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Danni had clocked Chase and Percy in the air and had specifically turned his back so neither Ben nor he would see. Even though he really wanted to see. And listen. Really, he should get best friend points for that! Non-besties would have scooped and Danni didn't do exactly that so he was at least on the best friend charts… right?

Danni landed on the roof Percy was alone on and the big smile and the thousand questions he usually had buzzing behind his teeth faded away, until Danni kicked awkwardly at the ground. He saw a little stack of rocks and knew that was Chase's handiwork so things must not have gone… terribly? [color=E948FC]“So… um. Am I burnin’ ‘is skateboards up or anyt'in’?”[/color] Danni asked quietly, hesitantly. [color=E948FC] “Am I burnin’ up my… idk, camera? Clothes?[/color]

Percy was quiet for a moment, still sitting in the same position he’d been when Chase had been here, the G’raha Tia card in his hand, along with his sobriety chip. He’d meant to teleport back down to the others, but the conversation was weighing heavily on him, and he’d been lost in his thoughts for a moment, only snapping out of them as Danni alighted on the roof. 

He shook his head. [color=ed1c24]“He’s not the same person who hurt me,”[/color] Percy said, his voice strangely calm - the sort of calm that came after intense emotions and tears. He frowned slightly at Danni’s second question, though. [color=ed1c24]“Why would you be burning your camera and clothes?”[/color]

[color=E948FC]“Uh, I mean, idk? I didn't t'ink you'd actually want me ta do it but um, you were real upsetti by t'is whole t'in’ and… and its all my fault ‘cause like, I did a Danni and sent everyone stuff ‘bout t'e ‘ot chocolate stand, includin’ t'em, and t'en everyone showed up and I didn't even t'ink ‘bout ‘ow t'at was gunna make a whole t'in’ and I ‘ad a [i]plan[/i] and you said you were ‘urt and we're best friends and t'at means I can't ‘urt ya but I did and I just don't wanna lose my bestie.”[/color] Danni stumbled and stuttered over the words. [color=E948FC]“I'm- I'm just scared we're gunna go back ta ‘fore Fred cause I don't want t'at.”[/color] 

Percy bit his lip. He’d thought by telling Danni he wasn’t mad at him, he’d sidestepped this. He felt emotionally exhausted, worn out from the roller coaster of feeling betrayed and abandoned by Danni, reconciling with Chase, and learning what had happened to him in the aftermath of their friendship. [color=ed1c24]“A month ago, I probably would have,”[/color] he admitted, as he stared at the sobriety chip. 

And as much as he’d thought he didn’t have tears left to cry, he did, as he took a shuddering breath. [color=ed1c24]“I-I would have ended the friendship before you could do it - before you chose Chase over me. And I-I know that you did it to help, I know, but I can’t… I can’t help this feeling of pain that after I told you everything he did to me, you went behind my back and made friends with him… that I didn’t even get to be a part of the conversation on what would happen between Chase and me, that it was decided for me… I-it hurts the same way it hurt all last semester, knowing that none of you cared about me as a person - that I was just there because Dorian was and if we were to break up, I’d be all alone.”[/color] 

[color=E948FC] “Oh, Spicy. But I told ya, we were friends t'oigh? We were friends back t'en too. I don't know why ya t'ought t'at but I can't really fix t'at…”[/color] Danni, already on the verge of tears, couldn't hold them back but he did bite his lip to keep from sobbing. He wrapped his arms around himself, doing his best to keep from touching Percy when all he wanted was to hug him. [color=E948FC]“I… I am so sorry, Spicy. I don't really know what ta do ta ‘elp, ta make up for t'is. I… I didn't want ta ‘urt ya, I just… I saw t'e opp and I took it? It just seemed ta make sense. I'm so, so sorry. Idk what I can do to make it up to you. I didn't mean ta make decisions for you… I just… assumed… you'd want ‘im ta make up for it all…”[/color]

[color=ed1c24]“I don’t know what I want from him,”[/color] Percy carefully set the card down so it wouldn’t get damaged, tucking it inside the beanie April had made him, before hugging his knees to his chest and resting his head on them. [color=ed1c24]“I don’t know if I want to be his friend or never see him again, if I want to ask Sabine to wipe every memory involving him from my head. I know I want to quickly teleport to the grocery store ten blocks over with the broken lock on their liquor cabinet. But that won’t solve anything. I don’t know if I want to cry or scream.”[/color]

The tears were coming out harder now, and for a moment, he couldn’t even form words, until he continued. [color=ed1c24]“I want to be able to hug you right now, to be the kind of friend you need. I want to be normal. I want to be your friend - y-your best friend.”[/color]

Danni broke into ugly sobs and he hit the ground next to Percy, still giving him a little space. [color=E948FC] “Yo-you are my best friend!”[/color] Danni sobbed.. [color=E948FC] “All t'e friendships are different a-and ju- just cause we can't ‘ug do-doesn't mean we cant. I… I just wanna be your friend, Sp-Spicy. No-no ma-matter ‘ow t'at looks Spicy and ‘eyes, at t'e t'e e-end o’ t'e day, I just wanna make ya feel better, okay?”[/color] 

Percy nodded, his vision blurry. Hearing this from Danni was easing the hurt, easing the pain. And maybe - maybe he’d never be able to hug his friends but… it had taken him time to loosen up around Dorian and that touch didn’t hurt. Maybe he wasn’t ready yet for contact with Chase, but… They had hugged over winter break and it hadn’t hurt. It’d been terrifying but he had done it. Admittedly, it had been following a healing session from James, allowing his body to feel calm and relaxed - and not after a marathon of heartbreaking confessions. He moved his hands off his knees and slowly inched one over to Danni, the hand trembling as he held onto Danni’s hand tightly. The crying became a little harder, the sobs a little thicker - but he forced himself to hold on, doing his best to take calming breaths, to reassure himself that he wasn’t in any danger. He just wanted to make this connection with a friend. 

Danni held his breath as Percy scooted his hand over, barely able to believe it - Percy was initiating contact. It was a rare event and Danni didn't want to mess it up so when his friend's hand clasped his, Danni gave him that squeeze back as relief flooded him. Percy wasn't upset enough with him that he wanted to end their friendship, go back to Percy thinking he was just… well, Danni wasn't that so it was good Percy wouldn't think that. Danni fetched out one of his handkerchiefs and offered it to Percy to dry his tears and blow his nose. Tears poured down his face still and as Percy cried harder, he did too. He could feel the headache coming on but it was followed by relief. He sat there, letting his frustrations out as Percy let out his, and quietly fist pumped into the air. 

A little while later, once the two of them had begun to calm, Percy pulled out his phone. He saw a text from [i]Trojan Horse[/i] and he barely read it before swiping it away. He would answer it later… but not right now, not when he was just starting to feel under control again. Instead, he navigated to his chat with Dorian, and wrote - 

[hider=@Patroclus][color=ed1c24]Dear Dorian,

I am with Danni on the roof and would love the pleasure of your company. I am sorry that your enjoyment of the carnival thus far has been marred with drama that is partially my own doing. Perhaps you would escort me back to the carnival grounds and we might enjoy it together? I feel fragile and weak, but not so much that I cannot enjoy a day with my beloved. 

Forever yours,
Percy[/color][/hider]