Chapter Text
Will was looking forward to being back in school on Monday since Nico was away for the weekend. (“We’re visiting Nana Rhea for the weekend. She lives in western New Jersey, so we’re staying overnight.”)Saturday ended up being a miserable day, so he was stuck in the house the whole day. Sunday was nicer, and Mrs. O’Leary was eager to go out, so he called Rachel, wanting to make sure that they could still be friends after he broke their date.
Rachel was actually fine with it. She was glad to spend time with Will, although for a good deal of the walk, she seemed happier to see his dog. (“Who’s the prettiest girl? Is it Mrs. O’Leary? Yes it is, yes it is!”)
She also thanked him for being honest in telling her that he liked her a lot, but only as a friend. He could tell that she was being sincere when she said, “Thank you for telling me the straight truth. That might be the thing I’ve always liked best in you. Will Solace is an honest person.”
He liked hearing that very much, and he was grateful that their friendship was still intact.
Monday morning, the usual crowd was gathered in front of the two schools, and of course, Jason called out, “So William, my bro. How was the date?”
Before he could say anything, Rachel spoke up. “We called it off. We decided we’re better off as friends.” As the hooting began, she added, “And I think I could do better, really.” In the face of the riotous laughter, Will saw Rachel’s little wink and knew that this was just her way of showing that she still thought of him as a close enough friend to tease while getting just a little bit of revenge in.
He was happy to get to class, since he started the day seated next to Nico, and they could slyly press their knees together under the table without being observed. He so enjoyed the shy smile that crept over Nico’s face as he spotted Will entering the classroom.
Alas, math class was over, and they had to part. Will happened to pass Magnus in the hallway between second and third period and noticed (with an ironic grin) that the other boy was back to glaring at him, the good spirits of Friday night forgotten. At noon, Will headed for the corridor leading to the art room, hoping to find Nico so that they could sit together at lunch. At this point in the day, that hallway was not used very much, so Will was surprised to hear a voice, one he knew.
Magnus was speaking in a rather loud voice, so Will could hear him easily even from around the corner.
“You need to stop this thing with Will Solace.”
“What do you mean?” That was Nico.
“You probably didn’t notice, but he was so obviously flirting with you the other night,” Magnus went on. “He’s another straight boy who thinks it’s a big joke to lead you on.”
“You think he’s straight just because he’s into sports and stuff?” Nico said.
“Well, isn’t he straight?” Magnus shot back.
Will froze, nervous about what Nico would say next. He felt a little relief and a lot of guilt over that relief when Nico stayed silent.
“See!” Magnus said in triumph. “He’s just like Jason and the others.”
“He’s not like that!” Nico almost shouted. “He’s…he’s my…” then he paused before going on, “my friend.”
Although they’d agreed to keep things secret, Will suddenly didn’t feel hungry when he heard Nico say that.
“I can see that you like him, but Nico, I’m worried. I’m afraid…I don’t know, I remember last year, when the bullying started. He’s friends with Jason and Bryce, and I can’t see you go through that again.”
Magnus’s voice dropped as he spoke, but Will could still hear him clearly enough. He could hear the pleading of a friend who was deeply concerned. As he thought back to last year, he knew he hadn’t participated in the bullying, but he’d heard the stories. His mouth filled with bile as he thought of what Nico had gone through. Suddenly, he had to get to the boys’ room to rinse out his mouth.
As he rounded the corner an image came into his head, something he’d forgotten or driven from his memory. He remembered seeing Jason and a boy who’d been a senior at the time, a football player with the ridiculous name of Amory Eros. The two jocks had been laughing as they walked away, and Will had caught a glance at Nico, the victim of their teasing. He didn’t know him at the time, but he recalled that he was painfully thin and his eyes looked like shattered glass.
Will barely made it to the sink before he began violently throwing up.
=====
NicoD
RUOK? Heard you went home sick. ♥️
SunshineWill
I’m fine. Just ate something that came back up. Dam you, Olympus Cafeteria. CU tomorrow X❤️X
=====
Will was home, but it certainly hadn’t been the food that had done it. He’d been so proud when Rachel had told him how honest he was, and then he’d made Nico tell a lie (and then lied to Nico so that he wouldn’t worry about him). He needed to figure some things out. His mother had sent him up to his room with some ginger ale to settle his stomach and told him to get some sleep. Instead, Will had laid on his back, staring at the ceiling and fretting.
Naomi left him alone until supper (probably just as well) and then spread blankets on the living room sofa, announcing that it was high time for a mother/son movie night. Will was scrolling through the available movies. He spent some time looking through the LGBTQ+ category but then lost his nerve.
His mother, seeing his indecision, took the remote from his hands. “I know,” Naomi said brightly. “You used to love this movie when you were little. At one point, I think I had most of the dialog memorized, you used to watch it so many times.”
Half an hour into the movie, Will wondered why he’d liked it so much when he was younger. It wasn’t that good. Then Naomi said, “I can see why you wanted to watch it so much. That Alexandra Daddario is such a pretty girl.”
At this point, though, Will became aware of how much his eyes went back and forth between her and Logan Lerman on the screen. Yeah, he definitely had some things to figure out. He faked a yawn and said, “Ma, I think I’ll go back to bed. I should be fine in the morning.”
When he got to his room, Will opened his laptop (after brushing his teeth; this could take a while), and started searching. He’d thought about finding stuff on coming out, but especially after the movie, there was something else on his mind. He’d been thinking about that quiz result that described him as 62% hom*osexual, and had wondered at the time just what that meant. Now, he typed into the search bar “Am I bi?”
=====
Tuesday, Will got to class just before it started (could he have overslept after spending most of the night on the computer?), but Nico managed to get a quick “Are you okay?” out before Ms. Athena quelled all conversation with her legendary grey eyed stare of death. Unfortunately, her lesson ran a bit over, so there was no time for conversation after either, other than a quick reassurance from Will that it was just a brief 24-hour thing (he hated lying to Nico).
After class, Nico took off in a run, saying “Sorry, have to get to rehearsal.”
“Rehearsal?” Will thought. He followed as best he could and saw that Nico had hurried into the auditorium. Will was about to follow him in when he heard a familiar voice call his name. He turned around to see a familiar face.
“”Shel,” he asked, “what are you doing here?”
“Our school orchestras are combining for a concert.”
“So, you’re in the orchestra?” he said.
“Apparently,” she said, brandishing a clarinet.
He shook his head ruefully. “I confess to having no musical ability,” he told her. “Nico tried to give me a drum lesson, and I failed miserably.”
“So,” she said with a tiny eyebrow raise, “you and Nico are good friends, eh?”
“Yeah,” Will said, his throat just a tad dry. He took a deep breath and went on, “Actually, we’re…well…we’re kind of going out.”
“Really?” she said.
Shel grinned warmly at him as she said it, so he went on. “We haven’t really made it official, but yeah, we are. Um, please don’t tell anyone.”
“No, no,” she reassured him. “Of course, I would never. So, you’re keeping it on the down low?”
Will laughed nervously. ”Actually, you’re the first person I’ve told.”
“And does it feel good to tell someone?”
“Yeah,” Will said, a little surprised. “It really does,”
They both jumped at a shrill squeak. Piper was holding a piccolo and laughing.
“Hey, Piper, you remember Will, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” she said, “we saw your soccer game with Alex and her friends. Nico was playing too, wasn’t he?”
Will decided to seize the moment. “Yeah, he and I…we’re going out together.”
“What?” Piper said with a mad laugh. “We’ve found another one?”
“You can’t tell people,” Shel warned her.
“Oh no, I wouldn’t,” she said. “But quick, gay hug!” and she and Shel threw their arms around Will.
Of course, Jason and his minions came down the hallway just then.
“One girl on each arm! Nice one, Solace,” accompanied by the usual grunts and hooting as the football team went past.
“Why are straight people like that?” Shel muttered.
When the hallway was clear, Piper looked Will in the eye.
“So, you’re not out yet?”
Will scratched his head. “No, not really. Only you two know. And Nico, obviously.”
“Do you want to be out?” Piper continued her interrogation.
“I don’t know. I’m not even sure what I am yet.”
“No worries,” Piper said airily. “I had to kiss Shel like six times before she realized she was a lesbian.”
“Hey,” her girlfriend remonstrated.
“What I’m saying is, it’s hard to figure out who you really are, and having people gossiping about you while you’re trying to do it only makes it worse. You should come out, but do it when you’re ready to, on your terms.” Piper folded her arms, looking quite pleased after that speech.
“Wow, my girlfriend is so wise,” Shel said with a snicker.
“I have an idea,” Piper said brightly. “We need to go on a double date. You and Nico, me and Shel, before the concert on Friday. I know this great donut place.”
“Donuts are good,” Will agreed.
“And getting to rehearsal is good, too,” Shel said, stepping into the auditorium.
Will tagged along, pleased to see Nico, who waved at him, pausing from setting up a massive array of percussion instruments.
“So,” he said to Shel, “can I ask you something?” She nodded, so he went on. “Are you totally gay? Or are you bi?” He blushed a little. “I mean, when we kissed all those years ago, I think I did like you. I think I’ve liked girls in the past.”
“Nope,” Shel shook her head. “Definitely gay. Kissing you kind of made me realize, I don’t want to kiss guys. Sorry about that.”
Piper could not restrain her laughter as Will said, “Happy to, um, have helped clear that up for you. And now I’m going to be late for English.”
As Will hurried away, Piper called out, “looking forward to Friday!”
=====
Since he didn’t feel that they’d had enough time together at school, Will informed Nico that he’d be coming over so that they could have a study session. Nico was glad that his parents were out that evening (going to yet another flower show), and Hazel was off at the Zhang’s house for a play date. Bianca was prone to staying in her room, listening to morose music, so Nico and Will would have the living room to themselves. He certainly didn’t notice the smug expression on his sister’s face when the knock on the front door caused him to run down the hallway at top speed, eager to let his visitor in.
The boys were lying on the living room floor, each engrossed in homework and content to be in each other’s presence when Will sat up.
“So,” he began, “I talked to Shel before your rehearsal.”
“Oh,” Nico said, noncommittally.
“So,” Will went on. “You know, she’s a lesbian, right?”
Nico said, “Yup,” still not revealing anything.
“So, I kind of told her we were together,” Will said rather slowly.
Nico sat up, his eyes wide. “What?”
“I told her we were going out.”
Nico moved close to him. “Oh my gods! That’s amazing.”
Then he tackled Will in a fierce hug. “OH! MY! GODS!. You, you are amazing!!”
They kissed for a while, and then Will looked up at him. “So you don’t mind? I mean, that I told her?”
“Oh my gods!” Nico said for the third time. “You told someone! You came out. Being with you is so wonderful!”
Lengthy kisses meant that homework was over for the night. Kisses that went on until…
“Carry on, lads,” Bianca said airily as she walked through the living room to the kitchen. Unfortunately, on instinct, Will had pulled away from Nico as if burned, still staying apart as Bianca walked back through the living room with a cup of coffee in hand and said “Pay me no mind.”
Will was shaking slightly but looked ashamed for having pulled away so quickly.
“Will,” Nico told him, “it’s alright. Bianca would never tell anyone.”
“I’m sorry,” Will said. “I still panic when I think other people will find out.”
“You don’t have to feel bad about that,” Nico said. “You don’t have to come out to everyone at once.”
Will looked at him with stars in his eyes. “You are so good. I wish I’d gotten to know you sooner.” He lowered his eyes. “I wish I’d been there for you last year.”
“Will, you didn’t even know me last year,” Nico said.
“I wish I had,” Will said, pulling Nico back to him. “I wish I’d known then what I know now.”
“But you know it now,” Nico said, and kissed him again.
Alas, time passed. Will did have to get home, and the di Angelo parents would be returning soon. As he put his shoes back on at the front door, Will said, “So, I’m coming to your concert on Friday.”
Nico blushed. “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to. I really want to see you play all those different drums.”
NIco laughed. How had this wonderful boy come into his life?
“Oh,” Will said, “Shel and Piper want to meet us for donuts before the concert. They know this great place. It would be like a double date.”
Nico’s smile grew wider. “I’ve never been on a date.”
“Me neither,” Will said.
When Nico finally closed the door (after lingering as long as he could see the slightest trace of Will walking down the street), he was startled to see Bianca hovering directly behind him, but all she said was, “Good one, little brother,” before gliding silently back into her bedroom.
=====
RedHotChiliPipers
We should have Alex and Magnus on our double date
SunshineWill
I didn’t know they were dating
RedHotChiliPipers
They aren’t YET
NicoD
But you think they should be?
SeaShell
Girlfriend, have you seen how they look at each other?
RedHotChiliPipers
And they’d \be so cute together
NicoD
BTW they don’t know about Will and me
SeaShell
No worries, we’ll keep it quiet.
SunshileWill
So it’s now a triple date?
NicoD
And Magnus and Alex don’t even know it’s a date
RedHotChiliPipers
Meddling gays rule!!
=====
Magnus’s dour expression evaporated when he saw Alex.
“They didn’t tell me you were coming,” he said after a quick hug. “They just told me there would be donuts.”
“So you’re not here for the concert?” Alex asked.
“Are you kidding? We both love Nico, but sitting through a whole concert? Please, woman. I’ll need to be sugared up for it.”
“Magnus! Alex!” Nico called out to his friends, who joined them at the garishly decorated table in front of the shop.
“I’ve been dying to try this place,” Piper confided. “My cousin Mitchell told me that they’ve been opening up all over Brooklyn, but this is the first Monster Donut to open on Long Island.”
“Well, my cousin, Annabeth, told me that they’re owned by an evil corporation headquartered in Boston,” Alex said conspiratorially.
“So, tell me,” Shel said to Alex, “Will told us how he and Nico met. How did you and Magnus become friends?”
Alex laughed. “I became friends with Nico at the start of high school, and Magnus was sort of part of the package deal.”
“Ha!” Magnus proclaimed. “You were lucky to have me.” Then he saw that the box of donuts was almost empty. This would not do. “Shall we get a second round?” he asked.
“We can get them,” Will said as he stood up. Nico followed his lead as the group called out requests, including a round of various coffees.
At the window, Will added one more, his personal favorite. Nico rolled his eyes.
“Bubblegum flavored?,” he scoffed. “That is beyond gross!”
“Do not hate on the bubblegum donut,” Will chided. “Or what does the great donut master recommend?”
Nico pointed to one of the specials on the board, and took it from the vendor. “Triple chocolate, of course.”
Will reached for it, and Nico drew it back from him.
“Come on,” he begged. “Just let me have a taste.”
Nico relented and held it out. Will leaned forward and nibbled at it. Then he slowly closed his eyes and emitted a low moan of pleasure.
“Oh my gods!” he said. “That is the best thing I’ve ever tasted! Do you want to swap?” He held out his brightly colored donut, but Nico just shook his head and withdrew his own donut.
“Sorry, you’ve made your donut bed, and now you must lie in it,” he said sternly.
Will gave a small smile and said, “Well, maybe on our next date, when it’s just the two of us, we can both have chocolate donuts.”
He seemed a little unsure as he said it, almost afraid that Nico would object, but instead, he blushed a little bit as he said, “Yeah. I’d like that a lot. I mean if you really want to. Sorry, I shouldn’t assume…”
“Nico, I’d really like to,” Will said, looking him right in the eye as he said it.
Back at the table, Piper and Shel were telling Alex and Magnus how they’d gotten together, being friends for a long time before either one would make a move. Magnus was drinking it in, but Alex seemed a little perturbed by the story.
When Nico called out his name to help carry the coffees back, Magnus sprang up, leaving the three girls alone at the table.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Alex said, giving the other two a mild glare.
“What ever do you mean?” Piper asked, her face a mask of innocence.
“I told you in confidence that I sort of liked Magnus. That did not mean I wanted some sort of cheesy set up,” Alex said, some heat in her voice. “You should know that I treasure my friendship with Magnus above all else, and the last thing I need is for that to be spoiled by some well meaning attempt to set us up.”
“Sorry,” Shel and Piper said in unison.
As Magnus approached the counter, he couldn’t help noticing that Will had said something that made Nico blush. Dammit, he’d warned the boy about this. He’d have to break things up, and he didn’t feel like talking to Will, so he just said, “Why don’t you go back ahead. I’ll bring the last of the drinks when they’re ready,” giving the tall blond a glare as he left. To his dismay, Nico trailed along behind him.
When he and Nico got back to the table, Will was greeted by another glare, this one from Alex, who said, “Were you in on this too? Both of you? Was this all just some kind of set up for Magnus and me?”
“Not just that,” Will responded. “We thought it would be fun to go on a triple date.”
“A triple date?” Alex said slowly.
“Yeah,” Will said, “you and Magnus, Piper and Shel…”
“And you and Nico?”
Nico held his breath, but Will nodded.
“You two are together?” Alex asked eagerly.
Nico let his breath out as Will said, “Yup.”
Alex sprang up. “Nico! That’s so wonderful!” Then she turned to Will. “It’s wonderful for you, too. Do Magnus and Malcolm know?”
Nico said, “Malcolm pretty much figured it out almost as soon as it happened. I’m still waiting for the right time to tell Magnus.”
At that moment, Magnus came back, the last of the coffees in hand and saying, “You know the concert starts in half an hour.”
Donuts were scarfed, coffees were chugged, and the party headed back to the school. Nico, Piper, and Shel took their places on stage, and Will, Alex, and Magnus found seats in the audience. Magnus made a point of sitting on the far side of Alex so that he wouldn’t have to sit next to Will, and after no more than fifteen minutes into the concert, he was starting to fidget. He fiddled with the pendant that he always wore on the chain around his neck (it had been a gift from his late father) and tried to whisper comments to Alex, but she told him that if he didn’t behave, she was going to strangle him. That quieted him down, as he knew that she was more than capable of it.
So engrossed Magnus was in diverting himself (and trying to get Alex giggle at his antics) that he completely missed the silly smile Will got every time there was a drum solo or the heart eyes he got when, at the end of each piece, all the players stood up to acknowledge the applause. Alex, however, didn’t miss any of this, especially the way that Will was oblivious to anyone on the stage except for the one percussionist.
