Chapter 13: When nothing goes as planned
As Jason watched Percy leave for the night shift, he made a decision: He'd tell Percy.
The past days had been amazing.
They hadn't had that much sex - ok, a few times in the shower maybe and once in the morning after waking up rock hard, but meh.
Instead, they had started spending more time just being close to each other.
For no real reason.
Before, they had already spent time together, but they usually waited to have an excuse to be together, like shifts together or dinner or Percy's inability to sleep alone.
Now, they simply hung out around each other, sometimes just standing on deck together, staring out at the sea, talking about this or that as if they were friends.
Or boyfriends.
Jason's heart leaped.
They were so close.
He could just not tell Percy and let things go on the way they were now.
But still, he realized he simply had to know.
Could Percy picture a future with him?
Would he want to officially be with Jason?
Jason had had a nightmare with Percy finding a new girlfriend.
He might not have woken up screaming, but he had been horrified, wrapping his arms even tighter as usual around Percy, needing to feel him right beside him, hearing him mutter something indistinguishable in his sleep and rub up against him.
But ever since then he had realized he did not want Percy to find somebody else.
He knew his chances were slim, but he had finally decided to take the risk.
He knew Percy wouldn't laugh at him.
Even if he told him no, then Jason would at least have his answer.
Maybe they could then get to an agreement to at least stick to each other for the time until they beat Gaea (or die trying), until they would have to part ways.
But maybe, just maybe, Percy would consider it and decide to stay with him.
Maybe Jason could somehow change his mind.
He would do anything.
Even if it meant him being the bottom forever.
He sighed deeply, falling back onto the bed.
It was a long time till Percy would come back.
Enough time for Jason to think about how to phrase his confession.
.
Percy stared out at the sea.
It had been another rather calm day.
The sea monster that had been trailing them the past days seemed to have lost interest for some reason, because Percy couldn't detect it anywhere.
He sighed.
"Hey there, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth joined him at the railing.
She had the night shift with him.
He looked around at her miserably.
"Oh my, what's with that face?"
He didn't reply, instead looking back at the glittering water.
It was such a beautiful sight.
Any other day, the mere sight of the sea would have cheered him up instantly.
But right now he just sighed once more.
"Is it because of Jason?"
"Of course it is."
"What's wrong?"
"I just…I don't know. Lately, we've been spending so much time together and it feels so right, but I keep wondering if he thinks of it the same way. And I just really want to know. Does he enjoy being around me as much as I do or is he tired of me already? Does he like me? Is there a chance for us? Am I allowed to get my hopes up?"
Annabeth was quiet for a moment, staring into the distance.
"Have you ever tried baking brownies?" She asked suddenly and he turned around to her, frowning.
"What? What does that have to do with anything?"
"Jason likes brownies."
"I know. But how does that solve my problem?"
"It doesn't. Your problem is that you can't get your courage up to be honest about your feelings with him. Nothing and nobody can help you with that except you yourself. But if you bake him brownies, it will at least show him whatever you have to say will be sincere."
"But…I don't even know how to bake brownies. And when would I even bake them?"
"The recipe is in the kitchen. Remember, Jason got it from those merpeople. And how about you bake them after you get off the night shift?"
"But I don't even know how to bake."
"That's what directions are for, dummy."
"But…erm…can I make them blue?"
"How about…no."
"Aww."
She chuckled.
"So, have you thought of how you're going to get your feelings across?"
"I was just thinking of striking up conversation like: Hey Jason, how about we date?"
Annabeth gave him her best you-can't-be-serious-face.
He laughed, though it was pained. "Just joking. Seriously, I have no idea whatsoever."
"Then you have enough time to think of something now."
"Wait, you aren't going to help me?" He asked, horrified.
"Nah, this is something you need to figure out on your own."
Percy stuck out his bottom lip, but she had already turned away, chuckling to herself as she walked away.
"Aww, not even a hint or a piece of advice?" He called after her.
She stopped, then turned her head in his direction, considering him.
"Maybe one or two." She smirked.
"Yes?" He pried hopefully
"Be honest and don't do anything stupid."
He scowled. "Ha-ha-ha."
But she was already walking off to the other side of the ship.
Evil ex-girlfriend.
He sulked and looked back out at the sea.
How could he possibly get his feelings across to Jason...?
Not to mention the brownies baking part.
He hoped Jason wasn't going to wait for him in his room.
Nah, he was probably sleeping, like the other times Percy had had night shift.
.
Jason couldn't get to sleep, no matter how hard he tried.
There were three hours left until Percy got off his shift.
Jason was so tempted to go and check on him.
Maybe spend some time with him, stargazing or just staring out at the dark sea around them together.
But he stayed in his room, sighing and turning and moving restlessly.
He was so nervous, though he couldn't see why.
He had it all planned out in his head.
Percy would come to bed when his shift ended and Jason would wrap his arms around him as usual and let him sleep.
When he would wake up Jason would not let go at first and then announce he had something important to talk about.
He just wasn't sure whether it was a better idea to hold Percy in bed so he'd have to scramble out of it first in order to rush out the room (worst case scenario) or whether to get up with him but position himself at the door so Percy would have to pass him in case he wanted to rush out the room (again worst case scenario).
Then he'd try to use the phrases he had put together in his head.
He wished he could just make a stupid letter or such and give Percy that and be done with it.
But that would be such a cliché and Percy would never actually sit down and read a letter, with his ADHD and dyslexia and all.
He'd think Jason wanted to torture him.
Blah.
Jason turned onto his back again, staring up at the white ceiling.
He sighed and closed his eyes.
Maybe, if he thought about something pleasant to take his mind off things, he could fall asleep.
Instantly, his mind filled with pictures of Percy and him.
He pictured how it would be to be with him, stay at Camp Half-Blood together, sit at the Camp fire holding hands (would Percy even allow that?) and how they would sneak out at night to meet somewhere save from the Harpies – there was no way they'd sleep separated after all.
Maybe Leo would let them use Bunker 9.
His thoughts wandered off.
They could go to New Rome together.
Maybe catch up on college and all.
Go out on dates and live together in an apartment.
He smiled. Percy would probably love something close to the water.
He wondered if they could afford the rent.
They'd definitely need jobs. Jason would make sure to get a good paying one so he could cover for all the food Percy ate.
Not to mention the food coloring.
Percy would never eat anything that wasn't blue.
Thinking about food, Jason should definitely catch up on cooking.
He had a feeling letting Percy into the kitchen would be a one-time-thing because he'd have to get the kitchen renewed afterwards.
He smirked at the thought and slowly drifted off into sleep, imagining Percy and him living together.
.
"What the...why does baking have to be so DIFFICULT?!" Percy asked for the 100th time and stared frustrated down at the mess he had made.
Annabeth laughed next to him and looked over his shoulder at the recipe in his hands.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Keep mixing, it's going to be fine."
Good thing she didn't mention that, without her help, the kitchen would probably be non-existent by now, burnt down the hundreds of times Percy had done something wrong.
He was never going to set foot into a kitchen again. At least not to work in it.
"This is horrible. It's so gooey and weird..." He complained, holding up a finger full of dough.
Then he licked at it tentatively. "Well, I suppose it at least doesn't taste that bad..." He muttered, considering taking another spoonful, but Annabeth took the bowl away.
"Stop eating the dough, else there won't be any left."
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. So, what's next? You know I hate reading with my dyslexia and all.", he asked, squinting at the paper.
Annabeth chuckled. "I think it's good enough now, though it could be a bit more fluid. Oh well. Just dump it onto the tray I prepared and off into the oven."
"Are you sure this mess is going to turn into brownies?"
"Absolutely."
"Hm. Fine."
He felt her bemused gaze on him and did his best to ignore her, doing what she told him to do.
He just hoped they really did turn out the way they were meant to.
He put the tray into the oven and looked around at his ex-girlfriend that started a timer.
"And now?"
"Now we wait."
"I hate baking."
She chuckled but didn't say anything. He stared at the timer.
He wished he could be snuggling up with Jason in bed right now.
But this was for Jason. And he hoped Jason would like it.
He had certainly put a lot of effort into it.
He stared at the oven. 'Please let them turn out well...' He thought to himself and flopped down at the table, resting his head on his arms.
Annabeth joined him and chuckled quietly
.
Percy was definitely late.
Jason was wide awake, having woken five minutes before Percy's shift should have ended.
Now he was already waiting for Percy for roughly twenty minutes.
Maybe something had happened.
Maybe the ship was under attack.
He listened. There were no sounds indicating a fight whatsoever.
He stared the ceiling to death.
Maybe Percy had extended his shift a bit because Piper or Frank weren't there yet.
That might be it.
But neither seemed the type to oversleep.
He put his arm over his eyes. Everything was ok.
Maybe Percy was simply still talking to Annabeth about something.
He had done that before, after all. But what where they talking about?
Did Percy still have feelings for Annabeth?
Their breakup seemed to have shaken him quite a bit back then, maybe he really did still like her.
Doubt gnawed at him.
What if Percy was actually just doing these things with Jason because he originally wanted to do them with Annabeth?
They kind of had started the sleeping-over thing because Percy couldn't sleep alone.
Before Jason, he had had Annabeth to go to for that.
Did that mean he was just using Jason as substitute?
Jason bit on his bottom lip, worried.
Maybe he shouldn't confess to Percy after all.
He scolded himself. This was stupid. He had decided to take the risk, and so it would be.
He would get his answer, once and for all and accept it, no matter what it was.
Which didn't make the feeling of dread go away.
The door opened.
He looked around, expecting Percy.
"Leo?"
"Hey, man. Sorry to bother you at this hour, but I kind of...need your help..."
.
Half an hour later, Percy walked towards Jason's room, not knowing how to feel.
He was nervous, to say the least.
Then again he was also relieved to finally get to bed.
Not to say he was glad he finally got out of the kitchen.
Blah. He definitely hated baking.
He supposed the brownies had turned out quite alright, though they weren't even half as great as the ones Jason had brought with him from his visit to the merpeople.
He had left them in the kitchen for later.
Now it was sleeping and cuddling time.
When they were both well enough rested, they'd have their usual wake-up-routine and then meet at the breakfast table.
This time, Percy could make sure he'd be there first and pack the brownies for when they were back in their room.
Doubt gnawed at him.
Maybe he should have brought the brownies now.
Confessing to a half-sleeping Jason suddenly seemed a much better idea.
He stopped in front of the door.
He was already here.
Going back would just take up even more time.
He started fidgeting and stopped himself, trying to get his cool together.
What the hell was wrong with him anyways?
He opened the door, keeping his composure perfectly.
That is, until he saw the scene in front of him. His heart stopped.
He tried to take in the scene in front of him objectively.
There was Jason. On the bed. In his boxer shorts.
Nothing unusual there.
Well, he was awake, but that wasn't really that unusual either.
What was unusual though was the half-naked Latino straddling him, his hands on Jason's underpants, looking around at him in a mixture of shock and surprise.
Jason's hands were at Leos arms, but whether he had been pushing him away or keeping him there, Percy had no idea.
His insides went up in flames.
His face became stony.
"Ah. Am I...interrupting something?" He forced out, feeling his heart shattering into a thousand little pieces.
Those idiots could at least scramble apart instead of just sitting there, looking around him in shock.
"What- NO! Percy, this is NOT..." Jason started and looked alarmed, seemingly trying to get up, but Leo kind of held him back with still holding on to his boxer shorts.
"Stop moving, Jason!" Leo hissed and Percy saw Jason obey like a good puppy.
What was wrong with him?!
Blind hot fury lashed up inside of Percy.
So this was what Jason was doing while he was working his ass off in the kitchen, trying to bake stupid brownies?
He remembered all the times Jason had ensured him that Leo and him were just friends.
Anger at Jason and himself welled up inside him.
He had KNOWN there was more between them.
He had seen the way they looked at each other.
How could he have been so goddamn stupid?!
How could he have possibly thought Jason might actually somewhat like him, returning his feelings in an ever so slight way?!
The pain inside his chest spread out through his entire body, making him tremble.
"Percy, seriously, this is not what it looks like. I swear, I can explain..." Jason tried, but Percy was already backing away.
To his own surprise, there was a tear running down his cheek.
"F-Fuck you..." He muttered and turned on the spot, dashing out the door.
"Percy!" He heard Jason call after him but was already moving past the other doors, out onto deck.
"Percy?" Came Pipers surprised voice. Percy didn't stop.
Everything inside him felt as if he had swallowed acid.
He couldn't form a clear thought in his head.
Fuck this quest.
Fuck Gaea.
She could have him for all he cared.
Fuck the world.
Fuck anything that mattered to anybody.
It certainly didn't matter to him anymore.
Nothing did.
He ran full speed towards the railing and jumped.
"Percy!" He heard Piper yell horrified, but didn't stop.
He hit the water. Usually, it made him feel better.
Now, it only seemed to amplify his pain.
He saw some fish swimming around but they weren't suicidal enough to come close to him.
No monsters anywhere to be seen.
Shame.
He'd have liked a good fight right now.
He began swimming, no real goal in mind
.
Jason cursed and jumped out of bed, uncaring that he tore Leo with him in a not exactly gentle way.
"What the- Jason, stop!"
Jason didn't.
This was the worst thing ever.
He grabbed Leos arms and pulled him with him to the wardrobe so he wouldn't fall on the way.
This was all his fault.
He looked down at Leos hands, glued to his boxer shorts.
He really had the rottenest luck of all.
There he was, waiting for Percy, when suddenly Leo had popped up, asking for help.
So, naturally, Jason had said sure.
He was a kind and helpful person after all.
Or at least he used to be, until he had helped Leo getting a can of indefinable gooey stuff open (another load of 'new and improved' superglue) and promptly had said stuff all over his boxer shorts, with the can falling down onto the floor and Leo falling forward, his hands in the gooey stuff on Jason's boxer shorts.
And next thing Jason knew, Leo had been glued to them.
Just like that.
Because Leo just had to make super-glue that glued anything to anything within a few seconds.
Great invention. Especially great to freak out people that one wanted to confess to.
Jason tore out a new pair of boxer shorts and looked around at Leo.
Leo stared up at him, unbelieving.
"You're not going to..."
He was.
Next moment, he slipped into new boxer shorts, with Leo still holding on to the ones he was glued at.
His face was a deep shade of purple and Jason would have almost found the sight funny, if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation.
Percy.
His face.
The way he had looked at them.
The surges of emotions behind those beautiful seagreen eyes.
He grabbed his jeans and sprinted from the room, trying to get into his pants on the way to deck.
The tear that had run down his cheek.
He had hurt Percy.
He knew he had.
But he hadn't done anything! He would never...
When he got to the deck, he found Piper and Frank at the railing in the front, acting all hysterical.
Piper saw him sprinting towards her.
"Jason! Jason, what happened?!" She asked, her voice high pitched with shock.
"Where's Percy?" He cut her off, looking around, panicking.
Piper pointed towards the sea.
"What?!"
"He just came running from under the deck and then he was- Jason?! Jason! Where are you going?"
But Jason had already taken off towards a black dot in the blue-green glittering sea hundreds of feet away.
A moment later, Leo came rushing to the deck, Jason's boxer shorts still in his hands. Piper shot a look at him and noticed the shorts in an instant.
Her worry changed to anger.
"Leo! What have you done?!"
Leo winced. Girls were so damn scary.
"I'd like to know that too." Annabeths cool voice sounded behind him, taking in the scene.
Leo swallowed and shook his hands, showing them he couldn't get the shorts off.
"Might have...used a bit too much superglue?" He asked tentatively and felt two sets of eyes burning into his soul.
He whimpered.
Girls were cruel.
He looked helplessly to Frank, but Frank was still staring off into space after Percy and Jason.
Not very helpful.
He wished Hazel was on deck.
She'd be sticking up for him.
At least he kept telling himself that.
.
Percy was surprised to find a shore not too far off where the Argo II. was sailing.
He had no idea where they were at right now, but it had to be some European country.
And they certainly used a language he didn't know.
He got out the water and rushed through the port into the city. He didn't really care where he was going or if there were monsters around.
He just wanted to run away.
Run away from the ship.
Run away from that scene.
Run away from Jason.
A sob caught in his throat and he pressed his eyes tightly shut, zigzagging through the streets, not giving a damn about who saw him like this.
In some alleyway, he stopped to catch his breath, putting his arms up against the wall and panting, tears dropping to the ground.
He tried to wipe them away but more kept coming.
"That...stupid...idiot..."
He wasn't even sure whether he was talking about Jason or himself.
He had known.
Somewhere deep inside, he must have known.
That was probably why he had been so jealous of Leo before.
He remembered the way they looked around at him, Leos hands still at Jason's boxer shorts.
Why? Why had they done that?
Jason must have known Percy would be coming back any moment.
Why had he let Leo do that?
Had the situation escalated that quickly?
Or had they been doing stuff like that for hours already and had lost track of time?
Or had he simply not cared about whether Percy would come back or not?
His chest stung and he let his forehead rest against the wall, letting the tears flow.
Had he pushed himself onto Jason after all?
Had he misinterpreted the past days together with Jason?
Had Jason actually just spend time with him to make Leo notice him in that way?
Or had he been around Percy because he had thought he wouldn't have a chance with Leo?
Neither sounded very nice to Percy.
He sobbed.
Great.
What a girl he was.
He thought of Annabeth and Piper.
No. He wasn't a 'girl'.
He was a coward.
A wimp.
A nothing.
Great hero, pah.
He was Percy fucking gay and heartbroken Jackson.
He sobbed again.
He should have never fallen in love with Jason.
Thinking back, he really should have run him through with Riptide instead of getting into this whole mess.
Sure, he would have never felt so freaking amazing in his life as he had done with Jason the past weeks, but meh.
Sacrifices needed to be made.
And he would sacrifice anything in order to get rid of this unbelievable pain inside of him that he couldn't seem to be able to get away.
It was eating him up from the inside, tearing away at him as if he was out of Lego bricks and something was taking him apart piece by piece.
He clutched his paining chest.
"Percy!" Jason called, running through the streets of the small town, looking everywhere for the dark-haired hero.
Where the hell had he gone?
He looked around, noticing people staring at him oddly.
Well, he couldn't blame them.
Maybe he should have taken a shirt with him.
Running around just in his pants, without shirt or shoes (not even socks) on, did seem pretty weird, even to him.
But he had other worries now.
He rushed past houses and people, shops and more people, parks and even more people.
What if he couldn't find him?
As he passed an alleyway at top speed, he glimpsed something orange and hurtled to a stop, rushing back to it.
There he was.
At last.
Jason hurried forward.
"Percy!" He said and Percy whirled around in shock.
The next moment, Jason had him pressed tightly against him in a hug.
"Oh gods, Percy. I'm so glad I found you..." He muttered, ignoring Percy's outraged mutterings and his futile tries to get him off him.
"Let go. What are you doing here anyways? Why aren't you with Leo? Bet he doesn't like to be kept waiting. Why don't you just go and...and..."
Jason noticed with a jolt that Percy was sobbing.
Actually sobbing.
He pulled back to look at Percy, but Percy turned his head away instantly, not permitting him to see.
He cupped his face in his hands and began kissing him softly.
"Gods, Percy, you got it all wrong..." He started, but Percy flinched and pushed him away.
"Oh yeah, did I now?! What did I get wrong then? Oh, let me guess: It was an accident, right? Leo just so happened to wish to take your pants off when I was supposed to be coming back from night shift any moment! How long have you been doing that kind of stuff with each other? Was it fun using me like that?!"
Jason swallowed hard at Percy's rage attack.
He tried to soothe him, or say anything in general, but neither did his voice work, nor did Percy give him a chance to speak.
"I bet you thought you were really awesome, playing me like that. What did you think you'd do? Watch how badly you could get me before letting it slip you were two-timing, you bastard? Or are you two a fresh couple now? Should I congratulate you?"
Percy's words didn't make much sense, but Jason didn't blame him, given his lack of sleep and the pain that was still plainly audible in his voice.
Jason tried to speak again but Percy didn't let him.
"I can't believe I actually fell for it. There, you hear it? I fell for it. You can be all proud of yourself now. Go and fuck your little friend and tell him how awesome you are for all I care."
Jason swallowed again and stepped closer at the raging Percy.
Percy didn't seem to notice.
"And to think he wanted to be friends with me! He was probably laughing his ass of behind my back, high-fiving you about your awesome job. Hey, let's see how badly you can get Percy Jackson to- hmpf."
Jason shut him up with grabbing him and pressing his lips onto his.
Percy did not go down quietly.
He tried to pull away, but Jason held onto him tightly.
He tried to bite him, but Jason moved with him, not giving him a chance to actually bite anything.
He tried to use his hands, but Jason pressed him up against the wall behind them, grabbing those hands and holding them above their heads.
"Percy…" He started again, but Percy shook his head wildly.
"No. No, stop it! Stop being so…stop doing this…"
"Percy, I…I…"
I love you.
Jason found the words stuck in his throat.
"I don't want to hear it. I don't want you telling me I'm stupid for getting my hopes up. I already know that. But I just can't help it. I love you…I love you so much, I even baked you brownies…if you think that's funny then go and laugh about it with Leo, but leave me alone…"
Wait, what?
Jason stared down at Percy, who was still trembling and pushing down sobs.
"What?"
"Yeah, I thought you might like them…so Annabeth helped me baking them…but I was stupid…so stupid…"
Jason shook his head. "No, I mean, yes, of course I'd like them, but…you love me?"
Percy looked up at him with tears running down his face.
"Of course I do…"
Jason wrapped his arm around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Gods, Percy! Why didn't you tell me?!" He asked, everything inside him feeling as if a swarm of butterflies got loose in there.
"What does it matter…"
"Percy! I love you, too!"
Percy stiffened.
Then he started fighting against Jason's embrace again and pulled back.
"Do you…that's not funny!" He said, outraged, but Jason cupped his face and pressed his lips onto him.
"Gods, Percy. I'm not joking. I love you so much. I wanted to tell you today."
Percy had his hands on Jason's arms, trying to pull him away, looking at him with a mixture of confusion, hope and hurt.
"You…that…you're lying…what was that with Leo, then?" He muttered, but Jason groaned exasperated.
"Would you PLEASE stop this bullshit with Leo?! He had this dumb superglue-can I was supposed to open and next thing we know he was glued to my boxer shorts. There was never anything between us and, trust me, there will never be! So would you freaking believe me I'd never do anything with anybody else than you?"
"But…but…" Jason put his fingers to Percy's lips, silencing him.
Then he leaned over, resting their foreheads against each other.
"Perseus Jackson…" It was the first time Jason had ever called him that.
Percy shivered at the sound of his name.
He used to hate being called 'Perseus' but from Jason, it sounded surprisingly nice.
He looked up at those sky-blue eyes looking down at him with that expression he could never identify.
"…I love you." He whispered and kissed his nose.
"I love you more than I ever thought I could love anybody…" He continued, wrapping his arms around him.
Percy felt a shiver running down his back and found himself lost in those sky-blue eyes.
They seemed so sincere.
His insides were still in turmoil.
Was this true?
Did Jason really like him?
Was that with Leo really just an accident?
"W-will you…" Percy started, feeling his face flush.
But he didn't care much.
He must already look horrible with the tears running down his face and his eyes most likely red and puffy.
Not to mention the eye bags from a night without sleep whatsoever due to the night shift.
Jason waited patiently for Percy to continue.
"Will you go out with me?" Percy blurted and felt the heat in his face and chest.
Jason's lips split into a grin Percy had never seen him use before.
He rubbed their noses against each other. "I'd love to."
Percy found himself smiling. "Really? So we're…boyfriends?"
"Gods, yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
And then they kissed.
It was wet and sloppy, yet it was the best kiss ever.
It was soft and gentle at first, but started to gradually pick up intensity as they began wrapping their arms around each other and pushed closer against one another.
Jason pressed him against the wall behind him, their lips never parting for more than a few milliseconds.
Their tongues began their dance.
Jason moaned into the kiss, letting his hands greedily move over Percy's slender body.
"I love you…" He muttered into the kiss, feeling Percy tremble in answer.
"I love you so much." He whispered as he started kissing down Percy's neck, nibbling and sucking, luring sweet moans out of Percy, his arms wrapped around his neck.
"Jason…" Percy huffed and Jason shivered at the sound of his name.
He nibbled on Percy's crook of the neck longingly before moving back up to give him a peck on the lips.
"I love the way you say my name." He said quietly and felt Percy shuffling.
Jason was so happy.
He didn't know the last time he had felt so happy.
He looked into Percy's face, gently stroking away the half-dried tears and kissing his eyelids.
He loved him so much.
And Percy loved him back.
His whole body felt all tingly and he could seriously scream out his joy right now.
Percy looked flustered, to say the least.
He loved seeing him like this.
Then Percy leaned against him slightly, looking up at him rather shy now, averting his gaze again.
"I love your eyes." Jason said quietly.
Percy looked up at him again.
Then his gaze travelled to Jason's lips.
"I love our kisses." Jason muttered and kissed Percy softly, feeling his quickened heartbeat as he pressed his warm body against Jason.
"I love you so much." Percy whispered into the kiss and Jason sighed happily, letting his words do its magic on him.
He felt all warm and fuzzy on the inside, holding Percy close.
That's when Percy noticed he was still not wearing a shirt.
"We should get back to the ship…" He muttered, but Jason didn't want to let him go.
Percy looked like he wanted to argue for a moment, but then decided against it, snuggling against Jason instead, wrapping his arms tightly around him and putting his head against his chest.
Jason chuckled bemused.
Percy muttered something.
"Hm?" He asked, not quite catching what he had said.
"You have four different ways of chuckling."
Jason laughed. "I do?"
"Yeah. An awkward one, a bemused one, a happy one and a lusty one." Jason buried his nose in Percy's hair.
Percy was so adorable. "I love your chuckles." Percy muttered and Jason smiled happily.
"And I love your smiles."
"I love that stapler scar of yours."
Jason chuckled. Percy shivered and turned his head slightly to look at him better.
They just stood there, looking at each other, forgetting everything and anything around them, just glad they were here together.
.
When they finally, after half an eternity, decided to part and head back to the ship, Percy had expected Jason to just grab him and fly off.
Instead, Jason took his hand in his and started walking out the alleyway.
"Really? You do know you're not wearing a shirt or shoes, right?" Percy said, laughing.
Jason only shrugged. "I don't care. You're mine now and I'm happy and I'm going to show it to everybody."
Percy blushed and let him pull him with him.
People looked around at them, alright.
Though Percy couldn't really tell whether it was because they were holding hands or because Jason was walking around shirtless.
They decided to buy him a shirt, a pair of socks and shoes at the first store they found, scratching together the mortal money (good thing Percy had gotten some euros from Annabeth last night) for it.
Then they strolled through the city, no idea whatsoever where they really were.
They stopped by a park, sitting down on the bench and looking around at the other couples walking around, holding hands and laughing.
Percy and Jason looked at each other and smirked, leaning against each other and just enjoying the moment.
"We should still head back to the ship soon." Percy reminded him, thinking of how the others must worry.
Jason sighed. "I know. But just a bit longer…"
Percy chuckled, snuggling against Jason's shoulder. "I know what you mean…" He muttered and they kissed again, in plain sight for anybody to see.
They didn't give a damn.
Jason smirked and squeezed Percy's hand.
Percy's eyes were ablaze with affection and love.
"You know…I wanted to tell you today…" He admitted, watching Percy's eyes widen slightly.
"I had this whole thing in mind to confess to you when you would wake up. I was just thinking that maybe you'd at least consider it…"
Percy smiled sheepishly. "Actually…I wanted to tell you today as well…that's kind of why I baked brownies…I wanted to surprise you and was even thinking of telling you I'd be willing to be your girlfriend if you so wanted it…just so I could be with you at all…"
Jason blinked, surprised.
Then his lips split into a wide grin. "Really?"
Percy blushed and tried to turn his head, but Jason had his hand on his chin already, keeping him there.
"I…well…it's not like I don't like it…" Percy admitted quietly and Jason chuckled.
He kissed Percy again.
Their tongues touched gently and Jason could feel Percy's hand on his cheek, his thumb caressing his cheek.
As they parted, they leaned their foreheads against each other again.
"I love you."
"I love you more, Jason."
"No way."
"Yes way."
They laughed and got up, walking through the park holding hands.
.
"How come you never told me?", Jason asked quietly as they made their way towards the port.
Percy looked away. "Well…I…I was kind of scared, I suppose…"
Jason mustered him from the side. "It's not like I would have laughed or anything…"
"I know, but I didn't exactly know how you'd take it, either. I simply didn't want things to get awkward between us or that you'll…you know…"
"Be weirded out?"
"Exactly."
They both sighed.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Percy asked after a while.
Jason looked around at him, a pained smile on his face.
"When you turn everything into a contest and try to show you're the best?"
Percy made a face. "I haven't done that in weeks."
"Yeah, but you used to."
"I didn't know whether you might not pull something off to get at me either."
"I would never do something like that."
"Do I know?"
They both glared at each other.
Then both chuckled and kissed each other softly.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Jason."
"I'm glad we got this sorted out."
"Yeah, me too."
"Time to return to the ship?"
"Yeah."
They sighed, then Jason wrapped his arms around Percy and they took off into the sky, Percy holding onto Jason tightly.
"I never thought I could enjoy flying through the air like that."
Jason found Percy smiling against his chest.
Jason's grip on him tightened. "Don't worry. I'll keep you safe."
Percy gave him a playful scowl.
Jason chuckled.
They could see the Argo II with its course straight on them, sailing through the water.
It was quite a pretty sight.
Jason nuzzled against Percy's head, burying his nose in his hair.
"I love your scent."
"Ocean breeze?"
"Yeah…" They chuckled.
Gaea and her war could come for all they cared. After all, they'd be there together to face her down. And right now it felt as if they could take on much more than Earth itself.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Their hearts beat in unison as they looked at each other lovingly.
Yeah, let Gaea come.
They'd beat her easily.
Together.
The End