Third Person's POV.
Once again, the atmosphere in the apartment returned to a relieved and domestic feeling. Gemini, humming softly, laid out three pristine plates on the gleaming kitchen island. Percy, taking on the oddly simple task of toasting bread with meticulous focus, stood by the counter, while Alexis, still processing the bizarre shift from the looming threats to a casual Sunday morning breakfast, hovered uncertainly, clutching her almost empty coffee mug.
"So," Alexis began, watching Gemini gracefully whisking eggs, a gesture far removed from the morning's drama. "You're Percy's...friend who lives here now? I'm Alexis. You can call me Lex. And please, accept my sincere apology for nearly strangling you earlier; I was high on cortisol, and you just looked so soft. No wonder Mark wouldn't stop talking about you."
Gemini laughed, a bright, clear sound that dissolved the last remnants of tension. "I'm Gemini, and you're forgiven. It was a very enthusiastic hug. And yes, I live here now. And no, I'm definitely not just his 'friend.' We're together." He grinned, his eyes catching Percy's over the rising steam of the toaster.
Percy slid a piece of perfectly browned toast onto Gemini's plate. His earlier amusement vanished, replaced by a proprietary edge.
"He's mine, so keep your hands to yourself, Lex. I seriously need to talk to Mark, he keeps yapping about him to everyone. Your brother is so annoying."
Alexis finally settled onto a stool, resting her chin in her hand, suddenly viewing the couple with a fascinated interest, as if they were a rare sociological study.
"I'm sorry, I'm going to sound nosy, but my mother completely ruined my social filter a long time ago. How do you two...manage? You're so calm." She looked piercingly at Percy before turning to Gemini. "I haven't seen Percy this calm and happy since...ever. It's truly unnerving, in a good way."
Percy, who was meticulously spreading jam on his toast, stopped. He glanced at Gemini, and there was a moment of understanding and in the look they exchanged—a moment that spoke volumes without a single word.
"It's not managing, Alexis, we're just living our lives." Percy answered simply, his voice low and firm. He walked over to Gemini, gently adjusting a stray curl that had fallen across his forehead. "Being with Gemini gives me perspective. He reminds me there's a world beyond ours. No one can take this away from us because it's ours, and it exists outside of societal influence." He leaned down and pressed a soft, possessive kiss to Gemini's temple.
Gemini blushed slightly under the display of affection but didn't pull away. "And Percy is always there for me," he countered, turning the whisk off with a final click. "He makes sure I eat, he nags me about sleeping, and he even tries to do my laundry—even though he's terrible at it, but he means well."
Alexis shook her head, a genuine, wide smile finally replacing the stress lines. "Wow. The ice king has melted. This is seriously unsettling, but in the best way possible. I feel like I need to document this for posterity." She picked up her fork, suddenly ravenous. "Okay, less talk about this beautiful love you two have going on—I'm getting jealous—let's just talk about food or something. This omelet smells incredible, Gemini."
Percy chuckled quietly, the sound deep and resonant, and Gemini's cheeks flushed a deeper pink. The rest of the meal was surprisingly relaxed. Gemini and Alexis traded playful jabs about Percy's intense personality, cementing a fast, easy friendship over shared scrambled eggs. Percy mostly listened, occasionally interjecting a defensive, but clearly affectionate, retort. The looming threat of his mother was still out there, a shadow at the edges, but in the sunlit, peaceful kitchen, it felt distant. The unanimous decision of the board and the absolute solidity of his relationship acted as twin, impenetrable shields.
"Seriously, thank you for coming by, Alexis," Percy said as Alexis gathered her purse and briefcase, looking fully rejuvenated and ready to face the financial world. "It was good to hear it from you directly."
"Anytime," Alexis replied, already heading for the door. She stopped suddenly and turned back, her voice dropping to a mockingly serious tone. "Just one piece of advice, Gemini: never, ever let him buy you clothes without supervision. His taste is too extravagant. You'll end up exclusively wearing cashmere."
Gemini glanced down at his actual heather-grey cashmere joggers. "Too late, Lex. Way too late."
Alexis laughed, a bright, relieved sound. "Then you're doomed. See you later, you two. Give me a call the second your mother tries anything funny."
Percy closed the door after her, the quiet immediately returning to the apartment. He turned back to find Gemini stacking the plates, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"So," Gemini said, wiping down the marble counter, his mind returning to the earlier conversation. "She can only try to threaten us? No real damage to Aethel?"
Percy walked up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his chin on his shoulder, drawing him into a warm, grounding hug.
"No real damage to the company. Just annoyance. My guess is she'll try to use the media to spin a narrative about me being an 'unstable prodigal son' who abandoned the family's legacy. Are you ready for some bad press, Bunny?"
Gemini settled back against Percy's chest, his conviction firm. "I'm not going anywhere," he replied, his voice a quiet anchor in the brewing storm.