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“But, Jason, seriously. He said I’m ‘not his type’, what does that even mean? If he liked me before I'm sure he could like me again. I have to give it a shot.” Percy gestured dramatically as he spoke, pacing through Jason’s cabin.
“Remind me why you’re so inclined to ‘give it a shot’ though? Since when have you been interested in men, Percy?”
“Well I didn’t know it was an option man! Now that I know I can do it I know that I have to!”
“You have to?”
“I have to.” Percy whined, invading Jason’s personal space unnecessarily -as usual- and poking him playfully to emphasize his words. “I have to- I have to- I have to.”
“Gods you are so dramatic, Perce.” Jason rolled his eyes, gently pushing Percy away. “Besides, just because you and Annabeth broke up doesn’t mean that you have to get with someone else right away.”
“Um, downer much? Will you help me or not, bro?”
“What exactly am I helping with?”
“I need a plan to win Nico over! If you were into dudes what would win you over? What’s, like, romantic?” Percy asked.
“How do you know I'm not into dudes?” Jason said.
“Don’t play with me, dude. I need actual help right now. You’re always the guy with the plan so help me come up with a plan.” Percy urged Jason.
“Okay so if I was a guy that was into dudes…” Jason started. Percy bounced on the balls of his feet in anticipation. “Why don’t you try to charm him with your devilish good looks?” Jason teased.
“So you think I’m devilishly good looking?” Percy asked, smirking.
“I just mean, like, dress hot or something.” Jason laughed.
“Nuh- uh! I know what you meant. And you think I’m devilishly good looking.” Percy said, sticking his tongue out playfully.
Jason felt his cheeks heat. “Just do it. Be intentional. Try to catch his attention. We live in eternal summer at camp and you’re the son of the sea god, use that to your advantage.”
“So like, a tank top and those shorty swim shorts?” Percy asked.
“Tank top and your shortest swim shorts.” Jason confirmed.
“Well I guess that means you have to come swimming with me tomorrow! I need a reason to be wearing swim shorts, after all.” Percy winked.
“I thought that you’d invite Nico to go swimming.” Jason said, his face deadpan.
“Why would I do that? I like swimming with you. It’s like that saying Leo taught me one time: ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I just need Nico to see me in the shorts, that’s it.”
“Isn’t the whole point of this getting him to like you again so that you spend more time with him as, like, boyfriends or something?” Jason asked, eyebrows furrowed.
“Gods Jason, don’t read into this so much. You’ll break your head if you keep thinkin’ too hard.”
“Fine, we can go swimming tomorrow.”
“Yay!” Percy jumped up and clapped. “Can I sleep here again? I’m too nerv-ited to sleep alone at my cabin.”
“Nerv-ited?” Jason questioned.
“Nervous-excited. Nervous for Nico, excited for swimming. Oh, and excited for Nico of course.”
“Whatever you say, man.” Jason said, shuffling into bed and lifting the corner of the blanket for Percy to do the same.
Jason tried to relax as Percy curled his body against him but he couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling. He rested his arm gently along Percy’s side and forced restless thoughts out of his mind. Whatever Jason’s problem with this was, he decided he could figure it out tomorrow.
~
Jason woke up with Percy still sleeping, burrowed in Jason’s arms with his fists gripping tightly at the front of his shirt.
Percy had asked to stay over quite often these days, but it was rare that Jason woke up before him. Percy was typically out of bed and getting dressed by the time Jason thought to open his eyes. He gazed down at Percy, admiring how gentle he looked in his sleep. Even the drool threatening to make its way to Jason’s shirt was endearing.
Jason turned to his alarm clock and noted that it was already after 8am. If they weren’t quick about getting dressed then they would miss breakfast. Reluctant to disturb him, Jason rubbed his hand along Percy’s back to wake him up.
“Hmmm” was all Percy said as he tilted his head up and opened one eye.
“Breakfast time. We gotta stop by your cabin to grab your swimming shorts so we need to be quick.” Jason told him.
“Don’t wanna.” Percy whined, keeping a firm grip on Jason.
“Yes you do. Up and at ‘em, bro. Nico won’t be at breakfast much longer and you don’t want the whole plan to go to waste for the day.” Jason explained.
Percy sighed and reluctantly opened his eyes, rolling out of the bed and raking his fingers through his hair.
Jason quickly threw on a camp T-Shirt and swim trunks and walked with Percy out the door.
They had to trudge back to Percy’s cabin with Percy still wearing his clothes from yesterday which were wrinkled from sleeping in them. Although it may have looked like a walk of shame Percy seemed anything but shameful. Nothing wrong with two dudes spending the night together while one of them prepares to ask another guy out- just bros being bros. Or, at least, that’s how Jason imagined Percy’s inner monologue sounded at the moment.
After they made their way to Percy’s cabin and Percy pulled out his outfit for the day Jason mentally patted himself on the back, knowing his plan would be successful. Whenever Percy had his arms out Jason couldn’t bring himself to look away, he couldn’t even imagine how someone would feel if they were actually attracted to Percy. There was no way Nico could see Percy in this and not start to drool over him.
Percy turned towards Jason with an eyebrow raised. “What do you think?”
Jason acted as if he were quizzical for a moment before teasingly spinning his finger in a circle, motioning for Percy to show off all the angles. “Give me a twirl.”
He smirked as Percy made a show of acting like a swimsuit model- which he very well could be, in Jason’s opinion.
“Nico’s gonna eat you right up.” Jason purred. He watched as Percy giggled and shivered slightly.
This was something the two of them did, the playful flirting.
Jason could tell that what Percy really needed in his life was someone to care for him, someone strong to take charge. Percy had spent most of his life taking charge and being a leader- even a praetor- and Jason knew that wasn’t really what he wanted.
Jason knew all too well the compliance with which Percy would react to a little bit of forward flirting. It was just a way for Jason to feel close to him- by fulfilling his needs. Jason wanted to feel close to Percy.
They weren’t gay they were just… close. But Jason knew that friends wasn’t exactly the word for what this was either. Jason mentally pinched himself- these small reactions from Percy always got to him in ways that didn’t make much sense.
Percy smiled and rolled his eyes.“The only thing we need to be eating up is breakfast. Come on sparky, we don’t want to be late.”
~
When they arrived at the dining pavilion Percy made a beeline straight for the Hades table, but when Jason glanced in that direction he realized that Nico wasn’t eating alone. Sitting across from Nico, beaming at the son of Hades, sat Will Solace.
Jason couldn’t recall ever personally having a conversation with Solace, but from looking at him he couldn’t imagine what the two would have in common. Jason knew this thought process was naive, though. He had learned to hesitate when passing judgments on people he didn’t know. After all, where would he be if everyone at Camp Half-Blood had stuck to their original impression of him? Certainly not having sleepovers with Percy Jackson.
He watched as Percy tried to backpedal once he spotted Will at the table, but it was too late. Nico was eying Percy strangely, and Jason wasn’t so sure that this was what he envisioned when he imagined the outfit sweeping Nico off his feet. Percy inched towards the table as Solace waved him over. Evidently, the two had met before.
As Jason rushed to catch up with Percy he realized a fatal flaw in their plan: talking to Nico. They had completely forgotten to decide what Percy should say. Given the look on Percy’s face, Jason also speculated that Percy may have forgotten he had to speak to Nico at all.
Percy was clearly flabbergasted. Nico looked as if he felt similarly.
“Um… Hi?” Nico said, as if it were a question.
“Hi.” Percy responded, uninspired.
“Howdy.” Will chimed in, smiling so brightly that Jason was honestly concerned for his eyesight..
“I- uh. Nico.” Percy stumbled over his words. “I was wondering if you liked swimming? I mean, obviously everyone likes swimming but I mean I was wondering if you wanted to come swimming with me? Today.” Okay- Jason thought- clearly they were not sticking to the plan in any formal sense.
“I don’t really like swimming, actually.” Nico informed him, not seeming thrilled with the interaction. Nico was acting like Percy was interrupting something.
“Good morning, everyone.” Jason said. All eyes flashed to him as he finally reached the table, having walked intentionally slow.
Nico seemed surprisingly happy to see him, but Jason’s shock at the perceived affection quickly faded as he realized why Nico was so happy he was there.
“Jason, thank gods.” Nico said. “Please come get your man.”
Jason made a sound between a choke, a scoff, and a laugh. “I beg your pardon?”
“Percy’s at the Hades table, Jason. Wouldn’t you much rather keep him with you at the cabin one table?” Nico asked.
“He’s not my… man.” Jason said, his ears and face heating. And if the thought of what Nico implied made Jason's heart skip a beat? Well, that was something he would very well keep to himself. This plan was sure to backfire if Nico genuinely believed there was something going on between Jason and Percy.
“Could’ve fooled me.” Nico retorted.
“Don’t be too harsh, Neeks. They can join us if they want.” Will added, laying on his southern charm.
Percy glanced over at Jason when Will called Nico ‘Neeks’. His concern and confusion was evident. Rightfully so, in Jason’s opinion, as Jason and Percy had both known Nico years longer than Will had yet there was no way they would ever get away with a nickname like that. Such a shame too, because Percy definitely seemed to be a nickname person. Well at least in Jason’s experience- Percy seemed to have made a hobby out of surprising Jason with the litany of affectionate names he felt suited him.
“You know what, now that I think about it,” Percy said. “I’m afraid that we can’t stay. Yeah, we were just on our way out actually.” He continued, despite the fact that they had clearly not eaten. Nico raised an eyebrow, noticing the obvious flaw in Percy’s excuse, but he didn’t argue.
“Of course. You can join us some other time.” Will flashed another smile as Percy was turning to grab Jason’s arm and walk away.
“Yep.” Percy said, not bothering with the courtesy of looking back when he responded.
Percy didn’t release his grip on Jason’s bicep until they were well out of earshot. They were near the bank of the lake when Percy let him go and turned to face him, throwing his arms out in front of himself in frustration.
“What the hell is he doing with Solace?” Percy complained. “That nimrod healer has nothing on me. And he clearly has an ulterior motive. Some friend he is. All flirtatious jokes and suggestive smiles when he should know Nico isn’t interested. I mean, he doesn’t even look anything like me!”
“Well, I mean.” Jason hid a chuckle. “Nico did say you weren’t his type.”
“He doesn’t mean that, though. How could he? It kinda seems that I’m, like, everyone’s type.” Percy said.
“Well it’s a good thing you’re modest about it.” Jason rolled his eyes.
“Come on, I didn’t mean it like that! But for real, man, you can’t tell me you don’t find me at least a little bit attractive.”
“That’s… besides the point.” Jason shifted uncomfortably.
“Oh you do?! You do! You sly dog. And I was just teasing!”
Jason shifted away from Percy slightly. “It’s not like that, bro. I just have eyes in my head.”
“It’s all good, man. You’re pretty easy on the eyes yourself.” Percy replied with a smirk. Jason couldn’t help but notice the feeling of heat rising in his cheeks, although he couldn’t quite place the reason.
“Well clearly just looking attractive around Nico isn’t going to accomplish your goal. We’re going to have to come up with something else.” Jason said. “Are you sure you still want to do this? I mean, he seemed perfectly fine spending his time with Will and he didn’t look too thrilled when you interrupted.”
“Trust me, Jace. I know attraction when I see it, and Nico is definitely not attracted to Will. You saw how annoyed he was acting around him at breakfast.”
“Percy, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it kinda seemed like Nico was annoyed because you showed up, not because of Will. And besides, you wouldn’t know attraction if it was standing right in front of you.” Jason internally winced at his wording, as he was currently the one standing right in front of him. Percy scoffed, seeming slightly offended, so Jason continued to explain. “Think of Annabeth, it took you years to realize there was chemistry there. And you never noticed Rachel’s or Nico’s feelings until someone told you.”
“Well then, we’re just going to have to agree to disagree.” Percy said, pouting and crossing his arms. He was always so cute when he realized Jason had gotten the better of him.
“You said you wanted my help with a plan. Now I’m helping you with a plan. What more do you want?” Jason asked.
“Okay, fine, what’s plan B?”
“Before we can start with plan B you need to make sure Nico can even stand to be around you alone. Dude, he was so annoyed today. Honestly, if looks could kill…”
“That’s because of Will. End of discussion.”
“Fine. Just try spending some time alone with Nico.” Jason urged.
“How do I do that?” Percy asked.
That was a good question, Jason realized. Based on today’s interaction as well as the other times Jason had seen Nico at meals it was starting to seem that he spent most of his time with Will. Not only would they have to convince Nico to participate in an activity with Percy, they would also have to convince him to do so without Will in attendance. In Jason’s experience once you were that close with someone it was hard to go anywhere without them. Just use him and Percy for an example, Percy couldn’t even flirt with Nico without bringing Jason along.
Was that just how friendship was? Was Nico simply finding his first ever (to Jason’s knowledge) best friend?
Somehow Jason couldn’t convince himself of that. This thing that Nico and Will had going on seemed to be the same type of thing that was between Percy and Jason- if only Jason knew what it was.
“Why don’t you try going to his cabin in the morning? If Will is going to be with him at meal time then you’ll have to find another time to spend with Nico. When you’re there just invite him to your place for a movie or something. If you can get Nico to spend time with you in your own cabin then there’s no way you’ll get interrupted by Will.” Jason explained. Percy was one of the only campers who had a DVD player and television, so it was a real treat to be invited to see a movie in the Poseidon cabin.
“And what will you be doing?” Percy asked.
“What do you mean ‘what will I be doing?’ I’m not a part of plan B.”
“Will you watch the movie with us?”
“It’s not a date if I watch the movie with you, Percy.” Jason said slowly. Honestly he didn’t understand how Percy had gotten Annabeth to be his girlfriend all those years ago. The boy was attached to Jason’s hip and there was no way around it. Jason grimaced, imagining what it would be like if Percy really did start seeing Nico and expected him to still be there so often.
Percy pouted and Jason kept a straight face. Percy whined and Jason didn’t move a muscle. This was the same silent match that their disagreements always led to before Percy relented; Jason was really the one in charge. It wasn’t that Percy couldn’t think for himself- he just liked the comfort of occasionally not having to.
“Fine.” Percy acquiesced. “Will you at least come watch me ask him?”
“Like spy on you?”
“It’s not spying if I ask you to.” Percy argued. Somehow, Jason seriously doubted the validity of that statement.
“So tomorrow morning you’ll go to Nico’s cabin to invite him over for a movie and I’ll watch from a distance?” Jason recapped sarcastically.
“Perfect!” Percy said cheerily. How this boy ever did anything before they became friends was a mystery, Jason decided. “I’m still swimming today, though.” Percy continued, taking off his tank top and tossing it carelessly to the side.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Jason rolled his eyes with a smile.
~
Jason averted his eyes as Percy walked out of the lake and shook his hair dry. He knew that Percy would say they can look at each other as much as they want because they’re both guys (and best bros, at that), but Jason didn’t want anyone to mistake him for ogling Percy. After all, he wasn’t lying when he said that this was Percy’s most attractive outfit.
Percy was sopping wet, which must have brought him some sort of joy because if he wanted to he could stay dry underwater. He could suit himself.
Jason dried himself off, eyes facing intently towards the ground. Percy took a large step towards him causing Jason to hesitate before Percy bent over and started shaking his drenched hair out all over Jason.
“Perce!” Jason jumped away from him but softened when he saw the grin on his friend’s face. Jason hesitated again, but this time it wasn’t because he didn’t know what Percy was doing- Jason just didn’t know what his own heart was doing, it skipped a beat and then caught up to itself beating twice as fast. Jason wished his hair was longer so that he could hide his ears- their reddening was always a dead giveaway that something was up with him.
Percy took a large step to close the gap between them again and slapped an arm around his shoulder. Jason didn’t move a muscle for a solid five seconds before turning his head towards Percy. Percy’s adorable smile remained plastered across his face and Jason felt his stomach flip.
“Yeah, I’ll -uh- see you tomorrow then?” Jason asked, suddenly nervous.
“What?” Percy’s smile dropped. “It’s noon. Where are you going?” Percy questioned.
“My room.” Jason stumbled over his words. “A nap? Yeah, a nap.”
“What am I supposed to do for the rest of the day? Without you?” Percy always tried to get him with his big, endearing eyes. Jason liked to think of them as baby seal eyes- the puppy dog of the sea.
“I don’t know - maybe plan ahead on what you’re going to say to Nico this time. You do want him to actually come to your room tomorrow, don’t you?”
“Yeah…” Percy said, and Jason was half-convinced that it was a question. Half-convinced that Percy was waiting for Jason to tell him how he should feel about it.
If that was the case then he knew that Percy didn’t want to hear what Jason had to say right now. He wasn’t feeling exactly encouraging. He wanted Percy to be happy and he wasn’t sure he could picture him happy with Nico. Or maybe he just didn’t want to picture it.
Jason wanted Percy to find love at some point, sure, but at this point in time he couldn’t see any reason why the two of them couldn't continue spending most of their time together.
He figured that he wasn’t necessarily jealous at the thought of Percy spending more time with Nico, but the more he thought about it the more he realized that he really would be upset if Percy cut back on the time they spent together.
Well if Percy wanted to spend more time with Nico and less time with him then Jason should show him what that felt like. Who was Jason to be taking up all of Percy’s time if he had other interests?
“I’ll see you in the morning, Perce. Meet me at my cabin beforehand if you still need me to come watch you ask Nico out.”
As usual, his sarcasm was lost on Percy.
~
At Percy’s vehement request, he walked him to the Poseidon cabin before heading back to his own.
In all honesty Jason preferred when Percy spent the night. Cabin one was cold and lonely without him.
He sighed deeply and changed into sweats before sitting down harshly on the edge of his bed. What wouldn’t he give for a CD player right now? A cell phone? Anything where he could listen to music and distract himself from his disconcerting train of thought.
He probably could have requested a camp-safe device from Leo, but he rarely saw him these days. It felt as if Piper had ‘won’ Leo in the breakup. He had known the two were close but he had at one point considered Leo to be his best friend so he had been shocked at first to see Leo taking Piper’s side in the breakup. There were no hard feelings, he thought, but Piper knew herself and she knew that Jason wasn’t a suitable match for her. Jason respected that. He spent a lot of time wishing he knew himself that well.
The less time Jason spent with Piper the less time he ended up spending with Leo, but it was alright in the end, now that he had Percy. He could hardly imagine himself feeling as standoffish towards Percy as he apparently had when they were first introduced on the Argo II. Piper even claimed that he and Percy had nearly killed each other when possessed by the eidolons. It was simply unfathomable.
If Jason were to imagine himself willingly spending more than a few hours without Percy he felt like he didn’t know himself at all.
Philosophers may claim that man and woman originated as one singular being with two heads, four arms, and four legs. Plato may argue that Jason’s own father, Zeus, had split these beings into two because they were too powerful. But Jason would have to fact check with his father, if he were to ever see him again, because there must have been a mistake made. No woman could complete Jason in the way that his best friend Percy could, and he knew that Percy felt the same way. Plato’s legend must have been incorrect because Jason could never get behind an argument like that. After all, where did that leave him? Or Percy? Nico? Piper?
Jason let himself fall backwards further onto the bed. This was the first moment that Jason had spent alone since Percy had decided that Nico should be his new romantic interest, and Jason wasn’t sure why both his mind and heart had spent the last two days racing erratically.
Jason had been there when Nico was in the throes of struggling with his crush on Percy. Jason was the only one to have seen Nico’s reaction to Cupid. He was confused how that boy could be the same one who sat in front of him today, completely apathetic in regards to Percy’s newfound interest in spending time with him. The only clear difference was Will.
Nico and Will had never been friends before, but ever since Will nursed Nico back to health following the war with Gaea the two were rarely seen separately. Jason’s attempts at informing Percy of this development had been futile.
Some part of Jason felt smug that Nico wasn’t as interested in spending time with Percy as Jason was, feeling that this somehow made Jason better than him. But every time this thought arose Jason felt guilty. If Percy wanted Nico then he deserved a Nico who cared deeply for him- cared as deeply as Jason did.
Jason would always have a soft spot for Nico, of course. He had great respect for his willingness to be true to himself even when it went against everything that his 1940’s upbringing had taught him. Jason always feared that, if he were like Nico in that way, he would never own up to it.
Would he be honest with himself? Jason had never thought about his personal life this deeply. It had always been clear cut for him, he never needed to make these decisions. Lupa made decisions that were best for the pack when raising him, and the Romans were the same way. Jason had always made decisions for the group, never considering his personal interests. Deviating from the norm was never an option for Jason. For a Roman deviation was a death sentence. Jason couldn’t remember the last time he had thought about what he wanted.
At Camp Half-Blood Jason was never under the constant scrutiny that he had been under at Camp Jupiter. For gods’s sakes, the entire Roman camp was named after his father. When he was at Camp Half-Blood, though, the only Greek who kept his eyes on Jason was Percy.
Jason wanted to help Percy with his plan, but his heart wasn’t in it. He knew he was selfish, but Percy was the only person who liked him for who he was rather than for who his father was, and he would be damned if he would let that go so easily. Jason couldn’t bear the thought of Percy caring more for a relationship with Nico than for the connection that he and Jason had.
Still, while Jason might not have known what he was, he at least knew what he wasn’t. And he wasn’t selfish, never that. So Jason promised himself that he would help Percy see this plan through, even if it meant that Jason’s days got colder and lonelier, just like his cabin would without Percy.
~
Jason didn’t remember falling asleep, but he woke with a start when he heard an energetic knock on his door.
“Jason, open up! It’s morning time!” Percy sang outside the door.
Jason couldn’t help but smile. Only Percy would wake him up to accompany him when he was asking someone out.
Jason rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he opened the door, and Percy didn’t wait for him to move out of the way before brushing past him to make his way inside. Percy’s concept of personal space had been seriously lacking around Jason these days.
“You’re energetic this morning.” Jason observed.
“I was excited to see you.” Percy explained, grinning.
“Excited to see me? I thought the plan was to talk with Nico, aren’t you excited to see him?” Jason laughed.
“I saw him yesterday.” Percy said with a shrug.
“Percy, you saw me yesterday too. You see me every day.”
“I know.” Percy smiled bashfully. “That’s why I was so excited to see you again! I was missing you already.”
Percy was like this a lot lately, but somehow it still made Jason’s heart beat a little faster. Percy couldn’t possibly know just how much Jason agreed with the sentiment.
“Besides,” Percy continued. “You’re my good luck charm! I had to see you before I saw Nico. And the sooner I’m done with that the sooner I can spend some time with you! I talked to Connor Stoll and he thinks he’s going to be able to get me a contraband copy of Hercules. I thought you'd want to see that. Didn’t you say that Hercules was kinda -like- a douchebag?”
“Why would you be watching a movie with me, Perce? We went over this: you’re watching the movie with Nico.”
“Oh come on! I doubt he’s even gonna want to see this one!” Percy pleaded.
“Then watch something he wants to watch.” Jason explained, rolling his eyes.
“This is starting to sound like a totally lame plan, Jace.”
“Some things about you I will never understand. I’m beginning to see why Annabeth always called you ‘Seaweed-Brain’.”
“Ugh! Not you too!” Percy groaned. “How would you like it if I started calling you by an old nickname? I’ve been pretty original lately, what if I went back to a classic- how does Superman sound?” He stuck his tongue out.
“I’d…” Jason blushed. “I wouldn’t mind.”
“You are such a tease these days. Someone understand you.” Percy complained sarcastically. But at the end he still tacked it on anyway; “... Superman.”
“I could say the same thing about you, gorgeous.” Jason winked. This was good, when they played around like this. It almost made Jason forget how upset he would soon be if Nico agreed to Percy’s advances. Would Percy tease Nico the same way he was teasing Jason now? He couldn’t bear to think about it.
“Alright, come on Sparky. We have to find your hiding spot before Nico’s left the cabin.”
Jason reluctantly followed Percy out of the cabin, not really having a choice considering Percy had a rather firm grip on his wrist.
~
Jason had been hiding behind a tree in front of the cabin next to Nicos for several minutes, watching Percy hype himself up before approaching the door. Jason couldn’t help but laugh. Percy was always so unapologetically himself.
Jason couldn’t make out every word that was being said but he became quickly confused when the first thing he saw as the door swung open was a blur of blonde hair.
Will? At six in the morning? Who met up with their friends that early? (Present company excluded, of course.)
And was Will wearing Nico’s old shirt? Pajamas? He looked as if he had just rolled out of bed. When Nico made his way to the door he looked similarly disheveled. Did they have a sleepover? You can’t have sleepovers at camp! (Present company excluded, of course.)
Jason narrowed his eyes, suspicious. Something wasn’t adding up about the nature of this relationship. And if it was a relationship too closely mirroring that which was between Jason and Percy? Well, Jason decided not to look too closely at that.
Percy seemed confused but was still clearly determined, and Jason saw him still trying to ask Nico. After a statement from Percy that was inaudible to Jason he watched as Nico (not-so)-subtly glanced at Will, one eyebrow up as if asking him a silent question. Will shrugged. Nico looked back at Percy and gave a singular nod, his expression unreadable. Jason couldn’t see Percy’s face from this angle and he was dying to know what type of face he was making. Percy always had the most adorably over-the-top facial expressions.
Before Nico had even closed the door Percy turned to face Jason’s hiding spot and shot him a big thumbs up with a beaming smile. Real subtle, Percy. Nico just shook his head and closed the door, leaving him and Will in privacy to do gods know what in the Hades cabin.
Percy sauntered over to where Jason was waiting and when he was within earshot he started to explain what Nico had told him. Jason had known he wouldn’t need to ask to get the play-by-play from Percy, that was a given between the two of them.
“It was so weird. Like, I don’t know what Solace was doing there- did you see that?”
“I saw that.” Jason confirmed. “Actually bizarre.”
“Right! So I told Nico I wanted him to come over for a movie and he said that he and Will are ‘busy’,” Percy made air quotations. “And that he can’t see me for the rest of the day. I asked him if we could do some other time and he told me -get this- ‘fine, I guess’. You guess? It’s just fine?”
Jason almost laughed. “I told you, there’s something up with him and Will.”
Percy frowned for a moment.
“I don’t get it, Jace. I thought he liked me.” Percy’s eyes were cast downward, his chin dropping to his chest as he hung his head pitifully. He looked up at Jason through his eyelashes and Jason thought that the sight may cause him heart palpitations. Damn those baby seal eyes.
“What do you mean, Perce?” Jason asked softly, wishing he could reach out and caress Percy’s cheek.
“I just- I don’t know if I’m the type of person who deserves to be liked… I thought Annabeth liked me, and I thought Nico liked me, but I don’t even know if I like me anymore, Jason.”
“Annabeth loved you.”
“Then why-?”
“You know it’s not your fault she left you, you’re just not…”
“A girl?” Percy finished his sentence. It wasn’t really a question.
“Right.” Jason confirmed.
“How do you handle it? With Piper?” Percy asked.
“I don’t think I ever loved Piper the way you loved Annabeth. When she left me it didn’t upset me so much.”
“How could you not?”
“I don’t think I ever could have. Not if I was with her my entire life. I simply don’t have it in me.”
“You don’t have it in yourself to love someone? I don’t believe that.” Percy said but Jason shook his head and averted his gaze.
“No. I just don’t have it in me to love her.” As Jason admitted this to Percy he realized that this was also the first time that he was admitting it to himself.
“Why?”
“Percy…” Jason started, half expecting Percy to give up and let the subject change. After he held his breath for a moment he realized that that was never going to be plausible with the son of Poseidon. Percy gave him a face telling him to go on, so Jason took a deep breath and continued, his voice barely audible. “For the same reason she couldn’t love me.”
Percy’s eyebrows shot up and his mouth dropped slightly open, his breaths short and heavy. “You-?”
“Yes.”
“Boys?!”
“Percy, I said yes.”
“This whole time? I’ve been so focused on this stupid thing with Nico that I didn’t even notice this happening right in front of me?”
“There’s not much to notice.” Jason shrugged. “It’s not like I’m chasing down a crush like you are. I’m just… here.” Although somehow Jason didn’t feel as if he was telling the whole truth.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t exactly keeping it a secret.”
Percy paused for a moment, seeming to think back to the past few days. He groaned and rolled his eyes at himself. “Oh my gods! You literally said it! You said ‘how do you know I’m not into dudes?’! I thought you were messing with me!”
“I wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry. For making everything all about me, I mean.”
“Don’t be sorry. For me, everything is all about you.” Jason smiled and Percy tilted his chin up to smile back. He always dazzled Jason. “And for the record, I think Nico’s a fool if he doesn’t want you.”
“Thanks, Superman.” Another smirk. Percy had a way of smiling at him in a way that felt private, that felt like Percy had reserved a piece of himself just for him. Sometimes Jason could imagine that he was the center of Percy’s universe too.
“Let’s find that copy of Hercules.” Percy suggested. “Nico’s not coming over until tomorrow.”
~
It was no lie that Connor had a copy of Hercules available for Percy, although Jason wasn’t exactly sure what Percy had had to do in exchange. When it came to the Stoll brothers, Jason figured it was best if he just didn’t know.
Jason had never seen Hercules. He hadn’t seen much of anything, really. But Percy had decided that Jason needed to watch it, and who was Jason to argue?
Percy’s cabin was probably Jason’s favorite spot in all of camp. It actually felt like home, unlike the cold and clinical feel of cabin one. And where else in the world would Jason rather be than wherever Percy was, anyways?
The scent and lighting were comforting, along with all of the positive memories Jason had in the single-room building.
His favorite part, though, was when Percy invited him into his bed. Warm and inhabited. Though the two of them had the same blankets, they seemed so much warmer at Percy’s cabin. Or maybe that was just because Percy was always underneath them with him.
Jason knew that Percy liked to latch onto him in his sleep, but a prophecy from the oracle of Delphi herself wouldn’t have been able to convince Jason of the way that Percy would cling to him in that moment, uncaring that they were both wide-awake in the broad daylight.
They couldn’t hide behind closed eyes or a mask of sleep. Jason couldn’t help but love how Percy held him and was still able to look him in the eye. Percy was never ashamed of his affection.
The previews on the DVD were over and the movie had started a handful of minutes ago, but Jason couldn’t tear his eyes away from Percy.
“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Percy whispered. It was as though he wanted to speak to Jason privately and the empty room couldn’t provide a privacy intimate enough.
“I am just so fond of you.” Jason told him. It was an indisputable fact.
Percy never opened his mouth to respond, simply turning his eyes back towards the television with a content smile and a happy hum, shifting so that his head was nuzzled into Jason’s chest.
Jason wrapped an arm around him and Percy grabbed his wrist to pull himself even tighter into Jason’s gentle grasp.
Jason could have stayed like that forever.
~
For the second day in a row, Jason woke to a knock at his door. He couldn’t remember telling Percy to wake him up for breakfast, but it wasn’t abnormal for Percy to show up unannounced. This knock was hesitant, though. The real shock set in when he heard a rustle in the blankets and turned to his right.
Percy was already here? No, it wasn’t that Percy had come over to visit early, it was Jason. The fresh, salty smell in the air reminded him that this was the Poseidon cabin.
Percy looked about as confused and distressed as Jason felt. They made eye contact as Percy sat up from where he was laying a mere two inches from Jason.
Jason shot up as they heard a second knock.
“It’s Nico.” Percy whispered, stressed and already jumping out of bed to throw on a clean outfit.
“I thought he wasn’t coming until tomorrow?” Jason asked groggily.
“We fell asleep. It is tomorrow. Who’s the seaweed brain now? Ooh! I guess I could call you an airhead- get it?” Percy giggled. Jason glared at him. “Right. Not the time.”
“Bro, let him in. Don’t make him wait all day.” Jason instructed, not thinking too deeply about the fact that he was in Percy’s bed with sleep mussed hair.
Percy flung the door open, inviting in both the morning sun and an awkward-looking Nico.
“Good morning, Percy.” Nico said formally as he stepped inside the cabin. His eyes scanned the room. Jason took in all the details at the same time: the television was on and paused at the end credits of Hercules, Percy was slightly red-faced with messy hair as he had clearly just gotten dressed (the clothes on the floor gave him away), and Jason was laying in the unmade bed in the center of the cabin. Jason flashed his best -but still most awkward- smile at Nico who, seemingly shocked, continued speaking. “...and Jason? How nice of you two to… finish the movie without me.”
“We can start it over.” Percy explained, seeming mildly -but not completely- concerned. “I figured you wouldn’t want to watch Hercules.”
“I don’t really care, just… What's Jason doing here? When you asked if we could hangout ‘alone and away from Will’ I kinda figured that meant alone.” Nico asked.
“But Jason’s always here.”
“Oh.” Was all Nico said.
“I was just leaving, actually!” Jason interrupted. “Silly me, sometimes I sleep in Percy’s cabin when my nightmares are bad.” He explained, not necessarily lying. That was a thing that he did sometimes, just not what he had been up to this morning.
Nico seemed understanding anyways. No doubt everyone who stepped foot on the Argo II had more than their fair share of nightmares- it almost made Jason understand why Nico would want to spend all his time with someone like Will. Someone bright, someone comforting.
“Wait, Jason-“ Percy tried, seeming like he didn’t actually want him to leave. But Jason couldn’t stay, not for this.
“I’ll be gone now!” Jason said loudly, facing away from the two and rushing out the door. It was rare that Percy let him leave his cabin without some type of display of physical affection, but Jason had quickly decided for the both of them that this would not be one of those times. Even though Jason may have missed the affection he had grown so accustomed to, that he had grown to crave, he knew it wasn't what was best for Percy in the long run.
Jason sighed as he walked back to his cabin.
~
Jason jumped when he heard a knock on his cabin door several hours later, opening it to reveal Percy. The emotion on his face was somehow unreadable in the midday light. Somehow Jason was shocked to see Percy so soon, he wasn’t really expecting to see him until the following day.
Jason gazed into Percy’s eyes, hoping they would give him some sort of clue as to what had occurred with Nico, but to no avail.
As Jason pulled Percy into the cabin the look in his eyes was something he had never seen before. Something almost confused- something almost scared. But Percy gave him a small smile- one that hardly reached his eyes.
Jason sat on the edge of his bed, smoothing the comforter next to him for Percy to sit down. As Percy sat down Jason slid an arm slowly across his friend’s shoulders. Percy stiffened slightly- something he has never done around Jason before- but didn’t shrug him off.
The air around them was heavy and tense in the abnormal silence.
“So…” Jason started, softly. “Are you here to tell me good news?”
“I’m not really sure. I don’t know what happened.” Percy said. Jason silently raised one eyebrow, indicating for Percy to continue. “He didn’t seem too happy with the movie but he didn’t complain. He hardly seemed to want to sit near me, though- it was like he couldn’t stand to be within a foot of me. I really don’t understand the problem when I always see him glued to Will’s side.”
“And…” Percy sighed. “I didn’t really know what to talk to him about, honestly. All he wanted to talk about was Will and he only wanted to ask me about… well he just kept asking me the same questions.” Jason hated to hear him sound so defeated, especially since he had privately sworn to himself to be a sort of… protector for Percy.
“Questions about what?”
“He kept asking me about you.” Percy said, almost whispering. He said it as if it was another secret. One too intimate to truly speak aloud, even in an empty cabin.
“What?” Jason asked, slightly alarmed. He hadn’t really anticipated himself being a part of this.
Jason should have known this would happen. Nico isn’t stupid. He was bound to pick up on whatever it was that Jason had stupidly thought could be going on between him and Percy- as if Percy would ever let that happen with someone like Jason.
And Jason knew he had been right in the dining pavilion yesterday. Whatever was going on with Nico and Will was too similar to what Jason had with his- with his best friend. And Nico was gay! Hell, Nico and Will were probably dating. Those two were probably dating and that’s what Jason and Percy looked like to Nico.
Not that he was entirely wrong. Well, he was only half wrong.
Jason would have scoffed at himself if he could, if he didn’t still have one arm around Percy. Percy who was looking at him like he didn’t even know himself.
And Jason was an idiot. Because this is what he had been feeling. The jealousy, the confusion, the longing. He wanted to be with Percy. He had wanted him for a long time now.
Jason had never thought himself selfish, but selfish he must be. Because this facade that Nico may believe- the one where Jason and Percy are together- it’s one that Jason wanted him to believe, one that he built himself without ever realizing.
Jason was a fool and a damn bad friend, he knew he had been figured out. Nico had figured it out and now Jason wasn’t sure how much Percy knew. Is this why he came in here upset? Because knew his best friend had been practically taking advantage of him? Intentional or not it was still shitty.
But Jason intended to pick up any of the pieces that he could- he couldn’t lose Percy over this. So right now he shifted his attention back to the green-eyed boy.
“What did Nico ask you about me?” Jason asked as softly as he could.
“At first it was just normal stuff like ‘how are you two?’ and things like that, but honestly I was a little confused by some of his questions. He asked me how I knew you liked me?” Percy lifted his eyes from where he was staring at the floor to glance briefly at Jason, looking away with a blush when their eyes briefly met.
“Oh.” Was all Jason could bring himself to say, so Percy continued.
“I didn’t know what he meant at first. I just told him it’s kinda obvious? Like, why would you spend all this time with me if you hated me. And I knew you couldn’t hate me. I mean, we could never hate each other, right?” Percy sounded uncertain.
“Right.” Jason assured him.
“But then he asked me which of us had made the first move and I realized what he had been thinking of us this whole time and-”
“Oh gods, Perce, I am so, so sorry.” Jason interrupted him. “I never wanted to be the one to screw this up for you. I’ll go tell him myself, I’ll tell him it isn’t like that, I’ll- ” Jason stood up and tried to walk towards the door but when Percy’s finger’s made their way around his wrist he couldn’t move. Percy looked up at him with his baby seal eyes again and spoke so quietly that Jason could have sworn it was just a breath.
“Isn’t it?” Percy whispered.
Jason turned around swiftly. “Isn’t it what?”
“Like that?” Percy seemed smaller than he ever had before, so vulnerable.
“Is it?” Jason asked hesitantly. Percy stood to look him in the eye, their faces inches apart.
“Jace. All of these things that you kept trying to convince me I should want with Nico- the attention, the time spent together, the touches. They’re what I nearly already have with you. They’re what I want with you.”
“You don’t mean that.” Jason said.
“Don’t I?” Percy breathed, gripping the orange fabric at the front of Jason’s shirt in one fist and snaking the other arm around his neck. Percy yanked Jason by the shirt until they were nose-to-nose, breath ghosting over each other’s lips. But he didn’t close the distance.
“Don’t you?” Percy whispered again. Jason was too caught up in Percy’s warmth, in his eyes, to respond with anything other than a light and questioning hum. “Don’t you want this?”
And Jason simply closed the distance- pressing his lips gently against Percy’s. He pulled quickly, checking whether he could have misread anything, but the confusion in his best friend’s eyes was gone, all that was left was joy, longing. So he met his lips again. And again. Once, twice, three times, four.
Percy was giggling as Jason leaned back to lift Percy, urging him to wrap his legs around his waist.
Jason rubbed their noses together, grinning. “I take it you won’t be having Nico over for a second date anytime soon, then?”
Percy laughed. “Nope, I’m a taken man. And have been for a while, it seems.”
Yes, Jason smirked to himself, this has been a long time coming. And he closed the gap between their mouths once more.