Will Solace sighed as he set down the bag of groceries on the small counter of the apartment he shared with Nico di Angelo. The space was modest, but it was theirs, and Will loved the life they were building together.

“Hey, death boy,” Will called out playfully, kicking off his sneakers. “I got your favorite cookies!”

From the couch, Nico glanced up from his book, his dark eyes narrowing, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “They’re not my favorite,” he said, deadpan. “You just buy them because you want to steal half of the box.”

Will grinned and walked over, plopping down next to Nico and pulling him into a casual side hug. “I wouldn’t say steal. More like… tax for going out in the freezing cold to get them.”

Nico rolled his eyes but let himself lean into Will’s warmth. His boyfriend was like a human sun—bright, steady, and annoyingly persistent when it came to making Nico smile.

“You’re ridiculous,” Nico muttered, but his voice was soft, his usual sarcasm tempered by affection.

Will kissed the top of his head. “And you love me for it.”

“Debatable,” Nico replied, though he didn’t move away.

Will smiled, knowing that despite Nico’s sharp tongue and cool demeanor, the fact that he hadn’t protested when Will had pulled him close said everything. Moments like these—quiet, simple, and filled with an unspoken kind of love—were what made all the chaos of their lives worth it.