The heat is a bloated, ugly exhale from a demon, seeping into the apartment walls like a sponge and soaking the air in sour milk. The taste festers on Percy's tongue all weekend long, whether he's helping his mom cook, scribbling out homework, or tossing around at night, alone.
The air conditioning system for the whole building broke down sometime in the early 2000's, so when Percy jogs down the stairwell Monday morning, he still has a second skin of sweat. He really wishes he hadn't worn jeans. Even a tank top is starting to sound like an improvement over his cotton t-shirt.
It smells fantastically milky free outside, a scalding breeze stirs up and rustles his bangs. Jason's car is parked illegally out in front and he waves from the driver's seat. Percy hurries inside before a cop can ticket him.
"Thanks for rescuing me from the subway," Percy drops his backpack on the carpet floor. "But what's the occasion?" As soon as he'd gotten Jason's text, offering a ride to school, Percy had racked his brain for anniversary dates, holidays, any type of explanation. He'd come up with nada.
Jason adjusts the sun visor, and the light bathing through the windshield gives his skin a rosy glow. "I said I've got something for you, didn't I?"
"Yeah...but why?"
Fancy gifts and special occasions have always been limited to the Piper-part of Jason's life. Real relationships require some kind of effort, and whatever this is between them, it's a given Percy will stick around.
"Do I need a reason to spoil you?" Jason tugs on a tail of cloth hanging from the rearview. "I spent a fortune on it, so I'd like to hear a thank you."
With a snap of clarity, Percy recognizes the carmine color of the cloth. "Oh thanks dude." He unfastens Hermes' tie from the rearview, already hearing echoes of apologies he'd have to make.
"You left it in my laundry," Jason explains. "I found it in the wash this morning, and I had to check with my dad to make sure it wasn't his. Ralph Lauren pieces are huge rip-offs, they cater to elite-types just like him. "
Percy folds the tie neatly in his lap, smoothing out the wrinkles. He glances up and finds Jason staring at him, eyebrows raised.
"What?"
"Where'd you get it?" Jason asks, shifting his gaze to the road.
"I borrowed it." Percy hesitates. "From a friend."
Sort of true. Hermes seemed pretty fond of him last Friday. Up until he dropped Percy off, that is.
"Which friend?" A faint smile pulls at Jason's lips. "And where were you going that you needed a tie? You hate formal clothing."
"God who cares?" Percy sinks back into the cushion, wanting to adjust the seat to his long legs but knowing its position is perfectly set for Piper. "Is this all? You could've just given it me at school and saved yourself some time."
"I thought you'd appreciate the ride," Jason says. "You're always complaining how the subway stinks and it's filled with weirdos. Plus, the weather's too nice to be stuck underground."
"You call this nice? I'm melting over here. I feel like the fucking Wicked Witch of the West."
"You could've just told me that." Jason takes his hand off the wheel and switches on a blue dial. "This car does have air conditioning, and it's fresher than the AC in any filthy subway."
"Sorry public transport isn't up to your standards." Percy turns away, glaring out the window. "You're just like your dad."
Jason's laughter is rough in his throat. "Now you're just picking a fight."
"You're that deep in denial huh?"
Jason takes a deep breath. "Okay I'm gonna turn on some music now, before we both say something we regret."
Even under duress from a vibing Aphex Twin album, Percy doesn't budge. The fact that Piper keeps her CD's in Jason's car makes Percy's mood that much worse.
Jason hasn't even driven into the school parking lot yet when Percy throws open the car door. Jason brakes with a squeal of tires, jolting their bodies forward. Percy flings off his seatbelt and climbs out, sliding on his backpack straps as he walks away. Jason calls out through the still wide-open door. Percy ignores him.
At the beginning of the drive, Percy momentarily felt a splash of excitement. Had thought, maybe Jason was ready for more, something deeper, even if it's as simple as driving to school together for the sake of each other's company. Percy's so desperate for more he'd take whatever he can get.
The bell rang five minutes ago, and Percy's still pushing his way through the rank hallway. It should be a crime not to wear deodorant in high school. This wasn't the stone age anymore, they sold sticks at every corner store in existence.
Percy's almost at his locker when he remembers why there's a bulge in his pocket. Thankfully, the economics classroom is just a few doors back.
Hermes is standing out in front of it, arms crossed over his chest, eyeing students as they pass. "Katie, no shoving in the halls. Break it up Sherman and Travis, or you're both getting detention."
Percy steps up to him, holding out his folded tie.
"Well hello Aladdin," Hermes says, taking it.
"Look I didn't mean to steal it."
"Of course. But you can be sure it's the last time I do you a favor."
"And here I thought I was growing on you," Percy says, feigning hurt.
"You'd need at least a B-average in my class for that." Hermes scratches his chin, where a graceful 5 o'clock shadow is forming. "If you want another chance to impress me, and if I'm still unlucky enough to be teaching here next year, I'll be doing a microeconomics class. I encourage you to sign up for it."
"No can do. I'm a senior."
"Ah well, more likely than not, I won't be here."
"Why?" Percy asks. "I thought you were joking. Are you transferring to another school or something?"
"It's a bit of a long story," Hermes' eyes flick over Percy's shoulder, then drag back to his face. "And I'd hate to keep your boyfriend waiting."
Percy jerks his head around, and sure enough, Jason is hovering near his locker. His gaze is scanning the crowds, lips pursed. He must feel bad about this morning, even though it was all Percy's fault. No matter what else, Jason's sweet at his core.
Percy swallows pins and needles. This might just be the end of them.
He yanks on Hermes' arm, hard. "We need to talk."
Percy glances around to make sure no one's overheard them, while Hermes opens the door to his empty classroom. Percy strides right in, his heart pounding in his ribcage.
"How did you know?" Percy demands. The door clicks shut behind Hermes. "Who told you?" He hates how his voice comes out. Scratchy and scared.
"Technically you did, but I did have to put together some of the puzzle pieces myself." Hermes wanders around to the back of his desk. He places his palms on the wood, sliding them forward as he meets Percy's eyes. "So it's a secret, is it?"
"I never told you anything," Percy says, feeling more uncertain than he sounds.
"You said you had a boyfriend," Hermes replies, very patiently, as if he's explaining an error in a student's math calculations. "The address you had me drive to wasn't yours. It was Zeus Grace's. I know because I work for him part-time."
A few minutes ago, Percy wouldn't have believed this situation could get any worse. Dragging Zeus into the mess definitely is. Jason has mentioned his father's company plenty of times, hell, half the stuff in his house carries the trademark lightning bolt and Olympus co. branded on them.
"You know your boss's address?" Percy asks. Maybe he can get something to hold over Hermes. An affair, embezzling, something.
Hermes chuckles at the attempt. "He holds parties there occasionally. Nothing indecent, don't worry."
"What if I was going to study with Jason that night?" Percy's hands feel clammy and he stops himself from wiping them on his jeans, though it's pretty obvious he's falling apart. "We might've had a school project together. Hanging out doesn't make him my boyfriend."
"You had a spare key," Hermes states, without a flicker of doubt.
And just like that, there's no other way for Percy to deny their relationship. Their nonexistent relationship, by the way. It's sex, and it could just as easily cost Jason his home, his college money, his entire inheritance. He can't believe he was so careless.
Percy blurts out, "You can't tell Jason's dad—"
"Zeus," Hermes corrects.
"Yeah, Zeus. Whatever. He's homophobic and Jason's still in the closet, so you have to stay out of it." When Hermes' expression hardens, Percy throws in a, "Please." Please mind your own business.
"Zeus has a right to know who's holding the keys to his household. They weren't Jason's give away."
"Fine, I'll give back the spare key."
"That's not the point. You've been sneaking around Zeus' place for months, and you aren't going to stop, are you? Even without a key."
Percy's ready to reassure Hermes that, okay he won't sneak around anymore, but it takes a few moments for the consequences to catch up with him. Jason's house is where they do...everything. It's their movie theater, restaurant, arcade, and bedroom all wrapped in one. Being barred from that house was, for them, the equivalent of breaking up.
"I―," Percy begins, considering it. "We'll stop. We'll go somewhere else together."
(He has absolutely no intention of keeping that promise.)
Hermes shakes his head of black curls, mouth twisted in a frown. "Percy, I'm not stupid. I work with hundreds of teenagers everyday, and I'm all too aware of when I'm being lied to."
"I'm not lying," Percy insists. When Hermes doesn't reply, Percy's volume hitches higher and higher with panic. "So you're going to tell Zeus no matter what I say? Why'd you even wait? So I'd be fully aware of how helpless I am to stop you?"
An audible sigh falls from Hermes' lips. He's gazing at Percy with pity creasing his features.
Percy doesn't care about himself. The only thing running through his mind is Jason and how Jason's life will be irreversibly broken if Percy doesn't fix this somehow. He walks forward, feet operating robotically, until they're facing each other on either side of the desk. Percy pours every drop of sincerity he has into his voice, "Please, I'll do anything if you agree to keep this quiet. I've got money, electronics, my body, whatever you want. And I swear to God I won't tell anyone."
From his scoff, Hermes seems to find the suggestion amusing. But he's not saying no. He's taking his time, mulling Percy over with chilly blue eyes.
"I did say I wasn't doing you any more favors," Hermes says, "But there is one exception I'd be willing to make."
Percy left Jason by his locker half an hour ago. When he walks out of the economics classroom, he's pleasantly surprised to see Jason still waiting. His blonde hair was neat this morning, but the long day has mussed it over, and as Percy gets closer, he notices just how tired Jason's posture is.
All his anger from this morning melts away. Percy's suddenly a lot more grateful for what he has, and since the hallway's deserted, he chances a peck on Jason's cheek. Jason glances up from his phone, a smile breaking across his face like a sunset.
"Hey, I was afraid you'd already left. I was trying to text you."
"Sorry about that, my phone's dead."
"Where were you?"
Percy opens his mouth, ready to spill the details to the only other person who's allowed to know. But drinking in Jason's face, the lines around his concerned frown and the bruise-colored splotches under his dull eyes, Percy stops himself.
"Are you alright?" Percy's amazed at how he could've missed it this morning. "You don't look so good."
"Huh? Oh, right, you mean―," Jason gestures in the general direction of himself. He's even dressed worse than usual, old sweats in place of a clean, stylish outfit. "I've been kind of stressed out lately, what with finals, scholarships, graduation speeches, and so much other shit. Reyna told me I look like an extra from the Walking Dead."
"Damn her, that's better than anything I could come up with." Percy smiles, a painful twinge in his mouth muscles. "One of my teachers held me back, that's all."
In a split second, Percy has decided Jason doesn't need anymore stress on his plate. Percy created this problem. He can handle it on his own. He's sure of it.
Jason nods, taking it as enough explanation. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier, about the subway and air conditioning. I was acting like a jerk."
Percy's laughter bubbles out of him. "Don't be stupid, you did nothing wrong. I'm a total bitch in the morning, don't you know that by now?"
"Still," Jason says. "I want to drive you home, just because I want to. No ulterior motive." He smiles his perfect Jason smile, straight teeth and warm dimples, but what makes it beautiful has always been the pure genuinity behind it.
Percy can't help himself. Throwing his arms around Jason's neck, he commits to a real kiss, long and deep, pushing apart Jason's lips with his own and sharing heartbeats through their clothes. It's more than they'd normally risk in public, but Jason doesn't seem to mind. His hands are steady on Percy's hips, smiling into their kiss, and if that isn't progress, Percy doesn't know what is.