Hey guys! I'm back with a new story- please review, it helps keep me motivated to write more. I hope you guys enjoy…

Chapter 1

Nico walked back to Will grinning, face painted with triumph.

"What happened, Death Boy? I don't think I've ever seen you smile." Will smirked down at the black-haired boy.

"Nothing," Nico scowled, starting to creep away.

"Hey, sunshine! You owe me three days, remember?" Nico pouted, and Will grabbed his forearm, looking sternly upon him.

"His hands," Nico thought, feeling the skeletal butterflies burst through his heart. "Oh, they're so warm. Wait. Will Solace is holding my hand. Well, forearm, but still." His mind froze.

"Don't touch me," Nico growled.

"Whoa, tiger," Will retorted, not listening and dragging him further, to the infirmary doors.

Austin, Will's half-brother, peeked his head around the corner. "Hey Will, Nico. What's the problem?" The blonde gestured to the sulking Italian.

"Too much shadow-travel, the patient is showing signs of transparency and also fatigue." Will glanced down at Nico, before beckoning him to follow.

"So, Death Boy, ready for three days in here?"

"No." Nico rolled his eyes and stalked after the taller boy.

"Come on, Sunshine, it won't be too bad," Will teased.

"Don't call me that," Nico grumbled. Will stopped at a door and walked in, opening the blinds. Sunlight flooded over the white, antiseptic bed. A cart with ambrosia, nectar, bandages, needles, and medicines sat in the corner. Nico squinted his eyes at the intruding brightness.

"Sunniest room in here," Will mentioned.

"This is ridiculous," Nico moaned. "I'm fine. I am a child. Of. Darkness. Why is it so light in here?"

Will frowned, a blonde ringlet falling down as he looked down at the reluctant patient. "Nico, first of all, you are no way in hell, 'fine.' You're as pale as Octavian, I can see your ribs poking through your tee shirt, and also, you were almost consumed by darkness? Is that enough evidence, Mr. Dense Detective? Continuing, Sunshine, it's bright in here because this is the room that you got. Now lie in the bed, you look 10 seconds away from collapsing on your face. Doctor's orders."

"No." Nico stuck his lower lip out defiantly. "Other people need more help than me, I will only waste your time."

Will sighed. "Nico, you're not a waste of time. Gods damn it, why do you feel like other people are more important? Stop pushing everyone away, and let us help you." Nico stood his ground, coffee eyes flaring. Will stared back with tense, bright blue eyes.

"You had this coming," Will chuckled as he scooped the boy up between two muscled, tan arms. Nico looked up at his laughing face.

"Oh gods, how I want to touch those curls." Nico imagined himself reaching up and pushing it out of his gorgeous eyes, kissing every small freckle that dotted the bridge of his nose and his cheekbones. "No. Get your shit together. He's not even gay." But there was still a small part of Nico's brain, mulling over the possibilities, which he pushed to the backward depths of his mind.

Nico's body thumped as Will Solace dropped him onto the bed- he sunk into the white fluff, a small black-clothed spot on the sheer covers.

"Oh look, Death Boy's tired. And I thought you said you were fine." The doctor smirked down at the shadow boy.

"Shut up, Solace." Nico felt his eyes wavering, fighting to stay open. The only problem was that he was so very fatigued that the idea of moving strained his groggy brain.

A voice once again intruded into his relaxed mind. "Nico, you're freezing cold. You need the blankets, they'll keep you warm." Nico just yawned and tried to shift. "Dear gods Nico, you can barely move." The black-haired teen felt warm hands below him, propping him against the headboard, where Nico promptly slumped down, pale and shivery. Will's cheeks reddened slightly as he threw Nico over his shoulder, and pulled the covers back.

"He's so strong out there, but so fragile in here," Will thought, feeling tears collect in his eyes. "I need to heal him, I must." The blonde child of Apollo settled Nico more gently in the bed, and tucked the covers up to his chin.

Nico's blurry mind could make out a golden figure setting him down, and rummaging around in the corner. The figure reproached, pouring sweet nectar down his throat. Nico swallowed meekly, wondering whom the stranger was.

"It's Will." Nico stated in his head. "Will." He then worked the word out to his mouth, teeth and tongue clumsily forming the word. "Will?" Nico asked.

"Yeah, Nico?" Will looked down at the sleepy child of Hades. "Nico." A soft snore came from his mouth, and a soft smile played across the golden boy's features. He reached down and brushed a black lock off of his forehead, filled with yearning.

"Hey, Solace!" Kayla yelled. "I've got Clarisse, you go fix up Lou Ellen. They got in a fight when Lou annoyed Clarisse with her magic." Will reluctantly got up and made his way out of the bright sanctuary he made for Nico Di Angelo.

Nico's head was filled with dreams. He was back in Tartarus, by the river of fire. It glowed brightly, simmering malignantly in the darkness. He scooped the substance into his hands, letting the spicy tonic slither down his throat. He was healed, but still choked on the poisonous air, panted under the heavy, hot sky. Suddenly, he broke. The dark boy screamed, and it echoed through the caverns. He was probably alerting all kinds of nasties to his location, but he didn't care.

"Come kill me!" Nico cried. "Just please, end this miserable existence!" The boy fell to the rocky landscape, tears wrenching out of his dark eyes. There was nothing in sight. Nico was all alone. Bianca wasn't there. There were no heroes, like Percy Jackson. There Nico was, by his lonesome, just like in life. "I don't belong here. I don't belong anywhere," Nico whispered to the darkness. A wracking pain hit him in the gut, and he lay on the ground of the infinite pit, alone.

Will had just finished tying up the bandages on the nasty jab she had received from Clarisse's electric spear. "Oh, I forgot to give Nico his hospital attire." Will grabbed a gown from the front entrance, and walked into Nico's room. The boy was twisting violently, clutching onto the sheets tightly. Tears stained his white face, and the boy choked.

"Nico!" Will yelled, shaking. "Come on, wake up!" He opened his mouth, singing a hymn to Apollo. Nico's breathing eased, and his body relaxed. Slowly, his eyes peeled open.

"Will, help me," Nico said frantically. "I'm all alone, I'm alone, and you need to help me get out of here." Pain and desperation shone through his anguished eyes. Will shook him again by the shoulders, and Nico breathed in again.

"Look, I'm sorry, it was just a nightmare." Nico said.

"Don't ever scare me like that again, Nico," Will sighed, tension leaking out of his voice. "I'll give you a sleeping draught." Will brought him a corked bottle, with a dark purple liquid inside. Nico obligingly drank the bitter substance, and his eyes drooped asleep.

"Nico," Will's voice said, cupping his cheek. Worried blue eyes stared at him.

"Is this real?" Nico wondered to himself, before drifting into a dreamless slumber. Will pulled down the covers when his patient fell asleep at last.

"I shouldn't have done that," Will said sternly in his head. "Nico definitely does not have feelings for me, it's better to stop before I start." The doctor carefully lifted the hem of Nico's black tee shirt, moving his arms and pulling it off.

Will was caught off guard. He never knew Nico was so fit. Lean muscles were corded under his white skin, the boy as lithe as a panther. Will began letting his fingers down to trace the muscles, before gritting his teeth, and folding the shirt. He then unbuckled the black belt and peeled off Nico's tight black jeans, leaving his boxers on. Will carefully put the folded clothes on the cart in Nico's room.

The son of Apollo propped the sleeping body against the headboard, leaving one hand under the patient's arm to keep him from falling. The older boy guided the hospital gown around Nico, tying it in the back before tucking him back into the soft white covers.

The doctor went to leave, turning around to gaze at this dark mystery before biting his lip, opening the door, and leaving.

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