Third Person's POV.
When Gemini and Percy finally got back to Nana's house that evening, the front door was wide open, and the scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. Nana was sitting in her favorite armchair, reading, and she looked up with a gentle smile when they walked in.
"Well, look at the weary travelers!" she chirped. "Did you show Percy everything, Bunny? How did it go? Come sit, tell Nana all about your day."
Percy, energized by the day and clearly delighted by the events at the waterside, immediately started narrating. He detailed their adventures on the "public transportation" and meticulously described the eccentric little shops they visited, all the things he bought. He painted a picture of Gemini's hometown that made it sound like a charming hidden gem he discovered.
"And then," Percy continued, his green eyes gleaming as he prepared for the grand finale, "Gemini took me to his secret spot by the river. It was the most peaceful place I've ever been to. We sat on this big rock, watching the sun set. It was so nice, and we just talked about everything and anything, and..."
As Percy leaned into the word "trying new things," his gaze drifted toward Gemini's lips, and his voice deepened slightly. That was Gemini's cue. He discreetly but firmly pinched a small, tender piece of flesh on Percy's thigh, right beneath the kitchen table.
Percy jolted, his eyes widening in surprise, and he smoothly substituted his next phrase. "...and we talked about the necessity of defining boundaries during this period of truce, especially when dealing with complex feelings."
Nana looked slightly confused about the sudden change in his tone but nodded approvingly. "That sounds very sensible, dears. I'm glad you two had a wonderful time. And, good boundaries make for good friends."
Gemini offered a strained smile. "Yes, Nana. Very sensible friends."
Later that night, tucked away in the cozy confines of Gemini's childhood room, the door safely closed, Gemini turned on Percy.
"Why did you pinch me?" Percy asked rubbing his thigh, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he unzipped his heavy sweater.
"Because I had to!" Gemini retorted, pushing his hair back from his forehead. "Were you really going to tell my Nana we kissed?"
Percy paused, considering the question while leaning against the doorframe. "I wasn't going to say that part," he admitted. "But now that you've made such a dramatic fuss about it, I'm thinking... why not? It wouldn't hurt to tell Nana that we kissed. She already knows how much I care about you anyway. What's wrong with telling her that I like you?"
He took a deliberate step away from the doorframe, his eyes fixed on the doorknob. "I might just go tell her now. She's probably still awake. Let's hear what she has to say."
Gemini panicked. This house is freaking small, the walls are thin; there was no way she hadn't heard the commotion outside their door earlier. But telling her they kissed? That was a leap he was not ready for.
"No, don't you dare!" Gemini lunged across the small room just as Percy's hand reached for the brass knob.
He tackled Percy with surprising force, catching him off balance. Instead of hitting the hardwood floor, they stumbled, the momentum carrying both of them and their entangled limbs backward onto the bed. They landed with a soft thump amidst the quilts and pillows. Gemini was sprawled across Percy's chest, their faces inches apart. All breath was knocked out of the room, leaving only the sound of their accelerated heartbeats.
Their eyes locked. Percy's eyes were dark green and mesmerizing; Gemini's were wide and captivated. The memory of the riverbank kiss—the hunger, the deep, satisfying feeling of their mouths finally connecting—surged between them again, electrifying and raw.
Percy reached up, his large hand cupping the side of Gemini's neck, his touch firm yet gentle. Gemini involuntarily sighed, leaning into the warmth. They were utterly enchanted by each other, pulled by an invisible, powerful force.
Slowly, almost hypnotically, their heads tilted. They found themselves reaching for each other's lips, inching closer, closer...
Brrrrr! Brrrrr!
A jarring, cheerful melody sliced through the thick silence, sounding unnaturally loud in the small room. Percy cussed inwardly, his eyes snapping shut in annoyed frustration. It was his phone, vibrating aggressively on the bedside table, shattering the moment into a thousand pieces.
Gemini froze, his heart dropping. Percy reluctantly let go of his neck, reaching blindly for the intrusive device. The screen flashed bright, displaying one name: Penelope.