Hello

Chapter 10

"It's one of my favourites, but it's a very sad book." Will says softly as he strokes his palm over the cover. It's clearly a used copy, the cover is cracked, the pages are already a little yellowed and there are more wrinkles and folds in some pages than letters it seems. What is most important though: Percy can see how much it means to Will, this book and the story written within it, and Percy can't help but feeling the warmth spread inside his chest.

A few days ago, he'd asked Jason and Will for a book to read. With every day that passed, Percy found the loneliness harder to bear and while he couldn't place his finger on the reason for that yet, he was steadily trying to find new ways to fight the feeling off. His tank was nice, sure, but there wasn't only so much Percy could actually do in it to distract himself, and the fish Nico brought for breakfast were usually too scared of him to strike up a proper conversation – even when Percy let them live for over a week before even trying to speak to them anymore.

Percy covers Will's hand on the cover with one of his own, trying to ignore the way how soft and warm Will's skin feels against his. Percy wants to show how grateful he is for a present like this, something that means so much to Will, that's so special. Percy would never have thought himself worthy of such a meaningful gift.

Percy clears his throat awkwardly, making Will look from the cover up to his face right when Percy licks his lips. He's been practising a lot, first alone and recently very, very tentatively with Nico as well, but this is the first time he wants to let anything on in front of Will – and Jason who sits to their left.

"Thank you."

Jason's head snaps up, the little whale toy he'd been looking at clatters from his fingers to the ground. Will's mouth seems to have fallen open, staring at Percy like he doesn't believe what just happened.
Percy can feel his cheeks heat up, knowing the blush must be spreading all over his skin now. The way he said the words didn't sound human at all, but at the very least, Percy is quite sure they were understandable. Or maybe... maybe they weren't and Will and Jason are staring at Percy like this because they think his attempt was ridiculous, just like the first humans in whose captivity Percy had lived in did.

"Did you just..." Jason starts finally, breaking the spell between the tree of them before Percy has wiggled away enough from Will to dive back into the water and hide from his embarrassment.

Will makes a high, excited sound, and then all of a sudden his arms are tightly around Percy, holding him in place and almost suffocating the merman with the force of the hug. Will is giggling, a sound clear and happy like bells ringing, but all Percy can think about is how close they are and how good it feels. It's in Percy's nature to yearn for physical contact, but only now does Percy realise that maybe that is part of what he has been missing all along.
When Percy feels one of Jason's arms around him as well, he starts giggling happily. It sounds a little strange, especially above the water, but Percy can't bring himself to care. Jason is normally not the one who initiates a lot of contact, so this hug means all the more to Percy.

"Did you learn all by yourself? I'm so proud of you Percy!" Will exclaims when they both eventually let go from Percy, even though Will still has both hands on Percy's shoulders.
He nods in reply, too shy and embarrassed still to speak again so soon.
"Wow." Jason murmurs, his head cocked to the side and his grin wide enough that it looks like it's going to tear his face in two.

In his excitement, Percy doesn't think. He feels the affection blooming in him so strong again, making him momentarily forget about the loneliness he has felt for a while now. He surges forward, pressing his lips to Will's cheek with a happy little sound before doing the same to Jason on the other side.