Work Text:
Chapter 1
Nico wakes up to a chill in his bones, which is weird since he has like five blankets on. The omega slowly gets out of bed, only to feel the cold press even closer around him.
He glances around his very tiny room, thinking he left a window open—but then remembers his father forgot to pay the bills. He knows wont be a good night.
The small omega quietly gets dressed. He puts on a thick light purple cardigan, black flared jeans, his favorite band shirt, and some chunky black combat boots.
Looking over his outfit, he notices how the jeans fit well over his butt and thighs, giving the perfect effect. The band tee, with its wide collar, shows off his neck (which is still very lacking a mating mark) nicely. His cardigan is soft and warm, and his boots are perfect for the January snow.
At school, Nico races through the hall with his head down, trying not to get in anyone’s way—until he runs into a very tall, very handsome blond alpha he’s never seen before.
“Sorry,” Nico mumbles, barely above a whisper, as he quickly scampers off toward his homeroom.
But that same alpha follows him… and sits three seats away.
As class starts, Nico feels the alpha’s eyes on him. But every time he glances in that direction, the blond is staring straight ahead.
At lunch, Nico takes his usual spot between his older alpha cousins, Percy (who smells like saltwater and cotton candy) and Jason (who smells like wet dirt and rain).
His cousins’ scents feel safe. Happily, Nico settles in and rests his head on Percy’s shoulder, seeking comfort. Percy obliges, wrapping an arm around him.
Nico usually does this with one of his cousins—it’s common for omegas to seek comfort from familiar alphas.
After a while, Nico hears Percy call out, “Will,” a name Nico’s never heard him say before. The blond alpha from homeroom approaches, sending Percy a grateful look before sitting down across from Nico, between Annabeth and Hazel.
“I didn’t know where to sit—thanks,” Will says.
“Yeah, you looked like you needed help. Anyway, everyone, this is Will—he’s in my history and bio classes,” Percy says.
“Hi,” Will says shyly.
“That’s my girlfriend Annabeth on your right,” Percy continues. “Next to her is Piper, and across from Piper is her girlfriend Shel. On your left is Frank, next to Frank is Reyna. Across from Reyna is Leo, and on Leo’s left is his boyfriend—and my cousin—Jason.” Everyone gives a little wave. “And last but not least—except in size—is Nico, my adorable baby cousin,” Percy cheers, attempting to lift Nico, much to the small boy’s discomfort.
Nico quickly scrambles away and leans into Jason for comfort instead, flipping Percy off in the process while mumbling about annoying alphas.
“What are you doing tonight?” Nico asks as he and Percy file out side by side through the crowded halls of their school.
“Babysitting Estelle and working on a group project with Will,” Percy replies, holding the door open for Nico. “Why, do you need a ride?”
“No thanks. Jace and Leo already offered. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Nico breaks off from Percy and heads toward Leo and Jason.
Nico is running. Just running—as far away as possible.
********Warning: mentions of self-harm and child abuse below
Nico’s wrists and cheek still sting, even though he left the house hours ago.
He can feel the bruises on his cheek are very visible, and the blood from his mid-arm soaks through the sleeve
*******warning end
of his hoodie. The thin fabric does nothing to keep the January wind at bay. All he has is his bag, stuffed with a few clothes, school supplies, and the Mythomagic deck Bianca gave him when he was seven.
Up ahead, he sees Percy’s house, the light glowing through the curtains like a beacon.
He looks down at his watch: 10:03.
Thank the gods, Percy should still be awake—and hopefully Aunt Sally too.
Nico knocks on the door—three times, quick and loud.
For a moment, no one comes.
Then a blond head peeks through the crack.
It’s the alpha—Will.
“I–is Percy here?” Nico asks shakily.
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Chapter 2
“Nico what's wrong?” Percy asks, shoving through Will to get to him.
“I…I ran away from home.” Nico says, looking at his feet sheepishly.
“It's about time you did!” Percy pulls Nico into a hug smiling.
“Um Percy.” Wil cuts in. “Nico’s bleeding and hurt”
“Neeks are you okay? Let's get you patched up and I'll call Rey and Jace to come over.” Percy extracts himself from Nico and hands him off to Wil. “I gotta make like two phone calls and I'll be right back.”
“Okay Nico let's get you patched up. I wanna be a doctor so this is great practice I guess." Will moves his hand up an inch to scratch his head causing Nico to reel back and runs off
“Shit” Wil mumbles under his breath
Will follows Nico close until he ends up in what seems to be Percy’s room from all the clothes and what not on the floor.
He looks around for Nico. Not seeing the bot he begins to turn around till the smell hits him strong and sweet and addictively it smells like cocoa powder, roses, and a rain storm.
‘Omega’s Scents are usually not this strong unless their in heat oh no’ will thinks
Grabbing some of Percy's dirty laundry, Will covers his nose to try and block the scent of heat. He approaches the closet where he hears soft whimpering coming from.
Slowly Will opens the closet door. Nicos sitting on the floor whimpering and clutching his stomach perched in a makeshift nest of dirty clothes and blankets.
“hey darlin’ I know you don't know me but can I come in?” Will asked, holding up his hands to show he means no harm.
Nico shifts over making room for the alpha and his sunshine and citrus scent that the little omega found oddly comforting.
Will sits in the nest gingerly and opens his arm out as an invitation if Nico's willing. From what his father told him and what he gathered from Nico's interactions, he knows omegas seek out comfort before and during their heat and that Nico likes cuddles.
Nico shifts closer to will and buries his head in the alpha's neck. Will wraps an arm around Nico's back and pulls him in tighter.
Breathing in the safe and calming sects the alphas pushing out Nico regains to slowly suckle on Will's grand alpha neck gland.
Nico slowly drifts off, lolled by the warm safe feel of the wills arms.
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“-do you actually think nicos moved out permanently or what?” someone who Nico thinks is Jason asks from the other side of the room.
“Yeah when he came he had more bruises then usual and s few cuts probably himself.” Someone probably percy says a bit to Nico's right. Nico doesn't bother opening his eyes to see if he's right; he just snuggles up closer to the warm pillow he is attached to.
“But why is he so attached to me?” someone Nico doesn't know who asks from an extremely close distance “Not that I mind of course it's just that I barely know him. Heck I barely know any of you. And I bet Nico wouldn't appreciate you talking about his private life in front of me, a practical stranger.” the voice adds.
“Well will Nico won't let go of you and we sure as hell aren't gonna leave him with you alone. Like you said, we barely know you.” Probably Reyna says
Nico opens his eyes and notices he latched on to Will and bolts again. This time he runs outside and down Percy's street. Will, Reyna, Percy, and Jason follow behind.
Three alphas and a beta chasing a half dressed omega in preheat down a street in January is sure to get some attention and a few calls to 911. Which is exactly what happened
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“So you're saying this omega is your cousin. And you're both very close to him” officer McFarley says, reading a few papers then looking at the three three alphas and beta sitting in front of her.
“Yes” Jason and Percy say in unison.
“Then why would an omega in preheat run away from a familiar alpha and family member while in preheat.” she asks, jotting down a note or two.
“Well it's a long story, basically Will here.” Percy starts indicating at will next to him “Just started at our school today and he came over to mine to study since we’re in some classes together. But then Nico shows up to my house with bruises from a certain asshole. "Percy pauses taking a deep breath and Jason lays his hand on his cousin's shoulder. “So nico shows up at my door with a bunch of bruises and in preheat and i go to call my mom and jason” nodding towards the blond with glasses. “And Nico's best friend Rayna.” Percy points to the teenage beta with a glossy black braid still perfectly intact despite all the running.
“So while I'm on the phone nico tries to make a nest in my bedroom closet and Will find him and asks if he can go in and yada yada nest customs and what not so nico lets Will in and Will tries to comfort him and nico falls asleep while cuddling will, but than i come in and see Nico on will but when we try to get Nico off he growls while sleeping. So Will carried Nico downstairs and Reyna and Jason arrived and we were talking about that asshole when Nico woke up and probably got frightened by an unfamiliar alpha touching him while he's in preheat and ran, even though we couldn't get him off Will the whole time. So we all chased him cause he's in preheat and we didn't want him hurt or stuff.” Percy says all in one fast go.
“Nico, does this seem accurate?” she asks, seemingly speaking to the empty wall.
“Maybe officer, I mean those are my cousin and its vaguely familyer” the wall says
“Why the hell is the wall speaking?” percy asks “and why does it sound like nico? Did they put nico on the wall?” percy starts freaking out and stand up pounding on the wall
“God, how does Annabeth put up with you?” Reyna mumbles “see the mirror, its double sided kelp head!” she sighs, slumping in her seat, thoroughly exhausted.”
Just then the door opens and Nico walks in tired and messily clad in too big sweat pants, large socks and a jacket zipped all the way up and comes down to his knees.
“Nico, how are you?” Jason asks with concern, lacing his voice.
“Fine, they gave me some pills and now I feel better but I just wanna sleep!” he wines huffing and rubbing his eyes.
“Comon lets go, Me and Reyna are gonna spend the night and Aunt Sally’s building you a nest in the guest room right now.” Jason says walking over to Nico and giving him a hug.
The five of them walk out of the police station and through the parking lot where Nico promptly trips and falls on his ass.
“SH*T FUCK* SH*T F*CK F*CK SH*T!” Nico hisses biting his lip
“There's the Nico not doped up on heat hormones we know and love!” percy exclaims.
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Chapter 3
It had been three weeks since Nico's heat and he had avoided Will since. Even going the extra mile to never be at Percy's when Will was and staying with Jason even though he lived in a small apartment with his sick mom and over worked older sister Thalia who Will had met one or twice.
Will didn't know why he wanted to see Nico so much.
Every time he caught a glimpse of him in the halls at school or passed his room at Percy's and smelled Nico’s sweat scent, Will wanted to see Nico even more.
Will was so annoyed with his longing for nico that he went to Google for help. He sat with his laptop open on his thighs in his bed. In the search bar he typed:why can't I stop thinking about an omega I never met. The search yielded many results ranging from supposedly fated mates to crushes made up by the government, all of them dumb. But on a Harvard's medical study of omegas. He read about micro bonding where if an omega and an alpha do something intimate while the omegas are in heat, it can send a false science of bonding to the pairs Brian for up to four months afterwards.
Will goes through his interactions with Nico trying to pull out an intimate time when, oh nico sucked on Will's neck scent gland for comfort.
So his brain thought he and Nico were mated.
“Will, come down for dinner.” Will's mom Naomi called from the stairs.
“Coming.” Will said, closing his computer and rushing down the stairs.
He took a place next to his younger sister Kayla and older across from his older brother Michele. A moment later Naomi carries in a big dish of chicken and dumplings and places it in the middle of the square table.
As everyone scoops some onto their play Naomi Begins “I know we just moved so we could be close to Michele but Kayla since you're homeschooled and I have a business trip would you like to visit your dad and brothers back at home for a little. Will you're eighteen so I can let you be by yourself and Michele is close if you need him but I know I can trust you.”
“Realy mom I can see all my friends!” Kayla said excitedly at 13 she still acted like a little kid, but she is the youngest.
“I get the house to myself” we added in awe having four siblings and being the middle-middle child meant he NEVER got peace and quiet.
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Will wakes to a quiet house that's gloriously empty for a Saturday morning at 9:00 am usually he'd be unkindly woken up at 6:00 instead of 9:00.
Today was valentines day yippee Will thought! Ever since his false bond with Nico, Will has not been looking forward to February 14th.
Will made his way downstairs and went to the kitchen to eat something. Settling on a half eaten bag of salt and vinegar chips. He sat in front of the T.V and turned on Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta. Will really missed Texas ‘maybe some southern joy will cheer me up’ he thought.
Just as he was halfway settled in an episode where a girl's fiancé didn't want her to wear a drop neckline, Will's phone rang. Loud. He gingerly grabbed the phone to call, thinking it was spam when Percy's name flashed across the screen. We'll click accept.
“hey percy what's up?” Wil asked confused why he'd be calling at 9:00 am.
“HAVE YOU SEEN NICO? HE GOT HIS HEAT AND NOW HE'S MISSING AGAIN!!"
“No, do you need help looki-” Will was cut off by the door bell. “one sec” Will pulled the phone from his ear and went to the door
Standing on Will's door step, fear in his eyes was one Nico di Angelo. As soon as Nico saw Will his face lit up and he scrambled to get to the alpha. The little omega quickly latched onto Will's waist happily nuzzling him with his face.
Will brought his phone back to his ear and said “Um Percy I found Nico. I'll call you later.” and with that he hung up without a response. “So neeks what are you doing here?” Will asked, wrapping his arms around Nico.
“Missed you” Nico says, burring his head deeper in Will's chest.
“aw that sweet darlin” Wil scooped Nico up and carried him to the couch. He turned off the TV and sat down Nico still in his arms. Nico quickly adjusted to the new position and pushed Will down. Then as soon as the alpha was laying in good position Nico could lay down comfortably wrapped up in the alpha's arms.
Nico was soon asleep and after about 30 minutes called back Percy and explained the whole thing.
__________________
Will woke up without the heat of his the omega. He frantically searched the couch and found nothing. Wait…where's the blanket he and Nico were using. Did Nico start nesting somewhere in the house?
Will raced up the steps then slowly opened his bedroom door, his bed was striped and his dirty clothes basket over turned along with many of his dresser draws being empty. A lot of jackets and sweaters on hangers were strewn throughout the floor in front.
‘Nesting material’ Wil thought
The closet door was a jar. Will tiptoed over and slowly slid the door open to reveal his the omega frantically arranging clothes and bedding into a large nest the entirety of Will's closet floor.
"Don't look!” Nico shrieked, pushing Will away. And closing the door. After a few minutes Nico reopened the door. “Alpha, I'm sorry, it wasn't ready,” Nico says sheepishly. Then he pats the spot in their his nest.
Will can't keep his eyes off Nico who put on one of Will's shirts that hung to his mid thighs and showed off his soft pale neck where Will's mating bits would go.
Will got in the nest and Nico quickly climbed into him and the two fell asleep.
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“Really” Percu says, waking both Will and Nico up. “Remember what happened last time you both did this” he adds glaring the the two boys tangled in each other's arms. “I'm taking you home, Nico!” Percy reaches out to pull Nico up but Will growls at him and Nico whines and ducks behind Will.
“Alpha” Nico whines and Will turns back to comfort his the omega which climbs easily into his lap and sucks his neck gland.
“What's going on?” Percy asks.
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Chapter 4
“So your telling me you false bonded with him when he was in heat by accident, So now he sees you as his alpha and it will take three months after the initial false bonding for it to fade unless you continue your false bond because if you don't the omega couterpart (aka Nico) will become deeply depressed and could try suicide.” Percy says baffled at the absurdity of it all
“Yeah and I have to wait for his heat to die down to actually talk to him” Will says looking down at the sleeping omega curled up on his lap head buried in his chest.
“Well when he's in his heat he seems to like you at least” Percy says trying to lighten the mood.
“But when he's not in heat..” Will Trails off.
“He wants to kill you.” Percy finishes for Will.
__________________________________
Nico wakes to a warm soft feeling surrounding him. He smells the sweet scent of oranges and sunshine and pine trees. Alpha he thinks. No, not your alpha. Its Will. Will Solace.
He stands up but his arm is tugged back hard. Will's hand is tight around the omega's wrist. Nico tries to squirm free of the alpha's grasp to no avail.
“Nico!” Will said sternly. “We need to talk, it's important.” His grip doesn't loosen
Desperty Nico looks around the unfamiliar room until he locks eyes with Jason whose sitting across from him in a chair.
“Jason aren't you going to help me this alpha is attacking me” Nico makes big puppy dog eyes trying to sway his cousin
"Nico, you're fine. Just listen to Will." Jason says not even batting an eye at his baby cousin's antics.
Huffing Nico lets himself fall back down onto the couch beside Will while he grumbles about 'Percy being easier to manipulate'.
“I know Nico.” Will begins "when you had your heat two months ago you sucked on the scent gland on my neck, our bodies think we're bonded. It's called 'false bonding'. The only way to get rid of it is to have no contact with each other for three months to break the 'false bond' but it can lead to awful consequences especially the omega counterpart"
“what!” Nico shrieked “I don't want to be mated, I don't even know you!” he stood up, and started pacing the length of the floor while taking his hands through his hair. “Oh Dio, oh Dio OH DIO NON POSSO FARLO! Bianca se fossi stato sano non mi avresti lasciato fare questo! OH DIO OH DIO.” he stayed to ramble in Italian as he clasped to the ground.
“He took that better than I thought.” Jason says, giving Mr a half smile from his chair. “he'll get over it soon and I'm sure you two will find some sort of arrangement” he stood up and brushed invisible dust off his legs. He scooped Nico up effortlessly on the omega's mild panic. “I'll bring him over tomorrow when he's calmer.”
Nico
Jason's car glided smoothly down the road. Nico slowly calmed his breath returning to normal and his muttering of ‘oh dio’ had ceased.
“So nico” Jason took a deep breath. “I know your an omega and I know you have a bit of knowledge but do you know how sex works?” Jason asked slowly
“Kinda,” Nico said quietly. “I know about how omegas have certain reproductive parts and alphas have different ones.” Nico looked down at his hands “I don't know a lot about bonding though”
“Well bonding happens when an omega is in heat and an alpha bites their scent gland on their neck, also known as a mating gland.” Nico nodded along. “but it's important for omegas to stay safe during their heat. They should stay home with a familiar alpha (like how you stay with me or percy) because omegas are weak and more submissive during heat which makes them easy targets.” Nico nodded again. “And alphas have ruts which make them more angry and aggressive especially towards omegas” Nico nodded a bit more uncertainly this time. “And there's a false bond which you and Will have. Which can be broken with no conciseness if the omega bonded is with another person.”
“So I have to bond with someone if I don't want to with Will.”
“yes” jason face is grim and he looks upset.
“F*ck me” nico groans out slapping an arm over his eyes.
“Ew no. I'm your cousin, that's weird” Jason says.
“YUCK Jason. You're so dirty minded.” Nico sats playfully slapping Jaso's arm.
“I'm not the one who false-bonded with an alpha during heat because I sucked their NECK GLANDS!”
Nico flinches back. Jason realizes it's the wrong thing to say. Nico recoils in his seat pressing up against the car wall his spine posture stiffens and he hunches over hisself. Hair falling into Nico's chocolaty brown eyes that fill with tears, he tries to wipe his tears away in vain.
“Dumb over dramatic heat hormones” grumbles under his breath. “Just take me home please,” he says a little louder this time.
Jason freezes. “A-are you sure neeks?” he says “If you don't want to stay with me, i can always drop you off at percy’s in-”
“I'm sure Jason" Nico interrupts. “And don't call me that.”
As Jason continues to drive Nico goes into a different place in his head. Not a better place. An important place. “If it's the beginning of February then he won't be home.” Nico thinks. “That mean persephone won't be home either thank god”
The car stops and Nico knows he has to get out. His hands shake at the buckle. He slowly opens the door and slips out without a second glance for his older cousin.
The walk up to the home was the worst. The ginormous home loomed before you. Making you feel inferior and like a little ant. Nico walked around back towards the window he kept unlocked just for this. No one, not even his aunt Sally knew about how he had to do this or sleep outback, (which he has done plenty of times) he didn't want to worry them. He fit through the gap easily enough.
Inside was dark and freezing making Nico shiver. He walked across the stiff wood to the front of the home where he climbed the three flights of stairs and the one ladder to get to his icy bedroom.
Nico looked around for some type of nesting material. Ever since he apparently false bonded with the blonde idiot alpha he started to feel like he HAD to nest to make a safe place for him and alpha. No he didn't have an alpha, he didn't have anyone.
For nesting material he had his clothes (but they smelled like nothing. His father made him use scent subtracting laundry soap which was very humiliating for an omega), he also had his one thick blanket. That was it. Nothing that smelled like alpha, nothing that smelled like any alpha, his or not. Well there was his father's clothes but that would only increase his anxiety.
Nico cried himself to sleep cold and alone.
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Original sniping of chapter 5
Will walks down the hallway with purpose, pushing through the crowds of teenagers with ease. He was on a mission to find his omega. Okay technically Nico was not his but try telling that to his rut riddled brain. He couldn't smell any sign of the omega anywhere but he knew Nico would be hiding out in the library during his lunch period, Percy had told Nico usually did after he fought with him or Jason.
Will moved through the library shelves silently, making way towards the fantasy section. As he approaches he hears quite snuffling. “Omega distress help!” his brain pounds in his head.
Will turns the corners and sees it. His omega's crying. Will doesn't know why Nico’s crying but he knows it's not good. He knows Nico's strong. But even strong people need help. And he's determined to help his omega.
Will slowly makes his way towards the younger boy. Not daring to make a sound. Quietly he sits next to his omega quietly wrapping an arm around the smaller boy.
“What-” sniff “d-do you want..?” Nico asks, wiping his nose on his sleeve.
“I'm just here for you. I'm your alpha.” Will says matterafactly like it the most basic thing but for Nico it's not.
“No you're not,” Nico growls, shoving Will off. In turn exposing his own bruised arm. Nico yelps and pulls up his sleeve, but Will stops him.
“Baby, is this why you're cry’in?” Will asks, shoving Nico's sleeve up exposing the black and blue hand prints on the Italian’s forearm as if he had been dragged around. And above the bruises are circular scars resembling cigarette burns new and old. “Nico what the hell is this?” Will squeaks out. horrified at how anyone could hurt his beautiful baby boy.
“Nothing!” Nico says shoving Will off. Slowly he stands up trying to escape the alpha.
“Nico. Who the actual fuck did that!?!” Will ask more aggressively standing up and lifting his hand up to brush a curl behind the omega's ear. The omega flinches back, ducking a whole foot. “NICO WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?!?” Will demands grabbing the raven's shoulders forcing him to look up.
“Nothing Will. Just drop it.” Nico says shoving Will off, sprinting away.
Will runs after the raven, grabbing his wrist and turning the omega towards himself. Nico lets out a whine trying to wiggle free. Will drags him back to get their bags ignoring the grumpy omega.
“You're coming with me!” Will says, grabbing both bags and storming out of the library. He drags Nico down the hallway and towards the cafeteria.
“No” Nico cries out “ I don't want to l…alpha please…”
Will stops. “Did he just call me Alpha?” Will thinks
Nico flutters his eyelashes at Will. Showing his big brown puppy dog eyes; Nico knew anyone would fall for them. Well anyone but Jason that is and apparently will too, because just then the alpha grabbed the omega's arm and started pulling him out of the library and towards the cafeteria.
Will half felt like a crazy person dragging an omega through the school halls with all the stares he got. But he didn't care. HIS omega was hurting and it was HIS job to help. He entered the cafeteria, Head held high and hand still tight on his omega's wrist. His step was smooth and graceful but you could see the power and anger boiling and bubbling just under his skin like a pot mere seconds away from spilling over.
“PERCY, JASON!” Will shouts making the entire cafeteria go quiet. The two alphas turn their heads surprised to see him. “Folow me” he says quieter this time. Both older boys quickly scramble up and follow after Will and Nico. (whose still being dragged by the wrist)
As soon as the four of them reach the library Will tugs Nico towards himself and pushes up his sleeve for a second time displaying the bruises and burns.
“Have you two seen these before?” Will ask looking between the two alphas.
“Nico what the fuck?” Percy screeches looking between The three other boys again. Jason just furrows his brow frowning.
“I'll take that as a no” Will says sighing