Haha, I love your death threats, people!
"William, put the gun down." Joy pleaded. He ignored her, his hand steady, the gun aimed at Nico.
"When I say go, I want you two to get down to the car." Nico muttered. Crystal spotted that he was sending them somewhere safe.
Shadows twisted around Nico and he suddenly slammed into William, sending the older man staggering back and landing heavily. Unfortunately, he still had a tight grip on his gun. William swivelled the gun back at him and fired blindly. Nico ducked to the left, the bullet dragging along his right bicep. It stung and blood soaked his sleeve, but it was only a flesh wound.
William scrambled to his feet and cocked the gun again, aiming at Nico's chest. Nico stepped in and quickly slashed at William, sending him back a few feet. "Now!" He shouted. Footsteps behind him told him that Joy was getting Crystal out. William noticed and fired at them. Joy screamed and Crystal cursed. Nico spared them a glance, seeing blood soaking Crystal's arm. She too had gotten away with a flesh wound.
Nico kicked William's feet out from under him and kicked the gun away, putting William at sword point. William squinted at it, probably seeing a baseball bat or something. The door opened and closed and mother and daughter's footsteps quickly receded.
William kicked up at Nico, who instinctively moved back, giving William room and time to jump to his feet. He made a grab for the gun, but Nico waved it away with shadows.
"Freak!" William snarled, drawing a knife. He hurled it at Nico, who deflected it easily. This was child's play and he would quite happily kill William if it wasn't for Joy.
Joy locked the car, before turning to her daughter sat in the shot gun seat.
"Mom, I'm fine. It's a scratch." Crystal insisted as Joy gingerly peeled back the blood-sodden T-shirt sleeve. Crystal winced as pain laced through the wound and Joy's expression twisted in pity. With her other hand, Crystal reached the glove box, where she knew Nico kept a first-aid kit. Joy looked relieved at the sight of it.
"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault, Mom." Crystal assured, noticing tears in her mother's eyes as Joy secured alcoholic wipes and a material bandage. "William's just being an ass, as usual, and Nico's beating him up 'cos of it. Ow." She added as Joy dabbed gently at the wound with an alcoholic wipe.
"Sorry." Joy winced. Crystal sighed.
"You won't stop apologizing for what that prat does, will you?" Joy didn't respond, focusing on first-aiding her daughter.
A gunshot echoed from inside the apartment, making them look round, startled.
Joy finished bandaging Crystal's wound with shaking hands, before sitting back in her seat and watching the block of apartments worriedly, chewing her lip with tears silently falling down her cheeks.
Crystal reached out with her good hand to take her mother's hand, squeezing it reassuringly.
Nico kicked the gun under the table, swiftly turning to land a heavy punch to William's face. It was taking everything Nico had to not run the idiot through his Stygian Iron sword and banish the moron to the deepest pits of hell. It was very tempting.
William darted away, reaching into his back pocket and drawing a second handgun.
"I will shoot you." He threatened, his voice trembling in anger. "Move and you're dead." Nico stood his ground, noticing the open window and smiling to himself. ""I am getting my wife and I'm taking her home. You will not stop me." (Insert evil laugh)
"You don't love her." Nico said bluntly.
"You don't know that!" William argued.
"She doesn't love you."
"You liar!"
"You treated her like dirt; you hurt her; you made her life miserable. If you really loved her, you'd treat her like the queen she is!" Nico felt his temper rise in his voice. "Not only did you make her hate you, but Crystal as well!"
"You were never there when she was growing up! You left!"
"I never left! If I'd known about Crystal, I'd have done everything I could to help her and Joy!" William ground his teeth, cocking the gun and preparing to fire.
A sharp caw distracted him and William was attacked by a raven blur with sharp claws.
Madam clawed and scratched at his face and neck, screeching in protest and anger. William fired blindly, missing Nico by inches. Madam cawed angrily again and slashed at his hand, making him drop the gun.
Nico whistled. Madam gave William a final, defiant slash across the cheek, before swooping round and settling on Nico's shoulder, jabbering angrily at him and screeching at William.
Shadows twisted around the two guns and dragged them to Nico's feet. He left them there and folded his arms, glaring at William. "You're going to leave and you won't come back. Expect divorce papers from Joy." Nico paused. William was glowering at him. "Hopefully you learn from this and treat any girlfriend- if you get one- like she's your world and you never do anything to hurt her. She's your equal, but she's your better." Madam caused in agreement and Nico reached up to scratch the bird's head. "You're supposed to leave now."
William stumbled out. Nico followed, making sure he didn't try and attack Crystal and Joy, who should be locked safely in Nico's car. Being the son of the god of wealth, Nico had kitted his car out with unbreakable windows- Leo had Frank slam a fiery sledgehammer on those windows and there wasn't even a scratch- tyres that withstood any obstacle and weather conditions and a hidden arsenal of demigod weapons in the trunk. His car was damage-proof and it was awesome.
Nico saw that Joy had shifted to shield Crystal. She was so shocked when William carried on walking, not even looking at her.
Crystal stared after William, perplexed. He had blood on his face, neck and hands and he was angry, but there was a defeated slouch to his shoulders.
Nico appeared a few seconds later, smiling warmly. He had a crow resting comfortably on his shoulders, its claws glistening with blood. Nico's key shone in his hand and the car unlocked itself. He opened the door and held his hand out to Joy.
"Wh-?" Joy started, shakily taking his hand and carefully standing up.
"He's not coming back." Nico assured. Joy beamed and hugged him fiercely, jumping into his arms and making the crow flutter away, landing on the car bonnet. Nico laughed and hugged her back.
"Oh gods, you're bleeding!"
"I'm fine, Joy, it's just a scratch." Joy looked at him. "What?"
"I said that too." Crystal said from the driver's seat. She motioned at the bloody bandage around her upper arm. Nico smiled.
And done. No more death threats, I hope.