In the name of love

2. Date

Percy tiredly sat down at the table. «What are you cooking, Lori?»
His neighbor smiled. «Carbonara, your favourite. I imagined you'd have a tiring day, at work, and thought you'd like to end it more nicely.»

Both of them shut up, and listened to the music playing softly in the background. The only thing breaking the comfortable silence was Lorenzo's gentle humming. Until Percy's phone buzzed. He had half a mind of who it would be, and he smiled as he unlocked the phone.

Adam

Hi Percy, how did your day go?

It went really well, thank you for asking! How was yours?

I had to stop James from setting someone on fire because of their... Differing views twice.

Percy chuckled, reading the text. From all the times Adam and he videocalled each other, he could basically see the other's eye roll and hear how annoyed he sounded.

«Is it Adam?» Lorenzo asked.
Percy looked up from his phone. «How did you know?»
Lorenzo looked fondly at him. «You only laugh like that when you talk with him.- He turned back to the stove.- You know, if I was you, I'd shoot my shot.»
«I only like him as a friend. Stop it.»
«Whatever you say, fra, whatever you say!»

Percy started typing his reply out.

Can you blame him, tho?
Honestly, I would've done the same!

Don't you dare justify him!
Please, remind me to never leave you and James alone in the same room.

Why? We're the sweetest people ever!

I beg to differ.
Anyway... Would you like to go out?
For dinner, I mean.
Only if you'd like, don't feel pressured to say anything.

Percy gasped. «Lorenzo!»
«Wha- he moved the phone away from his face and read the last three texts.- Percy, that's amazing! Now all you have to do is make it the most romantic date ever, and he'll be swept off his feet!»

Lorenzo stole Percy's phone and started typing something. Fine minutes later, he threw a hand in the air. «He said yes!» Percy took his phone back and read the last texts.

That'd be great, I could use a free evening!
This time, let me organize something. You said you like Italian food?

Yes, why?

Because I know a place ;)

That emoji scares me. Percy, what are you planning?

Don't worry!
Are you free this saturday? Does 8pm sound good?

Yes, and yes!

Perfect, I'll pick you up at 7:45, see you!

See you on Saturday!

Percy shook his head. «Lorenzo, I don't have a car!»
«You can take mine. Now sit down and eat, I gotta fill you in!»

Two days later, Percy was driving towards Adam's mansion. He was worried. What if Adam saw right through him and ratted him out? He did his best to ignore those thoughts, focusing on the music instead. Ten minutes later, he stopped outside the mansion's gates and called Adam. The boy answered on the second ring. «Yes?»
«I'm here, can you let me in?»
«Of course, park your car in front of the door and make yourself at home. I'll be down soon.» Percy could hear the smile on the other end of the call.

Percy didn't have any trouble making himself at home: everyone was so friendly to him that he couldn't help but feel as if he had been a friend of Adam's all his life. James was in the middle of re-enacting a story about how Adam had broken his leg to imitate him when he was twelve when a soft laugh interrupted him. «Please, stop embarrassing me.»

Percy hoped no one heard his gasp when he turned and saw Adam. The taller boy was wearing black jeans and a band tee, and the dark color only accentuated his light tan. His hair was slightly darker because of the hair gel that kept it out of his face. Percy had to remind himself to not stare too long. «You look... Cool. I- I like the shirt. And everything else.» Why did he have to make a fool of himself? Maybe Lorenzo was right.

Adam laughed. «Well, why don't we get going?»
Percy took the bandana out of his back pocket. «Put this on, it's a surprise.» He had to block out James's "Kinky". 
«How kind of you, to keep it a surprise!» Adam smiled.

After another ten minutes drive, Percy parked the car in its usual spot, then got out and opened the passenger's door. «Shall we? You can take it off, now.»
Adam slid the bandana over his hair. «You know what? You can keep it, it looks better on you than it does on me.» Percy quickly turned to hide his blush and walked towards the door.

Once they were in, Adam's smile became even wider. «Wow...- His voice was merely a whisper.- This looks like we're not in Vegatia anymore, but in Rome...»
«Actually, this is more Viterbo. That's where my family's from.»
Percy gestured towards Lorenzo. «He's Lorenzo, my neighbor. He owns the restaurant.»
«And when I heard Percy needed a reservation to an Italian restaurant... I owed him, he's a great handyman.» Percy ignored his friend's wink.

Percy blushed a little. «That... Wasn't necessary, but thank you.»
«Oh, really? Well, I bet he's full of surprises!» Adam's smirk made Percy's heart leap unnecessarily in his chest as Adam put a hand on his arm. This is not the moment, he thought.

The dinner went by relatively smoothly, except a few times Adam caught Percy staring at him. But the boy's reaction, each time, wasn't mad or annoyed. He always smiled, and brought Percy back on track. Afterwards, they went for a walk in a nearby park.

Percy and Adam walked really close together, with their hands brushing. At some point, when Percy wasn't really paying attention, he felt a hand slip in his and give it a gentle squeeze. Adam didn't seem to notice it, or maybe it was deliberate. Either way, when he noticed Percy was looking at him, Adam gave him one of his signature smiles.

«It's getting late... Can you drive me home?»
Percy was a bit sad the evening was coming to an end. «Yeah, let's go back to the car.»

When Percy stopped in front of the door, Adam turned to him with a shy smile. «I had a good time, I'm happy we managed to do it. I hope you won't react too badly...» And, before Percy could ask him what he meant by that, Adam's hands were cupping his face and their lips met for a second. As soon as he let go, Adam hurried out the car, only turning to wave goodbye.

«I bet the evening went well, huh?»
Percy's fingers went up to his lips and he smiled. «Yeah, it did.»