Alright, context: Rival Gangs AU, Percy and Oliver are in different gangs but are still friends despite the fierce rivalry between the gangs. That's all of the backstory I know myself XD the rest is up to you.
Warning for implied violence and injuries.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?" Oliver tries for a smile, a teasing tone, but Percy is not having it. Especially after the stunt his friend had pulled today.
"You really are an idiot, you know," he mutters, handing Oliver a few ice cubes wrapped in a paper towel. "You know I'm perfectly capable of defending myself. Smith is no more than a cheeky little shit, and they're easy to beat."
"Yeah but you didn't hear what he was saying about you!" Oliver says, his voice edged with anger. "Would you have stood by and let him say those things if it had been me?"
"Let me remind you that there are more ways to take someone down than just with your fists," Percy snaps. "You could have ignored him, you know."
Oliver looks away, pressing the paper towel to his black eye. "He deserved it."
Percy doesn't reply immediately, just finishes applying healing paste to his friend's bruised knuckles."You don't have to listen to them," he murmurs. "They are going to say things about me. You don't have to put on a sensational display of martial arts every time they hurl a nasty word or two towards you. I can take care of myself."
Oliver still isn't looking at him, and when he speaks, his voice is low and full of agony. "You may be my rival in name, Perce," he whispers, "but you're also my best friend. It doesn't matter if they're a member of your gang or mine, I will always stand up for you."
He finally meets Percy's eyes with his one good eye and Percy feels something warm and fluttery in stomach. Oliver's face is earnest, and he's staring at Percy with such intensity that Percy's lungs constrict. Now it's his turn to pull away — this is crossing into dangerous territory.
No matter how much Oliver vows to defend him, the reality is still poignant — they are rivals. Rivals on the field when the fists are flying and black and blue is blooming on their skin. Rivals when their gangs pass each other in school, malice in their gazes.
Just for a second, Percy wishes things were even a little bit different. In another world, maybe, he had made a different choice. Maybe rather than meeting in secret like this, they could have been fighting side by side.
"Your loyalty is appreciated," Percy says quietly, "but you can't keep this up. Sooner or later people are going to ask about our history. They're going to find out that we were once almost like brothers. My family considered you one of their own. Your family invited us over for lunch every weekend. Those things…those things can be easily uncovered, especially if you keep defending me. They're probably already suspicious of you."
"I know." Oliver sags in his chair. "I just…I just miss you, Perce. I miss seeing you around. I miss all of those things." There is a note of hope in his voice. "Do you think…is there a chance that maybe later in life, we could move past this?" He hesitates, and his good eye flickers with something like…interest. "Do you think we could have a happy ending after all of this?"
Percy wants to lie, he really does. He wants a happy ending too. But he can't bring himself to say that. "I don't know anything about happy endings for any of us," he says slowly, "especially not after all that's happened. But I certainly hope that we can move past this."
"I hope so." Oliver rests his head on the back of his chair, the corner of his mouth twitching. "I'd hate to think that you and I couldn't have a future together. At least I can look forward to that."
Percy has to fight back a blush. "You and I?" he queries as heat blossoms under his skin. Oliver now has a full-fledged smirk on his face.
"You and I."
Oh. His heart does an odd sort of flip-flop in his chest. "I'd like that," he says softly.
He would. He wants that with all of his heart, more than Oliver realizes.
(But he's not quite ready to tell Oliver that yet.)
709 words
Written for:
Assignment 2, Global Warming Task 3 - Droughts: Write about missing someone or something.
