"Black eye again Nico? Did they take your wallet or anything? Are you hurt?"

"No Ma'am, I'm fine, still have all my things."

"Are you here for some flowers, later in the day than usual?"

"No. Actually, I'm here for Percy. Is he around?"

"He's upstairs at the moment, do you want me to get him for you?"

"Yes please. I'll look after the shop if you want."

Percy came downstairs and stood in the door to watch Nico interact with a little girl about his tattoos while helping her parents with the meanings of flowers that they were looking at. Sally joined her son and wrapped an arm around him as they watched the teen talk to the family as though he didn't have a care in the world.

"He's good with people, and knows his flowers," she whispered. "Not such the 'freak' and 'punk' you accuse him of being." He took the flowers and turned to wrap them for the family, finally spotting the pair in the door watching. He shot a small smile towards them before continuing to answer the girl's questions as she watched him wrapping the bouquet.

"This is for you, my lady," he said as he bowed to the girl once he had handed over the rest. "It is a Lily-of-the-Valley. It means purity, sweetness, humility. Traits I hope you don't lose. Those and your curiosity about the world. You are going to do great things one day, I know it." The couple handed over the money for the flowers and took a hand each of the young girl as they told him to keep the change and walked away.

"Did they get what they wanted?"

"They weren't after anything. Their daughter wanted to know about my tattoos. I suggested he buy some flowers for the pretty lady. They decided to have a look for ideas for their wedding centrepieces at the same time. It's in March, I hope you haven't got a busy time then and I have potentially added more to your workload if they choose you as the florist. I saw on your window ages ago that you do weddings. I hope that was alright, I saw her ring and we just started talking and-"

"Nico, it is fine. Perfect. I would be more than willing and able to do it if they came to us for their flowers. Maybe you should help me with it if they do." His lips grew into a wide smile at these words and he nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Nico. Brilliant job."

"Here. They owed $25, they gave me 30, said you could keep the change. I gave the girl a flower as well, can you start again with a list of what I owe? Also, can I steal your son? I may have made a stupid comment yesterday but it has got him out of your hair for a week. I'll bring him back in perfect condition, I swear. No unsightly bruises. You'll even see him when I come to the shop."

Percy felt the boy flinch and tense up slightly as he wrapped an arm around his shoulder but ignored it for now. He lifted a bag onto his shoulder that clearly held his clothes and other essentials for the week. Nico nervously returned the half-embrace as he wrapped his arm around Percy's waist, fingers clutching at the material of his shirt beneath his jacket.

"Look after each other."

"This is about him realising that I am a vastly different person than he thinks. I am not going to let a single thing harm a hair on his head. Can I come by and collect my yellow flowers on Tuesday please Sally?"

"Certainly." She hugged both boys and pressed a kiss to each of their cheeks, carefully in Nico's case, and bid them a farewell.

"You up for a ride or do you want me to push my bike."

"Ride," he groaned. "I've had visions of riding on that beast of yours." He saw Nico flush out of the corner of his eye and grinned as he tightened his arm. Nico climbed onto his motorbike and stroked the front lovingly before twisting his body around to get out the two helmets, one of which he passed to Percy, and a leather jacket that he also handed over. "You should wear the jacket."

"I've got sleeves on my jumper, you haven't. I will not use you as- umm- grated cheese? Put it on. I told your mum I'd look after you." Nico pulled the jacket onto the other and zipped it up before tugging him to sit behind Nico on the bike. "Hold on to the back of the seat. My hips if you don't like leaning back while we ride, most don't. Wrap your arms around me if you're scared." Percy held onto the other's hips and whooped in exhilaration as they sped off down the road.

"You're loud when you're excited," Nico stated as they removed the gear at the other end. "Mi chiedo quale altro ti fa urlare," he added, watching as the teen furrowed his brows and tried to work out what else he would have followed up with. Instead, Nico took his hand and pulled him through the small garage and up some stairs to a large apartment decked out mainly in black and white with a whole side wall made of glass, the kind of apartment you wouldn't expect a 16-year-old to be living in.

"Okay. Not convincing me that you don't want daddy's money yet, di Angelo. I figured you'd pulled up outside the wrong place." Nico glared at the teen.

"You know nothing about me. You don't even want to actually try to, do you?" he didn't wait for an answer as he turned and walked away with tears in his eyes to a separate room, one of four doors Percy could see in the entire apartment.

"I'm sorry, you're right. This place looks amazing but, if I may say, really empty, lonely." Nico nodded as he drew random lines across the paper in front of him. "What is this room then?"

"This is where I work. Make the money to pay for this place rather than running to daddy for his money."

"You work?"

"So do you, don't act so surprised!"

"I work to help my mum, not because I have to. Stop drawing and look at me, please? I'm sorry." Nico turned to face the teen but didn't raise his eyes from the floor so Percy neared and knelt down in front of him and lifted his so their met. "That looks nasty Angel," he whispered as he gently brushed the black eye with his thumb.

"I'm okay."

"Don't think I missed the flinch earlier either. Yesterday, you were so adamant that I didn't come with you today. You knew that this was going to happen, didn't you? Then the way you spoke with my mum, it's definitely not the first time. What's going on Neeks?"

"I- it's just- nothing. Nothing at all. I fell down the stairs," he whispered.

"Nico di Angelo. You know I don't believe that for a second. Talk to me Angel."

"It wasn't just my eye. Although I think you guessed that fact."

"Unfortunately. What's going on Neeks?"

"He hurt me Percy Jackson. He hates me. She hates me. 'Family dinner' bullshit."

"Your dad?" Nico sniffed and nodded as he dropped his gaze back down to the floor. "It's okay Neeks. Well, no, but it will be. I'll make sure of that." Percy pulled the other onto his lap and hugged him carefully. "Just bruises or is there anything worse I need to worry about?"

"It's just bruises nowadays. It's just because he doesn't like me now rather than blaming me for my mum leaving so it isn't as bad."

"This sounds bad but I'm glad it's just bruises."

"No, I- I get it." Nico relaxed against the teen and wrapped an arm around Percy's waist.