WISHLISTS: Black Sheep (Percy/Oliver)

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

Author: sabethea
Recipient: kiertorata
Title: Black Sheep
Pairing: Percy/Oliver
Request/Prompt Used: hidden relationship
Rating: Gen/PG
Word Count/Art Medium: 466 words
Summary: Percy just wants his family to accept him.




After everything else, the last thing Percy wants to be doing is hiding something new from his family.

At the same time… He’s been the black sheep for so long. The rule-follower in Gryffindor, the one who believed the Ministry above Harry Potter, the one who never fitted in. He doesn’t want to add ‘the gay one’ to that list – not yet, not now, so soon after the war. It’s been a year, but the scars still linger, even if everyone does seem to be moving forward.

Bill and Fleur’s daughter was born a few months ago. Charlie’s back with his dragons, which have a hold on his heart stronger than any person. Ron and Hermione have stopped dancing round each other and are dating in earnest; Percy’s expecting an engagement ring any day. Harry looks at Ginny with stars in his eyes (and Percy has to remind himself sternly that his sister is old enough to look after herself and doesn’t need his interference, however natural it might seem to do so). Even George is beginning to look at Angelina with an expression Percy recognises.

It’s the expression he knows is on his own face every time he sees Oliver.

Oliver might not say it, but Percy knows he’s upset that Percy won’t acknowledge him. And he can’t blame him for that. Feeling like your boyfriend is too embarrassed to own up to dating you can’t be a good thing. After all, you’d think Oliver was the one with more to lose. He’s the Quidditch star – a notoriously homophobic profession, though it’s much better than it once was. Percy works in the Ministry, where as long as you’re not fucking your supervisor no one really gives a damn what you do.

But…

But.

Mum might be glad enough to have him back in the fold that she would forgive the lack of grandchildren that a gay relationship implies. Dad is usually mellow about most things. But Bill, with his Veela wife and his new daughter? Would he freak out about having a gay bloke around her, around them? George… Percy’s not sure how (or sometimes whether) George has forgiven him for Fred’s death: he hasn’t forgiven himself. He doesn’t want to add any more fuel to the flames. The youngest two have never liked him much, especially after what he said about Harry. (Percy doesn’t like himself much for that, either.) He can imagine Ron turning and going “And you’re a poof as well, then?” in that scathing tone of voice his younger brother can use on occasion.

No. For now – and it is for now, not forever, Percy tells himself as well as Oliver – it’s best to keep it secret. It’s just the way it is, when you’re the black sheep of your family.

Comments

[kiertorata.livejournal.com]

Oh no! How heartbreaking. But Percy's thoughts and feelings are completely legitimate and relatable. I love how you explored a more homophobic wizarding world (we all love the sunshine and rainbows, everybody is gay -universe, but it's important to write about things like this too)!

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm so sorry it ended up so un-cheery (but in my head it ends up okay and Percy is just being paranoid about his relatives' reactions, though understandably so).

[too-dle-oo.livejournal.com]

This is marvelous. I love Percy, but I think it's quite natural that he'd have doubts about people accepting any part of his life based on how easily he was excluded (or excluded himself). I do love that Oliver is the insistent one, even in the face of his profession.

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I could imagine him being terrified that he'd find himself outcast again, and that (being Percy) he'd sort of feel that this was his 'choice' as well. I'm afraid I think of Quidditch as being a bit like football (soccer) in the UK, and definitely homophobic, so Oliver is extremely brave, bless him - but that's what Percy needs. They will end up happy *nods firmly*

[fangqueen.livejournal.com]

Awwww, Percy! :( This is so incredibly sad, but so beautiful as well. This is pretty much exactly how I've always pictured Percy, and I can't help but feel horrible for him. I also really like that you explored the more homophobic side of things; sometimes I have to remind myself that this was the late 90's/early 2000's, and while we'd rather forget, the world wasn't exactly as accepting as it is today--if you even want to call it accepting today, that is. Anyway, in short, very well done, and in so few words! I loved it!

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

*cuddles Percy*

Yes, he worries so about everything, and even more after he messed up. I honestly don't think the Weasleys would mind, but I can see why he'd worry, especially in the time period. Thank you!

[articcat621.livejournal.com]

Oh Percy. This gives me so many feels <3 thanks for sharing xx