Moondust

Chapter five

his face darkening as he saw who it was.

"I see. Piper, go home and tell Percy I'll be late." Piper nodded and pushed past the two men, shooting them a smirk. They had been in this situation before.

Nico faced the two men, who were trying to keep up their menacing expressions.

They quickly grew fearful as they met Nico's hard stare. They'd seen it before and knew what it meant.

Leave, or else, it said.

They knew firsthand what else meant.

They backed up, running off as the boy exhaled with relief.

"Thank you." he said. Nico coughed awkwardly. He wasn't used to being told thank you. He wasn't used to being looked at with grateful eyes.

"I'd-I'd better go now." The boy stammered as he turned to walk out of the alleyway.

With his shoulders slumped in relief and his head hanging, he looked vulnerable, Nico thought.

Not like he had in the studio. There was a strength and warmth to that innocence then, when he felt safe. Here, the boy looked fragile.

Nico felt a sudden surge of protectiveness.

It was that protectiveness that opened his mouth and drew out the words.

"Do- do you want me to walk you home?"

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"Do- do you want me to walk you home?" The boy asked, almost shyly.

Will bit his lip. Sure, he was afraid of what lay in the dark but still he didn't want the boy to be held down by him.

"I wouldn't want to impose." He shook his head.

"No, it's fine really. I was going to the subway anyways." They walked down the street and into the subway in a comfortable silence. He just walked beside him, occasionally looking at him and smiling when their eyes met.

Will couldn't even understand why the boy would want to hang around him anyway. He was just some random kid who was running from two thugs that he seemed to scare off on a regular basis.

"You recognize me don't you?" Will finally said. They were nearing his apartment. His voice was quiet, barely breaking the silence of the night.

"What?" The boy asked.

"You said 'it's me' remember? You recognize me." He could hear the smile in his own voice. Why was he so happy that the boy could recognize him?

"How could I not?" The boy said. "You're a really good dancer." He added after a moment of silence. Will laughed and shrugged.

"Calliope does her best with me." They stopped at a rickety old apartment building that looked like it would topple at the next gust. He pulled out a key and opened the door.

On an impulse, he stopped short.

"My name's Will by the way. I mean, not that you would care- but I don't think that you- I'm probably just some random-"

"My name's Nico. Nico di Angelo." Will's face involuntarily warmed as Nico gave him a smile.

"Right…Nico. Goodnight." Will raced in and slammed the door, covering his blush.

He should probably have felt embarrassed.

But the only thing in his mind played over and over, even as he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, a giddy smile on his face.

He recognized me.