Bittersweet (A JERCY FIC)

I Find Out Some Good(?) News

Luckily, Percy hadn't taken a bite, because he most likely would've choked.

Excitedly, he looked over his shoulder, greeted with the broadly smiling sight of his friend. Wasting no more time, he stood and gave him a hug, wearing his own broad smile. "I thought I smelt a little bitch nearby." Percy teased.

"Perce, cracking open the strong language already?" He tutted softly, shaking his head like a disappointed father. "Please. You saw it coming." Retorted Percy, giving him a cheeky grin.

Jason gave a soft laugh, stepping away from the other to give them both space. Percy motioned for him to sit, placing himself back in his seat before scooting his food away. Lunch could wait. "So how long are you staying? I can't remember right."

Jason made himself comfortable beside him, leaning his arm on the table with a small glance to Percy's food. "We're staying precisely two weeks. You're stuck with us and there will be no escaping."

Percy had picked his fork up again, using it to poke at his green beans, "And who said anything about that being such a bad thing? I've been behaving too long. I need to break some rules."

"That's the first thing you established with me?" Jason let out an amused chuckle, shaking his head. Snatching a green bean from his plate, he shifted again, humming as he looked around the pavilion. "Anyway..." Jason ate the green bean he previously stole, glancing around the other tables to see if he saw any recognizable faces, and he did. Annabeth. "How are you and Annabeth doing?"

Jason's attention was still turned from Percy, leaving him unable to see how Percy's shoulders slightly dropped from a happy stance to a defeated one. "Ah... We broke up some time ago, actually. It was mutual."

Finally, Percy's best bro turned to face him, a frown on his lips. "Sorry about that... But hey," now the slight frown turned upward into a small smile as he draped an arm over his shoulders. "Now we can be a couple of bachelor's together!" It took Percy off guard, his nervous gaze looking at Jason's own. He ignored how comforting it was to have his arm around his shoulders. It was just friendly, yet it meant more to Percy than he realized.

"You mean..."

"Yeah... Coincidence I guess." Jason removed his arm with a shrug, leaning back in his chair as his smile dropped. "Piper said my head wasn't in it. My interests had switched and I wasnt all in anymore." He moved his hand to rub at the back of his neck, humming sadly. He could see the half amused look on Percy's face, ignoring it to the best of his abilities.

"Well... Sorry to hear about that." Percy said simply. It didn't sound too far off from Jason, if he had to be honest.

"Well?" The Greek's attention was snapped back to his friend, raising a confused brow at him. "C'mon. I told you my reason. What was yours?"

"Oh, right... The fire died. We both didn't really feel it anymore." He spoke honestly, watching Jason gave an understanding nod.

And thus, the plotting began. Part of Percy's mind lingered on his best friend's touch, the way it rekindled a warmth he needed. It made him think, how far would Jason go to comfort him? Things got cold being so alone. It wasn't like the type of cold he felt from a PTSD episode or when his survivors guilt thrived, it was more... Well, Percy didn't think he could describe it right. Still, how far was too far? How defined was the line between bromance and romance? He figured it was a one letter difference type of line.

This is just silly. Percy scolded himself as he ate his green beans, not fully listening to what Jason was rambling on about. This is flat out silly and sorta inappropriate. Jason's your bro, not a rebound.

But there was always that other devil on his shoulder, countering the sensible part of his brain. Jason had just confessed to a break up, maybe he needed the same thing as him. Highly unlikely, however. The son of Jupiter wasn't like that, why think he would want something so comforting.

"So anyway... That's what I've been doing recently... It's tiring, but it's pretty fun." Oh right... Jason had been talking the whole time. "Ah... Sounds fun!" Percy smiled awkwardly at him, earning a confused look from Jason. "You heard absolutely none of that, did you." He softly huffed. "Whatever. It wasn't that important. Hurry and eat your food, will you?"

Percy gave a cheeky grin to his friend before he obeyed, stabbing at a chunk of his potato. Oh the things he had planned. He didn't want to waste this opportunity.