Third Person's POV.
The sun was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse when Penelope finally slipped through the front door. She was wearing the same clothes from the night before, her hair a little too tousled to be "effortless," and her eyes carried a soft, sleepy glow that she hadn't possessed in a while. She didn't even make it to the kitchen before Ohio appeared, leaning against the hallway archway with a massive mug of coffee and a grin that was far too wide for 9:00 AM.
"Well, well, well," Ohio sang out, clicking her tongue. "Look what the cat dragged in. Or rather, look what the handsome photographer sent back."
"Not another word, Ohio," Penelope warned, though her voice lacked any hostile bite. She headed straight for the espresso machine.
"Oh, I have many words! Mostly 'good for you' and 'you're glowing like a radioactive glow-stick,'" Ohio teased, following her. She leaned on the counter, watching Penelope's every move. "Did you give him a piece of your mind like you wanted? Or did he manage to find a new way to break your own rules?"
Penelope felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she pressed the button on the machine. "He's...persistent, but he doesn't mean any harm. So, I've decided that weekends are a neutral zone."
"A neutral zone. Right," Ohio cackled. "Is that what we're calling hotel rooms now? Honestly, Pen, just admit you've met your match. You're glowing. You look human for once. It's a good color for you."
By Saturday evening, Penelope and Harlow had decided to brave a quiet meet-up downtown. Somewhere tucked away, far from the city. Meanwhile, Percy and Gemini also were enjoying their own romantic night out, walking hand-in-hand after a visit to a small art gallery.
Destiny, however, had a wicked sense of humor.
"The lobster ravioli here is supposed to be—" Gemini started, but he stopped dead as they stepped into the bistro's foyer.
At a corner booth, bathed in warm candlelight, sat Penelope and Harlow. Harlow was laughing, his hand resting casually over Penelope's on the table. Penelope was smiling—a real, radiant smile that Percy hadn't seen in a while.
The shift in Percy's aura was instantaneous. His shoulders squared, his jaw set into a block of granite, and his green eyes turned into an icy glare. He dropped Gemini's hand and began to march toward the table.
"Percy, wait!" Gemini hissed, catching him by the arm. "Don't do the 'Godfather' thing. Please. It looks like they're on a date! They're not doing anything wrong."
"He's touching her," Percy growled, his voice a low vibration of protective fury. "I told her I'd handle him if he crossed the line."
"He's just touching her hand, Percy, not kidnapping her!" Gemini planted his feet, physically holding his boyfriend back. "Breathe. We are going to walk over there, be civilized, and you are going to let your sister be happy. If you blow this, she will never forgive you. Got it?"
Percy let out a sharp, frustrated breath but allowed Gemini to lead him forward.
"Pen. Langford," Percy said, his voice dropping like an anvil onto the table.
The couple jumped. Penelope's smile vanished, replaced by the familiar nonchalant mask, but her hand stayed firmly beneath Harlow's. Harlow, to his credit, just leaned back and gave Percy a calm, level stare.
"Hey Percy! Gemini!" Penelope said, her voice tight. "What a...surprise."
"I'll say," Percy said, pulling out a chair from the neighboring table and dragging it over without being asked. "Have a sit." He told Gemini. "I think we've found our dinner companions."
Gemini offered a pained, apologetic look to Penelope before turning a bright, brave smile on Harlow. "Hi! I'm Gemini. It's so good to finally meet Penelope's...friend?"
The dinner was bathed in awkwardness. Gemini acted as the peacekeeper, chatting about the gallery and the wine list, while Percy spent the entire three courses glaring at Harlow with a lethal intensity.
"So, Langford," Percy began, ignoring his steak. "Tell me. What exactly are your intentions with my sister? Because I find it curious that you're suddenly so... integrated into my sister's personal space."
"My future intentions have been made known to your sister," Harlow replied smoothly, taking a calm sip of water. "As for right now? My only intention is to enjoy this ravioli, Mr. Moore. And I was really looking forward to spending time with this amazing woman, who—as it turns out—is far more capable of fighting her own battles than her brother gives her credit for."
The table went silent. Percy's grip on his glass tightened until his knuckles turned white. Under the table, Gemini reached out and squeezed Percy's thigh with a "do-not-assault-him" level of force.
"I think, what Mr. Langford means," Gemini intervened, smiling so hard his cheeks ached, "is that they have a very strong creative chemistry! Right, Penelope? And it's so nice to see you out of work mode, Pen. You look beautiful tonight by the way."
Penelope shot Gemini a look of pure gratitude. "Thank you, sweetie. And Percy, please stop interrogating Harlow. I'm an adult. I can handle myself, remember?"
Percy didn't look convinced. He spent the rest of the meal watching Harlow's every move—the way he poured her wine, the way he leaned in when she spoke. Under the table, Gemini kept his hand on Percy's leg, a constant action that prevented a full-scale beat down with Harlow's face on the floor.
As they finally stood to leave, Percy leaned in close to Harlow, his voice a mere whisper. "I'm watching you, Langford. One slip, and you're out."
Harlow just smiled, unfazed. "I'm a photographer, Mr Moore. I'm used to being watched."