Chapter 17:

For Never was there a Story of Less Woe

It was the first of many dates between the two, and true to the words the blond boy had promised at the beginning, Nico had fun in his presence.

It had been bucketing down rain, though Will had still taken Nico to so many places that the Hades camper had lost track, but he knew that there had been a moment in each where he was glad he finally had Will. At a shop called Levi's, Will had insisted Nico get a pair of light blue jeans, and it had sounded like the worst idea known to mankind until he'd tried them on. One street later and there had been an ice cream shop, which, despite the cold rain, Will dragged Nico into.

"Salted caramel," Will said to the lady behind the counter. He took a backwards look at Nico and before the black haired boy could open his mouth, Will was back at the ice cream display and saying, "And a cookies and cream in a cone for him."

Behind his scowl, Nico was impressed. He still made sure he bumped Will enough to make him smear the salted caramel on his face, though.

They passed other couples under umbrellas from both Chiron's and Lupa's. Percy and Annabeth had been across the road from them at one point, and Annabeth had had to hold Percy back from getting pancaked on the pavement when he attempted to run over to them. He got kind of wet from the brief stint outside the umbrella's protection. They waved, and carried on.

Piper and Jason had been entering the same café when Will and Nico had been leaving it.

"Picture time," Piper sang, and she encompassed the two in a hug, holding her phone in front of them. Will, cheeky shit, ducked in at just the right moment so that the photo captured him pecking Nico's cheek, and Piper's grinning face in the background. Piper wasted no time uploading it to Instagram, tagging the both of them.

"Can you send that to me, Pipes?" Will asked.

"Certainly," Piper said, winking at Nico, who looked flustered and grumpy, but was very obviously happy.

At one point Will had disappeared into a signless shop with a warning to Nico that he better stay outside or else. The Hades camper, curiosity his bane, tiptoed up to the window, hidden being his umbrella, and peered inside to see Will at the counter, paying for something before shoving whatever it was in his bag and turning to leave. Nico quickly backtracked and stood in the same spot as before. When Will came out, he didn't mention what he'd bought, and Nico didn't bring it up.

It was nearing sundown, the grey sky turning darker grey and the rain coming down harder, when Will linked his hand with Nico's and sighed contentedly.

"Three years," he said. "Three years admiring you from a safe distance, and here I am, holding your hand and walking through the city. You know the best thing, though?"

Nico tried not to look like he was blushing.

"I can kiss you whenever I want and there's nothing anyone can do about it," Will declared.

He should have expected it, really, especially after an announcement like that. Yet Nico was still surprised when Will ducked his head and pressed his lips to Nico's. It was exactly the same as when Will had kissed him yesterday in their assessment – the feeling of a boiling spa bath completely overriding his nerves with warmth.

"Nico di Angelo," Will said when he pulled away, "would you like to be my boyfriend?"

"I already am, idiot," Nico replied, tangling his fingers in Will's hair. The Apollo camper smiled.

"Yeah, but I want to hear you say it."

Nico rolled his eyes, but his mouth quirked in a small grin.

"Yes Will Solace, I will be your boyfriend."

Will leaned in for another kiss, when suddenly the alarm on his wrist-watch started beeping. They both stared at it in horror, before both looking behind them at the wet street.

"I'll also race you to the bus, because we're late," Nico said, and took off at a sprint, taking the umbrella with him and Will yelling about an unfair start behind him.

When Nico returned to his cabin that night, utterly exhausted from a day out with Will and then Capture the Flag, he almost crushed the package on his bed. Halfway through the air in a flop, Nico yelped, and stuck his arms out to stop himself hitting the wrapped object in the middle of his sheets. He stayed like that for a moment, before rolling to the side, staring at the brown-paper thing that had made him deviate from the plan of immediate bed time.

Sitting up, Nico gingerly picked the package off his duvet cover and placed it on his lap, turning on the lamp beside his bed to look properly. Attached to the brown paper with sticky tape was a note. Nico started reading it.

Death Boy,

I had the best time I can remember having with you today. I have a new respect for Shakespeare, and his wordi-ness had inspired me to write a haiku. Here is it:

Whether Juliet,
Or in your pyjamas, dear,
You're cute as Hades

Nico covered his mouth to stifle his snort of laughter. He was dating an utter nerd.

Remember today how I went into that shop and told you to stay outside?

Nico frowned and nodded as he read.

Well, I was getting something special. Leo and Annabeth helped me make it when we got back (Percy snuck her in). I thought it might be reminiscent of how we messed up a tragic romance play by making it completely opposite of how it's supposed to be. I hope you like it.

Love,
Will.

(P.S. Annabeth told me that Piper told her to tell you that her picture of us has been liked by every person at Chiron's and Lupa's. I, personally, am not surprised, because you're in it.)

Will, it was decided, was the kind of boyfriend who absolutely spoiled his partner.

Putting the note to the side, Nico turned to the package. He unwrapped it carefully, and saw the back of a canvas. Flipping it around, Nico stared at what was on it. His hands went to his mouth, and after a full five minutes of just reading and rereading it, he picked it up with the same care he would show with a china plate. Gently, Nico set the small canvas down on his bedside table and got into his bed, still looking at it. He started smiling.

In the top right corner was a small silver sticker, and in Will's spidery handwriting, it said, You shine even on a rainy day, angel.

The tune to the same song that was a reminder of Bianca's death for years started playing in Nico's head as he closed his eyes, and finally it wasn't crippling sadness that got him, but the brilliant smile of a three-year long crush.

He rolled over, the block words painted on the canvas imprinted in black in his vision as he closed his eyes. They'd be the mantra of their relationship, and years later, would hang over the fireplace of their first house, reminding every visitor of the time two boys, one sunny and sweet, the other grumpy and cynical, had come together through a mutual misunderstanding of Shakespeare and one impulsive kiss.

And Never Was There A Story Of Less Woe,
Than That Of Will Solace
And His di Angelo

Fin.

I'm going to miss this story : ) Thank you everyone who joined me in this Solangelo trash pile of clueless fluff and Shakespeare. I hope you liked it, I know I did.

I declare Romeo and Juliet – Starring Will Solace and Nico di Angelo OFFICIALLY OVER.

See you all again sometime :D

Jasmine Out! (Until I started another Solangelo story and we're all stuck in the same boat again)