Will Solace’s hands were still shaking when he finally stepped out of the medic cabin.

The day had been a disaster.

Three campers injured during training. One mismeasured dose of nectar that hadn’t hurt anyone but had come terrifyingly close. A younger camper who’d panicked when the pain didn’t stop fast enough. Will had held it together—smiled, reassured, worked through it—but the pressure had built with every passing hour until his chest felt tight and his head ached.

Healers weren’t allowed to mess up. Not even a little.

By the time the sun dipped low and the cabin emptied, Will felt hollowed out. He cleaned the last cot twice, rearranged his supplies compulsively, and checked the injury logs again even though he knew they were fine. Still, the guilt clung to him like sweat.

He needed Nico.

That thought came unbidden, immediate and desperate.

Will scanned the camp as he walked—training arena, amphitheater, the strawberry fields glowing faintly in the dusk—but Nico was nowhere to be found. His stomach sank with disappointment until he noticed the shadows near the edge of camp deepening unnaturally.

Of course.

The Hades cabin loomed darker than the rest, obsidian walls swallowing the last of the light. Will didn’t hesitate. He pushed the door open without knocking.

Inside, the air was cool and quiet. Nico sat on the floor near one of the candlelit alcoves, knees pulled to his chest, shadows idly curling around his fingers like smoke. He looked up sharply, instinctively ready to snap—

Until he saw Will.

“Hey,” Nico said softly, concern immediately replacing surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Will didn’t answer.

He crossed the room in three quick steps and dropped to his knees in front of Nico, pressing forward until his forehead hit Nico’s shoulder. His arms wrapped around Nico’s torso tightly—too tightly—but Nico didn’t pull away. He froze for half a second, then melted into it, arms coming up to hold Will just as firmly.

Will’s breath hitched. “I messed up today,” he murmured, voice muffled against Nico’s jacket. “Not badly, but— I should’ve known better. Someone could’ve gotten hurt.”

Nico’s hand slid up to the back of Will’s neck, steady and grounding. “But they didn’t,” he said quietly.

“I know,” Will whispered. “But what if next time—”

Nico shifted, pulling Will fully into his lap, shadows curling protectively around them. “You save people every day,” he said, firm but gentle. “One bad moment doesn’t erase that.”