Will took him by the hand and led them to the living room sofas. He plopped down on one while Nico sat adjacent facing the television. He wished it was on; the house was uneasily quiet now that their parents were gone.

Night had fallen like a blanket outside the window. He wondered if Naomi and Apollo were checking into a hotel now or if they were bunking with a friend.

Will's cleared throat drew him out of his thoughts. "So," the blonde began. "It's time to talk."

"Today?" Nico whined.

Will threw him a stern look and Nico looked away sheepishly. He'd been hoping this part of the punishment wouldn't start until tomorrow or something but no such luck.

"First, I want you to know- nothing you say during these talks will get you trouble. This is a safe space, okay? Nothing you tell me will make me punish you, that's a promise."

Nico didn't reply. Will probed, "believe me?"

The younger boy nodded.

"Okay, good." The blonde took a deep breath and it struck Nico that his brother didn't quite know what he was doing here either. They were both sort of stumbling around, trying to find their way together.

"Last night," Will started and Nico flinched. "Tell me what happened."

Nico snuck a glance at his face. Will appeared calm but he still had the sting in his backside to make him choose his words cautiously. He would much rather they never talk about the events of last night ever again.

"I don't remember much," he ventured.

"Tell me what you do remember," Will replied evenly.

Nico took a deep breath, once more his eyes strayed to the black T.V. screen. "I was hanging out with Cecil and Lou Ellen." It felt important to start out with that. He needed Will to know he hadn't gone straight for the drugs. "Then I met Ellis."

"Who?" Will interrupted.

"He's a… guy I know," he answered lamely. Will narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

"We went upstairs… met with some other friends."

"Who?" Will cut in sharply and Nico couldn't help but think his brother was compiling a hit list.

"Does it matter?" Nico implored.

Will looked unhappy but conceded, "No. Sorry, continue."

"Then uh," Nico's eyes flicked to the T.V. screen and back. "We took some stuff."

"What did you take?" The steel was starting to break through the forced calm in Will's voice.

Nico felt himself begin to sweat. Christ, his brother was not going to be happy about this part. "I don't know," he admitted quietly.

The boy didn't raise his eyes but he could feel his brother's silent rage beside him.

"Then?" the blonde prodded.

"Then, uh, things get fuzzy. I remember the car…" and Nico willed himself not to blush. "And not much else," he finished lamely.

"Okay," Will said gently. Nico looked up with the barest hope. Could they really be done? "That was a good start," his brother continued and his heart sank.

"Tell me again when you were offered the pills. What made you decide?"

Decide? Nico was at a loss. "I don't know."

"Try to remember," the blonde urged gently.

"I can't!" he snapped without thinking. Will shot him a steady look.

"We agreed you would try, Nico. Give me honest, genuine answers. This punishment only works if you do. Don't," Will shrugged, "and I'll have to tell mom and dad about what happened."

Nico tried one last defense. "You'll get in trouble too," he pointed out. "For keeping this from them."

But the older boy merely shrugged. "I'm willing to accept the consequences."

Nico huffed a frustrated breath. Will's fingers twitched, almost like they wanted to reach out to him.

"I didn't think about it," he stated bluntly.

"You didn't think about… not taking it? There was no hesitation?" Nico couldn't decipher Will's blue eyes.

He thought back, tried to remember. It was hard when the events that followed demanded much more attention.

"I thought," he began slowly. "I wouldn't get another chance again, for who knows how long, so I'd better take advantage while it was being offered to me."

Will tilted his head in consideration. "And, that's it? You didn't think about the consequences?" His brows furrowed. "Did you even consider how you'd hide it from me?"

Huh. That was a good question. Nico bit his lip. What had his plan been last night? He remembered wanting to come to the party to score, which he was definitely not going to mention to Will. And then, and then, and then… There really hadn't been a plan beyond swallowing.

Man, maybe the drugs really were melting his brains.

When Nico didn't respond, Will moved on. "Why did you want to?"

Nico stared at him perplexed. "To… get high?"

"Why?"

Now he was really staring at him. "Cause it feels good?"

"And you weren't feeling good?"

Nico stared, mouth a little agape. "No- you know what I mean!"

"We were at a party. I was having fun relaxing with my friends. From what you've told me, it sounds like you were doing the same. Why wasn't that enough? Why'd you have to risk your health to feel good?"

His mouth worked but no words came to mind. It wasn't the same. Will- he would've had more fun with his friends than Nico would've. They were at different levels- it just wasn't enough for him. Nico needed more to feel as happy as Will normally felt at a party. God, it wasn't fair. Why couldn't he just feel happy for once? Why couldn't he feel as happy as other people got to feel all the time?

Not knowing how to put any of that into words, Nico stewed in silence. After a while, Will leaned forward and caught his eye.

"I think that's good place to stop. Just something I want you to keep in mind, Nico. Maybe it'll lead you to more answers." He smiled and Nico couldn't look away. "You did good today, I'm proud of you," he said gently.


Nico moaned as teeth bit down on his throat. He attached himself like an octopus to the body above him, arms and legs winding around shoulders and waists. It felt like he just couldn't get close enough and the desperation was driving him mad. He wanted all of Will, all of him and more. The boy released the skin of Nico's neck with an indecent squelch. Nico only had one moment of missing his lips before Will attacked his mouth with the speed of a viper. Nico gasped in pleasure and Will's tongue plundered his mouth, kissing him so deeply Nico couldn't stop him if he tried.

The scene changed and he was in Will's bed. Nico strained against the restraints pinning down his wrists and ankles. A hand ran through his hair before its owner appeared.

"For your protection, Nico." Will looked down at him intensely and sympathetically.

Then he was inches away, unfair lips whispering words that sent cool breath blowing over his mouth.

"It's to make you better." Then he was kissing him, devouring him, and Nico tried, tried to give back all he got but he was immobilized to the bed. It was no good. His body was overheating. A low level burning permeating- his limbs- all over, everywhere, inside, and down there.

And they were back on his bed- in his bedroom. His arms were free, wrapped around Will's neck, but what were they, lead?

Nico moaned as a knee slid between his legs. Will looked him dead in the eyes as his pants grew tighter. Loose pajama bottoms. Damp cotton. "I'm worried about you, Nico."

And then he was straddling Will, arousal pressed tight to the blonde's abs. "Do it," his brother ordered. "Or I'll tell mom and dad."

Nico groaned as he began moving, grinding up and down the elder's torso. Practically bouncing in his lap.

Will leaned in close, nestling against the dark locks framing his ear. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered.


Nico awoke with a gasp, in shock, like breaking the surface of an inky pool. Shock kept him paralyzed while his heart raced and his mind tried to adjust to the quiet and the dark.

Beside him, Will slumbered peacefully.

Silently, he raised a hand to cover his mouth before a new horror drew his eyes downwards to the sheets.

He was achingly hard.