For the ever-so-lovely Joanna for her birthday. Will eventually be a collection of fourteen drabbles/oneshots dedicated to her. I love you, Joey, happy birthday darling.

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"Why is everything so hard?" He means for it to be slightly rhetorical, but Oliver sits in thought for moments, trying to think of a way to respond, finally settling on, "I dunno, Perce."

"I mean, it's getting to the point where I think they're stopping caring about me, you know? Like they're just—just done." Percy pouts slightly, eyes directed towards the dark sky out the window, but glazed over, deep in thought.

"Don't say that. 'Course they care about you, why wouldn't they. Who wouldn't care about you, Perce?" Oliver looks concerned, wrapping a firm arm around the other boy's shoulders, pulling him close.

Percy turns his face up to look him in the eyes, mumbling, "It's not so much that they don't care. More that… I've changed, I think."

"If you have," Oliver whispers softly, his hazel eyes looking imploringly into Percy's, begging him to believe his words. "I'm still very happy with who you are." Percy grins, though there's still a flicker of doubt etched across his face. "And I'm positive you'll still be someone you can be proud of, trust me."

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For the Snakes and Ladders Challenge (Percy Weasley) and the Represent that Character Challenge.