“Alexi.”

Alexi pauses in the pristine white hallway at Cadet Harper’s voice. He turns and Harper smiles a little awkwardly.

“Do you mind if we talk a moment?” Harper says.

Alexi nods. “Alright. I have a piloting class next period, do you want to walk with me?”

“Mm, this won’t take long,” he says, falling into stride beside him. “Must be nice to be from a Golden Knight’s family. Getting to go to a Nest and train with the robots younger. I think it’d be easier to pick up as a child.”

“Many things are easier to pick up as a child,” Alexi says. “That’s not what you wanted to talk to me about though, is it?”

“No…” He frowns and Alexi’s fingers start to twist into the tips of his hair. “You and Percy are-” He pauses again and Alexi frowns. “I just want you to be careful. Percy isn’t quite normal. Getting too involved if you’re not used to him can be complicated.”

“I’m not getting involved with him,” he snaps.

“I didn’t mean romantically,” Harper says. 

There’s a strange sense of calm about him, always. As if nothing really flustered him. In fact, Alexi can’t remember ever seeing him anything but happy and content, except for that time Percy mentioned his childhood. 

“Or physically, if you’d rather. I simply meant getting involved with, as in spending time with him.”

Alexi shoots him a suspicious glance. He’s not entirely sure what’s wrong with him spending time with Percy. Yes, he’s a little strange and a little whimsical and childish, in an oddly charming way, but he’s not sure what that has to do with Cadet Harper. It had only been two days since he’d followed Percy back to his dorm to work on assignments together. It’s not as if they’ve become involved in some whirlwind romance or lust filled fling. He’s is oddly calming too. There’s something about his childishness and utter lack of propriety that makes Alexi forget his worries for five minutes

“Are you involved with him?” Alexi says. “Or do you want to be? Are jealous or upset over some perceived threat? You really shouldn't be.”

Harper laughs, “I’m afraid I prefer the company of women.”

“We all have preferences. You and Percy-”

“I am exclusively interested in the company of women,” Harper says. Alexi shoots him a skeptical glance and Harper smiles back. “Percy has been my best friend for a long time. And I’ve seen the effect he can have on people. Just be careful.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Alexi replies, pausing at the locker room door. “Thank you for your concern.”

Harper sighs and Alexi turns away, heading inside to change. Percy is already inside, white pilot suit hanging off around his hips, gold accents catching the light as he bounces to his own little rhythm, leaning deep into his locker.

“You’re late,” Percy says as Alexi opens up his locker. “That’s my gimmick.”

“I was chatting with Cadet Harper,” Alexi replies over the murmur of other conversations. Percy appears at his side, leaning against the locker next to him, pilot suit still only half on. “He’s concerned about us getting involved.”

“Are we involved?” he laughs. “Why didn’t Damien tell me? I would have put some effort in.”

Alexi chuckles, hurrying to undress and get into his pilot suit. Most the other cadets are already heading out to class, but Percy waits, still leaning against the locker beside him. Percy had learnt to pilot when he was younger. Alexi wishes he had too, but he was lucky to even get into the institute with his mother’s name haunting him.

“Do you want to be involved?” Percy says.

Alexi’s head jerks up, attention snatched from zipping up his suit. Percy grins back at him as he pulls his suit up his arms. What kind of question is that to ask out the blue? Perhaps… not quite out of the blue, given the way the conversation had been going, but certainly unexpected.

Percy smiles, grasping Alexi’s zipper and pulling it up to the collar. “Think about it.”

“Are you asking me on a date?” Alexi says.

“Perhaps,” Percy replies. “Although, probably not in so many words. And it’s probably fair to point out I’m not an exclusive kinda guy.”

“Is anyone?”

“Damien is. And you strike me as a settling down type too. Or, at least the type who wants to fall in love.” Alexi nods. He supposes he would quite like to find someone he really loves and who loves him too. “That’s just not me.”

“Then what is you?” Alexi says.

“Whatever happens happens, as long as it’s fun. Just think about it, ok?” He zips up his suit and spins before bouncing towards the door. “We’ll have fun either way.”

Alexi stares after him for a moment, even after he’s vanished. What kind of proposal did Percy just make? It’s still a bit jumbled in his mind. He’ll be late if he lingers too long through. Alexi grabs his helmet and runs out. How does Percy manage to be so laid back and still on time for everything, no matter how much he jokes about being late?

He does think about though. Alexi is rather distracted by the offer for most the rest of the day. He catches himself watching Percy through their lectures, sitting across the room and spinning his pen, unable to focus on taking notes no matter how he tries. Alexi also has to regularly force himself to stop tangling his fingers into his hair, twisting and tugging until it hurts. Maybe he should cut it. It’s always his mother who likes it long most, after all, and he’s an adult now. He shouldn’t be held hostage to her whims anymore. It might stop him pulling at it. Percy’s right. He shouldn’t hurt himself, even without meaning to like this.

Does Alexi care that Percy doesn’t anything serious or exclusive? It’s not unusual. Monogamy isn’t really the norm, even in marital situations. Very few of Her Majesty’s children shared the same father, perhaps at least partly due to her longevity, and the masses have always looked to her for guidance on morality, legality and fashion. If Her Majesty had many partners, even a rumoured harem, it was obviously for the best for the majority of people to follow her lead. What Percy’s offering seems different from even that though.

“Are you alright, Alexi?” Percy says, stopping in front of his desk at the end of the day. “You’ve looked pretty spaced out all day.”

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Alexi replies, “like you said I should.”

He picks up his bag and heads down the steps to the door with Percy on his heels. “And?”

“I’m still thinking.”

“Great!”

“Is it?” Alexi says, glancing back over his shoulder. Percy is grinning. “That’s not a yes.”

“But it’s not a no,” Percy says, “which is a good. Do you wanna head back to the dorms while you think? We can get some assignments done, I’m sure.”

“Can anyone get assignments done with you in the room?” Percy pouts at him and Alexi glances away, entire face burning hot. “You’re highly distracting.”

“Am I? I’ll try harder not to be, if you want. Or we could give up on boring stuff like that and do something fun instead.”

“Why are you like that?”

“Like what?”

“You obsess over fun. You totally ignore things like responsibility. It’s selfish and childish and ridiculous-”

“Why should I be miserable and bored?” Percy says. Of course, Alexi can’t really answer that. “If it’s not hurting anyone, and I’m happy, what’s the harm?”

“What about responsibility?” Alexi says.

“Of course, I always take care of responsibility,” he replies. “Have you ever heard otherwise?”

Of course not. Percy’s assignments are always turned in on time and perfect. His grades are perfect. He’s perfect. Yet he seems like such a mess.

Alexi sighs and nudges Percy’s side lightly as they walk. “Boring tonight, fun at the weekend?”

“Are you asking me out?” Percy says with a wicked grin. “I thought you were still thinking about it. I’m flattered you decided so quickly.”

“If I was asking you out, I’m not anymore.”