Percy Weasley sat on the sofa, as if someone had run over his cat four times, which was impossible because he didn't have a cat; he wished he did, but Cedric had to be allergic. On the table in front of him was a small, empty gin glass. His flatmate, Cedric, and Cedric's girlfriend, Cho Chang, sat beside him.
“You should comfort him; you're his friend,” she whispered, so that it would stay out of Percy's earshot. “Oh, Mademoiselle, I'm so sorry; don't you think I would've, but you don't like it when all my attention isn't on you?” Cedric hissed back. Cedric snarled in response. These confrontations came as a shock because no one who knew them from the school year expected their relationship to devolve this way.
Cho Chang scrunched her nose, "Should've chosen Harry," she snarled back. "Don't even start here, Cho." Their voices were just getting louder as they went.
“You're an asshat.”
“You're the one to talk.”
“Don't you have manners to talk to ladies, Cedric?”
“I'll talk with manners when I see one.”
“Oh, then what am I?”
“A fucking pain in my fucking ass.”
“You used to be so nice, Cedric."
“You used to be bearable!”
“Shut up!”
“No, you shut up!”
“Why don't you?”
“No, why don't you ?”
"You know what? This is it; I'll just accept the date offer from Roger Davies," she said as she stood up, irritated. "You kept his phone number!" Cedric exclaimed. From the outside, this appeared to be a child's battle.
"Of course I did; after all, he's been nice to me, unlike some people." She responded with a scathing sneer and walked away without even the slightest backward glance. Cedric smashed his head into the wall behind them, chanting 'Idiot' over and over again.
“Stop that, Cedric; you'll hurt your head,” Percy urged, that gloomy look still in his eyes. "At the very least, you won't leave me," he groaned, collapsing into his seat.
"Apparently, that was the last of the gin." Percy stated as he turned the little glass upside down. He put it back on the table where it would rust for eternity, which wasn't possible because it was glass, but oh well.
"Our girlfriends abandoned us on the same day. What luck," Cedric lamented, sinking more. “Cho? I can see her doing something like this, but what about Penelope? I must say, I never considered that; I thought your relationship was doing great."
“Me too, but apparently not.”
“I must confess, I was a bit envious of your relationship.”
“She first suggested this sweet idea of a double date and then broke up with me the same day, before the date.”
Cedric put a hand on Percy's shoulder as a sense of understanding flew between them. A thud on their tables greeted them both. They turned to see two large glasses of beer waiting to be consumed, as well as the bartender standing behind the tall glasses with a smirk and a tray in her hands.
“Drink up, sweeties; you'll need it." The genial bartender said “It's on the house.” She responded to the unspoken question and gestured for them to take a sip. Cedric and Percy exchanged a brief look before grabbing the drinks.
They took one sip.
Two sips.
Three sips
Four sips.
The whole glass.
“I need more,” Percy warily told Cedric. “Me too.” Cedric responded.
The bartender put two more glasses in front of them, which they gulped down as quickly as the previous ones. Glasses started to pile up. Percy had three glasses, and Cedric had six. Percy's system handled it well; Cedric, on the other hand, felt compelled to act. Something far too strange, though; he's certainly thought of it once or twice and then threw the thought in the bin.
"It appears that my job here is complete." She exited with a soft laugh and a wave of her hand.
Cedric studied Percy, his gaze tracing each feature. His gaze moved from Percy's eyes to his lips. Percy's blue eyes gleamed in the dim light, and his lips appeared to be very inviting.
“Why're you looking at me like that?” Percy asked. Instead of responding, Cedric tugged on Percy's collar and pulled him closer. Instead of answering, Cedric yanked Percy's collar closer to him. "Percy, please let me kiss you just once." As their noses came into contact, Cedric whined. Percy looked flabbergasted at the words Cedric had uttered, a look that could be associated with the first cow to be milked.
“Wha—what did you just say?” he stammered. “Please let me kiss you.” Cedric responded, slurring the word 'kiss'.
“You've had one too many drinks, Ced.”
“No, I want to kiss you! Tell me, do you want me to kiss me or not? I'll back off if you say no!”
“Cedric, there's no need to shout; I'm sure it's because you've had more drinks than you should—”
“No, answer me!”
“I-I-”
“Yeah?”
“I don't know....”
Cedric pouted his lips, wanting a clear yes or no. “Don't do this to me,” he cried out, causing a few heads to turn. “Cedric, people are looking.” Percy persuaded. Cedric pouted even more as he shook his head.
“No, non, no, no, tell me a clear answer, Percival Weasley.” He had now started to snivel. “Cedric, you're a good boy, right?” Percy asked, unsure of what to say. Why am I talking to him like he's a baby? He questioned his life choices.
Cedric, still pouting, nodded. “Yes?” Percy inquired, and Cedric nodded once more. "No, you're not; good boys don't make a fuss."
"Yes, I am,” he grumbled.
"No, you're not.”
“I am!”
“Then don't make a fuss, Ced.”
"No, you tell me clearly what you want!" he grumbled, crossing his arms and turning away. "Cedric, Cedric, Cedric." Percy tried to persuade Cedric once more.
“No.”
“How about we go home and discuss?”
“No, you tell me here; I'm not going anywhere.”
“What if I carry you?” Percy offered. Cedric gave it a thought, sinking into the seat. Percy sighed in relief when Cedric nodded. Percy got up from the sofa, ready to leave, leaving the money for the gin on the table and a generous tip.
Percy turned around “C'mon.”
“Not on the back,” Cedric replied, smiling cheekily.
"Then how?" Percy inquired. Cedric kept a cheeky grin on his face and began to swing on his toes. Percy sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh, alright." He shouted this while spinning around. Cedric put his arms around Percy's neck and his legs around Percy's waist.
“Jesus, you're heavy.”
“Don't complain now.” Cedric replied, resting his chin on Percy's shoulder. Percy put his left arm below Cedric's buttocks (there is literally no better way to put this) for support and his right arm on Cedric's back.
"Okay, let's get out of here.” Percy said it breathily. He cautiously proceeded out of the door, feeling far too embarrassed. It would be very luxurious to be Cedric right now, with no care, just burying his face in Percy's chest. Percy walked carefully on the road, fearful that a single misstep would land them in a gutter somewhere. He gently stroked Cedric's silken tresses; he hadn't said anything since. No cabs would stop, which meant walking back home. Slowly, Percy lowered the hand caressing Cedric's hair, assuming he had fallen asleep.
“Mhm, why'd you stop? It felt so good."
“You're still awake?”
“Yes, now run your fingers through my hair,” he commanded. “For a good boy, you're very demanding.” Percy teased.
“I am a good boy.”
“Sure, you are.”
“I am!”
“Whatever you say.”
“But I am!”
“Alright.”
“You're mean.”
“Thank you.”
“Hmph.”
“Aww.”
“Shut up.”
“You're the one talking; I'm just replying.”
“Run your fingers through my hair again, please.”
“How nice of you to ask politely.”
“Pleaseee.”
“Alright, Alright.” Percy said, resuming caressing Cedric's hair. Percy felt his mind clear up a bit as the chilling winds hit. The cars zoomed past them, leaving a buzz in their ears. The lights blurred, leaving Cedric feeling fully satisfied. If this became a routine, it would fill up the space of a cat in Percy's heart.
“Let me ask you again, Percy, will you kiss me?”
“You're not going to let go of that?”
“Nope.”
“Alright, get down.”
“Hey, you can't leave me stranded here!”
“I'm not going to leave you.”
“Then what will you do?”
“Kiss you.” Percy said. Cedric's heart skipped a beat. Had he heard right? Cedric could hear cars passing by at the speed of his stomach flipping. He cleared his throat to catch Percy's full attention.
“Really?” he asked suspiciously.
“Yes, yes, Cedric.”
Cedric jumped down as Percy let go of him. Cedric took Percy's support so that he didn't trip and fall. Cedric looked into Percy's deep eyes, his arms still wrapped around his neck. Percy slid his right hand next to Cedric's cheek, tracing Cedric's cheekbones using his thumb. Percy's hot breath scorched the now-cold Cedric's face, returning warmth. Cedric felt like he'd decay before getting to kiss Percy, and the wait seemed interminable. Percy finally locked his lips with Cedric's. Cedric closed his eyes, praying this wasn't just another dream. Instead of pulling away, Percy deepened the kiss. His euphoria was reaching new heights. Cedric was now brushing his fingers through the other person's hair. Percy rocked Cedric's head with his hand and tightened his grip on Cedric's waist, drawing him further closer.
They stood there by the side of the road, making out, not caring about the world they were in for a minute. Cedric had never felt like this with Cho Chang before; kissing Percy was much better than he imagined. The warmth, the satisfaction, the softness It was simply intoxicating.