Seek {Superhero AU} - Ending 2

9: It Is Love That Saves Us From Wounds of the World

NPOV

Track: Mantieni il Bacio, Michele Bravi

I tell Will that he doesn't have to fly me home, but he insists. I'm so annoyed by this development that my palms are sweaty and there are butterflies in my stomach. And I can't stop thinking about his fingers tracing patterns into my skin. He's so gentle. Are friends usually that gentle with each other?

No, gentle isn't the right word.

Tender. Do friends usually tenderly run their fingers from your wrist to your fingertips and back again? I wasn't even aware that Will and I are friends until, like, today. Yesterday, I'm pretty sure we were enemies. Although he did save me from Luke...

But he also burned me! (Though that was mostly my fault. He didn't exactly throw the light at me; I walked through it intentionally.)

I am way out of my depth.

"And I'm glad to be flying with you," he says as we rise above the clouds, "because when else will I get a chance to talk to you more about reporting Luke's bullying? You never answered me when I mentioned talking to a school counselor about it. I mean, you have options."

He's golden up here. Is that a result of his powers? The caustic part of me thinks that maybe this is all part of his plan. Tease me, befriend me, flirt with me, and then report me to the police when I least expect. Great job, Nico! You're thinking too much about holding your enemies hand! Amazing work. I'm sure Bianca and Hazel would be so glad you're using your time so productively.

Will bumps his shoulder against me, and he looks worried. Right. He was talking, but I was not listening.

"Nico. You can't just ignore me on this. It's important that you find help," he says. "They tried to kill you last night. This isn't a case of middle-school name-calling. This is really serious, and I'm worried about you."

He reaches his hand out to mine to try to support me, and I feel a little lightheaded just from the gesture. I pull my hand toward my chest, and his face falls. Sometimes it seems like he only has two emotions: happy or heartbroken. He's smiling like the sun until there's bad news, and then his entire face just looks so goddamn sad. Like this is the worst news he's ever heard. Like a puppy just died in his arms.

"Well, you should stop worrying," I deadpan. "I'm fine."

He shakes his head solemnly. "Yeah, you can't lie to me, Mr. Dark Lord." Oh, we're doing this nickname thing again? Kill me now. "I literally witnessed your near-murder less than twenty-four hours ago, so you're going to have to do a lot better than 'I'm fine.'"

I'm tired of him. I'm also regretting not letting him take my hand. "Have you ever considered staying out of my business? Like, even for a second?"

"Nope!" he says, and he's back to being cheery. He falls an inch or two, so I grab him by the arm to help lift him again. I let go as soon as he's back on my level. "As your designated arch-nemesis-slash-new-friend, I'm pretty sure I need to be involved in this. They can't get away with what they're doing to you, Nico. You can't let them."

Finally, I snap, "I don't let them get away with anything—I don't have a choice. If I report them, what do you think they're going to do to me?"

Will shrugs. "Stop trying to kill you?"

"They'll go to the police, Will. If I report them, they will report me." I start to droop in the air. Will hoists me back up and then slips his hand down to mine again. This time I sigh and let him take it.