#ler!nico

“You’re so adorable like this. I love it when your hair’s all messy~”

“Ugh, shut up, you sap…”

Nico rolled his eyes affectionately, snuggling closer to his boyfriend. The two were enjoying some quality time in the Hades cabin, making good use of its loneliness. Nico usually hated feeling so isolated, but with Will… Well, it was nice to have some privacy.

“You know you love it,” Will teased, pulling Nico against his chest. He was warm, fending off the slight cold chill that had rolled in for the week. He knew he was being a little much, but it was fun.

“I do, but still.” Nico rolled onto Will’s chest, nuzzling his face in the blonde’s neck.

The son of Apollo wrapped his arms around Nico's waist, squeezing him like a teddy bear as he admired him. He may have been an edgy grump, but he was Will’s edgy grump to cuddle and love.

“Mmph…quit looking at me like that.” The ball of darkness gave his boyfriend's side a squeeze, making him giggle. How could he always tell, even when his eyes were hidden?

“What, I can't look at my boyfriend when he's being adorable?” Will planted a little kiss on the top of his head. “Seems unreasonable.”

“Nope. It's illegal now, punishable by death.” Nico spoke against Will's shirt, the fabric dampening his voice. “Close your eyes or be destroyed by the Ghost King.”

Will couldn't help but snort at that, imagining Nico and a horde of McDonald’s-hungry skeletons glaring at him. Of course, he’d have to look up, and… Well, the blonde just couldn’t help but find his glare precious from that angle.

“I’d like to see that, shorty.”

“Oh my- screw you!” Nico gently headbutted his boyfriend’s chin, making Will laugh. His chest bounced up and down, moving Nico with it. It felt nice…even if he was being a jerk.

Mumbling a few colorful words under his breath, Nico settled back in against the warm skin of Will’s neck. He trailed a few lazy kisses along the side of it, enjoying how the little hairs on Will’s neck bristled beneath his lips.

“N-Nico…” Will was attempting a warning tone, but it was more giddy than anything. The smile on his lips stretched out, growing wobbly at the edges. He could already feel his cheeks beginning to burn.

“Yes, my little care bear?” Nico grinned against Will’s neck, placing a few butterfly kisses beneath his chin. He felt the muscles of his boyfriend’s neck contract from the contact, the hiss he let out making Nico’s heart flutter. Bingo.

“Gohods, don’t- this is mehean!” Will whined, scrunching up his shoulders in defense. He loved the kisses, but the feel of them… It was so cruel!

Nico only grinned at his boyfriend’s complaints, nuzzling his hair against the boy’s neck. “Think you started it, Solace. You asked for this.”

“No I dihihidn’t!” Will’s grip around Nico tightened as he began to squirm, the little kisses and nuzzles sending a gentle buzzing through his nervous system. He didn’t want to push the boy off, but he couldn’t lie still. Stupid ticklish neck…

“You so did! Calling me short, teasing me, being a dork… Those are all serious offenses, Solace.” Making use of his hands, Nico spidered his fingers along Will’s ribs. The boy’s worn-out Camp Half-Blood t-shirt was hardly protective, barely dulling the evil sensation of Nico’s teasing.

“Hehehey! Nihicohoho!” Will rolled onto his side, bringing Nico with him. The ravenette wasn’t phased, letting his elbow brace him before continuing.

Will’s giddy smile was like a beacon, drawing Nico in with its warm light. The edgy teen liked it even more than his boyfriend’s actual light powers.

“You’re so squirmy, Will,” Nico cooed, feeling extra playful. He trailed little kisses up to Will’s ears, blowing on the back of one to hear his little squeak. “Ticklish, too.”

“Youhuhu lihihihittle- EEEeehehehe! Jeheherk!” Will tried to curl up, bringing his knees up. Nico just pushed them back down, grunting softly with the effort. Will was physically stronger than him, but he noticeably wasn’t trying that hard to protect himself or escape.

“You loooove thiiiis~” Nico sing-songed the words in his ear, his fingers curling on his boyfriend's belly. Will’s arms snapped down, clamping against his sides as he tried to guard his worst spot.

“N-NOHOHOHO! NIHICOHOHO, IHI- TIHIHICKLES!” Will’s boisterous, unrestrained laughter filled the dark Hades cabin as his worst spot was targeted. He did his best to wiggle and get the offending fingers away from his stomach, but he didn’t want the silliness to stop entirely.

“No? Why ‘no’? I’m not lying, Solace. You’re loving every second of this.” Nico’s voice was plain as he said it, knowing his words rang true. Will had told him a while ago that he enjoyed being tickled; while Nico occasionally had problems with touch, he enjoyed it on occasion as well.

“Y-YEAHAHAH, BUHUT- GYAHAHA! NAHAHAT THEHEHERE!” Will kicked out and turned away as Nico’s fingers moved to his navel. He’d agreed on enjoying it; why was he still being tickled so mercilessly?

“But I like it here. It makes you laugh so sweetly~” The teases were rare from Nico, especially when they were so lovingly mischievous. Will would usually let him tickle for longer than that, but he was already nearing his limit. The tease pushed him over the edge.

“N-NOHOHO MOHOHOHORE! T-TEHEHESORO!” Will tapped out, the nickname slipping out through his laughter. Nico moved away from his stomach, instead wrapping his arms around the blonde’s chest.

“Shit, sorry, too much. Are you okay?” Nico brushed his boyfriend’s curly hair aside, checking to see if he’d upset him. That was a bit farther than he usually took things…

“Y-youhuhu’re fihihihine…” Will took a few deep, giggly breaths as he calmed down, pulling Nico closer. He was always really cuddly after being tickled. “Wow. Soho mean, death boy.”

“Shush, gigglebox.” Nico huffed at the little nickname, letting himself be cuddled once again. Thanks to the day’s training activities, he was decently sure nobody had heard Will’s cackling. Speaking of nicknames…

“Did you call me ‘tesoro,’ Solace?” Nico’s grin turned smug as he grinned at the flustered boy next to him. It wasn’t the first time they’d used pet names, but they weren’t a regular thing between the two.

“I…maybe.” Will huffed, his cheeks somehow burning even brighter from the acknowledgement. “You’re special and precious to me, like a treasure. So…yeah.”

“Aww, Will! I love it, and I love you.” Nico let himself smile as he gave Will a proper kiss, pressing their lips together. He could feel Will’s twitch against his, forming a wobbly, giddy smile. That time, however, it was for a completely different reason.

“Love you too, Nico.” Will’s eyes sparkled with adoration as he pulled back, pulling the boy’s fluffy black blanket overtop them.

The shorter teen happily snuggled into the new warmth, pressing the side of his head against Will’s chest. He found his heartbeat, thumping steadily in his chest. It was a bit faster than normal, but Nico was used to hearing that when he was around.

“I’m gonna nap, dork.”

Will pet his boyfriend’s soft black hair, giving his scalp gentle scratches to help lull him. A nap sounded rather nice after all that…