The infirmary smelled like nectar and clean linen, a combination that should have been comforting but made Nico feel oddly out of place. Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe it was the way Will Solace had an annoying way of hovering like a particularly persistent sunbeam.
Will sat on a stool nearby, lazily twirling a medical bandage between his fingers. He was watching Nico with an expression that was both curious and amused. "You always this good at following medical advice?"
Nico gave him a flat look. "I don't need advice."
Will clicked his tongue. "Right. Because clearly, sitting here looking like death warmed over is a personal choice."
Nico sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, I appreciate the concern—"
"Do you?"
He hesitated. Did he? It wasn't often that people worried about him unless it was in a 'watch out, he might raise an army of skeletons' kind of way. But Will's concern felt different—frustrating, sure, but also… genuine. And that was new.
Will must have noticed the pause, because his smirk softened into something more thoughtful. "Hey, I get it. You're used to handling things on your own. But you don't have to, y'know?"
Nico bristled. "That's easy for you to say."
Will tilted his head. "Why? Because I'm a 'ray of sunshine'?"
"Because people like you," Nico muttered, surprising even himself. "People don't look at you like you're a problem."
Will was quiet for a moment, his blue eyes flickering with something unreadable. Then, to Nico's surprise, he let out a short laugh. "Oh, trust me. Being a healer means dealing with plenty of people who see me as an annoyance. I just don't let it bother me."
"Must be nice."
Will studied him for a moment before leaning forward. "You know, people don't dislike you as much as you think they do."
Nico scoffed. "That's optimistic."
"I'm an Apollo kid," Will said with a grin. "Optimism comes with the package."
Nico didn't respond right away. He knew Will was just trying to help, but words like that didn't erase years of being the outsider, the ghost king, the kid who didn't belong. Still, he had to admit—sitting here, in the warm afternoon light, listening to Will's easy chatter—it didn't feel as bad as it usually did.
Will stood up, stretching. "Alright, shadow boy. You're officially cleared for now, but you better not overdo it. And if I catch you passing out from exhaustion, I'm tying you to this cot."
Nico raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to see you try."
Will winked. "Don't tempt me."
As Will walked away to check on another patient, Nico found himself staring after him longer than he meant to. The infirmary was still full of light, still filled with laughter and warmth.
And for the first time in a long time, Nico wasn't in a rush to leave.