Presenting... The Twins!

Enjoy.

The following afternoon found Percy sitting alone at Diagon Alley's newest establishment, The Bewitching Brew. It was a delightful little coffee shop that was nestled comfortingly amongst the older stores, across from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. He was restlessly waiting, lost in thought and slowly worrying his napkin into strips as he awaited the arrival of his brothers.

They were late.

As they usually were whenever their appointments had anything to do with their third eldest brother… But Percy knew that in either a few seconds or a few minutes they would come waltzing into the peaceful shoppe, all chaotic grace and devilish, promising smirks. Carelessly disrupting the peace of the shop, and the fragile peace of Percy's mind.

It was inevitable.

It always was with the twins because, well, they were just so different. So much more hectic and unorganized and comfortable in their own skins. And in their own identities. Percy was actually somewhat intimidated to be around them, and their constant jokes and mocking did nothing to ease his uncomfort. The worst part was that he was never sure if they meant to make him feel as out of place as they did or if it was all part of his reconciliation.

He had never asked.

He was too scared to ask… to find out if they really, truly hated him as much as they seemed to. But he was going to have to ask today, at this meeting. In a few short minutes Percy was going to have to sit his brothers down and ask them if they thought playing with his life, and his emotions was yet another joke. It probably was. And Percy hated that thought because… because then Marcus would really leave. Just when he was starting to wish- with all his heart- that their bond was real.

But wishes were stupid. And irrational and useless. He knew that.

Wishes never actually came true.

Not in this-

"Oi,Percy!"

Percy jolted in his seat. Hitting his mug with a startled hand before frantically scrambling to stop it from spilling. Then he slowly looked up, staring at the identical raised brows for his twin brothers.

"I-" He looked back down. "I'm sorry. I was lost in thought."

George smirked, "yeah, we noticed Perce. Those fascinating reports on cauldron bottoms still got you all worked up?" Fred laughed into his hand.

"That was years ago George."

Fred stepped up, pulling out a chair and sprawling out. "Ah, thats right! Our bad, isn't that right Forge?"

"Right-O Gred!" He grinned. "What useless rubbish do they have you working on now, then?"

"The thread count on Magic Carpets? The importance of washing Newt's eyes?" They said together. "A how-to on being a stuffy bastar-"

"Nothing important." Percy cut them off quietly, still looking down at his tea.

They gasped dramatically. George clutching his chest while Fred leaned back in 'shock'.

"Oh but Percy!" Fred started, "Your work is ever so important."

"Yes, yes! How could the wizarding world survive without knowing the importance of crystal potion vials?" George chimed in, helping himself to a seat.

"As wonderful as this conversation is, I do have something important to ask you two." Percy said sharply, shifting in his chair as they exchanged a look.

"Lighten up Percy. We were just joking."

"Yeah. Jeez, you're such a bore."

"Thanks." He said sarcastically. Sitting quietly for a second before stumbling through his next sentence. "But… I- I… can you… I need- uh, that is…"

George frowned at him, rolling his eyes. "Spit it out for Merlin's sake."

Percy flinched. Shrinking back slightly in his chair. He was gripping his cup so tightly that his knuckles were white. "I- I need you to undo your latest prank… on me."

They were quiet for a long time and Percy mentally braced himself for a long, exhausting conversation ignoring their mind games and jabs while trying to get them to admit to it. He hated that they always refused to own up to anything once they were caught but right now he was too terrified to really care. He was breaking the unspoken rule. You keep your mouth shut and suck it up, because tolerating everything was part of the deal. He didn't want to look up, he didn't want to see the looks on their faces, he didn't want to- he looked up. They were both frowning.

They said nothing. And Percy took a shaky breath before continuing. "I… I didn't want to bring it up. I know the rules." He winced internally after mentioning them out loud. "But… you- you got somebody else involved, and that's not fair. I deserve it, I know that, but they don't." He paused, half glancing up before bringing his gaze back to the table. "I don't know if you did it on purpose but, even if you did, you need to undo it. Its not fair."

Silence… then.

"What rules Percy?"

His hands shook. Oh, oh Merlin. They're going to- I knew I should have tried to fix it myself. I knew it! Damn you Marcus! I don't want to lose my family because of this. I can't lose my family because of this. He stayed quiet.

"Percy." That was George. "What rules."

Carefully he looked up into their eerily blank faces. "You know…"

"No. We don't."

Desperately, he searched their faces. Is this a game? Do they actually want me to say it… or- or are they testing me? He bit his lip. internally warring with himself for what felt like an eternity before a few waves of comfort and encouragement came drifting down the bond. Percy froze. I have to. Its not just me this involves.

He looked between the both of them, weighing his options for the sole purpose of prolonging the inevitable. Then he felt the reassuring push from Marcus again. Okay, for you. He thought. "I keep my mouth shut and you let me stay."

He was proud for saying it without stumbling, but the twins looked shocked. He waited.

Fred burst out an incredulous "What?!" While George spock calmly, with a borderline dangerous undertone. "We let you stay where Percy?"

Then Fred spoke again, still visibly confused. "And what do you keep quiet about."

Horrified Percy gasped, "You can't really expect me to spell it all out-"

They cut him off. "Yes we can."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh." George muttered. Fred glared and elbowed his twin in the side before speaking. "You need to explain this Percy."

"I don't say anything about the insults, the jabs or the pranks and… and you let me s-stay."

"We let you stay where?"

Percy flinched. "You let me stay… with the family."

They looked horrified.

"Oh… oh no! No Percy! There was no… no payment!" Fred looked frantically to George for help.

"They were-" George started brokenly, "they were all just jokes."

Percy nodded, "and I never said a word." He glanced at them imploringly, "You know that, right? I didn't say anything. Not to anybody!" The twins just gaped at him. "I didn't! Please! I really didn't say anything! Only now, and I had to! It wasn't fair of you to punish somebody else for my mistakes, surely you know that? Can you understand?" His vision was blurry with a sheen of tears, and his breaths were stuttered. "Please' please understand, please! I didn't want to but it wasn't about me!" He looked up at them just as the tears broke free, falling quickly down his cheeks. "I didn't want to!" He begged, "p-please. I didn't want to!"

Suddenly they were on either side of him, and seconds after that their arms were around him. "Shh, Percy. Its okay. We- we aren't m-mad. Its okay."

"No," Percy whispered, "It's not okay. You need to undo it, they don't deserve it."

Fred swallowed audibly, "We haven't set up a prank on you since dinner at the Burrow three weeks ago," He paused, "the one with the exploding dye."

Percy tensed in their grips. "W-what?" He gasped, the little shred of hope that he had relentlessly pushing down flared up again cautiously. The bond is real? I really am Marcus' mate?

"We haven't done anything since then." George practically sobbed.

"Its not a prank." Percy whispered to himself. "Its not a prank."

"What's not a prank?" One of them asked shakily.

Percy just smiled, not really hearing them. All his focus on the faint trickle of emotions he could detect from Marcus. "Its real. Its real." He repeated, finally letting himself reach out for the bond. I'm your mate.

"What is? Percy, please. Talk to us."

But Percy wasn't listening. Without a scrap of warning the elder Weasley brother shot to his feet, pulling away from his brothers. They were too shocked to stop him. But they scrambled up seconds later, hurrying to their feet as Percy almost ran from the table. Leaving his still full cup of tea and his brothers behind.

"Percy! Wait!" That was Fred, he realized dimly.

"I have to go." He explained, still moving away quickly. Pushing open the front doors of The Bewitching Brew and charging into the heavy bustle of Diagon Alley.

"Percy! Get your arse back here! We need to talk about this!"

Said redhead moved swiftly through the crowded alley towards the apparition point. Listening to his brother's calls and curses as he consciously ignored them, and confrontation that was bound to happen should he stay. Besides, the bond was real! Getting to Marcus- to his mate was far more important than talking to his confused and evidently horrified brothers.

Percy could still hear them yelling after him as he moved through the masses of witches and wizards.

He reached the apparition point seconds before the twins and he apparated just before George grabbed ahold of his arm. Both of them swore, but Percy didn't hear the rest of it as he vanished with an almost silent 'pop'.

Percy appeared in front of Marcus' home. Immediately racing forwards and knocking almost frantically on the door, accidentally sending some of his urgency hurtling down the bond. The large man threw the door open seconds later, rushing out and grabbing Percy tightly with both hands. He looked confused and worried and almost like he didn't know exactly how he was supposed to be reacting so he just pulled the ginger close and buried his face in his hair. Inhaling deeply.

Percy just snuggled in. Reaching up and wrapping his arms around the vampire's neck, pulling himself closer.

"Are you alright?" Marcus demanded, reaching out with the bond. Then he froze, tensing around Percy and audibly gasping. "Oh."

Percy smiled, "yes, oh." Then he pulled back, looking up into his mate's impossibly dark eyes. "I'm your mate." He whispered happily as Marcus carefully wiped at the still-drying tear tracks on his face.

"Yes." His voice wavered, and he shuddered softly.

"I'm yours." Percy whispered, right before arching up onto his toes and tugging Marcus down into a kiss.

Thanks for reading, R&R