𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

141

Ignoring Percy changed nothing.

It still hurt, Hadrian still curled into a ball and stayed inside his room. But he did it all alone. No matter how much he wanted Percy, how much he craved his presence, he wasn't some desperate, pathetic loser who couldn't take the hint.

He hadn't intended on eavesdropping the night before. All he knew was that it was past midnight and Percy was missing from his bed.

The sheets still smelled like him, which made Hadrian flush—the smell of the sea, mixed with something else, a sweeter smell that Hadrian couldn't place but it was definitely him. Desire burned inside him, but Hadrian pushed those thoughts away.

Eventually he'd figured Percy went to train on deck, so he pulled on a t-shirt and followed the stairs. He couldn't help the way his body reacted with absolute revulsion and just turned invisible the second Annabeth looked over Percy's shoulder. The moment was burned in his memory, the intimate way they seemed to be tangled up in each other.

Hadrian didn't hate Annabeth, far from it, she was actually one of his closest friends on board. But he couldn't help the flurry of emotions— embarrassment, jealousy, shame, anger, all of it turning his stomach.

Then Annabeth kissed his cheek and Hadrian wanted to slip into the shadows like Nico di Angelo.

Curiosity had gotten the better of him and he'd inched closer to hear their conversation.

"Do you remember the summer we were fifteen? Do you have any idea how many people had a crush on you back then? Me, for instance"

"You liked me?"

But also—

"I think I'm bi"

That gave him some semblance of hope only before it was snatched away.

"For the record, I need to know if you liked me back- before"

"Yeah, for years. Since the first time I saw you"

Hadrian had never run away so fast.

Now, an hour after Frank, Percy, Leo and Hazel had left, he found himself in a tattoo parlor in Olympia. Why? He didn't know. All he knew was that he needed to take his mind off Percy, which wasn't very easy when Annabeth had insisted on coming with him.

So here he was, in a tattoo chair, Annabeth and Jason breathing down his neck.

"For the love of gods" He groaned, it was hard to even look at her, "Annabeth, it's a tattoo the size of my thumbprint, not one covering my entire back or arm"

"Are you sure, though?" Annabeth glared at the tattoo artist to back up until she could be sure Hadrian wasn't being rash or impulsive. Hadrian appreciated the sentiment but he didn't like being so close to Annabeth after last night.

"He's not a kid" Jason agreed, "Annabeth, just sit down"

Finally, the two blonds sat down on a bench in the room, though Hadrian really wished they had let him go alone.

Getting the tattoo itself was not as bad as Hadrian expected it. He knew demigods had more tolerance for pain— after all he'd gotten shot with arrows multiple times and you know, survived Tartarus, so after that, a few needles poking him endlessly didn't hurt that bad.

He got the tiny sun on his left wrist, the side facing away from him. So if he wanted to see the design, he would have to twist his hand. But he had always wanted a tattoo there and a sun was just perfect.

Percy had suggested it. 

Hadrian pushed away that thought.

He couldn't help the heavy feeling inside him. He'd just gotten Kira for an hour, maybe two, as they fought thousands of monsters and then she was gone again.

Hadrian didn't doubt that would be the last time he ever saw them.

The tattoo artist spoke broken English, but Hadrian got the gist of it. She explained after care, how long it would take to heal (Hadrian would just take a bite of ambrosia and he was sure that would work better). Still, he listened diligently and thanked the woman before paying the appropriate amount.

As they walked out of the studio, Hadrian was filled with dread again. The tattoo took less than an hour, and Hadrian kind of wished he could stay there forever— forget about the world, about Gaea, just have designs drawn on his skin for eternity.

He really didn't want to face Percy again.

But Jason slung a hand over his shoulder. The wound in his gut was still bad, but he tried to hide how much pain he was in. He even oohed and ahhhed when Hadrian showed the sun to him.

Annabeth had given in as well, "I know I was against it at first, but it's really pretty, I love it"

"I've always wanted a tattoo" Hadrian revealed as they walked through the streets, in no hurry to get back to the ship, "My mom said it was mutilating your body, which I think is a bit of a dramatic reaction"

"Your mom was really something, huh?" Jason thought back to Ithaca. And Hadrian couldn't help but groan.

"You have no idea"

"You told us she died when you were thirteen" Annabeth eased into the conversation. Dead parents weren't a new thing, but she still approached the topic with care.

"Hell hound attack" Hadrian swallowed. Even now, after so many years, he didn't like to talk about it. "They were after me, she got killed instead. Her ghost didn't really forgive me for not saving her, I guess"

His hair turned a sad grey so Jason ruffled it. "You were thirteen, Hads. And you didn't have any training. It's a miracle even you survived"

"I know but still-"

"Survivor's guilt" Annabeth nodded as they made their way across the park where they had landed the ship. "Mortal family is difficult, I get it. I thought my dad and stepmom hated me for years. They treated me like they did, so it was only logical for me to think that I was the root of all their problems. I ran away when I was seven, just because of how unwanted I felt"

"And you met Thalia" Jason added, "I still have the photo strip"

It was bittersweet to think about family, mostly because Hadrian didn't have any, not anymore. The seven demigods of the Argo II and Coach hedge was the closest thing he had. And even if he had a pick from thousands of others, he would still choose them.

They were a few yards from the ship when they saw four teenagers run toward them. Frank— in bear form, was lugging a kidnapped figure. Leo threw up peace signs and Hazel cried out when she saw them.

Annabeth groaned, "I can't let them go anywhere by themselves. Is this what Hera meant by 'subdue'?"

"Let's go see our new kidnapped guest" Jason shrugged.

Whoever said that 143 i love you thing.... are you in my walls??