Kids
Current joys
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  0:33 ─●──────── -3:51
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
Oh I'm just a kid
I never use my brain
I only use my heart
And my imagination

[WILL SOLACE]

Nico didn't show up for a few days. Will knew he messed up. He kissed the prince. What was he thinking?

It wasn't his fault, though. Nico kissed him first. Will just couldn't figure out why. On the fifth night of Nico not being there, Will only waited for five minutes before giving up. The other nights he'd waited for at least an hour, hoping. He'd given up hope. Nico would probably run away without him, leaving Will to get executed.

Will went back to the servant chambers. Hazel was at the wall, making a tunnel.
"Hey," Will whispered.
Hazel stopped what she was doing and walked over to him. "No prince tonight?"
"No prince for almost a week," Will shrugged.
"Why?" She frowned.
"Long story. You going out again?"
"I was going to, but I'm kinda tired."

"Hazel?"
"Mm?"
"I need to ask you a massive favour."
"You already owe me."
"I know! But- look, I shouldn't be telling you this, but the prince is running away."
"What?!"
"Shh! No one can find out. So are the other princes and Princess Thalia."
"You're joking," she shook her head.
"I'm not. I'm- I might be going with them. We need your help."
"Oh no-" Hazel gasped quietly. "You didn't. You didn't tell the prince. Tell me you didn't tell the prince."
"I didn't! I promise. I told him I might have a way to get out of Astrape, but I didn't tell him how."

Hazel sighed. "Explain more."
"I'm sneaking to Astrape, the day before the wedding. The family of Thnēskō and Ūdor are both staying in the palace that night. That's when we plan to escape. Before Nico and Thalia marry. But we need a way to get out of Astrape without someone noticing."

"So you want me to dig you out? Where to?"
"Into the woods. They're not far from the palace. Then you can go back to Thnēskō. No one will suspect you."
She shook her head. "That's an awful idea."
"Hazel, please. This is our chance at freedom! Nico- he plans to change the laws. Powered people can be free. Innocent won't suffer anymore."
"That's so dangerous," she sighed. "I'll do it."
"Seriously?!"
"Seriously. But I'm not sneaking to Astrape in a wagon. We're digging our way there. From now until the night you plan to run away, you're helping me."
"Okay. I will."

Hazel held out her hand for Will to shake it. He took it.
"Deal," she whispered.
"Deal."

• • •

The next day, Will was out in the garden, watering some plants. The garden was completely empty, except for the usual guards in their places. When he was almost finished, the prince walked out. Will looked over to him for a second, before looking away. Nico walked right past him, not saying a word.

"Nico," Will called after him.
Nico turned around. "What?"
"I need to talk to you."
"I'm not your friend," he shook his head.
"Nico, seriously," Will walked over to him. "I don't want the guards to hear us. Please just meet me tonight. I found our way to escape."
"Fine. I'll be there."

• • •

Nico was late. He said he'd be there, then didn't show up. Will didn't have much time- he had to go help Hazel, too.

He stood up to leave, but just then Nico appeared.
"Sorry," Nico muttered. His voice sounded weird.
"It's okay."
"You found a way to escape?"
"Yeah. She agreed. The one who can make the tunnels."
"Who is it?"
"You can't tell anyone."
"I won't."
"Hazel Levesque."
Nico paused for a moment. He seemed to be thinking.

"You don't know who Hazel is, do you?"
"Not really."
"Marie's daughter?"
"Oh! The kid. Yeah."
"She's the same age as you."
"She's magick?"
"Mhm."
"Oh. And she agreed to help?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, good. I've been in contact with the others. They- uhm, they're not happy about you coming."

Will knew it was coming. "Okay. That's fine. I'll- I'll find my own way out."
"What?"
"Or I'll just stay here until I'm 18. How do they execute people here?"
"Will- I'm not leaving you. Just because Perseus, Thalia and Jason aren't happy doesn't mean I'm leaving you to yet executed. They'll be fine."
"Oh. Oh, okay. Good. Jason's agreed to go?"
"Uhh," Nico paused. "Not really. Thalia's still convincing him."
"She better convince him quickly."
"She will."

Will looked at Nico for a second, accidentally making eye contact. Both of them looked away quickly.
"I have to go soon," Will said. "Uh- Hazel wants help. We're building a tunnel to Astrape. I need to lighten the way."
"Okay," Nico nodded. "That's fine."
"You'll be here tomorrow night?"
"I'll try."
"Okay. See you then."

"Will, wait," Nico sighed. "Can we- can we talk?"
"Yeah," Will nodded. "Yeah, sure."
His hands were shaking.
"I'm sorry for not showing up for a while."
"No, it's okay. I understand."
"And I'm sorry about what happened."
"I'm sorry too."
"But I don't regret it."
Will paused. He hadn't expected him to say that. "I- no. Neither do I."
"I just need some time to think."
"Yeah, that's okay."
"Thank you, Will. You're the best person I've ever met."

Will smiled, but Nico took a step forward and hugged him. Will wrapped his arms around Nico.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Mhm. I just need someone right now."
"I'm willing to be that someone."
"Thank you. Now, go help Hazel."
"Alright. See you tomorrow."

• • •

The sun was rising by the time he returned with Hazel. His feet were aching. Hazel said they'd need to that that much work each night to get to Astrape- Will hadn't realised how far away it'd be. Although he was exhausted, he didn't mind. He'd become friends with Hazel- she was really easy to talk to.

The only problem was, he had to work all night. Now that it was morning, one of the older servants handed him a broom.
"You know what to do," he said.
Will took the broom, his head hurting from getting no sleep and his feet aching. "Yep."

• • •
Word Count: 1042
• • •

A/N: I don't like the way this chapters written, but it's kinda just a filler chapter before they run away. Yippieee