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Percy, who had needed an excuse to get one Penelope Clearwater off his back, had admitted that he had told Oliver wood he was very much in love with him. They were twenty three, going on twenty four, and there was only so much Percy could say on the situation. He hated to lie. He did.
But Penelope could be a right prick when she wanted too.
Percy and Oliver had shared a room at the burrow all the time they'd been at college, and the prospect of uni, for Percy at least, was enough to warrant looking into gap years.
Oliver wanted to go into rugby as soon as he could.
Telling Oliver he liked him wasn't worth it. Oliver was his friend. Even when Percy had been quiet mean or was stressed about exams. Even when Percy shouted at him... Oliver was his beacon of happiness through trying times.
They'd met at boarding school, Percy was there on an academic scholarship, Oliver on a sporting one. They had shared dorm rooms, jumpers, plates of midnight sandwiches and Percys heavily annotated copy of Pride and Predudice. Oliver kept stealing it.
Percy always stole it back.
And then college; Oliver had wanted to go to a college in england and Molly hadn't cared mych either way about another child in the family. So the case of Oliver and Percy had continued. They were friends.
And, sure, Percy had been at least seventy-four percent in love with Oliver since year ten of school. But that was old news. And unimportant.
He never planned to tell Oliver. That was the truth of it. Never hoped he might... reciprocate Percys stupid, fluttery feelings.
But with Penelope he was able to Pretend. With Penelope, he could say he and Oliver were... something special. Something wonderful.
Like Achelies and Patrocolus. They were freinds. But Percy rewrote history and played it tight into Penelopes ears. They were lovers.
They would die for each other.
They would live for each other too.
The first heros to be happy.
Not that either of them were heroic.
Ginny wanderd through the living room and hopped onto the sofa next to Penelope,"I didn't know you and Oliver were in love", she said. As is she knew what love was. As if she wasn't a child who knew nothing of the world.
"Erm...", Percy frowned at her,"Didn't you?"
"Does that mean you are! Did he save you from a tower?"
Percy shook his head, bemused, and glanced down at his history revision. It wasn't like he was getting anywhere...
"He saved me from a dragon", Percy decided, and Penelope failed to cover her laugh.
"Gin, why don't you go and tell Molly what you've learnt? Look- She's just coming up the drive now, I bet she needs a big strong hand to help her carry the shopping in"
Ginny scampered outside and talked rapidly to her mother. Inside, Percy threw his rubber at Penelope and hissed,"What was that for?"
"A congratulatory gift", she supplied vaguely, and began to pack away her things,"I need to head home, some of us have real romances to persue!"
"It is real!", Percy protested. He wondered if his half of the love story could be real whilst Olivers side was nonexistent. Perhaps not.
Oliver brushed past Penelope and busied himself with putting the shopping away. Percy stared at his frame as it swayed to some unheard music. Oliver was beautiful.
He was glad they were moving in together soon. Maybe it would be agony. But the good kind. Where you leave yourself aching for more.
He had to come clean; he and Oliver weren't dating. They weren't romantically involved in anyway.
But suddenly his family- his whole freaking family- thought that Oliver and himself were in love.
On top of that it was all Percys fault. Every last drop of it. Every bloody grain.
Oliver did not ask until later, when they were thcked up in bed and Percy was positively tired from Ginny nudging him under the table and his Parents shooting him encouraging (yet desperately sad) looks.
"So were dating?", Oliver asked,"Or so I hear"
Percy groaned into his pillow,"I'm sorry- Olls, I didn't mean to drag you into this, I- Well... I suppose I wanted Penny off my back."
"Clearwater?"
Percy sighed in agreement and closed his eyes, as if the darkness behind his lids was better than the shadows of the room. "She was pestering me.. about being... single. And I said the first thing that came to mind."
"I'm glad I am the forst thing on your mind", Oliver murmured.
"That's not what I said-"
"Don't worry", Oliver huffed,"You didn't have to say it."
Percy closed his eyes, as he fell asleep he could've sworn he heard somone say,"It's unbelievably obvious anyhow"
But perhaps that was part of a dream.
***
During the next months, Percy and Olivers twin beds migrated to the center of the room, where they lay comfortably pressed against each other. Neither boy broached the subject of their so called 'relationship', but it was quickly becoming apparent that they were something. At least; according to everyone else they were.
Not that there was any super obvious subtle subtext that laced every conversation they had. No- of course not! Nothing of the sort.
***
Oliver wanted to move to Bradbury, as they had scouted him amd decided that he was such a brilliant player that he must join the team for the coming season. Bradbury was hours away. Everyone (though mostly Percy) would miss Oliver very much.
The Weasleys toasted to him with wine and celebated as though it would not be theor last christmas together.
All of them, under one roof.
Oliver leaving ment Percy would be alone. He would not be a part of a pair anymore. He would just be Percy. Singular. Boring. Detestable.
They had been pretending (so to speek) for many months by that point. Percy and Oliver slept in one anothers arms, but apart from that, all coupley behaviour was lacking.
It was a suprise to Percy (who's gap year was rather lacking) that his christmas present consisted of a little key.
"For the flat", Oliver explained,"Because... well, I was... rather hoping you might come with me"
Percy, splayed on the rug with the key in his palm, looked up with tears in his eyes.
"You mean it?"
"Course, Perce. Wouldn't be home if you weren't in some corner re-odering the books"
The family cooed at them, and Percy felt a flush rise in his cheeks,"I... Well, yes! Of course- I would... love that"
He wanted to say I love you.
He wanted to be truthful, he wanted to be brave. But it was too late for that. Far too late for anything.
They moved away the next month. With an aray of vans and celebratory wine.
***
Percy and Oliver had shared a bed and a flat; a kiss in public (once) because of a distressing newspaper article about Oliver Wood being straight. Percy was satisfied.
But he wished it was real.
They would get home, Oliver from Rugby practice, Percy from his job at the Bradbury Bank, and eat dinner together.
It felt... amicable. Polite. Dull.
Oliver, apparently, wasn't done with surprises.
***
"They want me to tour- don't pull that face, Perce, love-", that was something that confused Percy, the casual pet-names, the slow assurance. The gifts that didn't belong to him. Small kindnesses.
"You can't leave, Oll. I- That's not fair!"
"Don't try bloody fair with me, Weasley. You're the one that faked your way into this relationship. You can sure as hell fake your way out of it-"
"Thats not what I'm saying! I'll miss you, Oliver! I don't want you to go-"
"Fuck off, Percy. I'm doing this for me. For my career-"
"But what about us?"
"What about us? Perce? This isn't real- is it? None of this is...", he had tears in his eyes,"It's all fucking fake, yeah. Maybe I want something real. "
Percy covered his face and shook his head,"Don't do this, Ollie. Don't leave-"
"Maybe you should go back home. For a while. Then you wouldn't be so lonely-"
"Fucks sake- Do you want me to break up with you or do you want me to be happy!"
Oliver paused too long.
Percy slept on the sofa that night.
They had a week before Oliver was due to leave, talk about bad timing.
Broken promises (what promise?), broken families (who's family?), broken hearts. (Who's heart?)
He wanted to rip his heart from his chest.
All week Percy held it together. As Oliver planned their ending.
Their fake ending.
Something here and there to tear them apart. What was it all for, anyway? Penelope? She and Percy hardly spoke. It was fine. It was fine.
But Percy wasn't.
On wednesday he hatched a plan.
To make Oliver stay.
To make him... hell- want Percy? Say yes sto something even if he didn't know what he was saying yes too?
***
At the burrow, for their bi-weekly dinner, Percy stood up,"I have a speech", he said.
Oliver gaped at him. Everyone did. What was Percy doing, drawing attention too himself? Among his family, no less?
"When I was fifteen, I fell in love with the most wonderful man in the world", he started,"He made me feel special. Real... I had the pleasure of learning that he loved me back.
"In the coming months, Oliver Wood will be playing hard, and we shall be watching him every step of they way. I- I want you to know that no matter what you say I... I will not stop loving you"
Oliver stared at him- he was going off book.
"In all honesty- and I mean, there have been a lot of fake shit-"
"-Language!"
"Going on in our relationship, but... This? this is real", he took Olivers hand,"We had an argument, about you leaving. We ended it like children. Angry and against each other... Oliver Wood... You are the most amazing man I know. And... Well, you called me Weasley as though it were an insult. And I'd like to be able to insult you back."
Fred and George gasped theatrically.
"Would you do me the honour of becoming a Weasley? Would you... Please, become somone I can promise never to leave behind. Somone I will stay in bed past ten for. Somone I can hug even when I'm mad at him? Will you be mine forever? Because I know I want you. And I will not stop. Not ever- so Oliver... Will you..?"
Oliver lent in, and grabbed Percy by the collar.
For a long time they had been fake together, but their life- their love?
That was starting to taste real.
"AND BREATHE", somone called from the end of the table, as Percy slid ontop of Olivers muscular thighs, and ran his fingers through his hair.
Oliver pulled back,"You get me a ring, love?
Percy pulled a chain from around his neck and produced a thin silver band,"for you", he whispered.
Oliver couldn't help but kiss him again.
***
When they got home, Percy was inclined to kiss him again. But he held back, letting Oliver ramble.
"What was that- I thought we were gonna split- I thought we agreed- but you... You! God- And now we're getting married? FUCK", he kicked the sofa, and tugged his hair,"Did you mean for me to refuse you? Why didn't you say you were gonna do that! Why'd you have to freaking suprise me? And - the wedding? How am I gonna plan a wedding if I'm away! How am- How-"
Percy grabbed his face and smoshed it in his hands,"Breathe, baby."
Oliver shivered and met his eye,"This is so romantic"
Percy snorted and let go of his cheeks,"I... I was serious, 'bout what I said. I am, like... actually in live woth you. "
Oliver snorted,"Y'dont say?"
"What- you knew!"
Oliver shrugged innocently.
"BASTARD!", Percy roared and tackled him against the sofa,"I had a heartfelt speech and you knew- why didn't you say anything?"
"Because, Percy Weasley lives on his own terms."
"Have you got my copy of Pride and Predudice shoved between the sofa cushions?!"
"Nooooo"
Percy hit him on the head with the paper back and stomed into the bedroom.
"Percy!"
"Fuck off!"
"Thought you loved me"
Percy smiled at his reflection. God help him, he did.
***
Percy was glued to Olivers latest tour interview, in which the lady with the microphone was much more interested in the ring on his finger than the amazing play he had just done.
"So... last year you were an eligible bachelor, what changed?"
"Nothing ", Oliver shrugged,"I was dating last year, have been taken for", his eyes met the camera,"A long time"
Percy gulped.
"I'm actually engaged, now. My boyfriend- hi, love! - proposes the weekend before I went away which... maybe a little bad timing on his part, but... I said yes, of course", he flashed the ring on his finger,"It's all ready set go, now"
"Awwwwa-"
"Please, dear, I'm a twenty four year old rugby player whose knocked out two opponents in the last season alone, and helped win a bloody good amount of games, don't 'awww' me."
A chuckle sounded from his interviewer and the vidio cut.
Percy stared at his reflection in the darkness of his screen.
He was smiling.