“Are you sure you don’t want to study with me, Percy?”

“Very very sure,” Percy replies, not looking up from his doodling. Alexi frowns at him. “Isn’t it enough I’m keeping you company? Why are you even bothering? There’s days ‘til it’s due.”

“That assignment you convinced me to leave so we could go play at being dragonic rights activists?” Alexi says, glaring at the back of Percy’s head. “I got a B.”

“That’s not bad,” he says. “It’s a pass.”

“What did you get?”

“A.” Alexi almost rolls his eyes. How does Percy manage to do everything last minute and still get perfect grades? “I’m not sure what the big deal is.”

“Percy,” he sighs. “Just let me study, ok? Please.”

“I’m not stopping you,” he replies.

Alexi glares at him for a moment longer before returning back to his screen to work. Not everyone can be a super relaxed genius like Percy. It’s true, Percy isn’t stopping him studying. This is paper isn’t going well. He shouldn’t take it out on Percy, but not everyone can be so perfect without even trying.

“I can help you if you want,” Percy says.

“Then there’s no point,” Alexi replies. “If I don’t do it myself I’m not learning.”

“That’s not how learning works,” he says.

“I just want to do it on my own, ok?”

“Ok. But I’m here if you need any help.”

“Thanks.”

It’s quiet while they study. Percy doodles in his book and Alexi does his best to focus and get his assignment ready to turn in. He still has a few days to polish it off but he’d like to get the bulk of it done at least.

“It’s late, Lexi.”

Alexi looks up from his work and turns to Percy. The light from the window has gone. Percy’s already in a pair of hideous pyjamas. He smiles and wraps his arms around Alexi’s shoulders from behind.

“Not that you can’t stay,” Percy says. Alexi doesn’t miss him glancing over his assignment briefly. “If you want to keep working, you’re welcome to stay.”

“Thanks,” Alexi says, leaning back against him. “I should go for the night though.”

“If you’re sure.”

Percy smiles and leans his forehead against Alexi’s, brushing his hair from his face. After a moment gazing at each other, Alexi leans up and pecks his. Percy smiles, cupping his face in return and drawing him into a soft, gentle kiss that makes his heart flutter and his lips tingle. Percy really is annoyingly perfect in every way, isn’t he?

A swift knock is the only warning they get someone is about to enter before the door opens. Percy turns away and Alexi leans back in his chair in an attempt to see around him. It’s not hard to recognise the man closing the door. Alexi goes to stand but Percy forces him back into his seat.

“Dad.”

“Percy. How are you?”

“Concerned by you dropping in unannounced, to be frank,” Percy replies.

“Nothing to be concerned about,” General Galene says with a small, tight smile. “I was here on business and thought I should drop in and see how you are. I hear you’re in a new relationship.”

Alexi frowns. It’s about him. Of course. Alexi should have known the second anyone heard about him and Percy they’d be separated. Percy smiles, of course, as if there’s nothing wrong whatsoever.

“That’s nothing new,” he says. “I’m in a new relationship every time we see each other. I don’t know why you bother learning their names.”

That doesn’t bode well for their relationship.

“But, honestly Percy? The Witch’s son?” General Galene says.

“I like him,” he replies with a shrug.

“Is this some kind of teenage rebellion thing?” he says with a sigh. “You’re a bit old for that, Percy.”

“I like him.”

“That’s all very well and good but-”

“Have you met Alexi, Dad?” Percy says. He turns and snatches Alexi’s hand just before his fingers tangle into his hair. “Lexi, this is my dad. Golden General Arthur Galene. Her Majesty’s right hand.”

“S-sir.” Alexi almost salutes but Percy is still holding his hand. “Umm-”

“Percy, you’re being irresponsible again,” General Galene says.

“If I’m that transient with my affections, what’s the big deal?” Percy laughs. “It’ll be over soon anyway, right? You always get so stressed out over things that mean nothing, Dad.”

General Galene glares at Percy for a moment before sighing and shaking his head. “You’re making bad decisions again, Percy.”

“I’m making fun decisions.”

“We’ll talk about this when you’re home for the holidays.”

“I’m sure.”

Well, that was awkward. Percy sighs as the door shuts again and squeezes Alexi’s hand. Alexi lets out a slow breath. General Galene is the man in charge of the Golden Empire’s entire military, not just the Golden Knights. He answers only to Her Majesty herself. There are rumours of a relationship and that Percy, who grew up in the palace under Her Majesty’s watch, is in fact the product of that relationship.

“He's rather intimidating,” Alexi says.

“He's a pussycat,” Percy laughs. “He just worried about me. All the time. So much. He dotes, you know?”

“Is that why you were allowed to grow up with your family?” he says.

“Is it weird there were times I really wanted to be sent to a Nest?”

“Don't all kids want what they haven't got?”

“Definitely,” Percy laughs. “Everyone says it's ‘cause I'm his only kid.”

“Single child families are rather rare,” Alexi says. “Is there a reason for yours?”

“Nothing as fancy as a curse, I'm afraid,” he replies.

Alexi smiles bitterly. His mother's story is well known. His story. His parents who betrayed Her Majesty’s trust and love. The weight of his parents’ sins carried on his soul.

“It's just genes, I'm afraid,” Percy says. “Long story short, my family branch isn't known for their fertility.”

“Too bad…” Alexi says, leaning against Percy’s arm. “Being an only child is lonely sometimes.”

“I had the royal kids,” he replies, “and the servants kids. It's not like I was alone. It's just weird for a Golden Knight's kid to grow up like that?”

“What about your mother?”

“Morgan's nice but she's not really my mother.”

“Morgan?”

“Ah, Colonel Galene,” Percy replies. “Dad’s wife. If she really was my mother, she’d be listed on my files. I like her, she raised me like I was hers, but the name of my biological mother’s redacted. My files say I’ve got two sisters, too. Not that it does much good when I don’t know who they are.”

Alexi frowns and Percy smiles back. He sounds so carefree sometimes, but so sad. He’s not sure he understands Percy any better today than he did when they first sat together in the shelter that day.

“Maybe I will stay the night,” Alexi says, twisting Percy’s hair loosely around his fingers. “As long as you behave yourself.”

“I’m always the perfect gentleman,” Percy says.

“Of course,” he says with a sigh.