abraxaslogs | April Log

"You caught me," Will gave a small sheepish smile. He would no doubt soon find out that he would have to come up with a better carrying solution for his shadow travel rations than a cookie in his pocket, but, Will would learn. At the moment though, he's just happy that Nico is here. It might have been five minutes for Nico, but it's been a few months for Will.

"Nah, Mags doesn't charge for rooms, as long as you help out around the Inn. But we can get you your own room if you like? I mean, I know you're used to Cabin 13." It wasn't often that Hazel visited, so he knew Nico wasn't used to living in the same room with people. Unlike Will who found this entire thing very disconcerting.

"This is going to sound stupid but...can I get a hug? I just want to feel that...you're really here." And you know, now that they were alone where no one could see Nico being nice. Or together. He wasn't sure how being transported to another world would affect him. Would he instinctively step back into old habits, shy away? Or would Nico still be more comfortable?

A free room? But nothing's ever really free, is it? It's free... after you find the golden apple. It's free... after you take care of the pest problem I have. Nico only starts to relax after Will says it's free... if they help around the inn. Yeah, Nico thinks he knows what "help" means. He's going to withhold relief until he knows for sure.

"My own room?" He echoes dumbly. Nico doesn't know why, but he'd expected that they'd split the room. It's not like camp, with a barrier usually keeping the monsters out - or is it? Admittedly, he hadn't always paid as much attention as he should've when they were explaining it. It felt like every other sentence brought up more questions, and his brain had to chase down the tangents before he could refocus on the explanations that never explained enough. "I can sleep on the floor. I've done it before. You know you don't have to ask for a hug? You've had permission for awhile."

But Nico will start it anyway. Hugs are more of a work in progress than handholding and affection. Those say: dating. Hugs say: I'm maybe not okay. He's not so short that he can't get Will around the shoulders and pull him in tight.

Will sank into the hug, wrapping his arms around Nico in return to just, feel. Feel the physicality and realness of him, that he's here and not going to disapear. He leaned his head forward to smell Nico's hair, and just, relaxed. He held him for a bit before letting the son of Hades go.

"Thanks, I know. But....I wanted to ask anyway." Consent Nico, he knows your past. It's a new situation, and he wants to make sure you're okay too. You know, the demigod whose one bad situation away from running back to the underworld?

In terms of staying at the Inn? Yeah Will had the same kind of reservations, until he realized it was a trade off. That, he understood. That was the kind of trade off demigods were used too. The 'do this for me and I let you live' kind of trade offs. Then Nico said something stupid and Will crossed his arms.

"Nico. You are not sleeping on the floor." This is not a discussion Nico. You were not sleeping on the floor. "You can either stay in this room, maybe we can get another bed so we don't have to squeeze, or, you get your own room." Don't make him his use counselor voice.

Edited (spelling) 2024-04-25 14:10 (UTC)

The hug is - yeah, the hug is really good, and needed on both sides. As much as he's trying to act like everything is fine and he's fine and this is all - this is all fine -

... it's not. But Will's warm, and he makes it easy to press close and brush his fingers against the ends of Will's blond hair. If he closes his eyes, he can pretend they're still home at camp, hanging out in the Hades cabin. Just for a few seconds.

And then Will gets that medic that says someone's doing something unhealthy and it's definitely Nico. "Why not? It's not like I haven't slept in worse places. It looks clean. I'll take one of your blankets. It's not a big deal."

Nico has no idea where they'd put another bed, or how they'd get one, but the thought of squeezing has him flushing. He shouldn't be able to go this pink. His skin lost most of its color years ago.

Yeah, Will was definitely giving you that look Nico. That look that said he was disapointed in you and that he was going to fight you ever step of the way. "You are absolutely not sleeping on the floor! For one, it's the floor, Nico. You are a person. A human being and deserve a mattress at the very least. Just because you have slept in worse places in the past doesnt mean we're making a habit of it. Treat yourself with the same respect you'd treat me. Besides, maybe we can switch rooms. I'm sure they have one with two beds."

And Nico was blushing. Because of course he was. Will pretended not to notice, but it was nice to know Nico's skin could still turn that color!

He was still crossing his arms over his chest. "You are not sleeping on the floor." End of discussion Nico. And if it wasn't he was going to hug you again.

The very good argument that Nico has to this - that Will should be treated with more respect and infinitely more care than Nico - withers on the vine when there is zero wavering in the Look that he's getting from Will.

It doesn't change Nico's opinion on anything, but it does make him tuck it away somewhere it won't see the light of day. "Okay, okay. I won't sleep on the floor, and we'll figure out something else or whatever. But I'm not getting another room and leaving you in here alone. That's stupider than sleeping on the floor."

If Nico had let that argument past his lips, he definitely would have been getting another hug. And another Look. He knew how well Nico treated himself, and it was definitely a work in progress. It was also far below how Will felt he should be treated. At least this time he won.

When Nico doesn't protest, Will smiles, uncrossing the arms over his chest and smiles. He loved the little ways Nico showed how much he cared. It was plain as day for anyone to see, no matter what words were coming out of his mouth.

"I wouldn't have it any other way. We'll move to a bigger room together." You weren't getting rid of him either Nico. He wanted to stay where ever you were. Besides, this whole sleeping alone thing was really tripping him up.

Will pulled at Nico so he'd hopefully sit on the bed with him, feeling a little touch starved. Or at least Nico-starved.

"Can I have skeletons move your stuff so we don't have to?" He lets himself be tugged onto the bed and goes one step further, flopping backwards onto it. Nico's had a long day, even if he won't admit it. There were a few attempts to teleport out of the city before he accepted that that wasn't going to happen.

But he doesn't let go of the hand that Will pulled him onto the bed with. "They can do it. They helped build Cabin 13."

"Absolutely. Just have a cookie if you need it." Will laughs as Nico flops backwards onto the bed, and follows him, toppling next to him. He squeezed the hand he was holding, and turned to his boyfriend.

"I'm sorry you got stuck here too but, I'm really glad you're here." He knew Nico could probably use that cookie now, but, they were together. That would be enough.

"I'm even glad Clarisse is here," Will laughed.

"I promise I'll eat the cookie," Nico says with a laugh. Will is relentless, but it's easier to get Nico to eat chocolate than green beans. "But not in bed. I'm not sleeping in crumbs."

His dark eyes look over at Will, and the smile softens. "I'm... glad I'm here too. You shouldn't have to deal with this alone. You never let me. It's my turn to be annoying."

"You had me at promise," Will knows how seriously Nico takes those. He's eating the cookie. Will doesn't have to badger him in order to make sure he eats it, like a small child being forced to take medicine. At least he made it taste good! Will turned on his side, keeping his hand clasped with Nico's and wrapped his other arm around the other teen.

"I knew you'd find me eventually. What was is that Gorgyra said? We'd orbited each other for so long?" Because that's what soulmates did Nico. You couldn't break them apart. Like pulling two sides of a rubber band. They'd both snap back together eventually.

With an invitation like that, Nico will curl in towards Will and use his shoulder as a pillow. It's better than the mattress, better than the plumpest feather pillow. "Gorgyra was right."

They were supposed to find each other. Sometimes, Nico wonders what would have happened if he'd let himself befriend campers before the whole Gaia mess. If he'd gotten to know Will before the Manhattan battle. But it's not a what if to dwell on. Nico wouldn't change a thing.

Will enveloped Nico with his arms, pulling him close as he rested his head on his shoulder. He missed the coolness of Nico's skin against his own warmth, the smell of his hair, the weight of him. Will let himself sigh softly and relax into Nico, his whole body letting go of something, as if he'd been holding his breath for months and only now allowed himself to take a breath.

Nico was here. Everything was going to be alright. He kissed the back of Nico's head. "I love you."

He rested a hand below Will's ribcage, meaning for it to be reassuring, but it's a touch possessive, that little touch. Will's his anchor, and Nico only asks to be the chain that clings to him. He snuggles closer and finds a smile. The world may have been turned upside down - the world may not be the world - but they are secured. "I love you too."

April Log

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