Cabin 13

60| Broken Bottles and Forgotten Key Cards

Jason kneaded at his temples, lazily taking a sip from his glass. 

Percy, reminding him of his presence sitting in front of him, reached for the drink at his lips. Scowling, he smacked Percy's hand down, resulting in a pouting look. Those sea green eyes looked up, pleading with Jason as he cocked his head slightly. 

He cursed, giving in. Jason thrust his fingers into Percy's raven locks, pulling his head back. With a thumb he pressed at Percy's lips, his eyes for a moment lingering hungrily. 

Pushing open Percy's mouth, Jason put the glass up to his lips and slowly poured it back. Percy pulled against Jason's hand, impatient for the godly nectar. So eager to drink his fill, some of the golden liquid spilled down his chin. 

Jason pulled the glass away, tightening his hold on Percy who stretched for it the second it left his lips. He scowled, looking at the disheveled demigod in his grasp, panting for air while his eyes only lusted for more. 

With eyes locked on Percy, Jason set down the drink behind him, to gently wipe the dribble of nectar with his thumb from Percy's lips. 

Oh, what was he going to do with those lips? And those sad pleading eyes?

Jason blinked, retracting his hand. This was another dream. He was dreaming. It had to be. He stared at Percy, waiting for him to disappear. Percy frowned, giving him a concerned look. But collectively all his senses faded and his eyes pried themselves open. Back into the dark hotel room, clutching a silk clad pillow. 

What the hell was wrong with him? 

He raked his hands through his hair, shaking his head slightly. He rolled onto his back, flattening his shoulders in an attempt to take a deep breath. But, as expected, his chest was unrelenting and refused. At this point it was so tight Jason couldn't comprehend how it was possible for him to simultaneously feel so hollow. 

Leo had pieced together the potion bottle as best as he could, whispering into it to release the spell upon Jason. And gradually, it had worked. Or at least partially. He had quickly returned back to his regular self, realizing the complete insanity of his actions. Though the other effects stubbornly remained. 

Leo reasoned the dulling of the spell's hold was likely the best that could be done after the bottle had been shattered. Hoping after more time, the spell would fade completely. 

As of now, Jason felt restless. Seemingly his body was still some sort of magnet. It was a constant struggle to anchor himself anywhere that wasn't with Percy. There was a constant tugging feeling in his gut, and its insistence grew painful after too long or too far away from those damned sea green eyes. It was agonizing. 

Jason glanced over at Piper, she slept with her back turned against him. Trying not to wake her, he slowly pulled back the covers and edged himself off the bed. Stumbling in the dark, past the sleeping Hazel and Nico, Jason regretted not taking the bed closer to the door. 

But without too much of a hassle, Jason slid into the hallway. He slowly shut the door behind him, trying not to let too much of the dim hallway light creep in. 

Click. 

Jason froze, groaning. 

Groping at his pockets, he already knew he'd just locked himself out. But for now, Jason had gotten the space he'd wanted. He might knock on the door or go down to the desk for another key card later. Though he thought reminding the hotel staff about their presence wouldn't be the best idea. Piper had spoken with the manager and gotten them two new rooms for the night, and they'd miraculously  forgiven the whole door incident. But he didn't want to test it. 

Tomorrow morning the group would be setting sail into the Netherlands. The logistics had been lost on Jason, but what he understood from Nico's explanation was that the water here was somehow linked to the River Lethe and was the gateway into the Netherlands. 

Jason tore his fingers through his hair, everything was extremely complicated. He glanced up and across the hall at Room 201 before immediately burying his face in his hands with another groan. Slowly looking back up, he internally cursed at his weak will, but begrudgingly took a few steps forward, hesitantly putting his hand up to the door. 

The tightness in his chest slightly eased. Stupid spell. Jason leaned his forehead against the door, closing his eyes. Gods, he knew how creepy this must be, but even just being a few inches closer to Percy was making it easier to breathe. 

I should go now, find a way back into my room. If I go outside the wind could probably carry me up to the window. Yep, just have to walk away. Anytime now... 

Jason turned, putting his back against the door and sliding down to the floor. This was pathetic. He'd been fine all day keeping his distance while helping Will out with preparations. But now without anything to distract him from the aching, his reason was beginning to abandon him. 

But his chest was starting to feel a lot lighter, maybe after a bit longer he could go back to his room and actually get some sleep. Jason took a deep breath, telling himself he'd only close his eyes for a moment.

The next thing he knew the door jerked open from behind him, and before he could react he found himself lying on the ground at a certain— shirtless— someone's feet. 

Of course. Wide-eyed, Jason froze, sending a quick prayer to Pluto, hoping to be taken to his death early. The other— traitorous— side of him wanted to curl up right there and fall asleep.  

"Well, what was it?" Will calls, voice groggy, from inside the room.

Percy, staring down at Jason, blinks, before slowly turning back into the room. "Uh, nothing. You were right, I must've been hearing things."

There's a sigh. "Can we go to sleep now?"

"Actually, I'm gonna get some air." He steps back into the room a moment, returning with a key card and a shirt. Percy shoves Jason out of the doorway with his foot as Will hums some muffled response. 

"Don't be too loud letting yourself back in, you've interrupted my sleep enough, Jackson."

"Whatever," Percy says, shutting the door behind him. 

Click. 

The pair stares at each other a moment. Percy sighs, throwing his shirt on, and Jason scrambles to his feet. 

"Listen I can explain—"

"Shut up, Grace," he says, walking down the hall. "Come on."

Jason stalls a moment, glancing back at the hotel door before chasing after him. "Where are you going?"

"Like I said, to get some air," Percy said, glancing over with a raised brow. 

He bit at the inside of his lips, the blissful unwinding in his gut felt reason enough to be concerned. But the sense to part with Percy was no where to be found. And damn if it didn't feel perfectly natural to be at the raven's side. Just the two of them. Alone. 

Jason eyes widened at the realization. This was almost definitely a bad idea. 

Percy smirked, "Don't get cold feet now, Grace."