“I’m not?” Percy teased, his voice quiet against her, a small teasing smile on his lips. They were no longer defined by their houses, and he supposed he’d found some boldness in his work. But he didn’t consider it bravery, simply doing his job. Like the troll.

Maggie stepped away and cool air rushed to embrace Percy instead. He knew he should feel embarrassed, but the lingering of their friendship, the closeness they had once felt - surely she felt it too? - stayed with Percy. “You did the right thing, Maggie.” Percy found himself assuring her, even if he wasn’t sure it was for his own sake. It felt as if the past decade had never even happened, he stepped forward taking her hands in his own and giving them each a small reassuring squeeze, if only to keep himself from brushing the wayward strand of hair that had fallen from her bun out of her face. It had been a terrible idea to come here. But here he was again, making more of a fool of himself - again - all for the love of a woman… a woman he had not thought loved him. But that hug… there had been more in that embrace to give him hope that Percy could even frame into coherent thoughts, just a feeling that perhaps his foolishness was not a fool's errand as he had thought.