That night, Will came to the Hades cabin, and Nico let him in, still upset from what happened earlier that day.

"I... I'm sorry..." Nico said, going and curling back up in his bed.

"...Don't. It'll only make it worse. Feelings are feelings, and I'm going to respect yours. I hope you find your lucky guy someday, alright?"

"Alright." Nico answered, closing his eyes, as his-- well, he wasn't really his anymore,-- care bear came into the bed, holding him tight.

"Solace," Nico said, and Will flinched. He didn't see it, he just... felt it.

"Don't call me that. We aren't going back to that, not now, not ever." he choked out, and Nico felt his tears dripping into his now damp hair.

"We can't be like this anymore..."

"Please just let me have this. As my friend."

"But...--"

"Remember that one time we binge watched firefly lane?" Will asked.

"Yeah, but Solace--"

"Remember? When I had lost my memory, and the cat interrupted us by jumping up and knocking down the soundbar?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with--"

"They were like this! Why can't we be, too? They held each other, saw each other, why can't we?"

"Because, I love you." Nico responded, then mentally killed himself as he corrected, watching the glimmer slowly fading from Will's eyes.

"I loved you." Past tense. It was done. The final blow. Will broke down, and Nico had no choice but to comfort him, to hold him, kiss his forehead gently, like friends did.

"I'm so, so sorry." he repeated over and over, but he eventually stopped, as it only hurt Will more.