breath warm against Nico's lips. "You okay?" he murmured, the concern genuine.

Nico's lips twitched. "Peachy," he mumbled, but his gaze held a different message, one filled with unspoken desire.

Before Will could stop himself, he pressed his lips against Nico's. The kiss was different from the playful ones they'd shared before. This one was raw, desperate, fueled by the unusual situation and the unspoken emotions hanging in the air. Nico responded with an urgency that surprised Will, his arms wrapping around Will's waist and pulling him close.

They kissed until their lungs burned, the steam from the bathroom swirling around them like a veil of secrecy. When they finally pulled away, gasping for breath, their foreheads rested against each other.

"Whoa," Will breathed, a mixture of shock and exhilaration coursing through him.

Nico's lips quirked up in a weak smile. "Yeah," he agreed, his voice hoarse. "Whoa."

They stood there for a moment longer, the unspoken connection between them stronger than ever. Maybe it wasn't the most romantic setting, a bathroom in the Hades cabin, but for Will, it felt perfect.

He pulled back slightly, but kept a hand cupping Nico's cheek. His gaze drifted over Nico's face, memorizing the way the firelight danced in his dark eyes. "We should get you into bed," he said softly, his voice laced with unspoken desire.

Nico leaned into Will's touch, a sigh escaping his lips. The lingering heat from the kiss still chased goosebumps down his arms. "Yeah, bed sounds good," he mumbled, his voice thick with exhaustion.

Will, however, couldn't help but steal another glance at Nico's rumpled hair and the way his sleep shirt hung loosely on his lean frame. It was a different kind of vulnerability, one that sent a warmth blooming in his chest.