Hello. Have fun.

He was one of the best things in Percy's life, after all.
*****

For most of the remainder of the trial, Jason sat with Percy in the hallway. After a while, the blonde had started talking again, and the words never seemed to stop. Percy couldn't tell if it was intentional or not, but he was grateful for the distraction. Plus, he was cute when he rambled.

Actually, he was cute most of the time, Percy had begun to realize. He was angry at himself for thinking that way for more reasons than one, but he had finally started to allow it to happen. It was getting difficult to control his fond smile when Jason told stories and talked about his friends, when he noticed the other boy using obnoxiously correct grammar in his texts, and so on. He liked the way Jason held him like nothing else mattered, like Percy's absence from the world would actually mean something.

Percy was beginning to believe him on the last part.

When Jason said Percy's name, he knew he'd been caught daydreaming and generally not paying much attention to what the blonde had been saying. Percy frowned, wondering what he'd missed. He felt a little guilty for being so immersed in his thoughts, but Jason didn't seem to mind as he waved the other boy off.

"It wasn't important," Jason reassured him, "Just passing the time."

Percy nodded, leaning his head on the blonde's shoulder. He just wanted to leave and go somewhere quiet for a while. His apartment was still a wreck and reminded him of Gabe, but he ached for the feeling of familiarity that it brought. He'd been getting hit with curveballs all day, and he hoped he'd have a moment of conventionality once the trial was over.

"Do you think you guys will win?" Jason whispered timidly, almost as if he were afraid to ask the question.

Percy shrugged, whispering, "Not for me."

"But your mom?" The blonde guided the conversation.

The green-eyed boy nodded again. He hadn't heard anything that he saw as extremely detrimental regarding proving Gabe's abuse of Sally. Alastor seemed very confident in his skills whenever he spoke to Percy, so he could only assume that applied to his mother as well.

Jason smiled, glad that Percy was being optimistic about his mother's case. "I think you guys will be okay. If Gabe wins, though...you guys will stay at my place, right?"

Percy lifted his head from Jason's shoulder and met his eyes. They showed worry and a little desperation as the blonde hoped for a yes. Percy held out his hand, and Jason immediately knew what he needed as he unlocked his phone and gave it to the other boy.

If it'll make you happy, Percy typed out, then yeah.

Jason's face lit up at the reply, releasing a breathy laugh of relief. He placed a gentle hand on Percy's cheek. "Thank you."

Percy was about to ask what for when the door opened behind him. Jason's hand dropped from his face as the green-eyed boy turned around to see who had come out. Piper slowly walked over with tears along her waterline. Percy was quick to recognize what happened and opened his arms for the girl. She sat down next to him, falling into his chest and holding onto him like he'd disappear if she let go.

"Percy, I had no idea," she choked out. The boy didn't respond, opting to just give her a little squeeze to show he heard.

He glanced over his shoulder to see Jason on his other side. The blonde looked at his friend curled into Percy and frowned. He didn't want her to hurt like this over something she couldn't control. Jason noticed the other boy looking at him and met his gaze once again. Percy offered a reassuring smile, wishing to reach out but not willing to let Piper go just yet. The blonde nodded in acceptance and brushed Percy's long hair out of his eyes before the boy turned around to face Piper again.

He felt her tears wetting the front of his shirt, but he quickly decided he didn't care. If he looked stupid when he returned to the courtroom, then so be it. Every once in a while, she'd sniffle and her breath would hitch as she tried to restrain her sobs. Percy just continued to hold her, gently stroking her choppy hair that she'd braided that day. Jason eventually joined in comforting the girl, whispering the reassurances that Percy didn't feel inclined to say at the moment.

"Hey, Percy," Piper said quietly, turning her head so her voice was no longer muffled by the boy's shirt, "I'm here if you ever need someone. You're my friend, and I care about you. Okay?"

Percy nodded with a smile as he noticed how similarly she and Jason had reacted. He gently patted the girl's back before she pulled away and wiped the rest of the tears off her face.

"Sorry about your shirt," she pointed out with a small laugh. Percy shrugged at her, obviously not minding too much. She spoke again, "But seriously. If you need me, I'm there."

He mouthed a thank you to her, and she reached up to ruffle his dark hair. She updated them on the trial, telling them that Alastor had been fighting hard to prove the note was no longer relevant and that the judge would be making a decision soon. It had been a bench trial, so there wasn't a jury that needed to discuss the case. Percy nodded uncomfortably, knowing he'd have to go back inside for the verdict. He didn't really want to face his mother and see the pain in her eyes. Plus, Piper had figured out what happened, so he could only assume Leo and Reyna did as well. He didn't blame them for not leaving the courtroom, as neither of them were really the emotional ones of the group.

The three sat there and talked lightheartedly for approximately ten more minutes when Reyna poked her head out, silently motioning for them to return. She glanced warily at Percy, but she didn't say anything before ducking back behind the door.

"You ready?" Jason asked the other boy, giving his shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Percy sighed, not giving an actual answer as he stood up and made his way towards the courtroom. He heard Piper's and Jason's footsteps behind him and held the door for the other two. The three ventured back to where they'd been sitting previously, and Percy chose to ignore the smug look Gabe was sending his direction.

The judge announced that she'd reached a verdict, and Percy saw his mother tense up in her seat. He wished he could see her smile at that moment. He longed for the sense of peace it brought him. At the moment, it would have been more than enough to settle his nerves and help him stop feeling sick at the thought of Gabe going free.

He felt his fingers intertwine with someone else's, but he didn't even look down to see who it was. Jason's point was familiar enough for Percy to recognize without needing to check.

The judge thanked both sides for attending and cooperating before giving her verdict. "In the case of Jackson v. Ugliano, the defendant has been found guilty of domestic violence and child abuse. Officers, please take Mr. Ugliano into custody."

Percy barely processed the words himself, but he heard the clutter of whispers amongst his friends. He wasn't listening, instead staring across the room as Gabe struggled against the two men restraining him and leading him out the door. With his mouth slightly agape, he turned his head in the direction of Alastor and his mother, who were shaking hands excitedly. Sally, looking more relieved than Percy had ever seen her, glanced over at her son.

And she smiled at him.

I feel like...this was oddly anti-climactic, LMAO. Good thing it's a romance fic and not a law story, I guess. I did my best, please spare me.

Also, y'all, idk the rules about what can and can't be a bench trial, but let's be real, this is fiction so I just accepted my fate. But we should be done with court stuff for the most part, so we all don't have to worry about me being dumb anymore. Whoops.

Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter! I have exciting plans for a couple of the next ones.👀

See you guys soon! Bye, beautiful readers!