Soul Mates (Jercy)

Chapter 11: I Teach You!

Something was up with Jason. His head was down, his hands were clenched tight in his lap and his body was taut. Nico and his boyfriends had left around noon, but Jason, despite how awkward he was acting, had stayed. And Percy knew just from that that something was up. 

"Jason," Percy gently pet Jason's back, eyes sad. "Is this to do with your dad?" 

Jason's shoulders shot up. Percy moved back a little bit. So that was it. It was his family? "Why won't you talk to me about stuff like that? I'm your soul mate, Jason. Even if we're not together romantically," Yet. "Do you not trust me enough?" 

Jason sighed. "I trust you, Percy. I do. I just, you don't want to know." 

"Obviously I do, you dork." Percy flicked his nose. Jason huffed. 

"My dad's a drunk, Perce." 

"So was my step dad." Percy rubbed Jason's back again. The blond ran his hands through his hair. 

"I-I know," Jason closed his eyes. "And that's why I don't want to tell you. Because I don't want you to think I won't be able to be there for you after it..." 

PErcy took in a deep breath, eyes closed. "Jay," He knelt in front of Jason, holding his hands, looking up at him. "Jason. It's okay. I know you'll always be there for me. I know this week has been tough, but I'm glad that we've finally been able to talk, okay? And I want you to know that, despite everything before this week, I care about you. I want you to talk to me." 

Jason stared at him. PErcy kissed his hand gently. "I want you to trust me." 

Jason took a deep breath, eyes closing. Percy sat up some, still on his knees, eyes hopeful. Jason swallowed and nodded. 

"Okay. I...I don't want you to think of me differently, though. Okay?" 

"OF course! You don't think I'm different because of Gabe, right?" 

Jason shook his head, then swallowed. "Zeus is the CEO of Olympus Banks. So he's super rich, super excitable, and...well, to younger girls, really attractive." Jason looked disgusted by the thought of it. "So he's...you know...open, about cheating on my step-mom. Constantly. And...it's usually in my bed." Jason frowned and tilted his head. "And I-I have to sleep in my bed after I walk in on them. And I have to talk to my father the next day." He swallowed, tilting his head. "So that's...Yeah." 

Percy nodded. "Okay. That's...Yeah, that's bad. But that can't be it, right?" 

Jason closed his eyes. "No." He felt Percy resting his head on his knee and he sighed. HE didn't want to tell him. But he had to, didn't he? He swallowed. 

"Zeus gets drunk. He likes to punch people when he gets drunk. So, you know, those women he screws in my bed? He hits them when. And when he doesn't have a woman there, he hits...me." Jason rubbed his arms. "I, he doesn't do it often, and usually it's not very hard, but he still does it. It's almost too minuscule to even bring up, s-since you actually were abused, but..." 

Percy picked his head back up, frowning. "Jason that's not minuscule. That's...bad." He stood up and sat down beside Jason again, hugging him. "You need to tell someone, Jay..." 

"No! No, he'd get fired!" His eyes widened. "I couldn't, Percy!" 

"He's hitting you, Jay." 

"Yeah, and he's  cheating on my mom. Whatever." 

Percy sighed and gently pet Jason's hair. "Okay." He sighed and kissed the top of his head. "Why don't we  keep talking? Is there anything else, kiddo?" 

"Don't call me kiddo, dude." Jason frowned. "You're being super clingy." 

"You're opening up to me. I'm being nice to you to make you feel better." Percy wasn't about to shrug off the freaking abuse confession, either. "Why do you even bother staying? Just...run away."

Jason shrugged. "HE's not that bad a guy aside from the drinking." There was reluctance in his voice. 

"Does he mentally abuse you?" 

"Percy! You can't just ask people that!" 

"Well? Is it true?" 

"No!" Jason huffed, shaking him off. He stood up and walked off to the bathroom, rubbing his eyes. Percy watched him go, obviously hurt. He laid down, sighing, and stared at the ceiling. Both his parents were gone, shopping. He had nothing else to do. But he'd learned more about Jason than he'd thought he would. Abuse wasn't outside the realm of possibility, but he hadn't thought it would be like this. He'd heard of Zeus Grace, but he'd never made the connection to that being Jason's dad. Was the man really that nasty at home? And what else was Jason hiding from him? He groaned and kicked the couch some, until he decided that the hospital bill probably wouldn't be worth it. He groaned and rolled back onto his back, gazing up at the popcorn-painted ceiling. He closed his eyes for a second and just...waited.

It wasn't too long until Jason snorted and sneak attack tickled him. Percy yelped, eyes wide, attempting (and failing) to kick him off. The blond easily got over the couch and pinned Percy down, laughing.

 "J-Jason! When did you get out of the bathroom!" He managed through giggles, pushing Jason away. The taller boy just laughed and leaned in closer, pinning Percy's wrists up above his head.

"Not long ago. You look upset." His b lond hair was just long enough to hang down in his face. Percy wanted to brush it away. HE huffed and struggled a little more

"You're not telling me everything, you're still hiding something." 

"Jesus, Percy, I've never told anyone what I told you today, and you want to know more? There's nothing more to tell, my dad's an abusive asshole." He wiggled his nose. "Okay? That's all you need to know." He looked down, then climbed back up onto the couch, tugging Percy up with him. Percy sat up, leaning in to kiss Jason's cheek. 

"I'm sorry. I'll stop bringing it up for now. But I do want you to tell me, someday." 

Jason stayed quiet, but he nodded once. Percy nodded back and leaned into his side, shifting his legs. HE turned on the TV for some sort of background noise while he came up with a plot to get Jason to divulge more of his deepest, darkest secrets. 

                                                                                           -+-

"Jaaason~!" Percy sang as he walked through the house. The blonde boy had run off to investigate in Percy's room while said boy was cooking them a snack. Jason was currently hiding in a closet, trying to keep himself as quiet as possible. He'd found something is Percy's room he didn't like. He didn't like one bit. Jason had found a diary. INside that diary, were words Percy had written while being abused by his step father. Reading about that, that type of violation, that type of disgusting action...He didn't want to tell Percy about his own issues, after reading about Percy's. 

"Found you!" Percy opened the door, smiling. "What are you doing in here, dork?" 

"Got stuck!" 

"Do I have to teach you how handles work?" 

Jason smiled sheepishly. The rest of his story could be saved for another day, because right now, he needed to know how Percy had survived so much shit. He needed to help.