safe in my arms | solangelo au | under editing

Chapter Forty

NPOV:

We walk inside, hand in hand, and sign in as a visitor. A prison guard come snaps escorts us to the room where visitors can meet the criminals. It's not what I expected.

I thought the criminals would be separated from the visitors, but they're not. They're sat at one end of a table, with the visitors on the other side. Their left hand is cuffed to the table and there are quite a few guards, but that's it. Will's grip tightens on my hand as he takes in the scene.

Then I see him. Percy. Our eyes lock for a moment, then I look at my feet. The guard leads us to the table in the corner where he's sat, then walks off. I let go of Will's hand and keep staring down.

"Nico?" Percy's voice sounds almost gentle. I look up nervously and accident meet his eyes again. I try to focus on all of him instead, but it's not much better.

He has a black eye, which is kind of ironic. Finally, he's being beaten instead of me. It doesn't feel as good as I always thought it would.

"H-hi..." I mumble. Percy reaches his right hand out and I move away, still scared. I glance over at Will and see him glaring at Percy.

Percy follows my gaze and scowls.
"Who's this?" He asks angrily, the usual sharpness creeping back into his voice.
"H-he-"
"I'm Will."
"Why are you here?" Percy growls.

"I'm Nico's-"
"He helped me." I interrupt. Will looks at me, and I look into his eyes, begging him not to say anything. Will gives a tiny nod, then turns back to Percy.

"I looked after him after you hurt him." He says, glaring at Percy. Percy returns the glare.
"Can you leave?"
"No."
"I eat to speak to Nico. Alone."
"Tough." Will says. "I'm staying."

"Will, just go to the other side of the room." I say gently. "I'll shout if I need you."
"But-"
"Please?"
"Fine." Will huffs. He turns to Percy. "But if he so much as touches you..." He stalks off, and Percy smiles. It isn't a happy smile. More like a satisfied one.

"Nico... I'm so sorry." He turns to me and immediately drops his smile. This wander what I was expecting.
"Uh..."
"I know what I did was wrong, but I deeply regret it. I would never try to hurt you. I just lose my temper. But now I'm working on it, and I've realised how much I miss you. Please forgive me." He looks into my eyes, imploring me to forgive him. I feel my resolve crumble.

"Percy..."
"Nico, I promise I'll never hurt you again." He insists.
"But-"
"Please, believe me! I love you!"
"Y-you hurt me..." I sound so weak. I hate it.
"But I'm sorry!" He repeats. I close my eyes for a second.
"Okay. I forgive you." I hate myself, but I can't help it. He looks so broken, and sounds so sincere...

"Thank you." He exhales. "If you tell the guards that this was all just a big misunderstanding, that when you were silent you wanted to tell everyone that I did nothing wrong, they will probably let me go!" Percy grins. "We can get back together and forget any of this ever happened." He rests his hand in mine, and an electric current ripples through me.

I look into his eyes. While his face looks sad, with slight relief, his eyes show a different story. He's angry. He's vengeful. He wants to get out of here, then make sure I never escape him again. I pull my hand away from his.
"You don't love me." I say bitterly. "And I don't love you."

"But/"
"You jut want to get out of here." I raise my voice a little, and Percy shakes his head quickly.
"No, I love you!"
"No, you don't!" Tears fill my eyes.
"I do!"

"Prove it!" I demand. "When's my birthday?"
"Uh... The... Third... Of, um... June?"
"The twenty seventh of January." I growl. "What colour are my eyes?" I cover my eyes.
"Um... Black?"
"Brown!"

I slam my hands down in the table, suddenly angry. "Three years together, and you know nothing about me!" I shout. Everyone turns to face me, but I'm beyond caring. Tears leak from my eyes as two guards walk over.

However, before they can reach me, Will walks over. He stand behind me and wraps his arms around me.
"Shh.. It's okay." He whispers. "I won't let him hurt you..." I sob and turn, burying my face in his shirt. He rubs my back soothingly as I cry.

"Stay out of this, blondie." Percy growls.
"No, I won't." I hear Will says. When he speaks, his entire body vibrates, the words humming in his chest.
"This is between me and Nico." Percy says.
"No, it isn't." Will insists. "You're upsetting him."
"Why should you care?"
"Because I'm his boyfriend."