Comfort and Confront
A loud beeping sound is what Percy awoke to. It didn’t come from outside but from his own head. What even happened? The first thing he noticed was the banging pain in his head. When he reached up to check it, he discovered, that his whole forehead was bandaged. It wasn’t professional, only something a non-medical could manage. He knew how to do one perfectly, he learned it from his mum. Ginevra hit her head into one of the cupboards while trying to help Molly, and she accidentally slipped and fell. Percy was the one who distracted Ginny while Molly patched her up. He made funny faces and told her fun, hilarious facts until she was laughing so hard, mum had even more trouble doing her job. Percy couldn’t help but smile. Recalling that memory reminded him of all the good times he had with his family. Even if it wasn’t much, and even if it wasn’t always fun, these small occasions were the ones to remind him that his siblings still loved him.
He opened his eyes. Weren’t they open before? Bright light burned them, but he didn’t close them. Percy tried to sit up, but found it impossible, an unknown force keeping him down by his stomach. Percy looked down to see a redhead laying on his stomach, his guts twisted from fear and nervousness. What happened? Why was he here? And why was Percy patched up? Percy bit his lower lip to keep a whimper from escaping. His brother was asleep, and everything was fine, as long as his brother was asleep. He was more than sure he’d get a scolding as soon as George woke up. He just had to get himself ready for whatever was about to come.
His behaviour was pitiful, but still, Percy couldn’t help but stare down at his brother, afraid of seeing him awake. These times were the ones where George actually looked like… George. He actually reminded him of his brother and not a depressed, angry… Monster. Percy despised himself for calling him these words, he despised himself for thinking about him this way. George was grieving, he had to heal, Percy was selfish for feeling the way he felt about him. He’s supposed to help him heal, not do the opposite and be an obstacle! Percy often found himself thinking… What if he’d just… Die? He was completely aware of how much difficulty he caused to the people around him with his disability. A curse. He was a curse to everyone. So why bother? Why be a complete disappointment? Always the attention-seeker, the prat, the uptight, the traitor, the-
‘Mmmm, Perce?’ a voice called out to him. The older Weasley’s eyes widened. Oh, no…
‘H-hey George…’ he smiled, trying to hide the utter terrify in his voice. Obviously his pale face betrayed his seemingly brave voice.
‘Are you okay? You look pale. Does your head hurt?’ what? What was it with this soft, caring tone? Confusion was written all over his face. George must’ve noticed. He frowned, ‘Do you remember what happened yesterday?’ Percy blinked. What happened yesterday? He went out to look for a job, met with Audrey, talked all day, came home, climbed to get food- oh… Percy became even more white.
‘Oh’ he breathed out. He knew what was about to come. Screaming, scolding… Maybe even a few purple marks. Perhaps a slap? Percy closed his eyes, mentally ready. Yet… Nothing came. George looked at him, more confused than ever.
Isn’t he going to hit him? Or scream at him? George’s face went from confused to shocked and despaired. Shit, did he say that out loud? His brother seemed so utterly disappointed, yet it wasn’t redirected on Percy, but on himself.
‘Percy?’ George whispered. His brother turned his face away in shame and fear ‘I’m not going to hurt you… Please look at me…’ his voice broke. George seemed close to bursting into tears, and when Percy looked at him, his heart ached.
‘I’m sorry…’ that was the last straw. George bowed his head, letting out a loud sob, Percy couldn’t resist, he also began to tear up ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so so so sorry…’ he buried his face into his hands. George reached up and embraced him. Neither of them knew how long they sat there, crying in each others arms.
After a while, George seemed to run out of tears, and that just left Percy sobbing pitifully into his brother’s chest. Not like George minded at all. When was the last time Percy even cried? George was sure he cried at the funeral, but after that, his main focus seemed to be on comforting others rather than letting himself heal. Why? It wasn’t fair. Why was Percy so kind? The realization hit George so hard. His brother was scared of him. His own big brother… The one who always sacrificed himself for others, the one who always put others in front of himself. The one who would’ve done anything to protect them. Why was he so god damn selfish? Percy has been nothing but kind and accepting towards him and he hurts him in return? What kind of little brother was he? George never felt so much regret. Not only for his current behaviour, but everything. Everything they’ve done to him in the past. Why were they such an arseholes? Both him and Fred.
‘George, I-’
‘Shh, it’s okay, just let it all out…’ it was George’s time to actually do something good and comfort his brother. He tried to recall how Percy did it. He rocked him back and forth, whispering sweet comforts into his ear. George tried to mimic his brother’s tactics, and it seemed to work perfectly. After a short while, Percy’s grip loosened on George’s shirt. The younger Weasley heard his brother sigh.
‘Thank you George’ Percy whispered, looking up to meet his brother’s eyes. It was full of care and worry, Percy missed those eyes. Those, which belonged to his brother. His actual brother. George’s features seemed to soften even more.
‘Of course Percy. I’m sorry for not being the brother you deserve’ Perce bit his lower lip ‘But I’m here now, and I want to know how you feel, so I can change for the better…’ it came out more as a beg.
And so Percy did. It seemed as if the walls Percy built up around his feelings were destroyed and every bit of sadness left him at once. He told him about his feelings in the past, he told him how he felt when George screamed at him… Almost everything. By the end, he was shaking again, and so was George. Seemed like it wasn’t the end of their pathetic crying parade.
‘I’m sorry…’ Percy apologized again, like any of this was his fault.
‘Why the fuck would you apologize? All you’ve done was good and I was the arsehole! If anyone, I must apologize!’ George muttered, cupping his brother’s face.
‘I’m sorry…?’
‘I told you not to apologize…’
‘I’m sorry- I mean no, shoot, I’m sorry- wait, no…’ Percy bowed his head down. George couldn’t help but let out a weak laugh.
‘We really have to work on that, huh?’ Percy looked up on him, and smiled, ‘And also, on my terrible anger issues…’ he muttered ‘But seriously… I’m sorry. I’m sorry, and Fred is also sorry…’ apologies weren’t George’s thing, but he really tried making it as good as it needed to be.
‘We both need serious help’ Percy remarked.
‘No therapists would be capable of handling us’ George answered, jokingly.
‘You’re right’ Percy laughed. Seeing his brother smile… Something moved in George. He missed making people laugh. What happened with him? What happened with the funny George? The prankster George, the kind George? What happened to him? Fred would be disappointed. Of course he’d be disappointed. He’s not supposed to be like this. He was failing Fred. He can’t fail Fred. Fred wouldn’t want this. Fred would want him to be happy. Fred wouldn’t want him to grieve. Fred wouldn’t want him to hurt everyone around him. He needed to change. For Fred, for Percy, for himself.
‘We’re going to bond together. From now on, if I’m ever an asshole, you’re allowed to curse the living shit out of me’ George stated. Percy raised his eyebrows.
‘You think I’d ever be able to curse you?’
‘Well, I want you to, so… Yes, please’
‘George…’ Percy murmured, his voice softening ‘I could never be capable of hurting you in any way’ George blushed.
‘Do not give me that face, and especially not that voice!’ he turned his face away.
‘Aww…. Are you embarrassed?’ Percy smirked.
‘Am not!’
‘Uh-huh… And I’m going to act as if I’d ever believe you’
‘Hey! It’s my job to tease you, not the other way around!’ George frowned, his face redder than his hair.
‘Well, well, how the tables have turned…’ Percy winked. His little brother groaned.
‘Stooooop….’ George covered his face with his hands, as Percy laughed up.
The temperature seemed to rose in the room, but none of them noticed, as they were too busy laughing in each other’s arms.