It's okay to be saved once in a while too.

       Percy and Peter were walking home when Peter got a call. It was Aunt May calling Peter to tell Percy where his parents were.

       Sally knew Percy didn't have a phone, so she specifically asked May to call Peter, knowing the two boys were most likely hanging out.

        After this call, Percy and Peter raced for the nearest bus stop. Sally had gone into labor.

       They boys were frantic and only got more so when traffic and a monster tried to stop them. Percy was in the zone and nothing stood in is way. Peter kinda just followed, getting updates on his cellular device.

       Traffic was awful that day. By the time they made it to the hospital, Sally had already delivered.

       "Meet Estelle, your baby sister," Sally held a lil blob in a blanket. Paul stood by her side. The look of pride and love on both of their faces.

       Peter had opted to waiting in the lobby. He wanted to give Percy a moment with his family. He knew how important it was.

       Percy got to hold his baby sister in his arms and in his head he vowed to protect her forever.

      Percy was ecstatic, but beat. He hadn't been home since 6:30 that morning. He hadn't been home in over 12 hours.

       Sally knew this, so she told Percy to go home, it wasn't fair to leave Peter out in the lobby all night.

       Peter was standing, doing homework in one corner. He had given his seat to someone else earlier in the evening and had been standing since.

       Percy joined him, and you could practically see the happiness radiating off of him. It was a good look on him.

       Peter smiled at him and put his stuff away. Both boys left the hospital feeling content and happy.

       The sun was setting when Percy's stomach growled a scary amount. Peter looked at him in shock before throwing his head back with laughter. The boys made there way to a local pizza place.

       They chose to sit in a booth and they ordered an entire pizza. Percy's logic was that, on the off chance that there was left overs, it would make a great breakfast tomorrow.

       Peter just laughed and went along with it. He still had a crush on Percy, but he was more than content with being his friend.

       Percy inhaled an entire slice of pizza within what seemed like seconds. Where did he put all that food?

       Peter ate a lot slower than Percy. He took the time to enjoy his food. But mostly, he just didn't eat as fast as Percy.

       They talked about their seperate schools, just some casual conversation, until Peter mentioned Estelle and watched Percy's eyes light up.

       It was one of the best feelings and experiences to watch Percy being so animated, waving his pizza around for dramatic effect. Peter couldn't help but like him so much.

       Percy Jackson was a dork and a sweetheart and a fighter. He had all the qualities you would ever want in a person; brave, funny, kind, fierce, extremely loyal.

       And, yeah, he had some bad traits too, like how lazy he could be, or his ability to win arguments with his puppy dog eyes, and how tough it was for him to let people in. He had been through hell, quite literally, and Peter just wanted to protect him from the world. Percy was sweet and precious and didn't deserve the hurt and pain he had gone through.

       And, sure, someone could make the same argument for Peter, but it wasn't like he was gonna listen.

       The last time he had loved someone this much, they-

       Peter was cut out of his thoughts when a pepperoni smacked him in the face. Not just a pepperoni though, some cheese and sauce too.

       Cue Percy's snort of laughter and Peter peeling the pepperoni off his face. Percy was laughing so hard he fell out of the booth, onto the floor.

       Peter was trying really hard to be annoyed, he had marinara sauce on his face. But at the same time, Percy was amusing. He was the actual definition of "Making a scene"; rolling on the floor trying to catch his breath whilst holding a half eaten slice of pepperoni pizza in his grip. It didn't help Pete that Percy's shirt rode up a tiny bit either.

       Peter was wiping his face with a napkin when Percy popped back up, off the dirty floor. His hoodie showed signs of a struggle; black scuff marks were on the back and sleeves. His face a bit red from loss of breath.

       Peter did his best to glower at Percy. It was hard to keep a straight face. Percy was just so damn adorable. And Peter was pretty sure he knew it too. Would Percy have purposefully gave him innocent eyes, without breaking eye contact and fumbling around for his pizza if he didn't know he was adorable?

       Probably not. But the sight of Percy, staring at Pete, while trying to find his pizza with his mouth, was enough to make Peter laugh and turn away to hide his blush.

       When he glanced back again, Percy was smirking, and slowly chewing a bite of pizza. It appears he had found it without getting too much marinara sauce on his face.

       Peter had the urge to clean the marinara off of Percy's face. He could feel his blush coming back.

       So, like anyone would do in that situation, he threw a napkin at Percy's face. Hard enough to surprise the other boy and make him "ack!"

       Peter's blush was then covered with the redness of his laugh.

***

       They had taken the bus from the pizzeria a few blocks away from where they lived. Peter had called Aunt May to inform her they were almost home.

       Percy was gonna be home alone that night. Sally was still in the hospital with baby Estelle, and Paul was staying with them.

       Percy walked a little ahead of Peter, his legs longer, his steps farther, but they walked in pace. Peter didn't mind though. They had faded into a casual silence. It was comfortable, what they had. They didn't really need to change things. They were good.

       But Peter felt obligated to do something. "Evangeline didn't just abandon me."

       He waited for Percy to stop walking and turn to look at him.

       "I never did tell you the whole truth, about Evangeline, that is." Peter's voice was thick with emotion.

       Percy reached out to comfort Peter, but Peter continued, "She abandoned us because she didn't want to hurt us. She had Janksy Bielschowsky disease. She-she passed away,"

       Percy enveloped Peter in a hug. Peter didn't cry, but he felt close to.

       Slowly, they split apart and Percy took hold of Peter's shoulders, "I-" his words failed him. Instead he just hugged Peter again.

       "I have a feeling she loved you a lot," Those nine words caused Peter to take a shuttering breath, bringing back memories.

       "I know she did, in fact, it was the last thing I ever heard her say to me,"

       Neither of them had a response to that, so they just stayed hugging in the dim light of a street lamp.

       It was late. So in silence, they walked back to their apartments.

       Percy took Peter's hand. It was a small gesture, but it helped Peter. It helped Peter keep his breath steady and control of his thought.

       And from the small smile on Percy's lips, it helped him too. It helped Percy in a way he wasn't totally aware of. He didn't realize the way he liked Peter- romantically, but it seemed that his subconscious was trying to send him hints.  

       So hopefully both boys would become aware, sooner or later.