Chapter Text
Will Solace is forever guilty.
Nico di Angelo is incredibly sorry.
Despite Nico's persistence that he's ‘taking Will home’ that's not what happens. Sometime between the seconds and years that they'd spent holding each other in the hallway Reyna requisitions Will to get cleaned up and seek a medical professional before departing. Despite it being a demand opposed to a suggestion, Nico still doesn't argue against it (to Will's disappointment.) Will had expected a fight or even a protest. However, Nico just agreed swiftly before pulling Will in a direction away from the interrogation hall.
They walk for a long time and Nico doesn't let go of Will. At least not until he's forcing the blonde to step into one of the locker room showers. Even then the Italian doesn't stray far, he simply waits just on the other side of the curtain. As if drifting too much, would mean Will disappearing once more. It was nice…the attention. It had been a long time since they'd been this close, outside of arguing and sleeping in the same bed.
However, Will couldn’t help but feel like he was betraying Nico with every breath he took in the man's presence. Every second that passed without Will spilling his guts was torturous. It was a betrayal. He tries to push the feeling down, tries to concentrate solemnly on how much he had missed Nico and how good it feels to be reunited. When that doesn't work he focuses on scrubbing himself clean of the last day's mess.
He scrubs the dried blood, ash and dirt from his skin, digging until his flesh is raw and pink. The blackness under his nails and on his fingertips is gone but he knows nothing washed down the drain. Any physical damage to his person appears to have subconsciously healed itself. Places where blood had clearly sprouted from were smooth and unblemished. He rubbed his fingers over his wrists that had been sore and raw only hours ago.
There was nothing left that showed the horrors of the past day. Nothing cosmetic to declare what he'd been through. He digs his fingers into his scalp scratching dry flakes of God's knows what. He lets out a shaky breath letting his hands slide from his hair to the nape of his neck until his thumb brushes the slightest of bumps…there. The raised skin…the pinprick of where the needle had sunk in. It was all that had remained.
He felt his eyes burn but he'd long since ran out of tears. It's like there's a golf ball, it lingers in the back of his throat. He tries to swallow it. It doesn't go down. He wants to scream but that's a bit dramatic isn't it?
He reaches blindly for the all in one shampoo and conditioner. It's tiny like the ones in hotels and the smell of it is something he recognizes. Like black ice and leather and Nico.
He uses it scrubbing until his scalp hurts and then he rinses and does it all over again. It doesn't matter though because he can still feel it under his skin and at his fingers. He feels tainted and can't imagine a worse feeling.
“Are you…okay?” Nico's voice is hushed…hesitant. Like if he speaks too loud or fast…
“I'm fine,” Will says, turning off the water. He doesn't move to open the curtain…not yet. He can't bear to look at the concern on Nico's face as if Will actually deserves it.
“Will…you always say that talking about your feelings-”
Will can't take it, he can't have this conversation. He's too fragile, too guilty and a bit bitter. He grasps the last one, allowing the negative feeling to light into something hot like fury. He yanks open the curtain and glares hard at the shorter boy. Nico stands clutching a plastic bag filled with Will's ruined clothes…evidence now. He's aware how there's nothing to find on them. DNA from Ethan or Luke or even Ms. Beauregard were all to be expected…he'd been in contact with them. Everyone was aware he'd been in contact with them…as for Octavian…well that was easily explained away.
“Don't talk to me about feelings and talking it out!” Will snaps, “Don't be a hypocrite di Angelo!”
Nico doesn't take the bait. He doesn't roll his eyes or yell something snarky back. In fact he just looks sad and tired. Which is just awful, Will doesn't have room for any more guilt. He wants to be angry, he wants a distraction…he wants.
“I-I just want to forget this all happened okay!’ Will relents.
It's the truth…he wants to forget. Gods…here he was standing naked in a government building trying to start a fight with his boyfriend. He's a mess, and absolutely shit of a person.
Nico sighs, setting down the evidence bag to then gather a neatly folded bundle of clothes, “Here…these are Jason's extra pair of gym clothes…they're clean and he's the closest to your size.”
Will accepts them graciously. Nico doesn't look away as he dresses. Not that there's any need for modesty, they'd been together for years…beside Nico wasn't looking at him like that. Instead the Italians' gaze was critical and calculating. He was most likely looking for injuries but there weren't any to find.
“Your father's here,” Nico says suddenly a note of bitterness in his tone, “He's offered to look you over, but there's plenty of other-”
“That's fine,” Will says as he ties the drawstring of Jason's grey sweatpants. They're a little big around the waist and short in the legs but they'd definitely fit better than Nico's would have. The t-shirt fits quite well but he can't exactly lift his arms without exposing his stomach. It is a deep navy color with the small Aphrodite logo in the left corner.
“Okay,” Nico says, stepping forward to take Will's hand.
The dark haired boy's palm was cold and almost clammy. Despite not trying, Will can feel everything from the overexertion to the oncoming headache in the man's body. He doesn't dare help. Not because he knows it would upset Nico but because he's not sure if the change in his power would be noticeable if he did. Instead he just squeezes the hand he's been given.
Nico leads them in a direction that Will could only assume is medical. The halls are filled with an abundance of people. None give them so much as a glance. He's not sure if that has anything to do with the dark look in Nico's eyes and their fear of it being directed at them opposed to simply being unconcerned with Will's presence.
Nico's look doesn't seem aimed at anyone or anything in particular. It's just there, casting shadows across the man's face; intimidatingly. Almost as if he were daring anyone to so much as pass by too closely. Like a momma bear and her cub, ready to lash out at any possible danger. When Nico catches Will staring, the look softens and he smiles slightly, “It's okay,” he says and Will isn't sure what his boyfriend is referring to exactly. In all honesty he doesn't think the reassurance is for him at all.
They continue steadily forward and Will is grateful that he'd finally been given socks with the horrible slippers. The chill in his body has subsided and it helps ground him. Despite everything he is warm and it's enough to convince himself he is safe. That Nico and his secrets are safe.
Nico is safe.
Will tells himself it's not a lie. He tells himself that out of all the lies he's told and will continue to tell that this one thing is not. He wouldn't let it be.
“Will,” Nico says suddenly, “I understand if your father is one of the last people you want to see, nobody will judge you if you want to be looked over by someone else.”
Will falters in his stride nearly stopping them all together, “Did you and my dad…have a fight?”
Nico looked slightly baffled, “What? No…”
That's Nico's ‘lying’ voice which is similar to his ‘I'm hiding something's’ voice. In all honesty they're basically the same thing. Lying by omission and omitting.
Will frowned, “Really? Because if I'm not mistaken it sounds a lot more like you don't want to see my father.”
Nico doesn't react but also doesn't look at Will either. It's not until they reach the door of the infirmary that the man decides to speak, “I'm only saying that I understand if you don't want to face the person who got you into this mess.”
Will couldn’t help but laugh. Nico squeezes Will's hand tighter, “So you did have a fight,” Will says matter-of-factly, “Nico, don't get me wrong I am a bit bitter about my father's part in all this but how was he supposed to know?”
“He knew the risks-”
“I'm a doctor, it was a hospital.”
“Thats exactly what your father said,” Nico mutters obviously displeased, “He shouldn't have called you, a civilian to assist in such a case, not to mention he left you with a criminal, you shouldn't have been there.”
“I shouldn't have answered his call, I shouldn't have agreed, I should have grabbed my fucking phone,” Will hisses, “I am just as much at fault this all happened.”
“No,” Nico says firmly, “You were just following your code of honor or whatever, you were a victim-”
“Just play the victim…because that is what you are right?”
Will flinches at the memory and Nico doesn't appear to notice. He's still on a tangent, “-you can't be to blame on happenstance, if anyone should hold blame, its your father, its the agents who allowed it, its me…I should have…”
Nico trails off his voice going quiet and his eyes are downcasted like he's ashamed. Something twists in Will's gut and he reaches for Nico's other hand. He entwines their fingers and pulls Nico so they're facing each other.
“Should have what?” Will whispers.
Nico eyes are wet when he meets Will’s, “I..I don't know, all I can think about is our argument that morning and…and how you said that you didn't want to come home…and I know its out of context and its not connect to what happened but I could hear the words in my head the moment you went missing and I told you to go that morning and I hadn't known but it didn't matter because I pushed you to leave and-”
“Nico,” Will hushed, “It's not your fault! Gods, out of everyone you are the least responsible!”
“It is,” Nico insists, “And I just need you to know that I always want you to come home and I can't bear the thought of you not.”
“When I said that I…I didn't mean to make you think..” Will's voice wobbles, “of course I want to come home, Nico, you're my home and I will always come back to you.”
Nico kisses him and it's familiar and foreign at the same time. He can't think of the last time they'd shared a proper one. Weeks? Months? It doesn't matter though because the wait is worth it. Nico's lips are chapped and dry but they're perfect, he's perfect. They part to the sound of clapping. And Will doesn't have to look to know exactly who it is.
“Now that's a reunion, I couldn't have written it better myself, absolute cinema!” Leo stands smugly next to an apologetic looking Jason.
The small boy is practically beaming. He has smudges of grease on his forehead and ash on his elbows but looks no worse for wear . He's bouncing on the balls on his feet and when Will takes a step back from Nico the boy is running and pulling him into a hug. Immediately Will is almost unbearably warm, Leo feels like a heater.
“Glad you're okay man!” Leo practically yells in Will's ear, his volume control extremely lacking, “Don't ever go missing again… or I'll have to chip you!”
The last part is said with a conviction that Will knows with certainty that he's not joking, “He's not a dog Leo,” Jason chastised. The blonde has his arms crossed but his eyes glimmer with amusement.
“I'm just saying if you guys had let me before then all of this would have been over and done with before it even started,” Leo says as he pulls away glaring accusingly in Nico's direction. The Italian glowers back, his eyes nearly slitted. Will doesn't have time to process that information.
“Don't you have a job to be doing?” Nico grumbles in an obvious attempt to change subject.
“No actually,” Leo says suddenly, “I was pulled from the investigation.”
“What?” Nico demands darkly.
“Yeah Jason as well," Leo continued, Jason gave a slight nod, “But don't worry Annabeth is still on it.”
“When? By who?” Nico questions.
“Like…twenty…fifteen odd minutes ago,” Leo responds, "And who do you think?”
“Dionysius,” Nico grumbles.
“The Director gave us a new assignment,” Jason explains, “we're actually about to head out but we wanted to stop by and check on you two before we did.”
“What assignment?”
Jason gives Nico a tight smile, “Classified.”
Will couldn't help but snort. The sound is loud and unattractive and has Leo grinning ear to ear. There's a sort of satisfaction watching Nico receive the explanation he was privy to giving Will. He looks to his boyfriend expecting an annoyed glare but it's like Nico hadn't heard Will at all. The man's eyebrows are frowned in obvious thought and he squeezes Will's hand that he's still holding.
Nico mutters something low and under his breath. Despite Will being right next to him he can't decipher it. If he hadn't seen the slightest move of the boy's lips he'd have assumed he'd imagined it. Before Will can ask what had been said Nico is saying something louder and coherent.
“I understand pulling you Jason, but why Leo?" He asks as he looks at the shorter male, “you're the best, I don't trust any…”
“I suggest taking it up with the Director,” Jason interrupted firmly as if too much had already been said, “…he actually wants to talk to you when you get a chance…sooner rather than later.”
Nico gets an odd look on his face and Leo who is still leaning into Will tenses. There is something Will is missing. A hidden message, a deeper meaning. A secret. He tries to not let it bother him. Another reminder that there was much Will didn’t know. Things that he wasn't a part of, context and riddles that he'd never learned. Things that were safer out of his hands.
“I'm busy,” Nico says as if he'd been presented with a time pressing matter. Perhaps he had.
Leo pulled away from Will drawing the attention of the small group to him, “the Director is aware,” the man says as if that makes any amount of sense.
Nico's grip is almost painful but Will doesn't have the heart to try and get away. He lets his eyes flicker among the three in front of him. Suddenly he understands. The Director…Nico's boss…Dionysius had requested a meeting despite knowing the situation. Knowing very well that Nico was otherwise occupied…That wasn't something to take lightly. It had to be important. Dire even.
“You should go,” Will finds himself saying.
It goes against everything he wants. The idea of being away from Nico makes his entire body flare with panic. He's not ready, not after what has happened…it's too soon. But…his gut says that it's important that Nico leave him now.
“What?” Nico sounds hurt, and a bit startled.
“...It sounds important,” Will says.
Nico lets out a breathless sound. Like a laugh and exasperated sigh all in one. He looks to Jason with a look that screams ‘are you hearing what I'm hearing?’ Jason gives a shrug.
“Dionysius can wait, if it's that important he can find me,” Nico says simply.
Will frowns, “Nico, he's your boss…and It'll give you a way to avoid my father.”
“Me and Apollo are not fighting!” Nico lies.His face has shifted into a pretty crimson.
“Nico, I'll be fine.”
“I'm not leaving you,” Nico says, “I can't.”
Will is not sure why he's persisting. It seems like it's more than just the strange feeling in his gut. Whatever Dionysius wanted had to be important but there was also a problem Will was slowly discovering. Apollo was well aware of the effects of The Needle. While the man didn't know that Will had been injected with it…that was subjected to change. It was possible that Apollo could detect what had been done. The risk of the possibility was catastrophic. If Apollo found out then there would be no disguising what happened. It wouldn't be hard to put two and two together. Ethan was still alive and kicking, and that in itself would show that Will was keeping secrets (if it hadn't already.)
Will needed to talk to his father. Perhaps convince him to ignore the need for a proper diagnosis and simply give out an clean bill of health. That couldn’t happen if Nico was present. The man would insist Will be properly looked over. Despite Will being unblemished and having no visible injuries Nico would demand it all the same. Will couldn't risk being found out.
“Please!” Will pleads, “It'll only be for a moment and it's just a quick checkup right? I'll be fine.”
“Yeah because last time worked out so well!” Nico snaps.
“Nico,” Will scolds. He sounds like his mother and as soon as that thought crosses his mind he feels sick. Naomi…he hadn't even thought to call her! Gods he's a terrible son!
“Will is right,” Jason interjects and Nico blanches, “The director wouldn't have asked for you if it wasn't important.”
“Yeah well why didn't he talk to me earlier!” Nico hisses, “When he was busy keeping me in the dark about the rescue of my boyfriend!”
The bitterness drips from the man's tongue like poison and the room is a shade darker than it been before. Leo who has yet moved fully away from them reaches slightly to poke the Italian boys arm.
“Hey,” Leo chimes, “We'll hang around here until you get back.”
“You said you had an assignment,” Nico reminds.
“We do but it can wait thirty minutes or so,” Leo insists. “ We'll hang around here and if you're not back before Will is done with his little check up we'll bring him to you.”
Nico doesn't look swayed. In fact the dark look in his eyes only increased tenfold. Will has nearly lost feeling in his fingers from how tight his hand is being held.
“I'm good,” Nico says, “No thanks.”
Jason has a disapproving look on his face but Leo is just grinning. Both looks don't seem to have any effect. Nico has taken a defensive stance, as if he was preparing for a physical fight. He's always been incredibly stubborn. Will uses his free hand to poke at their joined fingers. Nico's grip loosen as his attention is drawn to it. His face is pale suddenly and he looks guilty and apologetic.
“You're cutting off my circulation,” Will tells the man.
“I'm sorry,” Nico says then he repeats it, “I'm sorry.”
It feels like he's talking about more than just the aggressive handhold. Will doesn't know how to address that. If Nico is apologizing for something else, something more, how was Will to respond? With forgiveness?
“It's okay,” Will offers softly, “I…Neeks I really think you should-”
“Why are you insisting?” Nico demands. There isn't anger in his tone but it's most certainly raw desperation. Like he seconds from pleading on his knees wanting to understand. As if Will's answer could fix a life or death situation, like he could put Nico out of his misery.
Will bites down on his tongue, his heart wrenching in his chest. He feels unsteady on his feet and he finds himself being the one giving a death grip to his boyfriend's hand. What does he say? What does he tell him?
He's afraid.
“I…” Will gasps. The syllable is heavy on his tongue. His throat is closing up and if he wasn't a doctor he might believe he's undergoing an allergic reaction. However, this is just anxiety winning. He can't heal that.
He tries to inhale a proper breath. Its just like when Jason found him, the pressure of panic and dread crawling through his body, wearing his skin. His vision blurs and he doesn't quite catch when Nico's expression shifts to alarm.
He feels Nico's free hand grabbing the back of his skull and pulling it down until their foreheads are touching. He can't see but he can hear the steady hum of words from the man's mouth. He's sure Nico is saying something comforting but then again maybe not. Maybe Nico is mocking him because he knows deep down that Will deserves it.
That's stupid, the voice of Nico in his head declares. It's enough to make Will choke out a laugh. The sound reaches his ears and he can suddenly hear what the real Nico is saying.
“It's okay, I'm sorry, it's okay, you're alright,” he says, “breathe.”
The string of words ground Will. He takes in a deep breath filling his lungs rattling his rib cage. When he releases it, he does so through his teeth. Nico strokes the back of Will's head.
“I'm sorry,” Will says when he's finally able to form words. It lingers in the air, the smallest of whispers. He is so very, very sorry.
“You've got nothing to apologize for,” Nico tells him.
Out of the corner of his eye he can see Leo and Jason being as still as possible. Opposed to before, both seemed to not want to intrude. Will is grateful, and also embarrassed. He's shaking when he pulls back from Nico. He can feel the heat of his blush burning the tips of his ears.
“I just..” Will starts through his shortened breath, “I just really need to talk to my father…alone.”
Nico looks even paler and that cannot actually be possible, “Are you…is it bad? Are you hurt? I didn't…I didn't see anything-”
“No,” Will interjects because his boyfriend's panic is enough to kick him into flight mode, “I'm…not…injured…I feel fine, there's just something…I just need…you don't have to go okay! Just…Can you wait out here…for a moment?”
Nico looks towards the infirmary doors. His face is no less pale and his expression remains grim. Will is expecting a refusal, he's preparing a rebuke. Nico opens his mouth but Jason takes a step forward interrupting whatever was to be said. The man then reaches out and squeezes Nico's shoulder and the Italian relaxes. Something a bit green flares in Will's chest but he pushes it down. He can't focus on the bitter feeling especially when it subsequently allows Will to enter the infirmary alone.
Apollo is treating a patient when Will enters. He doesn't immediately notice his son, his gaze focused on healing a burn. It's on the arm of a young agent that has yet to lose the youthful light in her eyes. There's something oddly reassuring about the scene. Will can't help but feel comforted by the familiar sight in a foreign place. Watching his father in moments like these reminded him of when he was a child.
He watches the women's relief as her pain fades and he is reminded of why he followed in his father's footsteps. It was more than just having a knacker for it. Will wanted to help people. He wanted them to go home and live happy and healthy. He believes that even if his abilities had been completely different, he still would have chosen this path.
To Will's surprise the infirmary is rather large. Hospital beds lay in neat rows with only thin blue curtains separating them. The place is mostly full, by civilians if Will had to guess. With Apollo's Hospital being in shambles the patients had to be transported. He could only imagine how packed his place of work was and how all the nearby hospitals and clinics would be scrambling to accommodate the influx of people.
However, he doesn't have time to dwell on it all, Nico would only be held back for so long. Will clear his throat to draw his father's attention. When their eyes meet Apollo is across the room in seconds, his arms wrapped tightly around Will's leaner frame.
“William!” Apollo gasps, “Thank the gods you're okay! Are you hurt? What did they do to you? Let me see-”
“Woah!” Will squeaks pulling away hoping that by all that's good Apollo hadn't managed to get a read on anything, “I'm fine…just shaken up.”
“Don't lie to me William you don't have the poker face for it,” Apollo warns, “And where's Di Angelo shouldn't he be with you?”
“He's just outside the door,” Will answers, hoping to roll with Apollos segway into a different topic, as far away from Will's health as possible, “I heard you both had quite a spat.”
Apollo frowns, “More of a disagreement but nothing that would warrant him not to accompany you here.”
“I asked him to wait outside,” Will admits, “I'd rather get this over quickly and well you know how Nico can be.”
“You may be a mother hen but that man is a bear with her cub,” Apollo states, “Alright then let me work my magic so you can reunite with lover boy.”
Will flinches back as the man reaches for him. He tries to play it off as casually stepping away but the worry in his father's eyes reveals his failure. He can't think of an explanation and he can't form a lie. He just goes with the truth.
“Dad…I really want to go home right now,” he says, "I've had enough poking and prodding today and I can heal myself just fine, so can you just do me this solid and clear me?”
Apollo frowns, his blue eyes flickering to the agent he'd been treating and back to his son. The woman doesn't seem to be paying them any mind. She sits flexing her arm, her once scorched skin looking only slightly dry. Nobody in the infirmary seemed to be giving them their attention however Will knows that while they look to be occupied they were in fact watching them.
“Thats against protocol,” Apollo says and Will's stomach drops.
He contemplates just running. He wonders if he can simply leave. Stride right out the doors. He wasn't being detained, legally they couldn't keep him here…right?
“Though that hasn't stopped me before,” Apollo continues, “Us doctors make the worst patients you know? I'll give you an all clear but you gotta use your checkup time to call your mother. ”
The relief is enough to rock Will on his feet. He can't help but laugh, “Yeah…yeah thanks!”
“No need to thank me. I'm just glad you're okay,” Apollo says then softly, "I'm sorry for getting you into all this.”
“It wasn't your fault,” Will insists, “It could have happened to anybody.”
“Yes but it only happened to you because I called you there,” Apollo says firmly.
“I chose to answer,” he reminds the man.
“Even so I'm sorry,” Apollo tells him.
Will gives him a slight smile.
Yeah I'm sorry too.
—
Will's mother cries when she hears his voice. It's enough to make his eyes burn and his chest hurt. It takes all that he has to keep his composure. He reassures her and he finds it's easy to lie when he can't see her face. Honestly he's not quite lying, it's more like he's just rolling with denial.
He tells her there's nothing to worry about. He tells her it's all over. He tells her he loves her and that's his only solid truth.
It's hard to hang up and he doesn't want to but eventually they say their farewells. When he hands his father back his phone he doesn't feel any better. He hates himself even more. However her voice had reminded him that what he was doing was necessary. Secrets were necessary.
Just as Apollo pockets his phone marks the official time Nico's patience runs out. The male burst through the door, his eyes immediately locking on his boyfriend. Will figures that Jason and Leo had held Nico back as long as they could. The Italian is still horribly pale and the bruising under his eyes look worse under the infirmary's fluorescent light.
“Ah, Just in time, we just finished up,” Apollo says before Nico could start demanding answers, “Now it's your turn, Di Angelo I've seen corpses with more color.”
Nico's mouth opens like a fish and Will finds it horribly cute.
It takes several minutes but Apollo does manage to convince Nico into having a check up. It's not a complete one eighty but by the end the man no longer looks seconds away from collapsing. Luckily it seems that Apollo and Nico manage a silent truce and Will relaxes.
He doesn't think he has the capacity for drama between his father and boyfriend at the moment.
“Okay you both are all set,” Apollo says as he places a hand on each of their shoulders, “I'm prescribing you both rest! And I'll know if you don't.”
Will doesn't doubt that.
He squeezes his father into a tight and quick hug. He doesn't worry too much about being diagnosed, knowing Apollo focuses is on other things.
“Thanks dad,” Will says softly, “We'll see you later.”
Apollo only manages a slight nod before a patient is beckoning him over. Will watches the back of his father's head as he walks away. Some of the anxiety has faded but he can't let his guard down quite yet…he's still in the building.
“Do you mind if we stop by my boss's office before we leave?” Nico asks.
Will is sure if he says no then they'd be out the doors immediately. He can tell by the look in Nico's eyes that he's hoping Will could give him an excuse not to. As much as the blonde wants out of the building, his gut is telling him that Dionysius has important intel that can't wait.
“That's fine,” Will says and Nico doesn't let his disappointment show.
Despite Nico's reluctance to leave Will alone for long…that's what happens. Whatever the Director had wanted to talk about appeared to be extensive. After an hour Will began to understand why Nico had been disinclined to meet with the man.
Will had been left in the small reception room just outside Dionysius' office in the company of the man's secretary Juniper. Will had met her a handful of times before, with the woman being Grover's girlfriend and all. She was pleasant and they'd talked for awhile before she got sucked into the pile of work on her desk. The silence between them wasn't awkward but Will could have really done with a distraction or some form of entertainment.
It wasn't till the 46 minute mark that Will regretted not giving his boyfriend the out. He wasn't sure what it was, but he found himself feeling uneasy with each passing minute. He tried shaking it off, focusing his attention on the soft sound of the clicking of Juniper's fingers on her keyboard. It didn't help. He could feel the impending sense of dread as it slithered into his bones.
“Would you like a bottle of water maybe?” Juniper asked.
Will couldn’t help but startle a little at her voice, “Uh…No…I'm fine.”
He's jittery all of a sudden. He can't help but
feel like he's a sitting duck. Like he's the prey out in the open and the predator is seconds from pouncing. It's probably his anxiety about Nico being away for so long. He doesn't know what Dionysius and his boyfriend were talking about…but he had the sense it was bad.
‘Perhaps you've been found out?’ the Nico in his head mocks, ‘Perhaps I'm being told my boyfriend-’
“Are you okay Will?” Juniper asks a frown on her lips. Will doesn't jump this time but he finds himself cringing slightly.
“I'm…” Will takes a deep breath.
‘A liar,’ Nico finishes, ‘A terrible one and now I know.’
“Where is the restroom?” He gasps and the amber haired woman looks worriedly to the door Nicos behind.
“I..” she starts and Will knows she's been instructed not to let him out of her sight, “Its just down the hall to the right, let me take you there-”
“No need,” Will squeaks and he bolts.
It's stupid to run and can hear her protest but he's out of the room before she can actually form words. He's overreacting, he's sure of it but Nicos voice is getting to him though he knows what it says can't possibly be true…right?
Surely Will would have been detained if they suspected him? Though hadn't Reyna seemed suspicious? Has he truly been found out?
He's so focused on the thought of his pending doom that he doesn't see the person rounding the corner. They collide and the impact makes Will bite down hard on his tongue. It hurts and he can taste copper. He stumbles rocking on his wobbly legs but strong hands steady him before he can fall.
A thanks is on his tongue but his gratefulness drops with the blood in his body. Its like its running out from his toes and he knows he's as pale as Nico.
“Hello, sunshine,” Luke smirks cheekily and Will rips away so hard he ends up on his ass. The impact makes his backside hurt and he yelps like a kicked dog.
Luke, what was he doing here?
‘He works here,’ Nico's voice declares in his head, ‘he's probably here to finish you off, its probably got back to him that you've been found out.’
No, Will subconsciously shouts. That can't be true right? He's over reacting, surely if he was suspected he'd have been arrested already. Dionysius wouldn't have pulled Nico in for a top secret meeting while Will sat just outside the room if he'd truly been found out.
‘Perhaps Luke just decided your not worth the hassle,’ Nico chimes, ‘after he kills you, he's gonna go for poor Juniper, then he'll get me-”
“No!” Will squeaks out loud and Luke narrows his eyes darkly.
Will wants to scramble back on all fours as far away from the man before him. However, that would probably piss the man off. Logically Will knows he should ignore Nico's voice. He's subconsciously jumping to conclusions Luke wasn't here to kill him, but if he kept making a scene surely that would give the man a reason to.
Like a newborn fawn he staggers to his feet. Thankfully Luke doesn't move to steady him (or push him back down). When Will is finally at his full height he discovers something. He's taller than the man, it's not something he often notices he's usually taller than most people he comes across. However he can't help but take note of this. The knowledge doesn't give him any confidence nor does it give comfort but it's something he takes note of.
Luke flickers his eyes up and down Will bodys. Trailing his gazes in a way that makes the other man's skin crawl. Will feels exposed in Jason's short shirt and baggy pants. He wasn't to cover himself like he has modesty to hide. The agent seems to find Will's discomfort amusing.
“Awe you miss me that much? It's hardly been a few hours babe,” Luke mocks and the bile in Will's throat is coating his tongue.
Will refuses to meet the man's eyes. He looks at the useless slippers on his feet and then to his hands. He flecks his fingers noting the return of the strange blackness under his nails. He clinches them into fists in a way that hides the discoloration. His emotions were telling enough on his face he didn't need this new power to be just as revealing to his fear.
He can feel Luke's eyes watching as he tucks his fists into Jason's sweat pants. Will is quivering and it takes all that's in him to glance up to see what Luke's expression is. The man isn't looking at him with a murderous intent which eases a bit of his worry. So the agent wasn't here to kill him. Nico's voice doesn't protest that however he can hear a snickering in his skull. It's unsettling how real his subconscious is beginning to feel.
“What are you doing here?” Will spits out but it comes out like one word opposed to a sentence. He's taking slight steps back with each syllable but doesn't seem to be creating any good amount of distance.
Luke smiles and it's a pretty smile, one that would fool anyone who was unaware of his true intentions. Of the person he actually was. An innocent grin, a reassuring gleam of teeth. Will was gonna be sick, though he supposed he'd never truly stopped feeling that way.
“Oh don't worry I'm not here for you,” Luke tells him, “though…should I be?”
The question was spoken like a threat opposed to an actual inquiry. Will shutters his lips forming around what could only be a curse or a cry. He doesn't actually get words out though because Luke's eyes light up and he's laughing like they just exchanged a joke. It's more unsettling than the man's previous threatening tone.
Will leaps out of his skin as he's grabbed from behind. He cries out and the hands immediately release him. When he whips around he's not sure who he's expecting. Nakamura maybe? But it's Nico with his wide dark eyes and his worried frown.
“Nico,” Will chokes, “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
Will doesn't mean to sound so irritated but he can't help it. He's unnerved and his back is towards the enemy now but he can't look away from his boyfriend's face. Nico's eyebrows are creased in concern and his hands are up, palms open as if to show he's unarmed.
Luke is still softly chuckling behind Will and he swears he can feel the man's breath on his neck but he knows their distance is too great for that to be true. Will spares a glance behind him just to truly confirm. Luke's not looking at Will though, his gaze instead fixed on Nico.
When Will flickers his eyes back to his boyfriend he can see there's a clear question on Nico's face. He's not exactly sure what it's asking but he has a sneaking suspicion it's accusatory.
“Agent Di Angelo!” Luke chimes, “Dr. Solace here was just telling me that he's your boyfriend!”
Will holds back a flinch at the man's voice. It's so obnoxiously innocent and if he hadn't been aware of the lie he'd never have expected it. Nico's face is dark but it's as if he's annoyed more than suspicious.
“Agent Castellan,” Nico greets but he doesn't comment on anything else instead he looks to Will and softly asks, “Are you okay?”
Will doesn't trust his tongue. He's not okay, he's paranoid, he's tired, but mostly he's terrified. Luke was too close for comfort, too close to Nico. Honestly the man could leave the country and Will would wish for a bigger distance.
Will nods to answer, it seems to reassure Nico but only slightly. The tension in the man's body is still there but he finally lowers his hands. His dark eyes trail back to Luke and he upturns his mouth bitterly.
“I wanted to thank you,” Nico tells the man and Will could puke, “For finding Will.”
Luke plays bashful, flailing his hand in a ‘it's was nothing’ gesture, “It was luck,” he says and Will can feel the wink in his tone, “though please keep a closer eye on this one, as much as I love saving damsels I'm not a superhero, I mean you know it as well as I do, us agents can only do so much, and even our local heroes can't save everyone.”
Will can't stop himself. He vomits. Honestly he's surprised he held it in this long. He only manages to heave up stomach acid and it burns. He gags and Nico's hands are on him trying to keep him upright. Will doesn't look to see Luke's reaction, though he already knows what it is. Amusement.
Nico whispers soft words until the sickness subsides. Will isn't quite sure but he believes Luke leaves to find a janitor. Despite the man being out of his presence he can't stop quaking. He lets out the slightest of whimpers.
“Hey,” Nico whispers, “are you okay Sunshine?”
Will vomits again.