Title: A New Door
Author: OCDdegrassi
Pairing: Percy/Oliver, with side-pairings of Percy/Penelope and Penelope/Roger Davies
Rating: T
Warning: Slash, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Infidelity/Cheating, Fluff
Note: I don't have much to say about this. I'm not sure how happy I am with it, but oh well. Rating is only for the infidelity/cheating, just to be safe. Written for the "What Hurts the Most Competition." Prompt: Adultery/Cheating.
xxx
Percy was sitting next to the window in his dormitory, staring out into the night sky with a blank expression. He just couldn't believe it. He never in a million years thought that she would do this to him. Penny was the kindest and most loyal person he had ever met. It felt surreal.
Maybe this was his fault - it had to be; Penny was too sweet to cheat on him unless he gave her a reason to. Was he that terrible of a boyfriend? Was he really so lacking that she felt the need to seek affection from Roger Davies? The guy was a complete git - arrogant and aggressively-flirtatious. Is that what Penny liked? If so, then why did she date Percy in the first place?
He felt strangely numb; it was as if ice water had been poured down his spine and frozen everything inside of him. The door opened behind him, but Percy didn't have to look back to know that it was Oliver.
"You okay?" his roommate asked quietly. Percy wasn't the type of person to brood or sulk, so Oliver already knew that he wasn't okay, but he wanted to give his friend the chance to explain.
"Penelope cheated on me with Roger Davies," Percy answered in a flat voice, not bothering to look away from the window.
Oliver's eyes widened in shock, followed quickly by outrage. How dare she? How could anyone do that to Percy? He was the most incredible person that Oliver had ever met. He was kind and generous and fair and surprisingly romantic (what other 16 year old boy spent a summer writing love letters?!).
Anger surged through him, and he wanted nothing more than to punch Roger Davies for hurting Percy. He couldn't hit Penny, but that didn't stop him from wanting to. He sat down cautiously next to his friend, as if approaching an injured animal and trying to ensure that it wouldn't run away in fear.
"I'm sorry," he replied honestly. He knew that it wouldn't make Percy feel better, but he was sorry. He hated seeing Percy upset. He was at a loss for how to help his friend, and he hated it. Percy only shrugged in response.
"It's my fault anyway," he said in obvious self-loathing. Oliver frowned and furrowed his brow.
"How in the bloody hell is this your fault?" He demanded. That made zero sense. Percy sighed sadly, and he seemed resigned to his fate.
"She wouldn't have cheated on me if I wasn't such a terrible boyfriend," he confessed. Oliver saw red, his rage intensifying suddenly. How dare that bitch make Percy feel so bad about himself!
"No, don't do that; don't make this your fault. You weren't a terrible boyfriend. You were great. This is all Penelope's fault," he said vehemently. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, but Percy only looked at him sadly.
"I'm not the most affectionate person. I wasn't good at holding hands or kissing her in public or talking about my feelings," Percy admitted regretfully, but Oliver shook his head in disagreement.
"So what? You showed that you cared in other ways! You actually listened to her when she talked, even about stupid things like clothes, you brought her flowers just to make her smile, you saved her the glazed donut from your breakfast, because you knew that it was her favorite and she always got to breakfast too late to get one. Trust me, you're about the best boyfriend that anyone could ask for, and anyone would be lucky to date you," Oliver told him sincerely.
The Scottish boy's face was heating up from the accidental confession, but he hoped that his friend wouldn't pick up on the fact that Oliver meant that he would be lucky to date Percy. Percy looked at him with an expression of surprise, gratefulness, and hope, and Oliver's stomach squirmed uncomfortably.
"Really?" Percy asked quietly. He seemed to need the reassurance right now, and Oliver nodded.
"Really," he whispered. His mouth had suddenly gone dry, and his heart was racing. It was now or never. He swallowed and then leaned in slowly, giving Percy the option to back away. Percy looked at him in surprise, but he didn't pull away, and there was a hint of something in his expression that gave Oliver courage.
He pressed their lips together in a timid kiss. Percy cautiously kissed back, and Oliver eagerly deepened it, wrapping his arms around Percy's neck. When they parted, Percy's face was red but his eyes were shining with happiness, and Oliver smiled widely.
"Anyone would be lucky to date you," he said again, and this time, the meaning behind his words was clear. Percy's face lit up as he smiled, and he kissed Oliver again gently.
He knew that this probably seemed like a rebound, but it just wasn't, and he hoped that Oliver knew that too. This was right; he could feel it all the way down to the bottom of his heart. Oliver meant more to him than anyone – including Penny.
He suddenly realized that maybe Penelope cheating on him wasn't such a bad thing after all. Maybe it was simply meant to be. Maybe the reason that some doors close is so other ones can open. If that was the case, then he was okay with it; he really liked this new door.
xxx
A/N: Reviews are always lovely.