Hey guys, sorry this is late, I had a weirdly busy week, but here's part two! Also, this one is significantly longer than the last one(is that good or bad? I have no clue lol) but I'm going to try to make the chapters more even next time! Also, quick warning, there's a fight scene in this one(sorry for the spoiler!!) once they're in the library, there's a tiny bit of blood but not much so if that isn't your type of thing I'll put little squiggly lines so you know where to skip! It'll be right before and after the fight so you won't miss much of the plot:) Also I don't know Octavian's last name, so just as a heads up, I'm using Caesar.

Will's POV

September passes in a haze of falling leaves, early mornings, and tense lunches that leave his heart thudding and his cheeks burning. They work on college essays, and Will spends late nights running his hand through his hair trying to think of words to write, spending hours talking to Nico about it as they sit in the chapel with moonlight bathing their faces. 

"Write it about us," Nico had joked one night when the moon was full and the campus was silent. 

"What do you mean?" Will had asked. 

"Us," Nico says. "This. Sneaking out, meeting up. Our whole story. It's unique, at least." There was a glimmer in his eye, and Will's heart sank wondering whether or not it was hope.

"You know I can't do that," he said, just before taking Nico up in a kiss to make him forget.

Classes are unbearable, not like that's much of a surprise. Octavian only gets more unbearable as the days go on, bragging about how he's going to get into all the top colleges, how his letters of recommendation are going to be raving and how his college essay is going to "let the light of God shine through." 

"I don't know how that little shithead thinks he's getting into Yale, but he's sorely mistaken," Nico had said one morning after religion class, Octavian not too far behind. Will caught Sister Johnson giving him a sharp glare. "Although, he's right about one thing." 

"What?" 

"His letters of recommendation are going to be glowing." He shot a glare right back at Sister Johnson, and Will put a hand on his arm. 

"Nico. Don't." They got out of the building fast that day, to avoid being snatched up by Sister Johnson or one of the other nuns who would gladly yell at Nico for so much as a dropped pencil on the floor. 

The weather gets colder, and Will shivers in a uniform that left him sweating at the beginning of September. Now, when he sneaks out to meet Nico, he darts across campus in a big black sweatshirt that makes him look even shadier than he already is. But with Nico in the chapel, the weather doesn't matter, because he's always warm.

Nico seems to get less rebellious as the month goes on, and Will can't be sure who's benefit it's for. Nico may just be tired of being on the brink of expulsion at all times, or he might have finally noticed the flash of fear that dances across Will's face every time Nico gets in trouble. No matter the reason, the peace of September gives Will the hope that he might make it out of Catholic school unfazed, and make it to the same city as Nico does come next fall. 

Monday night bible studies are easily the worst part of Will's week. Sure, they got to pick their groups at the beginning of freshman year and sure, it's in the library, next to the crackling fireplace in warm armchairs that swallow him whole, but somehow, Octavian had been bounced around from group to group, ending up in theirs, with his smug grin that makes him look as if his face is permanently stretched like that. He always wears his sweater with the school logo etched onto the chest, and he always ends up leading the group. 

"Everyone open up to Leviticus 20," Octavian says, pulling out his bible and letting it thump on the table. It's big and heavy, leather-bound and engraved with his name with colored sticky-notes peeking out from the top. Will winces. Octavian might be a little too obsessed. "Nico, why don't you start?" 

"Why don't you switch groups again?" Nico says. "You know, it's been a bit since you've found a new one. I think the girls said they wanted you in theirs." From across the library, Hazel shoots Nico a glare. 

"Actually, Sister Johnson said I was a great leading force for this group," Octavian says, grinning his cocky grin and leaning back in his armchair. He always gets the nicest one, the one right next to the fire where your skin lights up orange and you're hugged by the warmth. But no one wants to show up early enough to challenge Octavian. "Also, I like this group." His grin gets wider, and he makes eye contact with each and every member of the group. There's something reptilian in the way he looks at you, like how a snake might look at a mouse. "So, Nico, I think I'll be staying. Leviticus 20." 

Nico rolls his eyes, and he shifts uncomfortably. "Fine," he says. He takes his time thumbing to the right page, and Octavian taps his foot on the hardwood library floor. It's moments like these, the tiny nuiscences that always make Octavian's face blow up red, that make it worth it. "Ok," Nico says. "Leviticus 20." He clears his throat, making a display of the page as Octavian glares.

"Nico," he snaps. 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm getting there," he says. Finally, he runs out of ways to annoy Octavian, ways to dance around reading and get a few more laughs out of the group. So he starts. "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination," he says, his voice faltering. Will's heart starts to throb wildly and he can feel it in his throat, this massive lump that stops the air from getting to his lungs. Octavian is watching him raptly, his eyes hungry for something Will can't place. 

"Keep going, Nico," Octavain says. He twists a thread of his sweater around his finger until the tip starts to turn red with the flush of blood. 

"They shall surely be put to death," Nico says. His face has lost all color, and Will can't help but wonder if Octavian had just picked this passage by chance, or if he somehow knows. But Will doesn't have time to wonder because Nico slams his bible shut, slams it on the table. A page from the back flutters out, the ends jagged as it floats into the fire. The fire gives a roar as it swallows the paper whole, and then it's gone. 

"You know, how about we skip tonight, huh?" Nico says, standing up. He wipes imaginary crumbs off of his pants. "Percy, you wanna go swim for a bit?" 

"Uh, yeah I wanna swim for a bit," Percy says, jumping up. Nico rarely swims. He always complains about the feeling of the water on his skin, how it feels the first time he goes under. But the pool doesn't close for a couple more hours, and if you mention swimming to Percy, he won't be able to think about anything else. "Dude, you haven't seen my new dive. I mean technically it isn't 'new', but Coach said it's so much better than it was it might as well be." 

"Yeah, sure, lemme just get changed," Nico says. "I'll meet you at the pool in ten?" 

"Hang on, you two, you're not going anywhere," Octavian says. "We're finishing bible study." 

"And who made you the boss?" Nico asks. 

"Sister Johnson." 

"Just because Sister Johnson said that you were good at bible study doesn't mean you're the leader," Nico says. "Come on, Percy, let's go." 

"No, Percy, stay." 

"Percy, let's go." 

Will watches the argument like a ping-pong match as Percy bounces back and forth between two opposing sides. "I don't why you can't just co-operate," Octavian says. "I mean, what's wrong with you? What's your issue?" 

~~~

"What's your issue?" Nico fires back. "You're just a control freak. And that's all you are. Percy, stay if you want, but I'm leaving." He spins on his heel, looking like he's about to march off, but Octavain grabs Nico's arm, and all hell breaks loose. Nico swings a punch and it connects directly with Octavain's nose, and blood drips out from his left nostril. For a second Octavian is in a state of shock, and he wipes the blood off on the back of his hand. It drips onto the school emblem on his sweater, staining it red. 

"Guys, maybe we should calm down," Will says, standing up. His heart is pounding in his throat. But Nico and Octavain are in their own little world, staring each other down. It's like Will doesn't even exist. 

In a split second, so fast Will didn't even see it coming, Octavian reaches out, grabbing the neck of Nico's sweatshirt and pulling him so that he falls over the table between them. Octavian's bible, so perfectly kept and organized, falls to the floor with a thump, and one of his sticky notes falls out. As they grapple for dominance, they roll off the table and soon they're next to the fire, the orange glow lighting Nico's back. Will feels his breath leave his body as Nico rolls a bit too close for Will's liking but soon he's safe again, and Will can breathe. 

"You're going to hell, you know that?" Octavain. grunts as he struggles underneath Nico's grip. Nico is stronger than he looks, and his knee goes into Octavian's stomach. "You're going to hell, and you can't do anything to stop it." Nico is gearing up for another punch, but Will snaps out of whatever trance he had been in, jumping forward and ripping Nico off of Octavian. 

"Nico, come on," Will says, squeezing Nico's shoulder. "You're better than this." When Nico turns around, his face is shadowy in anger, and there's a bleeding gash across his cheek where he must have hit the table. His shoulders slump and his face falls. Even though he had technically won the fight, he looks like he's about to burst into tears. 

"I'm really not, Will," Nico says. He wipes the blood off of his cheek, and it glitters in the light on the back of his hand. "I'll see you later." He grabs his bible, ignoring all the turned heads and curious looks as blood drips from his cheek.

~~~

"You're going to pay for this, Nico!" Octavian yells after him. "I'm making sure Sister Johnson knows, and the headmaster, and everyone else! The whole school is going to know about you, Nico!" Nico doesn't even look back, and Will makes eye contact with Percy. 

"Should I go after him?" Will asks. 

"Just let him be for a bit," Percy says. "He needs space." 

"Isn't anyone going to help me to the nurses office?" Octavain says. When he stands up, his back his hunched over, and he limps back around the table. 

"Why are you limping?" Percy asks, glaring. "You got punched in the face. Your leg is fine." 

"It's an old injury," Octavian snaps. He surveys the group with eagle eyes, and limps off with his bible under his arm. The pages are flattened, the sticky notes are askew, and Will smiles. It's like another testament to Nico's victory, eve if it's small. "Bible study is over for the night. Go back to your dorms and go to sleep." He hobbles out of the library, amid quiet giggles that are squashed underneath his gaze. The group watches him leave with varying degrees of smiles, from the massive grin on Percy's face to the pursed lips of Will's. 

"Hey, guys, let's go to the pool for a bit," Percy says. "I can show you guys my new dive. Well, it's not technically new, but-" 

"Yeah, yeah, we know, Perce," Jason says, clapping him on his shoulder. "You don't have to say it again. Will, you coming?" 

"I think I'm gonna go up to my dorm," Will says. A headache is clustering behind his eyes. "I have to mull some stuff over. But I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow." 

"He'll be okay, Will," Percy says. "He gets in trouble, like, twice a day. This is nothing new for him." 

"Yeah, I guess," Will says. His shoulder slumps and as the rest of his group filters out of the room, Will is left staring at the fire, his unopened bible still sitting on his lap and the flames warming his face as he sits alone watching the wood burn.

Nico's POV

He cleans up in the bathroom after curfew so no one has to see his shame. He hadn't wanted to go to the nurse's office, face the shame of having to watch the nurse smear neosporin on his cut after a fight he started, so he goes at his cheek with a wet paper towel, wiping off the mostly-dried blood wincing as he stares at his face in the mirror. The cut makes him look cool, at least. Sure, it might sting like he didn't think was possible and sure, there's a small(ok, medium) chance it'll get infected, but maybe Will will like it. Will. The reason why Nico still puts up with Octavian, the preachiness of the teaching, the school in general. The establishment as a whole makes Nico sick to his stomach, but late nights in the chapel with Will always make him feel better.

Nico usually shows up earlier than Will, so when Will doesn't show up after a couple minutes, Nico doesn't worry. The moonlight that filters through the stained glass windows paints a hazy mural of colors on the floor, and Nico hums to himself as he sits on the pews. But as time goes on, and the night gets darker and the sounds outside get closer, Nico starts to check his watch, sees the hands tick closer and closer to midnight and still, Will hasn't shown up. Soon, Nico has no choice but to turn back to his dorm, making the long trek back up to the building that feels longer after being so alone.

"Hey," Percy says, rolling over once Nico is back in his dorm. "How you doing?" 

"Fine," Nico says. "You're not asleep?" 

"I wanted to check in on you first," Percy says. "You had kind of a rough night. And where were you just now? You were gone for a while." 

"I was showering," Nico says. "Going over some stuff. Just in my head. But yeah, I'm fine." 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah, Percy, I said I'm fine," Nico says. He flips around, pulling his hood up over his head. The cut on his cheek is stinging against the pillow, but it distracts him from wondering where Will could have disappeared to. "I'm gonna get some sleep. Night, Perce." 

"Nico-" 

"Night, Perce," Nico says again. He listens to Percy turn around, sigh deeply and before he knows it the snoring starts, slow and steady and deep. As much as Nico tries he can't get to the same state of rest and he stares at the wall for hours, his cheek stining with the memory of the fight and sitting alone in the chapel, waiting for the love of his life who never showed up.

He catches Will's eye at breakfast and Will looks down, playing with his scrambled eggs. Octavian is staring daggers at Nico, a bruise blossoming across his chin, but Nico ignores him, leaning over to talk to Will. "Hey, can we talk outside?" Nico asks. The rest of his friends pay attention to their breakfast, and Nico feels as if he's in a bubble, with just him, Will, and Octavian's prying eyes. 

"Yeah," Will says, rubbing at his eyes. Dark bags sit underneath him, and he yawns. "Can we just, uh, make it fast? I have a feeling we're being watched." Will glances behind him, where Octavian is still staring. 

"Yeah," Nico says. He doesn't like the feeling of eyes on his back. It makes him feel itchy, like his skin is crawling with bugs and he's coated in sand. 

They slip outside and Will shivers in the cool fall air, his cheeks flushing red. "Are you cold?" Nico asks. "We can go somewhere else, you know. Have a nice chat in the bathroom and hope no one walks in on us." 

Will laughs. "I'm fine, Neeks." But he wraps his arms around himself, and Nico wonders when they stopped talking about everything under the sun. 

"Hey, is something wrong?" Nico asks. "You didn't show up last night." 

"I know," Will says, kicking at a rock on the ground. It's started to frost over, and it crunches in the frozen grass. "I got kinda nervous after last night though. I don't know what happened, I just kinda panicked thinking about how many people were going to be upset." He scratches the back of his head. The part of his face that isn't flushed with the cold air is pale, and Nico wants to take him up in a hug, kiss him on the forehead, and tell him everything's going to be okay. But, of course, they can't do that. Not in public, anyway. "Ok, enough about me. How are you? Have to talked to the headmaster yet?" 

"I have to go in first period," Nico says. His heart beats a little faster. "I don't know what he's going to say, but it's not gonna be good. But don't worry about me, okay? I knew what I was doing when I punched him, and I'll be fine." 

"You're sure?" 

"Of course, I'm sure," Nico says. "I've been in trouble before. But what about you? Are you gonna be okay?" 

"Yeah, I'm just a little nervous, that's all," Will says. "Are we good for tonight?" 

"Yeah, we're good," Nico says. He glances inside, where his friends are laughing over something that neither of them could hear. He wishes that he could be with them, laughing over some stupid joke instead of trying to navigate how to make his boyfriend comfortable in a world that rejects him. "We should get back in there. People are going to start to get suspicious." 

As they walk, leaves crunching underneath their feet and the wind pushing them at their backs, Nico feels himself put on a mask again, one that lets him hide who he really is, for his sake and for Will's. 

"Where were you guys?" Percy asks, his eyebrow cocked as Nico sits. "You guys were out there for a really long time." 

"We were just talking about a project for a class," Nico says. 

"You couldn't do that at the table?" 

"It's a secret," Nico says. "Can't have anyone else stealing our genius idea, you know?" 

"Yeah, okay," Percy says. He turns back to his pancakes, and Nico feels a shiver run up his spine. There was a time where he enjoyed living on the edge, dancing around the suspicions of the faculty members and his classmates, but now, Will's worries start to make more sense, and Nico wonders if it's worth it to slip into the shadows and never come back out.

------

"You have caused this school nothing but trouble, Mr. Di Angelo," Father Seymour says, staring Nico down as if he's a felon going through a trial. The headmaster's office is always too hot, too quiet, and Nico is pretty sure he can hear the beat of his own heart and can feel the blood rushing through his veins. "You act out in all of your classes, you don't do your work, you show an astounding lack of care about Christianity and your classes as a whole and this latest outburst, you accosting Mr. Caeser in the library is just another step until your delinquency takes over any goodness you may have left. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Nico could go off on a tangent right now. Talk about how he feels stifled in a religion he doesn't believe in, by classmates who won't accept him and teachers who will hate him regardless. But then he thinks about how Will always looks shakier nowadays, how he always checks the shadows of the chapels any time they meet up, how his voice trembles, and he knows that he can't do that to Will. That he'll have to be the bigger person, for the sake of the person he loves. 

"No, Father, I'm sorry," Nico says, looking down at his hands, clasped in his lap. 

Father Seymour raises an eyebrow. "Well, that's a new one. I expected a lot more pushback from you, young man." 

"I'm sorry," Nico says again. His blood boils, but he takes a deep breath, gives Father Seymour a bright smile. "I really have seen the errors of my ways, and I'm ready to do better." 

"Well, Mr. Di Angelo, I must say, this is not what I had expected from you," Headmaster Seymour says. "But I am impressed, although I hope you know that this won't keep you from punishment. You will be cleaning the graffiti off of all of the bathroom stalls, after school hours, of course. I want them spotless by the time you are done. The janitor should have supplies for you to use. You will start this afternoon." Nico glares at him. The graffiti in the school bathrooms is like a museum, documenting all of the pain the past students of St. Mary's had gone through; Nico has done an entire stall wall by himself. But if he wants to fly under the radar, protect Will, he has to say yes. 

"Sounds great, sir, I'll make sure I get started on that." 

"Excellent, Mr. Di Angelo," Father Seymour says. "You can go. But I don't want to see you in here again for disciplinary reasons. Am I understood?" 

"Yes, sir," Nico says. He's clasping his hands so hard in his lap he thinks he might burst a blood vessel. "May I go to my class?" 

"Yes, Mr. Di Angelo, have a nice day," Father Seymour says. He turns back to whatever papers he was flipping through had when Nico slips out of his office, he lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. He's shaking harder than he thought possible, but he's free, with just a couple of afternoons of tedious janitorial work to get through. And Octavian's nose will be broken for three more weeks, so maybe Nico is the real winner. 

------

"Wow, looks like your teachers were right about you," someone says as Nico scrubs the walls. "You know, I always had more faith in you." Nico turns around to see Will leaning in the doorway, wearing that soft blue sweater that always brings out his eyes. His hair is ruffled from the wind and Nico falls in love all over again. "How are you doing?" 

"Well, Father Seymour is making me get rid of my drawing of Sister Johnson as the poop emoji, so you could say I'm hurting pretty bad right now," Nico says with a smile. "It truly was a masterpiece." 

"I'm sorry, Neeks, I know you must be in pain," Will says. He walks into the bathroom, letting the door close behind him. They're alone. "But thank you. For doing this. And your meeting went well?" 

"Yeah, it went really well," Nico says. "I think even Father Seymour was surprised. But I meant what I said in there; I'm going to do better. Keep a low profile for the rest of the year. I'm going to be so completely average the teachers won't even remember I'm here." 

"You do too much for me," Will says. "I mean, who will break Octavian's nose again after it heals?" 

"Won't be me," Nico says. "I'm done with that stuff. Just gotta get through this year, right?" Will's smile is soft and Nico sets down his cleaning supplies, wrapping Will in a tight hug. His sweater is soft against Nico's skin, and he presses a kiss to Will's forehead. "We're gonna make it out of here together," Nico promises, running a finger down Will's jawline. "I'm going to make sure of it." 

Hi guys, sorry this was late, and I hope you liked it!

Nina