For the Family boot camp – prompt used: seeing
For the Ultimate Drabble comp – pairing: Percy/Oliver, prompt used: inconsolable.
For the Andrea Gibson quote comp – "Do you think anger is a sincere emotion or just the timid motion of a heart trying to beat away its pain?"
Word count: 503
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Oliver makes his way up the stairs of Percy's childhood home. It's been a while since he's been here, but he navigates through the home as if he's been living here all his life. He makes his way to the second floor landing and to Percy's bedroom. He knocks on the door, earning him a "Leave me alone."
It's a rough, scratchy voice; a sign that Percy has been crying. That alone makes Oliver disregard his statement and open the door. The room is dark, with only the light from the hallway bleeding through. Percy's sitting in the center of his bed with his knees pulled up against his chest, his arms wrapped around them and his head resting against his knees. His cheeks are tear-stained and his eyes red and puffy. It's the first time that Oliver has ever seen him cry.
"Percy," he whispers softly. Percy makes no outward sign of hearing him, so he tries again. "Percy."
Raising his head, Percy looks at him without meeting his eyes. "I said go away," he growls. He drops his head back to his knees, and turns toward the window. It's not open, making it where Percy can't see anything. It's a technique to put as much distance as he can between himself and Oliver without moving.
Instead of allowing it, Oliver walks across the bedroom, missing the creaking boards, and takes a seat on the bed next to him. He goes to put his arm around Percy as he had always done in the past to comfort him, but Percy shies away from him. He drops his arm and starts to ramble, knowing that even though it looks like Percy isn't listening, he is. "I know that I can't understand –"
"Don't," Percy cuts in, anger evident in his voice. "Don't try to tell me that this is okay when it's far from it. Don't tell me that it isn't my fault. Just…don't." His voice falters on the last word as his anger just drains from his body and tears start to stream down his face again. "I hear enough of it from them," he says. And Oliver doesn't have to ask what he means by "them".
Oliver nods. "Okay," he whispers. His heart hurts at the sight of Percy in this much pain. He tries to wrap his arm around Percy once more, but Percy shies away again. He's never seen Percy this inconsolable before.
"Just leave me alone," Percy says, but his words are cracked. Another sob forces its way through his body, shaking him. "I just want to be left alone." And Oliver knows that Percy doesn't want him to see him so broken.
Shaking his head, Oliver wraps his arms around Percy. "I left you once, Perce. I won't leave you again," he whispers into Percy's flaming hair. He feels Percy try to fight against him, but eventually, he buries his face into Oliver's chest and just cries. Oliver is left just whispering meaningless words into Percy's hair.
A/n – so many thanks to Paula who beta'd this for me!