"Is that a hickey on your neck?"
Percy's eyes widened and Jason tensed up beside him. Nico casted them both confused looks as Percy quickly went to the bathroom. "What was that all about? Wait..did you two?.."
"No. No no I wish it was that but no." Jason clenched his fists at his side and glared at the table like it was the reason for his anger. "What happened Jase? What do you know that I don't?" Jason was about to open his mouth but quickly shut it when Percy came back in the room with a washcloth, scrubbing at his neck fiercely.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Trying to get rid of it." Percy said scrubbing at his neck once again with soap and water. Nico sighed and shook his head. "Scrubbing it away with soap and water isn't going to work Perce." Percy sighed and sat back down in the chair next to Nico. "Just my luck."
"What happened? Who was it?.." Nico asked softly. Percy look down and told them the story of what happened, not noticing Jason repeatedly clenching his fists and ignoring Nico's shocked and pitiful expression.
"Perce..I'm so sorry..this wouldn't have happ-"
"Nico. Don't you dare blame yourself. It's nobody's fault. I just got caught up in my thoughts and walked a little too much. It could've happened either way. This isn't your fault."
"I feel terrible! I should've been there!" Percy rolled his eyes. "Nico if you don't shut up and stop blaming yourself I'm gonna punch you in the face." Thankfully Nico didn't say another word about it, instead of grabbing some of Sally's concealer that was a tone or two lighter than his skin tone, and handed it to him. Percy raised an eyebrow. Nico sighed, "Put some of this on it. I seen Bianca do it many times to hide her's. Don't know how, but it works miracles. Works better if it matched your skin tone, but this will have to do." Percy gave him a quick thanks and ran back to the background.
Nico sighed and looked over at Jason, who hadn't said a word this whole time, was glaring off into space. Nico sat back down by him facing him and punched his arm lightly. Jason broke out of his gaze, his bitch face still evident in his expression, and looked at him. "You okay? You been awfully quiet. And you got your bitch face on. What's up?"
"If it wasn't for Slay Queen I never would've known about it." Jason spat and turned his angry gaze out the window of Percy's tiny apartment. "A hickey on his neck wouldn't have been the only thing to happen to him. He could still be over there right now going through Gods know what at the hands of that sick, twisted, bastard." Jason hissed. "And it would've been my fault for not being there for him. I almost wasn't."
"Well you stopped it didn't you?" Nico asked.
"Knockout helped first but then his filthy friends got a hold of her, Slay Queen heard her yelling for help and then she told me. Slay Queen and Knockout took care of the friends. I handled him." Jason clenched his fists at his side again. "Didn't handle him well enough. Could've done worse."
"Jase you would've killed him."
"Well the bastard deserves it." Jason spat.
"Then he would've been killed and you would be charged for murder. And sorry Jase, but I don't have enough money to bail you out of jail. Also orange is not your color." Jason didn't seem to amused by Nico's joke. Nico sighed and patted his back. "Look, at least you saved him in the end. And you're here for him now." Jason sighed and nodded.
"I still wanna kill him though."
"I know. Me too."
"I can make it seem like an accident.."
"You watch way too much CSI: Miami and Criminal Minds."
"MY LONELINESS IS KILLING ME! AND I, I MUST CONFESS, I STILL BELIEVE, STILL BELIEVE. WHEN I'M NOT WITH YOU I LOSE MY MIND, GIVE ME A SIIIIGGGGNNNN HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME! Oww! What the fuck?!" Percy looked over at Nico with a glare and back at the mirror to fix his hair and grumbled under his breath.
"What? You told me to hit you. It's your own fault for asking and not expecting to get hit." Nico shrugged and went back to texting someone, probably Will or Jason. Percy doesn't understand how Nico does it. He likes two different guys, both in which Percy ships him with, and he knows for a fact that they both like him back. When Percy can't even get one guy, or girl for that matter, to even consider finding him attractive, let alone two people. He should probably take notes. Tonight the three of them and Will are going on a double date. Well, more like he's the fourth wheel on a three-way date between Will, Nico, and Jason. But it's okay, it gives him the chance to see who he wants with Nico more and who's a better fit for him.
Since Will came to the school, he and Percy have been getting pretty close and they've been hanging out a lot. Nico's hung out with them a few times but Jason has yet to come around. Always making up excuses as to why he can't hang out or sit with them at lunch. Percy excused it the first few times considering Jason does have other friends than them like Frank, Hazel and Leo. But after a while it was getting annoying. The first time he met Will, he wore the same expression he wore whenever he and Jason met after the first time. An annoyed glare mixed with jealousy and resentment. Percy knew that look all to well and he was quick to recognize it when Jason first met Will, making it very obvious how he felt. He's starting to treat Will the same way Jason treated him. Nico can't see it just like before but he can, Jason wears his heart on his sleeve and shows his emotions all too well. Nico needs to notice these things.
And as a way of the two of them to get along, he somehow convinced Nico and Will to go out on a double date. Will was pretty easy to convince, Nico was a little hesitant but agreed nonetheless. Jason on the other hand, he was a totally different story. He wanted nothing to do with a double date or anything to do involving Will. Percy realized it was a pretty stupid idea on his part to mention it was a double date to Nico's crush, but it slipped out.
"C'mon Jay please!" Percy whined. "It's just one date."
"No Perce." Jason waved him off as he continued to get books out of his locker. "I really got to get to class."
"We have twenty minutes."
"I like being early."
"You just don't want to talk to me." Percy pouted. "I see how it is."
Jason rolled his eyes and closed his locker and leaned against it as he tried to ignore Percy's puppy dog eyes. "Stop giving me those damn sad eyes Jackson, y'know it's not like that. I love talking to you."
"Just not about Will."
Jason groaned, "What's so great about Solace?"
"Can you stop being jealous for like two minutes?"
"Maybe, if my best friend stops talking about him and actually spends time with me."
"I offer you to hang out with us!"
"Well maybe I don't want to hang out with the guy I hate!"
"You don't even know him!"
"I know enough to know that I dislike him."
"You're such an ass. You know that right?"
Jason rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm not going on a double date with Sunshine. You can go on your date with Will all you want, but I'm not gonna sit around like a loser all night and watch my best friend and his crush make heart eyes at each other. Nico and I can go bowling or something while you two love birds flirt." Percy looked at him with a confused face, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"How you want me to be third wheel with Nico on your date with Solace. What the hell do you think I'm talking about?"
"Wait..you think I'm after Nico's man?"
"Nico's man? What the hell are you talking about?" Percy was confused for a second and then started laughing. "Wait, you actually think I like the guy Nico went on a double date with like two weeks ago?"
Now it was Jason's turn to look confused, "What? Sunshine Solace is the guy that Nico went out on a date with? Him? Really? Are you sure it was him and not someone more..Nico's type?"
Percy chuckled and shook his head. "Grace you're an idiot. Of course I'm sure. They've been hanging out a lot lately and not so subtly flirting with each other. You would know if you would actually hang out with us more. You could come with me on this date and get to know him. He's actually a really great guy."
"Fine. Wait but if it's not Solace, then who's the blond you been going on about lately?" Percy blushed, Jason felt another wave of jealousy over the unknown blond that's caught Percy's attention. "You have to promise to keep this a secret. Nico would laugh and tell me I'm an idiot."
"What makes you think I won't tell you you're an idiot?"
"You never judge me. But, before you judge me, hear me out first. Promise?"
Jason sighed and nodded. He really didn't want to hear about the guy Percy's crushing on but at the same time he wanted to know what the blond had that he didn't. "I promise"
"I don't know his name.."
"Percy. Really?" Jason rolled his eyes, leave it to Percy to crush on a total stranger.
"I said don't judge!" Percy whined. "I just know that his nickname is Super Bolt and he's this really attractive blond." Jason's head snapped up and he looked at Percy in shock. He was suppose to be jealous..of himself? What? Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. Percy actually likes him? Well his alter ego, but still. Percy likes him, he actually has a chance! "What?" Jason choked out.
Percy sighed, "All I know is that his name is Super Bolt and he saved me from that..you know.." Percy cringed and looked down. Yes Jason knows very well what Percy's talking about. His blood is still boiling at the thought of that night, Percy still has the fading hickey on his neck as a constant reminder. "So you like this guy?"
"It's stupid right?" Percy looked at him and sighed. "Maybe I should forget about him. I don't even know the guy."
"No!" Percy gave him a confused look at his sudden outburst. Jason cleared his throat, "I mean, Perce..this guy could be the one for you. You can't just give up."
"But I don't know anything about him," Percy whined. "He could've forgotten all about me."
"Who could forget about you Perce? You're a great guy. I'm sure he's driving himself crazy thinking about you." Percy blushed and rolled his eyes.
Percy still doesn't know how he managed to convince Jason to hang out with them tonight but he's happy he didn't have to be the loser who planned the date with no date and having to ask someone else he barely knows to go with him. That would've been awkward. He could've asked Carol or Leo to go with him but Leo probably would tease him the whole night and Carol, well he barely talks to her so it would be awkward and nearly impossible on his part to hold a conversation with her. So he's just glad he managed to convince Jason to tag along. He's still a bit hesitant but at least he's not as bitter as before. That must count for something.
"Are you almost done? You fixed your hair like at least ten times already. Seriously, it looks fine. Well, it's still shitty as always," Percy rolled his eyes. "But not as shitty as it usually is. Don't worry, you don't have to try to look good, I'm sure Jason's hair is just as shitty. No wonder you two constantly wear beanies, you have bad hair days like everyday."
"Can we stop insulting my hair? Thanks."
Nico rolled his eyes and stood up from Percy's bed. "Remind me why we're going on this date?"
"As a way for Will and Jason to get along. Y'know how possessive Jason can be over his friends. Maybe he and Will can bond. I'm not sure, I just don't want Will to feel like Jason hates him and like he's not wanted in our friendship." Nico nodded, Percy had a point. Jason could be very possessive and jealous when he feels like he needs to be. Now that he thinks about it, he does remember Jason being quite moody and slightly rude to Percy before they really got to know each other. Now he's infatuated with the kid and like always, Percy's too oblivious to notice and think he likes Nico and that Nico likes Jason back which is completely totally wrong. Jason's not his type, personality wise, Nico will admit though, he's a very good looking guy, but Jason's too uptight and schedule orientated for him. Plus he's like his older brother it would be too weird.
A few minutes later the door bell interrupted the silence. Percy opened the door and gave both Will and Jason a smile, "Hey guys."
Jason gave him a once over and a smirk, "You look good babe." Percy gave a wink and invited them into the apartment. Jason gave him what looked like to be a bouquet of..comic books? Nico raised an eyebrow, really? Just a few days ago Jason given up with flirting but here he is with a bouquet..of comic books. Well, Nico gives him points for originality and creativity, not many people would think to do that for a nerd's love. Ten points for Jason.
Percy gave him a big smile and hugged him. "Jason! You didn't have too! You shouldn't have gone through so much trouble!" Jason just smirked and returned the hug, "It wasn't that hard. Just had to get some nerd at the comic book store to make it. No trouble. Besides, I can't just not get my 'date' anything." Percy blushed and led him into the kitchen to find a place for the bouquet.
Will walked over to Nico and raised an eyebrow at Percy and Jason, "I thought Percy said he was single."
"He is."
Will gave the two a confused look, "Are you sure? I can sense a lot of sexual tension."
"Yeah," Nico nodded. "That's just Jason. You'll be able to sense it a lot. He has it bad for Percy but Percy's too blind to see it. It's complicated really." Will looked over at Nico and gave him a smile that made Nico's heart flutter, "Well let's get them together."