Moondust

Chapter nine

“Okay, okay, you win!” he moaned, and Will couldn’t resist ruffling his hair when everyone else was counting the cash. Nico peeked up, relaxing when he saw it was Will.

“Did you like it?” he asked.

Will grinned.

“I loved it.” And he drew Nico into a hug. Piper let out a little squeal, but other than that, it went unnoticed.

Nico didn’t move for a few moments, making Will think that he had done something wrong. He stepped away, clearing his throat awkwardly, afraid he’d crossed a line.

Nico relaxed into a shrug and pulled him forwards, stiffly hugging him back.

Will’s heart stuttered for a beat, then started to work double time, the definition of the phrase “Butterflies in your chest” suddenly making a lot more sense to him as he wrapped his arms around Nico.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

“What else are friends for?”

The happy bubble in Will’s stomach deflated. Friends.

“Apparently, getting you breakfast, riding the subway to lessons and taking you to see awesome riff-offs.” He mumbled, trying to hide the sudden hurt in his chest.

Nico laughed, pulling away gently, and Will’s heart constricted, like there was an invisible rope tied around his it, tightening whenever Nico moved away.

Friends.

No, you still have a chance, a chance that he feels the same way, to be more than just friends. A voice at the back of his mind protested. Will waved it off.

Just friends, he thought woodenly.

Just friends.

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Nico frowned. “Will? You okay?” The other boy shook his head.

“No, I’m…I need to go to work. Clock in early. My boss might consider giving me a bonus if I get in enough work hours.” He mumbled.

“Do you need me to drop — “

“No, it’s fine. I can manage.” Will grinned, but unlike before, Nico couldn’t see anything behind it. Will started jogging backwards, giving Leo, Piper and Jason a wave as he ran off.

But not Nico.

He collapsed onto the park bench, head in his hands. The “Friends” comment was probably unnecessary, but Nico thought if he kept saying it, maybe he would convince himself. Friends. They were friends. That maybe he wasn’t unlovable after all.

But when he saw Will’s reaction, the old voice started to creep into his head.

You don’t have friends, the voice inside his head argued. You don’t deserve them. You know only family would put up with you. That’s what Piper and Percy and Annabeth and Reyna are. Will doesn’t want you. Grow up.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Jason’s expression was downright unreadable, but the sorrowful look on Piper’s face was all he needed for reference.

“I would tell you not to hurt him.” Jason began, then furrowed his brow as if fishing for the right words, looking at Will’s retreating figure. The sun was nearing it’s zenith, and his hair shone like beaten gold in a Renaissance painting, looking so goddamned otherworldly it made Nico’s chest hurt, 

“But I think you already did.”