Third Person's POV.
Percy immediately called down to order room service, and within thirty minutes, a decadent array of Greek specialties arrived—fresh calamari, a crisp Greek salad, pita bread, and a bottle of Santorini's famous white wine. They ate sitting at the small, private table on the terrace, bathed in the soft afternoon light.
The conversation flowed easily, filled with the excitement of mapping out their next two weeks in the city.
"Pen sent me a list of places we must visit while we're here. And number one on the list is, we absolutely have to do a boat tour of the volcano and the hot springs," Percy inform, gesturing with a piece of pita. "It's touristy, but it's a classic for a reason. And the food on the tiny island of Thirasia is supposed to be incredible."
"Oh, I saw that!" Gemini said, wiping his hands and grabbing his wine glass. "And I want to go to the Akrotiri excavation site. It's like the Pompeii of Greece, preserved by volcanic ash. I can't believe they found a whole city under there."
Percy smiled, loving Gemini's easy blend of intellectual curiosity and pure vacation joy. "Architecture and archaeology—you can take the student out of the university, but you can't take the university out of the student."
Gemini laughed, then grew thoughtful. He paused, fiddling with the stem of his wine glass, a slightly nervous energy returning.
"There's... one other thing," Gemini finally admitted. "It's kind of a silly request, but I want to go to a club."
Percy raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A club? Like, a loud, crowded place with terrible lighting? I hate places like that."
"Yes," Gemini confirmed, flushing a little. "I know, it's not very 'me,' and it's definitely not very 'you,' but I've never actually been to a proper club. Ohio tried to drag me a few times last year, but I always canceled because of exams or work. Now that I have nothing due, I want to go dancing. Just once."
Percy considered this, leaning back in his chair. He hated clubs. They were loud, low-class, and breeding grounds for messy drama—exactly the kind of place he would never be caught dead in. But watching Gemini's genuine, hopeful expression, he realized this was part of embracing the freedom they talked about.
"Fine," Percy said, sighing dramatically, but the smile gave him away. "Just one night. We'll go to Fira, find the biggest tourist trap, and I will endure a few hours of bad music for you."
Gemini's face instantly lit up. "Seriously? Thank you! I promise to make it worth your time."
"You already do that," Percy countered, reaching across the table to capture Gemini's hand, kissing his knuckles. "Now, let's go take that nap. I need to be well-rested to handle what's to come."
They slept for nearly two hours, waking just as the sky began its spectacular transformation. The air in the room was cool, and the golden hour light was flooding their caldera-view window.
"Bunny," Percy murmured, rolling over, his voice thick with sleep. "It's starting."
They didn't waste time getting dressed. Percy pulled a white sheet from the bed, wrapping it loosely around Gemini, and then draped another around himself. Barefoot and still sleepy, they walked out to the terrace, the plunge pool glistening with captured light.
The scene was intimate and spectacular. The white houses of Oia were slowly turning deep gold, orange, and then fiery red. The Aegean was shifting from deep blue to purple and rose. Below them, dozens of tourists were crowding the famous spots, but from their secluded villa, it was a private performance.
Percy settled onto a plush lounger, pulling Gemini onto his lap, their bodies draped together beneath the soft sheets.
"This," Gemini whispered, gazing out as the sun began to touch the horizon, "is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
"It is," Percy agreed, but his eyes were entirely on Gemini's profile, watching the changing light reflect in his beautiful blue eyes. He tightened his arms around him, burying his face in Gemini's neck. "But you're still better."
The moment was perfect: the resolution of old hurts, the excitement of new plans, and the profound safety of being entirely alone, together, watching the world burn in beauty just for them. It wasn't just a sunset; it was the visual confirmation of the new life they had built.
As the last sliver of the sun dipped below the water, Percy tilted Gemini's head back and kissed him—a long, slow kiss that was both a thank you for the past and a promise for the future.
"Welcome to Santorini, Bunny." Percy whispered against his lips. "Let the vacation begin."