Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

At seventeen minutes past 7, William Solace felt the earth quake beneath his feet. Unlike the rest of the campers, he was already awake, stocking the cupboards of the infirmary. So, he was the first out to the field, the first to see the shining bus that had crashed into the lake. Out of it stumbled a hoard of people dressed in silver, and Will felt his heart beat faster. There was only one vehicle he knew of that would shine like that and melt the snow and ice all around the lake.

At eighteen past, the other campers appeared from their cabins, and Will snapped to his senses. Darting back to the infirmary, he grabbed the healer’s bag before taking off to the Apollo cabin. He weaved between other curious campers, still dressed in pajamas and winter coats. Flinging open the cabin door, he caught the eyes of his startled little brother.

“They’re back.” Will grinned when Austin jumped up, jerking his head back over his shoulder, “Come on, Aus. Time to get your feet wet.”

Austin scrambled after him, shoving his feet into boots and his arms into his jacket. Will laughed, catching him when he almost toppled over. He flushed, reaching down to fix his shoes and pull his jacket on properly.

“Slow down, dude. They’re not going to disappear by the time we get there.” He righted himself, following after Will as they stepped out into the sunshine again. The bus had disappeared, leaving just the pocket of silver-coated kids. Will felt a twinge of disappointment. Had he really not waited to see them?

“Why do they look like they’re wrapped in tin foil?” Austin asked, shoving his hands in his pockets. Will chuckled, running through the contents of the healer’s bag in his mind. 

“Those are our cousins. The Hunters of Artemis. Not all demigods, but they’ve all sworn off romance to serve Artemis.”

“Will, I don’t…” Austin stumbled, and Will caught him, a frown forming, “I don’t feel so good.” He crumbled to the ground, bringing Will with him. His forehead hit Will’s shoulder as his arms clutched his stomach.

“What’s wrong, Aus?” He pressed a hand to his forehead, checking his temperature. Perfectly normal. Checked his pulse. A little elevated, but he’d been excited.

He shook his head, “Don’t know. Just hurts all of a sudden.”

Will frowned, “What hurts? Your stomach?” Another shake of the head, “Chest?”

“Heart and head.”

Will glanced down toward the beach, where most of the campers had gathered. He’d hoped to go see Annabeth and the new campers, but… Austin was more important. Chiron could handle any healing the Hunters couldn’t. He turned back to his brother. “Let’s get you back to the cabin.”

~

Will settled Austin back on his bunk and gave him his stuffed red cow (although Austin insisted he didn’t need it). He pressed a hand to Austin’s forehead, hearing his older sister’s voice as he took a breath. It soothed him, warm and familiar as he sank into himself, letting the warm glow of his father’s blessing fill him.

“It’s like seeing a hologram of your patient’s body in your mind .” Heather’s voice said, “ Compare it to what you know a healthy body looks like .” He looked for the things that didn’t match, like a too fast heartbeat or pressure in the brain. Ran through his internal checklist. “Look for the dark spots, Sunshine,” she whispered, soft and comforting, “And let your light in. ”

In all, Austin had an elevated heartrate, physical exhaustion, and a headache, but Will couldn’t find anything that would cause it. He sat back, pushing shaggy hair from his face as a frown creased his forehead, “I don’t see anything wrong. I think we should call Lee.”

He shook his head, struggling to sit up, “Don’t. Only worry him.”

“He’s our brother, Aus. He needs to know. And,” he poked Austin’s forehead, pushing his head back down to the pillow,  “You need to rest.”

But Austin shook his head more emphatically, “He just left, Will. And if he thinks I’m not doing well he’s gonna come rushing back. You know he will.”

Will frowned, but he knew Austin was right. Lee was nothing if not protective, even against something like a cold. “Well,” He joked half-heartedly, “It’s not like you smell burnt toast, do you?”

Austin wrinkled his nose, shaking his head, “I didn’t smell toast. But… it’s weird. I tasted the sea, and something green, and… something electric.”

“Okay, we’re calling,” Will said, digging a drachma out of the desk drawer as he fought down a wave of panic. He’d heard of smelling things as symptoms, but tasting ?

“NO!” Austin latched onto Will’s arm, “Please, no…” Then he curled over, releasing his arms to clutch his head. Will wrapped his arms around him, and Austin leaned into him. He tried to breathe, checking Austin over again. But there was nothing new, nothing that would explain his collapse.

“Cricket, Lee will have better answers than me,” he said gently, using Lee’s nickname for him, “And it’d be worse if he found out we kept it from him, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Austin sank back into his pillows, clutching his cow, “I guess.”

“Do you want me to go up to the Big House or do it here?”

“Big House.” Will nodded, pushing Austin’s hair from his face with a sad smile. He loved all his siblings, but Austin and him just had a different kind of bond, what with both being year-rounders, and he hated to see him hurting.

“Try and get some rest, okay? I’ll see what’s going on when I go up there.” Austin nodded, burrowing under his blankets. Will sighed, shrugging on a sweatshirt and disappearing out of the door.

As he walked, he thought. He’d never seen anything like what Austin was going through. Maybe Chiron would know? His eyes were drawn down to the lake, but the group had dissipated, the bus gone. Across the lawn from Apollo, Hunters filtered into the Artemis cabin. Ahead, a smaller group disappeared into the Big House parlor. What were they doing here? How had Bennie and the others come across them in Maine of all places?

Will entered the infirmary, heading for the small room to the side that acted as record storage. He flicked on the light, a small replica of the sun that cast a rainbow on one wall. It was the one place in camp, aside from Chiron’s office and the Apollo cabin, where one could easily make an Iris Message. Sometimes, if the goddess was in a good mood and the call wasn’t far, she let Apollo campers place them for a pretty crystal. Today, however, he pulled the drachma from his pocket, flicking it through. Lee was halfway across the country, and Will was too frazzled to find the right crystals.

“Oh, Iris, Goddess of Rainbows, please accept my offering. Show me Lee Fletcher of Denver, Colorado.” The rainbow rippled, growing and stretching to reveal a California-surfer-type dude bent over his school books. He glanced up, warmth filling his eyes as he realized who it was. Will felt his anxiety ease a little at the sight of his big brother.

“Hey, Sunshine!” Then he read Will’s expression, and frowned, “What’s happened?”

“The trio was sent on a pick-up of two demigods yesterday. Came back with Dad, crashed into the lake. I grabbed Austin and we went down. Halfway there, Austin collapsed.” Will took a breath, “Said his heart and his head hurt, but I can’t find a reason.”

Lee leaned back, a hand covering his mouth. He was quiet for a long moment. “Did he say anything else? Any sensory things?”

“Said he tasted the sea, something green, and something electric?” Will shrugged hopelessly, “I’ve got no clue what that could mean.”

“I do, I think.” Lee’s eyes had taken on a distant look, but he shook his head when Will made a questioning sound. “Let me look into it. I’ll talk to Chiron, see if I can come to camp next week.”

“Austin…” Will hesitated, “He didn’t want you to come up. I think he wants you to enjoy being home.”

“Why on the Gods’ green earth…” Lee softened, “Oh. He doesn’t want to mess up something he doesn’t get to have.”

“Yeah.”

He shook his head, “We’ll talk about it when I get home, okay? And I’ll look into Austin’s… thing. But I don’t think you need to wor—”

Someone rapped on the door, and Will turned. It was Chiron in his wheelchair, his face sad as he looked at him. Then his eyes flicked up to Lee, and he sighed, “Hello, Lee, William. May I have a word when you’re finished?”

“Uh, sure, sir.”

Lee leaned forward a little, catching his eye, “Chiron, is it alright if I come up to camp for the week?”

“You’ve just left, have you not…” The centaur frowned, seeming to think something through before nodding, “Yes, that’s a good idea, I fear. May we expect you Monday, then?”

 Lee nodded, “I’ll make it work. And, Sunshine?” Will met his eyes, “Austin will be fine, I promise. We’ll figure it out.”

“Bye, Lee.” Lee waved before cutting the connection. Chiron stared at the rainbow for a moment longer before backing up, letting Will out of the room. “What’s up, sir?”

“William…” Chiron sighed, running a hand across his face, “You know the trio went to pick up two demigods at Grover’s request, yes?” Will nodded, a sinking feeling entering his stomach. Of course he did. He was pretty sure the whole camp knew, if only for the fact that Thalia had been at odds with the Ares kids for the last few days. He had definitely breathed a sigh of relief at having a small reprieve from the tension (and injuries).

“They came back this morning, yeah? In my dad’s chariot. Er, bus. I saw them crash into the lake.”

“Most of them returned, yes.” Chiron’s voice gentled like he was talking to an easily spooked colt. Will knew that voice all too well, because it was the same way he talked to patients, trying to keep them from panicking over a wound.

“What do you mean ‘most’? Who didn’t return?” The sinking in his stomach threatened to take all of him. No. No, it can’t be…

“William, I am very sorry,” Chiron reached out for him, but Will jerked away. He folded his hands back into his lap, his eyes sad, “Annabeth did not come home. She fought well and bravely, and went protecting the new demigods. She was a hero.”

“No.” It came out in a harsh whisper as the pit in his stomach began to choke him. “No, no, no, no. Not Annabeth. Not Bennie.”

But there was no one else. He felt a sob rip itself from his chest.

Suddenly, there were strong arms around him, and Will found himself sobbing into Chiron’s shoulder. All at once, he felt like he was just an eleven-year-old, not infinitely older, holding the weight of the world in his hands. It was a very strange feeling.

Chiron let him cry, patting his back softly. Annabeth had been his family, his sister, his best friend. She had found him, seven years old and alone, beneath Thalia’s tree. She had taught him how to write neatly, how to read Ancient Greek, how to handle a dagger. They had been inseparable, the youngest year-rounders at camp. 

And now she was gone.

Eventually, Will stepped back, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“Never apologize for having emotions, William,” Chiron admonished softly, reaching over to offer him a tissue, “They are a sign of humanity.”

“Yes, sir.” He twisted the tissue in his hands, forcing himself to take deep breaths.

“Tell me, if you will,” Chiron said after he had collected himself, “What has you and Lee so worried? Is something wrong with Austin?”

“He collapsed on the way down to the lake earlier,” Will admitted, sniffling, “I can’t find anything wrong with him. Lee thinks he knows though.”

“Hmmm,” Chiron seemed troubled, “Did he say what?”

Will shook his head, “Just that he would look into it. Do you know what he could mean?”

“Potentially…” His face wasn’t reassuring, and then he seemed to shake himself, “Take the time you need. Then go back to your brother. And, William…”

“Yes?” 

“Annabeth would not want you to spend forever in grief. Cherish her memory, but do not let it consume you.”

“Understood, sir.” 

~

The Apollo cabin was poor company at dinner that night. The year-round campers had pretty much moved into the Big House’s dining room for the season, but with the additional hunters, they found themselves back out in the cold. Braziers burned at each table, but they did little against the stiff wind that blew from across the lake. Austin was grumpy and irritable, picking listlessly at his food. Will cajoled him into the few small bites he did take, but eventually, he left him to his thoughts. On the other hand, Will couldn’t stop his eyes from going to the empty spot across the Athena table.

See, Annabeth had been the one to show him around when he’d turned up at camp, seven years old and terrified out of his wits. Gleeson, Will’s satyr, and Clarisse, the other demigod who Gleeson had picked up before him, had stashed him beneath Thalia’s pine while they dealt with the Amphisbaena that had tracked them to the border. Annabeth had found him sobbing there, brought him down to Chiron, and sent help to Gleeson and Clarisse. She had gotten him settled in Hermes cabin. And then, a few weeks later when he was claimed, had helped him move his small suitcase to Cabin 7.

She’d been his only friend outside of his siblings and Clarisse, drawn to him because he reminded her of herself. She tried to teach him archery, and when that failed, taught him the art of the dagger. She had been the first to call him Sunshine, just like he had fondly called her Bennie when he struggled with ‘Annabeth’. He had thought of her as his honorary older sister, and eventually, so did the rest of his siblings.

And now she’s gone , he reminded himself angrily, stabbing at his chicken and taking a vicious bite. It tasted like ash in his mouth, but he forced himself to swallow, the healer part of his brain lecturing him on the importance of proper nutrition. He couldn’t even talk to Clarisse about it, because Chiron had sent her off on some secret mission.

He eyed the two demigods that Annabeth had died to save. Chiron had said their names were Bianca and Nico Di Angelo, although Bianca had joined the Hunters of Artemis before getting to camp. Bianca seemed happy though, dressed in a silver parka like the rest of the Hunters. Nico was less so, glowering at his sister from between the Stoll brothers. He was scrawny, pale, and tired-looking, and that healer side of Will’s brain wanted to march him to the nearest bed and force him to nap. Will really wanted to slap that side of his brain sometimes.

He eyed Austin’s plate to distract himself, forcing himself to take a breath. “Few more bites, Cricket, okay?”

“I’m not hungry.” Will raised a brow, and Austin sighed, “My stomach’s not happy.”

His mouth twisted in a sympathetic smile, and he nodded, standing and slinging an arm over his little brother’s shoulders, “Come on then, Cric. It’s campfire time, and then bed.” Will shook his shoulder gently, “You’ll need your energy for capture-the-flag tomorrow.”

They followed the flood of people down to the firepit, Austin leaning heavily into Will. He let Austin sit, then went to two unclaimed Hermes campers, Echo and Eulalie. Voices so pretty you’d think they’d be Apollo kids, but they’d been here six months and nothing yet.

“Y’all mind leading tonight?” He offered Echo the guitar, “Austin and I aren’t really up to it.”

“Course, Will.” Echo took the guitar, slinging it over their shoulder before pulling him into a hug. He let himself relax for a moment before stepping back.

“We’re sorry about Annabeth, Will,” Eulalie said, tossling his hair affectionately, “We can run campfires for as long as you need.”

“Thanks, Es.” They both blew him a kiss in that eerie twin way, and he shook his head, returning to sit beside Austin. He could already hear the whispers from the other campers. Never, not for as long as Will had been at camp, had the Apollo cabin not led the campfire sing-along. It was always them. It was tradition.

Will supposed a lot of things had died that day.

~

Capture-the-flag was exactly what Will needed right then. He was put on guard duty, armed with a xiphos , a 12-inch blade of celestial bronze. Above him was Austin, armed with a bow. In Will’s pocket was his combat medic armband, something he never got during the summer. Lee said he wasn’t old enough yet. Percy had long since disappeared, leaving them alone with the Stolls, Beckendorf, and the new boy, Nico Di Angelo.

As Hunters approached, shooting silver-tipped arrows, Will swung his xiphos , cutting them from the air before him. He channeled his grief into his movements, holding his ground. He felt good , in control for the first time since the group had returned the day before.

But then an arrow soared wide, up into the tree Austin hid in, lodging itself into his leg. He fell, and Will watched it happen as if in slow motion, his own scream echoing in his ears. He raced to his side, shaking his good shoulder.

“Aus? Can you hear me?” His brother groaned and Will fumbled with the medic’s band, securing it around his arm before undoing his satchel. “Just hold still. I need to straighten out that arm before I can give you ambrosia.”

Austin nodded, wincing as Will rolled him, and passing out as he straightened the arm. Will went ahead and pulled out the arrow as well, praying it wasn’t barbed. It wasn’t, and he set about bandaging the wound before shaking Austin’s good shoulder to get him to open his eyes again. For a terrifying moment, he didn’t. Fighting away panic, he shook it again, harder, letting out a sigh when his eyes opened.

“Eat.” He fed him a piece of ambrosia, then helped him sit up against the tree. Looking around, the Hunters had come and gone, taking the flag with them. “Come on, let’s get you up to the infirmary. Can you walk?”

Austin nodded, and with Will’s help and a lot of wincing, he stood, leaning heavily on his brother. They made their way out of the woods, ignoring the yelling of Thalia and Percy as they debated who was at fault. 

Then Austin stopped, eyes wide, “Is that… the Oracle?” Will looked up, his jaw dropping as his eyes fell on their father’s prized prophetess. “What’s she doing out of the attic?”

He shook his head, “No clue.” Then Austin winced, his leg buckling beneath him. Will turned away from the spectacle, shifting him to take more of his weight, “You need bed rest and more ambrosia. Come on. We’re almost there.”

~

Will was left dealing with the numerous broken bones and arrow wounds by himself. The Hunters played dirty, because he was fairly sure that Percy, Thalia, and he were the only ones who had escaped unwounded. That left thirty-odd campers for him to heal, and by the end of it he could only be thankful the Hunters healed their own.

Maybe that was why he was so exhausted and snippy when he got to Nico Di Angelo, the last patient in the Infirmary. Or maybe it was because the adrenaline had worn off and his grief had come back in full force. Maybe it was both. Maybe it was how genuinely happy Nico was to be sitting in the infirmary, still clutching a helm that was definitely too big for him.

“Wasn’t that swell?” the boy asked as he came to his bedside, bouncing so much that Will was getting nauseous just watching him. He had an accent of some kind, but Will was too exhausted to puzzle over it. “That was wicked! Even better than watching Percy and that other girl fight Mr. Thorn!”

“Mr. Thorn?” Will asked tiredly, biting his tongue to keep from snapping at Nico’s carelessness toward Annabeth. He just had a minor arrow graze along one cheek, and Will reached out to wipe away the dried blood. Nico let him, still chattering excitedly.

“Yeah! He was my teacher, except he wasn’t really a teacher because he was really a Manticore, which has like +3000 attack points and +5 saving throws. And when he attacked her, she just went flying over the cliff like a ragdoll—”

“What are you talking about?” Will asked, harsher than he meant. He took his hand away and reached for a small piece of ambrosia, forcing himself to take a breath. When did you eat last? He heard Lee’s voice ask, How tired are you?  

He pushed it away.

Nico looked a little putout, “Don’t you guys play Mythomagic here? I feel like it would be super popular, since it’s all Greek Mythology based. Well, except for the expansion packs. Those have some other pantheons as well, like Egyptian or Norse. Are those real too?”

“No, just Greek.” Will handed him the food, “Eat. It’ll fix that scratch.”

Nico chewed quickly, then gasped, “What… That tasted amazing! How…”

“Ambrosia. The food of the gods,” Will set about putting things away, “You can go now.”

“Oh, cool, thanks!” Nico hopped off the bed, “Hey, do you want me to teach you how to play Mythomagic? It’s actually really easy to pick up. I bet you’d like it! It can be a lot of logic, but…”

“Gods, no!” Will snapped, at the end of his rope, “I don’t care about your stupid game. Can you leave me alone? I’m trying to work.”

Nico looked hurt, scuffing his foot against the floor, “Oh, sorry.” Immediately, Will felt a wave of shame and disappointment wash over him.

“Wait, Nico—” He turned and vanished out the door before Will could apologize. He sighed, rubbing a hand across his face.

“Will,” Austin said softly, pushing himself up to look at his brother, “Go down to bed. You need some sleep.”

He cuffed him gently on his good shoulder, a wry smile on his tired face, “Which of us is the healer, here?”

“According to Lee, neither of us,” Austin grinned impishly, “You said it yourself, it’s only minor injuries. If something goes wrong, I’ll ring the bell.”

Will glanced at the pull rope in the corner, specially designed by the Hephaestus cabin so that it triggered an alarm in cabin #7, “Alright. You get some rest too, though. Lee will be here in the morning.”

~

Will had finally fallen asleep just as his father’s rays touched the horizon, having tossed and turned all night in the too-quiet cabin. He was seldom alone when he was here, and whenever he was, he slept poorly. 

As such, he was awoken by someone sitting beside him, pushing his hair from his face. His eyes flickered open, and for a moment he could only stare at the person beside him. They smiled sadly, opening their arms.

“Hey, Sunshine,” Lee said, and Will launched himself into his arms. The tears came immediately, and Lee tightened his grip. “I know, Sunshine. Let it out. Gods know how much you need to.”

They stayed like that for a long while, long past when Will had cried himself out. Lee let him. Apollo Cabin had a rule: whoever needed the hug more chose when it was done. And so they stayed, even after the lunch horn had sounded, even after Malcolm Pace (one of Annabeth’s brothers) brought them both a plate of food. It was when Will smelled the tantalizing scent of pizza that he let go, dropping back to his heels. The boys sat cross-legged across from each other on the bed, their plates balanced on their knees.

“So,” Lee said, waving his fork at Will, “Tell me what else has happened. How’s school going? Are you ready to go back with your mom this weekend?”

Will picked at his food, shrugging listlessly, “I guess. I just don’t want to have to tell her. You remember how much she liked meeting Bennie last Christmas.”

“I get that, and you know you don’t have to tell her as soon as you see her, right?” Will gaped at him, and Lee shook his head, “I’m not saying you never tell her, but you can take your time. Everybody grieves differently.”

They fell into a comfortable silence as Will thought that over. Eventually, Lee picked up both of their plates, “Come on, let’s go check on Austin.”

Will put clothes on, following Lee up the hill to the Big House. As they did, Lee filled him in on the gossip he’d gleaned from his other camp friends. The questers had left at dawn, as had Percy Jackson (Dionysus had not been pleased). Phoebe of the Hunters had been forced to remain behind after the Stoll brothers had laced a shirt with centaur blood.

“I wouldn’t bother offering to help,” Lee told him, holding open the infirmary door, “The Hunters don’t trust any boy, even a healer. They take care of their own.”

Will walked into the infirmary, relieved to see that most of the patients had been released. Austin lay on a bed as he talked to a short woman dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Lee brightened, a grin stretching across his face.

“Jacinta!” Lee cried, setting the plates on an empty bed and striding forward to hug the woman. She laughed, squeezing him back.

“Hey, baby bro. How’s it hanging?” They both stepped back, though they held on to each other’s forearms. Jacinta’s eyes fell on Will, and her smile softened. Lee followed her gaze. Breaking her grip on one arm, he waved him forward.

“Will, come meet our sister.” Up close, Will realized he was almost as tall as Jacinta, and so did she. Lee and Austin hid smiles behind their hands.

She shook her head mournfully, “What has the world come to, when my little brother is near as tall as me? You’re 11 years younger than me!” Will tried to force a smile, but his heart wasn’t in it. She clucked, her face softening, “Oh, dear. I’m sorry for your loss, Will. I remember her, she was so smart.”

“How did you—” Will began, and she chuckled softly, casting a glance toward Lee.

“I’m what you would call an empath, I suppose,” she turned toward Austin, “And the answer to your predicament. According to what Lee’s told me, you are also an empath, and a strong one too. Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

Austin, after an encouraging nod from Will, did, describing the sensation of collapsing and what he had tasted. And, after Jacinta’s probing and avoiding Will’s eyes, he told her about what he felt not long after, once Will had left for the Big House.

“It tasted like… oranges and chocolate. And it hurt so badly, like someone had stabbed me in the heart and twisted.”

Jacinta nodded like that was perfectly normal, seating herself beside Austin and taking his hand, “Do you know what my name means, Austin?” Her voice was soft, and he shook his head, “It means ‘hyacinth’.” For a moment, a breath of warm air blew across the four of them and a sense of utter heartbreak pressed on their hearts, “Dad loved a mortal boy, Hyacinthus, and…”

“Zephyrus, or Boreas, did too,” Will finished, remembering the story, “So they blew a discus into Hyacinthus’ head.”

“Or it was just an accident. It depends on the myth,” she paused for a moment, “Dad once told me that it was his heartbreak that made for my empathy. That his love for my papi could almost rival that of Hyacinthus.” She laughed a little bitterly, “Almost.”

“You met Dad?” Lee asked, surprised, “You never told me that.”

Jacinta nodded, squinting up at the fake sun, “For a few minutes, on the day of my graduation. He just… wanted to explain, I guess.”

“So… you think it’s the same for me? That Dad’s love for Hyacinthus is why I developed this?” Austin asked, a little desperate. Will came to his other side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He let himself lean into Will’s side.

She hummed a moment, frowning a little, “Maybe not Hyacinthus. From what you’ve told me, you only seem to feel others’ grief and pain. I feel both pain and love. But I can’t remember any other great love of Dad’s.”

Will bit his lip, his eyes falling to the wreath above the door, “The laurels… Daphne.”

They all felt a wave of anguish wash over them, hot to the touch. It was so much worse than when Jacinta had mentioned Hyacinthus. This was pure pain; a shattered, unrequited love. Will, Jacinta, and Lee recovered after a few seconds, but it took Austin much longer.

“Yeah,” Austin gasped, doubled over in pain, “I’d say it was her.”

When he straightened, Jacinta was nodding in agreement. “Once Lee clears you, we can start learning how to help control it.”

“But Will was the one who—” Austin began to argue, but Lee just rested a hand on his knee, shaking his head.

“While you two do that,” Jacinta turned to Will, “Why don’t we take a walk? A little sibling-bonding time.”

Lee nodded when Will looked at him, and so they stepped out from the infirmary and into the bitter wind. They walked in silence for a few minutes, no destination in mind. So it surprised him when they stopped beside Thalia’s pine, Peleus (the dragon Chiron had found to guard the Golden Fleece) curled around its base.

Jacinta turned her face up to look at its snow-laden branches, “I remember when Zeus turned her into the tree. I’d never felt pain as strongly as I did from Annabeth and Luke.”

Will kneeled to scratch Peleus under the chin, “This is where she found me. When I first came to camp.”

“How old were you?”

Will stood, resting a hand on Peleus’s forehead, “Seven.”

Jacinta cocked her head, reminding Will of the sparrows that lined the porch in the mornings, “Same as Annabeth.”

He nodded, tugging a loose scale from the dragon’s pelt and turning it over in his hand. “She thought I was going to be the reason she went on a quest. That the similarities were too great.” He looked out across the valley, recognizing her unasked question, “We both arrived at seven. She came with Thalia and I was found beneath her tree. Neither of us was great at archery, although she was a better shot than me.

“At some point, it became less about the quest and more about being friends. We were inseparable until Percy came along. And even then, we always had winter together.” Will trailed off, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from crying. “But then she went on that rescue mission. And I don’t even know what really happened.”

Jacinta wrapped an arm around his shoulders and let him rest his head on her shoulder. They were quiet for a time, the only sounds being the wind and Peleus’ breathing. Will felt a tear roll down his cheek. “When did you find out?”

“Saturday, not long after Austin collapsed.” A sinking feeling entered his chest, and he turned to look her in the eyes, “I was that second pain, wasn’t I? I hurt him.”

“No, Will,” she said hotly, gripping his shoulders. He realized dimly that this was the first time she’d raised her voice, “Yes, he felt your grief. And yes, he doesn’t know how to keep it from hurting him yet, but that is not your fault. Do not even think about blaming yourself.”

“But—”

“No.” She cupped his face, running her thumbs across his cheeks to wipe away tears, “Will, hermanito, I get it, I do. But feeling your feelings, even if it hurts someone by accident, is not your fault. And unless you meant to hurt him…” Jacinta raised her eyebrows, and Will shook his head with a weak chuckle, “Then it is not your fault. Alright?”

Will nodded, and she pulled him into a hug. And just like before, they stayed there until Will took a step back, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. He felt lighter than he had before, and significantly colder.

“How about we go back down to the others? I bet I still know where Chiron keeps the hot chocolate mix.” Her eyes sparkled as Will let out a real laugh, and she looped her arm through his. They walked together down the hill, letting their eyes wander over the valley. A flash of movement down by the archery range caught his gaze, and he stumbled to a stop, guilt washing over him.

Jacinta looked between him and the boy down at the archery field and nodded. “Want me to wait?”

Will chewed his lip, studying the figure for a long moment. “He’s angry. It’s not worth it right now.”

She eyed him, “Want to talk about it?”

He shrugged, “Not much to say. I was short with him yesterday.”

“Why?”

“I was tired, and upset, and he was so… happy…”  They watched him for a moment. Even Will could tell his form was atrocious. He felt her unasked question and added, “His sister went on the quest this morning.”

“He looks like he could use a friend.” When Will didn’t say anything, she tried again, “Feels like it too.”

“He won’t want to talk to me.”

“You won’t know if you don’t try.” Will glared at her and she laughed, cuffing him on his shoulder. “Fine, fine. Come on, hot chocolate is waiting.”

~

Thirty minutes later, when Will had settled on the porch of Apollo cabin with his mug cradled between his hands, Nico was still there. His aim hadn’t improved, and his face was marred by a deep frown. When Jacinta joined him on the porch, giving him a knowing look, Will sighed.

“Fine.” He disappeared inside for a moment, reappearing with a coat and an extra cup of cocoa, “If this goes wrong I’m blaming you.”

Her laugh followed him out into the gently falling snow, and he rolled his eyes. For a moment, he leaned against the fence, just watching the sullen boy shoot. His arrow kept swinging away from the bow, and when he did manage to shoot it went wide.

“You’re holding it wrong.” His voice scared Nico, making him loose the arrow he had just set to the string. To both their surprise, however, it hit the target just off of center. 

“What are you doing here?” Nico demanded, stomping down the track to collect the arrows. “Don’t you have work to do?” Now that Will thought about it, his accent was European, maybe Italian? It sounded like the bomb artist in Atlantis: The Lost Empire .

“I brought a peace offering,” he offered the extra mug, seeing a spark in Nico’s eyes at the sight, “And an apology. I shouldn’t have been harsh with you.”

“Whatever.” Nico tried to unhook the bow’s string with stiff fingers, but they slipped and refused to curl. He ignored the mug and Will set it to the side.

“I could teach you how to fire this, if you wanted?” Will reached out for the bow, but Nico turned away, finally unhooking the string and coiling it. He let his arm drop, trying not to feel miffed.

“I’m fine.”

Will sighed, shaking his head and deciding that Nico was obviously better left alone. He turned and began walking away, leaving the mug of hot chocolate on the fence post. After a few steps, he turned and met Nico’s eyes, seeing the anger and worry warring in them, “Look, I know what it’s like to have a sister go on a quest without you. So if you want to talk…”

“I said I’m fine.” 

“Well, you know where to find me when you aren’t.”

~

Later, when Will stepped outside for supper, an empty mug sat on the railing of the Apollo Cabin.

Chapter Text

Will was laying in his bed, just staring up at the slats of the empty bunk above him, when Lee came in, chatting to someone else. He turned his head to watch them for a moment until Lee realized he was there.

“Gracie, this is Will. He’s one of our brothers and the head healer during the winter.” Will sat up, rubbing a tired hand through his hair as he smiled at the new girl, “Will, this is Gracie Bell. She’ll be a year-rounder from now on.”

“Howdy,” Will said, swinging himself off his bed, “I think the only empty cot we have is the one above me, but if you want one closer to the ground—”

“I’ll take it!” Gracie swung herself up onto the top bunk one-handed, grinning down at them, “I like feeling tall.”

Lee laughed, “Well that works. You’ll meet some of our other siblings tonight and next month. Some were given holidays at home, but they’ll be back in the new year.”

“How many year-rounders are there?” 

“Usually around 6 or 7. The only cabin with more is Hermes,” Will told her, pulling on his jacket, “Has Lee shown you the rest of camp yet?”

She shook her head as Lee said, “No, I was hoping you would. I wanted to go do some check-ins with the summer kids. Fill them in on Bennie.”

“That works.” Will was grateful he didn’t try to make him do those calls, “Come on, Gracie, I’ve got a feeling you’ll like the climbing wall.”

Gracie scrambled down, nearly tripping over herself in her haste to follow. Will chuckled, holding the door for her. “Thanks,” she panted.

“So did you just get here? Usually, it takes a while for Dad to claim someone.” Gracie nodded as she bounced along beside him. Will placed her as seven or eight, with tan skin and coppery-brown hair.

“Gleeson and I left home a week ago, I think? We kept getting attacked by these creepy little grain monsters. Gleeson called them Karpoi.” She said it so cheerfully that Will’s mouth quirked up into a small smile, “We crossed the border around noon, and I stepped into this patch of sunlight, and then there was this thing hanging over my head.”

“That was your claiming. The thing over your head was a lyre, the instrument of Apollo,” They paused in front of the climbing wall, and Will watched Gracie’s eyes widen, “This is the climbing wall I was talking about.”

For a moment, the two watched the Hermes kids scaling the wall, with Travis Stoll yelling some rather twisted encouragements. Some were tamping out fires from the lava pit underneath, and Will rolled his eyes, unzipping his coat for the small on-the-go healer’s kit he kept there.

“Will! Just the person I wanted to see!” Connor Stoll said, waving him over to where he sat beside his brother. One of his pant legs had burned off, leaving him with red and puffy skin all up and down his leg.

“Gracie, why don’t you try out the wall?” Will said, and she was gone in a heartbeat. Then he joined the Stolls, reaching over to hit the button that would close the trap door over the lava. Some of the Hermes kids booed him, and Will rolled his eyes again, “I don’t need to deal with fourteen burns today, thank you.”

“Ah, come on, Will,” Travis teased as Will scooped up a handful of clean snow and pressed it onto Connor’s leg, “Like Holly and Laurel would let themselves get burned.”

“I was including my sister and anyone I felt like throwing in,” Will said absently, pouring more snow over his leg, “Be a pal, Trav, and open my pack for me.”

Travis did, chuckling at Will’s threat, offering it back to him. He retrieved the ambrosia squares he kept in there, breaking off a small bit and giving it to Connor. The Hermes boy ate it gladly, and Will nodded as the swelling went down.

“Anyone else who stuck their leg in lava?” Will looked around, only to receive shaking heads, “Good. Grac—” he looked toward the climbing wall, only to see his sister had reached the top, something even Laurel and Holly hadn’t done. She grinned down at him, brown eyes dancing.

“Woah.” Connor and Travis had followed his gaze, “How did—”

“She likes feeling tall,” he shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips, “Gracie! Come on down, we’ve got other places to see.”

The eight-year-old shrugged, and she was down beside him in the blink of an eye. Will, Travis, and Connor stared at her dumbfounded.

“You sure she’s not one of us?” Connor asked, “Speed is a Hermes thing.”

Will flicked his head, a mock-stern look on his face, “No stealing my siblings, Stoll.”

He raised his hands defensively, “Okay, okay,” Will and Gracie turned to go, but Connor caught his arm, “And, Will… I’m sorry about Annabeth.”

Will nodded jerkily, “Thanks.” He ushered Gracie away, sucking in a breath and letting it out slowly. For a moment, he’d actually forgotten. How could he have forgotten?

“Who’s Annabeth?” He glanced down, meeting her eyes. For a moment, it felt like looking into Bennie’s. He let out a long breath, looking up at the cloudy skies overhead.

“She was my sister, kind of. She was a daughter of Athena, but she found me when I first came to camp, and she taught me a lot,” he bit the inside of his cheek to keep from crying, “Bennie went on a mission last week, and while everyone else came home, she didn’t.”

Gracie slipped her hand through his, squeezing gently, “I’m sorry, Will.” He squeezed back, giving her a sad smile.

“It’s okay. It’s a part of being a demigod, unfortunately.” They fell silent for a bit, until Will began naming the cabins they passed. Gracie listened, asking questions and waving energetically to the campers they passed. They waved back, for the most part, although some of the Ares kids just glowered.

“Solace!” They stopped for a moment until Sherman Yang, an Ares camper, caught up to them, “Look, I wanted to say thank you on behalf of my cabin.”

“For what?” Will asked, confused. Sherman very rarely said thank you to anyone, and almost never talked to an Apollo camper unless he was recruiting Lee’s assistance for Capture the Flag.

“Dude, you healed every single one of us alone the other night. Amira would have lost that eye without you. You deserve some thanks for that,” Sherman grinned, “Besides, Clarisse says you should always thank your healer. Otherwise, they may make it hurt next time.”

Will laughed, “Well, then, you’re welcome.” Sherman clapped his shoulder, running back to join his siblings in their snowball fight. Will turned back to Gracie, who watched him with wide eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“You can heal people? Like Gleeson?” 

“Kind of,” Will waved at a pair of satyrs running toward the strawberry fields, “Gleeson uses a lot of herbs and plants, right? That’s herbal medicine, and that’s what the satyrs all use.”

“Yeah. They smelled funny.” He laughed.

“I’m sure they did. I heal by either administering ambrosia or nectar or by calling on Dad.” They had reached the archery ranges, and Gracie stopped, chewing her lip. Then she began shrugging out of her winter coat, revealing a short sleeve shirt and a hasty bandage around one arm.

“Can you heal this?” Will frowned, resting a hand against it and taking a deep breath. He let himself open to the wound, probing it gently with his mind to see how deep it was. 

“When did you get this, Gracie?” He helped her slip her coat back on, leading her up to the Big House. He’d felt the nauseating tinge of infection along its edges, and it was deep, nearly to the bone. Somehow, it hadn’t punctured any major veins, or if it had they’d managed to heal, but the muscles were ripped and damaged. How had she climbed with this?

“Day I left home,” she said meekly, fiddling with her hands. Her voice got quieter as she added, “Mommy got mad while making lunch. Then the monsters attacked, and I ran. Gleeson found me after I stopped the bleeding.”

“Why didn’t you tell him?” Will pushed open the door to the infirmary, lifting her up onto a bed. Everyone had been released that morning, and Austin and Jacinta had moved back down to the cabin, leaving the two of them alone. Not for the first time since she had left for the winter, Will wished his older sister, Heather, was there. She was a far better healer than him.

“Mommy said to never tell anyone,” Gracie said, her voice very, very small, “She said it was a family matter. Only family. But you’re family.”

He softened, helping her out of her coat and gathering supplies. He wasn’t sure he could heal something this old with only a prayer, so he brought out sutures and clean bandages as well as ambrosia and nectar. As he washed his hands, he asked, “Did she get angry often, Gracie?”

“Not really,” she winced as he removed the old bandage, just as he did when he saw the wound. “Once a week, maybe.”

Laying a hand across it gently, he closed his eyes, singing a three-note melody Heather had taught him. He matched his breathing to the simple rhythm, letting some of his strength flow into Gracie. She relaxed under his touch, trusting him.

When he let go, he stumbled a little, the healing taking more out of him than he had thought. The wound was clean now at least, and he threaded a needle, getting ready to close it. “This is going to hurt, okay? I’ve got to close it up. Eat this slowly while I do.”

He gave her a small section of ambrosia, which she nibbled on as he made quick work of the sutures. The ambrosia would clean out any leftover infection and numb the pain, but he couldn’t give her enough to heal it completely without risking giving her too much.

“There we go. That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” Gracie nodded,  but Will saw the tears on her face. He bandaged her arm, then reached over and opened a secret drawer in the desk. He pressed a finger to his lips when her eyes went wide, and he grabbed a lollipop from inside. “The Stoll brothers think they’re slick, hiding it in here. Like I wouldn’t know what’s happening in my own infirmary.”

Gracie giggled, wiping her tears as Will unwrapped the lollipop for her. She was favoring her right arm now, and he winced in sympathy.

“I don’t want you using that arm for a couple days, okay?” She nodded, watching WIll retrieve a sling from the supply closet, “We’re going to put this on it so the muscles can heal properly.”

He helped her slip it on, carefully arranging her arm so it hung properly. Then he took her jacket, slipping it on one arm and draping the other over her shoulder, “Have you met Chiron yet?”

She nodded, “Gleeson took me to meet him earlier. He was nice.”

“Well, we’re going to go see him again, okay? Or do you want to go down to the cabin and hang with Lee?” She slipped off the bed, tucking her hand into his, and he laughed, “Alright then. Let’s go talk to Chiron.”

~

Their conversation with Chiron took them through until dinner and Will was just grateful Austin hadn’t been near them. It was heartbreaking, hearing Gracie recount her mother’s abuse, all while settled on Will’s lap.

“Mr. D, if you would be so kind as to entertain Grace for a moment.” The tone of Chiron’s voice said that this wasn’t up for debate, and the god sighed, beckoning to Gracie with two fingers as he led the way into the den. Gracie looked up at Will.

“Go on, Gracie. It’s just for a minute.” She went, sliding from his lap. Chiron watched her for a moment.

“She is a very strong child, to have hidden that for a week,” he remarked softly, and Will nodded.

“She kept it pretty clean too, for an eight-year-old on the run. She reminds me of Bennie.”

Chiron sighed, turning back to meet Will’s eyes, “Will…” There was a pregnant pause before Chiron shook his head, “Never mind. How have you been handling everything? You’ve dealt with a great deal in the last few weeks, and done it better than most adults I have met.”

“I’m… handling.” Will said, and Chiron nodded, “Jacinta and I have talked, and that helped. Lee had me take Gracie around so I wasn’t just staring at the wall.”

“That’s very nice of them. But, William…” Chiron got Will to meet his gaze, solemn as the dead, “It is okay to need time by yourself. Your grief will not be linear.” He nodded, and in the distance, they heard the dinner bell. Chiron sighed, standing from his wheelchair. “Come along, William. Let us save Mr. D from your young sister.”

~

He explained to Lee and Jacinta in quiet whispers what had happened to Gracie. The anger radiating from them caught Austin’s attention, but Lee just shook his head. Gracie sat beside Will, and once he had explained how meals worked, her plate was soon full of pizza and garlic bread. At his prodding, she added carrots, which she promptly dumped into the brazier.

Lee laughed, shaking his head, “Pretty sure he wanted you to eat those, not Dad, Gracie.”

She shrugged, munching on her pizza, “Too late.”

Will scrapped a few pieces of his broccoli onto her plate, and she stuck her tongue out at him, “Eat it. All Apollo kids do, if just to keep the only winter healer happy.”

“Fine.” The others laughed as she ate her broccoli, pouting beside him. He shrugged, eating his own.

“It’s good for you, especially since you need to heal.” She just stuck out her tongue again, covered in pieces of broccoli, “Gross, Squirrelly-Girl.”

Lee and Jacinta hid smiles behind their hands, while Austin just laughed outright. “Turning into a little mother now, aren’t you?” Jacinta teased, and this time it was Will who stuck out his tongue, causing more laughter from the others. He grinned, ducking his head as Lee ruffled his hair.

“Well, I think she has a new nickname already,” Lee said fondly, and then, turning mock-serious, he intoned, “All Hail Squirrelly-Girl, daughter of Apollo.”

Gracie threw a bread knot at him, earning laughter from the others as he ducked the gluteny projectile. Will could see Chiron shake his head, a small smile on his face.

“Kayla says hi, by the way,” Lee said quietly later that night, resting a hand on his shoulder, “So do the others, but she was quite insistent that you know she misses you.”

Will gave him a small smile, “I miss her too.” 

Lee squeezed his shoulder, letting him lean into his side for a moment. Then it was time for the campfire and Will let an exhausted Gracie ride on his back. She fell asleep as Austin, Lee, and Jacinta led the songs, her head resting against Will’s shoulder. Will let her, if only for the fact that it kept him from having to help lead the sing-along. Normally, he played guitar as Austin led the songs, and during the summer he left it up to his more musically-inclined siblings. But now, Lee played guitar as Jacinta and Austin sang, getting the fire burning high and golden against the dark sky.

And when the time for bed came, Will carried her once more, settling her in his bed rather than her own. He tucked his blankets around her before climbing up above, falling asleep as soon as his own head hit the pillow. 

~

He woke to Gracie curled beside him, shivering in her sleep. When had she climbed up? He tugged a blanket over them both, looking toward the window to see that the sun was barely cresting the horizon. To his left, he could hear Lee snoring, and, just above, Austin moved restlessly.

It was peaceful and quiet, so early even the birds were hardly awake. But Will felt no urge to rejoin his siblings in their sleep. Instead, he let his mind wander down memory lane, his eyes unfocusing as the movie of his life played in his mind.

“Why do I have to stay in Hermes, Bennie? Why can’t I stay with you?” She pulled him closer, squeezing his shoulders.

“Mom hasn’t claimed you yet. But I’m sure she will soon, Sunshine.” He still pouted, and she rolled her eyes, bouncing to her feet. “Come on, Sunshine! I bet I can get up to the Big House before you!” A bright grin was thrown over her shoulder as she took off, Will scrambling after her, stumbling on his seven-year-old legs.

“What are you doing?” Will asked the girl as she hummed a three-note melody, watching as she pressed her hands to Annabeth’s broken arm. It had snapped under one of the Hephaestus cabin’s creations during Capture the Flag.

“I can’t do any more than this, Annabeth,” The girl, Heather, smiled down at him as she held a cotton pad to the broken skin, “Healing. I’m a daughter of Apollo. Will you hold this for a moment? I need to grab some tape.”

“Okay.” Will took her spot, holding the bandage in place. Absently, he hummed that same melody, frowning a little at Annabeth’s paleness. She gave him a weak smile, then gasped as a golden light lit her face. Something clattered behind him as more gasps filled the air.

Heather rushed over, lifting the pad from Annabeth’s skin. It was fully healed, with no sign that it had been torn and bleeding moments before. She turned with a bright grin to Will, ruffling his hair as she said, “Welcome to Apollo cabin, kid.”

Annabeth reached over, squeezing his hand as she intoned, “All hail William Solace, son of Apollo.”

“William.” He looked up from his sorting, meeting Chiron’s solemn eyes, “Where is Heather?”

“Asleep. She was up all night with the Stolls, remember?” Chiron sighed, rubbing an exhausted hand across his face. His eyes fell on the nine year old, taking in his steady gaze and hands.

“Then grab the healer’s bag, it is time you have a lesson from me.” Will did as he was told, carrying the bag into the den and out to the porch, where Chiron motioned him beside a cot. On it, lay a dark-haired boy, with an anxious satyr at his head. “Grover, we will do our best.”

“But…” Will laid a hand on the satyr’s shoulder. He could see the satyr had injuries of his own, could feel a little of their extent.

“Go take care of yourself. We’ve got him.” Grover seemed to relax a little at his words and nodded. Chiron smiled approvingly.

“You do that very well,” Will flushed, “Now, let’s see what we can do for young Percy here.”

Annabeth found them just as they finished with the worst of Percy’s wounds. She stormed up, casting a critical eye over the demigod. “He doesn’t look like much.”

“Do they ever?” Chiron asked, amused. He patted Will’s shoulder, “Give him the nectar when he wakes, William. You have done very well.”

Annabeth turned that critical eye to Will, seeing the yawn he smothered with a hand, “I’ll sit with him, Chiron. Will needs rest, too.”

“Will?” A quiet voice brought Will back to himself, and he glanced over the edge of the bed to meet Lee’s eyes, “Where’s Gracie?”

“Up here.” Will unwrapped himself little by little, until he could shimmy off the ladder, landing with a soft thump, “She came up at some point last night.”

Lee chuckled softly, “Seems like you’ve been claimed, Will.” Then he sobered, leading Will to the porch before saying, “Sunshine, I’ve gotta go back tonight, okay? My mom wants me home for my sister’s birthday tomorrow.”

Will nodded, though it hurt that Lee would leave so soon, “I get it. Besides, it’s not like I’m not going on Saturday.” Lee nodded.

“Jacinta said she would stay through the weekend, and Austin will have Gracie.” He seemed to think that over for a minute, “I’ll have Silena keep an eye on them.”

Will cracked a smile at that, leaning against the railing and watching the sun finally break through the treetops. From inside the cabin came the sounds of the others getting up; bedclothes rustling, the soft creaking of the beds, the thump of Gracie jumping off the bed.

She raced out onto the porch just to see Will right there, and so she threw herself into his arms. He chuckled, squeezing her gently. She stepped back, pushing unruly hair out of her face.

“When’s breakfast?” Lee hid a chuckle as Will rolled his eyes.

“Goodness gracious, Gracie Bell,” he tweaked her nose, “No good morning? Where are your manners?”

She rolled her eyes, “Good morning. When’s breakfast?”

“Better,” He ruffled her hair, “Not for another hour. There are apples and dates inside if you’re hungry.”

Gracie wrinkled her nose, “I’ll wait.”

Will shrugged, “Alright then. Why don’t you go get dressed, though? I think Jacinta managed to find you some clothes.”

Jacinta appeared in the doorway just as Gracie began to refuse. “Come on, mija. Let’s get you showered and that bandage changed, at least.”

A frown began to form, and Will nudged her gently, “Jacinta’s your sister, Squirrelly Girl. Go on.”

She went, and Lee just shook his head, “You’ve gone and got yourself a chick, mother Will.”

Will stared at the doorway for a long moment, “How’s she gonna handle me going to Texas?”

“One day at a time, Sunshine.” Lee tugged him to his side, ruffling his hair, “One day at a time.”

~

Will watched from the top of Halfblood Hill as the car carrying Argus and Lee pulled away, headed back toward New York City and the airport. Austin and Gracie were at his sides, with Jacinta on the other side of Gracie and Chiron behind them all. They stayed long after the car was lost among the hills, the fading sun glinting in their eyes.

“I believe it is time for supper,” Chiron said eventually, answered by the call of the dinner bell. Jacinta ushered the three of them down after him, playing mother hen. Will was grateful for it; it meant he didn’t have to. The hunters had moved on early that day, so the campers had returned to the Big House’s dining room.

“You’ll see him again next summer,” Jacinta said kindly as they settled down at the table, “And he said he would IM you every week.”

“Next summer is his last though,” Austin pointed out as he scraped some of his mac and cheese into the brazier, “He’ll be nineteen next fall, and off to college.”

“Like he would never visit.” The others followed suit, scraping parts of their dinner into the fire. Gracie gave up her vegetables again, and Will just plunked some of his own onto her plate.

“You never did.” 

A long pause followed Will’s words, nobody daring to breathe until Jacinta nodded, a crooked smile on her lips.

“That’s true. But Lee is not me, and he would never leave you all for long.” Will tried to apologize, but she waved him away, “You told the truth, Will. I did try to visit, once, the summer after you came to camp. I lasted two days. There had been a quest just before, and…

She took in a shuddering breath, “My best friend, one of Aphrodite’s kids, didn’t come back. Their entire cabin was heartbroken. Dani had been their counselor for the longest time, and they had all loved them. That, on top of my own grief, was too much. So I never came back.”

Will and the others shared a look, then crashed into her, startling a laugh out of her. She bore it for a minute or two, then said, “Alright, that’s enough!”

“I am sorry, Jacinta. It wasn’t fair of me to judge like that.” She rolled her eyes, slinging an arm around his neck.

“Stop apologizing, or I’ll make the Stolls dump you in the lake.” Laughing, Will held up his hands in surrender, and she released him. As the topic changed, he let the others steer the conversation, happy to sit and watch them interact. It made him feel normal again, or at least normal-er.

That was until he looked up and met endlessly dark eyes.

Chapter Text

The morning found Will at the archery range, shooting arrow after arrow, going through the steps he had once learned from Annabeth. Gracie was still asleep, and Jacinta had promised to look after her for the morning. She would have tried to fire the bow herself, and Will didn’t want her straining that arm.

“Your dad’s the god of archery, right?” The sudden voice startled Will, and his arrow went off target, sailing into the bullseye next to his. “Is that why you’re good at it?”

He looked over his shoulder to see Nico sitting on the fence, “Yes he is, and I’m really not very good. Just wait for next summer when you’ll get to see my siblings shoot. They’re good.” Will went down the track, collecting his arrows before returning to lean against the fence beside him. “What happened to not talking to me?”

Nico was silent for a long moment, “You told me to come find you when I wasn’t okay.”

“That I did.” Will studied him for a moment, “Alright, your options are PATD.”

“What?” Nico asked, bewildered. Will laughed, ducking his head for a moment at his expression.

“PATD. It’s a system some Apollo kid put in place forever ago. It stands for ‘Physical contact, Alone, Talk, or Distract.’”

Nico’s nose wrinkled, “Really?”

Wii shrugged, “Like I said, it was made forever ago. Basically, do you want a hug, to be left alone, talk about it, or be distracted from it?”

He looked a little uncomfortable as he shrugged, “I don’t know… Bianca always forced me to talk.”

“And did that help?” Will tilted his head back to stare at the sky overhead. It was snowing outside the valley, but none was coming inside the barrier. He hoped Mr. D would keep it like that--he hated the snow.

“Not really. I’d end up keeping secrets, and then that would make me feel worse.” His voice grew quiet, “I don’t like lying to my sister.”

“Okay then. You don’t seem like the hugging type,” Nico snorted, shaking his head, “You obviously don’t want to be alone if you sought me out. We already ruled out talking. Let’s go up to the Big House and make hot chocolate.” Nico brightened a little, and Will grinned, “Just let me put this away.”

As they headed up the hill, people began to come up to them, clapping Will on the shoulder or giving him a hug. They all gave Nico a head nod or a ‘hi’ as well. Echo and Eulalie. Gennie from Athena’s cabin. Frankie from Ares. Charlie Beckendorf. Even Gracie had run up to them, followed closely by Jacinta, and thrown herself around Will’s waist. 

Once Will had convinced her to go with Jacinta again, he stood, meeting Nico’s dark gaze. His brow furrowed again as he asked, “Do you hug everyone?”

“Um…” he thought for a moment, a little taken aback by the sudden question, “I guess? Unless they don’t want one. But usually, they do, so yes, I hug pretty much everyone.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know,” Will said slowly, kicking a rock, “The Apollo cabin’s always been pretty touchy-feely, and we have this rule that whoever needs the hug more chooses when to let go. So, I guess it’s learned? Why?”

“I don’t know, it’s just something I noticed.” They continued their walk, “How well do you know Percy Jackson?”

“Not well,” Will felt like he was talking to Annabeth again, head swirling as he tried to keep up with the topic jumps, “I helped heal him when he came to camp, but that was about it. He was always Annabeth’s friend more than mine.”

“Who’s Annabeth?”

“My sister, kind of,” Nico looked confused, and Will shrugged, “She was an Athena kid, but she pretty much raised me. She was the one who went over the edge.”

“Oh.”

They had reached the infirmary, and Will led Nico through it into the kitchen. There, he filled a pot with milk and pulled out the things for hot chocolate. Nico settled on one of the barstools that lined one side of the counter.

“Isn’t Percy so cool? Watching him fight is aces! He promised to look after Bianca for me on the quest…” He trailed off, and when Will turned around, tears were beginning to slide down his face, “The orientation video said that quests are dangerous.”

“Oh, Nico…” Will went to his side, offering his arms for a hug. Nico slid into them, hiding his face in Will’s shoulder. “I’m sure Bianca will be fine. Like you said, Percy’s a great fighter, he can keep her safe. Plus she’ll have the other Hunter and Grover and Thalia. She’s hardly alone.”

Nico nodded, sitting back and rubbing his eyes. Will put together the hot chocolates, pushing one across the counter to him. They drank in silence for a while, Nico lost in his thoughts and Will studying him. Apparently hot chocolate wasn’t enough to distract him.

“Tell you what, if you still want, I’d like to learn how to play Mythomagic.” That brought a shy grin to Nico’s face. Will couldn’t help but notice how much it changed it, adding some life back into his eyes.

“Really?”

Will nodded, “Really.”

~

Two hours later found them on the porch of the Apollo cabin, playing each other in Mythomagic. Gracie sat on the swing behind Will, watching and making unhelpful suggestions. Jacinta read beside her and Austin was behind Nico on the other side of the porch, practicing his bass.

“You’re going easy on me!” Will declared, sitting up after Nico played his third low-power creature in a row. The guilty look on his face was enough proof for Will. “I knew it!”

“It’s your first time!” Nico said defensively, “It wouldn’t be fair!”

“How’m I supposed to learn if you don’t play full strength?” Will teased, grinning when Nico flushed. “Come on, Neeks, where’s your competitive spirit?”

“Ah shut it, Solace,” Nico said gruffly, studying his cards carefully. Will laughed, enjoying the gleam that shone in his dark eyes. He hadn’t seen it since the infirmary, after Capture the Flag.

In the distance, the dinner bell rang, drawing hungry campers from their cabins. Jacinta ruffled Will’s hair as she stood, “Put it away, hermanito. You can play again tomorrow.”

She led Gracie and Austin away as they picked up the cards. They were quiet, the only sound was the rustle of cards and figures and Will’s humming.

“Will?” Nico’s hands fidgeted with the last figure, a robed version of Hades.

“Yeah?” He bounced to his feet, holding a hand out to Nico. The younger boy took it, letting Will pull him to his feet.

“You’re a… you’re a healer, right?” Will nodded, “The other day, I… I got this weird pressure, in my chest. It hasn’t really gone away.”

He frowned, reaching a hand out. Nico shied away, and Will pulled it back, “I need to be touching you to tell, Nico. I was just going to put my hand on your shoulder.”

Nico relaxed a little, letting him when he reached out again. Will drew in a breath, diving into his mental path of the human body, looking for inconsistencies. Heart… fine. Lungs? Healthy. Ribs? Intact.

Will’s frown deepened as he pulled his hand back, “I can’t find anything wrong, Neeks. Maybe you just ate something weird?”

“Maybe.” Nico still looked concerned, and Will slipped an arm over his shoulders in a half-hug. He leaned into it without thinking, sucking in a deep breath.

“Jacinta might know,” Will said kindly, squeezing, “Let’s go eat and I’ll ask her.”

~

“What do you mean, ‘pressure’?” Jacinta asked as they ate, Austin and Gracie having a conversation of their own beside them. Gracie had finally begun putting her own vegetables on her plate.

“I don’t know. He just said pressure. I thought maybe it was an emotional thing? I couldn’t find anything wrong with him.”

Jacinta frowned, “I don’t think so, hermanito. I haven’t really felt anything odd when he’s around. It could be that whoever his godly parent is gave him a power that hasn’t manifested yet. Or it could just be anxiety about his sister being gone.”

Will nodded, “That’s kind of what I thought. I just thought I’d ask.” She ruffled his hair from across the table.

“Well, I’m glad you made a friend. Lee’d be proud.” He ducked his head, hiding a grin, and she added, softer, “I think Annabeth would be too.”

Chapter Text

Will woke early with his head facing the window. A gentle snow fell outside, but a glow emanated from somewhere in the distance. He grinned, climbing out of bed and wrapping himself in a warm coat, careful not to wake his siblings as he eased out the door. On the porch, he could tell the glow was coming from the campfire, warm and welcoming against the falling snow.

He made his way to it, feet crunching on the frozen ground as he settled onto the log before the fire. A small form, cloaked in brown, waited there, staring into the flames as if contemplating the matters of the world. Their mouth was pursed, their brow furrowed, puzzling over something only they knew.

“Good morning, my Lady.”

The girl, who could be no more than 8 or 9, turned to him, warmth glowing in her deep amber eyes, “William Solace. It has been a while,” she studied him for a moment, her face falling as she did, “And I am sorry your family has come to grief. But it has grown, has it not?”

“It has. I met one of my older sisters and gained a new little one.” Will grinned a little, “I think you’d like her, my Lady. She’s very… spunky.”

She laughed, warm and bright like the fire before them, “I’m sure she is if she’s anything like my nephew. Bring her next time you see me. I would like to meet her.”

“Of course, my Lady.” For a long while, they sat beside each other in silence, the boy and the little Lady. Around them, the snow fell, muffling the sounds of the waves and creatures in the forest. It was nice, for Will to be able to just sit there, without anyone hovering over him or sending him pitying looks when they thought he wasn’t looking. But something still bugged him, like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

“My Lady?”

“Yes, Will?”

“Is Lady Artemis alright? The Hunters have been worried.”

She smiled, patting his knee, “My niece will be fine. I trust Percy Jackson will tell you all everything—”

“Will?” A soft voice called from behind them, and they both turned. It was Gracie, feet hastily shoved in her shoes and no coat on. Tears glistened on her face, and Will launched to his feet.

“Gracie? Where’s your coat? What’s wrong?” She lost no time in throwing her good arm around his waist, burrowing her face in his stomach, “Hey, hey, it’s okay. Come sit.”

Gracie curled into his lap as he sat again, the Lady beside him looking on in amusement. Will unzipped his coat, wrapping it around Gracie. “My Lady, this is the sister I told you about.”

“Hello, little one.” For all that they appeared the same age, there was something maternal in the Lady’s voice, and it made Gracie relax almost instantly, “Do you know who I am?”

Gracie shook her head, leaning further into Will’s warmth. The Lady looked toward the campfire, beckoning a little to the flames. It rose higher, heat washing over them and melting some of the snow. “I am Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth.”

Gracie’s eyes widened. “You’re a goddess?” Hestia chuckled, nodding, “Cool!”

Suddenly, someone else strode out from the snow, stopping on the other side of the fire and leaning against his staff. Will and Gracie were both disturbed to see the snakes twining around it. Apollo kids did not like snakes, not after their father's ill luck with Python.

“Come on, Cinderella. Zeus is recalling all the major gods.” Hermes, God of Travelers and Messenger of the Gods, grinned at Will, “William Solace. You’ve got a surprise on the way.”

Hestia frowned at her brother, “What have I told you about that nickname, Hermes? And no frightening my friends.” She rested a hand on Will’s shoulder, “I will see you again, William Solace. Enjoy your winter.” He smiled up at her, trying to ignore the prickling from Hermes’ comment. They had been friends, of a sort, practically since Will had come to camp, and he was grateful for her kindness.

“Goodbye, my Lady.” Will closed his eyes and covered Gracie’s, although he could still see the bright flash through his closed lids. “Come on, Gracie, let’s go warm up.”

~

Someone rapped against the main door of the infirmary, bringing Will from the depths of his thoughts. He turned halfway to call, “Take a seat, and I’ll be out in a minute.”

He heard the springs of a bed and a murmured conversation as he set aside the tincture he was working on. Turning on the tap, he splashed water on his face, then washed his hands. The main door swung shut again as he stepped out, grabbing a towel and rubbing it over his face. Too many late nights and early mornings had taken their toll, and he was beginning to feel it.

“How can I help you?” Will went straight for the supply desk, dropping the towel onto the counter as he reached for nectar and ambrosia. His brain was on autopilot, thinking about Lady Hestia’s visit. What had Hermes meant, a surprise? He felt like he’d had enough surprises for the week, maybe even the month.

“Well, you could give your best friend a hug?” Will froze, the bottle of nectar in his hand slipping and falling onto the towel with a muffled thunk. The bed squeaked as they slipped off, and quiet feet padded across the floor coming to a stop behind him, “Will?”

“They told me you were dead.” He felt like he was watching himself talk, an icy sort of numbness dripping down his spine. He just stared at the nectar, the color swimming as he blinked away tears. “They refused to tell me what happened. I had to find out from Nico di Angelo—”

Annabeth turned him around, wrapping him in her arms. He stiffened, then broke, sobbing into her shoulder. She squeezed him tight, blinking away tears of her own. Gods, why had no one told him?

“I am so sorry, Sunshine,” she breathed as he cried, rubbing a hand through his hair like he was seven years old again, “So, so sorry. I should never have left you alone.”

They stayed that way for a long while, until Will's sniffles had stopped and Annabeth had brought her tears under control. Then, Will made her sit, examined her just like he would any returned quester, and handed over a square of ambrosia, sitting on the bed across from her. Slowly, they began swapping stories, Annabeth explaining what had happened after she had been thrown over the cliff, and Will filling her in on the gossip that she'd missed.

Will had just finished telling her about Gracie's climb up the rock wall when Austin came sprinting into the infirmary, “Will! Down by the woods, Beckendorf, injury.” he panted, then looked up, “Annabeth?”

Will sprang to his feet, grabbing his pack and kissing Annabeth on the cheek before taking off past Austin. Annabeth laughed a little, watching him go. He’s grown up .

~

“Don’t know why Austin got you,” Beckendorf said gruffly, watching Will cover his burned hand in the snow and nectar before wrapping it gently in gauze. He made a mental note to resupply the bag with bandages when he got back to the infirmary.

“Because that’s what he should have done,” Will said, packing his bag again, “Besides, it’s easier to care for it out in the snow.”

Will stood, offering Beckendorf a hand up. He took it, and Will helped the 6-foot-something guy to his feet. Beckendorf ruffled his hair fondly, “You sound like Lee, man.”

He blushed, but was cut off by a form slamming into him, wrapping his arms around him, “Wha— Nico?”

The boy’s thin shoulders were shaking, and Will hugged him back, running a scan to make sure nothing was wrong physically. He was exhausted, his heart beating way too quickly, but he'd also just run gods-know how far? Beckendorf disappeared, mumbling something about a new plan. Will's eyes were drawn back up the hill, towards a figure running toward them.

“Why is Percy Jackson sprinting toward us like we stole his pudding?” Will whispered, trying to draw a laugh. Nico jerked away, running a hand over his eyes, and Will was horrified to see tears glistening in his dark eyes. “Nico—”

“Don’t follow me.” Nico sprinted past him into the woods, disappearing quickly in the shade. Will was still staring when Percy came to a stop beside him, panting from the run. He looked him over, noting the grey streak in his hair that matched Annabeth's and reminding himself to get Percy into the infirmary soon for a checkup.

“What happened?”

The older boy looked down at him, and shook his head, “Bianca didn’t come back. He… didn’t take it well.”

“Oh…” Will felt a twinge of pain, looking back into the woods after him. His sister had come back, but Nico’s hadn’t. 

Cruel Fates.

Chapter Text

Dawn found the Apollo kids under Thalia’s pine, saying their goodbyes. A short distance away, the Athena kids were doing the same, Annabeth at their center. Gracie and Austin were both crying.

“Thanks for keeping an eye on them, Jacinta,” Will said softly, adjusting the backpack on his shoulders. She gave him a sad smile, wrapping him in a hug.

“Of course, hermanito ,” she pulled back, her hands resting on his shoulders, “You have fun with your mom, alright?”

Will nodded, turning to the younger two, “Come here.”

They both crashed into him, nearly knocking him off his feet. He chuckled, squeezing them tightly. He knew Lee had been right, that he’d become a mother hen to these two, but he couldn’t find it in him to regret it.

“You guys listen to Jacinta and Silena, alright?” He let go, resting a hand on both of their shoulders. They both nodded, “Eat your vegetables, both of you, and I’ll be back in a few weeks.”

“You’ll call, right?” Austin asked, wiping the tears from his cheeks. Will nodded, and Austin held out a pinky. He looped his around Austin’s, sealing the pinky promise. Jacinta stepped in, wrapping her arms around their shoulders.

“Two pm on Saturdays.” He bent down for a moment, meeting Gracie’s eyes, “Chiron’s going to take out those stitches on Monday. It shouldn’t hurt much, but Austin knows where the candy is if you need a pick-me-up.”

Gracie nodded, lip trembling, before flinging herself at him again. He squeezed her, but let go, breaking the Apollo rule. He stood, ruffling her hair fondly.

“I’ve got to go now. I’ll call you next Saturday.” They both nodded, and Will forced himself to turn away, walking to join Annabeth down at the car. When he looked back, they still stood there, waving down at him. He waved back, blinking away tears.

“Come on, Sunshine,” Annabeth said, holding the door open for him, “Time for a new adventure.”
~

Annabeth, through some stroke of luck or Mist manipulation, had managed to get the same flight as him from New York to Austin, and it was of little difficulty to convince the old lady who was Will’s seat partner to switch with her.

“So,” Annabeth said, plopping down beside him as the plane finished loading, “I already told you what happened to me. You told me about Austin, Jacinta, and Gracie.  Anything else you holding out on? Any impressive feats you neglected to mention?”

From her tone, Will could see she had something specific in mind, but he could think of absolutely nothing that would warrant it. “Er… Nico and I are friends now?”

“While I love that you think making a friend is an impressive feat for you,” she said, rolling her eyes, “I was referring to maybe healing the entire camp by yourself! Hello? That’s like, crazy impressive!”

Will felt his face flush, and ducked his head, “Who did you hear that from?”

“Um, just about everyone,” she poked his temple, “They kept using it to reassure me that you were doing okay while I was out of commission.”

“It wasn’t the whole camp,” Will said, cheeks growing steadily redder, “And did no one tell you I crashed for like thirteen hours after?”

“Well of course you did. That was serious power, and you’re not used to doing that much by yourself,” She said matter-of-factly, “It’s the fact that you didn’t crash in the middle of it that’s impressive.”

“Well, I couldn’t really do that, now could I? There were still people hurt,” Will pointed out, convinced that his face was redder than a fire hydrant.

Annabeth laughed, shaking her head, “Unbelievable. You don’t see how amazing what you can do is, do you?”

Will didn’t know how to take that. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Sure, Sunshine.” She was still shaking her head in amazement, “Are you ready to see your mom again?”

“Yeah, I am,” Will laughed a little, “I kind of need a break from the excitement.”

“I feel you there,” she leaned back with a sigh, twirling her new grey streak around her finger, “Although I don’t think mortal school is going to be a walk in the park either.”

“No, but think about all the boys you can show up in PE,” Annabeth rolled her eyes, flicking his head. Will grinned, then sobered, glancing down at his hands as his voice quieted, “Are you ready to see your stepmom again?”

Annabeth was silent for a long time, so long Will began to worry she wasn’t going to answer him at all. But then she sighed, shrugging, “Honestly, I have no idea. I can see why she never believed me back then, especially since I’ve got more little siblings now, but… I don’t know.”

“That’s fair, I think,” he said, leaning back in his seat, “I think it’s going to be an adjustment for all of you, and I think you could all use therapy.” She shoved him, making him laugh, “I’m serious! But honestly, I think all demigods should have therapy.”

“Ah yes,” Annabeth said, shaking her head as she laughed, “The satyrs could pass out coupons when they pick up kids.”

“‘Congrats, you’re a demigod! Here’s your lifetime therapy discount,’” Will said, imitating Grover. 

That just made Annabeth laugh more, and the older man in front of them gave her a stink eye. She quieted, still giggling, and threw an arm over his shoulder, leaning her head against his. “I’m gonna miss this, Sunshine.”

He didn’t say anything, just stayed right there, leaning against her. And that was enough for her.

~

“I’ll see you for spring break, alright?” Annabeth said, pulling him into a hug. He squeezed back, blinking away tears.

“As long as you can pry yourself away from your books,” he said, stepping away. Behind her, he spotted his mom weaving her way through the crowd, “Come say hi first.”

They ran over to Naomi Solace, who wrapped them both into a hug without a second thought. She was warm and clean and smelled just like she always had, of sage and smoke. Will didn’t even try to stop the tears this time.

“Well, hello, you two.” They could hear the smile in her voice, but just like the kids of Apollo, she waited until they stepped away, “Are you coming to stay, too, Annabeth?”

“No, I’ve got a layover before going to San Francisco,” she explained, “I’m just making sure he got to you safe and sound.”

“Well, thank you, hun,” Naomi smiled, reaching out to pat Annabeth’s cheek. Then she frowned, eyes catching on the streak of grey that ran through her hair, “Where’d you get this?”

Annabeth flushed, twirling the offending lock around her finger, “On a quest. Will can tell you about it later, I’m sure. Along with his new friend.”

Will made a face at her, earning a swat on the arm from his mother. “You take care of yourself, okay, hun? If you’re ever in Austin, you just stop by.”

“Of course, Ms. Solace,” that earned her a look, and she corrected herself, “Naomi. Thank you.”

Naomi gave her another hug, and then she turned to Will. He hugged her just as fiercely as he had hugged his mother, squeezing her so tight you could hear her back crack. She laughed, squeezing back just as hard.

“Be safe, Bennie,” he mumbled, feeling her nod before letting her go, “Spring break?”

“Spring break,” she confirmed, ruffling his hair one last time. And as she walked away, Will felt a flare of anxiety in his stomach. Then Naomi wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and he glanced up at her.

“She’ll be fine, buttercup,” she said softly, running a hand through his curls, “She’s a strong one. Now, I hope you practiced your Spanish this year.”

Will gave her a look, “Why?”

“I promised we’d visit your abuelos before going home.”

Will groaned, letting her steer him out of the airport, “Abuelita’s going to pinch my cheeks though. I hate that.”

“Maybe she won’t,” Naomi said, unlocking the car. He slid into the passenger seat, giving her a look, and she acquiesced, “Alright, but they haven’t seen you since last Christmas, mijo. I think you can stand a little bit of cheek-pinching for them.”

When Will still looked unimpressed, she added, “They’ll feed you.”

“Okay, then.”

“And on the way, you can tell me about what Annabeth was talking about. What’s this about a friend?”

“Mom!”

~

Will always thought there was something special about his grandparents’ house, something that made them always seem larger than life. It had never been a mystery to him why Apollo might be interested in his mom, but Will always wondered whether maybe her parents were part of the draw. No offense to Zeus, but he couldn’t imagine he was as warm and caring as Elvio and Paloma Solace.

Take the moment Will walked into the house, for example. He barely stepped across the threshold when his abuela wrapped him into a hug, clucking over him like he’d been poorly.

“Mi cielo,” she stepped back, pinching his cheeks as she spoke in Spanish, “You’re so thin! Do they not feed you at the school of yours?”

As she pinched his cheeks, Will sent his mom a look, who just shrugged. “They feed me plenty, Abuelita,” he told her, also in Spanish, “But there’s a huge focus on sports and stuff.”

Paloma shook her head, leading them into the kitchen, “No excuse! Sit, I just finished a new batch of conchas.”

Will grinned at the mention of the Mexican sweet bread, stopping for a moment to hug his abuelo, “Gracias, Abuelita.”

“How has school been, Will?” Elvio asked as Will took a seat beside him at the table, accepting the plate of conchas Paloma set in the middle of the table, “Any girls catch your eye yet?”

He flushed, shaking his head as Naomi gave her father a look. “Papa, none of that. He’s eleven!”

“Relax, mija,” he waved a hand, “I’m just teasing.”

“School’s fine,” Will said, swallowing his bite, “I’m specializing in medicine right now and we got a new little sister.”

“What?” Paloma gave him a weird look, and Will realized what he had said.

“Umm… I mean we got a new student added to my group. We pair up so that the younger ones have a guide, and I’m hers. We call each other ‘big brother’ and ‘little sister’.” Naomi rolled her eyes at his explanation, and Will made a face at her when his abuelos looked away.

“I’m sure you are an excellent big brother, mi cielo,” Paloma reached out to pinch his cheek again, smiling lovingly, “And you do so much at this school! Year-round too. You’re not working yourself too hard, right?”

“Of course not, Abuelita,” Will said, feeling a slight twinge of guilt at this particular lie, “My big brother would never let me. He’s very good at making me take breaks.”

“Good,” she said, then pushed the plate toward him and away from Elvio, who was reaching for his third, “Now eat.”

“Hey!” His abuelo cried, “What about me?”

“You don’t need any more,” she said, waving a hand, “You’ve had too many! Don’t think I didn’t see you sneaking fingerfuls earlier, Elvio.”

Will laughed at their bickering, feeling the sadness in his chest melt away a little. Sure, it wasn’t camp, but he could never deny that this wasn’t part of his home.

~

Will got the unnerving feeling that someone was watching him. To be honest, he always felt that way outside of camp, but in the last few days, it had multiplied. Naomi had just left for the store, and he lay in the living room, an open medical textbook in front of him and the tv in the background. It was playing some rerun of Jeopardy from weeks ago, and Will listened with half an ear as the game commenced. 

It was the first time he’d felt any sort of peace in the last week and a half. Annabeth was safe with her dad in San Francisco, with the promise that he would see her for her spring break. Silena had promised to keep an eye on Gracie and Austin until he got back. For the first time, he let himself relax.

A knock echoed through the little house, and he sighed. Sticking a bookmark in the textbook, he pushed himself up, scrubbing a hand across his face. So much for relaxing. He pushed his hair from his eyes as he reached for the door, wondering if Shel or Laura had somehow realized he was home already. But as he looked up to meet the eyes of the person on the other side, his heart plummeted. 

“Luke?”

Chapter Text

“Luke?” Will couldn’t breathe. How was he here? How did he know where he was? Why was he here?

His former sword instructor grinned, blue eyes and bright teeth flashing in the afternoon sun, “Hey, Will. Long time, no see.”

Will reached behind him slowly, feeling for the dagger he kept in his waistband, “You’re supposed to be dead.”

Luke just smiled, leaning against the doorframe. While Will was tall for his age, Luke was taller, looming over him like a vulture stalking its prey. “Aren’t you gonna invite an old friend in? Wouldn’t want your neighbors to think you were being inhospitable.”

Will glanced behind Luke, and sure enough, his neighbors were peering out of their windows and garages, eyeing his house and the limo in front of it. How had he gotten a limo? Will bit his cheek, but let him in, tugging his shirt over the dagger’s hilt as he led him to the kitchen.

“Now what do you want, Luke? Bennie and Percy already told everyone what happened.” Will leaned against the cupboards, his arms crossed as he glared at the son of Hermes. He could tell his accent had gotten thicker, like it always did when he was angry.

Luke flinched and suddenly seemed to fall apart before Will’s eyes. It was like a marionette whose strings had been cut. He crumpled forward until he was leaning on his knees, and that mask of cool confidence had fallen, showing absolute heartbreak.

“That wasn’t me, Will. You have to believe me,” Luke looked up, meeting his eyes for a moment before his gaze fell again, “Kronos had me. Made me do all that. I was just… his pawn. It was like I could see what was happening, but I couldn’t control it. I was just… stuck. A rat in a trap.”

Will’s cold exterior softened a little. That’s what Bennie had said too, that Luke was being used. That he wasn’t himself. But was it true?

“That doesn’t explain why you’re here,” Will said gently, uncrossing his arms and sitting across from him. Luke nodded and straightened, wincing as he did. He lifted his shirt, and Will gasped.

Scars and bruises mottled his chest, to the point that there was hardly a square inch of his natural skin color left. Some were red and puffy, others had gone silvery white. The bruises were all fresh, a few days old at most.

“This is why.” Luke lowered his shirt again, blue meeting blue across the mahogany table, “There’s no one else I trust, Will. I need your help.”

“Luke, how…” He remembered Bennie recounting the battle, how she had choked up when she said he had fallen off a cliff. “The fall. I wondered.”

He nodded, “I’ve had as much ambrosia as I can. I need a healer. I need you.”

Will’s resolve collapsed, and he offered him a hand, “Come on, I need you to lie down.”

Luke took the hand, and Will gasped again. He felt the true extent of his injuries, felt the pain in every movement. Carefully, Will looped his arm over his shoulders, taking most of his weight as they made their way into the living room. Jeopardy still played on the TV, and his book was still on the floor. He eased Luke onto the couch, then kneeled beside him, helping him ease his shirt up.

Gently, Will laid his hands on Luke’s side, breathing deeply as he closed his eyes. He sang the three-note melody, a quiet hymn to his father to heal and protect. He felt the draw, the warmth of his father’s blessing fill his hands, and he let out a quiet sigh of relief. It was working.

Or at least it was , until Luke let out a scream of pain, shying away from Will’s hands. Until the warmth in his hands turned blazing, searing, against the coolness of his skin. His eyes flew open, watching in horror as burn marks appeared against the pale skin. Burn marks in the shape of his hands. 

Smoke curled from his hands, fingers glowing red.

You will not heal that son of Hermes with my blessing, William Solace, a voice boomed in his skull, making his teeth rattle and head pound. Try again, and the blessing of the sun will be the least of your concern .

After a moment, the burns faded, and Will was left staring at his hands, watching as they began to shake. His breath came short and fast, his nerves an avalanche in his chest, so loud he barely heard Luke talking.

“Will?” Luke’s voice was gentle, but his breathing was labored and heavy, “Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m okay. Just breathe.”

Slowly, Will got his breathing under control, lowering his shaking hands. His shoulders sagged, and it took a lot to meet Luke’s eyes. But WIll made himself do it, made himself meet his eyes with all the strength he could muster.

“I…I can’t heal you.” His voice was small, fragile against the tinned laughter of Jeopardy . “Dad, he… he won’t let me.”

Luke gave his crooked smile, knocking one hand softly against his head, “You tried, kid. Not your fault the gods are against us.”

Will stayed quiet, his father’s voice still echoing in his skull. Luke left him to his thoughts, tilting his head to watch the TV. In the distance, he could hear the main road, the cars shooting past. Birds chirped, unaware anything had happened.

“Have you ever thought about it, Will?” Luke asked suddenly, sitting up, his blue eyes meeting Will’s.

“About what?”

“How unfair it is for the gods, our parents, to give us these talents and then punish us for using them.” Luke’s eyes had brightened, burning electric against Will’s soft sky. “Think about it. They expect us to do everything for them. We learn to fight, to heal, to protect ourselves, only to get sent on quests and die anyway. And who are those quests meant to save? The gods!”

“I suppose so.” Will’s brain moved slowly, thinking over what Luke had just said. It was unfair that they did all this work and very rarely got recognition. Unless you’re Percy Jackson , a small part of his brain whispered. Unless you’re getting scolded for doing your job.

“That’s why Kronos found me, Will. He can change things. Make them better.” Luke began to smile, conviction seeping into his face, “You could join us, you know. He’d let you heal everyone you wanted. You’d be safe. And you could help me convince Annabeth.”

Will felt like Luke was the sun, burning brightly and spotting his vision. It sounded good, so good. Too good. “Safe from what, Luke?”

“Come on, Will.” The conviction turned to annoyance, “You’re smart. There’s going to be bloodshed, that’s inevitable. But if you came with me, you’d be safe, you could keep Annabeth safe.”

Will shook his head, slowly, thinking it all over, “But… Lee and Austin. Gracie. I can’t leave them.” Luke looked at him with pity.

“Sacrifices, Will. We all have to make sacrifices.”

“But they’re my family. I won’t sacrifice my family.”

“Will, you’re not thinking about the greater good!” Luke stood abruptly, pacing the living room, “Think how much of a difference you could make! When Kronos rules, you could be the greatest healer! No more waiting for Heather to double-check all your work, no waiting for Dad to give you his blessing.”

Will climbed to his feet, one hand on the dagger as outrage began to fill his chest, “Bless your heart if you think I’m gonna give up my family, Luke.”

Luke turned to him, his eyes flashing gold in the fading sun, “Join me. You could protect them. You could convince them. They could be safe. But if you don’t… I can’t promise anything. So join me.”

“You’d have to kill every last one of us before I ever would,” Will drew his dagger, “Now, I think you’d best be leaving. You won’t find like here.”

He sighed, drawing the sword hung at his hip. How had Will not noticed that? “I thought you were better than this, Will. I really did. I hate to leave all your little siblings without their big brother, but you’ve given me no choice.”

Will settled back into the stance Annabeth had taught him, balancing his weight between his feet. Only one thought echoed in his head: I will not let my mom bury her only child today.

As if the gods were mocking him, they both heard the front door open, and a warm voice called out, “Will, come help with the groceries please!” Naomi Solace peered into the living room, squinting for a moment before frowning, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize Will had a friend over.”

Luke sheathed his blade, and after a moment, Will did too. He smiled that crooked smile of his, “Hello, Ms. Solace. My name is Luke, I used to bring Will home when Lee couldn’t.”

“Luke Castellan, that’s you?” She shook her head with a laugh, “It’s good to see you again. But I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave. Will and I need to get ready for his grandparents.”

“Of course,” Luke ruffled Will’s hair, a little harder than necessary, “I was just dropping by anyway. You think about what I told you, Will. You could do a lot of good.”

Will watched as he left, closing the front door behind him. As soon as it did, his nerves came rushing in, and he began to shiver. Naomi glanced at him, then pulled him into a hug, strong and warm. He breathed in the smell of sage and fire, letting it soothe his nerves a little.

“Now, who was that really, Will? And why were you about to go up against him with a dagger?” Will laughed, a little hysterical, and Naomi pulled him down on the couch beside her, groceries forgotten.

“It was Luke, Mama,” Will said finally, relaxing a little as Naomi toyed with his hair, “But, somewhere along the way, he got confused. He’s angry at the gods, and teamed up with Kronos.”

“But I thought Kronos was in Tartarus?” Will shrugged restlessly.

“I don’t know how. But he’s started attacking demigods. They’re trying to destroy Olympus, Ma.” She pulled him closer, kissing the top of his head when his voice started to shake, “He was tryin’ to convince me to join him. And I almost did.”

“Oh, buttercup,” she rested a hand against his cheek, “I’m sure he made it sound awful sweet, huh?”

Will nodded, “At first, he only wanted me to heal him. And I tried, but Dad didn’t want me to. He said You will not heal that son of Hermes with my blessing, William Solace. He… he made me burn him.”

“What?” Naomi stiffened, and Will saw a murderous look cross her face. But when she saw him looking, she schooled her expression, “That was crossing the line, even for a god. You were just trying to do a good thing, buttercup. There’s no reason your father should do that.”

“Then why did he?” Will’s voice sounded young and fragile to his ears, and he hated it. 

Naomi just smiled softly, tugging him closer, “I don’t know, buttercup. I just don’t know.” Then, so quiet he almost missed it, she added, “But I’m gonna find out.”

~

Will went to bed early that night, exhausted from the roller coaster of emotions. As his head hit the pillow, he fell into an uneasy sleep, dreams lurking at the edge of anything deeper. Every time he closed his eyes, those burn marks haunted him, seared into his memory. The smell of burning flesh filled his nose, and his hands grew unbearably warm. Then the image would change, to Luke standing over his beaten and bleeding corpse, eyes flashing gold. Then it wasn’t his body, but that of Lee or Austin, Gracie or Kayla, or any number of his siblings and friends. He would be chained beside Luke, tear tracks down his cheeks, and a gag over his mouth.

The worst was when it wasn’t his siblings or his friends, but his mother. Her once bright, sky-blue eyes were dulled and lifeless, one blood-stained hand still reaching out to him from death. And as he sobbed, the gag cutting into his cheeks, Luke would just smile down and say, “ Sacrifices, Will. I told you .”

After that, he was awake for good, shivering despite his covers. From his nightstand, the number 3:33 blinked at him. Carefully, he slipped from his bed, drawing his blanket with him and cocooning it around him. Quiet steps led him to the staircase, where he saw the kitchen light still glowing.

Low voices rose up to him, and he sat on the top step, frowning. He recognized his mother’s, soft and tired and… angry . She was actually angry about something.

“...is a child. He’s not even thirteen yet, and you decide to pull that shit?” Her voice was tight, a coiled viper waiting to strike.

“Naomi.” Will felt a chill at that voice. It was the same one that had thundered in his head hours before, but it was softer now, less angry and more irritated. “I will not allow my son to help the traitor who captured my sister, my twin. You must understand that.”

“It is not up to you to decide for him. I know Luke—” Apollo gave an outraged sound, but Naomi forged on, picking up steam, “I know Luke, Apollo. He brought Will back to me every break and took him back every time our time together was up. He was there for Will, and to try and force him to turn his back… To make him actually hurt him… That’s exactly what made Luke go turncoat in the first place. It’s Will’s choice who he heals, and if he wants to heal those who have hurt you, or him, or his family, that makes him braver than you could ever understand.”

“I did not come here to be berated, Naomi.” The irritation turned to defeat as he said, “I realize it was not the best action. But she’s my sister, and he hurt her.”

“And he’s your son, and you hurt him,” Naomi said, unmoved. Then she sighed, and Will knew from the quiet gasp that she had kneeled beside him (her knee must be acting up again), “Apollo, you need to tell him you’re sorry. And visit your children more often. Otherwise Luke won’t be the first to leave.”

A flash brightened the bottom floor, the reflection of the white paint blinding Will. Then it was quiet, so quiet. He heard Naomi sigh, pushing out of her chair and padding across the kitchen floor. Will stood, debating for a long moment. Then the footsteps reached the base of the stair and Will backtracked into his room, climbing back into bed as he heard her tread on the stairs. And as the door creaked open, spilling in light from the hall, he squeezed his eyes shut and feigned sleep.

The bed dipped as Naomi settled beside him, running a soft hand through his hair. He kept his breath deep and even as she murmured, “Sleep tight, buttercup. You’re gonna have some hard days ahead of you.”

Chapter Text

“Good morning, buttercup,” Naomi said the next morning when Will stumbled down the stairs. Really, it was less morning and more early afternoon, because Will hadn’t fallen asleep until the sun’s rays had just kissed the sky.

“Morning,” he mumbled, accepting the plate of pancakes she handed to him. He ate in silence, slowly waking from his groggy state. When he finished, he put his plate in the dishwasher, fully awake, “I need to call Chiron. Fill him in on Luke.”

Naomi nodded, planting a kiss on his forehead, “You know where the drachmas are, buttercup. We’ll open presents later.”

Will wasn’t sure how his mom was able to keep stock of things like ambrosia and drachmas (both of which could be found in her practice room, hidden in her spare guitar case), but she always had a supply of both. He took a drachma from the velvet-lined case, then, after a moment, took a second before climbing the stairs back to his room. Opening the curtains, the sunlight cast a variety of rainbows across the floor, thanks to the numerous light prisms lining the sill.

“Oh, Iris, Goddess of Rainbows, please accept my offering. Show me Chiron at Camp Half-Blood.” He flicked the first drachma through the rainbow on the wall, watching as it rippled and grew, the colors shifting to reveal the dining room of the Big House, Chiron at the table’s head. Will hadn’t realized how late it was.

“William,” Chiron sounded genuinely surprised, and his face quickly wrinkled at the look on Will’s face, “Something’s happened.” Will nodded, and Chiron cursed softly under his breath, glancing around at the gathered campers, “Give me half an hour, William. I will call you, and then we can talk.”

“Yes, sir.” 

He watched Chiron swipe a hand through the image, scattering the rainbow. Reaching for the second drachma, he repeated the greeting, “Oh, Iris, Goddess of Rainbows, please accept my offering. Show me Clarisse La Rue of Phoenix, Arizona.” He added a silent prayer that she would be there, and alone.

Again, the rainbow rippled and stretched,  revealing a beat-up car and someone’s jean-clad legs sticking out from underneath. Will frowned, confused for a moment, calling out, “Umm, Clarisse?”

“What the—” There was a clang and a swear before the legs pulled the rest of the person’s body out from beneath the car. Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares, glared at the rainbow image, rubbing her head, “Golden Boy, what in Hades are you doing?”

“Missed you.” Will shrugged, his voice quiet even though he was used to her rough nature. He still wasn’t used to the new scar on her chin, or how short her hair was after that mission Chiron had sent her on. “How’s your break going?”

“Cut the crap,” Clarisse said instead, pushing herself up to sit on the hood of the car, “What’s wrong?”

“Why should something be wrong?” he asked, the banter pulling something of a smile onto his face. He liked Clarisse’s brisk, no-nonsense manner, but he liked annoying her with it even more.

She just raised an eyebrow at him, “Golden Boy, it’s Christmas Day, you’re obviously at your mom’s, and I didn’t need to shield my eyes from your smile when you called. Something’s wrong.”

Will conceded, suddenly very interested in his hands, “You heard about the latest quest right?”

“Sherman filled me in.” 

He nodded, pushing his cuticles back to avoid eye contact, “So you know that Luke’s supposed to be dead?”

“Get to the point.”

“Luke came to my house yesterday.” He glanced up and Clarisse had leaned forward, eyes flashing. Slowly, he told her what happened, from the conversation at the beginning until the attempted healing. There he choked, still smelling that burnt flesh.

“Will. One big breath in.” That tone in her voice told him to look up, to not refuse. He always listened to that tone. He did, breathing in until his cheeks puffed out, and she held out a finger, “Blow out the candle.”

He did, letting out his air in a steady stream, but he rolled his eyes at her, “I’m not seven anymore, Clarisse.”

“Worked, didn’t it?” She said smugly, “Now finish.”

“Dad gave me the blessing of the sun instead of healing,” he said, looking away again, “I branded him. Literally burned my handprints into his side. I didn’t even know I could do that. Then he started trying to convince me to join him, saying that I could become so powerful, I could keep Annabeth safe.

“I told him no, that I couldn’t leave my family like that. And he drew his sword, and I drew my dagger, and if Mom hadn’t walked through the door, I’d be dead right now, Clarisse.” He said the last part in a rush, tears pricking his eyes as he realized just how close he’d come to death. Not that he was scared of it, but after just thinking that he had lost Annabeth… He wouldn’t wish it on anyone, let alone his own siblings.

Clarisse was quiet for a long moment, a faraway look in her eyes. Then she shook herself, “First off, you’re an idiot for thinking even for a second you could take Luke Castellan on at all , let alone with only a dagger, Golden Boy.” That startled a laugh out of him, and he wiped away the few tears that had tracked down his face, “Second off, it’s your dad’s fault you burned him, not yours. Don’t try to take credit for the gods’ wrongdoings, kid.”

“Yeah,” he said softly, thinking it over, “Yeah, I guess.”

“And third, when I get back to camp, you and I are working on hand-to-hand combat and how you might be able to face an opponent with a longer weapon.” She saw the look on his face, “I will kidnap you in the middle of the night and face the harpies if I have to, Golden Boy, but it’s happening.”

“Alright, alright.” Will nodded, knowing that she absolutely would, and that it was her way of showing him she cared, “Thanks, Clarisse. I fee—”

The image flashed twice, and a woman’s voice said, “Incoming Iris-Message from Chiron, Activities Director at Camp Half-Blood.”

“Clarisse, I’ve got to fill Chiron in,” Will said quickly, “I’ll see you at camp.”

“So long, Golden Boy.” Her words trailed off as he accepted Chiron’s message, the image shifting back to Chiron’s office.

“What’s happened? Is anyone hurt?” Chiron sounded anxious, and Will shook his head.

“Not really, sir.” Will launched into yet another retelling of what happened, his voice calmer and more controlled than when he’d spoken to Clarisse. He still tripped over the part about the branding, having to stop and breathe for a moment before he could say it, but he got through it all.

“Chiron, I’m afraid he’s going to start going after other campers too.” Will said at last, his story done, “I think he was hoping to kill two birds with one stone with me, but…”

“Thank you for telling me, William,” Chiron said when Will trailed off, worry in his dark eyes, “I will speak to Mr. D about this and we will figure out a plan. In the meantime, try to enjoy being home, alright?”

“Yes, sir.” Will hesitated, then said, “Can you not tell my siblings? I’d rather not worry them.”

“Who knows, outside of you, Mr.D, and myself, is completely up to you,” Chiron said seriously, “However, I would recommend opening up to somebody about what happened. What you went through is incredibly traumatizing, Will. Not just yesterday, but this entire week.”

“I know. I’ll find someone.” Chiron nodded.

“Then I will see you in a few weeks.”

He cut the connection and Will collapsed backward, lying on the floor and staring up at the ceiling for a long time. It wasn’t until he heard his mother call, threatening to open presents without him, that he pulled himself to his feet, shaking himself.

It was still Christmas after all.

~

The next few days passed without care, split between his abuelos and his mom. After his run-in on Christmas Eve, neither Will nor Naomi wanted him alone for very long, so he went practically everywhere with her. The supermarket, rehearsal studio, clothes shopping.  And while Will loved his mother, he was not made for the constant changing of places and things. Somehow, it made him more anxious than staying home alone.

So, when Saturday came and Naomi had places to go, Will decided to stay home.

~

“You sure, buttercup?” Naomi asked, studying his face for a moment. Before he could even reply, she nodded to herself, pressing a kiss to his forehead, “You’re sure.”

“I told Austin and Gracie I’d call. I pinky promised.” 

She nodded solemnly, a glitter of amusement in her eyes, “You won’t answer the door? You’ll go to the Castillos if you need anything?”

“Yes, Mom,” Will resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew his mom was worried—so was he—but really?

She laughed, ruffling his hair fondly, “I’ll be back in an hour or so, buttercup.”

“Bye,” he watched her get in the car and pull away before closing and locking the door. Then he wrapped his fingers around the drachma and crystal in his pocket, climbing the stairs to his room and settling in front of the rainbows. “Oh, Iris, Goddess of Rainbows, please accept my offering. Show me the Apollo cabin at Camp Half-Blood.” He flicked the drachma through, closely followed by the crystal, “The crystal is a thank you.”

The image rippled and stretched, but it didn’t show the Apollo cabin. Instead, it showed a store of some sort, hung with psychedelic colors and stuffed to the brim with knick-knacks and crystals. In the center of the image was a woman, maybe a little older than his mom, with olive skin and dark eyes, a smile crinkling the corners.

“William Solace,” her voice was lilty, like she was half-humming every word she said, “You are a sweet one. Just remember, if you ever need a favor, you let me know.”

The image dissolved before Will could respond, revealing the Apollo cabin. Gracie and Austin both sat on the couch before him, looking bored and nervous as they waited. When Will’s rainbow fully materialized, they both jumped to their feet, grinning at him.

“Will!” They cried in unison, though Austin had to hold Gracie back from running straight through the image. 

“Hey, guys! How’s life at camp going? Y’all have been eating your vegetables?” He tried to infuse some enthusiasm into his voice as he spoke, though, from the flicker of a frown that crossed, Austin's face, he wasn't totally successful.

Austin nodded while Gracie made a face. “Silena’s really good at getting Gracie to eat them,” he explained, “Like scary good. But they’ve also been experimenting with different kinds.”

“Oh yeah? How’s that going, Squirrelly Girl? And how’s your arm doing?”

For the next hour, they talked about everything; how everyone was, what new shenanigans were happening, Will’s life in Texas. The incident pressed down on the back of Will’s mind, but he shoved it aside, enjoying the time with his siblings.

Toward the end of the hour, he heard the door downstairs close and his mom’s tread on the stairs. He leaned backward, looking at her upside down when she knocked on the open door. Austin was in the middle of telling him about his healing lesson with Chiron.

“I thought I heard Austin,” Naomi said, kneeling beside Will with a bright smile, “How are you doing, darlin’?”

“Hi, Naomi!” Austin looked more excited to see Will’s mom than he had to see Will, “I’m doing good!”

“Mom, this is Gracie,” Will gestured toward the girl, who had decided to turn shy and hide in the background, “Squirrelly Girl, this is my mom, Naomi.”

Naomi’s smile softened, and she gave Gracie a little wave, “Hiya, sweets. So, I hear you like to climb, huh?”

Gracie nodded, drifting closer to the Iris Message. Will couldn’t help but wonder why she was being so skittish, but then he remembered her past. Was there something in his mom that reminded her of her own? Will hoped not.

“...see how many of you there are next year,” Naomi was saying, squeezing Will’s shoulders, “But if it’s just a few of you, I’ll see if Chiron would be okay with y’all coming for Christmas.”

Will grinned at the thought of his siblings coming down for Christmas. Naomi had definitely passed on her “the more, the merrier” attitude. She ruffled his hair, standing again and leaving to start supper.

In the background, the door to Apollo opened, and a tall girl with long dark hair came in, shaking snow off her head. The cold had pinked her cheeks and nose, making her pretty even to Will, who wasn’t one to care for people's looks .

 “Guys, there’s a snowball fight brewing outside. You should come join.” Silena Beauregard smiled when she saw Will, coming closer to the Iris Message, “Hey, dude. How’s Texas?”

“So much warmer,” Will said, laughing at the look she gave him, “You guys should go have fun. I’ll call you next week before I fly out.”

Gracie and Austin didn’t need to be told twice. They scrambled for their winter things, flinging open the door only half-dressed. Silena and Will both laughed.

“Silena, thanks for keeping an eye on them.”

“Anytime,” she said, giving him a small smile, “I’ve been missing my little siblings, so I was happy to. This new girl, Drew,” Silena pulled a face, then shook her head and sighed, “She’s a handful.”

“Charmspeak?” Will said understandingly. Silena always struggled with the Aphrodite kids with charmspeak. Either she found them spoiled, or they were used to getting in trouble for manipulating others.

“A little. I don’t know, we’ll see how she develops,” she seemed to shake herself, giving him a rueful smile, “Here I am talking your ear off when you’re supposed to be spending time with your mom. Don’t worry about those two. I’ve got them.”

“Thanks again, Silena. And I wouldn’t worry too much about Drew—I’m sure she’ll be fine.” Silena gave him another smile and broke the connection. Will stood and looked out the window, his mind going back to the message before, from the cluttered shop. He was sure now that it had been Iris herself who had spoken to him; he just wasn’t sure what to make of it. 

There was a muffled yell from outside, breaking his reverie. Two girls waved enthusiastically up at him, before taking off toward his front door. He gave a double take, a slow grin spreading across his face as he scrambled to his feet. Shel and Laura were two of his best mortal friends, for all that they pretty much exclusively saw each other during breaks. They had been inseparable before he’d left at seven and while things were a little odder now that he couldn’t tell them everything, he still loved them.

After nearly falling down the stairs, concerning Naomi with his hurry, and tripping over his shoes, he threw open the door, smile blindingly bright, “Hello, dolls.”

They threw their arms around him, throwing him off balance and sending all three of them to the ground. He laughed, hugging them both back. Above them, Naomi shook her head, having come to see what the crash was. It took a few minutes for them to calm down enough to sit up, letting him breathe.

“Where have you been keeping yourself?” Laura said, punching his arm, “No cards, no calls, no emails!”

“You know my school doesn’t allow things like that, Laura-Bora.” Will stood, helping them both to their feet. The grin still hadn't faded from his face as he looked the two of them over. They hadn't changed much since he'd seen them last year, although Shel's hair was now almost to her waist.

“Ah, yes, the mysterious boarding school,” Shel teased, looping an arm through his, “I still haven’t found anything like that online, you know.”

“You’re just not looking in the right places, Seashel,” he told her, slipping sandals on and calling to his mom that he was going outside, “So how’s your guys’ year been?”

Laura slipped onto his other side, groaning dramatically, “It’s been so boring down here! First you left, then Shel! Y’all left me to face middle school by myself!”

“What, you left?” Will turned to look at Shel, who nodded, blowing a bubble with her gum, “When?”

“Over the summer,” she said, popping it, “Mom and I moved up to Oklahoma after the divorce.”

“I’m sorry, Seashel.” She bumped his hip with hers, a silent acknowledgment. Will could sense she wanted a subject change, so he said, “So where are we headed?”

“Well, we were headed on down to the park when Shel saw you staring out your window like you were waiting for your husband to come back from war.” 

Will rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore her choice of analogy, “Well, then, dolls, on to the park!”

Chapter Text

The days passed quickly after that; Will was hardly ever alone, between his mom, abuelos, and his friends, and he didn’t mind it. Being alone meant that he was more likely to think about Luke, and Christmas Eve, and whether he was going to go after his siblings. And that sort of thinking never failed to make Will’s anxiety spike.

But all too soon, it was time for Will to call his siblings one last time, telling them he’d be home the next day. And then it was time for one last hangout, one last hug from his mom, and off to the airport again, this time without anyone at his side.

When he finally landed, he was greeted by Argus in the strawberry van, his uncovered eyes blinking in the afternoon sun. Will fit his bag in between the stacks of strawberries in the back of the van.

“Hey, Argus,” he slid into the passenger seat, grinning at the giant as he signed and spoke, “My siblings didn’t burn the camp down, did they?”

He nodded, signing, “Not yet. Seatbelt on. We’ve got deliveries to make first.” Even using sign language, Argus was a man of few words. He waited for the click of the seatbelt before pulling away from the sidewalk, navigating the New York traffic with the patience of a saint (or at least someone a few thousand years old).

Will was happy to sit in silence as they drove, leaning his forehead against the window. He watched the familiar roads and buildings pass by, a small smile on his face. Occasionally, he spotted familiar faces too, ones that lit up at the sight of the Delphi Strawberry Service van making its way through the traffic. Campers, summer ones or those visiting home for the holidays, who lived in the city. He saw Percy Jackson at one point, sitting in the window of a coffee shop with an older woman Will assumed was his mom. He looked so much more relaxed than Will had ever seen him at camp.

They pulled up to one of the small delis and bodegas that the DSS serviced, and Will and Argus both hopped out, Will snagging the clipboard on the dashboard.

“They get five cases,” he said, and Argus nodded, taking four and leaving one for Will to grab. The owner, a cheerful older man who always insisted it was ‘just Terry,’ held open the door for them, chatting immediately.

“I don’t know how you boys do it,” Terry said, leading them into the back and stacking the strawberries against the wall, “Local berries in the middle of winter? What, you got a magical dome to keep the snow off?”

Will just grinned, setting down the case he carried, “Ah, come on, Terry. You never heard of greenhouses before?”

He fondly rapped his knuckles against Will’s skull, signing the sheet he gave him, “Don’t get smart with me, sunshine. I get enough of that from my wife.”

“Don’t listen to him,” a woman joined them, leaning an elbow on her husband’s shoulder, “He needs people to get smart with him to keep him in line. Hi, sweet pea.”

“Hiya, Darla,” Will’s grin turned sugar-sweet, and she patted his cheek. She was originally from down south too, and had moved up north to be an actress—or so she had once told Will. But then she had met Terry, and opened the deli, and, well, the rest was history.

“You helping your brother again?” He nodded, going along with the assumption, and she clucked, leading them back out front, “Well, aren’t you sweet? You boys go ahead and help yourself to a muffin or something before you get going.”

Argus shook his head, and Will shrugged, helping himself to an apple turnover, “Thanks, Darla!”

“Course, sweet pea,” Darla tweaked his nose fondly, “You take care, yeah? Don’t let him work you too hard.”

Will laughed, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you next time.” Argus nodded to Terry and Darla, handing Will the clipboard as they returned to the van outside.

“Two more, then back to the airport,” the giant signed once his hands were free. Will nodded, scanning the list. There were a handful of campers arriving back from winter breaks with their families like Will, mainly those who weren’t quite Percy’s level of powerful, but were still considered long-term monster bait.

“Next on the list is on 60th,” he signed back, tucking the board under his arm, “Then the one on 2nd. Those the ones you mean?”

Argus nodded, and they climbed back into the van, starting off again. This time, Will talked about his break between bites of turnover, filling the silence with stories about his grandparents and friends back in Texas. He avoided Christmas Eve, instead painting a picture of a nice, relaxing break. Just the way he would tell it to his siblings at camp.

They pulled up to the curb outside of the deli, just across the street from Central Park. Will and Argus both hopped out, grabbing the trays of strawberries from the back. Carefully, Will closed the door, trying not to get knocked over by any of the passersby as he did. And he would have managed too, if there hadn’t been a living statue just behind him, one that he hadn’t realized was there as he turned around.

The cases smacked into their stomach, making them let out an oof and fall over. Will blanched, shifting the cases to offer them a hand. They took it, wrapping golden fingers around his.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” Will hauled them to their feet, trying not to spill the strawberries in his arm.

The person, who Will could now see was a girl with vivid green eyes painted entirely in gold, grimaced, rubbing her stomach, “I can see that.” She glanced at his armload, then at the person in silver who had taken her spot, “Need any help with those? My shift just ended.”

“I really am sorry,” he apologized again, glancing over at the deli where Argus had already disappeared, “But could you go hold open that door for me?”

The girl did, throwing in an elaborate bow as he passed through. She followed him as he let Argus take the cases, and as he tracked down the manager behind the counter. As the manager filled out the confirmation sheet, she glanced back at Argus, a curious look in her eyes.

“I like your friend’s tattoos.”

Her words caught Will by surprise, making him fumble the clipboard as he took it from the manager. It was partially the fact that she saw any sign of Argus’ real look, but it was more so her tone. Like she herself didn’t quite believe what she was saying. Like she was asking him to confirm the truth.

“Oh, yeah,” Will covered, turning to watch Argus too, “I’ll tell him.”

The girl watched Will, an undecipherable look in her eyes. He shifted under her gaze, but she seemed to figure out something as he did, and she grinned, offering him her gold-covered hand, “Rachel Elizabeth Dare.”

“William Andrew Solace,” he shook her hand, a small grin on his face, “Pleasure.”

Argus came over, looking between his watch and the door. “Time to go if we want to get the others before dinner.”

He nodded, ignoring Rachel’s curious look at Argus’s signing, “Duty calls. Goodbye, Rachel Elizabeth Dare.”

“I’ll be seeing you, William Andrew Solace,” Rachel said, and Will couldn’t help but feel like she knew something he didn’t. She said it with the same sort of certainty you’d tell the time while looking at a clock, like it was some sort of inevitable thing that they would meet again.

“I don’t know why, but I believe you.” 

She just smiled, giving him a two-fingered salute as he left. Those green eyes haunted him all the way to the airport.

~

The ride to camp was as chaotic as you would expect for a car full of young demigods. Will had given up the front seat to Chiara, an Italian girl a few years older than him, in favor of sitting between his brother Robin and Lou Ellen Blackstone, who was currently trying to argue that armadillos should be a reptile.

“I’m just saying, armadillos have shells , Will!” She turned to look at him with an intensity in her eyes that scared Will a little, “They don’t have fur or hair! Why are they mammals?”

“Lou, they do have hair,” Will said, twisting in his seat to crack his spine, “It’s just under the shell.”

“But also, the whole classification system for animals is screwy,” Cecil Markowitz leaned in from the row behind them, “By the definition of a mammal, a coconut is a mammal.”

“Are you saying that coconuts give birth to live young, Cec?” Will asked, laughter bubbling up in his voice.

“No, I—”

“Or that they’re warm-blooded?” Robin leaned in, raising a brow as Cecil flushed.

“I—”

“Do penguins have knees?” Lou interrupted, a slightly insane look in her eyes as her hand shook around her thermos. 

“And that’s why we don’t drink that much coffee,” Will reached out and plucked it from her grasp, passing it to Robin to put in his cup holder. Lou stuck out her bottom lip and Will rolled his eyes, “Don’t pout, darlin. We’ll be there in like twenty minutes, then you can bother your cabinmates.”

“But I can do that here with Cec and Chiara,” Lou Ellen pointed out, “And I can do it better with the coffee, so give.”

“Not gonna happen, darlin. And watch it, or I’ll write you a note to keep you from having coffee for a few days,” Lou gasped, and Will gave an evil grin, “Maybe even a few weeks.  For your health, of course.”

“You wouldn’t.” She glared at him, and he met her gaze, amusement playing in his eyes.

“I would.” 

They had a stare-down, both refusing to back down until Will’s siblings broke out in a four-part arrangement of Hey There, Delilah. Then it turned into a parody, with the four of them singing, “Hey there, Delphi, what’s it like up in the attic? I’m standing right in front of you, there’s no need to be dramatic. There’s really not. This quest will end with us all caught, It’s all for naught.”

“Y’all, I will not be approving that for the campfire,” Will said, looking away from Lou.

“Ah, come on!” Reed complained, turning around in his seat to pout at his older brother, “Michael!”

“Well, the good thing is,” Michael said, leaning forward and ruffling Will’s hair, “You’re no longer head counselor, Sunshine.”

“You just like having the melody, Mr. Tenor,” Will rolled his eyes as Argus pulled off the highway, onto the service road that served as the camp’s driveway.

“Maybe so,” Michael shrugged, stretching up as the van trundled along the packed earth, “But either way, if Reed finishes it, we can try it out at least.”

“Whatever,” Will grinned as the van rounded the hill, camp coming into view, “Come on, it’s time to see if Austin and Gracie burned down the cabin.”

The twelve of them filtered out of the van, throwing bags over their shoulders and stretching in the cool evening air. A few campers waited, having seen the van coming, and they wasted no time in attacking their siblings and friends with hugs and fist bumps. Among them were Austin and Gracie, and Will laughed as she threw herself into his arms. Austin greeted the others as Gracie nearly suffocated Will.

“Okay, okay,” Will laughed, tapping her back, “I do need air, Squirrelly Girl.” She stepped back, letting him stand again and threading her hand in his, suddenly shy in front of the others.

“Welcome back, young demigods.” Chiron drew their attention from where he sat on the porch of the Big House, “I trust you are all happy and healthy. William, if I may speak to you once you have said your hellos.”

“Of course, sir.” Will turned back to his family and squeezed Gracie’s hand, “Gracie, these are some of our other sibs. That’s Reed, Arohi, Robin, and Michael. He’s our head counselor during the winter.”

Arohi offered her a hand, a quiet sort of smile on their face, “Welcome to Apollo, Gracie. You can just call me Aro.”

Gracie looked up at Will, who just jerked his chin toward Aro. She switched sides, taking her sibling’s hand and letting Will’s fall. Aro smiled down, squeezing her hand softly.

“I’ll come find y’all when I’m done.” Michael ruffled his hair again, leading their now significantly larger group away and leaving Will in front of the Big House. He watched them for a moment before climbing the stairs and joining Chiron. The centaur sat in his wheelchair, a blanket folded across his lap.

“How are you feeling?” 

Will met his eyes, contemplating the question. How did he feel? After all that had happened in the last month, could he really say he was good?

“I’m… okay,” he settled on, shrugging, and Chiron nodded, “The rest of break was uneventful as far as Luke or anything like that.”

“I’m glad,” Chiron admitted, folding his hands in his lap, “I must admit, Luke’s choice in you worried me.”

“His choice in me? Why?”

The centaur studied him for a moment, “Surely you realize how much influence you have here, William.”

He flushed, looking away, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, sir.”

“If Luke had convinced you, of all demigods, to join Kronos’ side,” Chiron explained, “I fear it would have been catastrophic to our ranks. You are a vital part of our morale, William Solace. That’s not even to mention the impact it would have on young Annabeth and Clarisse. I dare say there are a few souls here who, for better or worse, would follow you to the ends of the earth.”

Will was fairly sure if he heard anymore, his face would turn redder than the strawberries he had spent all morning delivering. Chiron seemed to realize it as well, and turned the conversation away from him.

“Regardless, I am relieved to hear that you had a nice break. I merely wanted to check in, and ask a favor.”

“Of course, sir. What can I do?”

Chiron’s face seemed to age decades in a few seconds as he steepled his fingers, “You of course are aware that Clarisse came back from a mission after you left, yes?” Will nodded, “She was exploring Daedalus’s Labyrinth, which has formed beneath the United States.”

“Like, the Minotaur’s labyrinth?” Will asked, and Chiron nodded.

“We have reason to believe that Luke plans to use it to attack the camp,” his voice was grave, dark eyes serious, “Clarisse was not the only one out scouting. She brought back another demigod who had been driven mad by the Labyrinth: Chris Rodriguez, a son of Hermes.”

The name rang faint bells in Will’s head, and he could almost conjure a face to match. He shrugged a little, and Chiron just waved a hand.

“I have done my best to heal him, William, but I am afraid I have been unsuccessful in many regards,” Chiron pushed a healer’s bag toward him, “My favor is this; go down to the basement and try. See if you can succeed where I have failed.”

Will looked from the bag to Chiron and back again, before fitting his hand around the straps, “I’ll do my best.”

“That is all any of us can ask of another.”

~

It took him a minute to find the way to the basement, but when he did, he realized Chris wasn’t alone. In the chair by his bedside, Clarisse sat, trying to get Chris to talk to her. 

“No, no, Chris, it’s Clarisse,” she was saying, a pleading in her voice that Will had never heard before, “Don’t you remember? It’s Clari.”

The last step creaked, and Clarisse and Chris both jumped, heads wiping toward him. Clarisse relaxed as she realized who it was, but Chris scrunched up tighter, moving to press himself against the wall.

“Will,” the relief in her voice was almost palpable, “Chiron sent you?”

He nodded, moving closer slowly, “He wants me to try.”

Clarisse gave up her chair, letting Will settle there instead, “If any demigod can help him, it’s you, Golden Boy.”

“The string…” Chris said, hands raking their way through his hair, “Got to find the string. Where is it?”

“Chris? It’s Will Solace,” he said softly, and Chris’s eyes jumped to him. Will gulped—there was something incredibly unnerving about them. Something so absolutely broken that Will wasn’t sure he could do anything. He kept his voice gentle, that same tone Chiron had used just a few weeks before, “I’m going to try and help you, alright? I just need your hand—”

Hands seized his shoulders, pulling him closer to the bed, those broken eyes staring into his soul. “Where is the string, Mary? I need the string. Luke said it would solve everything.”

Will tried to settle his heart as he grasped Chris’s wrists, sinking inside. He could see the spots that Chiron had begun to heal, the broken bones and scrapes and burns. There was malnutrition too, and dehydration. But Will could feel the darkness in his mind, that pitch-black darkness that threatened to envelop him. It was somehow warm and cold, and yet neither at the same time. He tried to open himself to the light, to let his father’s gift flow through him and bring light into that darkness. 

But the darkness was stronger.

~

“William? Will? Wake up.” The first thing Will knew was a splitting headache, not helped by the bright light overhead. Then he realized he was on something soft and comfortable, with a pillow beneath his head. 

He squinted against the overhead lights, the faces of Clarisse and Chiron coming into focus. He realized he must be in the infirmary.“What—what happened?”

“I don’t know,” Clarisse said, worry actually showing on her face, “One moment Chris grabbed you, the next you’re passed out cold on the floor.”

“I believe we should be asking you what happened,” Chiron said gently, and Will struggled to sit up, rubbing his temples.

“Would someone turn off the fluorescents?” He mumbled, and Clarisse did, flicking on the lamp beside the bed. His headache eased a little, enough so he could think clearly, “I tried to heal him. There was a dark spot in his mind. I tried to let the light in, but the dark won.”

Clarisse and Chiron shared a look, a silent conversation passing between them that Will was in no shape to decipher. All he knew was that at the end of it, Clarisse nodded and headed back into the main house, and Chiron patted Will’s knee.

“I believe it will be best to leave it to Mr. D, once he returns, “ Chiron said, and Will nodded, a small sense of relief in his chest, “Go down to bed, William. Get some rest. I know Grace and Austin have missed you.”

“Yes, sir.” Will slid from the bed, “And Clarisse might try small doses of nectar in the meantime. If Chris will take it. It’ll at least help finish healing those wounds.”

Chiron chuckled softly, “I will tell her. Now go to sleep, and I will see you in classes in the morning.” Will nodded, and Chiron added, “And, William? All of this is not to leave the three of us. We do not want to start a panic.”

He stared at the centaur for a long moment before nodding. It was, after all, for the best. But a small part of him wondered if he could handle yet another secret, especially kept from his own siblings. “Good night, sir.”

“Good night, William.”

Chapter Text

Chiron’s classes began the next day, and they all fell back into a routine. It was calming to Will, the familiar pattern he had followed since he had first come to camp. But between classes, the Apollo cabin had a new challenge—finding Gracie’s specialty. And since she had imprinted on Will, Michael decided it was his responsibility to help her. 

Which is why Will found himself in the infirmary with Gracie and Connor, guiding her through bandaging his newest burn. How this boy managed to get a new injury every other day, Will would never understand, but it made for excellent learning opportunities.

“Just like that, Squirrelly,” he murmured, watching carefully as she lightly wrapped the linen around his arm. She tied it off, grinning up at him from the praise. He smiled, ruffling her hair. She’d lost a front tooth last week, and he thought her smile was adorable. “Good job, kiddo. You can go to archery now if you want. I’m just going to check him over one more time and then I’ll come join you.”

Gracie shook her head, her tongue lisping over her words, “I want to learn how to check people over too.”

Will raised his brows, “You sure, Gracie? We don’t know if you have the gift of healing.”

“Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be figuring out?” She asked, a bit of sass in her voice, and Connor hid a laugh.

“She’s got you there, Will.” Will rolled his eyes, but drew a chair closer so Gracie could stand on it.

“As long as you’re willing to be a test subject, Stoll,” Will retorted, helping Gracie onto the chair.

Connor grinned, offering his good hand to the both of them, “Anything for you, apple of my eye.”

Will ignored him, guiding Gracie’s hand to grasp Connor’s forearm. He splayed his own fingers around hers to brush his skin, ignoring the seed of panic that took root in his stomach, “Deep breath now, Gracie. You have to be steady. No one likes a shaky healer.” She giggled and he poked her side, “Or a giggly one either.”

She bit her lip, settling down as she took a deep breath, “What now?”

“Close your eyes. Imagine you’re seeing a diagram of the inside of his body. Do you see it?” Gracie’s brow furrowed, frustration pursing her lips, and Will tapped the back of her hand, “Breathe, Squirrelly Girl. It’s okay if you don’t quite yet. This is a hard skill.”

Gracie opened her eyes with a huff, “I didn’t see anything.”

“And that’s okay,” Will told her again, squeezing her shoulder, “Let’s try one more time, and I’ll do it with you. Just focus on breathing, alright?”

She nodded, and together they took a breath, closing their eyes and sinking inside. Will had to focus on Connor, working around Gracie’s energy. Next to him, she breathed deeply, focused on trying to find that diagram.

Will took his hand away just as Gracie gasped, eyes flying open, “I saw it!” She bounced off the chair, jumping around, “I saw the thing!”

“That’s awesome!” He gave her a high five, “Why don’t you go tell the others while I do the paperwork?”

“Okay!” She sprinted off out the door as Will chuckled to himself, picking up the clipboard and flipping to the notes. 

When he glanced up, Connor was watching him, a small smile on his lips. “What?”

“You’re really good with her,” Connor said, shrugging at the look Will gave him, “You’re a lot more patient with her than I would have been.”

“I doubt that,” Will said, finishing his notes, “I’ve seen you with the youngins when they’re upset. Do I need to go over care for that burn? I feel like you know how to as well as me at this point.”

“Rude,” Connor said, but there was still a smile on his face as he hopped off the bed, watching as Will filed the notes away, “I thought I’d walk you down, pearl of my heart.”

“Where have these nicknames come from?” Will asked, laughing, “You sound like my grandparents.”

“What, you don’t like them, light of my life?” Connor asked, an easy grin on his lips as he bumped Will’s shoulder with his, “I’m wounded! Absolutely hurt!”

 “Please, Stoll,” He rolled his eyes, though he prepared to run, “I’m mainly surprised you know words that fancy.”

“Hey!” Will took off running, laughing as Connor tried to catch him, “Take that back!”

But it was no use—Will was a natural runner, and Connor kept slipping and sliding on the snow. He sprinted past most of the cabins, waving cheerfully to the campers who gave him strange looks. Finally, he came to a stop beside Hermes Cabin, where Travis looked up with a raised brow.

“Do I even want to know?”

 Will shrugged, catching his breath as he waited for Connor to come into view, “Your brother’s got a thing with nicknames right now. Told him I was surprised he knew words that fancy. Here I am.”

“Will Solace!” Connor yelled, turning the corner, and Will gave Travis a two-fingered salute.

“And there I go.”

Travis’ laugh followed him as he ran straight past Connor, turning him around in a frantic attempt to catch him. He only managed to crash into the snow, and Will headed for the archery lanes, slowing to a walk as they came into sight. His siblings were already there, retrieving their bows and arrows from the shed. Will found Gracie excitedly explaining her achievement to Aro.

“Where’s Michael?” Will asked Robin as he fetched his own bow, keeping one eye out for Connor.

Robin shrugged, fitting the string into his bow, “Chiron wanted a word with him, maybe ten minutes ago? Hasn’t come back down.”

“Wonder why.” Will copied him, stringing his bow and grabbing his quiver, going to follow him out as Aro brought Gracie in. But then he saw Connor approaching, and he ducked back inside, pressing his back against the wall.

“What are you doing?” Aro asked, pulling down a smaller recurve and showing Gracie how to string it. 

“Hiding,” Will peeked outside again, retreating when he nearly caught Connor’s eye, “May or may not have taunted Connor.”

Aro shook their head, unstringing the bow and handing it to Gracie to try, “You have an incredible talent for pissing people off, Sunshine, you know that?”

Will just laughed, watching Gracie string the bow, “How’s that arm feeling, Squirrelly Girl?”

“Fine,” she brought the bow up and, with Aro correcting her form, pulled back the string. Will watched her expression, seeing the way she flinched as she did.

“Uh-huh, sure,” he kneeled beside her, holding out a hand to her. She complied reluctantly, slipping hers into his. “You’re straining those muscles. We’ll need to figure out some new stretches—HEY!”

Connor had come in and picked him up throwing him over his shoulder, “You have no one to blame but yourself, sun of my sky.”

“What are you doing, Stoll?” Will could hear his siblings laughing at his expense, “Some help, guys!”

“Like I said, no one to blame but—”

“What are you doing with my brother, Stoll?” Will twisted to look up at Michael, only to yelp and squirm until Connor put him down.

“Heather!” He slammed into his older sister, who chuckled softly and hugged him back. His call drew the attention of his siblings, who came running as well. Connor faded away, letting them greet their sister.

“What are you doing here?” Robin asked, but Michael shook his head.

“Later, Birdie,” Michael and Heather share a look, and Will felt the pit of his stomach tighten, “For now it just matters that she’s here. Now come on, it’s time for archery.”

Will fell in step with Austin as their brother led them back down, “Aus?”

“She’s hurting bad, Will,” he said softly, fidgeting with his braids, “Like you with Annabeth.”

He tucked an arm over Austin’s shoulders, “She’ll tell us when she’s ready, Cricket. Now come on, it’s time for y’all to whip my butt in archery.”

~

Will found himself back up in the infirmary with Gracie after archery, figuring out what stretches they could do to help with her arm. He was right that drawing the arrow back had strained it, causing some small tears along the still-healing muscles.

“Carefully lean into that arm,” Will explained as Gracie stood with her bad arm stretched behind her. Her palm lay flat against the wall, and gently she leaned into it, pressing the rest of her arm to the wall. “Don’t push too hard, remember.”

“It hurts,” Gracie said, her lip quivering a little. Will winced, letting her come away from the wall and hugging her. She buried her face in his stomach, and he ran a hand over her hair.

“I know, Squirrelly, but it’ll help, promise.” She nodded, but didn’t let go, “What else is wrong? You’ve been quiet since Heather showed up.”

She shook her head, letting go and wiping tears from her cheeks, “Nothing. I’m fine.”

Will frowned, concern worming its way into his heart, “Gracie…” He thought better of what he was going to say, and shook his head, “How about you and I go make some hot chocolate, just us?”

She nodded, slipping her hand into his. They headed into the Big House, and Will helped her up onto the stool before pulling out a saucepan and milk. As that sat on the stove to warm, he pulled out cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, cayenne powder, and a thing of chocolate chips.

“Why are you putting cayenne powder in hot chocolate?” Gracie made a face as she looked at the jar in her hand, and Will laughed.

“We’re making mexican hot chocolate, ardillita,” Will said, “My grandma taught me the recipe while I was home. Now, measure out four tablespoons of cocoa powder.”

Together, they mixed together the ingredients, with minimal stealing of chocolate chips from Gracie. Then Will scooped some into two mugs, the rest going into a jar for later. Carefully, he took the mugs and milk over to the sink, pouring it as he and Gracie talked about her classwork. She had struggled with the math sheet Chiron had given her, even after he had walked her through a few problems.

“Think of it like they’re chocolate chips,” he told her, spreading a handful of chips beside her mug, “If you have nine, and you eat four, how many do you have left?”

Gracie counted out four, then popped them into her mouth with a grin, “Five.” The leftovers quickly followed the first four, and Will laughed, nodding.

“Good job,” he nudged the mug toward her, “Drink up. We’ve got music in a little while.”

She obeyed, taking a sip. Her eyes went wide, “That’s really good!”

He shook his head, an overly melancholy look on his face, “It hurts how you doubt me, Gracie. It really does.”

“I think you’ll survive,” a voice said from behind Gracie, and they both turned to look. Heather leaned against the infirmary door, “I’m not interrupting a secret meeting, am I?”

Will looked to Gracie, who shook her head. Heather came closer, taking a seat on the other side of the counter on one of the stools.

“Want some hot chocolate?” Will asked, wiping down the counter, and Heather nodded. He pulled out the milk and the saucepan again, setting it to warm on the stove before putting away the ingredients he had gotten out earlier.

“Now, I don’t think we got to meet earlier,” Heather said to Gracie as Will worked, “I’m Heather.”

“Gracie,” her voice was a lot quieter than she had been with just Will, and he glanced over his shoulder at her. She was studying her hot chocolate, poking the marshmallows with a finger.

“Hey, Gracie, did you know Heather’s a healer too?” Will asked her, pulling down another mug, “She taught me how.”

“Really?” 

Heather laughed a little, nodding, “Are you interested in healing?”

“I saw the diagram thing earlier,” Gracie shared, warming up to her a little, “On Connor.”

“Really? That’s hard to do.” Will smiled to himself, happy that they were getting along, “Did it take you long?”

“Nah, she got it on her second try,” Will said, picking up the normal hot chocolate container.

“Will, use the other one!” Gracie said, pointing to the one they had made earlier, “I helped make it.”

“Sorry, Squirrelly Girl, but she can’t have that one,” Will said, measuring out a few spoonfuls into the mug, “Heather’s allergic to cinnamon.”

Gracie frowned like that was the most tragic thing she had ever heard, “So you’ve never had a cinnamon roll?”

“Nope,” Heather shrugged, “I don’t mind too much though. I don’t like very many sweet things.”

Her expression turned scandalized, “That’s just wrong.” Will and Heather burst out laughing, and Gracie looked between them, “What?”

“You’re funny, Squirrelly Girl,” Will told her, passing Heather her mug, “That’s all.”

“Don’t worry, Will, you’re funny too,” Gracie said, a gleam in her eye, “Funny looking.”

“Hey!” He cried, affronted, “I’m gonna get you for that, you little gremlin.”

Gracie took off giggling, and Will chased her around the kitchen and into the infirmary, where he managed to snatch her up before she could escape out the door. He carried her over his shoulder back into the kitchen, much like Connor had picked him up earlier, and plopped her back into her seat beside Heather.

“Alright, you two,” she said, shaking her head at their antics, “It’s time for music.”

Will washed the dishes quickly, leaving them on the drying rack as the three of them headed back down. Gracie ran ahead as they walked, spinning in the falling snow.

“You doing okay, Heath?” Will asked softly, tucking his hands into his sweatshirt. She sighed, blinking up at the sky.

“My mom passed last week,” she admitted softly, her voice as fragile as the snowflakes landing on her lashes, “Cancer finally got her. The funeral was a few days ago.”

“Heather, I’m so sorry.”

She gave a sad smile, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, “Thanks, Sunshine. Bit ironic though, isn’t it? A love of Apollo, dying from cancer.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Will said, looking up at her, “Are you doing okay, though? Like really?”

They stopped on the porch of Apollo for a moment, and Heather took her arm away, chewing on her lip, “No. Not really. But I will be.”

Will nodded, opening the door for her, “That’s okay, too.”

~

“Hey, Michael?” Will said later that night, as they headed up to the Big House for dinner. Michael broke off from the group with him, trailing behind as they walked.

“What’s up, Will?”

He hesitated, then asked, “Did you know?”

Michael eyed him for a moment, then nodded, “She called me the day it happened. She was so upset, I’m not sure how she managed to use the phone.”

“She’s going to have a hard time sleeping tonight, Will watched Heather laugh at something Aro said, “Michael, I know it’s not the first day of camp, but…”

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” 

The boys shared a look, a small grin spreading across Will’s lips, “I think so. I’ll see if Gracie and Aro will skip campfire tonight. Think you can play for a while?”

“I’ll manage. And I’ll see if the Stolls have any snacks hidden away.” They nodded to each other before splitting off, Will to catch up with Gracie and Michael to the Hermes kids. And by the time they sat down in the dining room of the Big House, the Apollo cabin had a plan.

~

“I don’t think I’m up for the campfire tonight, guys,” Heather said later, as they all finished up their meals, “I’m gonna turn in early.”

“No, you can’t!” Michael said quickly, too quickly, then fumbled to cover it up, “Because, uh… because…”

“Reed wrote a new song,” Will said smoothly, coming to his rescue from across the table, “But Aro’s voice is kind of rough today, and it needs an alto.”

“I don’t know, Will,” Heather said, “I really think it’s best if I just go to bed.”

“Please, Heather!” Reed had joined in the begging, “You’ll love ‘Hey There, Delphi!’ I can teach you the words on the way down!”

“‘Hey There, Delphi?’” Heather laughed a little, softening. ‘Hey There, Delilah’ was one of her favorite songs, mainly because her mom had taken to singing it to her anytime she was home. “I suppose…”

The Apollo table cheered, turning the heads of the other campers for a moment. Even Chiron raised a brow at them, but let it go at the smile on Heather’s face.

It wasn’t long before they all flooded down to the arena, where they had a somewhat-sheltered campfire for the winters. In the sea of demigods, Will, Aro, and Gracie slipped away, back to the cabin, studying the current layout.

“Well, Squirrelly Girl, it’s time for the official Apollo Cabin Rite of Passage,” Will told her, opening the cupboards and pulling out a mountain of blankets, “Your first blanket fort.”

The three of them set to work, pulling mattresses off beds and rearranging the bed frames. Will put Gracie on his shoulders to hang the blankets, teaching her how to secure them to the railings of the top bunks. Inside, Aro strung lights and arranged pillows, adding even more blankets on top of the mattresses.

He lifted Gracie off his shoulders as they looked around at their handiwork, Aro pushing themself up off the floor to stand beside them. 

“I’d say we did alright,” they said, looking around. Will and Gracie nodded, and a knock came from the door. All three of them shared a look before pushing aside the sheets serving as a door. Will opened the door a crack, then all the way.

Connor stood on the other side, eyes going wide at the sight he was greeted with, “Wow.”

“What do you need, Stoll?” Will asked, feeling a small sense of pride at the awe on his face. Connor seemed to shake himself, holding out an armful of snacks.

“Michael said y’all wanted some?” Gracie took them from him, disappearing back inside, “Oh, and he wanted to say that Heather was getting a little suspicious when she realized all three of you were gone.”

Will rolled his eyes, “Okay, then. Aro, I’m gonna go distract Heath. You and Gracie got this?”

“Go,” Aro waved a hand, turning back to study the structure again. Will slipped out the door after Connor, the two of them falling into step as they headed down.

“So, why’d you guys do it?” Connor asked, tilting his head up to the stars as they walked, “I mean, not that you really need an excuse for a blanket fort, but it seems like you have one.”

Will was quiet for a moment, eyes drawn out over the water, “Special tradition any time someone comes to camp early. Make ‘em feel a little more welcome.”

“In case of bad news from home?” Connor asked softly, and Will nodded. “That’s a good tradition, Will. I like it.”

“What, no ‘pearl of my heart?’” he teased, nudging him in the side to break the tension that had crept in between them. The Hermes boy laughed, pushing him in the shoulder.

“You telling me you like being called ‘pearl of my heart?’” 

Will was grateful that the darkness hid his blush, and that they had reached the arena. The two parted ways to join their siblings, and Will slid into the spot beside Heather.

“Where’d you disappear to?” she murmured, watching Austin and Michael starting a round of This Land is Minos’s Land, “And where are Gracie and Aro?”

“Aro wasn’t feeling very good,” he said, lying through his teeth, “And Gracie was getting tired.”

“What was wrong?” Will couldn’t be sure, but he thought he heard a small touch of panic in her voice, though her face stayed focused on their brothers.

“Just a cold,” he reassured her, “Aro came back with it from home. You know they’re always sick.”

“Maybe I should go check…” 

Will put a hand on her shoulder, keeping her from getting up, “Heath, they’re okay. I promise. A little sleep and they’ll be fine. Do you not trust me or something?”

“No, no, you’re right,” Heather sighed, rubbing a hand over her face, “I guess I’m just paranoid.”

“It’s been a hard year for you,” he said, watching the flames glow brighter as the group around them dissolved into laughter at something Robin had said. “It’ll get better.” I hope .

Heather just smiled, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, “Thanks, Sunshine.”

~

Later, as the campfire burned down to its embers, the Apollo campers trooped back to their cabin. Half of them covered yawns and leaned on their siblings while the others joked and laughed, the energy of the campfire still thrumming in their veins. Heather walked quietly between Will and Michael, who shared looks full of barely concealed excitement behind her back.

Aro and Gracie both sat on the porch of Apollo, waiting for the rest to return.  When they saw them all, they jumped to their feet, hiding bright smiles as they made the others wait for Heather to open the door.

“What have you lot done?” She asked when she noticed, eyeing the four of them. Will knew she was humoring them, and Michael just gestured to the door.

“Open and see.” 

She gave him a suspicious look, but crossed to the door and pushed it open slowly, like something was going to jump out at her. Robin and Reed gawked for a moment, before diving inside, Gracie and Austin not far behind. Michael, Aro, and Will stayed with Heather, who had a smile playing on her lips as she dragged the three of them into a hug.

“Thanks, guys,” she groaned as all of them squeezed her as tight as they could, her air escaping in a wheezy laugh, “Air, guys. Need air.”

“Air’s overrated,” Aro said before crawling into the fort with the rest of their siblings. They could hear them yell, “Don’t eat all the chocolate, Reed! Leave some for the rest of us.” 

There was a yelp from inside, then a cry of, “Michael! They hit me.”

He rolled his eyes, giving Heather one last hug before crawling inside to discipline his siblings. Heather turned to Will with a raised brow.

“So, I take it Aro’s not sick?” It was less a question than a statement, and Will just grinned and shrugged.

“They were, when they landed,” he admitted, “But that was as easy as walking, Heath. I think Gracie probably could have handled it.”

She laughed, slinging an arm around his shoulders and resting her cheek on his head for a moment, “I love you, you know that, Sunshine?”

“Love you too, Heath.”

Chapter Text

“What in the Gods’ green Earth possessed you to jump into the Sound?” Will asked a shivering Travis Stoll, glaring even as he pulled out extra blankets, “It’s February, and it’s a blizzard out there!”

Travis just blinked at him, fumbling to pull the blanket around him, “Lou dared us. It was fun. Until it wasn’t.” Connor was worse off, having been brought in unconscious by Travis and Lou Ellen and still out of it.

“And you decided it was a good idea to stay out in soaking wet clothes?” Will took some of the dry clothes Heather brought and set them at the foot of Connor’s bed. The boy went to respond, but Will shook his head, “Don’t answer that. Get changed and back under the covers. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Will pulled the curtains closed, changing Connor’s clothes with brisk movements and piling blankets on top of him. He was disturbed by his stillness, the total lack of any sort of fidgeting. Awake, Connor was always in constant motion, whether it was fingers tapping or eyes shifting. Now though, Will could barely see the rise and fall of his chest. He rested a hand over Connor’s, breathing in and out before sinking into his mind.

The shivers began to subside, but his temperature wasn’t rising. In fact, it was dropping, lower and lower, as Will fought back panic. He recognized the textbook symptoms of hypothermia, but to be faced with it made his mind go blank. There were dark spots eating at Connor’s organs, fingers, and toes, and Will forced himself to breathe. He began to murmur his hymns, feeling the warmth flow through him, and directed them at the dark spots first, burning them away as carefully as he could. He soothed the stiff muscles and tried to fight some of the fog that he could sense clouding Connor’s mind.

But as he sat back, he knew it wasn’t enough. Connor’s core temperature was still way too low, and if it didn’t start rising soon, he would slip away completely. He looked over his shoulder, where Heather looked much the same.

“Let’s get more lamps and blankets,” she said, catching his eye, “We need to get them warm.”

“I’ll go snag bowls,” Will said, letting Connor’s hand fall, “Maybe we can get them to eat some soup.”

Heather nodded, and they split up, Heather into the storage cupboard and Will into the dining room. Dinner was already in session, and Will stopped beside Chiron’s chair at the head of the table.

“The Stolls both have hypothermia,” he murmured, glancing at the empty seats among the Hermes campers, “We’re keeping them in overnight.”

Chiron nodded, “I have full faith in you and your siblings, William. Keep me informed.”

“Yes, sir.” He grabbed the extra plate settings, giving a quick wave to his siblings and squeezing a miserable Lou’s shoulder before he hurried back to the infirmary. Heather had set up sun lamps around both beds and piled them high with blankets. She sat beside Travis now, talking softly as she kept an eye on Connor.

“And here’s Will with food,” she said, taking a bowl from him and ordering soup before handing it to Travis, “Eat slowly.”

“How’s Connor?” Will set the other bowl on the bedside table, sinking into the chair beside Heather. She shook her head, lowering her voice a little so that Travis didn’t hear.

“His temperature stopped dropping, but it hasn’t started climbing either,” she pulled her hair up as she talked, tying it off, “I’ve added as many blankets as I dare, and the sunlamps are up. What else?”

Will chewed his lip, knowing she was testing him. She always was, but it had increased since her mother had died. “In the hospital, they would try to warm up the blood, but we don’t have that tech. Do we have a humidifier? It might help to set up a tent.”

Heather smiled, ruffling his hair, “Let’s do that, then.”

They worked together to set up a tent over Connor’s head, with a humidifier to help warm his airways. Travis finished his soup, and Heather was happy enough with his temperature that she finally let him go to sleep.

“Why don’t you go get something to eat?” she told him after Travis had nodded off, “I can keep an eye on them for now.”

Will nodded, “I’ve got night shift, so I’m gonna grab a nap too if you don’t mind.”

“Go,” Heather told him, waving a hand as she monitored Connor’s temperature, “I am still head healer. I think I can handle these two.”

~

He returned a few hours later to find that nothing much had changed. Travis was awake and talking to Heather, their heads a little closer than probably necessary, and both of them were keeping an eye on the rise and fall of Connor’s chest. Heather came over to Will when he entered, a genuine frown on her face.

“It’s raised a little, but not much,” she told him softly, glancing over her shoulder, “Travis said he was in the water a lot longer, which is why he got it so bad. I already told Travis he’s free to go, but I’m out of tricks for Connor, Will. I tried more hymns, but it’s not doing anything.”

She was panicking, Will could tell. Heather never really liked being head healer, or when people got really sick. He took her hand, squeezing three times, “Go get some sleep, alright? I’ll see what I can do.”

Heather squeezed three times back, giving him a small smile, “Try not to overwork yourself, alright?”

He nodded, letting her go and heading for the chair between the Stoll brothers. Travis was frowning at his brother, his fingers fidgeting with a set of lock picks and a padlock. The fact that he could do it without looking both impressed and concerned Will.

“Can I stay here tonight?” Travis asked quietly, crossing his legs, “Just in case?”

“I don’t imagine needing that bed in the next few hours, so sure,” Will rested a hand on Connor’s arm, frowning at the temperature. Heather was right that it was still far too low, hovering around 89° instead of 98°. He checked to make sure the humidifier was still working, and that frostbite hadn’t come calling at his fingers and toes again.

“Is he going to be okay, Will?” Travis’s voice was soft and fragile, two words Will had never associated with the older of the Stolls. Travis was mischievous, loud, and brash, but never soft or fragile.

“His body temp is still really low,” he told him honestly, “But it’s rising, which it wasn’t when I was here last. That’s a good sign. A few more hours, and he’ll be alright, I think.”

Travis nodded, still fidgeting with his padlock, but his frown lessened. Will shifted in his chair, keeping one hand on Connor’s arm as he threw his legs over one arm of the chair to watch Travis.

“So, you and Heather?” He grinned wickedly as Travis flushed, “When did that happen?”

“It hasn’t,” Travis admitted, “To be honest, I don’t think she’s into me like that.”

“I don’t know about that, dude,” Will leaned his head back, looking up at the fake stars someone had stuck to the ceiling at some point, “You both looked pretty cozy earlier.”

“It was mostly so that we didn’t disturb Con.”

Will laughed, “Whatever you say, Travis.”

Their conversation turned to other things, like the books Chiron had given them during literature or the newest strategies coming from Ares and Athena for the summer. Will had never been very close to the older Stoll brother, but he found himself enjoying his company. He was funny and easy-going, something that reminded Will a lot of the Luke he had grown up with, but there was also an underlying layer of self-doubt that Luke had never had. He could hear it in the way Travis made fun of his own reading, in the way he talked about being the Hermes head counselor. If Will hadn’t needed to keep a constant check on Connor’s still-too-low body temperature, he would have hugged the poor guy.

They had faded into silence, both just staring up at the kiddy stars glowing faintly on the other side of the sun lamps, when Will sat up, a frown on his face. Travis rolled his head to look at him, a crease forming between his brows.

“What’s wrong?”

Will took away his hand for a moment before setting it back on Connor’s arm, but there was no mistaking it; his temperature was falling again, and fast. Looking inside, he saw nothing wrong.

“Shit, shit, shit,” Will stuck a hand in the tent, checking that it was still working, “Travis, pull that rope in the corner. He’s dropping.”

Travis sprang up from his bed to do as Will said, then returned to Will’s side, “What can we do?”

“I don’t know,” Will admitted, staring at his friend lying comatose on the bed, “Sunlamps are as high as they go, he’s covered, we’re warming his airways…”

“There has to be something!” Tears pricked the back of Will’s eyes. Where was Heather? Or Michael, or Robin? Someone else who could actually make a decision instead of standing there useless like he was.

He glanced up at Travis, who looked absolutely terrified. The light threw half of his face in shadow, and unbidden, Will saw the face of Luke instead. The burn of the memory snapped him out of it, and he looked down again, an idea forming.

He chewed his lip for a long moment, all while he was painfully aware of how fast Connor’s temperature was dropping. Finally, he said, “Fuck it.”

Will set to work peeling off the thick layers of blankets that covered Connor, while Travis looked on horrified, “What are you doing? He needs to warm up, Will!”

“And I’m going to help him,” Will promised, unbuttoning the flannel he had put on Connor earlier, “But I’m going to do something that I haven’t done before, so if you’d please step back.”

“What’s going to happen?” Travis asked, reluctantly moving away. Will took a breath, laying flat hands on Connor’s chest.

“Either I’m going to warm him from the inside out or I’m going to turn us both into charcoal,” Will said grimly, taking another fortifying breath, “Now please be quiet.”

He searched for that same feeling he had when he was healing and focused it on a controlled heat coming from his hands. This time, he was prepared for the heat collecting in his palms, and he worked on sending that elsewhere in Connor’s body, raising his body temperature as steadily as he could. Too fast, and he would boil his friend from the inside out. Too slow, and he risked it dropping again.

He kept his eyes closed, terrified that if he opened them, Connor would have matching burn prints with his older half-brother. It was an agonizingly slow process, but the care it took made it difficult to focus on anything else. He subconsciously began his hymns, though they felt different this time. The words felt less comforting and rawer, seeming to burn the inside of his throat as he sang.

Will wasn’t sure how much longer it was before Connor had reached a normal, healthy core body temperature again. He barely registered himself falling back into the chair, rubbing a hand across his face. He definitely didn’t notice Heather and Travis both staring at him from across the bed, jaws slack in awe.

“And this is exactly what overworking yourself looks like.” Heather’s voice drew his quickly-fading attention, coming around and laying a hand on his shoulder. He just shook his head, jerking his chin at Connor. Heather took the hint, taking her own examination of the younger Hermes son. “He’s… fine. Back to normal, it feels like. His body’s exhausted though. He’ll sleep through the night. But seriously, Sunshine, what was that?”

He shrugged, too tired to speak. Heather frowned, pressing a hand to his forehead. He let her, leaning deeper into the chair.

“How are either of you not freaking out?” Travis asked, sitting shakily on his bed again, “You’re glowing , Will! Like honest-to-the-Gods, glowing.”

“What?” Will’s eyes fell to his hands, but as close as he was to the sunlamp, he didn’t see anything. Heather reached up and switched it off, but the light didn’t diminish. He stared down at his hands, which glowed with a steady light. He turned his hands, watching his fingers trace shapes in the air as he said in wonder, “I’m a human glowstick.”

Heather snorted, covering one of his hands with both of hers, “Okay, Sunshine. I think it’s time you get some sleep, yeah?”

He nodded, exhaustion hitting him like a runaway pegasus and cutting out his glow. She helped him to his feet, leading him to the bed on the other side of Connor and helping him settle under the covers. Gently, she ran a hand through his shaggy hair, watching as he fought sleep for a moment longer.

“I’ve got this, Sunshine,” she said in answer to his unsaid complaints, “You’re not Head Healer yet.”

He nodded and slipped into sleep without a word.

~

Will woke to the actual sun beaming down from the windows, casting bright light into his eyes. He blinked up at the ceiling for a long moment, then looked to the empty bed to his left, trying to remember where he was and what had managed to knock him out so well. When he turned his head to the right, he was greeted by an amused Connor, who was sat up in bed with a bowl in his hands.

“So, what are you in for, sunflower?” After that campfire, Connor had amped up his use of flowery nicknames. Will’s personal favorite had been when he had come into the infirmary at six in the morning purely to call Will his “glorious morning sun” after three days of cloudy weather.

Will groaned, pushing himself up and ignoring the screaming of every muscle in his body. He’d forgotten how taxing a big healing was on his own body, especially when it was a new skill.

“Saving your ass,” he grumbled, scrubbing a hand across his face. Connor laughed, bright and coppery, and Will let himself smile a little. Although he would never admit it, he’d missed his friend’s laugh.

Heather came through the Big House door, carrying two more plates. She handed one over before settling at the foot of his bed. For a long while, none of them talked, just ate their food in companionable silence.

“Where’s Travis?” Will asked after he’d eaten, eyeing the bed on the other side of Connor.

“I let him go this morning,” Heather said, “And I filled in Chiron on your little glowstick stunt. When’d you learn to do that?”

“Not sure,” Will didn’t meet her eyes, not wanting to have to tell her about Luke’s visit and their dad’s ‘blessing,’ “Just… happened, I suppose.”

Heather gave him a dubious look, but let it go, at least for now, “Well, you managed to sleep twelve hours, so if you want to go change, and reassure our siblings that no one’s dead, you can.”

“Thanks, Heath,” he gave her a side hug, then stole the empty dishes from her and Connor, leaving them beside the sink for him to take care of later. He left through the porch, waving at Chiron, who called after him that he’d like a conversation when he had a chance. Will responded with a wave, breaking into a run despite his protesting muscles.

He couldn’t get the image of Luke’s burns out of his head. It followed him, had followed him, ever since Christmas Eve, haunting his dreams and lurking behind him every time he healed. Even now as he ran, it chased him, searing itself deeper into his mind like a brand. 

All too soon, he reached the porch of Apollo, and he slowed to a stop, heaving a sigh. Then he plastered a grin on his face and climbed the stairs, pushing open the door. His siblings looked up, relief scratched across their faces.

“Will!” Gracie slammed into him, and a laugh escaped his lips. He hugged her back, picking her up and causing a cascade of giggles. He looked around at the others. Robin and Aro were carving (Robin a violin and Aro a bow) while Austin and Reed practiced their music. It looked like Michael and Gracie had been painting, but now Michael was trying to clean up the paint Gracie had spilled when Will had come in.

“Hey, Squirrelly Girl,” he moved further into the room, setting Gracie down again, “Connor’s fine. His temperature started dropping again, but we managed to get it up again. He’s awake and talking.”

“Why didn’t Heather come back down last night?” Reed asked, a crease forming between his brows. Will fought the panic that surged in him, forcing a wry smile.

“I overreached myself last night,” he said, telling himself that it wasn’t a lie necessarily, just not the whole truth, “She stayed up there so I could sleep.”

Robin stood, dusting off his pants, “I’ll go replace her. You’ve both earned a break.”

“Thanks, Birdie.” His brother ruffled his hair and Will laughed, the tightness in his chest easing a little bit. He could do this. He could keep this secret too. What was one more?

~

His talk with Chiron was uneventful, just more discussion of Will’s newest skill. Chiron wanted to probe the edges of it, find out just how far the blessing went, but Will ended up begging exhaustion from the night before. He didn’t tell Chiron that he was terrified of this power, worried that it would turn against him somehow, swallow him and everyone he loved in a blaze of light, but somehow he didn’t think Chiron needed to be told. Finally, he released him, but not before adding one last reminder.

“William.” He turned back to look at his mentor, who looked sad and old in his wheelchair, bundled under blankets, “I do think you should find someone to confide in. It will help.”

Will held his gaze for a long moment, wondering whether he should tell him that if he told anyone, he was fairly sure he was going to fall apart entirely. But he just nodded, turning away, “Yes, sir.”

He wandered, feeling Chiron’s eyes follow him as he walked listlessly away. He wasn’t sure where he was going, only that he didn’t want to be around his siblings right now. They were too good at knowing when something was wrong, and he never could seem to lie around them anymore. So instead he drifted, skirting the edges of the cabins and the archery fields, not daring to go into the woods by himself.

Eventually, he made his way back up to the Big House and the infirmary, figuring he could at least take inventory instead of walking without a destination in mind. But instead, he found Lou Ellen waiting on the front steps of the infirmary, a gloomy look on her face.

“What’s with the sour face?” he asked, making her jump. She shrugged, as restless as Will felt, “Here to see Connor?”

She flushed, shaking her head and then seeming to second-guess herself, she nodded. He raised a brow, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. Lou set back with a sigh, burying her face in her hands.

“Well, do you want some hot chocolate while you decide?” Will offered her a hand, and she took it, letting him wrap an arm over her shoulders as they stepped inside the door. He waved to Robin, who sat in the office area, and nodded to Connor.

“Lou, you alright?” the bedridden boy asked, propping himself up on his elbows. She ducked her head, and Will gave Connor a bright smile.

“She just needs some hot chocolate,” Will said, stepping forward so that he was blocking Connor’s view of her, “She’ll be fine.”

He guided her through the door at the end of the infirmary, sitting her at the counter. Without a word, he set about heating up four cups of milk, pulling down four mugs and the two mixes.

“Which one?” he asked, holding out the two jars of hot chocolate mix. Lou gave him a suspicious look.

“What’s the difference?” he just grinned, shrugging his shoulders. She sighed, and reached out to tap the one with cayenne in it, “That one, I guess.”

“Alright then,” he made two mugs with each, pouring in the milk carefully before stirring. He slid one across to her before taking the two plain hot chocolates out to Connor and Robin.

Connor grabbed Will’s wrist before he could leave, earning a raised brow. “She’s okay, right?”

“She’s fine,” he hesitated for a moment, “I think she’s just feeling a little guilty is all. I’ll make sure she comes and talks to you before she leaves though.”

Connor nodded, letting Will go. Will watched him for a moment longer, then turned and headed back for the kitchen, taking the stool beside Lou. She’d waited for him to return to drink her hot chocolate, and took a sip when he nodded to it.

“Is that cinnamon?” she stared down at the cup, then took another sip, “And… cayenne?”

Will laughed at the bewilderment on her face, nodding, “My grandmother’s recipe. She taught me when I was home for Christmas.”

“It’s good.” 

They were quiet for a while longer, with Will just waiting her out. He knew that eventually, whatever was bothering her would spill out. It always did. Robin came in at one point to return the mugs, ruffling Will’s hair as he left. They could hear Chiron talking to someone in the living room, and below them, Will could hear Clarisse’s soft voice talking to Chris. He wondered vaguely if he should go visit him again.

“Connor’s okay, right?” Lou asked finally, echoing Connor’s words from earlier. Will nodded, reaching to squeeze her hand.

“He’s fine, darlin. We’re only keeping him until tonight.” She nodded, letting out a sigh as her shoulders loosened. He chewed his lip, then asked, “Is there something more between y’all, Louey?”

“What? NO!” Lou looked positively disgusted and Will laughed. She punched his shoulder, “Gross, Will! He could be my brother for all we know!”

“Just making sure!” She scowled at him, but all the tension and gloom seemed to dissipate from her, “Just… let’s stay away from polar plunges, okay?”

“Deal.” She leaned into him, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Will.”

“Probably die,” he said practically, flinching away from her jab, “It’s the truth!”

Lou rolled her eyes, but he could see the smile lurking in the corners of her mouth. He tugged her back into a one-armed hug. She squeezed back, then stood to put her mug back. “I should go talk to Connor.”

He smiled at her, “See you later for homework?”

She groaned, but nodded, leaving him alone in the kitchen alone. He stared at the bottom of his mug for a moment, a frown creasing his brow before he smoothed it away, washing the mugs and leaving them out to dry. He avoided the infirmary, stopping for a moment to listen to Clarisse begging Chris to remember her, and then again to be sure that Chiron had finished his conversation in the living room before slipping through onto the porch. He looked down to the cabins, wondering if it was worth going back down to check on Heather and his sibs. But Heather was probably sleeping and Michael could handle them for a few minutes more.

Instead, he walked away from it all, toward Peleus and Thalia’s tree. He rubbed a hand across the dragon’s snout, freeing a piece of stuck shed from beside his eye. Peleus bumped his nose against Will’s stomach, making the boy laugh before he curled back around the tree and the Golden Fleece.

He stayed there—he wasn’t sure how long—just looking at the world outside of the camp’s boundaries where the blizzard still raged. Whoever controlled the weather inside camp had cut it off sometime in the night, after they’d gotten a few inches of powdery snow. Then he turned, looking inward toward camp.

Here, he could see the whole valley, all the kids dressed in coats and neon-orange sweatshirts as they tramped through the snow. Some of the counselors were at work clearing the paths. He was fairly certain Jake Mason from Hephaestus had created some sort of flamethrower to melt it away, but he chose to turn a blind eye to it.

Will sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, his mind turning reluctantly towards his actions from the night before. What had possessed him to try something so dangerous on one of his best friends? He had been desperate, sure, but what if it had ended like Luke? With his handprints branded on Connor’s chest and the smell of burning flesh in his nose?

Worse, what if he had managed to boil Connor from the inside out, cooking him? (Okay, Will could admit that one was a little dramatic.)

But why had Apollo given him this? Will had been just fine with his healings, his adequate voice, and guitar playing. And sure, maybe he’d always wished for something that made him different from his siblings, something that would make him stand out other than being a good healer, but he hadn’t wanted this. The power to sear and burn someone with the heat of the sun, and apparently to shine like a human glowstick as he did.

He wondered if maybe Apollo regretted that Will was his son. If maybe he was trying to make something of him by shoving this blessing on him. And despite the conversation he had overheard between his mother and the god, there had been no sign of him in the month and a half that had passed since. 

And, as he stood at the top of Half-Blood Hill, staring down at his friends and siblings, at the training grounds and infirmary, there was even a small part of him that began to wonder if maybe, just maybe, Luke had been just a little bit right.

Chapter Text

Heather and Travis kept asking questions about his glowing, but Will didn’t try to make it happen again. It scared him, just like it had before, and he’d be much happier to never have to go through that again. As the weeks wore on, the questions faded, and it seemed like Heather and Travis had finally dropped them entirely.

That didn’t mean that Will’s anxieties soothed, though. In fact, as February faded into March and winter turned to spring, he felt his stress growing at the thought of Lee and the rest of his siblings coming back. He knew Heather would tell Lee about the glow—if she hadn’t already—and he really didn’t want to have to explain it to him. He didn’t want to explain it to anyone. But he also knew that it was only a matter of time before someone asked just the wrong question and everything would come rushing out of him.

Will thought constantly about Chiron’s suggestion, the one he repeated nearly every time they had any sort of conversation, of finding someone to talk to about it all. The problem was who. Normally, it would have been Annabeth, but she was on the other side of the country and Will wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her about what Luke had said.

Clarisse was too busy trying to get through to Chris, and though she had held true to her promise about teaching him how to use his dagger, Will could tell she was distracted. He didn’t think it was fair to burden her with his problems any more than he already had. 

Heather was finally settling into a new normal; she was laughing more and crying less, though Will knew she wasn’t sleeping much either. Gracie, Reed, and Austin were younger than him, and he didn’t want them scared like he was. Robin and Aro would tell him to talk to Heather about it or tell her themselves. Michael was stressed enough as it was trying to keep a handle on all of them at once. And all of his other siblings were at home with their families, trying to keep some sense of normalcy. It wouldn’t be fair for him to disrupt any of that.

It was during these lengthening days that Will found himself walking and running more, at almost any free moment. Sometimes his siblings or friends would join him, but most often he was alone with his thoughts. By the time spring break came, Will had managed to form a track around the perimeter of camp, around the cabins and the strawberry fields and along the beach.

He went home for break and was joined by Annabeth, who was welcomed with open arms by his family. She and Laura got off to a bit of a rocky start until Laura let slip that she was fascinated by Victorian architecture. Then she and Annabeth had gone off on a tangent and Will and Shel had rolled their eyes, turning to a discussion of the latest Star Wars movie.

But that one week had gone by in an instant, without a single mention of Luke or anything drastic that had happened at camp. He and Annabeth had hugged goodbye with a promise that they would see each other in a few weeks before they went to their planes. His mom had kissed his forehead and told him “Te quiero, buttercup. Cuidate.” and off he went, back to camp and his siblings and that feeling of relentless pressure.

It was April when he finally talked to someone about everything. Or, more accurately, when he was forced to because if she thinks something is wrong, Silena Beauregard does not take no for an answer.

She’d found him at the top of the hill overlooking the beach, sitting on a rock with his knees pulled up to his chest. She had plunked herself down beside him, poked him in the side, and said, “Talk.”

“What?” He looked over at her, surprised, having not even realized she had appeared.

“I said, talk,” she stretched her legs out, turning her face up to the sun, “Something’s been bugging you for months, Sunshine. I don’t know how many others have noticed, but Rissy and I are both worried.”

He chewed the inside of his cheek, “Are you sure? It’s kind of a lot.”

Silena nudged him gently, “I’ve got you, Sunshine. Whatever it is.”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment, staring out over the beach and the waves. Silena waited him out, watching the clouds overhead. Did he want to tell her? Did he really want to spill everything that had happened in the last few months to a girl he honestly didn’t know very well?

Strangely, he found that he did. Or, at the least, he found he wanted to tell someone, and if that meant the counselor of the Aphrodite cabin, well…

“Luke came to my house on Christmas Eve,” he said finally, so quiet that his words were almost lost to the wind. Silena flinched all the same, her head snapping back to look at him. He didn’t look at her, just continued on, the story taking shape in front of his eyes like he was back in the moment. He flinched from the burns again, felt that draw of Luke’s words again, watched the gold flash of Luke’s eyes in the sun again.

Silena stayed quiet, her gaze focused on the waves below. She listened as it all spilled out, all the fear and anger, every stressful event and worry that had plagued him in the last few months. Every once in a while, he would choke up, or fall silent, and she would reach out and squeeze his hand, but other than that, she let him talk, true to her word.

He told her about Annabeth’s disappearance, and Christmas, and Connor, and the fear that had followed him since that cold December day. The one thing he didn’t mention was Chris, his promise to Chiron still fresh in his mind. Eventually, he stopped, his words gone and his energy depleted. Silena seemed to realize it, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, bringing him closer to her side.

“Oh, Sunshine,” she sighed, so many layers to her voice that Will was too tired to decode, “You’ve had a rough go this year, huh?”

Will laughed humorlessly, watching the sun begin to set and vaguely realizing dinner would start soon, “I guess you could say that.”

“You know it’s not your fault right?” she nudged him gently, bringing his eyes back to her, “None of it. There was nothing you could have done differently to change anything that happened.”

“Yeah, I know.”

She didn’t look convinced, “But?”

“But…” he sighed, turning back to the waves, “I think there’s a difference between knowing it and believing it, ya know?”

Silena gave him a sad smile, “Yeah, I see what you mean.”

In the distance, the dinner bell sounded. Together, they made their way down the hill, headed for the Big House. As they walked, Will chewed his lip, saying, “I know I shouldn’t be scared of this new blessing, but…”

“You have every right to be scared of it,” she said seriously, pulling him to a stop and resting her hands on his shoulders, “Your father was out of line, giving it to you like he did. First, you end up burning someone, and the very next time you use it, it’s to save one of your best friends. You’re allowed to be scared of it.”

He gave her a look, “But?”

She grinned wryly, “But, you still need to learn to control it. A gift like that could get the best of you so easily. And I think you should tell your siblings about it.”

“I—” 

“Not everything, Sunshine,” she said, slipping an arm through his and tugging him back toward the Big House again, “But just that you have this power. They might be able to help you more than I can.”

 “I’ll think about it.” 

She sent him a sunny smile, one that melted away the last of his anxieties, “That’s good enough for me.”

~

The next month came and went, with Will breathing a little easier than before. Silena kept pulling him aside to make sure he was okay and to suggest he tell his siblings, but he still just told her he would think about it. She would sigh and say okay, and eventually, she started trying to help him understand it.

Before he knew it, it was the first official day of camp, and Will woke to the sounds of his siblings getting ready. They would have to make sure everything was clean later, but for now, they made sure their bunks were made and the name cards Gracie and Michael had made were displayed at the foot of each. They all trooped up to the Big House for a quick breakfast, after which Heather, Gracie, and Will split off for the Infirmary.

“Chiron said the new supplies are here,” Heather said, pushing open the door, “Let’s get them sorted before anyone comes.”

Her siblings nodded, and together they began working their way through the boxes of supplies. Heather sat herself in front of the boxes, handing supplies to Gracie to bring to Will, who would lift Gracie up to put them away. Gracie thought this was hilarious, and was soon giggling the entire time.

“Stop squirming, Squirrelly Girl,” Will said, huffing a laugh as he lifted her up to put a roll of bandages in their place, “You’re gonna make me drop you.”

“We’re almost done,” Heather called, tossing a few more rolls toward them, “Then we can go see who’s arrived.”

The younger two worked quickly through the rest, and Heather laughed. She made them help with taking the boxes out to the recycling, then released them to run rampant. Gracie wasted no time in leaping onto Will’s back, nearly knocking him over.

“Geez, Squirrelly,” he said, hiking her up higher, “You’re crazy today.”

“Onward!” She yelled in response, thrusting a finger in the air, “Onward, noble steed!”

Heather snorted, “You heard her, oh noble steed.”

Will stuck out his tongue at her, but began to canter away, causing Gracie to shriek and giggle. Already, they could see vanloads of kids being dropped off by the front porch, so Will headed down to the cabins. The campers they passed called out greetings or laughed at the sight of the two Apollo kids. Will grinned in response, waving to his friends.

They were passing the Athena cabin when a chorus of screams erupted, and Will came to a stop as campers spilled out of the cabin. Malcolm Price, one of Annabeth’s brothers, caught sight of Will, looking positively ghostly.

“Spider.” He shivered, “Can you—”

“Yeah, I got it,” Will set Gracie down, ruffling her hair, “Wait here, Gracie. I’ll only be a minute.”

He made his way through the Athena campers, all of whom were some shade of white or green. When he opened the door, there were a few others standing on their beds, equally terrified expressions on their faces.

“Where—” They all pointed to the center of the floor, where a spider around the size of a dime was crawling around. Will took a sheet of paper off the desk beside the door, scooping the spider onto it and covering it with a hand. He could see the Athena kids breathe a sigh of relief, all of them chorusing thank you’s as he left.

He walked away from the cabin, back to where Gracie and Malcolm were discussing the myth behind the Athena kids’ arachnophobia. Malcolm shivered at the sight of the spider. Will swept the spider into his hand, cupping it as he returned the paper to Malcolm.

“Thanks, Will,” He frowned a little to himself, staring at the little spider, “I know it’s irrational…”

“We all have irrational fears, Mal,” Will said kindly, shifting a hand to hide the spider, “Doesn’t make us silly or weak.”

The boy relaxed, nodding, “You’re right, I guess. Archery later?”

“You got it.” Will and Gracie headed away from the Athena cabin, letting the spider go closer to the woods. Then they continued back toward the Apollo cabin, Gracie launching herself back onto his back. 

“Are you trying to break my spine?” He asked, grunting as he shifted her weight.

She stuck her tongue out at him, though he couldn’t see it, “Stop whining. Onward!”

He rolled his eyes, carrying her into Apollo as she kicked his sides, trying to get him to go faster. All around them, their siblings were settling into their bunks, playing rock-paper-scissors for top and bottom. Will set Gracie down, letting her take his hand as he led her to one person in particular.

“Gracie, this is our sister, Kayla,” they stopped beside a girl with red and green hair, “She and Aro are our resident archery experts. She’ll be taking over your lessons there since Aro will be working with other cabins.”

“Hey,” Gracie was half-hidden behind Will, still nervous around new people, and Kayla grinned, stretching a hand out. At only two months younger than him, she was a good half-foot shorter, leaving her just a little taller than Gracie.

“Nice to meet you, Gracie,” hesitantly, the younger girl shook her hand, “Lee told me a lot about you when he called over break. Has anyone shown you the best climbing spot ever yet?”

 She brightened a little, sidling out from behind Will and dropping his hand. He grinned, letting Kayla take control. Will made his rounds through the rest of his siblings, listening to them tell stories from home, hearing the new songs they’ve learned, laughing with them about the antics of their parents and pets. He reassured them all that Annabeth was alive and okay, accepted their hugs and sympathetic looks, then excused himself out to the porch, where he chatted with anyone who stopped by.

“Lou, give it up, it’s been five months,” he sighed, leaning over the railing, “Armadillos are not reptiles.”

“Let me live in my fantasy world, Will,” she complained, hefting a case of hopefully-not-stolen cheez-its in her arms, “If I say they’re reptiles, they are. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bribe to make.”

“Don’t tell me about it!” he called after her, earning a glare over her shoulder. He laughed, settling back with a book in his hand. It was one Chiron had given him to read over the summer, so he could take it at his own pace. He was actually fairly decent at reading in English, and Chiron liked giving him ones that would challenge him. Which led to him being curled up in the corner of the swing on the Apollo porch, reading The Outsiders as he soaked in the late morning sun.

“What are you doing, Sunshine?” Aro broke his attention, plopping down beside him with a sigh as they tugged up an elbow brace. They caught the frown before he could erase it, and held it out to him, “It’s been bugging me lately.”

He took hold of their elbow, looking inside to see what the problem was. But, just like always, there was nothing he could do except ease the pain. Will often found that Apollo kids fell into two categories: always healthy, or chronically ill. Aro was part of the latter, having chronic pain in their wrists, elbows, and knees that sometimes caused them to need a crutch when they walked. 

“I think you overextended it while shooting,” Will shook his head, “I’ll talk to Heather about getting you a better brace.”

“Alright,” Aro nudged his book again, “Why are you reading The Outsiders?”

“Chiron gave it to me,” he marked his page with a downturned corner, flipping to study the front, “It’s good so far, a bit tragic though.”

Aro hummed, stretching like a cat to soak in the sun, letting their eyes slide closed, “I’ll tell you now that it’ll get worse.”

“Hey! Spoilers!” He slapped them with the book, and they laughed, “Let me experience tragedy on my own!”

“Twerp,” they said fondly, cracking one eye, “Ready for summer?”

“Always,” he sighed, looking out over the green grass, dotted with bright orange, “If there’s one thing I hate, it’s the cold.”

“And archery,” they pointed out, causing a flush to immediately rise in his cheeks. 

“I don’t hate archery,” he said, tugging his knees up to his chest, “I’m just not very good at it.”

“Sunshine, you’re a very good archer,” they sat up, drawing one leg beneath them as they turned to face him, “Just because some of us picked it up faster doesn’t make you bad at it. Most of us can’t heal, you are literally the best healer we have.”

“I’d rather be a good archer or musician,” Will admitted softly, “At least then I could be more than a healer.”

Aro frowned, sliding closer and wrapping an arm around his shoulders, “Healers are more important than archers though, Sunshine. You’re rarer, and usually, you’re the difference between life and death.”

“That’s why I’d rather not be.” His voice was so soft that Aro could barely hear him, and it ached with a tiredness that had no place in an eleven-year-old. They tugged him closer, tucking his head against their chest. He slid into place like it was natural, which, he supposed, it was. This is how Aro always hugged him, making him feel small and safe, just like they had when he’d had his first nightmare in Apollo.

“Sunshine,” They began, carding a gentle hand through his shaggy curls, “I—”

But then Will had broken away, eyes going wide as a grin split his face, and he stood with a cry of “Lee!” He sprinted off the porch, meeting his brother halfway to the firepit. To Lee’s credit, he dropped his bags immediately, catching Will up in a hug and spinning with the force.

“There’s my sunshine!” He laughed, squeezing him tightly. Will buried his face in Lee’s neck, blinking away tears. His brother set him down, kneeling as he wiped away the tears with gentle hands. He held Will’s face, studying it carefully, “Something’s happened, huh?”

Will immediately shook his head, “Just missed you.”

He knew Lee didn’t believe him, but the rest of the Apollo cabin had answered Will’s cry, swarming their head counselor. Lee dropped it, hugging and high-fiving the rest of their siblings and letting Gracie climb onto his shoulders. Michael came out last, throwing his hands up when he saw Lee.

“Thank the gods! I am so done being responsible!” Lee laughed, clapping him on the back in a bro hug.

“Yeah, yeah,” Lee went to pick up his bags, but Will and Michael beat him to it, shouldering them as they all filtered back to the cabin. There, they all settled into the tasks of putting away their clothes and making their beds, while the rest lounged two or three to a bed, swapping stories and jokes.

Will listened to them all, avoiding Aro’s soft looks. He knew they would try to finish their conversation at some point, but he didn’t want it to be now. Despite his reservations, having Lee back was comforting in a way that filled his heart, masking the pain that had been echoing there.

But as he watched the sun glint off Lee’s hair, his thoughts turned back to what Silena had said about telling his siblings. Would it help? Would it ease some of the tension that constantly filled him? Would it lessen the concerned looks from Austin and Lee and Aro?

“You good, Sunshine? You look like you’re gonna hurl,” one of his sisters, Helen (or more commonly Nell), settled at the foot of his bed, an orange in her hands. A grin broke across his face, a knot in his chest coming loose at the sight of her.

“Only at the sight of you, Nell.” She threw a piece of orange at him, and he popped it into his mouth.

“I see you still haven’t learned manners,” Nell said, rolling her eyes as she copied him, biting down on the sweet orange.

“Would you believe it’s me if I didn’t sass you?” He wanted to know, and she paused to think about it.

“Good point.” Then her tanned face split into a grin, “Guess what?”

“What?”

 She leaned closer, and he copied her, eyeing the bright glow in her sea-glass green eyes, “I started dating someone.”

Will’s jaw dropped, “Who?”

“A normie,” she rolled her lips in, poorly suppressing her smile, “Her name’s Jenna.”

“Her?” Nell nodded, a flicker of doubt passing across her face, and Will threw his arms around her, making her shriek, “I’m happy for you, Nell!”

That was all he could say before their siblings decided to join in, piling on top of them in the narrow bed. And as Will was crushed beside Nell, listening to the shrieks and laughs of his siblings, he felt the last of his anxieties slip away, at least for the moment. He decided there would be time for those all later, but for now, he was allowing himself to just be happy.

~

That night, Will lay awake, trying to work up the courage to try and glow. Silena had pulled him aside at dinner, urging him one last time to tell his siblings. He’d bluffed and told her he wanted to be able to demonstrate it first, and so she had suggested he work on glowing without heat, just emitting a light like he had after he’d healed Connor, but the thought was still terrifying. What if he couldn’t control it? What if he ended up burning himself? What if the heat took over, setting fire to the bed and trapping them all in the cabin?

He knew he was catastrophizing, knew that those weren’t likely to happen as long as he was careful. But as he lay there in the dark, listening to the soft breathing of his siblings as they slept, he couldn’t bring himself to try. In fact, as he lay under his covers, he began to feel too warm, the stuffiness of the cabin pressing in on him until he couldn’t take it anymore.

Quietly, he threw off his covers, slipping out the door onto the porch and into the cool night air. He sat on the stairs, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a controlled stream. The air cleared his head, and he wrapped his arms around his legs, resting his chin on his knees. 

Behind him, the door opened and closed again, but he didn’t turn to look who it was. They sat down beside him, resting their elbows on their knees.

“Wanna talk about it, Sunshine?” Lee asked, casting a sideways glance at him. He shrugged, looking up at the sliver of moon overhead. Lee nodded, turning his face to the moon as well. They sat in silence for a while, and Will could feel everything building in his chest, like he might pop if he waited too long.

Lee saved him from it, instead asking rather suddenly, “Whatever happened to that kid Annabeth saved? Nico? I haven’t seen him today.”

Will stared at him in shock, then realized with a little bit of guilt that he hadn’t thought about Nico once since he disappeared into the woods.  “I don’t know,” he admitted, shifting uncomfortably, “His, uhm, his sister didn’t come back from the quest to save Bennie. He ran away from camp, and I don’t know what happened after that.”

“Damn,” Lee breathed out, staring at Will for a moment, “December was a rough month for everyone, huh?”

That got a laugh out of Will, and he rested his chin on his knees, “You could say that again.”

“December was a rough month for everyone,” Lee grinned, slipping an arm around Will before sobering up, “You know you don’t have to tell me anything, right? I’m here if you want someone to talk to, but I’m also here if you don’t want to talk at all.”

Will leaned into him, not saying anything, and Lee let him, squeezing his shoulders gently. He looked down at his hands, studying them in the faint moonlight.  He thought back to Silena’s words, wondering if sharing it with Lee would ease some of the stress. He tried to imagine the glow again, remembering that feeling of tired awe. Sucking in a shuddering breath, he let his eyes close, leaning deeper into Lee’s side.

He heard Lee’s gasp before he opened his eyes, saw the silhouette of his glowing hand through his eyelids, and tried not to compare it to Christmas. Slowly, he let himself open his eyes, blinking as he adjusted to the light. It was weird to look at, seeming to ripple beneath his skin as he flexed his fingers. His eyes traveled up his arm, searching for a place where the glow ended or faltered, some sign that this wasn’t really happening, but it was. His entire body glowed from the inside out, illuminating the porch in soft yellow light.

“What— When—” Lee stuttered as he stared at Will, finally settling on, “ How? ”

Will let the feeling slip away, leaving them in the dark. “Dad.”

The bitterness in Will’s voice gave Lee pause, and silence reigned for a moment. Then he asked, soft and simple, “Will you tell me—”

“Please don’t.” He was so tired. So done with spilling his guts over and over. With reliving the same experiences every day. With those red-hot, burbling brandmarks hiding behind his eyelids at all times. He wanted to savor this moment, alone with his brother, without tainting it anymore.

Lee blinked down at him for a moment, then nodded, pulling Will into his arms again, “Okay, Sunshine.”

Chapter Text

“Alright, Apollo-spawn,” Lee said the next day, coming to a stop and executing a miltary-esque turn to face them, “We’re gonna try for a new skill of Dad’s.”

“Which is?” Michael asked, looking tired. Lee had pulled them all out of bed as soon as the sun hit the treetops, which would have been fine if they hadn’t stayed up to midnight cleaning up their blanket fort. Now they were all suffering, except maybe Gracie, who had fallen asleep at 9 and hadn’t even stirred when Will had moved her into her bed.

Lee turned away from them, toward the fenceline where he had set up a row of glass bottles, “Y’all might want to cover your ears.”

They did, hesitating, and he let out a sharp whistle note that sliced through the air, shattering the bottles. A chorus of gasps filled the air, and Lee turned back with a grin. Will stared at the glass pieces that now littered the ground, his brain trying to understand what just happened.

“That’s called a sonic whistle,” he told them, “It’s a highly concentrated note. When done properly, it can temporarily confuse opponents. We’re going to see if any of you have it.”

He set up new bottles, spreading them out so that they wouldn’t interfere with each other, and went about explaining what it felt like. 

“You need a lot of space in your mouth for it to resonate,” he told them, pacing in front of them like a commander lecturing his troop, “And you need to keep the sound pure. If you let too much air out, it won’t work, and if it’s too dark, it’ll be too dangerous. So, just remember to keep that yawn space in the back.”

For the next half hour, they all tried to replicate Lee’s demonstration. Will got him to do it again, this time holding his hand against Lee’s arm so he could see how his mouth moved. His siblings, those who could, copied him, making Lee laugh as he was swamped by his siblings demanding he do it again.

In the end, only Will and Robin could come close out of the 19 Apollo campers. Lee promised the others that they would work on other skills throughout the summer, aside from archery, healing, and music. 

“It’s time we focus on all the talents Dad gives us,” Lee said as they walked back to the cabin, “Not just the big three. If anyone has a talent that they want to share, come see me and we’ll work out a time and safe place.” Will felt a twinge of guilt in his chest at that, but Lee reached out and squeezed his shoulder, like he knew what Will was thinking, “Only if you want to share. I’m not gonna force anyone.”

“Cool, can we go nap now?” Michael asked, still yawning. That drew laughs from their siblings, and Lee nodded.

“Just remember we’ve got archery after lunch.” Half of their siblings saluted him before disappearing inside, immediately drawing the black-out curtains over the windows. “The rest of you, go annoy the other cabins. If you choose Ares, I’m not patching you up. Find Will or Heather for that.”

“Hey!” Will and Heather cried in unison, shoving their brother. Lee laughed, dancing away from them with a bright grin on his face.

“You are more than capable of healing, Lee Tyler Fletcher,” Heather lectured him as they all disbanded. Will shook his head, chuckling at his older siblings as he headed up to the Big House.

~

Ironically, it was Will to set his sights on annoying an Ares camper. The second Clarisse stuck her head out from the basement, she rolled her eyes. He just grinned, bouncing on his toes.

“You seriously want a lesson now? Lunch hasn’t even started yet.” Despite her tone, she followed him out of the Big House, shifting her headband so that it held all of her hair out of her face.

“Yeah, but I have archery, music, and a joint healing lesson with the Demeter kids today,” Will told her, pulling a hair tie off his wrist and pulling up the top half of his hair. Clarisse had managed to disarm him three times before he realized it was better to keep it out of his eyes.

“Fine. Got a knife?” He pulled out the dagger he’d been carrying around for the last few months. Clarisse nodded, “Good. Let’s go down to the arena.”

They walked in silence, Will turning his face up to the sunlight. He wasn’t sure why, if it was maybe because he shared his glow with Lee, but he felt calmer than he had the day before. More balanced. 

“Are you done photosynthesizing?” Clarisse’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he was shocked to notice that they were at the arena already. His friend rolled her eyes as she held the door open for him.

He stepped inside, blinking his eyes to adjust to the dimmer light. But before he could take more than a handful of steps inside, a large shape came barreling at him from the darkness. It was larger than a horse or pegasus, larger even than some of the cars Will had seen down in Texas.

His body took over, parrying to the side like it was Clarisse’s spear. The shape skidded and turned again, and Will waited as it came closer, then dodged just before it made contact. It let out a bone-rattling “WOOF!”, spinning yet again and this time Will wasn’t fast enough to avoid being flattened by what he saw now was a hellhound. The most enormous hellhound Will had ever seen before (which, admittedly, was precisely one).

Rows of teeth stared down at him, drool threatening to fall and land on his face. Around the hound’s bulk, he saw Clarisse creeping up, spear in hand. Then his world became a swirl of colors and saliva as the hellhound’s tongue swiped across his face. He couldn’t help it; he laughed, squirming as the dog continued to wash his face. 

“Mrs. O’Leary!” An older voice called from somewhere on the opposite side of the amphitheater, “Get off him, girl! Where are your manners?”

The hellhound stopped her very wet assault on his face at the sound of the voice, cocking her very large head.

“Mrs. O’Leary, get the Greek!” There was a thudding sound, and the hellhound let out a ‘WOOF’, taking off. Will sat up, wiping slobber from his face. Between one swipe and another, a hand appeared in front of him.

He took it, letting the older man it belonged to pull him to his feet as he took the opportunity to study him. Will had never seen him before. His hair was close-cropped and gray, with a matching beard against tanned skin. He wore joggers and a Camp Half-Blood shirt with a design that Will didn’t recognize. It wasn’t one that had come through in the last few years at the very least.

“Terribly sorry about her,” the stranger said, smiling at him and Clarisse, who had come to stand like a bodyguard over his shoulder, “Gets very excited around new people.”

“Who are you?” Clarisse, as always, was not one to deal with pleasantries. Mrs. O’Leary came bounding back over with a target dummy in her massive mouth. She dropped it at the man’s feet, and he took a moment to throw it again before answering Clarisse.

“Quintus, the new sword instructor,” He offered a hand to Clarisse, who shook it with a suspicious glint in her eye, then to Will. It was rougher and callused, but there was something strange about it. For the briefest moment, he thought foolishly that it wasn’t real flesh and blood, but he knew that was insane. “Who might you be?”

“Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares.” There was something of a challenge to her voice. 

If Quintus heard it, he didn’t acknowledge it, only grinned wider, “Fantastic. I’m sure you and I will spend quite a bit of time together.”

Clarisse just sniffed, folding her arms across her chest. Quintus didn’t seem to take offense, only turned to Will, “And you? That was quite impressive dodging.”

A flush coated Will’s cheeks, “Will Solace, son of Apollo.”

A dark look flashed across his face, but it was shoved aside, so quickly that Will doubted he had seen it, “Ah, an archer then, I suppose.” Quintus stepped back to begin going through a series of stretches, “An important skill.”

“Oh, no, sir. I’m not an archer,” Will turned the dagger over in his hand, “I’m a healer.”

The man straightened, eyes searching his for a moment, and he rested a hand on Will’s shoulder, “An even more important one. So long as you know how to protect yourself as well.”

“That’s why we’re down here,” Clarisse said, nodding down to Will’s dagger, “I’ve been giving him lessons on dagger fighting.”

Quintus smiled, holding his hands up, “Well, don’t let me or Mrs. O’Leary distract you. I have a meeting with Master Chiron, now that I’ve arrived.”

Will and Clarisse watched as he gave Mrs. O’Leary a pat, then disappeared into the bright noon light. 

“There’s something about him I don’t like,” Clarisse said, staring as the door swung closed behind him. Will nodded, wrapping his arms around his stomach.

“He feels… wrong,” he said quietly, remembering that feeling when his hand had shaken Quintus’s, “Not quite human.”

Clarisse nodded, resting a hand on Will’s shoulder for a moment before shaking herself, “Whatever. Let’s focus on daggers right now.”

~

Campers continued to trickle into camp over the next few days. Will and Heather took physicals of any new campers and continued to teach Gracie the basics of healing. The Apollo cabin had been the first one to fill up, a total of 24 campers (although Will thought there might be some new unclaimed in Hermes). Lee continued to work with Will and Robin on the sonic whistle, showing them how to add trills to change the outcome.

But it wasn’t until the third day that the person Will wanted to see the most arrived at camp, clambering out of the back of a taxi with one Percy Jackson. He spotted her from atop a pegasus Silena had said was named Penecia, or Penny for short. She was his favorite, due in part to her bright coppery color that seemed to glow in the sun, but mainly because she had an attitude and he loved it. Penny liked to pull tricks on him, like holding her breath as he tightened the girth so that the saddle would slide when he got on. The Aphrodite girls, who had somehow claimed the Pegasi as their responsibility, were not as fond as he was of her quirks, except for Silena.

“I still can’t believe how much she likes you,” Silena called from astride a white pegasus she called Guido, “She’s actually listening.” As if to challenge that statement, Penny immediately did a loop-de-loop, nearly making Will fall because he wasn’t holding on tight enough. Silena laughed, “Well, almost.”

“You just had to draw attention to it, huh?” Will moaned, nudging Penny toward the stables again, “Now she’s never gonna listen again.”

In answer, Penny snorted, landing neatly beside the stables as if she was the most docile pegasus to ever fly. Will shook his head, leading her into the barn and setting about putting her tack away.

“You are the strangest horse I’ve ever met,” he told her, pulling out a currycomb. Penny shook her head with a whinny, turning to look at him with one baleful blue eye. Will rolled his eyes, “Fine, pegasus. Either way, it’s like you’re trying to irritate everyone.”

She let out a nicker, nodding her head and making him laugh. He continued talking to her as he curried her, working loose the dirt and sweat from their flight. Occasionally, she tried to pin him to her side with her wing, or reach around to lip his shirt. Will just shook his head, scolding her gently and stepping out of reach. 

“She likes you, lamb chop,” Connor said from behind him, leaning against the barn door, “Of course, who wouldn’t?”

Will wrinkled his nose at his friend, “‘Lamb Chop?’ Really?”

Connor laughed, reaching out a hand to stroke Penny’s neck, “Aw, come on. It’s not that bad—OW!”

Penny had reached out and nipped his arm, her ears flat against her skull. Will dropped the curry comb, getting between her and Connor. The son of Hermes was eyeing her reproachfully, cradling his arm against his chest.

“Penecia!” He glared at her, which was rare enough that she actually looked remorseful for a moment, bowing her head. Will shook his head, taking Connor’s arm to see the damage, “You’re lucky you’re fast. She only got a bit of skin. Don’t even need ambrosia.”

Will passed a hand over the mark, and between it and the next, the redness disappeared. When he looked up, Connor was staring at him with some unknown feeling in his eyes, that made Will's face burn.

Then he was yanked backward by the back of his shirt, and Penny’s neck curled around him. Connor laughed again, that odd look disappearing.

“Looks like you’ve been claimed, Sunrise,” he said, still grinning, and Penny gave him a nasty look. He held up his hands, taking a step back, “I can tell I’m not wanted here.”

Silena walked in then, leading Guido, and burst out laughing at the sight before her. Will rolled his eyes, pushing Penny’s head away and clipping on a lead. He led her past Connor, and she tested Will, trying to reach around and nip him again. Connor yelped, backing away as Will walked her into her stall.

“I think you’re her favorite chew toy, Connor,” Silena gasped, straightening again as she walked Guido to the ties. Connor scowled at her, turning up his nose.

“What are you even doing down here?” Will asked as he took off Penny’s halter and closed the door, hanging it on the hook beside her window, “You never come down to the stables.”

“Ah, yes, that,” Connor grinned, wrapping an arm over his shoulders, “Lee and Gracie have both requested your presence and I am merely the messenger.”

Will yelped, laughing as Connor threw him over his shoulder, “You know I can walk!”

“Ah, but where’s the fun in that?” 

~

“Stoll, what is it with you and throwing my brother around like a sack of potatoes?” Michael called as they passed the archery lanes. Will had given up fighting and had instead propped himself up against Connor’s back, waving cheerfully at some of the newly arrived campers. They stared at him, then decided it was hardly the strangest thing they’d seen.

“I’m just the messenger!” Connor called back, grinning, “Where’d Lee and Gracie go?”

“Down by the woods! Gracie wanted to climb a tree.”

Connor saluted him and continued on, starting to struggle with Will’s dead weight. 

“You can put me down, you know,” Will told him again, “I’m not gonna run away from my siblings.”

“Yeah, but are you gonna run away from me?”

“...no.”

Connor snorted, “You are a horrible liar, William Andrew Solace. Truly awful.”

“You try lying around Gracie or Sani,” Will grumbled, letting his chin fall into his hand, “It’s impossible.”

“You keep telling yourself that,” Connor said with mocking sympathy, but set him down anyway, wrapping an arm around his shoulders instead, “I think you’re just a bad liar.”

He rolled his eyes, but let him keep his arm there, “You try it sometime. I’m telling you, it’s like you can’t. So I don’t, and I never learned.”

“Will!” He craned his head up,  shading his eyes with one hand. Gracie was nearly at the top of a pine tree on the edge of the forest, waving a hand, “Look how tall I am!”

“Wow, Squirrelly Girl!” Will called back, “You’re living up to your nickname!”

“She’s been up there for like ten minutes,” Lee said, coming to stand with them, “She wanted to show you how high up she was.”

“Alright, so what did you need me for?”

Lee gave Connor a look, and the Stoll backed away, saying, “I can tell when I’m not wanted.”

“I wanted to check in and see how you’re doing, Sunshine,” Lee said, keeping an eye on Gracie as she began her descent, “It’s been a hectic few days.”

“I’m fine, Lee. Really,” He added, seeing the unconvinced look that Lee gave him, “I’m just not ready to talk.”

“That’s okay, Sunshine,” Lee gave him a one-armed hug, “You just come find me when you are.”

Will squeezed back, and then leaned down to catch Gracie as she threw herself at him, even though she had seen him at lunch not two hours before. He laughed as she actually managed to knock him flat on his back. Lee rolled his eyes at the pair.

“I swear, you two are thicker than the Stoll brothers,” he said, taking Will’s hand and hauling the pair to their feet. Well, Will’s feet, because Gracie insisted on wrapping her arms and legs around him like a koala.

“I don’t know what you mean, Lee,” Will laughed as Connor reappeared, leaning against his shoulder, “These two aspire to be as close as Travis and me.”

“You wish, Stoll,” Gracie said, leaning back and sticking out her tongue at him, “You. Wish.”

Chapter Text

Will was startled awake early the next morning, long before the sun had even touched the horizon, by the frantic calls from the night watch. His siblings were all in similar states of confusion, and Lee disappeared out onto the porch for a moment before returning.

“Kayla, Nell, Michael, Ricky,” he said, voice calm even as he began pulling on a chest plate and helm and grabbed his bow, “Suit up and grab your bows. There’s a Drakon at the barrier. Healers, be ready.”

Heather, Will, and Robin shared a look, slipping from their beds and following them out of the cabin. Will paused for a moment to tug on a sweatshirt.

“Will?” Gracie’s little voice was soft against the chaos outside, but he heard it all the same and stopped, standing on the ladder so he could poke his head into her bed.

“It’ll be fine, Squirrelly,” he said softly, “Try to get some more sleep. We can handle this.”

Her eyes searched his face, and an odd feeling came over Will, like she was staring through him. But then she nodded, turning over in her bed and falling asleep again. He dropped to the floor, hurrying after his siblings as he put the thought from his head.

They split halfway to the Big House—Lee’s group toward the barrier and Heather, Robin, and Will to the infirmary. They flicked on the lights, working in silence as they prepped the room for whatever the night might bring. Bandages and gauze were restocked on the counter, nectar and ambrosia were restocked in the cupboard and fridge. Sheets were cleaned and changed, the three of them working with the ease of a well-oiled machine.

When everything was set, they settled around the table that stood at one end, usually reserved for patient meals or card games. Will took a good look at Heather, who looked slightly green. He frowned, glancing at Robin to see if he noticed it too, but his brother had fallen asleep on his folded arms.

“You okay, Heath?” he asked softly, placing his hand palm-up on the table. She gave him a look, correctly reading his gesture as a ploy to check her vitals. He shrugged, a small smile teasing the edges of his lips.

“I taught you that, you know,” she said, but she humored him, slipping her hand in his and squeezing gently, “I’m just tired, that’s all.”

He could tell it was more than that. Her heart was thumping hard and he could feel her hands shaking in his. It felt like Lou on too much caffeine. “Have you been sleeping?”

“Not well,” she rubbed her free hand across her face, giving him a shaky smile, “It’s been hard to get my brain to quiet down.”

“Have you tried some melatonin?”

A grin split her face, followed by a laugh so sudden it startled Robin awake, “Oh gods, you sound too much like me, Sunshine. How many times have I suggested that to you?”

“Too many,” Will said, the corners of his mouth turning up as he sat back, satisfied that her color had returned to normal.

Robin yawned, settling back down as he mumbled with the seriousness of the Oracle, “It’s the fate of all Apollo healers to end up like Heather. It is inevitable.”

The other two shared a look, biting back laughs as Robin passed out again. They had to cover their mouths in an attempt to muffle the sounds, their laughs tinged with sleep-deprived hysteria.

“Y’all look insane,” Lee said from the door, unstringing his bow and attaching it to its quiver, “Come on, it’s over. Without any injuries, thank Apollo.”

They echoed his praise, shaking Robin awake and trooping back down to the cabin. Will was dismayed to see that the sun was already beginning to breach the horizon, as if their mention of their father had brought him forth. Lee wrapped an arm across Robin’s shoulders to keep him upright, and Will was relieved that the tension in Heather had faded away.

“It was an Aetheopian Drakon,” Lee told them softly, motioning for other campers who had been woken by the commotion to go back inside, “Never got through, but didn’t really want to leave either. We’ll need to go salvage any arrows we can, and make some more tomorrow.”

Heather nodded, glancing up at the rising sun, “Let’s get a little more sleep if we can. You’ll have a report in the morning.”

~

Breakfast came too early and tense, the whispers of the campers sounding like wind in the trees as they scraped part of their meals into the fire and sat down at their tables. Chiron’s announcements were grim, full of warnings not to wander off alone and a half-hearted introduction of Quintus, who sat to his left at the head table. At Chiron’s nod, Lee stood and gave a report of the Drakon, his face set with determination and caution.

Will wasn’t sure how he felt about the look on the swordmaster’s face when he mentioned the war games. While he obviously wasn’t squeamish about blood or broken bones, that didn’t mean he was particularly interested in fighting. He took his dagger and archery lessons seriously by necessity, but he always sort of wished he could live a life where violence and fighting were a last resort. Sometimes he wondered if there was such a life, when all he was seemed to invite challenge.

So absorbed in his thoughts, Will didn’t notice at first when Annabeth left the Athena table and slid across from Percy. It took a sharp elbow from Austin before he even looked up from his fruit cup, and Kayla’s point for him to notice what was wrong.

“What’s she doing?” his sister hissed, leaning closer so that the three of them formed a small group. Across the pavilion, everybody followed suit, whispering about her disregard for the rules. That’s what made it more shocking, really, the fact that it was Annabeth of all people. If Percy had joined her, well, that wouldn’t have caused nearly as much of a stir.

“No clue,” he said absently, tapping his fork against the side of the bowl, “Must be important though.”

“Grover and Bennie are anxious,” Austin said, rinsing his mouth with water, “Percy’s confused.”

“What else is new?” Kayla snorted, twisting to try and see the pair clearer, “Gods, they’re facing the wrong direction. I can’t read their lips.”

“Kale, we’re two tables away, I don’t think you’d be able to anyway,” Austin told her, shaking his head. Will stole a glance at the Head table to see what Quintus had to say about it, but he was just watching them with a guarded expression, his fork and dagger (why was he using a dagger?) working on a sausage.

“What did I tell you about calling me Kale?” She made a face across Will at their little brother, “Do I look like rabbit food to you?”

“Well…” Austin said slowly, a grin spreading across his face like butter. 

“You are turning a little green, Kale,” Will told her, tickling the underside of her chin with the tips of her braid, which she’d dyed a bright green, “I wasn’t sure I should tell you.”

She slapped his hand away, huffing as she turned away from them. The boys shared a grin, laughing at their sister’s reaction. Across the table, Nell shook her head.

“Will you two stop tormenting her?”

Will raised a brow, “Would you rather we torment you? Don’t think I forgot about your little confession from the other night.”

Nell flushed red, wagging a finger in his face, “You leave my love life alone, William Solace. It is too early for that.”

“Oh, it won’t be me,” he teased, “But maybe Darcy from Aphrodite hears at campfire—”

She nailed him in the face with a roll, earning a sharp reminder to behave from Lee. Will laughed, waiting for Lee to turn away before tossing a grape back at her. Nell responded with a spoonful of oatmeal to the face just as their brother turned back around.

“Helen Gould, would you stop throwing food at him?” The oldest son of Apollo passed Will a napkin, glaring at her, “Let Sunshine eat in peace.”

“But Lee—”

“Yeah, Nell, let me eat,” he said, grinning as he tore apart the roll she had thrown and popped it into his mouth. Nell scowled at him, muttering under her breath as she turned back to her oatmeal. Austin snorted, then tilted his head.

“Percy’s anxious now, and so is Grover.” Will looked over at the Poseidon table just in time to see Bennie get up and return to her spot at the Athena table. Grover looked absolutely miserable as he stood and walked away, headed for the forest.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Will said, shaking off the foreboding feeling that had settled over his shoulders and returning his attention to his fruit cup. Austin kept his eye on Percy for a moment longer before shrugging and looking back at his plate.

“Do we have flying lessons today?”

~

Will was currying Penny in her stall when a familiar face appeared in the window. He rolled his eyes as Connor leaned against the gate, a bright grin on the son of Hermes’ face.

“Did you learn nothing yesterday?” Will asked, tugging Penny’s halter to distract her from her favorite chew toy, “Or do you want more bruises?”

“Ah, but I know you would fix it, my cabbage,” Connor grinned, and Will made a gagging sound.

“‘My cabbage’? That’s so much worse than ‘lamb chop’,” he groaned as Connor laughed, and Will ignored the small flare of warmth in his chest at the sound, “Are you here to kidnap me again?”

“I’m absolutely wounded you think that’s the only reason I’d come find you, my duck. And I’ll have you know that ‘my cabbage’ is a translation of a popular French nickname.”

“Sure, Con, whatever you say,” Will shook his head, returning to his task, “So then what has brought you down here, if not to kidnap me?”

Connor shrugged, “I don’t know. I was bored, And Hermes doesn’t have lessons for another half hour, so…”

He chuckled, nudging Penny over so he could do her other side, “So you decided to visit the pegasus who insists on trying to take a bite of you every time you come down.”

“And her rider,” He gave him what Will was sure he thought was a winning smile, “Anyway, do you know anything about Lou insisting armadillos— HEY!”

He leaped back as Penny struck toward him, just barely missing his arm. Will seized her halter, pulling her back and scolding her like he would a puppy or one of the younger campers. “Penecia, we do not bite our friends! Or our enemies! Those teeth are only meant for your food or grass. I taught you better than this—”

“Err, is everything alright here?” A tall boy with blue-black hair appeared from around the corner of the stable, “I could hear you guys outside.”

“Percy, save me!” Connor dived behind him, peeking around his side as Will calmed Penny down, “Sunshine’s horse keeps trying to make a snack of me.”

Percy Jackson eyed Penny and Will, who just shrugged, “Penny’s temperamental is all. She seems to think Connor’s particularly annoying.”

“I take offense to that, Sunshine!” Connor called, still hiding behind Percy, even as the son of Poseidon came closer, “Are you mad, Jackson? You’re going to lose an arm!”

Percy laughed, reaching out to stroke Penny’s nose, “Nah, she’s a sweetheart. She just… Really, Penny? Okay, yeah, she likes the way you squeak when she goes after you, Stoll.” 

“Did… she tell you that?” Will asked, and got his answer in the form of Penny bobbing her head. He laughed, finishing up her neck and convincing her to lift her wing, “I guess that’s a yes.”

“Yeah, Poseidon’s kind of the god of horses, so,” Percy shrugged, watching Will work, “She really likes you. Although she says you could stand to give her more sugar cubes.”

“I’ve told you, Pen, your teeth are going to rot through if everyone gave you the number of sugar cubes you want,” Will said, earning a gentle buffet to the head with her wing. Percy snorted.

“I am not repeating what she just said. Your pegasus has a mouth on her.”

Will glared at her, convincing her to step back so he could leave the stall, “That doesn’t surprise me. Though, I blame Travis. He’s the only other person she’s mostly behaved for.”

“My brother?” Connor’s mouth dropped open, “She likes my brother and not me?”

“Hmm, I wonder why,” Will said, a teasing smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth, “Maybe it’s the fact that he has manners, or knows how to bathe, or…”

“That’s it, come here, Sunshine,” Connor started to go after him and Will saluted Percy, turning to sprint out the door.

“And that’s my cue. See ya!”

~

Connor wasn’t able to catch Will, and when they gathered for the war game after dinner, Will could feel him glowering at him from across the circle. He gave him a mocking, two-fingered salute, and grinned when the frown deepened.

“Will, stop antagonizing the Stolls,” Nell said, flicking his head, “You’re going to make enemies with everyone at camp like that.”

“Nah, Connor and I are cool,” Will told her, waving across at the boy, who had to visibly fight to keep an answering smile from his face, “See?”

“Yeah, no one could stay mad at our Sunshine for long,” Kayla said, draping herself across his shoulders, “It’s like, physically impossible.”

“Aw, thanks, Kale,” he leaned into her, only to get a violent shove in return. 

“Don’t push it.” 

Will laughed brightly in the face of Kayla’s scowl, about to retort something when Quintus climbed atop the head table, dressed in black leather.

“Right. Gather round,” Quintus said, looking around at the gathered demigods. Mrs. O’Leary bounded happily around him, foraging for dinner scraps. “You will be in teams of two.” 

When everybody started talking and trying to grab their friends, he added: “Which have already been chosen!”

Will hid a laugh at the groans of his siblings. He hadn’t even moved when Quintus had said teams; he made it a point to wait until everyone had paired up before going with whoever was left. Usually, it was a new camper, often someone who hadn’t even been claimed yet.

“Your goal is simple: collect the gold laurels without dying. The wreath is wrapped in a silk package, tied to the back of one of the monsters. There are six monsters. Each has a silk package. Only one holds the laurels. You must find the wreath before the other teams. And of course … You will have to slay the monster to get it, and stay alive.” 

Around him, demigods whispered excitedly while Will felt his stomach clench. He never did like it when they added the ‘stay alive’ bit. It felt unnecessary, or maybe just implied.

“I will now announce your partners,” Quintus said. “There will be no trading. No switching. No complaining.”

Will was paired with Malcolm, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Malcolm, like him, wasn’t really one for combat, unless it was just strategy. And he was better with a bow than Will was. As Quintus finished calling names and released them to begin, the boys drifted together.

“What do you say we don’t necessarily try to win?” Malcolm asked, eyeing the other teams as they all vanished into the woods. “I don’t really want to try and fight a monster today.”

“Read my mind, Mal,” Will said, and they moved into the woods. Only a half dozen feet into the trees, the world became eerily quiet. It felt… wrong. They shared an uneasy look and moved silently inward.

Sometimes they could hear the crash of other teams, but they rarely came face to face with them. In the distance, they could hear metal crashing and the yells of combat. The healer in him itched to head towards it, to make sure no one was on the brink of bleeding out, but when Malcolm moved away from the sound, he forced himself to follow.

“What do you think of Quintus?” Mal asked, ducking beneath a tree branch. Will shrugged, resettling his grip on his dagger.

“Seems competent.” Mal hummed agreement, then held up a hand. They both froze, ears sharp for the crackling of sticks and leaves. They shared a look. “Plan?”

“I’m going up the tree,” Mal said, his eyes taking on that far-away look children of Athena got when they strategize, “Think you could hide until it gets close enough to see what we’re dealing with?”

Will nodded, and they split; Mal scaled the tree and he dove into a bush, just as the creature broke through into the clearing. The son of Apollo blanched, eyeing the giant scorpion with something akin to terror. Especially as it stopped directly above him.

From above, he heard the ping of an arrow off the scorpion’s tough exterior, and he forced himself to breathe. Carefully, he reached up and aimed for the ties of the bag, slicing through one before the scorpion jerked aside.

That’s how Will found himself face-to-face with the creature, those monstrous pinchers to either side of him.

“Fuck.”

~

“You did good, Sunshine.” Lee said, wrapping an arm around Will’s shoulders as they returned to the cabin that night, far later than anyone expected, “Almost had the laurels yourself.”

“And I’m just fine with that,” Will admitted, “Mal and I didn’t really want to fight that thing in the first place. It was dumb luck I even got the one strap cut.”

“Good, you know it,” Lee said cheerfully, “Next time it won’t be dumb luck. It’ll be because you knew you could already.”

“I’d prefer there not be a next time,” Heather said, holding open the cabin door, “Hearing that was enough of a wreck on my nerves.”

“Agreed,” Will said, popping his head up to make sure Gracie was actually asleep. She was, curled tightly around a squirrel stuffed animal he’d given her after spring break.

“So, what do we think Percy and Annabeth found?” This came from Will’s older sister Haseya, who was nearly as bad a gossip as the Aphrodite kids. Her twin, Sani, sat before her on the ground, letting Haseya braid his long, dark hair.

“We’ll find out tomorrow,” Lee told her, straightening some of the blankets on the younger kids, “Don’t worry about it until then.”

“Happier thoughts, Seya,” Sani told her, reaching back to poke her, “You know better.”

“Fine, fine,” Haseya said, tying off the braid and starting on the second, “I’m just curious.”

Will turned over in his bed, that heavy weight settling in his chest again as he bit the inside of his cheek. The Labyrinth.

Chapter Text

When Will awoke the next morning, it was to a knock at the door. He rubbed sleep from his eyes as he sat up, folding his arms across his knees as he watched Lee answer the door. A murmured conversation followed, and Lee nodded before turning away, catching Will’s eyes.

He sat with a sigh at the foot of his bed, reaching out to tousle Will’s hair gently, “I’ve got a council meeting. If I’m not back by the time everyone’s up, get Michael to make y’all go for a run, okay? You set the pace though. Michael might just walk the entire thing.”

Will laughed softly, nodding, “Give Bennie a hug for me? She looked freaked last night.”

“Hmmm, I don’t know,” Lee said teasingly, “I haven’t gotten any sunshine hugs lately, so I don’t know if I have any to give out—oof!”

The oldest child of Apollo found himself squashed beneath his brother, wheezing laughter erupting from the both of them. Will turned his face into Lee’s shoulder to muffle the sound, just as Lee planted a fond kiss on top of his head. Strong arms squeezed him tight.

“I’ve gotta get dressed now, Sunshine,” Lee said eventually, making Will sit up, “I’ll give Annabeth a hug for you. Don’t let Michael laze about once everyone’s awake.”

“Yes, sir,” Will said, reaching for his book beside his bed, “Have fun, don’t die.”

~

True to his word, Will got all of his siblings out for a run, a short one around the outside of the cabins. And true to Lee’s prediction, Michael tried to walk the entire thing until Will started teasing him about being slower than a seven-year-old (Gracie had been keeping pace with Will for most of the run). Only then did Michael’s competitive streak come out, and he joined the actual run.

By the time they returned to the cabin, Lee was sitting on the steps, his head bowed, almost like he was in prayer. His siblings collapsed on the grass before him, catching their breath as they waited for Lee to speak. Gracie leaned on Will’s shoulders, her chin digging into his scalp.

Lee rubbed a hand over his face, and when he looked up, he looked years older than his eighteen. 

“You guys remember the Labyrinth?” He rolled his eyes a little when some of their siblings shook their heads ‘no’, “The Minotaur’s maze.”

“The living maze?” Robin asked, flopping into Aro’s lap and making himself comfy.

“That’s the one,” Lee looked from face to face, making eye contact with everyone, “Currently, there’s an opening to it somewhere in Zeus’s Fist, and Luke and his army are trying to get to it. Get through it, so they can attack us with our guards down.”

Will’s chest felt like it was trying to eat him whole at the mention of the blond son of Hermes. Gracie, who was half on his back, slid off, dropping beside him and taking his hand. He squeezed hers gently, and she squeezed back.

“We’re going to set up a guard post around it, and hopefully they don’t find the way through,” Lee assured them all, but he turned deadly serious as he leaned forward, “None of you, not a single one, is to go to Zeus’s Fist unless you’re on duty. We clear?”

A chorus of ‘yes’s was his answer, and he sent them away for breakfast. Lee joined Will on his walk up to the Pavilion, slinging an arm over his shoulders. Will leaned into him for a moment, appreciating the warmth and solidity of his brother.

“You didn’t look very surprised,” he said softly, “How long have you known?” It was an invitation to share, and Will took it gladly.

“When I came back from spring break.” He admitted, “Did Clarisse tell you she found Chris?”

Lee nodded, “They were super vague about him though.”

“Because he went insane in the Labyrinth,” Will said, his voice quiet, “Chiron wanted me to try and heal him, but I can’t heal a broken mind, Lee. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt more useless than that.”

“Hey, hey,” Lee stopped him, resting both hands on his shoulders, “You did your best, Sunshine. That’s all any of us could ask and hope for. And I don’t think there was anyone better they could have asked to try than you.”

Will tried to keep the pleading out of his voice as he said, “Heather could have done better.”

“I don’t know about that, sunshine,” Lee said softly. “She hasn’t really been herself since her mom died. And she’s even said that you’re on track to be the best healer at camp.”

Panic and hopelessness swirled in his chest, threatening to suffocate him even as he nodded and let Lee lead him to the Pavilion. He sat in heavy silence even as his siblings talked around him, swallowing pancakes and strawberries that felt like glue in his stomach. His orange juice burned like acid as he swallowed.

He knew Lee and Nell were sending him worried glances. That Kayla and Austin were trying their best to draw him into their conversation. That Gracie was chattering about her latest archery lesson, despite the fact that he had been right beside her. But it was like someone had shoved his head full of clouds, blocking any light from getting through.

At some point, Chiron repeated Lee’s earlier warning, but his voice was muffled and far away in comparison to the din of noise in Will’s head. He just knew when they were finally dismissed, he was off like a shot, ignoring his siblings’ calls behind him. Later, he’d make his apologies and assurances, but not now.

He ran blindly, his feet tracing a path he hadn’t followed in months, if not years. It led to the woods opposite Zeus’s Fist, where there lay one of the oldest trees in Camp Half-Blood, a white oak that stood in the center of a clearing. His thoughts had turned to nonsensical noise, like twenty kids were just screaming in his head. In a moment, he was ten feet up, curled into the crook of a branch with his face buried in his arms.

“Well, well, well. It’s been a while, Will, son of Apollo.” A teasing voice broke through his noise, and when Will raised his head, a nymph sat further up in the tree. Their voice was low and husky, and a smile played on their lips as they hung upside down so their face was level with his. “What brings you back to my neck of the woods?”

In spite of himself, Will grinned, letting himself relax, “I’m sorry, Adair. I got busy with my siblings.”

“Ah-ah-ah,” Adair clucked, flipping down to balance on his branch, “Not what I asked. You know better.”

He pulled a face, “It’s nothing.” They gave him a look, oak-green eyes narrowed just a little as their lips pursed. He rolled his eyes, “Fine. Things are getting bad at camp, and people keep expecting me to be this gifted healer, but half the time I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m worried about my sister because she panics over the smallest sniffle now, and my brother keeps asking about what happened over winter session even though I don’t wanna talk about it.”

As he ranted to the patient dryad, his southern drawl slipped back in, coloring his words. “I don’t trust the new sword master even though I have no reason not to except that when I shook his hand I couldn’t feel his heartbeat. But if I tell anyone that, they’re going to think I’m touched in the head!”

Adair reached out and cupped Will’s face in their hands, tilting their head as he fell quiet. A sense of calm washed through him. A slow smile bloomed on the dryad’s face, and they patted his cheek, “There you are. Feel better?”

Will nodded, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, “Thanks, Ada.”

Gently, they tugged a curl, “You may be shooting up like a sapling, but you are still just a sprout, Will, son of Apollo. Your feelings are very big, but they are helping you grow. Do not let the pressure of them snap you in half.”

“I don’t like it when you go all wise on me,” Will admitted, and they laughed, eyes shining like the sunlight dappling their skin.

“When you have lived as long as I have, little sprout, you find it happens more than you think.” A rustling at the edge of the clearing drew the dryad’s attention and they stood, balancing on the branch, “I will leave you now. Do visit more, I always enjoy our talks.”

Will glanced down as someone called his name, and when he looked back, Adair had vanished. From below, Aro stopped with their hands on their hips, “It’s been a while since you came here.”

“So I’ve heard,” he said, climbing down and dropping beside them, “I’m sorry if I scared you guys.”

Aro softened, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, “Nah, we get that you’re under a lot of pressure, Sunshine. You don’t need to tell any of us anything, but we’re here for you. You know that?”

He leaned into them, slipping his arm around their waist, “Yeah, I know. Thanks, Aro.”

~

“I swear,” Clarisse panted as they sparred, brushing sweat from her face, “If these kids don’t start picking up their gods-damned weapons, I’m going to duel them.”

“No fighting the younger kids, “ Will told her, darting inside her guard and marking her with the red chalk they were using in place of weapons, “They’re half your height, Clari.”

“So? They need to not leave a spear where I can step on it in the middle of the night.” She marked his leg, less fatal than his blow to her abdomen, “And they’re pretty much asking for it.”

“No, bad Clarisse,” Will said teasingly, marking her arm across the bicep, “I’ve seen the lack of organization in Ares, where do you expect them to put things?”

“Figure it out, like the rest of us,” she huffed, stepping back, “Nicely done, Golden Boy. You’re improving.”

“You landed twice as many,” Will complained, and she rolled her eyes.

“The day you best me is the day I become a healer,” Clarisse said dryly, storing their chalk in a leather wrap, “But you’re getting more intentional with it. Using that healer knowledge.” She wrapped a knuckle against his skull fondly.

“Thanks.” They strolled out into the sunshine, “But I wasn’t joking about the kids. If I get a single Ares kid in because of a bruise or a cut, I’m blaming you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she rolled her eyes again, shoving him, “Go shower.”

~

“Will, why is Clarisse sitting on the counter cutting bandages and muttering?” Austin asked as he joined him in the infirmary for their lesson from Heather. It was their first such since the summer term had started, put on hold for Heather’s grief. Now, with the threat looming over their heads, that was no longer a possibility.

Will glanced over his shoulder at the daughter of Ares, then looked back at the kid he was healing. They’d managed to take a fall off one of the pegasi and break their arm, so he was carefully setting it before he could heal it. His brother sat on the next bed over, swinging his legs.

“Ah, she’s in time out,” he winked, drawing a smile from the kid amidst their grimacing. Austin made a confused noise, and Will laughed, meeting his brother’s eyes. “I told her she’s not allowed to fight the ten-year-olds anymore and guess who tried to fight Peter for not putting away his sword?”

“He deserved it!” Clarisse called, and Will brought his hand away to throw a wad of bandages at her. It hit her in the back of the head, and she squawked, glowering at him.

“Words, Clari,” Will chided, letting his glow seep below the kid’s skin, “You have them. Use them, or I will reveal what I know.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Clarisse narrowed her eyes, and he stared right back. In his head, he kept an eye on the kid's arm, watching as the bone melded itself back together.

“What do you know?” Austin said, leaning forward and playing into the bit. A cheeky smile was on his face, and the kid looked between the three of them.

Will kept his eyes on her as he began to talk, “Clarisse has a stu—”

“OKAY! Fine.” Clarisse shook her head, a look of grudging respect in her eyes, “You’re evil, Golden Boy.”

“I do what’s necessary, that’s all.” He grinned, looking back to the kid and letting his hand fall, “You’re good to go, Kit, just be careful with that arm, alright? I’ll track you down in a week or so just to make sure it’s staying healed.”

“Thanks, Will!” Kit dashed out of the room just as Heather entered, nearly colliding in the doorway. She shook her head fondly.

“Oh, Demeter kids,” she said, setting a series of vials down on the bed between Will and Austin, “Today’s lesson, poisons. Identifying them and removing them without absorbing them.”

Chapter Text

Annabeth, Percy, Grover, and Tyson left the next morning. The next few weeks passed in a blur of lessons and preparations. Clarisse stole Will in any downtime, drilling him to be faster, more accurate. Heather ramped up lessons for everyone, and so he constantly switched from teaching to learning in minutes. Aro and Kayla led archery lessons for anyone who would come. Lee taught new campers how to make arrows, and Quintus held tournaments and war games nearly every night.

Will collapsed into bed at the end of the day and rose with the sun every morning. He couldn’t remember a summer this tense, not in the four years he’d been at camp. It felt like everyone was running on empty, despite his and his siblings’ insistence that everyone eat and sleep as best they could. The constant question on his mind was how long everyone could go on like this.

Free time was a thing of the past as the summer progressed, and occasionally Will looked toward the woods or Penny’s stall in longing, wishing he could disappear for the afternoon. But then he would see one of his siblings, working themselves to the bone for camp, and knew that he couldn’t. That it wouldn’t be fair to them. So he stayed and worked, and stressed alongside them. And with every sunrise, he sent a reluctant prayer to his father, asking him to see them through.

He never did get an answer.

~

It was midway through June when they got any sign from the quest group, in the form of someone stumbling out of the rock as Will and Clarisse were on watch duty. The rustling had drawn the pair’s attention, and they’d reacted, leveling an arrow and a spear respectively into the predawn gloom. But Will caught a glimpse of hair in the dim light and cried out, lowering his weapon.

“Bennie!” He slammed into her, and she chuckled wetly, hugging him back. He did a check of her while they stood there, waiting for Clarisse to follow him down from the blind. Nothing was severely wrong, but he could see spots where ambrosia was working to heal. He drew a bit of energy to fix those spots completely, then stepped back as Annabeth dropped her hands to his arms.

“You’ve gotten taller, Sunshine,” she said fondly, “Gonna be taller than me by the end of the summer.”

He really looked at her, seeing the dark circles beneath her red eyes, the stains tracking through the dirt on her face. Will frowned, tucking an arm through hers as Clarisse joined them. “Where are the others, Bennie?”

Annabeth shook her head, exchanging a weary nod with Clarisse, “I don’t want to say it more than I have to, Sunshine. I--I can’t.”

Clarisse rested a heavy hand on Annabeth’s shoulder, a silent understanding passing between them. “Take her to Chiron, Golden Boy,” she told him, “I’ll keep an eye out here until the Stolls come take over. Tell ‘em not to take too long, will you?”

“You sure?” Clarisse just shooed them away, climbing back into the blind, and Will took that as a ‘yes.’ Annabeth leaned heavily on him as they walked, her breath shuddering every few steps. The sinking feeling in Will’s stomach dropped faster. He didn’t know the last time he’d seen Bennie like this… if he’d ever seen her like this.

It wasn’t far to the Big House, not really, but that walk felt like forever. It was halfway there that she started crying silently, tears leaving tracks down her dirt-smudged cheeks. He squeezed her shoulder, and she sniffled.

Chiron was already awake, sitting on the porch of the Big House in his pajamas as they stumbled up the pathway. His brows knit together, a centuries’ old sadness lining his face. Will helped Annabeth sit, handing her a tissue.

“Thank you, William,” Chiron said, “I will take it from here.”

Will nodded, but Annabeth gripped his hand, “No, please. Stay.” He looked to Chiron, who nodded, and sat beside her, taking her hand in both of his.

“My dear, what happened? Where are the others?” 

Haltingly, she filled them in; about Janus and Hera, about Geryon’s ranch, about finding Nico, about Alcatraz.  She got choked up over Percy’s fight with Geryon, and Will went to get her water and a snack. When he returned, he could tell she had said something else, something concerning from the look on Chiron’s face, but he didn’t press. Just sat again and retook her hand. She held it twice as tight.

“The others?” Chiron prompted softly.

“We split up. Grover heard the call of Pan. Tyson went with him. Percy and I,” Annabeth shuddered, gaze falling to her lap, “We went to Hephaestus’ forge. It led us to a mess of Telkhines under Mount St Helens. Percy…”

“The eruption,” Will said, putting it together. Chiron’s brow furrowed, and Will explained, “It was all over the city when Argus and I went down yesterday. It erupted for the first time in forever two days ago. He was in the middle of it, wasn’t he?”

This time she started sobbing, and Will pulled her into a hug. He met Chiron’s eyes. It was painful, seeing the amount of sadness in them. He shook his head when Will opened his mouth.

“Why don’t you take her to lie down in the Infirmary, William? Let her rest there through breakfast.” He caught Chiron’s unsaid message: Spare her the questions .

He nodded, coaxing her up and leading her through the house. He set her up in the bed at the end of the row, closest to the healer’s office. Curtains drawn, comfy pillows and blankets. 

“Do you want anything from your cabin? I can go down before breakfast starts.” He offered, standing awkwardly at her side. He knew how to comfort his siblings, or younger campers, but Bennie? He’d never had to before.

She shook her head, “No, but will you stay? Until I fall asleep?” She looked self-conscious and heartbroken. Will supposed this was what he’d looked like when she had disappeared.

He sat beside her on the bed, letting her lean her back against him, “Always, Bennie.”

~

They stayed there until Heather came up for her shift, eyes sad and lips tight. She just jerked her head when she peered around the curtain, Will still at Annabeth’s side. The daughter of Athena had fallen into an uneasy sleep, twisting and turning as she fought dreams. He covered her with a light sheet, making sure a fresh glass of water was on the nightstand before he joined Heather at the table.

“What did Chiron say?” He asked softly, leaning his forearms against the table. Heather sighed, rubbing a hand over her eyes.

“Percy’s missing in action, and he’s sending word out to some of his connections to keep an eye out.” She shrugged, meeting his gaze, “We can’t afford to send out search parties, not with the threat of Luke. He asked us to keep him in our prayers.”

Will nodded, “I figured. Bennie said he got caught up in the Mount Saint Helens eruption. Maybe,” he hesitated, “I mean, if anyone could survive getting blasted into the middle of the ocean…”

Heather winced, “I don’t know, Sunshine. There’s only so much damage a body, even one that’s half-god, can take. Slamming into the ocean might put it over the edge.”

“Yeah, I know,” he let his head fall to arms, “Just… wanted something hopeful, y’know?”

Heather ruffled his hair, a sad smile on her face, “I know, Sunshine. I know.”

~

The days inched by after that, though his routine hardly changed. The only difference was that now, when Clarisse took him for training, Annabeth came with. They seemed to have forged an alliance, and between the two of them, Will had become their project. Annabeth began naming off parts of the body, and Will and Clarisse would spar until Will was able to mark it with the chalk. When Will needed a break, Clarisse and Bennie would go, turning into blurs of orange.

It was after one of these sessions, once Annabeth had drifted away for a shower, that Clarisse stopped Will from doing the same. He was retying his tennis shoes, and when he looked up, Clarisse was grim.

“Golden Boy, I need a favor.” 

Will stood, sheathing his dagger at his hip, “Anything, Clari, you know that.”

She sighed, “Chris has gotten worse. He won’t eat, won’t drink. He just gets agitated whenever I talk to him.”

“Come on, let’s go have a look.” A little bit of tension went out of Clarisse’s shoulders at his words, and they fell into step, “I can’t promise much, you realize that, right? We need Dionysus to clear out the madness.”

“I know,” she murmured, “I’m just worried. He’s so pale.”

“When was the last time he was outside?” Clarisse just shrugged, “That’ll be a part of why he’s so pale. We should at least get a sunlamp hooked up down there.”

He followed her into the basement of the Big House, mentally steeling himself to face Chris again. But if he had thought it was bad last time, it was twenty times worse now. Chris was deathly white, even the faint tan he’d had a few months ago having faded. And he was thin. Will was sure he could have used him as a diagram and labeled each bone. His nonsensical ramblings about strings and the Labyrinth had turned into restless mumbles, and the eyes that had so disturbed Will now just made him sad. They were so empty.

“Chris?” Will crept toward the bed, wary after being grabbed the last time, “Chris, it’s Will.”

The boy gave no sign of hearing him, just staring up at the ceiling. Will rested a hand on his shoulder, and still drew no reaction. He frowned, slipping inside himself for a moment. What he saw disturbed him far more than Chris’s eyes ever did.

“I don’t know how,” Will said hoarsely, “But the madness has spread. It’s taking over his heart now.”

Clarisse paled, sitting with a heavy sigh, “Is there anything we can do?”

Will chewed his lip, “I want to move him up to the Infirmary so it’s easier to keep an eye on him. Then we can get a sunlamp set up, and maybe some food and water in him.”

“How are we supposed to move him? You’re strong, Golden Boy, but I don’t think we could carry him together.” Clarisse’s voice seemed to register in Chris’s brain, and he began to shift, his mutterings growing louder but no more coherent. Will waited until he began to settle again before he spoke.

“Will you go get Lee? I’ll go set up the lamp and cot.” Clarisse nodded, and Will followed her out of the basement, turning toward the Infirmary when he left through the porch door. He worked quickly, setting up the lamp and pulling down the sheets. By the time he had finished, Clarisse had found Lee and he met them both at the top of the stairs.

“Hey, Clarisse said you needed help moving someone?” Lee said, “Who is it?”

“It’s Chris,” Will said softly, watching his brother’s face. “He’s not… He’s not all there anymore, Lee. Just so you know.”

Lee gave a sad smile, “Yeah, I know. Chiron brought me down after the war meeting.”

Will nodded, leading the way downstairs again. He watched as Clarisse and Lee each took an arm, trying to get Chris to use his legs. It was hopeless, though. Chris was so out of it that he let his legs drag as they carried him up the stairs. Will led the way again, moving anything that was in the way to the side so they could fit.

They settled Chris in the bed beside the office, and Will drew the curtains around him so that he had some privacy. Clarisse took the chair beside him, swallowing heavily as the sons of Apollo retreated.

Will shook his head, “I don’t like it, Lee. The madness is in his heart. I don’t even know how that happens.”

His brother wrapped an arm around his shoulders, chewing the inside of his lip, “I don’t either, Sunshine. We just need to hope Mr. D will be back soon.”

“I feel useless,” Will confessed, his voice small in the mostly empty room. The arm across his shoulder gave him a small squeeze.

“You’ve done everything you can, Sunshine,” Lee reminded him gently, “In fact, you’ve gone above and beyond what anyone could expect from you. You should be proud of yourself.”

Will just nodded, leaning into his brother. He wasn’t sure whether that was all true. It felt like something was just out of reach, something important that could solve everything. He just didn’t know what it was.

~

“Will!” Gracie’s voice grabbed his attention from where he sat around Hestia’s fire, alone. His baby sister waved broadly from the porch of Aphrodite, and he made his way over, a grin spreading across his face like butter. She wore a new dress that looked exactly like a seven-year-old designed it.

“Well, don’t you look pretty?” He said, taking her hand and twirling her. She giggled, looking down to see the way her skirt, made up of rows of rainbow flounces, spread around her.

“Silena made it for me!” Gracie gushed, pulling on Will’s arm excitedly, “She’s really good!”

“Why, thank you, Gracie,” Silena said with a laugh as she stepped out on the porch, “But I just designed it, remember? Drew actually sewed it.”

“Drew did?” Will asked, surprised. Last he’d heard, Drew was causing trouble for Silena. Now she was willingly sewing a skirt for Gracie?

“She’s a whiz with a needle,” Silena confirmed, “And she really does like it too. It’s been a great outlet for her.”

“Well, who would have thought?” Will mused, turning back to his little sister, “What do you say, Squirrelly Girl?”

“Thank you!” With that, Will let her scramble up onto his back, “Can we go show the others?”

Will and Silena both laughed, and Will nodded, “Surely, girly. Then maybe we should go to lunch, yeah?”

Gracie nodded so fiercely he could feel it, and they said goodbye to Silena. They started off toward Apollo, Gracie keeping up a running commentary of her day. 

“Kayla said my archery is getting a lot better! She’s gonna start teaching me how to shoot from trees soon. And Michael showed me how to paint a stingray,” Gracie chattered, “Did you know stingrays lived at the same time as dinos?”

“I didn’t,” Will said, smiling a little at her excitement, “Did you know that they’re venomous?”

“What does that mean again?” Gracie curled her head around his shoulder, dark eyes and lashes flickering in his periphery.  She covered a yawn, resting her head there.

“It means they have venom, which they use to kill their prey.” Will said, doing a quick scan of her, “You feeling a little tired, kiddo?”

“Sleeping was hard last night,” she admitted, fidgeting with his collar, “Kept having bad dreams.”

They reached the porch of Apollo, and he set her down, turning to give her a hug, “Yeah, I get that. We’ll give you some gummies tonight to try and help, yeah?”

She nodded, and he pointed toward Sani and Haseya at one end of the porch. She raced over, tiredness forgotten, and got her desired ooo’s and ahh’s over her new dress. He leaned against the railing, his face tilted up to the sun. He drank in its warmth, relaxing as he breathed in the heady scent of the sunflowers that Robin was tending. 

“Hey, Sunshine, c’mere a sec,” Robin said, drawing his brother over. He crouched beside him, holding his hands out without being asked. Robin set the sunflower he was replanting there as he dug the new hole. “Scale from one to ten, sleeping, eating, and emotions.”

“Six, four, and five,” Will said after a few moments, then asked, “You?”

“Two, eight, and seven.” It was a ritual that they’d done ever since Will was claimed; whenever they were going through a stressful time, one of them could check in with the other. As far as Will knew, it was completely their own. He liked that. Robin nodded for him to settle the plant into the ground, “Eating has never been the problem for me.”

He knew that. Robin was one of Apollo’s healers, but he was also one of their dreamers. His sleeps were often plagued by prophetic dreams, something that he and Austin shared. Will leaned into his side, and Robin did too. They fed each other strength for a moment, before sitting up and continuing with their task. Pulling weeds and flattening dirt let Will space for a few minutes, emptying his mind as much as he could.

Until little Gracie came and launched herself onto his back again. Robin laughed when Will nearly faceplanted into the new row of dwarf sunflowers. He groaned comically, hauling himself to his feet and dusting his hands off on his shorts.

“You’re getting awful big for that, Squirrelly Girl,” he teased, hiking her up on his back. She just thrust a finger in the air like she was leading a battalion into war, kicking her heels into his sides.

“Lunch!” 

~

“Again, Connor?” Heather’s tired voice drew Will’s attention from where Gracie was helping him clear out the office. If anyone asked, it was a new passion project. He pushed himself to his feet, leaning against the doorframe as Connor defended himself (poorly) to Heather.

“It wasn’t even my fault!” he protested, pushing himself onto the bed one-handed, “It was that drakon.”

“And what were you doing on the far side of the barrier?” Will asked, coming to join them at the foot of his bed. Connor at least had the decency to look chagrined. Heather shook her head, pulling her hand away from his shoulder.

“Acid burns,” she said, hiding a yawn behind her hand, "We need to go wash it off--”

“I can handle him, Heather,” Will told her, “You go grab a little more sleep.”

Her shoulders sagged a little, “You sure, Will?”

He was already guiding his friend over the sink and turning it on to run over the wounds, which were already looking a sickly purple, “Gracie’s here with me, and if we need you, I’ll send her down. For now, I can teach her how to deal with this.”

“We’ve got it,” Gracie said, skipping over and clambering up onto the counter next to the sink. There was a ring of truth in her voice, one that soothed even Will’s rankled nerves. Heather took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing even more.

“Yeah, okay,” Heather said, swiping her hand over her eyes and coming away with a small smile. She wrapped her arm around each of their shoulders, squeezing, “You two are good siblings.”

They both bore the hug for a moment, before shooing her out the door. Connor laughed, arm still under the faucet. Will shook his head at the boy, taking his arm to check the burns.

“Okay, Gracie-girl, let’s learn acid burns,” he pushed Connor’s arm back under the water, “They need to be flushed for at least 20 minutes in cold, running water. In an emergency, I could pull out the acid and posion with a prayer and a hymn.”

“Could I do that?” She asked, moving closer to eye Connor’s arm. It wasn’t particularly bad, just a handful of droplets, like the drakon had missed him. 

“When you’re older and your powers are stronger, I’ll show you how,” he promised, and she frowned, “It’s a hard skill, Squirrelly. Something like that would knock me out for a few hours at least.”

“What if I’m stronger than you?” She asked, a cheeky smile on her face. He wrinkled his nose at her, tossing her a roll of bandages. Gracie squeaked and ducked, the bandages clattering into a row of light prisms that lined the window.

“Maybe one day you will be,” he said, tweaking her nose, “For now, you still have to learn the mortal way.” 

Gracie rolled her eyes, sliding off the counter and beginning to skip around the room to burn off energy. Will took her spot on the counter, shaking his head as he righted the prisms. Lately, Gracie had been itching for more tasks, more challenges, and while he was happy she was excited, it worried him. It felt like she was trying to grow up too fast.

“What’s with the sour face, my little lemon meringue pie?” Connor wanted to know, trying to lean on the counter as smoothly as possible while keeping his arm under the faucet. But though his mouth was tilted up in an easy smile, and he somehow managed to actually pull off the lean, his eyes stayed serious, concerned.

Will made a face at the nickname, “You’re running out of material, my friend.”

“Really? I thought that was one of my better ones,” Connor teased with a grin, then sobered, lowering his voice, “Seriously, Will, what’s wrong?”

He sighed, glancing over to where Gracie was settling back down to sort records, and lowered his voice to match, “I’m worried she’s growing up too fast. I don’t want her jaded by the time she’s our age. But she keeps asking for more challenges, and I don’t know how to tell her no without it somehow encouraging her to do it behind my back.”

Connor listened, then was silent for a long moment. Will glanced toward him, a little surprised that Connor knew how to do that. The son of Hermes just watched him, a small, soft smile spreading over his face like a warm knife through butter.

“Heather was right,” he said finally, “You are a good sibling, sunbeam.”

Will pinked, ducking his head. He felt a little like he did when he channeled the blessing of the sun, too warm and like it might consume him. Connor knocked his knee with his good hand.

“She looks up to you, Will. I think she sees how hard you push yourself and she wants to keep up with you.”

“Okay, okay,” Will said, no longer able to bear the sentiment. He slid from the counter, motioning for his arm, “Let’s heal this. Gracie.”

His little sister bounced up, joining them beside the sink again. Will guided her hands, then stepped back. She gave him a wide-eyed look, uncertainty clouding them. He squeezed her shoulder.

“You’ve got this, Squirrelly Girl. Just like you’ve done on me in lessons.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath, and Will let his hand drop. Under his careful eye, the burns disappeared, vanishing as Gracie sang the healing hymn. When she was done, her hands dropped, and she grinned brightly up at him. He ruffled her hair.

“Good job, sweets.” He took Connor’s arm, checking her work, “Really good. I think you deserve a break.”

“Can we go see Penny?” She bounced in place, eyes lighting up at the thought of the pegasus. Connor recoiled, and Will laughed.

“Yeah, sure,” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “Although I think Connor would rather sit this one out.”

“Okay, bye, Connor!” She grabbed Will’s arm, dragging him out towards the door. It startled a laugh out of Will and a disbelieving ‘Hey!” out of Connor. It took him until they were out the door and into the sunshine to find his feet again.

“Slow down, Gracie Bell!” He chuckled, finally able to walk rather than being dragged. She huffed, falling into step beside him. But then her annoyed look turned mischievous, and Will felt a sinking in his gut. “What is that look for?”

“You and Connor,” she sing-songed, starting to skip alongside him, “You like him.”

“Of course I like him, he’s my friend,” Will told her, fighting the blush that was climbing up his throat.

“Just a friend?” She asked, seeming wiser beyond her eight years. He glanced down at her, the easy response --  yes, yes, he’s just a friend -- caught in his throat. But no matter how he tried to force those words out, they stayed there, stuck like peanut butter.

Finally, he squinted up at the sun, saying, “I think you’ve been spending too much time with Silena, little squirrel. And ease off the quest for honesty.”

“What?” She looked confused, and he just shook his head, holding open the stable door.

“Another time, Gracie. Let’s go say hi to Penny.”

Chapter Text

Two weeks passed without word from Percy. Grover and Tyson had managed to I.M. Annabeth long enough to assuage her worries. Will tried to keep Annabeth distracted, teaming up with her siblings and encouraging her to lead Capture the Flag again, but with each passing day, she drew into herself. She threw herself into the war preparations, working alongside Hephaestus kids in the forges and planning strategies with Chiron, but Will saw how she spaced out whenever she looked at the water. He did what he could, making sure she ate, rested, and drank water. 

It wasn’t enough.

~

Tuesday, July 24th dawned like any other, promising warm sun and light winds, but to Will, it didn’t feel like any other. There was something sour in the air, maybe, or perhaps it was just the way his chest felt tight as he rose with the sun. Around him, his siblings did as well, all of them tugging on orange shirts and sliding their feet into sandals and tennis shoes. Gracie convinced him, Aro, Robin, and Reed to join her at the climbing wall until breakfast. Will went mainly so that Lee would stop bugging him about his glow.

“Gracie Bell, I am not betting with you on this,” he told her with a laugh, hands on his hips. She gave him puppy eyes, her hands clasped beneath her chin.

“Pleeeaaase, Will,” Gracie stuck out her lip for good measure, and Will could feel his resolve crumbling, “It’s just one song at campfire tonight.”

“What’re you so scared of, Will?” Robin teased, hanging upside down like a bat from a nearby tree, “That she’ll win?”

“Yes,” Will retorted, “Not all of us are part squirrel.”

Aro snorted, not looking up from the stack of arrows they were crafting, “Yeah, right, Sunshine. Like I haven’t spent the last four years chasing you out of a certain tree. And that thing’s no easy climb.”

Gracie brightened, and Will sent his sibling a look, “Don’t be sharin’ all of my secrets, Arohi Gita, child of Apollo.”

“Ooo, full named and parented?” Robin stage-whispered, still upside down and slowly turning red, “You’re in trouble, Aro.”

“I hope you fall, Birdie,” he said, turning back to his little sister, who looked downright dejected, “Now what’s wrong?”

Gracie scuffed the ground with her tennis shoe, pout growing, “Nobody likes racing me anymore.”

“You keep sticking your lip out like that, a little bird is gonna come land on it,” Will told her, bopping her on the nose in an attempt to hold himself together and not give in to the eight-year-old in front of him.

“Dang, Will, you heartless, or something?” Reed ribbed, halfway up the climbing wall himself. Will rolled his eyes at his siblings as Robin and Reed began to tag team ragging on him. Aro just shook their head at the boys’ antics.

“Alright! Alright,” he kneeled in front of her, trying to keep from matching her self-satisfied grin, “I won’t wager a song on it, but I will show you my favorite tree to climb.”

“The one Aro was talking about?” Will nodded, and she shouted “Deal!” as she took off for the climbing wall.

 “Hey now, you gotta be fair, Gracie Bell!”

~

“You cheated,” Gracie complained a few minutes later as she and Will rested atop the climbing wall. He grinned, ruffling her hair fondly.

“How could I have? You even had a head start.” His little sister frowned, and he squeezed her shoulders, “Tell you what, before winter lessons start again, I’ll take you to climb the tree.”

She eyed him, “What’s the catch?”

“You have to learn how to control this honesty thing.” He’d realized what was happening, that day with Connor’s burns. Nell and Lee used to joke about it when he was younger, how Nell was always called when there was an argument.

“What honesty thing?”

“It’s your gift, from Dad,” Will said, tilting his face to the sun, “Like my healing. He’s the god of the Sun and healing, but he’s also the god of honesty. That means that some of us can force others to tell the truth, like you or Nell.”

“Okay?” She sounded unsure, still confused. He didn’t blame her; objectively, that didn’t seem so bad.

He straightened, rolling out his shoulders, “Right now, you tend to force honesty out of everyone around you, which isn’t much of a problem until they’re talking about things they’re not ready to share. Forcing them to be honest can hurt more than you think, right?”

“Like how?”

He pursed his lips, thinking, “Like, remember when you first came to camp, and you had your wound? It still took you a bit of time to trust me before you shared it, right?”

“Yeah,” her little face turned contemplative, “I was scared and worried. Of telling the truth.”

“Exactly,” Will gave her a smile, squeezing her shoulders, “So you need to learn to control it, so that you don’t accidentally hurt or scare other people.”

“How do I do that?” 

“Come on,” he said, shifting and beginning his descent, “Let’s go find Nell.”

~

Nell was sitting on the porch of Apollo, whittling away at a carving of a little robin bird. She looked up as the two approached, a smile lighting up her face.

“Ah, the little menace!” She cried theatrically, then winked at Gracie, “And the littlest Apollo. What can I do you for?”

Gracie played with Will’s hand, half hiding behind him, and he shook his head fondly, “I’ve noticed Gracie here takes after your honesty, Nelly. Think you could teach her a trick or two?”

If possible, Nell shone even brighter, and patted the seat beside her, “Come hither, young squire! You have much to learn.”

Gracie giggled shyly, leaving Will’s side to sit beside their sister. Nell plunked another piece of wood in her hands, as well as a small pocketknife. He snorted but didn’t protest. Nell knew what she was doing around a knife, especially when it came to whittling, and he trusted Gracie would walk away with the same number of fingers.

“Begone, ye boy of lies!” Nell commanded, coaxing more laughter out of Gracie, “We harbingers of truth must confer in peace.”

Will threw up his hands, laughing as he walked away. When he glanced back, Nell was leaning over, showing Gracie how to carefully carve away the wood. They looked like they could be full sisters, with matching coppery hair and tan skin. It painted a pretty picture, the way their hair seemed to burn in the sunlight. He looked away when something caught in his throat.

Ahead, he saw Annabeth leaving the Big House porch, her arms tucked around her. He frowned, breaking into a run to catch up with her. She stopped, waiting for him to catch up before turning and walking toward the beach. He fell into step alongside her, waiting for her to speak.

Neither said a word until they reached the last hill before the beach, where a rock sat overlooking the water. Will suddenly remembered that day Silena had found him up here, when she had forced him to spill like a popped balloon.

He sat down next to Annabeth, poked her side, and said, “Talk.”

She stared out at the water, her chin resting on her knees as she wrapped her arms around her legs, “It’s been two weeks.”

Will nodded, understanding. Two weeks since she, Percy, Tyson, and Grover had split up. Two weeks since the eruption at Mt Saint Helens. Two weeks since she had returned to camp, alone and heartbroken.

“Chiron said if we don’t get word in the next two days, we have to admit… We have to…” She choked up, hiding her face in her knees. His heart broke again for her.

“I’m so, so sorry, Bennie,” he murmured, “Is there anything I can do?”

She shrugged, her face still hidden.

“P, A, T, or D?”

Annabeth laughed weakly, looking up at him, “Are you still using that?”

He shrugged ruthfully, “If it ain’t broke and all.”

Wordlessly, she leaned toward him, and he took the signal. He pulled her into a hug, letting her bury her face in his shoulder instead. She shuddered, stillness giving way to silent sobs as he held her like she had when he first came to camp. Still, he felt a drop in his stomach at the sight of her tears. He’d never liked sadness, his or others, but hers hurt more.

It always had.

Eventually, her sobs lessened, and her shoulders began to shake purely from exhaustion. Will continued to hold her, watching the sun rise higher over the Sound. The breakfast horn sounded, and still they sat.

“Distract, please,” she said finally, pulling away and rubbing the tears from her cheeks. He nodded, offering her a hand. She took it, letting him drag her to her feet.

“Hot chocolate?” Annabeth wrinkled her nose, and Will needled, “It’s Abuela’s recipe.”

She laughed a real laugh, hooking her arm through his, “Well, why didn’t you start with that?”

~

Dinner that night was a solemn affair, as had become the norm. Each person had felt the time wane on since Annabeth’s arrival and Percy’s disappearance. Still, they all dutifully scraped part of their meal into the braziers, asking for a sign. Will did it twice, asking first Apollo, then Hestia. Apollo, because he was the god of healing, and Hestia, because she was the goddess of the home and family.

He settled beside Robin, who ruffled his hair fondly, and Gracie, who began to fill him in on what she had learned with Nell. Across from him, Kayla, Reed, and Austin debated archery tactics. Further down, Nell and the twins distracted themselves with talk of desserts from home. Heather, Lee, and Michael talked in quiet whispers, eyes roving the Pavillion. He chased broccoli around his plate listlessly.

Robin nudged him, nodding down to his plate, “It’s not going to eat itself, Sunny.”

Will wrinkled his nose at him but speared some broccoli and brought it to his lips. His eyes went to the head table, where Chiron sat with a few of the satyrs, brow furrowed. An empty chair sat to Chiron's right.

“Birdie?” Will said, a frown creasing his forehead, “When was the last time you saw Quintus?”

~

The next two days ticked by in a conflict of interest. On one hand, Will felt like they were hurdling through space and time, each second bringing them closer to the brink of war. Quivers, swords, staffs, and bows filled the armory and individual cabins. Nectar and ambrosia lined every available shelf in the Infirmary. They set plans in place for the absolute youngest, those who had no place anywhere near the fighting.

But on the other, the minutes dripped by like sand through an hourglass, not one passing without Will feeling it go. Feeling the lack of a sign. He sent a silent prayer up to anyone who would listen, begging them to bring Percy home, for Annabeth’s sake. After their day on the hill, Bennie had thrown herself wholeheartedly into preparations, taking the ‘Distract’ part of  ‘PATD’ as seriously as she could. 

At Chiron’s request on Friday, Heather and Will went searching for the shrouds. He knew from his reorganizing that the storage room held those of the most populous cabins (Hermes, Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite), but Poseidon hadn’t had a camper in decades. It turned into a hunt through the Big House’s linen closets and storage rooms before they found one.

“Will…” Heather’s voice was choked as she stepped back from the shelves. He looked up from where he was sitting, sorting through a box of formal tablecloths that smelled like mothballs. His sister was staring at a box marked simply ‘Big Three Shrouds.’

He dusted off his shorts as he stood, going to her side and squeezing her hand. She gave him a weak smile. Nodding toward the box, she said, “Let’s move this into the Infirmary.”

Will nodded, sliding the box from the shelf and hefting it in his arms. Silently, like the world’s smallest group of pallbearers, the two made their way back to the Infirmary. He set it on the table, and at a nod from Heather, he opened the box. Inside, neatly stacked into three piles, were paper-thin shrouds. Pristine white and royal purple. Charcoal black and flame blue. Seafoam green and dark teal.

He removed each with careful hands, setting aside a few of Poseidon’s. Embroidered across one was a trident, done in careful golden stitches. Another had a border of waves sewn in silver and blue. The third had silver dolphins painted across its blue-green fabric. Will chewed the inside of his lip.

“We should let Annabeth choose,” he said finally, rubbing the fabric of one between his fingers. Heather nodded, clearing her throat.

“I’ll go get her, Sunshine. You good to hang these up with the rest?” She barely waited for him to agree before she all but dashed out of the Infirmary.  Will sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. He always knew Heather hated death, but ever since she’d come back to camp… It seemed worse.

Gently, he took to folding the shrouds across the tiered hangers Argus had picked up the last time he’d gone to the city. One for each of the cabins (two for Apollo and Hermes), hung on the coat rack at the back of the office. It was methodical work. He wished it was harder. Something that could actually distract him from the way this summer has been trending. Because all in all, this had been one of the worst summers of his life.

“Sunshine?” Will stepped out of the office at Annabeth’s voice. She was toying with a braid, stubbornly avoiding looking at the shrouds. He held out a hand for her.

“You knew him best, Bennie,” he said softly, guiding her to the table, where he had laid out the three shrouds, “We thought you would be the best to choose.”

She gulped, “I don’t know if I can.”

“I can do it if you can’t,” he told her, squeezing her hand, “But I think it’d mean more from you.”

“Describe them to me?” She said finally. Her eyes were closed, her free hand wrapped around her stomach like it might keep her from falling apart. The one in his was trembling.

“There’s a blue one with a gold trident, a pale teal with silver and blue waves, and a blue-green one with silver dolphins.” 

“The trident.” Her voice caught, and he squeezed her hand again, “He never said it, but I think he would have loved having one. Nothing against Riptide.”

Will chuckled quietly, hanging up the other two with the rest. When he returned, Annabeth held the burial shroud, tracing the embroidery with a finger. Tears slipped from her eyes, a few staining the fabric in her hands. Carefully, she lifted the fabric to her lips, pressing a soft kiss there.

Feeling like he was intruding, he ducked back inside the office, the thudding of his heart echoing behind his eyes. 

Oh, Mom, he thought to himself, leaning against the wall, What’s going to happen now?

~

“Are we sure he isn’t a cat?” Lou Ellen asked, staring at the son of Poseidon from across the lawn. Will snorted, working on plaiting Lou’s hair. She was fidgeting with a to-go mug of coffee, and he was debating whether to take it away. It certainly wasn't helping her musings about Percy's mysterious return.

“How do you mean?” Cecil asked, toying with a pair of lock picks and a padlock, “Think he’s got nine lives?”

 Lou shrugged one shoulder, “Maybe. He just keeps living through things most of us wouldn’t.”

“He likes water too much to be a cat,” Will told her, holding his hand in front of her face for the hair tie, “Now, a cockroach or a lobster…”

Cecil barked a laugh, “You did not just imply Percy Jackson is a cockroach , Will.”

“Or a lobster,” Will said placatingly, tying off Lou’s braid, “I’m sure he’d love to be a lobster. He could spend all day underwater.”

“What is a lobster but the cockroach of the sea?” Lou said wisely, bouncing to her feet, “Thanks, Will!”

“William Andrew Solace!” A voice yelled from behind him and he scrambled to his feet, nearly pitching face-first into Cecil. His friends doubled over laughing, and he stuck his tongue out at them, rubbing a hand over his heart.

“Geez, Lena, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” He complained as the daughter of Aphrodite bounced to a stop in front of him. She just laughed, hooking her arm through his.

“Not sorry, Sunshine,” she popped her gum, reaching over to finger Lou’s braid, “Not when you’ve been hiding these braiding skills.”

“What do you mean, ‘hiding’?” Will laughed as Lou blushed scarlet, “I’ve been braiding my sisters’ hair for years.”

Silena gave him a look, “We’ll discuss that later, but for now, Rissy wants you. Something about a lesson?”

Will paled, “Crap, she’s gonna end me if I’m late. Bye, guys!”

“Good luck!” Cecil yelled after him at the same time Lou called, “Have fun being a human pin cushion!”

He gave her a less-than-savory gesture over his head, and Silena yelled, “Will!”

“Sorry!”

Chapter Text

The 30th dawned with a finality in the grey, foggy air. Campers woke too early, confused by the lack of sun and cloudy sky. They trickled into the pavilion. Will kept an arm around Gracie even as he leaned into Robin, the three of them giving each other strength. They cajoled their siblings into eating, then dispersed across the tables, perching for a moment or two to encourage their friends. Will tried to ignore the feeling of dread in his heart.

The trio returned that afternoon, after everyone had put on their armor. Will didn’t see them come, as he, Robin, and Heather hurried to set up a medical tent at the edge of the forest. There were cots to move down, supplies to organize, a separate space for… Well, that Will had to do on his own. Heather was trying her best, but her hands shook too much to set up that part of the tent. Robin had to help her tie her healer’s badge around her arm.

Lee came to them, squeezing their shoulders as he tucked his helm beneath one arm, “Good job, guys. Bennie and her group just came back, so it’ll be any minute now. Robin, we need you more with the archers, okay?”

Robin nodded and headed off, saluting Will and Heather with a wink, “See you on the other side, Sunshine!”

“Do you think you two will be okay?” Lee said, meeting Heather’s eyes. She sucked in a breath and nodded. He pulled her into a hug, murmuring something in her ear. It made her blush and nod again.

Then Lee hugged Will, holding him tight. “Be brave, okay? Trust your gut, and stay in the tent.”

“Watch your head out there,” Will teased, feeling the way Lee chuckled. He tried to step back, but Lee didn’t let him, squeezing a little tighter first. 

“This one’s for me,” Lee admitted softly, finally letting go and ruffling his hair. It earned him one of Will’s bright smiles, and he grinned back, “There’s my sunshine.”

“See you later?”

Lee nodded, donning his helm, “Count on it.”

~

Will’s sense of time faded away once the action started. Almost immediately, Heather was running out to bring the wounded in as Will began healing. They patched people up as best they could, stuffed them all full of ambrosia and nectar. He had no time to think about whether his family was okay, could only focus on the person before him. Faces blurred, his world narrowing to the wounds that flashed in front of him. It was a gruesome simplicity, but he let himself fall into it.

Until, from outside the healer’s tent, there was a sickening crunch, and Heather’s and Will’s eyes snapped to the door as a scream that was undeniably Kayla’s filled the air. Will didn’t hesitate, only grabbed the bag he’d been restocking and flung himself out the opening before Heather could stop him. He dodged between trees and monsters, pulling his knife to slash at any who dared come close.

Will was so focused he barely felt the arrow that sliced past his cheek or the sticky blood that followed, dripping down his face. He dodged the spray of an amphisbaena’s poison and ducked beneath a harpy’s sharp claws. So distracted was he that he nearly fell over Lee, who lay gasping in a pool of his own blood. Will felt tears building in his eyes as he dropped to his knees beside him, peeling back an eyelid. One side of his head was horribly dented, blood seeping from the wound. A pit opened in Will’s stomach.

His older brother tried to grin, “Hey, Sunshine. Thought I told you… to stay in the tent.”

“What happened?” He wasn’t sure who he was asking as he tried to tip nectar down Lee’s throat, but it was Kayla who responded, somewhere to his left. Lee could barely swallow without flinching, and each sudden movement sent arrows of pain into Will's stomach.

“Giant with a club,” her voice was shaky, and she scaled a new tree, the one she had been in taken down by the giant, “Got his head.”

Will gave up on the nectar, placing his hands over the wound as Lee’s eyes slid shut, “Lee, you gotta keep your eyes open. You know that.”

He fought, Will could tell, but it was getting too hard. Will began his hymns, reaching urgently for that warmth in his chest. He poured it into Lee, grasping for the life force he could feel inside him. But it was like trying to grab something with butter-covered fingers; it just kept sliding further and further away.

Will could feel his voice building in volume as he became desperate, trying to anchor his brother to his body again. He could sense Luke’s monsters surrounding them, could hear Kayla’s desperate cries for help. But there was no one close enough to hear.

“Hey,” Lee’s voice was soft, comforting, like he wasn’t the one dying, “I’m proud of you, Will. Done so... well, this summer. Let yourself… shine… my Sunshine…”

Will felt him slip away for good, and he lost it. The warmth in his chest turned blazing, the hymns turning to an anguished scream, and his eyes slid closed against the blast of light that radiated from him. It left him cold, shivering… empty. He folded, covering Lee’s body with his own, shaking with sobs.

When he looked up,  the monsters that had been closing in were gone, nothing left but sparkling dust. The plants looked greener, and flowers had sprouted and bloomed around them like they hadn’t moved in weeks. Kayla slid from the tree beside him, shock and tears mingling on her face. He pushed aside his own, telling himself there would be time for them later. That his sister's were more important right now.

“What was that, Will?” 

He shook his head, staring dumbfounded at the new growth, “Later. We need to get him back to the tent.”

“How?” Kayla looked lost as she helped Will to his feet, swinging the useless healer’s bag over her shoulder, “We’re not strong enough to carry him.”

Someone emerged from the trees, stumbling to a stop before them. It was one of Dionysus’s sons, Pollux. He gulped at the sight of Lee’s body covered in flowers, the head wound hidden from sight. “I… I saw the flash,” he explained, his voice somehow both tight with emotion and empty. “I can carry Lee.”

Will met his eyes, searching them for…something. He didn’t know what. But he seemed to find it, because he nodded, stepping aside and letting the older boy pick Lee up, flowers and all. Kayla and Will walked on either side, dagger and bow at the ready to defend their brother’s body like the strangest funeral procession ever seen.

The monsters didn’t touch them. Didn’t even try. Those who had been close enough to the flare looked on terrified as they passed. Will didn’t realize that he was still glowing, the light rippling as he stalked through the forest, his expression dark as despair began flooding his chest. The still-seeping scratch on his cheek glowed gold, looking more like ichor than blood.

Will pulled aside the tent flap, letting Pollux and Kayla enter in front of him. As the flap fell closed behind him, Heather turned from wrapping a bandage around Connor’s arm, and her eyes found Lee. Kayla was at her side before she could collapse, helping her sit.

“You can set him there,” Will said, but he couldn’t recognize his own voice, didn’t register his own finger as he pointed to the far side of the tent where there was a growing line of bodies. Among them, Will could see Robin, who had been taken down by an enemy sword, and Castor, by a hit on the head. He saw Pollux square his chin as he set Lee down beside his brother. To his credit, even though Lee had been nearly a half-foot taller, he was gentle as he lowered his body. Connor stood, coming to Will’s side and wrapping his good arm around his shoulders. Will turned into him, hiding his face in his shoulder.

From outside, there was a terrifying scream, one that set all of their hearts pounding. But none of them had the energy to move. They had found a small moment of silence, and none of them were ready to move away, to break it. 

Seconds or minutes later, Clarisse stuck her head in, a scratch bleeding sluggishly down her face but a wild, fiery look still in her eye, “It’s over. We’re moving the injured up to the infirmary.” Then she looked at their faces, saw Connor’s protective arm around Will, “What happened?”

Will pushed himself away, swiping his sleeve across his dry eyes as he sucked in a breath, “Lee’s dead.”

She looked like someone had smacked her, “What?”

“We need to take the bodies up for burials,” he continued, not hearing her, his brain grasping at some sort of checklist, “And we need to tell the others. How bad are the injuries?”

He looked at Clarisse, who was staring at him with actual pity, “Golden Boy… breathe. I’ll send people down for the bodies. Injured first. Once the worst is taken care of, we can tell the others.”

“But…” 

Connor stepped up to his side again, resting a hand on his shoulder, “Clarisse, maybe it’d be better to have the Demeter kids do patch jobs. They’re in no condition to heal, and their sibs need to hear it from them, not someone else first.”

“He’s right,” Pollux spoke up, turning from the row of bodies, “They need to hear it from Will and Heather.”

Clarisse sighed, outnumbered, and nodded. She went to Heather’s side, helping Kayla get her standing, “Come on then. Let’s get you up to the cabin.”

She led, one arm slung around Heather’s waist and the other on her sword in case of stray monsters. Kayla walked on Heather’s free side. Connor and Will followed, the Apollo boy leaning heavily into his friend. Pollux brought up the rear, his face tear-stained and jaw set.

Their friends left them on the porch of Apollo, promising to send them the rest of their siblings. Heather hadn’t spoken a word since Will had left the tent, but now Kayla turned to Will, fire in her eyes.

“Okay, what was that? Where the heck did you learn to glow?” 

Will drew his legs to his chin, looking off across the valley at the kids clad in orange, “A gift of Dad’s. He called it the blessing of the sun.”

“You talked with Dad?” Will laughed humourlessly, watching as the others filtered in. Sun glinted off some of their blond heads, illuminated the red in others. In the pit of his stomach, anger unfurled that the sun could still shine on a world without Lee and Robin.

“I wouldn’t have called it a talk. Threat is more accurate.”

“That does not inspire confidence in our father, Will,” she said, leaning into his side. He rested his head against hers for a moment, counting their siblings. He looked at Heather, but she was still staring into space. The only one missing was Gracie, but she sprinted up just as he stood to go find her, slamming into his legs. He lifted her up, squeezing. She hadn’t been allowed near the fight, and now Will was more grateful than ever.

“What’s up, then?” Nell asked, rubbing a hand across her face. Kayla opened her mouth, but Michael spoke before she could.

“Hold on, we can’t start yet. Where are Robin and Lee?”

Will set Gracie down, resting a hand on her shoulder, and tried to speak. Tried to find the words to tell them all that they were dead. He looked at Kayla, but she was crying already, and Heather was lost in her brain.

“Will?” Michael had turned to him, an intensity in his gaze, “Where are they?”

He swallowed harshly, blinking away tears, “They’re dead. Both of them. Robin was killed by one of Luke’s demigods and Lee by one of the giants.” Overhead, the sun disappeared behind the clouds.

“No.” That was Michael’s first reaction, though he looked sick. All of them did. Heather was crying again. Kayla had wrapped her arms around Austin. Nell was hugging Haseya and Sani. Across the porch, the Apollo campers began to cry, turning to each other for comfort, while Michael still stubbornly refused.

Gracie looked up at Will, tears in her eyes. Will kneeled beside her, letting her search his in that way she had when she wanted the truth. Her lip quivered, and she looked back to Michael.

“He’s telling the truth, Michael,” she said, before turning into Will, the tears beginning to fall. He pulled her close, lifting her so that she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Will looked to Michael, who was fighting anger, and raised his free arm. Michael stared at him for a moment, then stepped into it, wrapping both of them in a hug. 

A breeze blew across the porch, the smell of burnt cherry wood and apple blossoms wafting over them as they mourned.

~

They burned the bodies that night, gathered in the amphitheater. Lee and Robin had been wrapped in plain golden shrouds, though Robin’s had birds embroidered along the edge. Heather was still out of commission, leaning into Nell’s side, and so it fell to Michael to say a few words over their brothers’ bodies.

Pollux was the one to light the pyre, and within seconds, the row of bodies was up in flames. Will shielded Gracie’s eyes, letting her bury her head in his side. He saw Silena go to Pollux’s side, squeezing his hand.

Around him, people sobbed into their siblings’ shoulders, offered tissues to their friends, and comforted their rivals. Will could see the tears glistening in the light of the fire, but his eyes remained dry, almost painfully so as he stared at the pyre. He could see the bodies disappearing, floating away in sparks to join the stars overhead. Beside him, Gracie wept into his shirt, and Haseya gripped his hand tight enough to bruise.

But as the pyre burned down and the smoke faded away, Will felt his chest empty, every last bit of light and warmth leaving, until he felt as empty and dark as the madness in Chris’s head. 

Let yourself shine, my Sunshine.

Chapter Text

“Squirrelly-Girl, you need to sleep,” Will said softly, sitting beside her on the porch swing. She shook her head, but her eyes were dropping and she leaned heavily into his side. Overhead, stars twinkled, and in the distance so did the infirmary windows. Kayla was up there now, sitting with the injured overnight. In the morning, Will would take over.

“Every time I close my eyes, I just see Lee.” Her voice was soft, but Will heard her with stark clarity, her words echoing the ones in his mind. He tugged her closer, resting his cheek against the crown of her head.

“I do too, Gracie,” he admitted, “But you still need sleep. Do you want me to read to you?”

“Will you sing?” She perked up a little, and Will rolled his eyes fondly. He didn’t sing much, but Gracie loved when he did.

“I guess,” Gracie grinned and curled up under his arm, “Close your eyes, then.”

She shut them tight, and Will began to sing, his voice soft and low against the sound of crickets and wind. Grace settled further into his side, face relaxing as she fell deeper into sleep, soothed by his gentle voice and the Italian lullaby. He sang it through twice, his own mind flooding with memories.

When he looked down, Gracie had fallen well into sleep’s embrace, her breath evening out. Will picked her up, took her inside, and settled her in his bed before returning to the porch. He hummed the melody, staring up at the stars overhead. How many nights had Lee sung him the same lullaby? How many times had Will begged him to?

“I know that song.” 

Will jolted, eyes flicking up to the shadows where the voice had come from. After a moment of squinting, Nico di Angelo stepped out, letting his pale face be bathed in moonlight. He hadn’t changed much outwardly since his last visit, still too pale and skinny in a way that Will wanted to sit him down and force him to eat.

“I think my mother used to sing it to me.” Nico frowned, like that particular bit of information was annoying, or foggy, like a half-forgotten memory. 

“My older brother would sing it to me,” Will said softly, running a hand through his hair. To his embarrassment, tears pricked his eyes, and he ducked his head. It didn’t do much to hide them, since Nico stood on the ground beside the porch, but Will found he didn’t quite mind.

Nico studied him for a moment, “I’m sorry about your brother.”

“Thanks.” His eyes darted back to Nico, “I’m sorry about Bianca. I never got to tell you that.”

He nodded, looking up at the stars. “Thanks.”

They were both quiet for a long time, listening to the sounds of the wind, forest, and sea. It was surprisingly peaceful, having this boy of death and darkness standing just below him in the pale moonlight. His heart settled from the wild race it had been running since the battle. He didn’t feel the need to pretend.

Eventually, though, Nico gave him a nod, looking eons older than 12. Will watched as he stepped off into the grass, and somewhere between there and the next cabin, he vanished. He stared at the shadows for a long time after.

~

The next day, Will buried himself in the Infirmary, where the worst injuries had been stored. Heather and Gracie worked alongside him, but it was in heavy silence. Heather hadn’t spoken at all since the day before, and now she moved mechanically, healed half-heartedly. Will had never seen her so despondent.

“Heath,” he said softly, laying a hand on her arm, frowning at how cold she was, “Go back to the cabin. Try to sleep. Gracie and I can handle it.”

She didn’t even argue. Just nodded and left, her eyes hollow. Gracie came and tucked herself under his arm, the two watching as she left. Will wondered when the last time she smiled was.

“You lied,” she murmured softly, making him look down. She was chewing her lip, hurt in her eyes, “I felt it. You don’t think we can handle it?”

Immediately, Will felt guilty, hearing how she really meant I instead of we . He bent down beside her, offering a smile, “I know you can, Gracie. I don’t know if I can.”

“I do.” She said it so simply, reassurance in every inch of her body, that Will felt tears pressing the back of his eyes. He gave her a squeeze, rising to his feet.

“Come on, then, Squirrely. Let’s handle it.”

~

“I swear by the gods, it was Apollo!” Will glanced up from the desk where he was filling out paperwork, covering for Heather as she mourned. The speaker was one of the Hermes campers, speaking to Wendy from the Demeter kids. They’d gotten squashed under Kampȇ, broken a couple ribs, and an arm. Will had already seen to them, but now he was wondering if maybe he should check their head again.

“Yeah, right, Lils,” Wendy said, rolling her eyes as she changed Lile’s bandages, “None of the gods were at the battle. They were off doing their own things.”

“I saw him, I swear! He was glowing , Wendy!” 

The Demeter girl sent a help-me look to Will, who was starting to feel a little sick to his stomach. Gently, he set his pen to the side. He had a sinking feeling about the whole conversation, one that only grew as Lile continued.

“He was! He was escorting Lee’s body!” Their eyes darted to Will, “I swear, it was him.”

Will gave them a tired smile, “The gods don’t care enough about us for that, Lile. It was me, Kayla, and Pollux, that’s all. Grief can change what we think happened.”

“I know what I saw,” Lile pouted, crossing their arms over their chest. Or trying to, because one was still in a splint due to a half-assed healing. Will crossed to their bed, laying a hand on their shoulder.

“I don’t doubt that,” Will said, pouring a little healing into Lile, “But the gods don’t pay us that much attention. It’s nothing personal, but it’s against their rules to interfere with our battles. Apollo wasn’t there, Sneaks.”

Lile still pouted, but they softened at the nickname and as the pain in their arm faded. Wendy gave Will a thankful look, headed to the next bed already. Will let his arm fall, leaning on the bed for a second as darkness crept into his vision. Blood wooshed through his head too, leaving him dizzy.

“You good, Will?” Lile asked, stretching their newly healed arm out to catch him if he fell, “You’ve gone a little pale.”

Another wave of exhaustion rolled through him, but he gave a strained smile, “Perfectly fine. Nothing to worry about.”

Wendy was at his side in a second, but he waved her away, forcing himself to walk normally back to his spot at the table. A few black spots still danced in his vision. He sank into his chair, retrieving a granola bar from the counter behind him.

“Do you want me grab Heather? Or Gracie?” Wendy asked, flitting around him. He shook his head, taking a deep breath. He knew she meant well, but it was all a little overwhelming. The mention of his sisters sent a flash of panic through him.

“No, thanks, Wendy-Bird,” he said, trying to compartmentalize the bubble that was growing in his chest, “Say, will you send up those Lost Boys of yours when you go down? I heard the twins have been a handful.”

“You sure you’re up for them?” Wendy gave him a look. He just nodded, needing someone to come and fill the silence that had taken up residence around him. Normally, he’d reach for Connor or Gracie, but Connor kept looking at him with concern and Gracie would know in a heartbeat that he wasn’t well. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“Thanks, Wendy-Bird.”

~

The twins weren’t actually related outside of Demeter, but they’d shown up on the same day escorted by twin satyrs and claimed within a day of each other. No one even really knew which was which, because they always introduced themselves together, in a strange synchrony that Will had always wondered if they practiced in the mirror. Nevertheless, they’d been inseparable ever since, and utter menaces for anyone but Wendy.

And apparently, Will, because they were both standing beside him with the utmost attention as he explained how to wrap a sprained wrist. Although, Will couldn’t tell if they respected him or if he was just so obviously drained that they were taking pity on him. Either way, he appreciated their patience.

“Okay, Twins,” Will said, running a hand across his face, “Any questions?”

The one on the left (Comas? Or was it Carlin?) raised a hand and said, “Can we go…”

“...replant that fern over there?” The other finished, both pointing toward a fern in the corner that was desperately in need of a good drink and a new pot. Will sighed, nodded, and watched as the two ran off with the plant carried between them. He shook his head at them, a weak smile tugging at his lips. A short distraction, they were, but still enough. 

“Will?” He turned to one of the beds, where a little girl lay. Quincy was a Hephaestus camper and had been the youngest to be allowed to fight at ten. She’d broken a leg and gotten a concussion, but because the Apollo kids were spread thin, she’d had to take slow healings instead.

“What’s up, Rapunzel?” Will sat beside her bed, pushing his curls out of his face. Quincy grinned weakly at the nickname, and Will realized with a start how pale she was. He offered her a hand. She slipped hers into it, and he gave her a squeeze.

“I’m sorry about Lee,” she murmured, watching as he sank into himself. There was nothing off aside from the concussion and slowly healing leg. 

“Thanks, Zel. I’m sorry about Delia,” he said, “Have you been sleeping okay? You’re a little pale for my taste.”

She shook her head, “It’s hard, sleeping here. It’s not like the cabin.”

“I get that. Is there anything that would help? Do you want one of your sibs to come sit with you?”

Quincy shook her head, wincing at the feeling, then sighed, “Delia used to help me brush my hair before bed.”

Will smiled softly, moving to sit beside her on the bed and hugging her around the shoulders, “I may not be Delia, but I could help, if you wanted. Can’t be comfortable, laying here with all your hair.”

“Yes, please.” 

He helped her sit up, stacking pillows behind her back and grabbing her brush from the bedside table. Humming softly, he brushed through her waist-length hair, starting at the bottom and inching his way up. The mournful sound mixed with the noise from the box fan in the window, floating above the quiet voices of the other patients. And for the first time since the battle, Will felt a little bit of tension seep out of his shoulders.

She sighed as he combed out the tangles, relaxing for the first time in days. Once he was done getting snarls out, he set about braiding it into two neat braids, letting them hang over her shoulders. When he finished, he tickled her nose with the end of one of them.

“There you go, Rapunzel,” he said softly, setting the brush back on the table. She smiled, sinking deeper in the pillows as sleep finally claimed her. He smiled, pulling the curtains around her bed so she could sleep in peace.

“Will you braid my hair too, Will?” Lile asked from across the room, a cheeky little smile on their face. Will could tell they were being sarcastic, not thinking he could braid their chin length hair, but he just nodded. Lile looked surprised as he sat beside them, a spare hairbrush and small hair ties in hand.

“Move over, Sneaks,” he said, squeezing beside them, “And let me see your hair.”

Chapter Text

Camp life settled into a quiet monotony. They worked on repairing the damages in the woods. New arrows were made, new weapons smelted. Will covered for Heather as she grieved. He bugged his siblings into eating even though his own appetite had deserted him. Chiron held war meetings with the counselors while dryads and nymphs led the others in trainings. It felt like no one dared breathe too hard around the Apollo kids for fear they may break.

By the time Will returned to sleeping in the cabin, the beds had been pushed aside and mattresses pulled down for the largest, most elaborate pillow fort Will had seen. Gracie saved him a spot between her and Michael. Nell slept with a hand on his head. Heather curled into herself on the edge of them all, estranged and silent. At night, the last thing he saw was her turned back.

~

Jacinta called the week after, the flicker of Iris’s rainbow appearing on the porch of Apollo. Will looked up from his book. His older sister tried to smile, her hair pulled back from her face. There were dark circles under her red-stained eyes. The now-ever-present pit in his stomach grew bigger at the sight of her despair.

“Hey, Will.” Her voice was soft, “Nell wrote me.”

He nodded, setting his book aside, “I’m sorry, I should have called.”

“It’s okay,” she hesitated, “How are you doing?”

“I’m gettin’ tired of people askin’ me that,” he sighed, curling into himself. Jacinta chuckled, but the sound was so pitiful he just felt worse. He’d lost his big brothers, but Jacinta had lost her little brothers, the ones she’d practically helped raise. It was like him losing Austin or Reed or Gracie. He couldn’t even imagine that.

“Yeah, I know, Will. It’s hard when everyone’s worried about you, isn’t it? But hey, at least they care.”

Will hesitated, his gaze drifting to Gracie beneath a nearby tree where the afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, Michael beside her. They were bent over a book, but he saw the way Michael glanced at her between paragraphs. Gracie did the same. He fidgeted with the edge of his shirt, feeling the weight of his sister's concern even across the distance.

"Maybe," he finally replied, his voice quieter than usual. "Things are... different now. Heather's not the same. I don't think she ever will be."

Jacinta nodded sympathetically, her expression pensive. "I understand. Losing someone changes everything."

"Yeah," Will murmured, his thoughts drifting back to Heather, to the pillow fort nights where he could almost pretend things were normal. "But we're managing. Chiron's been... supportive. And the others are trying to keep spirits up."

"That's good to hear," Jacinta said softly. "Have you done anything to remember them? Sing their favorite songs?”

Will swallowed, looking down at his hands. “No. It’s hard enough to do the hymns for healing or sit at the campfire. I miss the way things were before. But... I'll make sure everyone’s okay."

Jacinta clicked her tongue softly, "You don't always have to be strong for everyone else, you know. It's okay to lean on others too."

Will nodded slightly, appreciating his sister's understanding. "Thanks, Jacinta. For calling."

"Anytime, hermanito," she replied with a small smile. "I'll be here whenever you need me. Just remember that."

~

“Hey, Sunshine,” Nell found him sprawled in the grass, soaking in the sun like it might fill the dark pit in his chest. He tilted his head to look up at her, giving her a too-fake smile that she didn’t even seem to notice. There were lines in her forehead that he hadn’t noticed before, and more around her mouth.

“What’s up, Nell-Bell?” He’d hoped the childish nickname might bring a smile back to her face, but it was like she didn’t hear it at all. Will pushed himself up, reaching for her hand. She shook her head, finally giving him a weak smile.

“I’m fine, Will. Just tired. Reed keeps digging his feet into my ribs at night,” she laughed softly, then sobered, “Will you go check on Austin? He’s been in bed all day, but I can’t see anything wrong.”

Warning bells rang in his head, and Will nodded, “Did he say anything about what’s wrong? Weird tastes or smells?”

Nell shook her head as Will tied up his hair, “Keeps mumbling that it’s too much, that it hurts, but I can’t figure it out.”

They fell into quick step together, headed for the Apollo cabin. Will wondered if he should call Jacinta, see if she had any suggestions. Austin had gotten better about guarding himself against the pain, but there was a lot of it in camp now. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Will chided himself, moving a little faster, You knew he’s sensitive. You’re the only one here who does now.

Nell held open the door to the darkened cabin, and Will nodded as he passed her. Austin was curled into himself on one of the mattresses still spread across the floor. He kneeled beside him, walling up his own despair and brushing a braid back from Austin’s face. Nell hovered behind him.

“Hey, Cricket,” he murmured softly, his hand resting on the back of his neck as he did his own assessment, “You not feeling too good?”

Austin groaned, arms tightening around his stomach, “It’s so much worse, Will. So much pain.”

“Want me to call Jacinta?” Behind him, Nell gave a sharp intake, “She might be able to help.”

“No,” Austin said firmly, pushing himself upright, “No. Her pain would hurt most.”

Will nodded, letting his hand drop to his knee, “What do you need then? Alone time? Go somewhere away from most of camp?”

Austin nodded to the second, and Will helped pull him to his feet. He tucked him under his arm, looking to Nell, “We’ll be gone for a few hours, I think. Aro will know where to find me if we’re not back by dinner.”

“Will…” Nell’s voice was hesitant, and he knew she’d put together parts of it. He shook his head as he urged Austin to put on his shoes and grabbed a bow and quiver, just in case.

“We can talk about it later, Nell.” He wrapped his arm back around Austin and led him out into the afternoon. They walked around the back of the cabins, Will tracing the path he hadn’t taken in a few months. The farther they got from camp, the more Austin relaxed, taking small sips from the water bottle Will had pressed into his hand on the way out the door.

“Better?”

Austin nodded, taking a deep breath, “The pain’s gone mostly. My mouth still tastes disgusting though.”

“Small steps, I guess,” Will said lightly, coming to a stop in the little clearing, “This should be far enough away.”

“Where are we?” Austin looked around, eyeing the massive white oak at the other end of the clearing. Will crossed to it, resting a hand against the oak.

“Adair, I brought my brother if you’d like to meet him,” he called up to the tree’s canopy. The rustle of leaves in a nonexistent breeze was his answer. Will grinned, flopping on the ground beneath the oak and looking up. Austin joined him at a more dignified pace. “This is a place I found not too long after my claiming. Adair’s oak here is one of the oldest trees in camp.”

“I have told you before, William Solace,” a voice said from above them, causing Austin’s head to snap up, “I am the oldest. All the others died before the gods chose this valley.”

“Of course, Adair, I’m sorry,” Will laughed at the look on his brother’s face at the sight of the dryad, “Austin, this is Adair. Adair, my brother, Austin.”

Adair landed before them, settling crosslegged to complete their little triangle, “Will tells me often about you, Austin Lake, son of Apollo. Welcome to my neck of the woods.”

“Will’s never mentioned you,” Austin said, still in shock at their sudden appearance. Adair gave him that sharp little smile of theirs.

“Will knows I value my privacy. But I appreciate the odd guest.” They looked closer at Austin, cocking their head in that way of theirs. “You are struggling with this power of yours, are you not?”

“Adair, you’re going to give him an aneurysm,” Will chided with a laugh, “I never told you about that.”

The look Adair gave him was borderline pitying, “It is sweet you think I rely on you for information. And do not think that I do not know about yours.”

Will blushed and shut his mouth, shaking his head at the look Austin gave him. The dryad returned his attention to the younger Apollo. “There is much pain around you. It is hard for you to block out others’, but if you do not, it will destroy you.”

“I know,” Austin said softly, “Jacinta told me the same thing. But saying it and doing it are two different things.”

The dryad nodded, steepling their fingers and resting their chin on them as they thought. Will leaned back into the grass, focusing on the way it ticked the back of his neck and his palms. It brought back memories of Robin teaching him to listen to the earth and reading him Esperanza Rising . Faintly, he heard Robin’s voice, butchering the Spanish while he giggled hopelessly. Peace flowed through him as he sucked in one slow breath after another.

“Will?” Adair’s voice broke through his meditation, and when he opened his eyes again, he found his friend looking at him with a soft smile, “You are doing much better. Will you go and get Austin’s instrument?”

He nodded, hoisting himself to his feet, “Any opinion as to which, Aus?”

His brother chewed his lip for a moment, “My tenor?”

“You got it.” 

Will let his feet lead the way out again, taking the peace he had found and wrapping it around himself. It let him float back through the common area of camp, past Nell who frowned but didn’t approach him. It made him pause after he picked up Austin’s tenor sax, his hand hovering over the case of the lesser-used guitar. It had been Robin’s, once upon a time, before he’d gotten obsessed with the violin. Will wasn't ready to touch Lee's, but he lifted Robin's by the side handle, greeting the heft of the guitar like an old friend.

This time, when Will stepped out from the cabin again, Nell was waiting, sitting on the steps. Will stopped beside her, waiting for her to speak.

“He’s like Jacinta?” He nodded. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Wasn’t mine to tell,” he shrugged, “Austin didn’t want anyone to worry. Jacinta came to visit during winter break, and for the most part, he can protect himself. Right now, though, he’s overworked.”

“We could have helped,” Nell protested, “We could have…”

“Could have what, Nelly?” Will asked kindly, “Hid our emotions? He would hate that more. Right now he’s figuring out how to separate it all. Just like all of us. It’s just a little harder for him.”

She sighed, nodding. Then she gave him a wry smile, standing and ruffling his hair, “When did you get so wise, huh, Sunshine?”

“When you weren’t looking,” he gave her a grin, hoisting the sax case higher on his shoulder, “Now, I’m gonna go have a jam session with my brother.”

~

When he returned to the clearing, Adair and Austin hadn’t moved, still sitting and talking beneath Adair’s oak. Will set the sax beside him, loving the way Austin’s eyes went wide with excitement at the sight of the instrument. Adair watched as they both pulled out their instruments. 

“Who was it that taught you saxophone, Austin?” Adair asked as he set it up. Austin ran one hand lovingly down the curve of the sax.

“Haseya did,” he said, pressing some of the keys absentmindedly, “Back when I first came. She said any self-respecting Apollo kid knew how to play at least one instrument. Sani said that any self-respecting Apollo camper knew how to play a wind instrument because Apollo is a blowhard.”

Austin immediately slapped a hand over his mouth, causing Will and Adair to laugh. Will wiped tears from his eyes, as he wheezed, “That’s why Sani tried to teach me trombone.”

Slowly, Austin joined in with their laughter, giggles filling the small clearing. And slowly, the weight over Will’s shoulders eased, letting him straighten for a time and breathe. Around him, crickets and bugs began to chirp as the sun dipped lower, and Austin began to play his saxophone. He let the melancholy melody roll over him, and for a moment, he thought felt a hand ruffling his hair, just the way Robin used to. He let out a sigh, a small smile tugging his lips.

But when he opened his eyes, it was just the wind.