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Author's Note: [singing] Pine, Pine, Pine.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Ministry (Winter Year 1); RAVEN (2023); MC4A (Winter Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Old Shoes (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Ship Sails; Zed Era; In a Flash
Ministry Challenges: RRD [Day 14] (Percy/Oliver)
RAVEN Challenges: Settings [11](Bedroom); Items [148](Water); Colors [23](Carrot)
Other Challenges: Zee Monthly [Day 18](Stand)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (Prefect Keeper)[WiMed1 (Roommates)]; Chim [Rick]("Louder than Words" – Tick, Tick, Boom; Life/Death);Fire [x3](Not Cookie Cutter); Hang [Phrase 4] (n/a); Soup [R](Roommates); Swap [Bedding (Van Gogh Comforter); Knickknacks (Lotus Candle Holder); Counters (Orange Pillar Candle)]
Representation(s): Oliver Wood/Percy Weasley; Roommates AU; Post-War
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Sweetest Burn
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: Share (Passacaglia; Ameliorate); AD (Assumption)
Word Count: 513 words

(^^)
Pining in Dorset
(^^)

Percy and Oliver awoke in their shared bedroom in Dorset, much as they had done for the last five years. Cold winter sunlight spilled in through their open window, a reminder of the bickering and petty squabbles they could often be heard having late into the night but the next day their relationship would be just the same as it was the day before. Them being in each other's lives was as inevitable as the sun, even in the moments when they couldn't stand each other.

It had been a precarious balance at times, one that both of them had grown comfortable with, as had their friends who all thought that the two of them were married or as good as. It was a common joke for their friends to refer to them as a unit. The only person in their immediate circle who didn't was Percy's mother, who seemed convinced that they were just friends and Percy would eventually find a nice girl to marry.

Molly Weasley was wrong on a lot of things, no matter how much she seemed to think she wasn't.

And yet, in the light of the morning, Oliver looked over to Percy who was facing away from him, his breathing slow and steady, his skin still pale and delicate and covered in freckles. Under the comforter with a print of Van Gogh's Olive Garden, Percy looked peaceful in a way that he never was when he was awake. Percy was always stressing about something. There was the tiniest hint of orange blossom in the air from Percy burning the carrot orange pillar candle in its lotus holder before they had gone to bed last night.

Oliver wondered how on earth he had gotten himself into this mess. He had come to this city after graduating Hogwarts, looking to be close to the Quidditch team that he had joined, a chance to make it big in the world while doing what he loved. He had offered the other half of the single bedroom to Percy, their shared history from Hogwarts being a good base for living together.

But then, five years had passed and here they were, living in the same apartment, sleeping in the same room, and eating the same breakfast.

Oliver would often catch himself watching Percy in the morning when the redhead would be washing the dishes and singing softly to himself, and he was surprised to find himself in love with him, head over heels, despite his better judgement. He wanted to tell Percy, to pull him in for an embrace and tell him how much he meant to him. But he never did, too afraid to ruin the delicate balance of their lives.

And so, they lived their lives, passing the same bickering words between them, and pretending the other didn't exist in the morning until they had both had at least one cup of tea. They had become an old married couple, in a way, living in their own little world, and it was enough. They were content with their little world.