Six Crimson Seeds (A VegasPete Persephone AU)

Chapter 20: Red Thread

    "You okay?" Tay asked, handing Pete a glass of champagne. Pete downed it quickly, grimacing at the taste. He never had liked alcohol. "Is that my answer?"

Pete closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "I saw him. Vegas. He's here now."

"Ah," Tay hummed, knocking back his own drink. "Did you talk to him?"

"Enough to tell him we don't have anything to talk about."

"Pete..."

"I know, I know!" Pete quipped. "Vegas kissed Porsche because Time and Tawan were making everyone jealous. I know. You don't have to tell me again."

"So what's the problem?"

"It's everything else. He made me feel like shit before he left. And I'm trying to move on."

"Are you trying to move on or are you trying to leave room in case Porsche can break the curse?"

Pete frowned so hard his dimples emerged. He appreciated Tay's friendship, but also despised that Tay would call him out unlike the others. During the months Vegas had been gone, Pete and Tay had stumbled upon Kim, Macau, and Chay having a secret meeting. After some discussion, Kim had let them both in on the fact that Vegas had a curse on him, which was why he had to leave for six months every year, but Tankhun may have given them a way to break it. Macau and Chay had shared a look, but Pete didn't question it, too focused on the fact that they were talking about the prophecy he had been obsessing over. Kim had told them it needed to be kept a secret. Porsche had been left out for obvious reasons, and Kinn had been left out because he seemed to have a crush on Porsche, even though he was denying it.

Pete, of course, had pondered over his own possible role in the prophecy, but he still hesitated to share his mark with the others. He had hidden it so long it felt awkward by then, and no one asked. Instead, Pete had pulled Chay aside one day and asked him if he had any information. Macau had said that Chay sometimes had prophecies. Chay said he would let him know if he did, and Pete didn't have to wait long. The following week, Chay told him that he had seen Pete crying over Vegas, but he had seen Porsche and Vegas kissing. Chay was clearly upset at telling Pete what he had seen, but Pete assured him he appreciated his honesty. It seemed as if the prophecy wasn't about him, after all, but Porsche's mark. Pete by Vegas's side seemed to signal doom, on the other hand. Pete just wanted Vegas to be free from his yearly prison, that was all. Kim had said it was urgent, and that the curse needed to be broken soon or there would be no point.

It had torn Pete up to be away from Vegas for so long, and seeing Vegas staring at him so soft and so nervous in the garden almost had Pete calling the whole thing quits. Vegas had looked so fragile and sad but determined when he found Pete sitting and laughing with Pol. Pete wanted to just leap to his feet and wrap Vegas in a warm hug to never let him go again. Instead, he had snapped at Vegas. He could leave no room for hope in Vegas's heart. There wasn't time for that. They had less than two years, less than a year really, to make Vegas and Porsche fall in love.

That was what Pete was willing to do. He was willing to fade into a memory, letting Vegas live cradled in the recesses of his heart, if it meant Vegas could be free to stay aboveground with the rest of them.

For Vegas, he could sacrifice anything.

Pete had spent the winter months focusing on himself, as well. He had gotten closer with his friends and excelled in his studies. He met with Chan regularly so he could improve his stamina. After blacking out at the garden party, Pete knew he needed to work harder to be able to take care of his friends. He needed to be stronger.

Pete had even made friends with Pol. He didn't have powers, but his mother had the mark of Thalia. According to Pol, that mostly meant she was a riot at parties. It also meant he could be in on the family secret.