Disclaimer: I own none of these wonderful people. They all belong to the great Rick Riordan! TW:Slight mentions of child abuse

Nico froze, his big brown eyes looking frightened. "I- I-" He stuttered out.
Will stood over him and raised an peyebrow. "You-what?"
"I deserve an explanation." Nico managed. "You can't just show up out of nowhere after you made my fairy godmother disappear." His voice grew stronger. "As for her, what does she want?"
The blue eyed man didn't move for awhile just stood and stared at the post above Nico's head. "You'll have to ask her that." He said eventually.
Nico's breath was starting to come faster at how close Will was and talking was difficult. "I did."
"And what did the righteous fairy say?" Will questioned leaning forward on his arms a little,subconsciously resting them. He didn't even notice but Nico sure did.
"She- I-" Nico took a deep breath. "She said she was my guardian."
"Hmm." Will hummed and brought a hand up to run it through his hair making Nico even more distracted.
"You think she would have been there for you before then."
Nico shuddered out a breath. He was so close and watching his lips move as he talked made Nico want to-
Nico suddenly straightened and pushed Will away from him,firmly. "I-I-I'm sure there are rules,Will. Like why she can't send me to the ball." His heart dropped a little at being reminded of the ball and his almost chance at going but he pushed on.
"I'm sure you know the rules too, considering you know her employer."
Will leaned back on his heels to give Nico obviously needed space. "Know is a strong word. But yes there are rules in place so the magical won't interfere with the non magical what they are exactly, I'm not certain. As I've said,I'm not a fairy."
"What type of creature are you if you are not fey?" Nico asked curiously. Will's eyes flashed."That's none of your affair, now is it?" He challenged glaring at the younger boy. Nico, Will's challenge awakening something in him, glared back.
"Maybe it is. You interfered in my life,or do you not recall?" "Yes, and no good has come from it. That is why I must take my leave."
Will's words sunk into Nico's chest and stuck there, for some reason they hurt him. He didn't know why. Before he could say anything however he heard the clock tower strike twelve. Fear immediately burrowed itself into Nico and he scrambled to start sweeping again.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Will asked startled by Nico's reaction to the tower's clock. "I-I must finish this quickly or who knows what she'll do to me." Nico said hurriedly for he now had no time to argue with Will.
Will stared at Nico fluttering around him. "You're scared of her." It was not a question but a statement. Nico lowered his eyes to the dust pile in front of him and said not a word.
"Nico-" Will said gently taking a step closer. "Has she, has she ever hurt you?" Nico trained his eyes on the dust pile and looked like he wished the floor under it would open up and take him away. When Will hesitantly put a hand on Nico's shoulder, Nico flinched at the unexpected touch and hit the pile,scattering the progress he had made.
"Will!" He exclaimed obviously very frightened. When he heard the carriage pull up he subconsciously cringed and backed against the barn wall, hiding himself.
As he looked at Nico, a memory surfaced. He did the exact same thing when his father came after him, shouting things about demons. He made his decision in that moment when he grabbed Nico's hand and pulled Nico with him into the whirlwind of light.