Moondust

Chapter six

12th of June

5:05 a.m.

Sunday again. Will winced at the shrill ringing blaring cheerfully from the alarm clock on his bedside table and slammed his fist down on the snooze button.

And missed. His fist hit the wooden tabletop with a large "Bang!".

"Gah!" He yelled, the painfully throbbing hand waking him better than any alarm could. He hit the snooze button again and rubbed his sore fist, glaring resentfully at the offending machine.

It was just that kind of day.

5:10a.m.

Sometimes, he really hated Sundays. Especially on days like today, where everything went wrong for him. Like when he slipped and fell on his butt on his way out of the shower.

Or when he put salt in his coffee instead of sugar.

Or when the coffee machine broke down just as he was about to make another mug of freshly brewed goodness.

It was just that kind of day.

5:36 a.m.

Will was going to be late to the studio.

What next? He grumbled to himself as he pulled the door open. I'm going to slam the door on my foot, aren't I? Or stub my toe.

Will kept deliberating potentially embarrassing and painful outcomes as he locked the door behind him. Or maybe I'll-

"Hi."

Will did the only logical thing and screamed at the quiet voice behind him. He half expected a knife to his throat as he turned to turn a death glare at the boy.

'Nico', the treacherous voice at the back of his brain reminded him. 'His name is Nico di Angelo. He told you last week, when he scared off those thugs for you, remember?'

Godsdammit. Before that little reminder from his brain, Will was fully prepared to pitch a fit. He had injured himself no less than two times. He was cranky and coffee-deprived. And scared half to Hades, sure.

But now, looking at Nico's amused grin, his anger dissolved and melted into a puddle somewhere near his feet.

The sweet smell of coffee that drifted up from the paper bag in his hands probably had something to do with it too.

So, of course he had to open his stupid mouth and ruin it.

"What are you doing here?"

Great. He mentally slapped himself upside the head as Nico's grin slipped off and quicked replaced with a more neutral expression at Will's gruff tone.

"Uh, sorry, I guess. I came here to see if you were doing okay after last week. I was going to the studio anyways, and I figured that we could go together. I mean, for protection."

Nico said, looking at the pavement, shoulders slightly slumped.

That was it. Will's annoyance at being treated like a damsel in distress disappeared completely with at kicked puppy expression.

"No, don't be sorry! I was just having a bad day. Seriously, I should be saying that right now. Really, I'm sorry." Will babbled.

Oh, gods, was he blushing ? His fears were confirmed as Nico took one look at his face and smiled.

Maybe Will didn't mind so much, as long as he got to see that smile again.

Then inwardly cursed his sappy side.

It was just that kind of day.

___________________________________________

Nico's grin held as Will blushed. Probably the most adorable thing he'd seen so far today.

Brain, stop that! He shook his head.

"Is that food?" Will asked, blush fading as he gestured at the paper bag Nico held.

"Oh, yeah." Nico dug around in the bag and grabbed a white paper cup and held it out to him. "Coffee?"

Will took a sip and let out a moan that should belong in a NC-17 rated movie.

"Oh my gods. Where did you get this?" He asked Nico, looking at the cup of coffee in awe. Nico barely held in a snicker at his expression.

"Hestia's Hearth. It's a coffee shop near my apartment." Nico replied. "Hestia, my aunt, owns it, and she gets me free breakfast sometimes. It's not really famous, but they honestly have the best food in New York."

To prove his point, he reached into the bag and pulled out a cinnamon roll. Will took a bite out of the offered pastry and nodded enthusiastically.

"No going to argue with you there." He swallowed.

Then there was an awkward silence, both of them standing on Will's doorstep.

Will's pov

"...We should get going." Nico said.

"Yeah. Madame Calliope will castrate me if I'm late." Will started down the corridor, his day brightening. He had coffee. He had another friend besides Jason. It was a beautiful day, and he felt grea-

Bam.

As great as he could feel when he tripped over what appeared to be thin air.

He looked up at Nico, who reached out a hand to pull him back up, his face a mask of stoic disbelief.

Then he burst out laughing, tears streaming with mirth. He kept laughing all the way to the subway station, which earned them some strange looks, especially when Will gave up trying to look dignified and laughed with him.

For some reason, he couldn't stay mad at that laugh.

Or the boy it belonged to.