Speed Drabble: "Why won't you love me?", 500 words in 1.5 hours
Back to School: Oliver Wood
Slash September: Percy
365: Trio
Character Appreciation: Trio
Dark Lady's Lair: parchment
Word Count: 513
"Why won't you love me?"
Percy looks up from his parchment, quill still hovering over his half-finished Charms essay. His brows raise in confusion. "Drunk, Oliver?" he teases.
He doesn't know what's brought this on. Oliver looks almost vulnerable, and Percy doesn't understand at all. He's so used to seeing his roommate acting like the epitome of confidence. Instead, his old friend frowns, brown eyes wide as he studies Percy.
"I don't get it, Perce," he huffs, sitting on Percy's bed. "Do you know how much I have tried?"
"You're taking the mickey."
Isn't that the obvious answer? Oliver is so out of his league. Even if they're friends, that's it. Oliver is still the bright athlete, and Percy is… Percy. Boys like Oliver don't go for boys like Percy. They're meant to have beautiful girlfriends who become beautiful wives, and go on to live perfect, happy lives.
But Oliver's expression is so serious that Percy can't seem to find the punchline. It's all a big joke. Perhaps Fred and George are waiting outside the door, and they're going burst through and laugh at him.
That isn't Oliver's style, though. He's always had more tact, and cruelty is so far beneath him.
"Why would I joke about this?" Oliver asks curiously, dark brows raising.
"Because I'm…"
Percy trails off, cheeks burning with a blush. He hates how insecure he is. Growing up, he had always been so jealous of Bill and Charlie; they know how to walk like they own the the place, like they're important. Percy, on the other hand, has always been quieter and infinitely less certain.
Oliver moves closer, pushing Percy's parchment aside, leaving ink smears on the tidy sheets. Percy knows he should probably care about the mess, but his heart is racing and fluttering, and his stomach feels like it's twisting itself into knots.
"You really don't see how amazing you are?" Oliver asks, his tone so genuinely surprised that Percy's cheeks grow hotter, and the blush spreads to his ears. "I can't believe that."
"I'm really not amazing."
Oliver snorts. "You are."
But Percy doesn't believe it. Sure, he's clever. Maybe there are good things about him, but it doesn't matter. He is still little more than ordinary. Whatever Oliver sees in him, Percy doubts he will never see it himself.
"I've loved you from the first day," Oliver says. "Maybe not in a romantic way. But… Your heart is so perfect, Perce. You are kind and so bloody good, and…" He shakes his head, chuckling. "Look me. Waxing poetic about how I feel about you, and I know you don't feel the same way."
Percy swallows dryly. He wishes his lungs would function properly, but it feels like the oxygen in the room has suddenly lost all the oxygen in it.
"I never said I didn't," he manages, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just not as brave as you. I couldn't tell you…"
"Six years, I've assumed you wouldn't want me," Oliver laughs. "But… You do?"
Percy leans in, kissing him quickly. "I do."
