Ink and Ashes

#46

*Trigger Warning: Implication of sexual assault, Panic Attack. I would put a warning before and after but it's like half the chapter. Just be warned and I'll put a summary at the end.*

Will was freaking out. It's been over an hour since Nico had gone missing. Nobody had heard any sign of him and he hadn't been responding to their messages.

He was sitting on Jason's couch right now. The house was still a mess, Jason, Piper, and Annabeth were trying to clean up. They'd ended the party almost as soon as they realized Nico could be in trouble.

Sally had come over since they didn't have an adult with them. She was talking to the cops right now, but other than that they didn't seem to be able to do anything.

"What about now?" Will asked Kayla desperately, he'd been checking his body for any injuries since he'd gotten back home. He didn't know if he wanted to see one or not.

Seeing one meant that Nico was alive somewhere. Your soulmate doesn't get the injury that kills you, so if Will was getting injured that meant Nico was alive. But it also meant he was in trouble, somewhere being hurt or hurting himself.

"No, nothing." Kayla sighed. She'd been getting close to Nico as well, doing her best to help him with some school work when Will was busy and helping him in the kitchen. Will had been excited to see it, but right now he just felt miserable.

"Will?" Sally walked over to the two of them, looking a bit scared, "The cops want to talk to you. They said it's about Nico, but they wanted to talk to his soulmate first."

Will nodded, concern growing in his mind. Had they found something? Was Nico okay? Did they know where he was?

"William Solace?" A lady cop walked up to Will, looking at a notepad in her hands.

"I prefer Will."

She nodded, guiding Will out of the house. He was feeling more and more concerned each moment.

"You're Niccolo Di Angelo's soulmate, correct?"

Will nodded, "Is Nico all right?"

She sighed, "We haven't found him yet. But he do have a suspect for who might have taken him if he indeed was kidnapped-"

Will interrupted her, "Nico wouldn't just leave like this, especially not with his past. And he wouldn't ghost us like this either. If he hasn't been kidnapped he's still in danger, I know it."

She nodded, looking a bit annoyed at the interruption, "As I was saying. We have recently taken into custody multiple suspects in his assault case. We were planning on contacting him as soon as he could but we got the call that he was missing right after. The friends or acquaintances of these men, or at least more people involved in his assaults, are the main suspect. We're doing our best to track down and visit everyone else we believe to be involved. We're trying our best to get your boyfriend back."

"Thank you," Will managed to say. His mind was spinning. Nico's assaulter? He must be terrified. Will had once read that you could feel your soulmate's emotions if they were powerful enough, could he have been this stressed because Nico was scared? Was Nico feeling his emotions? He had to calm down but he was freaking out.

The cop looked at him concerned, "Let's get you back inside."

*Trigger Warning: Panic Attack. Summary at end*

Will nodded, following her back inside. He was close to having a panic attack, his friends seemed to realize this as soon as they saw him, Kayla was at his side in an instant.

"Will? Will! What happened? Is Nico okay? Did they find him? Are you okay?"

Will just shook his head, he could feel tears brimming in his eyes. He couldn't breathe. This was his fault. He should have never let Nico go out alone. He never should have dragged him to this party. It was all his fault.

Kayla started leading him somewhere. He was panicking too much to really pay attention. Before he knew it he was being pulled down onto a bed.

"Will!" Sally was suddenly in his face, he freaked out more, trying to pull away and scoot closer to Nico but Nico wasn't there. Nico was gone.

"Will breathe with me," Sally took his hands gently, she looked concerned, "Come on honey. It's gonna be okay. Breath. In. And out. In. Out."

She emphasized her breathing until Will matched him with her. Once he was breathing normally again she got him a tissue, then just sat next to him, rubbing his back like he did for Nico when he got upset. They stayed like that until he calmed down, then a little more.

Nico had to be okay. He had to.

*Will started freaking out. Kayla brought him into a separate room. Sally came in and helped him through it, rubbing his back like Will rubs Nico's when he's panicking.*