Chapter Text
Nico drifted in and out of consciousness, dreaming, cold concrete under him pressing against his skin, and eventually shutting his eyes.
—-
Walking in the meadow he was in, Nico brushed the beautifully grown flowers, all of them in his favorite colors. Turning away from the flowers, he gazed into the horizon. Nico drew a sharp intake of breath, looking at the intoxicating boy in front of him.
If it wasn’t so strange to love boys, oh, Nico would’ve kissed the blond boy the moment he saw him. The blond grinned at him, as if he could hear his thoughts, and brushed his cheek lightly.
Lips pursed, the color of cherries and all that’s red, he continued to brush his cheek in a gentle way- warmth spreading through his thumb into his body. Nico reached out to touch a locket, hanging by a gold chain, and it seemed to glow ever so slightly when his fingers brushed it.
The blond smiled, opening his mouth again, as if to say something, then he hesitated, closing his mouth again. He pulled Nico in closer.
The dream melted away.
—-
Nico sprang from his position on the floor, back sore, and faced the man banging on the cell.
“Hey, wizard. Didn’t your sisters teach you some spells to get out of cells? Or did they hate you too?” The guard burst out laughing at that, grinning once he got his composure.
One, his sister’s weren’t witches. Two, this town is so shitty, they can’t even properly defend against raids from witches and wizards so they accuse random people, leaving insecure guards like this. He really should’ve considered moving sooner.
Nico straightened his shoulders, narrowing his eyes at the guard. Hazel and Bianca both loved him. They just burned Bianca and Hazel ran away. Fuck manners. They have him in a cage, so he mind as well play the part of the animal.
“Who gave you permission to talk shit about my sisters?”
The guard almost, almost, looked stunned for a second. He quickly veiled it, however, then pulled out keys from his pocket.
”That’s enough from you. It’s been about time to put on trial. Let’s take the honors of burning your satan corrupted body. Stupid wizards and witches trying to invade our towns…” His sentence got lost in swear words and then the cell door opened. Nico trudged out of the cell slowly at first, then the guard yanked his hair roughly.
—-
Chin up high, Nico took pride in seeing this crowd for him. It almost made him feel powerful. Except, the stake he was tied to and the logs under him ready to burn him made him feel more like food than God.
Closing his eyes, mentally, he tried to go back in the meadow of his dreams, back with that blonde boy. Hearing the flint, he took one more smell of those flowers.
Flames licked his feet. Wait. No, those aren’t flames. Too soft. Grass? Opening his eyes, Nico’s heart stopped beating. The meadow?
A voice groaned in his ear. Turning, he saw the blonde. Shit. Is he actually going crazy? He was delusional as a person- but not this delusional, right?
”Hellloo? Earth to uh, you?” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and oh my God, he has freckles, why are you getting distracted-
Clearing his throat so Nico could actually talk, the blond stood a little further now. He didn’t know if he moved or the blonde did. Now that he could see the blondes full outfit, he saw the blonde wore a tunic with simple pants, and charms hanging from the belt loops. He had some gold bracelets and the same locket from his dreams.
“Who..are you?” Nico carefully pronounced each letter. This was real. Huh. Holding up his hands, he inspected them. 10 fingers in total. Not a dream.
The blond watched him for a second, then spoke. “I don’t think you’d like to know, really. Here, lets just get you cleaned up and-“
”There is no way I’m gonna even step, like, a whole towns worth of distance toward you until you tell me who you are.” Nico interrupted. Maybe he really is a killer. Is he gonna be cooked into a soup? He started walking away, to show he was serious.
The blond just waved his hands and sighed. Nico continued walking backwards, glaring into the mop of blonde that got smaller slowly.
“Okay! Okay! Fine, just come back here. I’m not a murderer, okay?” Nico could see he was rubbing his temples, even from this far. He had no right to look so good doing that, either. Nico still doesn’t understand how the blonde somehow can read his thoughts.
Walking back to the blond, he tapped his foot and looked mimed looking at a watch. The blonde sighed again.
“I’m a wizard,” Nico suppressed a gasp. “I teleported you out, and I also summoned you into my dreams. And yes, I can read your thoughts. But usually not. Just magical plants and stuff I used. Is that good?” The blond almost sounded annoyed, if it wasn’t for the smile he was suppressing. His dimples gave away the grin he was hiding.
Nico wanted to run, sob, and hug this boy at the same time. His whole life he heard about wizards and witches burning towns to the ground, and yet-, this wizard just saved him from death. He clutched his hands tightly to stop the shaking.
”You’re…a wizard. Like, the type who my priest told us should burn in hell. But, you’re here. Who saved me.”
The blond shrugged, then nodded. “So, now are you going to wash yourself? You’ve been a cell for weeks. They’re…grimy.”
Without waiting for an answer, the blond took his hand and led him through a path full of his favorite flowers- roses, dragon's breath, forget-me-nots, and even some he’s seen in his mama’s vases. His hand was firmly holding onto Nico’s, leaving no room to run.
In the distance, a small cottage appeared. The door opened for both Nico and Blondie, then closed behind him. Nodding his head toward a door, the Blonde spoke again. “There’s the bathroom. In there, most products adapt to your liking. Take your time, and dinner’s gonna be out when you’re done.”
Thanking wizard-blondie again, he opened the door and locked it.
Hearing the lock engage, Will sighed and ran his hands through his hair. He really fucked up this time. What was he thinking, saving Nico and then bringing him here?
Every time he closed his eyes, Will still saw that same betrayed look Nico gave him when he left as a kid- and now- when he told him he was a wizard.
Staring at the Nico’s memories, at least of him, stored in his locket, he let his mind wander immerse back into thought.
Nico would’ve kissed him the moment he saw him.
It seemed so bittersweet. Will ran- ran from Nico and yet the first face to face (even in a dream) was Nico wanting to kiss him. He knew that Nico wouldn’t think that if he knew him again. And yet- Will still wanted to hold him, spoil him, just as much as before. Maybe more. It was so ironic they met in church, wasn’t it?
Sighing, he turned on the stove and started making Nico’s favorite. Some fancy pasta name in Italian, that he couldn’t remember anymore.