In Time {Solangelo}

~ Nico ~

Nico's mind reeled, boyfriend... he had just said boyfriend. Will looked like he wished he'd kept his mouth shut, the son of Apollo turned and walked away. Nico sayed frozen in place, boyfriend. Will had said boyfriend. Nico thought maybe, but he hadn't expected this.

Nico wanted the world to stop. He wanted his mind to freeze, so he could decipher his emotions. Nico tried to clear his mind. But his thought whirled around in his head. He needed to talk to someone.

* * *

Nico wandered around the infirmary until he found Emmy sitting on a stool next to a wounded camper. He knocked and she looked up, "Hey Nico."

He walked in, "Hello. How are you?"

She smiled, "I'm good." She studied him carefully, "Is something bothering you?"

Nico shrugged, "I'm just confused."

She smiled kindly at him, "You came to the right place." She patted the seat next to her, "Talk."

So Nico talked. When he got to the part about Will his brain froze, "Will, he just..."

Emmy looked Nico in the eyes, "It's okay to feel like that."

Nico froze, "He... I don't... I mean... he just..." 

Emmy smiled, "He just asked you out." 

Panic welled up inside him, "How did you know..." 

Emmy smiled, "Nico, I understand feelings."

"What?"

"Let me explain, Apollo is the god of a lot of different things, that means his children have a wide range of powers. Will, he got more medical skills that the rest of us, but he lacks in musical abilities. Charlie, she has the power of voice and music... not so much healing. Austin is the same. Kayla loves archery like me and Will... Anyway my point is... my healing powers come from here." she put her hand to her heart.

"That makes absolutely no sense."

She laughed, "I know right. It just means I understand emotions. It means I'm good with words, Apollo is the god of poetry so I guess that might have something to do with it... It means I can pick up on small signs. Sometimes I can tell how people are feeling, before they know. Sometimes all people need to do is talk, it's just a different kind of healing. All I need to do is liesen and I can understand people's emotions. I can't read their minds exactly but I know how they feel, I know how to help."

"I guess that makes sense. But... how did you know?"

Emmy grinned and tapped the walls, "I heard."

"Oh." Nico could feel his ears turning red.

Emmy sighed, "I'll go talk to him."

Nico nodded and swallowed hard, "Can you tell him that I'm not mad... I just... I just need some time to think."

Emmy placed her hand on his shoulder, Nico didn't even bother brushing it aside. "Of course." And it was those two small words that sealed his fate. He knew at that moment what he needed to do.

* * *

He was standing next to one of the windows in the infirmary, it overlooked most of the camp. He could see Emmy calmly walking across to the climbing wall. He remembered the long days aboard the Argo 2, and how Leo and Jason had offered him Percy's room, he remembered sitting in the birdsnest, watching and thinking.

He was so caught up in his thoughts he didn't realize someone was standing next to him until they put their hand on his arm. Nico jumped and turned to Charlie, "Hello." she said.

"Hi."

She smiled at him, her green eyes sparkleing, "I know what happened and I just want you to know that whatever happens, I'll be there to back you up. If anyone gives you a hard time, just tell me."

He mustered a smile, "Thanks."

There was a crash and Charlie sighed, "I'd better go check that out." She leaned in and gave him a quick hug, "Whatever happens, we'll all support you." she whispered in his ear, "no matter what." she turned and walked away without another word, leaving Nico puzzled.

* * *

He watched Will sprint across camp to the infirmary, followed by Emmy. Then he watched as Will healed Kayley and made a bet. A Kayley left he stepped inside, he could do this," He took a deep breath, "Hey Solace."

Will stood straight up, "Hi."

"I think... I think I'd like to take you up on your offer..." He watched as Will's eyes widened and his words sunk in. Nico had worried for a moment about making the wrong choice, but as soon as he saw Will's smile he knew that he'd done the right thing.