Take Off Those Glasses! (Jason x Percy = Jercy)

Promise

"Jason, just this once, listen to me. Please," Percy begged as soon as they entered the bathroom. He couldn't believe how much he hated cheating on Annabeth and having Jason despise him. Both. At. The. Same. Time. It was not like any other feeling he had ever felt before. In fact, he didn't even know a feeling of melancholia so deep could even exist.

Everything was going perfect. He had planned a surprise for his girlfriend, though under unexpected circumstances. It was supposed to be their night. Percy and Annabeth. Maybe he could even have told Annabeth how much he had loved her, how much he yearned for her. He could have made love to Annabeth, after all these years. At last.

Percy had the perfect picture in mind. The details were blurry, however. Them sitting on a table with a lighted candle, napkins tucked in their shirts, a fork and spoon in either hand, staring deep into each other's eyes affectionately. He could imagine himself talking and laughing, having the best time of his life. But the specifics were only a hazy vision. All he could see was him sitting at one side of a table, opposite to a most beautiful owner having blond hair. Everything was perfect.

Until his fingers had entwined with Jason's, their lips connected with divine warmth. Until he realized that the blond person sitting across him wasn't Annabeth.

It had been Jason the whole time.

Still, Percy was hesitant, not about Jason, but about Annabeth. What if all that he was feeling would leave Annabeth crestfallen? What if he was ready to give up his life for Jason, but Jason wasn't even ready to spare Percy the time? Percy wasn't a victim of unrequited love. Not until now, at least. But he wasn't so sure if that would remain the same.

Maybe Jason wouldn't really have meant all that he said that night. Maybe it was just a one-night stand. Percy couldn't imagine the horror that would loom over him if that was indeed true.

Right then, however, Jason only showed signs of disapproval, and Percy doubted, it was going to take a lot of time to wipe off that look. It was like salt on a wound every time he imagined about Annabeth's crying face. Only to console himself, Percy would occasionally remember that it wasn't solely his fault – Annabeth had refused to come at the last minute. Begging for affection from Jason wasn't wrong under those circumstances, he thought.

And yet, he knew what he was doing was not right. He knew that he was drunk last night when he did... all that. There was the slightest bit of scepticism still dwelling in Percy – what if all that he had done was only a symptom of drinking alcohol?

All his doubt, nevertheless, vanished when he looked at that pair of crystal blues, staring at him expectantly. He overlooked the loathe they held. He looked past all negatives – being with Percy or not was, after all, Jason's choice. However hard he tried, it was up to Jason if he decided to hold Percy's hand forever, even when he had all the knowledge of Percy's selfishness and cynicism.

"Percy, oh Percy," Jason said, squinting his eyes and rubbing his temples. "Who do you think you even are?"

Jason paused, as if anticipating a response, but as soon as Percy opened his mouth, Jason continued, "You have no right to cheat on a girl as sweet as Annabeth." Then, in a quieter voice, he added, "Why are you doing this to her?"

"Jason, I know I'm in the wrong– "

"Please, you know nothing. You choose to know nothing – to stay oblivious to everything happening around you. Do you even know for how long, how many years, I tried to make moves, but you remained numb to everything?" said Jason and sighed. "You were crazy for her just yesterday, Percy."

"Why do you not understand, Jason? I have no idea why you are resisting after you yourself confessed that you like me?" Percy said. "I like you too! So, what is the problem?"

"The problem is that I know this is wrong. And I don't care if you think the same."

Percy sighed. He didn't know what else to do.

"Just – Don't talk to me until you've fixed all this, Percy. I don't want to be dragged in this mess. You and your girlfriend should get some therapy. Maybe take a day off and go to the hillside to spend some time together? I don't know. Just, do something."

"I'll break up with her, alright? I promise. Today. I'll do it today, Jason, after school. I prom–"

"Grow up, Percy," Jason said and turned to leave. He opened the door of the bathroom and looked back one last time.

One last time.

"And don't sleep on the bed crying because things aren't working the way you want."

And then he left.

He left.

He left a boy with a broken heart and tearful eyes.

But Percy remembered what Jason said. He wasn't going to cry. Not anymore.

There were thousands of things that Percy could control. But tears and love weren't any one of them. So, he let the salty water drip down his cheeks, staining his heart. He let himself break. He knew more of this, more of everything was going to come his way. Joy and sorrow. Anger and calm, envy and pride. Sweat and tears. Boy and Girl.

Everything is coming.

And everything keeps coming.

And everything will keep coming until the last breath he takes.

And Percy had decided.

He was going to accept everything that came his way.

He wasn't going to be stubborn.

He was going to have an open mind and an open heart.

To everything that he came across.

He promised himself.

He promised Annabeth.

And Percy promised Jason.

He was going to love him. Through thick and thin.