Work Text:
But when he walks in-
I am loved,
I am loved.
(Me & My Husband, Mitski)
“Psst!” He threw another rock towards the window. Gods, Nico must’ve heard his racket by now. He was by no means a light sleeper. When Nico was in the infirmary, every time Will came in to his room, either to get paperwork or anything, he woke up. Which wasn’t good. Will usually had to mix in potions from the Hypnos cabin in his nectar so he could get proper rest.
“Solace,” Nico’s voice was strained and raspy, but still came out clearly through the thin window. “I swear. I’m coming out, just give me a minute.” Will sighed, running his hands through his hair. He paced around the bushes, picking up more rocks and throwing them around.
One of the shadows took form closer to him suddenly, Nico materializing out of it. Will tensed for a moment, before he noticed the features, relaxing and stepping closer.
“Hey, Death Boy.” Will grinned lazily, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Nico rolled his eyes but Will could see the smile forming, even in the dark.
“So, why are we out here at 2AM?” He pulled away from Will slightly, looking up at him.
“Because! It’s our anniversary-“
”It’s literally nighttime.”
“Whatever! Tomato, tomato. C’mon, let me show you something.”
Nico groaned and a smile formed on his face fully. “This better be good, or I’m going to shadow travel you to China and leave you there.”
He decided to ignore Nico’s comment, taking hold of his hands instead. “Uh, I really haven’t tried this on someone yet…” His voice trailed off. “Do you trust me Nico?”
Nico nodded, holding Will’s hands tighter. “Of course.”
”I’m going to need you to shadow travel us. And-“ He waved his hands around them in the darkness.
”Will, I hate to break it to you, but I don’t know where we’re going.” Nico interrupted, eyebrows raised.
He rolled his eyes. “Well, that’s the thing. My vital kinesis and, uh, empathy powers lets images appear in my mind, so I wondered if I could send images through that.”
”And so you want me to shadow travel to the place you send in my mind?”
Will shrugged. “Yeah, thats the idea.” Nico bit his low lip, then hesitantly nodded. “I know you won’t hurt me.”
He reached for his power in him, letting it flow through his hands. Distantly, a humming started. One of his ma’s tunes. It rang through his ears, making Will close his eyes.
Focus.
Picturing the scene, Will pushed it into the power flowing between Nico, letting the melody sway him. He heard Nico gasp under the music in his ears, then his feet swept under him, and he fell down to the floor.
“Will?” Nico tapped his shoulder, his cold fingers marking his warm skin. He opened his eyes, meeting Nico’s brown ones in front of him. “Oh my gods, you’re okay. That was scary but then, I mean like, I was wondering why you were humming then-“
“Humming?”
“Yeah, humming.” Oh. So that’s why he heard music. “I saw the image so clearly, Will.” He shook his head in disbelief. “So, where are we?”
He grinned, sitting back down and patting the spot next to him. Nico hesitantly laid down next to him. “Some nymphs cleared out this part of the woods for demigods. It’s a nice place to stargaze.” He added the last part carefully, looking over at Nico.
Nico’s breath hitched next to him and he looked up into the sky, the moonlight illuminating his face. “Thank you, Will.” He whispered, eyes shining.
“It’s nothing.” He murmured, eyes glued on Nico basking in the moonlight. His brown eyes glowed and the raven hair around him created a halo, his face defined in the light. Will could not see how anyone would mistake his features for doom or death. It was angelic, watching him glow, vibrantly alive, here, next to him. He reached out his hand, entangling it with Nico’s.
A smile formed on Nico’s face and he pointed up to the sky. “Look.” Will suppressed a groan and teared his eyes away from Nico, looking up into the sky instead.
“Do you see that cluster of stars that go in a line?” Will hummed. “That’s the Milky Way. Well, part of it at least.”
“You can see it here? I didn’t even know that.” Nico pulled in closer, laying his head on Will’s chest. “It’s only in the summer, in Long Island.”
His eyes traced the river of stars with new interest, twinkling in the dark. “Some people say each star represents a universe.”
Nico smiled, eyes curled in amusement. “Do you think we love each other in every universe?” He looked up at the stars, where Will was still staring.
”In every universe.” He murmured against Nico, pressing a kiss on top of his hair.
Nico adjusted his body so he could look up at Will holding him close. “In every universe?” He nodded, tilting up Nico’s chin.
“In every universe.” He repeated, whispering. Will leaned in, kissing Nico, a promise between their lips.
Pulling away, flushed, Nico grinned again. “You’re such a dork, Solace.” He snuggled closer, though.
“I’m your dork, though, aren’t I? Your significant annoyance, after all.” Nico groaned next to him, putting his face into his hands.
“This is why you are my significant annoyance.” Will laughed lightly, hoping not to wake anyone. They laid together, Nico murmuring star names against Will’s chest and pointing up into the sky.
“Next to that star…” Will didn’t hear the rest of the sentence, focusing on Nico’s steady heart against his. They were here, against all odds. They went to Tartarus together. They helped take down resurrected Roman emperors together.
He smiled, holding Nico closer. Their hearts fell into rhythm, and looking back up at the stars, it felt like a promise. A promise of love. Embedded together, engraved in their hearts, they were tied together. It would be okay. They could get through anything, together.