Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to I'll Stand by You. It was written by Chrissie Hyde, Tom Kelly, and Billy Steinburg, and performed by the Pretenders.
Author's Note: Thanks to all my reviewers and readers.
Important: I am interested in taking a challenge for a new fic. Any ideas or challenges, post them in a review or send me a message, thanks!
Oh, why you look so sad? Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now.
Oliver sat in a silent reverie by Percy's bedside. He held one of the slender pale hands in his own, and absent-mindedly stroked it slowly. Winter sunlight streamed down in hazy beams through the tall French windows of the Hospital Wing. The Wing was empty, except for Madame Pomfrey who was filing paperwork in her office.
All of a sudden, Oliver felt a small jerk in the soft hand he held. He glanced at the prone figure of his boyfriend. Slowly, Percy's eyes fluttered open, and he slowly looked around.
"Ollie?", he murmured.
"Perce!", exclaimed Oliver happily. Percy had regained consciousness, and, he hoped, the worst was no over. "You're awake!"
"Where am I? What happened?" the redhead said groggily.
"You're in the Hospital Wing. Flint and his cronies attacked you and cursed you. Moaning Myrtle saw it al, and ran, or flew rather, to Dumbledore. He found you, brought you here, and you've been in the Hospital Wing for about two weeks. We didn't know when you'd come to."
"So, I'm alive.", Percy said.
"Well, you needn't seem so sad about it. You're going to be fine."
"Yeah…", Percy said softly.
"Perce, what's wrong? You're alive, you're conscious; you're going to be fine! You should be exuberant."
"Yeah…"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing…"
"Perce…"
"Nothing, alright?"
Don't be ashamed to cry, let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too.
"Perce, I know you better than that. This is me. Your boyfriend. Just tell me. I know this is hard, it's been hard on all of us. But unless we're gonna support each other, it won't get better. Come on, Perce. I've sat by your bedside for the past two weeks. I've gone through hell. I thought I might lose you…"
"Nothing's wrong…"
When the night falls on you, you don't know what to do,
Nothing you confess could make me love you less
"Come on, Perce. Tell me. It doesn't matter what it is. You're my boyfriend. I love you. There was nothing more terrifying in the world for me than when Madame Pomfrey said there was a danger of you not pulling through. I don't know what I would have done. There is nothing you can say or feel that will change any of that."
"Oliver, I'm, I'm having second thoughts."
"Second thoughts?"
"Yeah.", whispered Percy.
"About what?"
"About us, about Hogwarts, about life, about bloody everything!", Percy said bitterly.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? I was ambushed, cursed, and beaten within a bloody inch of my bloody life! I was left for dead in a stinking toilet, and as a net result, spent the last two weeks unconscious! I've got the majority of the people I know already thinking I'm a freak. Now add fag, and what kind of life am I looking at for the rest of my life? Who's to say that I'm not gonna get killed tomorrow by some more brutes? Why not just go home, move, start again? I can't do this, Ollie. I'm not strong enough. It's, It's too much."
I'll stand by you, I'll stand by you, won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you.
"No, it's not easy, Perce,", said Oliver softly. "But we can do it. I'll be with you. For the rest of my life. I need you, Perce. I'll protect you. I can't do it without you. But we can do it, together. I love you."
So, if you're mad get mad, don't hold it all inside,
Come on and talk to me now.
And hey, what you got to hide?
I get angry too
I'm a lot like you.
"That's not enough!", Percy nearly shouted. "A lot of good your bloody love did me while Marcus was using me as a punching bag!"
A deathly silence fell between the two boys.
Percy's voice came tremulously from pale lips, "I'm sorry Ollie. I didn't mean it. Don't leave me!", he said desperately.
"Never", said Oliver fiercely, as he held his boyfriend's slender hand.
When you're standing at the crossroads,
don't know which path to choose,
Let me come along, cause even if your wrong
"Whatever you decide, whatever you want, I'll go with you. I'll protect you. If you leave Hogwarts, I'll follow. If you want to go to a different school, I'll be right there with you. If you want to leave school, get a job, right there with you. If you decide to date a girl, I'll be best man at your wedding, and smile all the bloody time. But I will never leave you! Never!"
I'll stand by you,
I'll stand by you, won't let nobody hurt you,
I'll stand by you.
The brunette sat back down, and took Percy's hand. "I'll always be there for you. Whatever you choose."
Percy smiled up at him.
Take me into your darkest hour, and I'll never desert you.
I'll stand by you.
"I'll stick it out, I'll brave it, if you're there with me."
"Always."
Oliver leaned over and kissed the redhead on the cheek. Percy sank back onto the pillows, and closed his eyes. He was soon asleep.
And when, when the night falls on you baby, you're feeling all alone,
You won't be on your own, I'll stand by you. I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you, won't let nobody hurt you. I'll stand by you
Take me in into your darkest hour and I'll never desert you
Oliver stood by his bedside for a long time, contemplating the beautiful sleeping boy. He stroked the pale cheeks, and pressed the fingertips to his lips. I'll never desert you, Percy.
I'll stand by you.