Trigger Warning: anxiety attacks and vary tiny mention of self harm (or rather about not doing so).

Note: Don't dare tell me that's not how anxiety attacks are bc I have anxiety so betch plz.

Nico did not know how other people felt when they had an anxiety attack, but to him, it sure as hell felt horrible. Sometimes, they didn't even need a trigger to begin. You see, sometimes, he'd be doing something as simple as brushing his teeth, when suddenly, a wave of angst and hopelessness would wash over him like a bucket of cold water. He would start to hyperventilate, right after - if he wasn't able to control the bad feelings in time. After that, it all became a blur of tears and efforts to even out his breathing. 

When he came back to himself, he often found he had hurt himself. He didn't self-harm. Not at all. Not that he hadn't considered it at one point, but he never went through with it. That's not what he meant either way. What he meant is that he'd often have scratches or bruises on his arms or legs. He guessed pain kept his grounded to reality. He honestly didn't know what happened. It was all a blur to him.

It was one faithful day, that he found a way to cope with them, and it involved none other than the son of the sun himself, Will Solace. 

He and Will had been friends for about three months now, and gods did Nico had a huge crush on him. A lot of people argued that Nico was happier because of Will. Others, said that nico became Will's friend because he had become happier. The truth was, both of those things went hand in hand. Will did make him happy, really happy, but Nico had only decided to let him in after he saw that Will really did want to see him happy. By then, Nico had found happiness again, and not only in Will. It had taken Reyna, Jason, and Hazel to accomplish this. 

We're getting off track. Anyhow...

On that particular day, Nico had gone to visit Will at the infirmary. They hadn't seen each other the day before, and that was unacceptable. You see, they didn't really spend more than twelve hours apart at the time. Unless Hades called Nico for a special mission (that usually almost got him killed). As Nico was walking away from the infirmary, he felt the bucket of angst pour over him.

No, Nico thought. Not now.

He fell to his knees, and started shaking. He couldn't feel anything at all.He thought he could hear someone calling his name, but it could've just been the voices in his head. 

"Nico!" He felt someone try to touch him. He trashed away from their touch.

"Nico! Oh my gods! What's going on, Jason?" He heard another voice, but he couldn't quite make out what they were saying.

"Get Will!" Nico heard some more screaming and yelling.He could no longer make out any words at all.

"Oh my gods." Suddenly a pair of warm arms wrapped around him. "Nico, open your eyes. Look at me." A gentle voice told him. Nico lifted his head and opened his  eyes slowly. HIs eyes met the bluest eyes ever. They were beautiful. He immediately recognized them as Will's. "There we go. Now take deep breaths. Like this..." Will showed him how to breath, and he copied.

Nico's breathing evened eventually, but he was still sobbing. Will pulled Nico to his chest. Nico sobbed while Will rubbed his back comfortingly until he calmed down. Then, they just held each other on the floor.

 Percy and Jason stood to the side, contemplating the scene. Both in shock that Nico actually calmed down when Will touched him. They both could seethe two boys loved each other deeply.  No room for doubt. Gods, Nico had never calmed down so easily.

From that day on, Nico went to Will when he felt an attack coming. Will was the only one who could calm him after all. At first, with just his arms, but later on, his lips joined the mix as well as Nico's.