safe in my arms | solangelo au | under editing

Chapter Six

tw: blood, mentions of abuse

Will

For the rest of the day, my mind occupied by thoughts of Nico. I can't seem to think of anything but him.

As I walk home, I wonder what he's doing. I only live a short walk away from the swimming pool, so I'm home in no time.

As soon as I get home, my phone rings. It's an unknown number. I answer it.

"Yes?"
"Hello?" A voice asks. It's quiet and muffled, but I'm pretty sure I recognise it.
"Nico?" I ask. There's silence for a moment.
"How do you know my name?" He asks.
"I heard your... Boyfriend say it." I grimace at the word boyfriend. I hear a sob. "Are you okay?"

"I... I need help."
"Did he hurt you?" I ask instantly.
"K-kind of..."
"What's wrong?"
"Can you come over?"
"Really?" I'm already grabbing my keys.
"Yeah."
"Won't your boyfriend try to kill me or something?" I ask.
"He's... It's complicated. Just come over. Please."
"Okay." I nod. "Where are you?"

~~~

He gives me his address and I set off. I arrive at a tall structure and release it's an apartment building. I have no idea which one Nico lives in...

I decide I'll ask somebody, but it turns out I don't have to. He's standing in the lobby.

I rush over and check him for injuries. A small bruise on his cheek is the only physical damage I can see, but his eyes worry me the most. They look even sadder than before.
"Let's go." I try to lead him away but he pulls away, which confuses me.

"You know first aid, right?" He asks me.
"Yes..." I nod. I trained as a doctor for a while, then dropped out, though I'm assuming he only knows that I know first aid since I'm a lifeguard.

"Come with me." He walks away, beckoning me to follow, and leads me into the elevator, then to an apartment. He leads me into what I guess is the living room. In the centre of the room, is the unconscious body of his boyfriend.

"I-I tripped him by accident." Nico chokes back a sob. "I think he might be dead!" Panicking slightly, I check his pulse and shake my head.
"He's not dead." I say. Nico sighs with relief. Then his eyes widen and he lets loose another heart-wrenching sob.
"He's gonna kill me!"

"I won't let him." I say. He looks at me and shakes his head sadly.
"He's too strong."
"How old is he?" I ask.
"Twenty." He answers. I'm also twenty. I look at him suspiciously.
"How old are you?" I ask.
"Eighteen."
"When did you two get together?"
"About three years ago." He answers. I frown.

"That's means he was seventeen and you were fifteen when you met."
"Yeah, pretty much."
"So... That's illegal." I say. He looks at his feet. "What did your parents think?" I ask. His eyes fill with tears.
"My father abandoned me, and my mother is dead." He says bitterly.
"Oh... Nico, I'm so sorry..."
"It's okay." He says, but I can tell it's forced.

I realise he doesn't even know my name.
"I'm Will, by the way."
"I'm Nico."
"I know."
"His name is Luke." He gestures to the unconscious body of his boyfriend.

"I'm getting you out of here." I decide. "He's going to wake up soon, and I don't want you in the line of fire." He gives me a look I can't read.
"I'll survive."
"That's not enough." I say. "You're coming with me." His eyes widen as he backs away.

"No! I'm not letting you hand me over to anyone! No social workers! No police! Please!"
"Calm down!" I say soothingly. " I won't tell anyone, if you don't want me to!"
"But..."
"You can stay with me, until you find your feet. I promise I won't hurt you."

"I... I can't let you do that."
"You can, and you will." I insist. "Anywhere is better then here, so for your own good, I'm taking you with me whether you like it or not. I suggest you pack your bags."

Nico sighs and nods, walking into another room. The way he just give sin and submits makes me feel bad, but I can't ignore the fact that this place must be a living hell. Getting him away from here is for the best.

Hesitantly, I follow him and watch as he throws a few items of clothing into a carrier bag. He runs out and dashes into the bathroom. He stuffs a box into the bag, then goes back into the the bedroom. He opens a locked drawer and pulls out a some things which look like photographs. One falls on the floor and I step forward and pick it up.

Obliviously, I glance at it and see that it's a photograph of a woman. Beside her is a little girl who looks just like her, and in her arms is a small boy. All three of them are unsmiling, their expressions serious, almost melancholy.

Nico snatches the photo from from my hands and puts it in the bag.
"Is... Is that you?" I ask. "The boy in the picture?"
"It was." He answers quietly. "I've changed now. I'm not the same person."

I look at him and realise it's true. The boy in the photo had olive skin, short, dark brown hair, and life in his eyes, despite his serious expression. The boy in front of me is deathly pale, with long raven-black hair, dark bags under his haunted eyes, and no trace of joy anywhere on his face.

"Nico..."
"I'm ready." He says stiffly. I look at the bag in his hand. All of his possessions fit into one bag.

"Okay..." I nod, still distracted for a moment. "Okay." I go to take his bag, but he refuses to let go of it. I settle for taking his hand, in what I hope is a guiding gesture, but he pulls that out of my grip as well.

I lead him to my car and he sits down, pulling his knees up to his chest. I drive home in silence.