Apollo's Stupid Lyre

Nico was ready to either strangle the golden haired boy or jump off the cliff or maybe even both.

The week has started normally. Regular old camp stuff. Then Apollo came to Will in a dream and asked his son to retrieve his lyre. He had left it Upstate after a date. The sun god was behind in his duties as it was and after the second Giant War tried to remain on his father's good side as much as possible and didn't have time to spare on retrieving his stuff.

Will agreed to go and get the lyre (not like he really had a choice). It was only a small task and three people weren't really needed to get it.

So Will had asked Nico to come along who reluctantly agreed. Though because of Doctor's Orders, Nico couldn't shadow travel there and back so the two had taken the scenic route.

They retrieved the lyre no problem. A few monsters here or there. The normal demigod stuff.

The issues started on the journey back.

While at a gas station Nico had complained about just wanting to Shadow Travel back to Camp while Will began to rant. In the heat argument they forgot something important... to fill up the gas tank.

Now they were stopped by a cliff in the middle of nowhere. Only trees, a cliff, more trees and a road. Oh and it's the middle of the night.

Now Nico was ready to either strangle the golden haired boy or jump off the cliff or maybe even both.

"Come help!" Will calls from his spot next to the fire. The two had found a small clearing next to the edge of the cliff and set up a small camp for the night. Rather than sleep in the old pick up they "borrowed" with broken air conditioning.

"Or you can let me bring us home," Nico grumbles not turning around from the spot where he stands facing the cliff.

"Nope." Nico doesn't even have to turn around to know Will's cute blonde locks would bob as he would shake his head.

Not cute! Nico scolds himself. Though Nico would never admit it out loud, he had fallen for the annoying blonde boy. But it had taken years for Nico to even make friends he didn't want to lose them so quickly. Not to mention the fact Will is probably straight.

"Then how do you propose we get back if we're out of gas? At least let me go to a gas station."

"Doctor's-"

"Orders. Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Nico hears as Will closes the distance between the two. He comes to stand next to Nico.

Will sighs. "Look I know you want do things your way 'cause it's faster. I'll admit it is but, I don't need you turning into a shadow on me. You mean too much to me. I don't want you to get hurt, alright?"

Nico blinks surprised and turns to face Will who gives him a small smile. Nico feels his face flush and he quickly turns the other way.

"I'm uh- gonna see if there are some blankets or uh... Yeah..." Nico hurries back to the pickup truck the two had arrived in looking for suitable supplies.

Nico doesn't find much and returns to Will with a blanket and a couple drachmas. "I found drachmas but they're no good unless we get a rainbow, and we don't have water to make one."

Will nods. "Maybe in the morning we can looks for a stream or something."

"If Apollo wants his lyre back so bad, he should just appear with his sun chariot."

"Well, considering it can't be that far past midnight, I think mortals would freak out if the sun suddenly showed up."

Will takes the blanket from Nico's arms and starts to spread it out on the ground. Nico helps and sits down on the small blanket and Will lays down next to him a bit too close for Nico's comfort.

"You're not gonna sleep?" Will asks.

Nico shakes his head. "We're two demigods in the middle of the wilderness. I'll take first watch."

"Wake me up in about an hour," Will demands. Nico nods mutely in return.

When Will opens his eyes again to a sharp pain in his side. He springs awake and finds Nico standing rigid, his sword drawn. Will slowly stands grabbing his bow as he does and looks around.

He finds no signs of immediate danger. Though he does notice that the sun is rising.

"I told you to wake me up after an hour," Will hisses.

"Not important right now," Nico says quietly.

"What is it?" Will whispers back.

"Not sure," Nico admits. "But I heard a voice say 'Demigods' so that's a pretty good indicator."

Will rolls his eyes at the response. He knocks an arrow and draws his bow taut as he stares out for something.

Nico holds his sword in one hand surveying.

Both turn as one to face a bush as it rustles. From behind it comes an Empousa.

"Hello boys," she calls sweetly walking closer her mixed matched legs clomping as she walks. She flips lava flowing hair over one shoulder and smiles.

Nico isn't fazed.

His grip tightens on his sword as he is about to spring forward. Though he watches the surrounding areas as if waiting for more to appear.

"Don't you boys wanna play?" The monster calls. "Come on. Let's have some fun." She takes a two forward to have an arrow lodged in her abdomen. She hisses and growls before turning to golden dust.

Nico blinks a bit surprised. He glances at Will who looks around for other signs of danger. Nico knew why he hadn't been fazed, empousi charmspeak worked toward men because of their attraction but, Nico's gay. So does that mean Will is...

Nico doesn't finish his though as three more empousi appear to avenge their fallen sister.

Nico runs for two of them as they stand near the cliff and begins to slash with his sword as Will does his best with his bow. Will curses to himself. Why couldn't he be a better archer? He was a great healer but not an archer. Any of his siblings could of picked off the moving targets without a second thought. Not Will.

Will finally hits one and watches her return to Tartarus.

He whirls around to see Nico fight the other two. Will runs forward to help deciding it was better he didn't accidentally pierce Nico with an arrow.

Nico manages to get one away from the other. Will quickly shoots the other destroying her.

He hears a yelp of pain and turns. He sees no empousa in sight but Nico grips his side before he slips on the edge of the cliff.

Will runs forward and grabs Nico's hand trying to pull him up.

"It's not working!" Nico shouts.

"Not helping!" Will yells back.

"We just had to get Apollo's stupid lyre!"

Nico tries reach his other hand up to pull himself but, the wound in his side protests. As he looked at Will struggling he saw himself, the day that Percy and Annabeth had fallen into Tartarus. "Just let go!"

"Not happening!"

Nico feels himself begin to slip and watches Will begins to slide forward.

Nico looks up to Will and says something so quiet that Will almost misses it before pulling his hand out of Will's letting himself fall.

Will shouts as Nico goes over the side. He looks over but Nico had disappeared from view. Will sat down for a moment taking it all in. Nico's words ringing in his head.

"I'll never get to say it again. I love you."

"I'll never get to say it again. I love you."

"I'll never get to say it again. I love you."

Will shakily stands. His eyes look around seeing nothing. He looks at ground to see Nico's sword still lying there.

He picks it up and stares at it.

"I love you too," he whispers.

"I think you dropped this!" Yells a voice.

Will whirls around to see Apollo. The god flicks up his sunglasses as he sits in his floating red sports car or sun chariot. And he dangles a highly confused Nico outside the car by the collar.

Will's way too stunned to even bow. His eyes are practically about to pop out of his skull.

"Thanks for saving me and all," Nico says slowly. "But can you uh please uh, put me down."

Apollo blinks and lowers the car and hops out releasing Nico. Apollo whirls on Nico. "My lyre is not stupid!"

Nico takes a moment to process. "You saved me because I called your lyre stupid?"

"Yes I saved you idiot.
I want to smite you myself
My lyre is not stupid.

"Or should it be 'I am so awesome'?" Why Apollo mulls over his poetry as Will grabs Nico in hug. Nico winces and Will pulls back and frowns at Nico's still bleeding side.

"Yes I saved you idiot.
I want to smite you myself
My lyre is not stupid
I am so very awesome
No one is better than me.

"Much better. Now it's a Tanka," Apollo says to himself. "Now, I shall smite you."

"But, um father, Nico was the one who put your lyre away for safe keeping. If you smite him how can we give it to you?" Will asks choosing his words carefully, Apollo is the God of Truth after all.

Apollo frowns pulling out his earbuds. "Fine," he pouts. "Where is it? I gotta get going."

"Well Nico, can't exactly go if he's still bleeding."

Apollo rolls his eyes annoyed as he walks closer to Nico placing a hand on the boy's bleeding torso. Apollo's hand glows gold. After a few moments the bleeding stops.

"It's enough for you to function. Eat this but, pace yourself," Apollo says tossing Nico a square of ambrosia.

Nico nods taking the square and taking a tiny bite.

"Now. My lyre?"

Nico nods and leads the way to the truck and pulls out the instrument. He quickly returns it to the god. Apollo takes it and strums smiling at the sound.

"Sweet," Apollo grins. "I have to get the sun moving. Good luck getting home!" He gives the two wave and heads back to his sun chariot and drives off.

As Apollo disappears from sight Will turns to Nico and once more hugs the black haired boy.

"I told you you're not allowed to get hurt," Will mumbles.

"It wasn't my intention," Nico assures him pulling back from their embrace.

"Did you mean it?"

Nico raises an eyebrow. "Mean what?"

"What you said... That-That you loved me..."

Nico doesn't respond but he feels his face flush. He takes a step back but Will grabs his wrist.

Will closes the distance between the two of them and presses a soft kiss to Nico's lips. It only last a moment.

"I'm glad you feel the same way," Will says quietly. "So to be official... Will you go out with me?"

Nico allows himself a smile and as he leans in to kiss Will who he feels smile into their kiss. Nico pulls back and whispers, "Yes."