Hello

Chapter 4

Percy doesn't get any sleep that night. The anger at both himself and at the spectators hasn't seized yet, and to make it worse, confusion and worry have formed a tight knot in his stomach.

Percy doesn't see Will again for three days, and with every passing minute, Percy worries more.

Even after the sun rises and the center opens, he spends most of the time lurking in the dark, his mixed feelings now fighting inside him in a way that he makes him wonder if he's even feeling anything at all. The fish, his food, are still untouched, and Percy watches them swim around the tank.
He had been closer to Will than he had been to anyone for as long as he can remember, but of course, given the tense situation, this fact hasn't caught up with Percy until now. It had been nice, feeling the warmth of another being against him, taking care of someone, holding them.... but the feeling is tainted in the light of the circumstances. It's Percy's fault Will got hurt, he shouldn't let himself enjoy the outcome of it.

In the later afternoon a familiar sound echoes through his tank.

At first, Percy considers not going to see Jason at all, but then the sound comes again, differently and more hesitant somehow.

Percy

He heaves a sigh and figures that maybe, Jason can at least take his mind off for a little while and maybe making a couple of kids happy will raise Percy's mood as well. When Percy approaches the glass though, Jason is alone, a frown on his face and his glasses a little askew. There are dark circles under his eyes and he looks overall a little dishevelled. Percy wonders if maybe Jason hasn't slept last night either.

As soon as Percy comes into sight, Jason forces a weak smile. He's the only visitor Percy can see, apart from an old man sitting on a bench and watching the fish in the tank across from Percy's, so neither of them bothers putting on an act. Jason has a piece of paper in his hand, and Percy watches curiously as he unfolds it in his hands. After smoothing it out in the palm of his hand, Jason turns it over and presses it flat against the outside of the tank.

Will is okay. I visited him in hospital.

Jason's writing is neat, easy to read even with Percy being out of practice, and his eyes widen as soon as the words sink in. He has suspected that Will and Jason have known each other before, but now Percy is sure of it. For some reason, the thought makes him smile.
With a relieved sigh, Percy drops his head against the glass and closes his eyes for a second. It's good to know Will isn't too badly hurt, even though the rational part of Percy's brain has told him as much already. Absent-mindedly, Percy taps against the glass, opening his eyes only to see if Jason has understood.

Thank you.

It takes a moment, but eventually Jason's face lights up with a smile. He takes a pen from behind his ear and uncaps it with his teeth, scribbling on the back of the paper before turning it around for Percy to read.

You're smarter than they believe.

Percy blushes at the compliment, already raising a finger to tap an answer when he remembers that he has an easier option now. He grins, even though it makes Jason frown, and then Percy disappears into the dark, searching through his little crate of toys until he finds what he was looking for: the notepad and his pen.

Jason startles when Percy comes back, barely managing to stop short of rushing into the glass, and he looks a bit amused at Percy's sudden excitement. It takes quite a bit of concentrating to form the letters in a way that Percy hopes Jason will be able to read them, and Percy knows Jason is watching him the whole time.