once you're gone, you can never come back {Percy}

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

A person would think that they could come home from work and school and just relax. Just roll up a J and not have shit to worry about. But fuck, this stupid gossip site was bringing some old wounds back to light and that was not okay.

He'd read over it at least five times by now, his eyes narrowing even more each time. "Bull shit." He grunted angrily at one point, slamming the laptop shut and shoving it off to the side.

It wasn't enough that he was the third wheel to this dumb fucking triangle someone had concocted, but everyone was on him like they knew the situation so well. And Percy, damn, Percy was pointing the finger at him. Not even.

Letting his forehead drop onto the surface of the desk he was sitting at, he let out another groan, sitting still for a few moments just to try and push this shit to the back of his mind. If only his dealer would make a fucking appearance, he wouldn't need to worry about keeping his stash on lock.

Getting up from the desk to go over to his bed and flop down on his back he sighed, letting a hand search under the bed for where he kept the stash to begin with. Just one. He worked a finger on the lighter vigorously trying to get the shit lit. He finally was able to throw the lighter off to the side and take a drag, and slide a hand into his pants.

What the fuck ever. Let 'em talk.

[PERCY YEATS]

Percy had never expected he would ever be visiting the dormitory of Simon Chapman; it was bad enough that he had made similar mistakes in high school (and somehow he could still remember with disturbing detail the way Simon's room looked, down to the stupid, stupid Fall Out Boy poster on the inside of the closet door), but now, as a sophomore in college? He found himself pacing inside the elevator alone, glaring at the numbers blinking above the double doors as it approached the appropriate floor.

It wasn't that he was nervous; Percy did not get nervous. There was no man alive - certainly not a jerk like Simon - who could make Percy nervous...
He was just angry, that was all. That explained the flustered heat he could feel burning in his face, the uncertainty that twisted roughly in his gut when the elevator came to a dragging halt.

Ugh.
"Son of a bitch," he muttered under his breath, squaring his shoulders and leveling his gaze. This was no time to be squeamish, Yeats, he told himself silently, stepping out of the elevator and making his way down the hall. Just say what you've come to say; make your accusations, give him hell for it, and then make him take the stupid blog off the website.

Simple.

He paused for a moment outside of Simon's door - not nervously, just as a brief... mental preparation for what he was fairly certain would be an unpleasant reunion. Then, setting his already rather squared jaw in a typically stubborn, all-to-Percian way, he knocked twice, decided he was too angry for knocking, and promptly opened the door regardless.

"Simon, what the FUCK did you put on the inter - oh, jesus, not now Simon, get your hand out of your pants!" He had been going strong for a minute there, striding with theatrical confidence into the tiny dorm room, but then he'd seen Simon (for the first time in two years), in bed, very clearly masturbating for lack of anything better to do.

He huffed, turning his face away and averting his eyes to the wall, cheeks and ears pink, brows knitted. "Make yourself decent, will you?" he muttered with a small huff, determined not to peek, if only because he knew Simon well enough to know the boy would notice, and then well, he'd never hear the end of it.

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

It was a habit of Simon's, leaving the door to the room unlocked. A bad habit, at that. He'd learned more than one time over that it was probably a better idea to just turn the little lock up entering the dorm. And yet, still, it stayed unlocked.

And this was why Percy Yeats was able to just waltz in in a fury as he was getting off. Lesson fucking learned. Stuffing himself back into his boxers (totally not red in the face) he zipped his pants up hastily. Taking an embarrassed breath, head turned away from Percy, he got up from the bed.

"Shit, man. Fucking knock once in a while, why don't you." He spat at the boy, folding his arms over his chest trying to pull off cool after having just been walked in on at such an unfortunate time.

This was not the way he'd wanted another meeting with Percy to go. Fuck, he didn't even want this kid around, he just messed him up- like, more than most people did. Him standing there across the room was just bringing up so many...gross emotional-type feelings. Eurgh.

"Do you barge in on guys you haven't seen in two years yelling like that very often?" He scoffed over to the boy. That was as close to 'hey, nice to see you again, man' as Simon could get.

[PERCY YEATS]

"I did knock. Twice."

He had regained his composure enough to respond in his usual princely manner, glancing back warily when Simon scrambled out of bed. When he was sure that "little Simon" was safely tucked away, he turned his whole body to face the other boy, arms crossing over his chest, chin tilting downwards in a hostile manner.

"This isn't a courtesy call, Simon," he said, throwing his gaze around the room disdainfully (noticing things he recognized out of the context in which he had remembered them for so long - strange). He looked back at his old rival (well, that was one word for it) and his blue eyes darkened a little as he refocused all of his righteous fury.

"What the fuck is up with that blog that popped up on the internet yesterday. I'm assuming you have to have something to do with it, since I, being a gentleman, don't kiss and tell, and I sure as hell am not cowardly enough to do it via anonymous blogging. You, on the other hand..." He raised a regal eyebrow imperiously, expression angry and expectant.

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

"Yeah. Well, I wasn't- I didn't- nevermind." He grumbled, narrowing his eyes at the boy. You did not miss him. Look at him. Hasn't changed a bit. Still thinks he can barge into your life whenever he pleases. Fucking selfish little- damn, he looks cute mad.

The tug-of-war in his head was making it hard for him to listen completely to what Percy was going on about. He finally realized that he was being blamed for that stupid post on that even more stupid blog site. Letting out some sort of offended grunt, he took a step forward arms unfolding and refolding as he glared at the other boy.

"You think I spend my time going on about you? Much less going on some lame ass site to air dirty laundry that does absolutely nothing for my reputation?" He scoffed, nose scrunching up in dissatisfaction. "Well, I don't." He said pointedly before the boy could get a chance to respond with some condescending comment about Simon didn't have much of reputation to begin with.

"I just saw the fucking thing too, alright? And it's not really giving me any sort of satisfaction either. I'm the stupid fucking third wheel according to that dumbfuck." He hissed, a lot of what he'd been seething about earlier swelling back up into a heated rage- the same type Percy'd stormed in here with, except now with a twinge of offense because he was being accused of being responsible for this shit.

[PERCY YEATS]

Percy couldn't help but smirk in that infuriatingly superior way of his, thumbing his hair from his face at Simon's muttering. It did feel nice to get to one-up him again; regardless of how vehemently Percy tried to deny it, the rivalry on which their relationship had initially been founded was still something that he... enjoyed.

Sometimes.

Generally only when he was winning; Simon was a terrible winner (but then again, look who's talking).

Percy's eyes widened slightly at Simon's outburst, half out of surprise that Simon didn't know anything about it either and half out of a sudden shocked feeling of panic; when Simon took a threatening step forward, Percy immediately backed up, spooked. It was the proximity, the closeness, it set him on edge; he looked to the side, flushing briefly.

"Are you joking me? You look bad?" His anger gained momentum after a shaky start. He waved a hand in the air furiously. "I look like some kind of... bimbo floozie harlot. Do you know what I've had to deal with in the theater department? Between you and Benji's reputation, I've been practically ruined." He scowled.

"So you didn't tell anyone? Not even during an acid trip or something? How the hell did that end up on the internet then?"

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

This was of course the way that they were to get reacquainted, through some sort of petty piece of gossip. Their whole relationship seemed to balance on fuck-ups and putting words in the others mouth. There was hardly a civil moment between them. Not that Simon cared or anything. He didn't need some arrogant theatre boy strutting around him anyways. Right? Yeah. Right.

Simon's eyes rolled up to the ceiling as Percy went on about his reputation in the theatre department, and looking like a harlot, and blah, blah blah. Had he really fucking missed this? Well, yes. But besides the point.

"Well, I'm so sorry to have ruined your precious reputation in the theatre department." He sighed out, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

"Why would I tell anyone? I haven't seen or heard from you in years. I don't randomly bring up little bits of my past, especially not during acid trips. Whoever the fuck wrote that shit didn't get any of it from me." He grumbled back, going back over to his desk and sitting down, glancing to the laptop he'd shoved off to the side earlier before looking back up to Percy.

"You sure Benji's not going around whining about shit? I wouldn't be too fucking surprised." He scoffed.

[PERCY YEATS]

Percy was thinking along the same lines as Simon; that this was so fucking typical of them. He huffed out a sigh, rubbing his temple delicately, face turned away from the other boy in what appeared to be irritation; in reality, he was just trying to get a fucking grip. He felt suddenly embarrassed by them both, by this stupid... whatever this was, and when he looked back at Simon he was glaring vehemently.

"You haven't heard from me? Well you haven't been quick to call either," he snapped viciously, and then stuttered, offended by what he'd just uttered. His ears went pink along the ridges and he added with some violence, "No, it wasn't Benji. Benji holds shit like that sacred." He felt a quiet twinge of guilt at calling what was essentially his relationship with the boy "shit"; he didn't really mean it; Percy just wasn't sensitive about things like that.

He didn't glorify things the way Benji did sometimes. He didn't have the heart for it.

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

Percy rarely got offended by not hearing from Simon. Then again, it wasn't the usual for them to have an off period of two years. Still, he could tell that wasn't something Percy had meant to let slip out. A brow raising slowly as he sat up in his seat at the desk, he cocked his head,

"Well, you've never been the type to appreciate random calls- at least from me." He reasoned back. That wasn't something he knew for a fact, more like something he assumed. Spinning in the desk chair as Percy went on about Benji, in an 'idgaf about him' fashion, he finally stopped and looked back at the boy.

"Well, fine. It wasn't one of us three. So, it could be anyone from high school. What, should we put up wanted: dead or alive signs? Offer a reward for this person's return. I mean, hell. It's going to blow over, Perce-...y." It's going to blow over. He realized this was the first sensible thing he'd said. And maybe a little too soon.

He hoped Percy would stay and be pissy for a bit longer. Lord knows why.

[PERCY YEATS]

It was taking all of Percy's not inconsiderable talent as an actor to keep from visibly squirming at the way Simon's attention was piqued after Percy slipped up. His arms tightened across his chest a little and he skillfully avoided making eye contact, pretending to be looking down his nose at the state of Simon's room.

"That isn't - I don't, well. Nevermind." He huffed, struggling a little in futile to keep the blush on his ears from spreading to the inch or so of neck peeking from the collar of his shirt.

Oh, this was just not going well. At Simon's reasonable argument Percy suddenly realized just how dramatic he was being, and he thumbed his hair from his face, wishing very much that he had thought a little more before stomping over here to raise hell...

Over an internet blog that probably fifty people at most even knew existed.

"...Perhaps," he said after a stiff silence. "I mean, I'm not that upset about it." He sniffed. "I was just angry because I immediately assumed you were behind it somehow."

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

Simon's head tilted a bit more, openly smirking now at the obvious attempt to hide blush. He knew they weren't arguing about this blog post anymore by the way Percy had so willingly accepted that'd probably blow over. So, he had to find new ways to pick at the boy's nerves. He knew the smirk plastered on his face right now could really begin to do the trick.

"Your faith in my abilities to fuck people over is unparalleled." He sighed out, falling into a state of mild amusement sitting back more comfortable in his chair again.

"Anything else you'd like to say to me after such a long time apart?" He inquired a bit cheekily, tapping a pen he'd found lying on the desk lightly against the surface.

[PERCY YEATS]

Damn that infuriating smirk. Percy's glare turned borderline murderous, the robin's egg blue of his eyes narrowing into icy slits. He kept his face turned slightly away, refusing to look into Simon's all-too-knowing countenance. "What the hell are you grinning like that for," he grumbled, and then at Simon's observation he scoffed.

"It's not like its an undeserved expectation. You've never exactly proved me wrong when it comes to you fucking people over," he said, brow quirking.

Percy hesitated half a second, realizing it was probably time to go; his feet, however, turned out to not be in such a hurry, because he remained standing where he was, gaze flickering warily to the door and then back at Simon.

"Yeah, some advice, lock your door, Simon," he said dryly, sniffing. "Trust me, nobody wants to see that display of egomania."

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

Eyes widening in a show of innocence, he shook his head,
"Didn't realize I was grinning so much." He commented lightly, lips twitching up still in a broader smirk. One thing was for sure. Percy was definitely fun to mess with. Getting under that boy's skin was a whole other kind of enjoyment for Simon. Probably not a healthy kind either.

Shrugging off the point Percy made on his tendency to fuck people over, he waited for the boy to either leave or push his buttons back. He wasn't sure which he'd rather at this point. He was kind of hanging on what Percy would say next, though. Was that sad, or what?

The dry comment the boy finally managed brought back the red that had left his face only moments ago. The thing about Percy, was that he knew just how to get under Simon's skin too. Rolling his eyes as if his face was still growing redder, he cleared his throat,

"Never bothered you before." He said kind of off-handedly, not really realizing what he'd said. He did now. ...Shit.

[PERCY YEATS]

"Oh, I'm sure," Percy replied back sarcastically, glowering as the grin only got larger. It was like dealing with the Cheshire Cat; there was simply no reasoning with Simon once he'd decided he had the upper hand in a situation. It was an infuriating personality trait, but Percy had to admit that Simon was never boring, and certainly never dull conversation. The only down side was that he did horrors for Percy's blood pressure.

The irritation that had been haunting Percy's expression and body language disappeared when he saw Simon blushing; he smirked, placing his hands on his hips, lifting his chin commandingly and looking down at the other boy from what was clearly a very high moral pedestal.

The thoughtless remark gave Percy pause, and he stared for a few long moments at Simon, expression difficult to read. Finally, he scoffed and said, "Those incidents were all considerably more interactive, Simon. You're really not impressive enough that anyone could get satisfaction just by watching you handle yourself." So he was being bitchy, sue him.

It's not like Simon had the cleanest slate when it came to being a catty diva either; as always, they were square.

[SIMON CHAPMAN]

Simon could tell the red in his face wasn't leaving as quickly as he'd like it to, and that was beginning to frustrate him. He gave a haughty sniff before clearing his throat again,

"Yeah, well." He was saying as he searched for the words to a comeback. He couldn't very well let Percy have the last word. The moment Percy had the last word was the moment he went sauntering back out of his dorm. At this point he really wasn't looking forward to alone time anymore. "Next time try some patience, if you're at all capable of that." Simon finally huffed back, reclining back in his desk chair.

Cocking his head once more, he folded his arms across his chest, "So, what happened to NYU?" He inquired casually, not really sure why he was even bothering to try civil conversation with this boy. He figured it was that pesky knowledge of actually having missed the boy that he was attempting to repress with a stubborn look of complacence.