Chapter Sixty-Seven - Amends

Percy's line of vision was switching from one twin to the other that wasn't supposed to be there. George's older brother was never a hard person to read. No matter how much he tried, the twins always managed to get under his skin and that's why George found so unpleasant not be able to see what was going inside his head.

A few minutes before, Fred removed the charm and they explained - almost - the situation and that he was the first outside the ones who planned it (and George himself) that was aware of his presence. What followed was silence. The sound of the curtains being lifted from the outside wind was the only thing heard inside the room besides their own breaths.

"This is too much, even for you." Percy wasn't aware of the youkai's existence. They agreed, under the twins protest, that Kagome was responsible for the ritual since she was under Japanese Laws and, if anything happened, she could claim unknowingness of the rules forbidding the use of Miko magic in Europe (if there was any). Also, Shippou was a Ministry worker and it would cause issues if he was caught having a hand on it. "This is wrong on so many levels that I'm not surprised it's coming from you. Fred and George causing trouble in this and the other world. Typical."

"Coming from you, we'd say it's a compliment."

"Some may think this way. Well, what do you need me for? To cover this- this- whatever it is? Why hadn't you told mum and dad?"

"We will."

"But we wanted to talk to you first."

"Without them."

"To thank you for being there with me, with us. Until the very end."

"Even after the years where our relationship was strained, it was you with him."

"It might sound like it was always Fred and George but you were there too, even more than Bill."

"Or Charlie."

"Okay, I got it. You are mocking me. It never grows old, huh? Now, what do you need me for?" Percy clearly wasn't getting the message.

"Do you really believe we wouldn't call you unless it was to ask for something?" Asked George. Percy nodded. "That's the problem. You are always so- so- hard headed! Can't you just not be guarded for one second?"

"What do you expect from me, George? If you are the real George. After everything I've heard here I'm second guessing if I'm even here. So you think it was easy to have Fred's limp body in my arms? To hear his last laugh, his last breath? You lost your twin that day, but I lost a brother. Ginny, Ron, Bill and Charlie too. Mum and Dad lost a son. Then, out of blue, you disappeared, not a word for a week. Shut up, this is my time to talk. Mum didn't sleep or eat until you owled us to announce your sabbatical time in Japan. We understood. We saw your struggle over the year. Then you came back with a full package. Married, with a child on the way. And you made amends with Mum, she's over the heels with the prospect of having two grandchildren in less than a year. You visited Bill, invited Mum and Dad over, had lunch with Charlie too. But never me. We were never that close. So you'll have to excuse me if I find it hard to believe that you called me here just for the sake of brotherly camaraderie."

George looked at his twin, who stared back at him then at Percy. Both were at fault for not showing their brother how much he meant to them. Somehow, they thought he would see their teasing as their way of paying him attention. Not the better way, for sure. And it hadn't worked.

"Captain Forgotten here," said Fred. "Can't you - we - just put it in the past? We were kids, then George wasn't able to deal correctly with the outcome of the war. And for Merlin's sake, I think it turned for the best. You, Percy, found a girl who magically made you openly talk about feelings. George married someone with the weirdest of friends. Everything is fine now. Please? My last wish."

"Friends?" Said George. It was more like a beg than a question.

Percy closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Fred bit his lower lip in apprehension. George's right hand was hanging in the air, waiting.

The taller Wesley embraced the twins at the same time, his wide arms capturing them in a big hug. "Brothers."

No excuses but college plus work!

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