Learn Italian With Nicolo di Angelo!

~~~fluffy~~~

"Alright," he said, supporting Nico's weight. "Let's get you there, Shadow Prince."

Nico gave him a weak smile. "Just call me Mud Boy for now."

The walk to the Hades cabin was a slow, laborious affair. The afternoon sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the camp. Will practically carried Nico, his arm slung securely around Nico's waist to keep him upright. With each step, mud squelched under Nico's shoes, leaving a trail like a wounded snail.

By the time they reached the imposing obsidian walls of the Hades cabin, Will himself was sporting a respectable collection of mud splatter on his lower legs and sandals. He half-expected the skull hovering over the doorway to roll its eyes in disapproval, but it remained stubbornly unresponsive.

Pushing open the heavy oak door, Will helped Nico stumble inside. The air was cool and smelled faintly of damp earth, a surprisingly familiar aroma for the son of Hades. The cabin was sparsely furnished, but clean and orderly. A massive black dog with glowing red eyes lifted its head from a plush black bed in the corner and let out a low rumble.

"Hey there, Mrs. O'Leary," Will said, offering the dog a placating smile. The dog thumped its tail once on the floor, then lowered its head back down. "Don't worry, girl," Will murmured, "we're just here for a quick pitstop."

Nico slumped into the nearest armchair, a low groan escaping his lips. He looked like a pale specter against the dark leather, mud clinging to his clothes in an unflattering, yet strangely endearing, way.

"Alright, Nico," Will said, taking a deep breath. "Looks like you're in for a spa treatment. Can you manage to get those clothes off, or do you need some help?"

Nico cracked a weak smile. "Think I can handle that, Solace. But a little help getting out of these boots would be appreciated." He gestured to his mud-caked combat boots.

Will knelt before him and carefully unlaced the boots, peeling them off Nico's feet with practiced ease. He winced at the stench of mud and something else, faintly metallic. Nico must have scraped himself in the fall.

"You sure you don't want to just hop in the shower?" Will asked, eyeing the large, black shower stall in the corner of the room.

Nico shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. He was clearly exaggerating. "Too... much... effort."

Will sighed. Looks like a full-service bath it was. "Alright," he conceded, rising to his feet. "Let me see what spare toiletries Nico keeps stocked in the bathroom."

He rummaged through the cabinets, finding an array of surprisingly luxurious bath products - lavender-scented bath salts, charcoal face masks, and even a bottle of what appeared to be pomegranate-scented hair conditioner.

Will laid out a towel and washcloth on the edge of the bathtub, then turned back to Nico. "Alright, Shadow Prince," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Time to get you squeaky clean." He started to unbutton Nico's shirt, his movements slow and deliberate.

Nico's breath hitched. "Will, I—I can manage." Weak protest, but the blush creeping up his neck told a different story.

Will ignored the protest, his hands moving with a newfound confidence. "Relax, Nico. Consider it a favor for all the times you've gotten me covered in monster goo."

Will guided Nico, who was surprisingly light in his weakened state, towards the bathtub. The water, already steaming slightly, promised a welcome relief from the chill settling in the cabin. Nico leaned heavily against Will, his forehead creased in a grimace of fatigue as he lowered himself into the warm embrace of the water. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the tension seemed to drain from his body.