A little cussing in this one, and fluff. :)

We're his hands sweaty? Cold? Clammy? Was he walking too fast, too slow? We're people staring at them? Yes…they were definitely sweating, and Will was definitely walking faster, people were definitely staring. Will walked along the busy streets of New York, chattering and grinning brightly, oblivious.

Nico was knocked into him, as yet another passerby decided that Nico didn't exist. He jolted back into Will's rock hard chest, and Will's arms instinctively wrapped around him but Nico shoved forwards, suddenly enraged, and shouted,

"Watch it, you asshole!"

"What did you say, faggot?" The guy returned. He had a black, spiked up Mohawk and an impressive collection of face piercings.

"Did you just call me—?"

"Nico!" Strong arms caught him around the waist, actually lifting him off his feet as he took an aggressive step forwards.

"Nico! What are you doing?"

His quiet disapproval made Nico's face burn. Will smiled at the jerk behind him and Nico felt a tinge of irritation, strangely he felt tears pricking at his eyes. He blinked quickly as Will called out a "Merry Christmas!" To the guy that had called him a fag. He hated New York and he hated people and he hated holding hands with Will.

"C'mon the park is just ahead." Will smiled reassuringly and took his hand, but Nico childishly pulled away. He felt one hot tear trail down his cheek and he hurriedly turned away. What was wrong with him? People were staring at him. He felt shame coil like a poisonous snake. Everyone was too close, it was too loud, and Will…Will was mad at him and some guy had just insulted him for something he was still trying to accept, and he was scared and hurt and he didn't have a sword or a monster to kill.

Fight or Flee.

He quickly darted into an alley, slipping through the crowd like liquid silver. Now obscured by the shadows, he closed his eyes and concentrated, thinking of anywhere but here.

"Nico, wait!" Will caught at his arm and he was yanked back into the dirty New York City alley. He spun back into his chest and once again pulled away.

He couldn't do this, be in a relationship. He had been alone way too long, and he believed that there was a reason for that. It was better for him to be alone, for himself, and for other people. Will didn't know what he was getting into, and Nico selfishly went along to what his heart desired. But he couldn't cause pain to others, especially his loved ones, just because he decided to be driven by emotions.

So, slowly, he put up his first brick around his heart.

He scowled at Will, glaring at him. "What do you want?"

Will flinched, and Nico wiped away the stray tear furiously, scratching his face with his ring.

The son of Apollo wasn't one to give up so easily. He stared down at Nico. Nico with a streak of blood on his cheek, Nico with his wet eyes and tear streaked face, Nico with the fury and fear etched into his face. And he couldn't just walk away, or let him go, it was in his blood to heal, and to protect. But more than that still, was the fact that he loved him. The son of Hades who wore an aura of melancholy and made the grass beneath his feet wilt and die, had stolen his heart.

So he pulled him in, sitting on the steps and holding him. He struggled, but he wiped the streak of blood away, kissed away his tears, and slowly…dissolved that wall around his heart.

"I'm sorry…look, I'll take you back home. W-Where do you live?"

Nico sighed. "The closest place would be Camp Half-Blood, can we just go to your place?"

"Sure—

Will wasn't even done replying when he felt a dizzying sensation, like his stomach was plunging down towards his knees. Darkness enveloped them and he felt as if he was falling. When suddenly they appeared in his room. The pastel yellow walls faded into view as the smell of pie flooded his senses. Nico stumbled and placed a hand on the wall to steady himself.

"Damn. I forgot to eat before I did this." He muttered, he glanced at Will who was staring at him in shock.

"Was that…shadow traveling?"

"Yeah."

"C'mon." Will took his arm and dragged him downstairs. His whole family was in the living room, drinking wine and laughing loudly. Will led him towards a table that was full of food.

"Eat."

Nico groaned.

"I'm not hungry."

"I've seen quite a lot of powers, but that must take a lot of energy. Try the pie, it's great." Will sat down next to him while he nibbled on the pie. Casually, he put his arm around his shoulders but Nico stiffened.

"Will, your family."

"It's alright, they're all drunk anyways…and my mom knows."

"Knows?"

"Knows that…I'm gay."

"Oh. How did she react?"

"She kept away from me for a while. But she came around."

"Okay." He took another small bite. "When did you…like, find out?" His face burned.

Will squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

"Well…it's kind of a funny story actually. Maybe 3 or 4 years ago, we had a party at the Big House. Well, some fool from the Hermes party spiked the punch." Will grinned at Nico and fiddled with his hair. "Have you ever been to a party where everyone got drunk?"

Nico shook his head. "I tend to avoid people."

Will chuckled, "Well. Lucky for me, I didn't really have a taste for punch. I went to talk to Percy…Percy Jackson, he's your friend right?"

"Uh huh."

"He was totally drunk. Some scrawny Mexican guy was laughing hysterically as the legendary son of Poseidon decided he I looked like his girlfriend. He kissed me, bit my neck. He was strong…I mean, I couldn't push him off. That scrawny guy took a video." Will shook his head, his eyes faraway as if he was lost in him memories. "I have to admit, I was scared. I had pecked some girls on the lips, but nothing serious. And here he was, another boy, shoving his tongue down my mouth, sucking on my neck, and…well, his hands were where they shouldn't be." He blushed slightly. "Finally, Jason son of Zeus came to peel him away. I remember his words were, 'Sorry. He gets a little affectionate when he's drunk.' I was in shock."

Nico blinked and the older boy continued talking hurriedly.

"Well, he left a mark…on my neck." Will scratched his neck as if he could still feel it. "After the Latino guy showed him the video, he came and apologized like a thousand times. He was mortified." He chuckled a little. "And well yeah, everyone asked about the…err, mark. But, I dated and kissed a few girls after that…it wasn't the same."

Nico snorted. "Well, it was Percy Jackson."

Will shot him a strange look. "No, I mean…wait, do you have a thing for—

"NO!" He yelled. People turned to look and he blushed, lowering his voice. "No. I…I d-did."

Will chuckled. "What about you? How did you come out of the closet?" He trailed a finger down his neck. Nico shivered and pressed against him.

"My sister…she found out, told me it was okay, and not to tell anyone."

"Oh…wait, you have a sister?" Will asked, confused.

"Yeah. She's in Elysium." Nico yawned, snuggling against him.

"Oh." He looked down at the younger boy murmuring sleepily next to him. He scooped him up in his arms, and was surprised at how light he was. Climbing up the stairs, he set him down on the edge of his bed. Nico flopped towards him and Will held him up.

"Hey," He held back laughter. "Nico…you need to go to bed, where—

But the Son of Hades, took off his shirt, throwing it at Will and smothering his next words. Then he twisted out of his skinny jeans and fell back towards his bed, completely without opening his eyes. Will blinked, staring at his figure outlined by the moonlight. He was…beautiful. Thin, abnormally so, but muscular from his years of fighting and practice, he supposed. Long white scars decorated his back, the light reflecting off their surface.

"Okay." He pulled the covers over him. He wondered if he should take the wristbands off, they could stop his circulation…but he decided not to. Pulling the extra mattress under the bed, he settled down and slept.