Decorum (HEAVY EDITING)

2

Humming softly- I set the food on the table, smiling at the small meal I made with what we could spare. I was getting good at cooking. And when I mean good, I could probably best my own Mom at some recipes. Smirking at my proud display, but it was ruined when I look at the time.

"He's late..." I tell myself out loud as I sit in my usual spot. My eyes gluing to the clock itself. He's not usually this late. He'd at least be here by now.

It worried me.

'Percy, if I'm not home 2 hours from when I'm supposed to be home without telling you otherwise, run. Run far far away.'

Were the words that ran through my head as I tried to stay calm-it hadn't even been a full hour for him. Sighing I laid my head in my hand, making my elbow dig into the table as I played with the food I made. Simple spaghetti in Italy. I learned from the kind old lady that lived next to us. With some other things.

When it was nearing two hours did I hear a crash from our living room. I turned quick enough to catch a glimpse of silver to relax a little.

"Win, don't scare me like that." I sighed in relief as I put the fork down. My pen in my pocket, so I don't know why I grabbed a fork as my weapon of choice.

He didn't say anything back. He just stood there with a plastic bag from a local grocery store, he shuffled as he then sat down at the table. His face scrunched up in a frown, his eyes looking everywhere but at me. I joined soon after.

We stayed quiet, him not talking and me waiting for him to talk. Patience was key for him to open up or he'd clam up. It was just his thing, I was hoping I could make better with time.

"There's food," I start, as I knew if he wasn't going to talk now then it might be later, as in days later. "It might need to be reheated. After I'm done I'm going to take a shower. See if that will help me feel better."

He grunted as he picked up his plate. Carrying the bag with him to the kitchen.

I had been pretty sick soon after we escaped Hydra, from what he was able to tell me, Whatever they did, I'm sure is now in effect. But besides feeling sick and exhaustion. I've been perfectly healthy. But it's been worrying him that it's continued this long and it's worrying me now as well but I try not to think to much into it.

Finishing my pasta, I stood up as he came back from reheating his own. I smiled at him before walking past him before he grabbed my wrist to stop me.

"I...take this would you?" He said as he lifted the bag up to me.

"What?" I asked as I grabbed the bag ignoring the slight wince he did as I opened the bag. Because inside were pregnancy tests. "What is this for? Who's it for? Why?"

"You, we...cant go to a doctor, you aren't allowed to leave the house...this was the option I had left to come up with a answer." He winced himself as he looked away. Not telling me anything more.

"Your kidding right? What's it going to answer if it's positive when I'm a guy? I can't get pregnant. I don't have the parts." I rolled my eyes as I go to set it back down but he stopped me.

He looked me straight in the face with his ice blue eyes, he was serious. "Just...just do it."

I stepped back from him confused. But sighed. "I'm trusting you on this Win."

"You shouldn't..." he spoke so softly when I went to turn I barely caught it. I look at him intensely he only looked away with a guilt ridden look. I stare at him as I wait for him to continue. "I'm a monster Perce, I can't be anything but that. What I did, what I did to people and families. What I did to you...what I did is unforgivable. What I did makes me a monster. Maybe even more then that."

Something pinched in my chest as I looked at how utterly sad he was. How destroyed a good man had become. Walking back up to him I took his face into my hands, his eyes closing, as if he couldn't look at me, but he still took solace in the care I put in my touch by leaning in. "To think you were a monster, we're to say that you made yourself the way you are. A monster can be made in more then one way Win. And the way they turned you was not your fault. You've now got the choice to be what they want. Or to be someone who takes it a different direction. You are in control now. Nothing else matters." He leaned into my hands more as if a weight had been lifted. "You have a choice."

When he opened his eyes I smiled mischievously. "Plus, I consider the action of running away with me to mean that you've already chosen." With that I patted his cheeks and walked away to our bathroom.

*****

Taking a shower was nice. Warm water cascading down my back was enough to calm me from have to pee on a stick. Or dip it in a cup. I left it on the counter as I started and took my shower. I didn't want to look at it. For some reason it filled me with dread enough to know that I should be open to possibilities.

Which I Hope was wrong. But most of my gut feelings, not from being stabbed, were on point. Again, not because of being stabbed. I would know. Guess I just wanted to be able to not fear for my life, and possibly more lives.

Sighing I leaned my head against the cool tile in front of me. I couldn't take long showers in our crappy apartment due to the heating and how much water we could use as it turned off automatically. And as soon as it did I groaned in frustration. I miss being in water and we don't have a tub, and I can't go out. The possibility of getting caught to high.

Wrapping the towel around me I exit the shower, then look down at the very expensive tests, as it was electronic. I nearly fainted at what I saw.

I walked out with the towel wrapped around my waist, the three sticks in my hand. In the living room Winter sat drinking tea. Something he usually doesn't drink unless he needs something to occupy himself. He looked up as I entered.

"What do they say?" He asked as he stood up putting his cup on the coffee table.

"Pregnant...."