There's something about his eyes, I think to myself, they show everything he's feeling. It's something I've noticed over the past few weeks of getting to know Peter. I don't know if I believe him entirely yet, but I'm starting too. Especially since Nico hasn't gone to his drastic punishments like sending me to work in the mine or go through another round of neon therapy.

I can't help but let a small smile crack as he admires the scratched portraits on the walls of my room. Not all of them are mine; it's a sort of tradition to write down memories or scratch pictures of your loved ones in the walls. I don't know about the others, this is the only way I'll be able to remember them without the corruption of the neon.

"Those are my parents." I whisper when I notice him staring at a particular set. "My adoptive ones at least. I don't remember my real ones."

"Ned told me his family adopted you when you were really little, but he didn't want to say much about it." Peter pauses for a moment and looks me over as he sits down on the floor. It's odd, even after all these weeks. He always keeps his distance and treats me with such tenderness.

"You can sit up here if you want. It's a little more comfortable than the the concrete floor, and I don't mind."

Peter stays quiet for a moment before slowly settling down next to me. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, but I can't guarantee I'll answer."

"Do you—do you remember your parents at all?"

I bite my lip and pull my knees up to my chest. "I'm not sure. Sometimes with the neon or even in dreams, I always see the same woman. She's fuzzy, but somehow, it switches between her crying or singing this one song. I think it's one she used to sing to me before Nico took me away. It's actually the one I sang before you came."

"It was beautiful. Sad but beautiful." He pauses and looks down at his hands. "You have a beautiful voice."

I can't look him in the eye or ignore the blush that creeps up my cheeks. "No one's ever said that to me before. Well, except Ned. He's the only other person who's ever heard me sing."

"Maybe once we get you out of here, that will change."

"Maybe." I sigh and feel my stomach drop. "You know, before you showed up, I thought that I was gonna die in here and become another neon gravestone in the courtyard. Now, I don't know what will happen, but I hope it will be good."

"I promise you it will be if I can help it." He whispers and gently wraps his hand around mine. "Just another week, and then you'll be free of all of it."

"Well, there's not guarantee Nico won't come after me again." I lean my head on Peter's shoulder, "So what about you? What was it like for you when you were here?"

We spend the next few hours together, just talking about anything and everything. It's the first time in as long as I can remember that I actually feel happy.

Each time Peter comes by, that feeling gets a little stronger and lasts even longer. He always comes by with stories or trinkets that I hide away. Now, we're two nights out from our escape plan, and my fingers twirl around the yellow flower that he brought me tonight. "It's so beautiful."

"Yeah, beautiful." He whispers in an odd way, and I look up at him only to see him staring at me.

"What are you looking at me like that for?" I question with a crooked grin that seems constantly on my face when he's around.

"Nothing. It's just—" he shakes his head, "—Ned would kill me for this."

"For what?" I question and watch his expression carefully as his eyes flicker down to my lips. All at once it dawns on me, and I swear I can't breathe. All I can manage is a simple, "Oh."

"Sorry if this—this makes things weird now. It's just—just," He stutters and tries to look everywhere buy at me.

"Peter."

"Yeah?"

"It doesn't make things weird. Mostly because, I—um—I like you too." I mumble, and the longer he stays quiet, the more panicked I become. "Unless that wasn't what you meant. It's just, I don't know. Being around you makes me happy, I guess? I don't even know the word for it, I just—"

My words are cut off as Peter's hands cup my cheeks and his lips meet mine. It makes my head spin like the world after neon, except warmer and happier. When we finally pull apart, Peter and I can't stop blushing or smiling. "Wow."

"Yeah, wow." I echo and smile up at him. "You know, I'm glad I tried to run away and my brother made you promise to come here."

"I am too. I never thought this would happen, but I'm very happy it did." He whispers as his dumb traces over my knuckles. I nod in agreement and lean my head on his shoulder as we sit in silence and enjoy each other's company. "It's getting late."

"Yeah. I wish you didn't have to go so soon, but I know we can't risk anything with our plan so close." I whisper and hold back the tears of fear that it will all work out and excitement that it will. "Still, just a few more days."

"Just a few more days." He whispers with a wide smile and gives my lips a quick peck. "Ned's definitely gonna pester me with questions."

"Well, I'll be happy to answer all of them for you in a few days." I smile and watch as he lingers at the window. "Now go before the Watchers start patrolling and catch you. We need to avoid suspicion for a until it's time."

"I don't like the idea of leaving you—even for a few days—alone in here."

"I'm not a fan of it either, but we have to." I tell him with a sad smile and take his hand, "But it's not for long."

"Fine. Just promise me you'll stay strong until I come back."

"I promise." Peter nods and places the flower back in my palm before he climbs out the window and leaves for the next few days. "I'm not giving up just yet."

It's a few hours later that the Watchers charge into my room with Nico trailing behind them. They force me to stand up and hold my arms back as everything is thrown around, dumped out, and torn apart. My heart lurches in my chest as they rip the false bottom out of my box of possessions and reveal the items I've hidden away—including the yellow flower Peter brought me today.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Y/N." Nico's soft voice echoes in my head, and my knees shake in dread of what he's going to say next. "Take her to the dungeons for now. It looks like she'll be needing more neon to correct this issue and to tell us where she got these."

"No." I say with a strength I can barely feel. "You can try, but I'm not breaking this time."

Nico chuckles and turns to the door with his blood red robes swishing around him. "I suppose we'll see about that."

...

Peter's POV

There's a sinking feeling in my stomach as I sneak out of the tunnels and towards the small camp we set up out of DEMA's sight. I don't like the idea of Y/N being alone under Nico again. Especially with everything she's told me, it doesn't sit well.

"Dude, you're back." Ned calls the moment he sees me. "How was she?"

"Wh-what? How would I know?" I question before realizing he doesn't know that I kissed his sister. "Oh, um—good. She's staying strong."

"Good, good." Ned mumbles and stares out at the concrete walls. "I just—I still worry about her."

"I do too." I whisper and nod over to the fire. "Cmon, we can sit down while we wait for the evening patrol to make their rounds."

Ned and I both make idle conversations with the others to pass the time, and the moment the evening patrol leaves, I'm on edge and tapping my foot until the come back. There's just this feeling in my gut that something's wrong.

So when they come running back to camp, I feel sick to my stomach—and not just from Cookie's awful food. Ned and I both look at each other in a wide eyed panic and run to meet up with the patrol.

"I'm sorry, guys." Louise, I think, says with furrowed brows and an apologetic look. "We saw a bunch of Watchers dragging her to the dungeon, which doesn't mean anything good."

"No, no, no, no." Ned whispers and breaks off in a sprint towards the tunnel entrance.

"Ned, you can't. I know you're scared. Trust me, I am terrified too, but you can't just rush in there." I clamp my hand on his shoulder and look towards the tunnel knowing it will be even harder to get her out now. "I made a promise to both of you to get her out of there. So you have to let me do that. Okay?"

He stays quiet and looks towards the tunnels, likely weighing in his head the chances of us actually getting Y/N out now. "Okay." I notice him hastily trying to wipe away the tears. "But you better come back too."

"I will, and I'll make sure she's with me." I leave Ned behind me as I head into the tunnels again and remind myself what I told both Ned and Y/N. I'll make sure she gets out of there—whatever it takes.