𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

55

"Fine, we can share, Jackson" Hadrian said. He looked exhausted, like Percy felt. He plopped down on the bed, but Percy made a beeline for the record player.

"What's that?"

Percy hadn't really thought about it, but he had never been in Hadrian's room other than when he was passed out. It was a pop of colour, something refreshing. There was something everywhere- a record player on the table, pictures stuck to the wall, a few doodles on paper.

Everything caught Percy's eye. The whole room was just... so Hadrian. Percy saw him everywhere. He saw him in the silly polaroids, pressed against Jason, cheek to cheek (Percy swallowed thickly and moved onto the next photo), Hadrian with a serious looking Annabeth who was focusing on something, Hadrian with Hazel who had an arm around his waist. There were pictures of a person Percy had never met- short hair that was dyed different colors in every photo, sometimes red, sometimes blue, sometimes pink. Instantly, Percy knew it was Kira, there was no way it was anyone else. 

Hadrian referred to her using she/they pronouns, Percy had noted, so he continued to refer to them as that. 

In one photo, Kira had an arm around a girl with blond hair, one photo where they were kissing the blonde and one photo where both the blonde and Hadrian were kissing Kira on her cheeks. It was then that Percy realized exactly how little he knew about Hadrian's past. 

There were random pictures too, a sunflower he had taken a photo of when they landed in Kansas, Percy's silhouette on the deck (when had he taken that?), half of Hazel's face that was covered in a facemask.

Hadrian had a few of Annabeth's nail polishes on the desk- blue, black and white. Percy's eyes travelled to his hand. His fingers were long and thin, nails painted black. How had Percy not seen that before?

"Do you have any records?" He asked.

Hadrian looked annoyed but gestured to the edge of the desk where something red was peaking out under paper. There were three records- Lover by Taylor swift, A boy band Percy didn't know and something called Faith in the Future.

"Chiron said essential things only so obviously I had to bring all of this"

"I usually listen to older songs, courtesy of my mom" He mumbled, half to himself. "But these look great, can I play one?"

"Turn the volume down though, don't need Coach to burst in here"

Percy obliged. With delicate touches, he put one on. For some reason he felt like this whole room was a sacred place. He shouldn't be touching any of this. It felt like a look into Hadrian's mind. Percy didn't want to break anything.

The opening sound of the song began to play. Percy sat down next to Hadrian, the bed dipping under his weight.

He watched Hadrian bobbing his head slightly.

"The Greatest" was all he said. The name of the song Percy thought, probably.

"It sounds great, not sure about the greatest"

Hadrian bumped his shoulder for that.

"Do you..." Percy started shakily, "Do you want to talk about Jason?"

"No" Hadrian said at first, but then he sighed, "Yes"

Percy watched in the lamplight as his hair turned from brown to black. What did that mean?

"It was a convenience thing" Hadrian said, "Jason wanted to figure out if he liked guys and I was bored so he suggested it"

"You wanted to do it though right?" Some concern slipped into his voice. "He didn't...."

"What? No, nothing like that" Hadrian said quickly, "It was nice, seriously"

"Then why do you seem so dejected and grumpy?"

"I'm not grumpy," He said grumpily.

Percy shrugged. The song continued in the background. "Was he a good kisser?"

"Uh" Hadrian shivered, the roots of his hair turned pink. "Yeah, I guess you could say that"

Percy forced a grin, "Do you like him?"

"This is exactly why I wasn't going to let you in, pretty boy"

"I don't think your new boyfriend would appreciate you calling me that" That earned him a rainbow stuffed fish thrown at him. Hadrian may be a little shorter, but damn his throw was good. Percy got a faceful of the soft material and had to push Hadrian.

The song changed, something with an upbeat guitar.

"I will smother you with this pillow or so help me god"

Hey babe...

The song played in the background.

"Hey, Babe..." Percy pouted playfully.

Hadrian hit him with a pillow again, "Do not quote Louis Tomlinson to me"

He put the pillow on Percy's face but made sure not to press too hard. Percy could still breathe but he played along, "Smothering me with a silk pillowcase." He said, "So personal and sensual"

Hadrian huffed, "You're impossible"

"Only for you, babe"

Hadrian took the pillow back and pushed Percy off the bed.

"See? Grumpy"

"You're grumpy, fuck off" Hadrian flipped him off, "I let you crash in my room and this is how you repay me?"

Can we please get back to us now...

The song was catchy, Percy had to hand it to him. "Tell me about the singer" He told Hadrian.

And just like he knew Hadrian would, he launched into an explanation. Something about a boy band from 2010 who disbanded and a rumor about members dating each other. Percy would be happy to listen, but he mostly liked the look that overtook Hadrian's features. It was so pure, lighting up to explain the next song.

All of those voices, all of those choices...

Percy listened, no matter whatever nonsense Hadrian was spilling, half asleep, Percy listened. Hadrian talked and Percy listened. Hadrian sang the songs softly and Percy listened.

Somewhere between the songs, they had curled up in bed. Just two boys staring at each other. Hadrian sang under his breath, and Percy leaned in to hear better. 

Percy had pulled the rainbow fish close to his chest while Hadrian had claimed the shark.

Whoever this Louis Tomlinson was, Percy had fallen in love with him too.