Third Person's POV.
The large doors opened, and Percy walked back in, carrying a small paper bag that smelled faintly of vanilla and sugar. He had been gone for almost an hour, leaving Gemini alone with his guilt and the cold remnants of their dinner.
"Peace offering," Percy announced quietly, placing a cup of Gemini's favorite salted caramel ice cream on the kitchen island. He didn't look angry anymore, just subdued and tired. "I apologize for my outburst earlier. I shouldn't have just walked out. I'm sorry."
Gemini's heart, which had been tight with worry, eased slightly at the sight of the ice cream and the sincerity in Percy's voice. He stood up, walking over to accept the treat.
"It's okay. And thank you."
Percy watched him take a spoonful, a faint, genuine smile replacing the earlier tension in his jaw.
"Come, let's sit down," Percy instructed, gesturing toward the sofa in the sitting room. He sat on the edge, leaving plenty of space between them. The careful distance felt intentional, a quiet acknowledgment of the boundaries Gemini was trying to enforce.
"Look, about yesterday and today," Percy started, his voice measured. "I was serious when I said I wanted to date you. But I went about it entirely wrong. I know I can be intense when I want something, and I rushed you. That wasn't fair to you."
He paused, meeting Gemini's eyes. "You said I wasn't serious about dating you. I was, and I still am. But I realize that for someone who's never had that kind of relationship with anyone, it's a huge step. You need time to think about it, and you deserve to take that time without feeling pressured by me or anyone else's opinions."
Gemini swallowed the rich ice cream, the cold contrast to the warmth pooling in his stomach.
"Thank you, Percy. That means a lot."
Percy then leaned forward slightly, his expression shifting from apologetic to earnest. "However, there is something we need to renegotiate, and this isn't about us dating. This is strictly practical."
"What is it?" Gemini asked, bracing himself.
"Your plan to stay at the dorm for two weeks," Percy said firmly. "I heard everything you said about needing to focus, about the library and your friends. I understand the academic pressure you're under right now."
He rubbed his temples, a flicker of genuine anxiety in his eyes. "But I need you here, Gemini. I have my own exams too...and work. I honestly don't think I can sleep without you here. The past few nights, when you've left before I woke up, I've been exhausted. Last night, after dinner, I couldn't even settle down. I won't pass my exams if I don't get proper rest."
The honesty was stark and undeniable, but Gemini knows Percy is a genius who doesn't even need to study for exams but it's true that he rarely slept without Gemini anymore. The idea of causing Percy to go nights without proper sleep immediately feels him with guilt.
"We can establish a truce," Percy continued, his gaze intense. "We will not talk about dating or relationships. I will not push you, and I will respect your space. But you have to stay here. You can study in the guest room or the library all day, and I will still drive you wherever you need to go. But at night, you sleep here. I need you to sleep here so I can sleep, too. It's for both my personal and academic survival."
He held out his hand across the sofa, an offer of a different kind of deal. "It's a two-week truce, focused entirely on passing our exams. Can you agree to that?"
Gemini looked at Percy's hand, then into his worried eyes. The thought of two weeks without this comfort suddenly felt impossible. His logic about the dorm room had been mostly an excuse anyway.
He reached out and placed his hand in Percy's. "Deal," Gemini whispered. "A truce for the sake of our exams."
Percy squeezed his hand once, then let go, the silent agreement established. The fear of what was waiting in his future hadn't vanished, but for the next two weeks, the immediate pressure of 'dating' was paused. Now, they just had to survive the exams together.