This is just an opening but I hope you enjoyed.

Disclaimer: I only have rights to my own OC


They are not entirely sure what to think of the new guard. He is Hispanic and though that isn't unheard of, it is incredibly rare. He soft brown skin and jet black hair that is slick out of his eyes. He is small and short, more so than even Percy, and he doesn't look like he'd be able to handle a rowdy prisoner. But, he seems to have passed all the test well and so they are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Despite their worries, they have no trouble with him as a person. He is incredibly kind and gets along well with everyone. Even Percy, who they had been sure would've picked a fight by now. If not for the man's short stature, than for his race. After being employed for a month, anything has yet to be said. Paul himself is very glad that Percy hasn't picked on the Hispanic guard yet. Brutal and Dean both got along well with the man, and Percy picking on him would definitely not go well for Percy. Paul just hoped that this sudden streak of niceness from Percy would last.

It was in his second week that Emmanuel Flores really met Percival Wetmore. He had been leaving the building, on his way home, when he found the man sitting next to his car. He had been shaking and crying and completely overwhelmed with emotion. Manny didn't say anything, didn't insist on anything, but by sitting next to the man alone seemed to have struck up a form of commardy between them. A few days afterward, when Percy was on his way home and found Manny the same way he had once been, he sat next to the man and let him cry on his shoulder.

Percy and Manny knew each other before the Mile. True, they had only met just a month ago but they still knew each other. When Percy found Manny shaking in the rec-room because Will Bill had said something particularly vulgar, he knew who Manny was. When Manny found Percy wiping angry tears from his eyes because a rowdy prisoner had slapped his ass, he knew who Percy was. When they were both leaving work, at the exact same time, and suddenly found each other crying in the other man's arms they knew who the other was.

Percy did his best to be kind to Manny. Manny smiled and laughed and teased, in all the ways a close friend would. The younger, smaller man was the embodiment of sunshine and rainbows. Percy protected him for it, Percy loved him for it. Despite the experiences they shared, the secrets they kept, they were two different people. Percy could never be like him, could never smile and laugh and be genuinely kind in that way ever again. But, damn, if he wasn't trying to.

Manny knew that Percy didn't fault him. Percy smiled and laughed and protected, in all the ways a good friend would. The slightly older, slightly taller man was his protector and his confidant. Manny relied on him for it, Manny loved him for it. They shared secrets, shared pain, but they were two different people. Percy looked out for himself and was like a raw nerve walking. Manny threw himself into the service of others and he kept re applying bandages to the same old, festering wound. Manny couldn't be like Percy, could never worry about his own needs and care for himself or see himself even remotely whole ever again. But, damn, he was trying.

Perhaps it wasn't healthy, knowing a great deal of what they had and shared relied so heavily on the fact that they had both been raped. Both, fuck it, it felt good. Someone understood what they felt, understood the other's nightmares and insecurities. Percy could start sobbing and Manny would comfort and reassure him without a word. Manny could stare off into space and do absolutely nothing for a few whole minutes and Percy would guide him somewhere to sit and help him relax and focus on the present.

Despite everything, what they were and what they couldn't be, together, they believe they could try to find something good. Something complete, something normal.