Another chapter! A lot of positive reception. One critique that stood out, however, was the pacing, so I have tried to edit that for this chapter.
CHAPTER THREE: SECRETS TO KEEP
"The water's getting colder, let me in your ocean, swim." - Chase Atlantic, Swim
The long, darkened room in 12 Grimmauld place was filled with hushed voices as members of the Order of the Phoenix gathered.
Candles flickered along the walls, casting faint shadows on the worn stone floor. This was no ordinary meeting. War was upon them.
At the head of the table, as he always stood, was Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore, as always, appeared calm and collected, though his eyes revealed the burden he carried. He surveyed the room with a slow, deliberate gaze before raising his hands for silence.
The room fell quiet immediately.
"Thank you all for coming," Dumbledore's voice rang out, wise as usual. "We are here this evening to discuss the troubling developments we face. The war is upon us, and it is no longer something we can ignore. It is time to act."
Sirius Black shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his dark eyes darting to the others in the room. The members of the Weasley family exchanged brief looks. Arthur Weasley, ever the optimist, sat next to his wife Molly, his hand resting on her shoulder.
Severus Snape sat quietly.
At the far end of the table, Remus Lupin was pointedly ignoring Nymphadora Tonks, her bright hair now a vibrant shade of pink. Kingsley Shacklebolt, tall and composed, stood by the wall, keeping watch over the room.
The Order was present.
The door creaked open again, and every eye in the room turned toward it.
With a swift step, Mad-Eye Moody entered, his magical eye spinning in its socket as he scanned the room, his body stiff.
Dumbledore nodded towards him. "Have you brought him?"
Moody nodded.
Immediately, the door swung open wider, and in walked Percy Jackson. His presence was impossible to ignore, not because of some grand entrance but because of the quiet defiance in the way he carried himself.
With his tan skin, disheveled jet-black hair swept to one side, and sea-green eyes that seemed to catch the light like the waves of the ocean, Percy looked like someone who had just walked off a beach.
Or a war. His eyes looked like they had seen to much.
He wore an old orange T-shirt, the fabric worn thin from years of use. The t-shirt looked like it had been resized, resewn, and patched up so many times it was a miracle it still held together. On it was a pegasus, its wings outstretched, along with faded letters - were they Greek? His jeans were worn, his shoes scuffed, and he had no wand, no obvious means of defense, though he exuded a certain quiet strength that made most of the room uneasy.
"Now that we are all present," Dumbeldore began, "it is time to discuss the next steps we must take to combat the growing threat we face."
Instead of listening to Dumbledore's speech, Tonks looked at Percy once.
Then twice.
Then three times.
Her bright pink hair bounced around her face, but there was no mistaking the recognition that flickered in her eyes. She hadn't seen him in ages, but there was no mistaking the way he carried himself. He looked older, maybe a little more tired, but still unmistakably Percy.
"Percy Jackson," Tonks said, her voice half-laughing. She stood quickly, a grin spreading across her face. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
Percy smirked, crossing his arms with his usual cocky flair. "You know me, just one mess at a time." His grin widened, but it was a little less confident than it used to be. "Long time no see, Pinky."
The nickname was apt, seeing as Tonks' ears were just as pink as her hair.
"You could say that again," Tonks replied, stepping forward to greet him. Her eyes softened as they met his. "You look… tired," she added, her voice quieter now.
Percy shrugged, though the weight of the comment was clear. "Guess that's just the way things go when you've got a lot of people trying to kill you."
Tonks tilted her head slightly, studying him. There was something in his eyes, something deeper than just exhaustion. It was the look of someone who had been through far more than they were letting on, but Percy didn't seem keen to talk about it. He always had a way of dodging personal questions.
"Well, you've certainly kept busy." Her voice was light, but the concern didn't escape him.
"Better busy than bored," Percy said, offering a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes.
Dumbledore's voice broke through the moment. "Percy is here because he is an invaluable ally in the coming battle. His abilities will be key to the war we now face."
"Right," muttered Percy. "The great war against Voldemort."
The name darkened the room instantly. Like Kronos, thought Percy idly.
Everyone at the table stiffened. For just a moment, the air seemed to thicken. The room had been discussing the war, but hearing the name aloud made it real in a way nothing else could.
Sirius' eyes narrowed. "What do you know about that?"
Percy gave him a wry smile. "More than you'd think." He turned his gaze toward Dumbledore, then back to the room, scanning the faces of those around the table. He didn't look like a wizard, not in the way the others did. He looked like someone who had been in real battles. "I've fought a lot of monsters in my life. This Voldemort guy doesn't sound so different from the others."
"Monsters?" Kingsley asked, arching an eyebrow at him.
Percy smiled, but the look in his eyes was serious. "I don't exactly hang out with normal people." His tone was dismissive, but the words weren't.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as everyone processed his words.
Tonks, however, wasn't laughing. There was something in Percy's voice, the way he said it, that made her wonder just how much of what he was saying was a joke, and how much of it was something much darker.
Dumbledore, ever the calm presence, gave a small nod. "Percy has been through trials unlike any we have faced. His experience will be invaluable."
"Right," Percy muttered, his voice quieter now. He shifted slightly. "I'm here because I don't have much of a choice."
He glanced at Tonks again, as though searching for something in her expression. Something unspoken passed between them, perhaps a memory, or just the shared understanding that they had both faced things they didn't want to talk about.
And yet, despite all that, Percy still managed a half-smile. "Guess I'm stuck with you lot, huh?"
Tonks grinned back. "Guess you are."
Percy frowned. "Someone's watching us."
Instantly, the room was on high alert.
Every member of the Order tensed.
"Where?" Moody growled, his magical eye swiveling wildly in its socket.
Percy didn't gesture toward anyone in particular, but his eyes narrowed as he scanned the room. "I'm not sure. But I can feel it. Someone's here, close by."
And that was when Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and George and Fred Weasley all fell through the door.
"Sorry," Harry said, breathless. "We, uh, didn't mean to interrupt."
"Interrupt?" Molly shot them a look of disbelief. "You nearly gave us a heart attack, Harry!"
"Sorry Mum-" said Fred (or was it George?).
"-we didn't mean to."
"We were just listening in," Hermione said.
"Listening in?" Sirius asked incredulously. "This is a secret meeting, not a spectator sport!"
"Hey, we could be members," Fred replied, grinning wide.
"Fred, that's not how it works," Ginny muttered, stepping past her brothers with a shrug, clearly embarrassed by the whole situation.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to sneak around in meetings like this?" Tonks asked, her voice stern but the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried to suppress a smile. She glanced at Percy for a moment.
Percy's eyes flicked to the Weasley twins, catching their playful expressions.
"Oh, you'd be surprised," Fred said. "We've had a lot of practice."
"Practice or not," Percy said, his tone turning more serious, "it's not a game." He shifted, his gaze scanning the room again, as if he could still sense someone lurking in the shadows.
Molly wasn't having it, however. "Get out of here, kids. Now." Her voice left no room for argument.
Obediently, the group left the room. Snape cast some sort of charm on the room, most likely a silencing spell to prevent any more eavesdropping.
"We should get back on track," Dumbledore said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "There will be time for everything else later. For now, let us focus on the task at hand."
The room settled once again into an uneasy quiet. Even with the sudden interruption, they all understood the urgency of the situation.
"Now, Percy," Dumbledore continued, his tone shifting. "As I said, your experiences will be crucial to what lies ahead. We will need everyone here. This is no longer just a matter of defending the Wizarding World. It is about the fate of everything we hold dear."
"None of us can afford to take this lightly," Remus Lupin said, his voice quiet but firm. "We were all there for the first war. You know how bloody it was?"
"We'll be ready," Authur said.
As the conversation continued, Percy's thoughts drifted.
The door had barely closed when he heard the faintest whisper, just on the edge of hearing.
"Tell the sun and the stars hello for me."
It was a voice he hadn't heard in ages. The voice of a friend lost in the depths of Tartarus.
Percy swallowed, trying to push the memory away. The quiet sadness in his heart deepened.
Dumbledore's voice broke through his thoughts. "We must all stay vigilant. Time is short, and the future is uncertain. But we will fight, and we will not face it alone."
As the meeting continued, Percy couldn't shake the feeling that everything was building toward something inevitable.
The sun and the stars. Bob's final words clung to him like a whisper from the past.
And Percy had a feeling he'd soon have to face whatever was coming, whether he was ready or not.
Eventually, the meeting was concluded. Percy decided to leave the Black Manor, despite Molly's offers of dinner, preferring his own company.
The door to 12 Grimmauld Place creaked shut behind Percy with a soft thud. He didn't look back, knowing he'd seen all he needed to see for now. The clamor of voices behind him felt distant, as if he were already a world away.
Percy felt oddly at ease outside.
The cool night air washed over him, the sharp scent of rain mixing with the lingering scent of ancient wood and magic that clung to the house. There was a certain peace to the quiet streets of London, even if that peace was fleeting.
He had long learned to trust his instincts. And his instincts had been telling him something wasn't right from the moment he stepped into that room.
Percy remembered how Dumbledore had approached him, somehow knowing about his demigod status, offering him a job as a professor. He still didn't know if he'd take it. Depsite what his old high-school teachers might say, Percy wasn't dumb. He knew the old Headmaster wanted him as a weapon to use against Voldemort.
The only reason Percy was considering accepting was because he couldn't exactly fault Dumbledore. Voldemort wasn't a very… good person, and the world needed every weapon it could get.
The faintest whisper of a voice still echoed in his mind. Tell the sun and the stars hello for me. Bob.
Percy shut his eyes for a moment, pushing the memory away. He couldn't afford to be caught in the past, not when there was so much ahead. But the ache in his chest lingered, a constant reminder of the sacrifices made, and the ones still to come.
He walked away from the house, hands shoved deep into his pockets, the cold biting through the thin fabric of his shirt.
He didn't know how long he walked, or where he was going, but his feet took him naturally to a small, empty park near the heart of London. No one was there. No one ever was this late at night.
Except for, apparently, Tonks.
She tapped him on the shoulder, and Percy's heart was jumping in his chest at the unexpected touch. But when he saw Tonks standing there, her usual playful grin lighting up her face, his pulse slowed.
"Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on you," she said. "You looked like you were lost in thought."
Percy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess I was. Just... thinking about a lot of things. Don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing, y'know?"
Tonks's smile softened, her eyes more serious than usual as she studied him. "I know the feeling. But you're not alone in that, Percy. A lot of us are trying to figure out what comes next."
He sighed, his gaze drifting toward the empty park. The sound of distant traffic echoed in the background, a reminder that the world kept turning, even if he wasn't sure where his place was in it anymore.
"Maybe," Percy said, "but I don't fit into this neat little puzzle, you know?"
Tonks frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Nevermind." Percy muttered. "I'm just tired." He shrugged as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Tonks raised an eyebrow, her smile slipping a little as she studied him. "You know, you're a terrible liar," she said softly, her gaze flicking over him, like she could see right through him. "But I'll let it be. For now."
He nodded, his heart heavy but comforted in a way that only her presence seemed to offer. "Thanks, Tonks. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She shrugged with a grin, her tone lightening. "Eh, you'd probably be fine. But don't think I'll let you go off and risk your life without me."
Percy couldn't help but laugh, a real laugh this time.
And for a second, he felt guilty. Guilty that he was keeping so many secrets, that he was holding so much back from her, from everyone. He wanted to tell her, wanted to unload all the weight that pressed on his chest, but the words felt like they'd choke him before they could even form. He was used to carrying burdens alone, and it was hard to imagine letting someone else share in that load, even if they wanted to.
"Thanks," he said again, more quietly this time. "I don't deserve it."
Tonks frowned at him, her expression softening even further. "Stop that. Don't start thinking you're unworthy of help just because you've been through hell. You're human, Percy. You're allowed to need people."
He met her eyes, the sincerity in her voice disarming him for a moment. But the skepticism was there, lurking just under the surface. "Maybe. But sometimes, people get hurt when they get too close."
Tonks didn't - or maybe couldn't - say anything to that.
"Well, it's late," said Percy. "You want to come to my place?"
"I'd love that."
TPIM
Tonks admired Percy Jackson. Might have had a little crush on him, if she was being honest. She had no trouble admitting that.
The problem was that Tonks knew Percy wasn't easy to get close to. He carried an invisible weight, one that not even his easy-going charm could fully mask. She'd seen it in the way he looked at people, like he was constantly holding something back. Like he was afraid to let anyone in too close, afraid of what they might see or how they might be hurt in the process.
But that didn't stop her from trying, because there was something in him that called to her.
She looked at him now, walking beside her with his hands stuffed in his pockets, his head tilted slightly as if he were lost in thought. He had that same conflicted look on his face again, the one that she had seen in his eyes during their first few encounters. And she couldn't help but feel protective of him, even if he didn't need it, or think he did.
She had seen enough of that kind of isolation before, enough of that "I don't belong" attitude, to know how dangerous it could be. People who didn't let others in? They were the ones who fell apart first, when the pressure of it all became too much.
To be completely honest, his eyes were what unsettled her the most. Not because they were unnerving - far from it - but because they were so... old. Older than any twenty year old's eyes had any right to be. There was a depth in them that didn't come from reading or experience alone. It came from something darker, something heavier.
Tonks wasn't naive. She knew people carried scars that weren't always visible. She had her own. But Percy's weren't just scars, they were walls, carefully constructed, and she got the feeling he wasn't entirely sure what would happen if someone managed to knock them down.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked lightly, breaking the silence.
Percy glanced at her, a small, lopsided grin forming on his face. "A whole penny? You're really spoiling me, Tonks."
She rolled her eyes, nudging his arm with her elbow. "Don't dodge the question."
His grin faded, replaced by that familiar guarded expression. "Just... thinking," he said after a beat.
"I know you're trying to push people away, Percy," Tonks said. "But I hope you know that I'm not going anywhere. And when you're ready to talk, or let us help, we'll be here."
"Thanks, Pinky," Percy said, his voice quieter now, like he'd been carrying around those words for a while but hadn't been sure who he could trust enough to speak them aloud. "It means a lot."
Tonks gave him a warm smile. "No problem. I just hope you know that you're not alone, okay?"
They walked in silence for a few more moments.
When they reached Percy's flat, he opened the door and let her in.
The door clicked shut behind them, and as Tonks settled onto the couch, Percy went to make them both a drink.
Tonks made herself comfortable, sinking into the well-worn cushions of Percy's couch. The flat was sparse but cozy, with an almost utilitarian neatness that surprised her. There weren't many personal touches, no pictures or knickknacks, but the space felt lived-in, like it had just enough of Percy in it to feel like home without giving too much away.
Percy emerged from the small kitchen a few moments later, carrying two steaming mugs. He handed one to her, the warmth from the ceramic seeping into her fingers as she inhaled the comforting scent of hot chocolate.
"You know," Tonks said, cradling the mug, "I pegged you as more of a coffee guy."
Percy looked affronted. "Hot chocolate is superior."
Tonks leaned over, looking at his cup. "Why is your cocoa blue?"
Percy smirked. "Because I made it that way. Blue food tastes better."
She raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching in amusement. "That's not how food works, Percy."
"Sure, it is," he said, taking a sip of his blue drink. "Blue chocolate, blue cookies, blue waffles. They're all better when they're blue."
She tilted her head. "Alright, I'll bite, why blue?"
His expression softened, his smirk fading into something more nostalgic. "It was my mom's thing. She used to make everything blue to mess with my stepdad. He… wasn't the nicest guy. But it kind of stuck. After a while, it just became... ours, I guess."
Tonks blinked, caught off guard by the rare glimpse into something deeply personal. Percy didn't tell her anything about his past. "That's sweet," she said softly. "And a little weird. But mostly sweet."
Percy shrugged, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "It's tradition. Besides, you can't argue with results."
She held up her mug in a mock toast. "Here's to weird traditions, then."
Percy clinked his mug lightly against hers. "Cheers."
They both sipped in silence for a moment, the warmth of the cocoa chasing away the evening chill. Tonks found herself relaxing into the quiet, feeling oddly at ease in Percy's presence despite the mystery that still clung to him like a second skin.
"Speaking of weird," said Percy, "remember how we met?"
Tonks groaned, burying her head into Percy's chest.
Percy laughed. "C'mon Pinky, it wasn't that bad."
"I nearly tried to arrest you, for Merlin's sake!"
Percy chuckled, leaning back against the armrest of the couch, clearly enjoying Tonks' embarrassment. "Yeah, and you tripped over your own feet in the process. Classic first impression."
Tonks groaned again, peeking out from behind her hands to glare at him. "In my defense, you were acting suspicious as hell. Hood up, skulking around Knockturn Alley like you were planning a heist."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "I was taking a walk. Not my fault you're incompetent."
"Not your fault you're sketchy as hell, either. And I am most certainly not incompetent," Tonks retorted, but there was a grin pulling at her lips. She straightened up, taking another sip of her hot chocolate. "I still can't believe you just stood there while I face-planted. You didn't even try to help me up."
"I was trying to figure out if you were a really clumsy assassin or just terrible at your job," Percy teased, his grin widening.
Tonks narrowed her eyes at him, her tone playful but sharp. "You're lucky I didn't haul you in just for being annoying."
"Yeah, because that would've gone well," Percy said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Imagine explaining to your boss that you arrested a guy for enjoying the sunset."
Tonks laughed despite herself, shaking her head. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"That's what makes me charming," Percy quipped, but there was a warmth in his tone that softened the words.
Tonks leaned back into the couch, a comfortable silence settling over them for a moment. Despite the teasing, she couldn't deny that meeting Percy had been one of the more interesting moments in her career. And, well, maybe the fact that she hadn't managed to scare him off right away said something about him, and about her, too.
"I'll give you this," Tonks said eventually, a sly smile forming on her face. "You're not like anyone I've ever met before."
Percy tilted his head, studying her with a thoughtful expression. "Is that an insult or a warning?"
"Little bit of both," she said with a wink.
"I need a better nickname for you," said Percy.
Tonks raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with Pinky? It's catchy."
Percy grinned. "Yeah, but it doesn't annoy you. That's what makes a nickname, its annoy-ability factor."
"Really?" Tonks repeated, her lips twitching as she tried to keep a straight face. "And what exactly is my nickname, oh great nickname expert?"
Percy leaned back, pretending to think deeply. "I need something… chaotic. Dangerously clumsy. Slightly terrifying. With a dash of, uh, punk rock."
Tonks snorted. "Wow, way to flatter a girl."
"I'm just saying," Percy continued, his smirk growing. "I could do better. Pinky's too tame for you. Maybe something like... Crash?"
Tonks rolled her eyes, but her smile widened. "Crash? That's the best you've got?"
"Hey, it's fitting," Percy said, gesturing at her. "You literally crashed into me the first time we met. Twice."
"Twice?" Tonks protested. "That's a bold-faced lie. The second one doesn't count because you tripped me!"
"Details."
Tonks lifted her head, shooting him a glare that was entirely unconvincing with the way her lips twitched upward. "You showed up out of nowhere, with a giant attack pegasus, and you threatened me with a pen. What was I supposed to think?"
Percy laughed, throwing his head back. "Maybe not to tackle me into a puddle on sight?"
She groaned again, this time more dramatically, as she flopped back against the cushions. "How was I supposed to know you weren't a threat? You don't exactly scream ordinary citizen, you know. And for the record, I wasn't the only one who thought you were up to something."
"True," Percy admitted, taking another sip of his cocoa. "But you were the only one who tried to hex me. Twice."
Tonks sat up, pointing a finger at him, though the effect was ruined by the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "That's because you attacked me! With a pegasus! Who even does that?"
Percy grinned, clearly enjoying her flustered state. "Hey, you've got to admit, it was impressive. You were quick, though. I'll give you that."
"Quick enough to get out of that puddle eventually," she muttered, shaking her head. "You could've helped, by the way."
"I did," Percy protested, looking entirely too smug. "After I stopped laughing."
Tonks groaned again, but this time she was smiling. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," Percy said with a shrug. "But you haven't tried to arrest me since, so I must've grown on you."
She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "Lucky for you, I'm an Auror with impeccable instincts. I figured out you weren't a dark wizard. Eventually."
"Before or after you had a drink with me?"
Tonks shrugged. "You'll never know."
Percy raised his mug in a mock salute. "And here we are. Friends, drinking hot chocolate, and reliving your greatest career highlight."
"I hate you."
Percy laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Your secret's safe with me, Pinky."
Tonks narrowed her eyes at him but couldn't stop the grin spreading across her face. "Alright, Seaweed Brain, you win this round. But if you ever tell anyone about the puddle, I'll hex you for real this time."
"Seaweed Brain?"
"You called me Crash."
"That was a joke. I could never replace the perfect nickname that is Pinky."
Tonks didn't seem impressed. "What's wrong with Seaweed Brain? You are literally only good at water magic."
"I'll have you know I am an amazing wizard," said Percy. "But Seaweed Brain is… personal, I guess. A friend of mine once called me that, and it kind of stuck. So, you're not the first person to use it. But still, it's got a lot of history for me."
Tonks tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "A friend, huh?"
Percy's expression softened slightly, and he took another sip of his cocoa, looking distant for a moment. "Yeah. A long time ago. But it's not important," he added quickly, brushing it off as if it was no big deal.
"Was it a girl?" Tonks teased.
"Yeah," he sighed. "She was."
"Was?"
Percy paused. He set his mug down on the coffee table, and for a brief second, Tonks could see something in him, something heavier, like a memory he wasn't quite ready to share. But then, as if he'd made a quick decision, he gave a half-smile and shrugged.
"Yeah, was," he said softly. "But that was... a lifetime ago. Don't worry about it, Tonks."
Tonks caught the change in his voice, the subtle shift from joking to something more guarded. She didn't push, though the instinct to ask more was there. She'd learned that some things weren't hers to pry into, especially with Percy. He had walls, and sometimes those walls were for a reason.
"I won't," she said, leaning back into the couch. "But I will say... you can't keep so much secrets from me."
Percy let out a breath, as if he was relieved to move on. "I'll tell you eventually," he muttered. "Besides, I've got a ton of other things to deal with."
Tonks didn't press further, sensing he'd shared all he was comfortable with. Instead, she nudged his arm. "Well, you've got me now. And I don't plan on leaving any time soon."
Percy looked at her, his expression softening just a little. "I know. I'm glad for that."
For a moment, there was quiet between them, not uncomfortable, but peaceful. Tonks took a sip of her cocoa, letting the warmth settle in. They were still getting to know each other, but in some ways, they already understood each other better than anyone else.
She smiled over her mug. "Do you even have a wand?"
Percy nodded. "Yeah. I actually got it the day you tried to arrest me. I just don't use it often."
"Why not?"
He shrugged. "Wands are... a bit of a crutch for me, I guess. I'm used to handling things my own way, with my powers. I never really needed one growing up. It just feels more natural to rely on what I can do with my hands or the water around me. I mean, I can still do some stuff with a wand, but it's... it's not how I'm wired."
Tonks raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, you just... avoid it?"
Percy let out a low laugh. "Not avoid, exactly. I just... don't want to depend on something that's not me. I've been through a lot of things where I had to learn to trust myself more than anything else."
"What a philosophical topic to discuss over hot chocolate."
He smirked, sipping from his own mug. "I'm full of profound takes. Stick around long enough, and you might get a few more."
Tonks laughed softly, the sound filling the small space.
"Here," said Percy, pulling his wand out of his pocket. "My wand."
"It's… blue." Tonks noted.
"Like I said, everything is better in blue."
As if to prove his point, Tonks' hair changed from pink to a deep blue. "Huh," she said. "Reckon it suits me?"
"Nah." Percy said. "Pink suits you better. It's more you, you know? Bold. Impossible to ignore. Blue's obviously superior, but it doesn't suit you."
Tonks arched an eyebrow, smirking. "Impossible to ignore, am I? Careful, Jackson, that almost sounded like a compliment."
"Don't let it go to your head," Percy shot back. "But yeah, you pull off pink like nobody else could. Even your personality's pink, loud, bright, slightly chaotic."
Tonks pretended to consider this, twirling a strand of her now-blue hair. "Loud and chaotic, huh? And here I thought I was the picture of grace and subtlety."
Percy snorted into his mug. "Are we forgetting that you tripped over me at least three times on the way here?"
Instead of dignifying the statement with a response, Tonks shoved Percy.
"How mature," he muttered.
She stuck out her tongue.
Tonks decided she really liked talking to Percy. It wasn't forced or awkward, just easy. She liked that about being around Percy. Even with the walls he had, there was a kind of quiet comfort in his presence.
Her eyes wandered, taking in the few hints of his personality scattered around the room. A small collection of books on a shelf - mostly about mythology, she noted - a sturdy, slightly battered duffel bag by the door, and a… was that a shield on the back of the chair?
"So," she said, leaning forward, "are you going to keep walking around with that broody 'man of mystery' thing, or are you finally going to let me in on what's going on in that head of yours?"
Percy's smirk faltered, and he looked down at his mug. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to brush her off with another quip, but then he sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"It's... complicated," he said finally.
"Complicated's fine," Tonks replied. "I'm a quick study."
He hesitated. "Later, Pinky. Later."
Her shoulders sagged. "I understand."
Percy wrapped her in a hug, and they stayed like that, for a while.
Just the two of them.
Another chapter I am not sure of. But hey, the plot's progressing, and Percy and Tonks are cute.
Review responses:
General Jackson: I agree, it does feel a little forced. But hey, running in an alley and tripping is something I could see Tonks doing. I have decided to leave the past/AU thing up to readers because I can't be bothered having more plot holes. Thanks for the kind words and critique!
KaidoFett: Hey, something like that. Hogwarts will be involved...
surya25addanki: Yeah I know, It does seem too fast. I might have to change that.
Robotdocter: Lol, I just couldn't resist introducing Tonks. I might get more godly vaults tbh. And yeah, Pegasi are rare. As always, thank you for your reviews.
AiyaKnight: Haha, I agree, PercyxTonks for the win.
Ltbutterfly287; Well, here's one of em! Hopefully I will release the next in the next few days.
Ok guys, so I was thinking maybe I write another chapter between this one and last chapter, to kinda flesh out Percy and Tonks relationship. I don't want it to be too rushed. What do you guys think?
As always, see you all in the next one.