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Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine,
Make the clock reverse,
Bring back what once was mine,
Heal what has been hurt,
Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost,
Bring back what once was mine,
What once was mine.
Nico tasted the saltiness of his own tears on Will's lips. He knew it was a flavour of all of the small, desperate kisses his boyfriend left on his cold cheeks and jaw between vainly begging him not to fall asleep and uttering the lines of the song over and over again. He was doomed to fail because his long, beautiful curls were on the ground, darkened, cut off with a piece of glass in Nico's clenched hand, entirely covered in blood.
Flower gleam and glow,
"Will, please, stop it…" Nico asked quietly.
Let your power shine
"Will, i beg you…" He whispered.
Make the clock reverse
"It's not gonna work…."
Bring back what once was mine
"You don't have to use those words ever again…"
"Shut up!" Will yelled.
Heal what has been hurt …
He continued.
Nico, with all his remaining strength grabbed his boyfriend's sleeve, trying to stop this stupid song. He pulled him to his lips to silence him with another kiss, another taste of saltiness of grief, but Will kept repeating himself, singing into his mouth.
Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost
"Just shut up already…"
_______________
Nico perfectly remembered how they met. He was running away from a lot of personal problems and he found a perfect place to hide from the rest of the world. The tower, overgrown with ivy, basking in the rays of the sun at the golden hour. He climbed the building, charmed by the promise of safety. He found it - the safety - in the form of a freckled blonde that knocked him unconscious with a ukulele. He couldn't predict he would fall in love with this boy but he did, just after they ran away from another problem - the tower itself. They quickly learned the safeness of this place was nothing else but a deception. He carefully watched Will, walking around, holding his own long strands of gold hair in his arms, panicking about leaving the hideout behind. After some peaceful nights with hearth stories and calm dreams, they started to trust each other with their hearts.
"Why are you so scared of being so far from that tower?" Nico asked once, hesitantly. "What's the story behind it?"
"It's my home" He answered, looking down at his hands "Weren't you scared, leaving your home?"
"I think… It was a while ago, I suppose."
"You don't remember?"
"Not really."
Will nodded and looked up at the sky.
"I lied" he said "I don’t think of that place as a home."
"Don't you?"
"Not really. Not anymore. I just tasted some freedom, now I can't see it as anything but a cage… But I was supposed to stay there, I was meant to stay there… I am scared - that's the answer. All of it is new, I don't know how to behave and who I should trust… And that person who took care of me… Wasn't really a bad person, you know?"
"You don't consider a human who put you in a cage a bad person?"
Will looked at him like he understood his pain, all his memories he didn't know about, but his words were against this impression.
"Sometimes people do something like that for your good."
"Not in this case."
"How would you know?"
"I lied too."
"Tell me then."
"I was scared… really scared. When I was leaving my home. But I had to. My 'home' was like a birdcage in a room full of hungry cats. They catched my mom, so we had to run. Me and my sister. We stayed in another birdcage and another cat took my sister from me. Cages are dangerous. The places you would like to call home - they rarely do their job. You think you're in danger here, but you will see, whoever the person that took care of you is, they were using you. If so, they're not a good person. A good person wouldn't let you believe you're meant to sit in a birdcage and wait to die."
"How do you think they were using me?"
"I.. Don't know. I'm sure you will realize that soon. As soon as you notice the lack of exploitation in this place."
"You are really smart, Nico di Angelo."
"I am experienced, Will Solace. Experienced and practiced."
After two days, hungry, thirsty and exhausted, they stayed in a tavern for one night to rest, renting a room in the attic. It was another one of the thousands of moments when his Significant Annoyance amazed him. A noisy argument started right in front of them, fed with alcohol and different beliefs. Will Solace took his ukulele with no hesitation and started singing some silly songs, mocking them a bit. Nico was ready for those men to attack them in rage but they all started to laugh and bought them a drink. He was confused but didn't complain.
"How did you do that?" He asked when they were getting ready to sleep.
"Do what?"
"Understood them? Solved a fight with a stupid song?"
"I would say, I have some hidden talents."
"Such as?"
"Beautiful voice?"
Nico snorted and stared at Will's long, gold curls.
"I have a hidden hairdressing talent, maybe I would help your hair not to get tangled in the ukulele strings?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because."
"That's not the answer, silly" He grabbed the scissors and took one gold strand in his hand.
"Just don't!" Will stepped back quickly, accidentally knocking the scissors out of his hand. The blade cut the hair and hurt Nico's trembling fingers "Shit I'm sorry… I'm gonna fix it, don't move…"
Di Angelo almost didn't realize the blood running down his hand. His attention was caught by a curl that darkened right in front of him.
"It's magic, isn't it?"
"Don't move" Will repeated, wrapping his hair around injured hand "And… don't scream… It's gonna be awkward, it already is…"
And then he started singing. Not like he did before, filling the room with peace. It was a different kind of singing. Different kind of spell, he realized. His hair, except the strand he's cut, started to radiate a golden light, like a paper lantern in the night sky. The words of the song made everything clear.
Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine,
Make the clock reverse,
Bring back what once was mine,
Heal what has been hurt,
Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost,
Bring back what once was mine,
What once was mine.
He took the strands out of his hand. The cut disappeared.
"The.. hidden talent, huh?" Nico looked up at him.
"Not anymore."
A warm smile appeared on his pure face.
"It was beautiful."
"Indeed."
"I… am sorry…"
"Apologies accepted."
They tried to fall asleep after that, but hundreds of thoughts were crossing their minds. Nico got up first, to drink some water and wet his face. Will followed his steps.
"You can play with my hair if you want." he said, blushing a little, which wasn't noticeable in the dark. "Just don't cut it. New hairstyle would actually be helpful."
So Nico did play with his hair, amazed by its softness and strength. He was stroking gold curls for a half of the night, before he combed it and braided it into a thick braid.
"My sister taught me that." He said and not sure why, he told him everything about Bianca di Angelo. When he finished the story, the first rays of the sun were already peeking through the window. Will didn't let himself fall asleep, no matter how comfortable Nico's hands were on his head. He was listening throughout the whole story and surrendered himself to Morpheus just after he finished. The sun painted his gold eyelashes orange. Nico saw all possible miracles he would experience through his peregrination but none of those could compete with the beauty of this view.
"So, everytime you sing, something magical happens?" di Angelo asked when they continued their journey along the country road.
"Depends what you mean by magical. "
"I mean anything that’s caused by magic."
"Then yes, kind of."
"Kind of?"
"It doesn't always glow and all of those… visual effects. Only one song triggers that kind of power. In other cases I just let people calm down or relax… it's always healing in some way."
"That may be the reason."
"The reason?"
"The reason why you were situated in the tower. That's what they've been using."
"It's clearly what they've been using, but it still doesn't mean they were using me."
"Then where were they when I climbed the tower? Where were they when they should have protected you?"
"You think they stopped protecting me because they didn't need me anymore?"
"I'm just speculating."
"He left for an important meeting. He probably came back recently and is worried about where I am."
"So they are a he?"
"He is a good person."
"Then why did you leave him?"
Will stopped and looked at him completely shocked.
"Because you convinced me to go down and as I said, I tasted some freedom, and now I can't see it as anything but a cage…"
"In which you were situated by a… good man?"
"By a man who, I am sure, truly loved me even if his love itself wasn't good for me…"
"So he wasn't-"
"Why do you want me to be lost so bad? Can't I have a piece of love in my past?"
It took Nico some time to answer that question.
"I want you to heal from that tower. If you want to heal from that place you can't regret that you left."
"I don't regret…"
"That's great because I have something to show you."
Nico sped up, and pointed to the walls overlooking in the distance. A huge, bustling city stretched along the river, with a palace towering above the buildings. the closer they got, the more details they noticed. Flags, emblems, shields and mosaics in buildings showed the symbol of the gold sun with long, proud rays.
"This City" Nico said, hiding in the shadows "It reminds me of you."
"Because it's loud?"
"Because it's full of hope. It's the capital, the royal family lives here. They lost their child, a sweet, little prince who today would lead this country. And they are still looking for him. Even if no one would do something like that for a poor anonymous child, it's still a beautiful gesture."
"You took me here to ironize about classism?"
"You walk fast. I took you here for a beautiful event about hope, but we have to wait for the night."
So they waited, in a small cafe, close to the edge of the river port. When it started to get dark, they went out and slowly walked down, where the wooden boats were berthed. They lent one and slowly started to row.
"Is your beautiful event drowning me, as a lesson about trust?"
"Not this time."
Nico pointed to the sky that slowly began to light up with thousands of flying lanterns. Orange, paper lights floating above their heads.
"Have you ever participated in something like that?" He asked quietly.
"Only from a distance" Will said, staring amazed at the lights. "I would watch them from the tower, dreaming that they were all for me. They always showed up on my birthday, so I wanted to believe I'm someone more important and the lights are supposed to show me the way to my destiny."
"It's your birthday?"
"I guess. That's what he told me. Mr. D."
"Are you aware what those lights really mean?"
"They are for the little prince, don't they?"
"I think you may be a little prince, William…"
They looked at eachother, fully aware they realized that at the same moment. It wasn't impossible, but what did it mean?
"You think I should go from one tower to another? That's how this story should end?"
"I didn't say that. I don't want that."
"What do you want actually?"
Nico bit his lip, considering his answer in the silence broken only by the sound of the river. The orange light reflected in his frightened eyes.
"Home" He whispered, surprised how this word concludes all phrases that crossed his mind.
"The places you would like to call home - they rarely do their job. Those are your words."
"I didn't mean… any place."
"What did you mean then?"
He meant playing with his long, soft and gold curls for the rest of his life. He meant the neverending journey, silly songs that calmed drunk people and nights in rented rooms where they could do anything but sleep. He meant mornings, noons and evenings painted with shadow and sun for all future days.
"You" he confessed faintly.
Will's warm hand touched his cheek as their lips found each other. The orange light of flying lanterns and navy blue sky - all disappeared from the view when they closed their eyes and forgot about everything except the two of them.
_______________
"What are you thinking about?" Will asked him when he came back from the town.
They stayed near the capital for a while to raise some money for a long trip abroad.
"You" He said, staring at his hand with no sign of any deep cut from the past.
"In which way?"
"A little anxious."
"Because?"
Nico lowered his hand and looked at him with guilt.
"What if we make a mistake?"
"What do you mean?"
"The prince thing? All about your future, past, destiny and other big words? I'm thinking… You had a piece of love in your past. Immortal love that is manifested for years, even now…."
"I prefer your way of loving me."
"I don't want to be another cage for you."
"I feel like you were doing this because you have no option like that."
"Yes. Exactly. I didn't have chances like those you have, so use them. So be a cat. And if I disappear-"
"Just don't. Don't disappear. Problem solved."
Will had no idea his words hurt. Didn't know about the man who followed them for longer than Nico would say. Maybe since Will said 'mister D' on the boat, maybe even longer. Di Angelo was painfully aware of his presence and superiority. All he could do was send his boyfriend to the people who should keep him safe, even if it meant putting him in a gold cage.
'Sometimes people do something like that for your good' Will once said and Nico clung to this excuse like a drowning man clutching at a straw.
"Just try it. Please."
"I'll think about it", he said and went out for a walk.
Nico wanted to follow him to make sure he's safe, but after he left the building, something stunned him.
He woke up in the tower, recognizing the paintings of the flying lanterns on the wall. The person in front of him was Mr. D, he supposed. A Tall man with a chubby face, a red nose and curly hair so black, it looked purple. He looked a bit tired, but pleased as if he achieved something he worked hard for.
"The perfect person to save his prince from the tower." he said. "Loyal, patient, observant… I feel like I would like you in another universe."
"Why are you telling me something like that?"
"To buy some time." He looked at the clock on the brick wall. "he's being late."
"He's far from you, with new sources of power…"
"He's not. He's weak. And believed you left him because he could not meet your expectations. He's a healer, not a fighter. Someone had to remind him about that."
"You're not a good person."
"I am good to him. He's good for me. There is no objective good and there is no room for being good to you."
"Why are you keeping me alive then?"
"Because your death is meant for the eyes of someone who cannot save you."
"What a pathetic show of force."
"And how practical."
Nico knew Will was nearby by the coolness of the knife blade stuck in his body. He didn't scream. Didn't cry or even look around. Didn't want to meet Will's gaze.
"Run, run, run" he mumbled, closing his eyes. "You're free, just run… just don't be a bird… find your way, don't let him use you…"
The window broke, showering his shivering body with pieces of thin glass. Will crouched beside him, terrified. His hair was a mess again, he probably used it to help himself with climbing. Mr. D pulled him back, ruthlessly cramping his arm.
"Sing for me." He ordered, grabbing his hair.
It started glowing when he sang the first lines of that one special song. Mr. D immediately looked healthier and younger. Will's freedom and Nico's life were a price for his immortality. Will's tears were a price for Mr.D's desperate attempts of becoming a god. Nico didn't realize when he started to cry too, not for himself, but for the home they had created, and which was now falling into collapsing.
"Just let me save him, please!" Will was begging and mr. D as a part of his play with Will's mind, let him do this. Like it would let him keep this boy forever.
His sweet little prince in the unreachable tower. Sweet little prince convinced his existence may guarantee life or death depending on which side he will choose. Sweet little prince who, as long as he has someone to protect, will be stuck in this madness.
Sweet little prince crouched down beside him again.
"Hello, Death boy" He whispered, stroking his cheek. "It's gonna be alright…"
Di Angelo reached his hand to the nape of Will's neck. He leaned in obediently to catch all the words Nico might say or get a kiss he might give him. Instead, with one smooth move of a piece of glass in his weak hand, he cut all of the magic strands. Before mr. D. could scream, he immediately crumbled into dust. It was Will who was screaming. He shouted the words of the song, pressing his head to the wounds. After a few attempts he started kissing him without memory and then repeated the sequence.
Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine,
Make the clock reverse,
Bring back what once was mine ,
He sang and kissed him again.
Heal what has been hurt,
Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost,
Bring back what once was mine,
What once was mine.
Nico wasn't sure what was going on around him. He lost too much blood and was still losing and regaining consciousness. He tasted the saltiness of his own tears on Will's lips. He knew it was a flavour of all of the small, desperate kisses his boyfriend left on his cold cheeks and jaw between vainly begging him not to fall asleep and uttering the lines of the song over and over again. He was doomed to fail because his long, beautiful curls were on the ground, darkened, cut off with a piece of glass in Nico's clenched hand, entirely covered in blood.
Flower gleam and glow,
"Will, please, stop it…" Nico asked quietly
Let your power shine
"Will, I beg you…" He whispered
Make the clock reverse
"It's not gonna work…."
Bring back what once was mine
"You don't have to use those words ever again…"
"Shut up!" Will yelled.
Heal what has been hurt …
He continued
Nico, with all his remaining strength, grabbed his boyfriend's sleeve, willing to stop this stupid song. He pulled him to his lips to silence him with another kiss, another taste of saltiness of grief, but Will kept repeating himself, singing into his mouth.
Change the fates' design
Save what has been lost
"Just shut up already…"
"No!"
"It's a birdcage…"
Flower gleam and glow…
Nico laughed softly.
"Just don't. Don't disappear…"
But he was already cold.
And then it happened. A miracle, a spell, some god's blessing or simply magic energy reserves not exhausted over the last few weeks. Drops of gold light that mixed with his tears. He didn't even have to sing, their purpose was obvious, truly romantic. His shirt and skin was still dirty with blood but the wounds have been healed.
Nico opened his eyes, and smiled delicately .
"Home" He whispered.
And he meant all mornings, noons and evenings, painted with shadow and sun for all future days.