𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

70

They flew all day with one stop where Percy and Leo had set the ship down to get tar again. Some oars were damaged from the constant attacks, so Leo told them it would take a little longer than it would otherwise.

Hadrian didn't leave his room. Even after getting dressed, he stayed inside. He played his records and tried to do anything to avoid going out. Eventually though, he had to. For lunch.

He'd missed breakfast and he was 80% sure Percy would come to drag him if missed lunch as well. So he managed to prepare himself mentally and walked out of his room.

Only Jason was in the mess hall with Coach Hedge.

Seriously? Hadrian really had rotten luck.

Instead, he cleared his throat and smiled at the two as he walked in. There was no trace of tears or any sort of negative emotion. He'd practiced nice smiles in his mirror.

Jason gave him an upwards nod and went back to looking at Hedge to avoid looking at Hadrian. He didn't know if it was because of the kiss thing or the betrayal thing. He always managed to make things so much more complicated than they needed to be.

"Sleep well?" Jason asked as Hadrian took a seat next to him.

"Uh yeah. Mostly."

"Nightmares?"

"Nothing, thankfully"

He stared at the plate. Things hadn't been this awkward since he met Jason at Camp where the blond had kept his distance for some time.

Hedge looked between the two. Jason's hickey hadn't faded away, so Hadrian wanted to drown himself. Especially when Hedge was glaring at them.

"Allaire? Grace?" He barked, "What's going on? What's that on your neck?"

Jason turned three shades redder. Hadrian suppressed a laugh. After all the monsters they had battled, he was scared of a five foot tall goat?

"He was straightening his hair" Hadrian supplied, "Accidentally burned himself"

It was truly the worst lie Hadrian had ever told and he had told some pretty lame ones. But Hedge just shrugged and dug into his food.

Jason looked at him with wide eyes and chuckled. "Straightening my hair?"

They both looked at his cropped blond hair, though it seemed to be growing on the top. Hadrian was the first to start laughing, and Jason followed. Hedge looked between them, confused by the sudden laughter.

Percy walked into the mess hall looking exhausted but happy. Leo followed from behind him, holding buckets of the tar. What he needed the tar for was a mystery to everyone, but Leo had insisted. Percy had worn Hadrian's crop top which he wondered was a bad idea since it was covered in tar.

"Are you kidding me, Jackson?" Hadrian huffed, "I'm never loaning you clothes again"

Percy ignored his words and narrowed his eyes at something near Hadrian. His smile wavered and he glared. Hadrian had been on the receiving end of the glare only once, he'd forgotten how scary Percy could look. That was the face of a hero- one who had killed thousands of monsters and even giants.

He looked down at Jason's hand on his thigh.

cool. cool. cool. cool. cool. cool. cool. cool. cool. cool. cool.

Hadrian hadn't noticed it at first, but Percy had a bag tucked under his arm, miraculously it didn't have any tar on it.

The brunet walked over, wiping his dirty hands on his pants which made Hadrian wince, and sat himself in a chair Hazel usually occupied- next to Hadrian.

"I got you something" He set it down on Hadrian's lap, covering Jason's hand so he had to retract it.

It was very obvious, just from seeing the package, Hadrian could tell what it was. He couldn't help but blink twice at Percy. Out of all the people on board, Percy was the only person who seemed to have any idea what Hadrian ranted about, the only one who tried to understand. The only one who put in the effort to befriend him and not just on small errands.

"You got me a record?" He blurted.

"Open it"

Hadrian wasted no time, he took the record case out of the paper bag with trembling fingers and stared at the album cover.

Perseus Jackson was going to be the death of him.

Hadrian's mouth just fell open and he stared.

"Percy, I think you broke him" Jason poked his shoulder. He waved his hand in front of his face. "Hadrian? Argo II to Hadrian?"

"I told the record shop owner you liked Louis Tomlinson" Percy began, a bit unsure. He looked confused, like he didn't expect Hadrian to like it. "Leo had to use google translate a little bit, but we got the message across and the girl suggested this."

Hadrian didn't say anything.

"I can- I can probably return it. '' Percy said quickly, "Leo has the receipt, wait can you even return records? I borrowed a couple euros from Coach Hedge, said I'd watch football games with him to make up for it-"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Hadrian interrupted. "It's Harry Styles, I love him, I love- I love it!"

He smiled and Percy seemed to relax.

Percy sighed and he looked so relieved Hadrian wondered why he was so stressed from just buying a new record.

"That's a man's naked back, Allaire" Coach pointed a fork at the album cover as he watched the boys.

"Coach, first of all- gross. Second of all- that man IS art. You know what? Dam it, Leo you have to play this over the speakers, I need to introduce you guys to one of the loves of my life and give you some good taste in music" Hadrian got to his feet because if he sat there a moment longer, staring at Percy, he would do things he'd regret.

He handed the record over to Leo and followed him above deck, heat rising to his cheeks.