Percy sunk into the velvety couch, Jenna resting beside him. Another patron of the club lay with his head on her lap, hand absentmindedly playing with her fishnets. His black hair hung in his face and he grinned up at Percy.

"So you're Audrey's boy, huh?" Mick grinned toothily. "I don't know how you did it. I've been trying to get that bird for months now."

"Maybe because he's not a drunk little twat," Jenna said, but there was fondness in her voice.

Percy had never been to a place like this. He'd always held the opinion that strip clubs were perverted, dirty places and no place for respectable people. Now here he was, about to watch his girlfriend step onto the stage and shake her hips for strangers.

If the twins could see-

No. Don't think about it.

He'd expected to feel disgust, or even anger, but a thrill crept through him. Because these men wanted her, but she was his now. They could look and hope but they would never touch her like he did.

He jumped as Mick ran a hand over his thigh.

"They have lady's night every Tuesday," he said. "I can think of two or more poofs that would love to see you up there."

Jenna gently swatted his hand. "Leave him alone."

Ignoring the heat rushing to his face, Percy turned his attention back to the stage. Another girl named Daisy was up there now, wearing nothing but a lacy black thong, twirling and twisting around the pole. Her song was almost over. Audrey would be next.

When Percy first asked Audrey if he could come watch her work, she'd looked at him like he'd grown a second head.

"You sure you want to do that?" she had asked.

He'd just nodded silently. She told him before that this had been a sore spot for several previous relationships. "They say they're fine with it," she'd said, "and then they see what I do, and next thing I know, they're demanding that I quit and find a 'respectable job'." She'd used air quotes, her face betraying how much it had hurt.

"I'm sure," he said. Because how on earth could he ever walk away from his own angel? It was clear that she liked her job, even when it got risky. He found himself wanting to be apart of that more than anything.

She'd come home with a black eye once, and Percy had spent the night fretting and fetching ice packs and painkillers. But she'd assured him that she was fine. That it was a risk she chose to take. And he would have had to have been blind to not see how pleased his worrying made her.

So Jenna kindly stayed by his side, as he tried not to think about the people around him. He tried not to see wands sticking out from every pocket. Tried not to read into every stray eye that looked his way. There were no wizards here. No one who knew him.

No one who would take him back to a world where he watched his body move to it's master's whims while he was stuck screa-

Don't think about it.

The Valium Audrey had slipped him before they got here kept his heart from beating too fast and his mind from tearing itself apart, but it didn't stop the nervous fidgeting and sweaty palms.

"If you need to talk..." Audrey had said as they laid in bed, tangled up in each other. "It might make you feel better."

"Soon," he'd promised. "I just...need a bit more time."

"You doing okay?" Jenna asked, squeezing his shoulder.

Percy nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. Jenna had been coming around to the house more and more lately. Once Audrey had explained that no, they weren't cousins, and Jenna had given her a mandatory lecture on being too trusting, she'd taken to Percy quickly, and he'd found himself returning the fondness easily.

While Audrey was small and doll-like, at nearly six feet Jenna towered over most people. She was a gym junkie with thick muscles and an aggressive in-your-face attitude to match. But at the same time there was a softness to her that endeared her to people quickly.

"Here she comes," she said.

Audrey hadn't let Percy see what she would wear, and Jenna chuckled as he crossed his legs.

Gray lacy stockings that stopped mid-thigh. High heels, and a white dress that showed off copious amounts of skin. Her hair was loose, wild curls falling over her shoulders. She met Percy's eyes briefly before her song started.

And Percy found out why she brought home so many tips. He watched with darkening eyes as she begin to dance. She didn't touch the pole even once, just twirled and jumped along the stage. He recognized river dancing immediately.

All eyes in the club were on her as she spun and swayed, teasing her audience. Her eyes locked on Percy's, large and chocolate brown; pink lips pouting out. Percy crossed his legs and bit down hard on his lip. Mick cackled and pulled himself.

By the time her dance ended, there was a neat pile of bills and coins stacked up on the edge of the stage. She collected the bills before hopping down to join them on the couch. Mick pushed a bottle into Percy's hand.

"You're one lucky bastard, you know that?" Mick said.

Percy nodded as Audrey took a seat beside him, breathing heavily and shining with sweat. "So what did you think?" She asked.

He just coughed awkwardly. Jenna snickered.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of loud music, beer, and naked women. Audrey paid for one of the other strippers to give Percy his first lap dance, grinning like a psycho at his red face. As Mick got progressively more sloshed, he also got a bit handsy, making several grasps for Percy's ass.

He liked Mick. The guy was a greasy, drunk, pervert with a possible drug problem who treated life like a joke. It was such a contrast from whatever was left of Percy's prim and proper persona.

He'd never had a night out like this before. It was a blur of music, alcohol, and naked women. He watched the love of his life dance, laughed with his new friends, and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, his mind was clear of all of the pain and fear that seemed to haunt him.

So of course it couldn't last.

"Hey," Mick slurred. "I'm heading out for a smoke. You wanna come?"

Percy shrugged. Audrey was doing a round of lapdances across the room and it was Jenna's turn on stage. "Sure.

Mick led him outside and around the corner to the entrance of a small alley. He held a smoke out for Percy who took it hesitantly. He'd watched Audrey smoke before, and thankfully remembered to inhale deeply as Mick held his lighter to the end.

And immediately braced himself against the wall as he started retching. Mick giggled and patted him on the back. "Just breathe through it. You'll get used to it."

Percy glared slightly, but took another drag. Then another. As Mick promised, it got easier. The wave of dizziness eventually passed and pretty soon he was leaning against the brick wall, letting the toxic smoke fill his lungs. He felt strangely...cool. He was wearing a leather jacket that Audrey had bought him, and a pair of skinny jeans she'd suckered him into wearing. He felt cool. Tough. Like he could face anything. He turned to watch the people walking by.

And promptly dropped his cigarette to the ground. The blood drained from his face and suddenly hands were on either side of his face, Mick's worried voice trying to penetrate the sudden fog filling his brain. But he couldn't turn away. Couldn't turn away from the the gaze that had locked onto his from across the street. The long, bright red hair shining in the neon.

Bill's eyes were bugging out. His mouth open. A pretty blonde woman at his side that Percy thought he might have known once an eternity ago.

Mick finally followed his gaze to the couple across the street. "Do you know them?"

As Bill took a step toward him, Percy started to shake. His limbs locked up, and his body wasn't his own again. He was frozen, trapped, waiting for the next order.

"Get me out of here," he finally managed to croak. "Please..."

Mick complied immediately, snaking a bony arm around his waist and hauling him back toward the club. He could hear his brother yelling his name and clamped his hands over his ears. He allowed Mick to drag him back inside, grunting as he pulled him through the crowd.

Audrey was on stage again, dancing away. Mick shouted something, and she looked toward them. The sultry smile fell from her face and she didn't hesitate as she bounded off the stage, ignoring the protests and boos from her audience. She pushed her way toward them, and pulled Percy into her arms.

"What happened?"

"There was a guy," Mick explained. "Across the street. Percy just freaked. I think the guy knew him. He's coming over here."

Percy couldn't stop shaking as Audrey pulled him toward the back of the club. He was barely aware of her sputtering manager as she pulled him back into the dressing room and gently pushed him down into a plush armchair.

"Breathe, darling," she said, soft hands cupping his face. "It's alright. You're alright."

Percy shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut. The room was spinning and there wasn't enough air. Something warm was sliding down his cheeks and soft lips pressed against his forehead. He leaned into the touch. Hair that smelled like strawberries tickled his nose.

"What happened?"

"My brother," he managed to whisper.

Audrey stroked his hair, planting soft kisses along his cheek. He sighed, and worked on taking deep breathes until the world finally went quiet again. Blearily, he opened his eyes. "Don't let him in here."

"Of course not," Audrey said smoothly. "Tim won't let anyone through."

Guilt pooled in Percy's stomach. He still hadn't told her what happened, unable to bring himself to even think about it. And yet she wasn't pushing him. Wasn't questioning him. Just protecting him and taking care of him like she always did.

He'd tell her. As soon as he could breathe properly and the world stopped moving so fast, he'd tell her everything.

"Can we go home?" He mumbled.

"Of course."

They took a shower together. Percy washed Audrey's hair for her, focusing on the way the water ran down her dark locks. After they dried off, Audrey went to the kitchen to make some tea, while Percy relaxed into the couch and stared at the painting of Hogwarts hanging over the telly. He'd helped her with that one, sitting beside her and showing her what tower went where.

A hot mug was pressed into his hand as Audrey sat beside him. He leaned against her and sipped his tea, exhaustion threatening to overtake him.

"You don't have to-" Audrey began.

"I'll tell you everything," Percy said. "I want to tell you everything."