Solangelo 3

NICO

I wake suddenly, unable to see for a moment as my eyes adjust. I can't quite move fully, just my fingers to begin with.
'Careful.' I hear Reve say, 'we still don't fully know what happened. Just take it easy.'
I try to sit up and Reve rushes to help me.
'Where's Will?' I ask, my voice hoarse.
'Just outside. He knows you're okay, but we're just keeping him out while we do our preliminary check ups.' He says, 'I'll bring him in after. That okay?'
'Fine.' I say, and go along with it as he does his tests and checkups.
My mind is foggy, but I begin to remember what I was dreaming about. Back in that house again. Burning down. But then there was somewhere new. Just me and Annabeth this time, her still barely conscious.
'Alright, all good. I'll get Will.' Reve says.
'Thanks.' I say, absentmindedly. I don't think he hears me.
'Nico, Hey.' Will says, rushing to my side, 'are you okay? How do you feel? Did you have another...?'
'No.' I say quickly. I don't know why I feel the need to hide it, but I do. It's nothing, and I don't want him to worry about it, 'I just...it was probably because I was shadow travelling so much.'
'I told you to take it easy.' He says, pushing my hair back as he checks my temperature.
'I told you I'm competitive.' I say in answer. He smiles.
'Oh, Hey! I forgot to say, my mum got the letter. She and my sisters are on there way here. There'll be here sometime tomorrow.' He says, and I feel a sharp pain in my chest. Just a feeling that something wrong has happened.
'Really?' I ask, trying to sound excited, 'that's...that's great. I can't wait to meet them.'
'Yeah, well, you're in bed rest till then.' He says, and I don't argue against him as I usually do, just stay quite, 'Are you sure you feel okay? You always complain about bed rest.'
'Yeah. Yeah, fine.' I say, 'can I move to my cabin?'
'You sure? Not a lot of company there.' He says, concerned.
'Just, um, in a weird mood. Bad dreams. Don't want the interaction.' I explain. He doesn't question it further.
'Yeah, sure. I'll check with Reve if there's any more medicine you need to take.' He says, rushing off as I move my legs off of the bed. My head feels heavy. I try to get the burning sensation out of my mind. But I can't.
'Ready?' Will asks.
'For what?'
'To move?' He asks, clearly concerned, 'maybe you should stay here. I don't think I'm comfortable you not being on watch.'
'Will, I'm fine.' I insist, 'come on.' I get up, grabbing my sword from where Will had left it, and walk ahead of him. He quickly falls into step beside me.
'Nico, what's going on?' He asks, and I avoid his eyes. I want him to drop it.
'Nothing. I'm fine.' I say. He stays quiet until we reach my cabin.
'Come on, tell me.' He says, shutting the door.
'Just leave it, Will, come on.' I say, chucking my sword on my bed, 'I'm fine.'
'You're not.' He insists.
'Fine. I'm not. You win.' I say, sitting on my bed, 'are we done?'
'I don't get why we're fighting.' He says, moving over to me, 'just talk to me.'
'I don't want to talk about my feelings right now, Will.' I say, ignoring him as I change out of my capture the flag clothes and into something to sleep in, 'Could you go?' I ask, not looking at him.
'You want me to leave?' He asks, surprised.
'Yes.' I say, quietly. I don't even know why I'm asking him to, I don't want him to leave. I need him to stay. But my mind is still reeling and I can barely think straight.
'I...um...okay.' He says. I still don't look at him. I can't. I hear him hover for a moment, unsure what to do, 'I...I'll see you later.' He says. He leaves.
As soon as he does, I turn and punch the wall, unable to figure out what's going on inside my head. It's like I'm resorting back to how I was just after I'd lost Bianca.
I know, I know, that my dreams aren't real. I can't predict the future. But the small, small, potential that they are terrifies me. And I can't put that on Will. Not when I was the one responsible for bringing his family here in the first place. Not when he's got them to worry about too.
My hand stings, and I regret punching the wall, but I don't work rationally without Will. I sit down on my bed, only then realising how tired I am - the sleep I'd just had being full of bad dreams.
I wish I hadn't told Will to leave. I can feel myself falling asleep, and I haven't slept without him since I came back from Hades. I can tell before I fall asleep that I'm not going to sleep well.