In Time {Solangelo}

~ Nico ~

Nico stumbled, strong arms caught him and steadied him. "I thought I made myself clear, di Angelo, no underworldy magic." Will said.

Nico studied his face carefully, "What's wrong?"

"You look like your about to pass out. That's what's wrong."

Nico shook his head, "Why did you do that?" he demanded.

"Do what?"

"Why did you send an Iris message like that, if your fine?"

"To see if you cared." Will responded simply.

"I thought you were dead or..." his voice caught.

Will looked at his feet, "Sorry, I didn't really think."

"No you didn't." Nico agreed, he looked up at Will, "I hate you Solace, if you ever do something like that again..." he let the threat hang in the air.

Will shuffled his feet, "Well your here now."

"I guess I am." he muttered sliding down to the floor, his sword clattered down next to him and his bag slid off his shoulder. The son of Apollo was grinning like an idiot above him, "Why are you smiling like that?"

Will's smile got wider, "You came right away."

Nico shrugged, "So what?"

"And your still in your pajamas."

Nico looked down and scowled, "I hate you."

Will just smiled happily, still grinning like a moron. "Well I'm glad you decided to take me up on my offer."

"What offer?" Nico growled.

Will didn't even flinch, he didn't even look away. "The you coming with me to my house offer."

"I didn't even come willingly, it was a trick."

Will rolled his blue eyes, "Whatever."

"Look Solace, I'm not staying here. I'm going back to camp, right now."

As soon as the last word came out of Nico's mouth Will stood, he had strange fire in his eyes. "No your not."

"Yes I am."

Will put his hands on his hips, "You are staying here."

Nico wanted to dissolve into the shadows right there and then but before he could Will said the one thing that could make him cooperate. "Doctor's orders."

Nico glared at him, "Fine, but as soon as I can I'm leaving."

Will grinned at him as he helped Nico get to his feet, "Sounds reasonable, I just don't want you to fade permanently while trying to get back home." He leaned closer to Nico, "If you did, I'd never get to see you again."

Nico nodded as a wave of exhaustion washed over him. Will walked him over to his bed, where Nico promptly collapsed.

* * *

Someone poked him, he rolled over, someone poked him, he rolled over, someone poked him, he rolled over, someone poked him, he sat up. "What?" he snapped.

There was a squeal and Nico turned to see a girl, about seven, standing next to his bed. No not his bed... Will's bed. It hadn't been a dream.

Nico studied the child, she was shaking and her eyes were full of fear, "I'm very very very very very sorry." She said.

Nico rubbed his eyes, "For what?"

"I woke you up..." she muttered.

Nico had to smile. She just stood there, with her chestnut hair and big blue eyes, looking as innocent as ever. "That's fine." he said, "Are you Will's sister?"

She nodded, "Yes I am." she puffed out her small chest proudly, "My name is Lyra Solace. I know how to spell it too! Wanna hear?" she didn't wait for Nico's answer, but instead went on, "L-Y-R-A." She beamed at him, "What's your name, Will told me but I forgot."

"I'm Nico."

"Nico." She said sounding out the name, "I like that name! It's cool!" she thought for a moment then added, "but Lyra is loads better."

Nico couldn't help it, he smiled, now he understood the light in Will's eyes when he had talked about his younger sister. She was so full of life and energy. She was funny by being herself, Nico understood why Will loved her.

Lyra hopped up on the bed, "This is from Will, he went grocery shopping with Mom, so he's not here right now... He said to give it to you," she passed him an envelope, "He also said not to wake you up... but I did anyway."

Nico opened the letter and read it,

Nico,

If you need anything my step dad, Chris, is upstairs. Lyra probably woke you up, sorry about that, but if she's being annoying tell her to go away, she might actually listen to you. I had to go out, I didn't want to believe me. Sorry about last night... I contacted camp, they all know your safe. Kayley wants me to tell you that she needs to know your favorite color for some comic of something. This is probably confusing you more, I can explain when I get back.
Anyway, stay in bed and rest. Doctors orders
Will

He looked up at Lyra who was smiling sweetly, her legs dangling off the bed. He watched as she ran her small fingers along the seams of the comforter. She was in, what Nico assumed was, her pajamas. A pair of long flannel pants and an oversized dark purple t-shirt. As she turned to face him, Nico began to smile.

He pointed at her shirt, "Is that yours?" he asked.

Lyra looked down, "Yeah, why?" she looked back up at Nico and a smile spread over her face, "Do you play mythomagic too?"

He gave a reluctant nod.

Lyra bounced off the bed, "I'll be right back!"

A second later she came back with a cardboard box a little smaller than a pillow, she placed it on the bed and climbed back up, "Will you play with me?" Nico nodded.

"Ya!" Lyra clapped her hands, "Will doesn't understand how to play. So I never can play with him."

"It's pretty simple." Nico said.

Lyra nodded, "I know, that's what I keep telling him." she sighed, "Can I show you my figurines and all my cards first?"

Nico grinned, "Sure." The young girl grinned at him, "I'll be right back!" She scampered out of the room, giving Nico a chance to look around the room. The first thing he noticed was a large rainbow flag hanging over Wills bed, it made him smile. Then he realized he was smiling, he shouldn't be happy that he and Will Solace had yet another thing in common. Anyway it was probably just for fun or something. Will wasn't gay too.

Lyra ran back in and jumped on the bed. As she flipped through her collection Nico began to realize why he liked Lyra so much, why he was willing to play a game that he hadn't touched in years.

He realized that Lyra reminded him of himself from when before Bianca had died.