CHAPTER 28: YOU'LL WAIT.

                                    

                                          
A/N: * peeks around the corner, dodges a stray book * Hehehe hi?
I know I know I'm a meanie for making yall wait for so long! And I'm sorry! But I'm just really busy most of the time, and whenever I do catch a break I'm kinda too exhausted to expand my mental power on writing... so I end up not writing?
Anyways, I'm sorry! I really am.
Enjoy the story!
His heart pounded in his ears, his breath coming out in fast pants. He was aware of his fingers shaking. His gloves did nothing to hide the slight tremors that coursed through the cold digits.
The scene kept replying itself in his mind.
It was chaos. Nico was doing his best to dodge stray weaponry and limbs. Amidst all the mayhem, he was very much aware of Will struggling in Hacate's grip. Nico fought his way to him.
"Ghostie! LEAVE!" the hero screamed.
"Not without-" Nico punched one of Hacate's men square on the face, "-you!"
Blue eyes bore into him through that stupidly unfiltered mask, "there's nothing you can do now!"
Nico gritted his teeth, "shut up! I'm not leaving you behind!"
"Come back-" Will couldn't finish his sentence, Hacate tightened her hold on him, making him choke.
"Stop that!" Nico screamed at the witch, that moment of distraction had him trapped in the bulky arms of the enemy. He struggled desperately. Another man aimed a punch at his stomach. He doubled over, wheezing for air.
He doesn't know how it happened, but Will somehow managed to break free of Hacate's hold. He rushed forwards to Nico, but Hacate caught him by the end of his cloak at the last moment. He tugged fruitlessly, his face was inches away from Nico's.
Desperate blue eyes gazed straight into Nico's own, they swirled with countless emotions, all melded together to form something precious and unfathomable. What was it that Nico could see in that complicated gaze that made his breath hitch? That made all the chaos of the world around him slow down? That made all the crashing and screaming dull?
"Get out of here now," Will whispered, "come find me later... I promise I'll wait for you..."
Will leaned forwards as much as he could, and pressed a ghost of a kiss on the tip of Nico's nose.
It took only a mere half a second for the moment to shatter to bits and Will was being pulled back into Hacate's arms, the knife back in place, nestled beneath his jaw.
Nico head butted the man grasping him, a crunch told him that he had managed to break the guy's nose. He felt like he was in a trance. A trance that Will put him into. A trance that made him obey Will.
He called forth the shadows.
What he saw last before the shadows whisked him away, was Will's terrified yet hopeful expression and his lips mouthing, "I'll be waiting..."
Nico tilted his head at the sky.
Why? Why? WHY had he left Will there??
Nico knew that there was nothing he could've done against so many enemies and the Hacate herself. He knew he needed a solid plan, and perhaps even backup if he was to save Will. So, he knew Will had been right, making him leave. It was basically a strategic retreat.
But that didn't stop the guilt from eating away at his heart.
It didn't stop the sadness from coursing through his veins.
It didn't stop the tears from sliding down his face.
What was he to do? How was he going to find Will? How was he going to save him?
HOW?
Nico had never hated that single word more.
HOW?
Nico twisted his body around, drew back his arms, curled his cold, shaking fingers into a fist and slammed it on the chimney he had been leaning on.
Hard. (A/N: Yeah peeps he's taking out his years of disagreement with chimneys with that punch)
The red bricks cracked, but he felt no pain.
He collapsed against the chimney he just abused, the fight leaving his body all at once.
He had lost Will.
He didn't even know, what Will was to him. A friend? A companion? A partner?
All he knew, was that Will was something important.
Which he had lost...
Nico's breath hitched, a forbidden, quiet sob escaped his lips.
How long has it been since he last cried?
He wasn't sure. All he knew, was that it was a long time ago.
Second turned it to minutes, and minutes to hours as he broke down against the cracked chimney. Time was meaningless.
He pulled off his mask when the sun started coming up, bathing everything in a fresh pink glow, and wiped hard at his face.
He gazed at the silver mask in his hands and traced the elaborate swirls carved into the sides.
"You'd make a cool hero!" Will's voice echoed in his mind.
Yeah right! Some hero I am... leaving you behind.
"Get out of here now... come find me later, I promise I'll wait for you."
Will you?
"I'll be waiting..."
You will.
Nico touched the tip of his nose, the spot Will's lips had brushed before he was whisked away, and put his mask back on, "you better be waiting for me... or I swear, I'll be the last f**king thing you see."
You'll wait.
I know you will.
"I promise I'll wait for you."
Because...
"I promise..."
You promised.
And you better f**king keep it.

Word count: 879
A/N: Weeeeeeeeel, how was it? Stuff is finally getting interesting huh?
Constructive criticism is always appreciated!