Stone Walls (Jercy AU)

JASON

Jason woke up the next morning feeling extremely tired. He had spent his Saturday night thinking about the raven haired guest in the room next to his. Jason couldn't get him off his mind and he couldn't figure out why. For the life of him, Jason could not understand why he felt so drawn to Percy Jackson.

Yesterday when he was helping Percy with his makeup work, Jason felt something different. And when his eyes had met Percy's, Jason felt like he was drowning in the depths of Percy. He felt so intrigued, so drawn, so curious. He couldn't figure out why Percy's cheeks were getting red when Jason said there was something about him. Was he blushing? Was Jason the reason his cheeks flared? That wouldn't make sense. Percy isn't gay. But then again, Jason didn't know much about Percy except for the abuse he endured.

Jason rubbed his face in his hands and groaned in frustration. He was so tired and it was so early in the morning. But Jason couldn't sleep. His mind wouldn't let him.

Jason decided to just go brush his teeth and drink some coffee in the living room. He walked out his room, went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and made his way to the kitchen. While the coffee machine brewed the coffee, Jason sat at the kitchen table with his head in his hands. He could feel a headache coming on. The sides of his head started to tense up, like someone was squeezing his head really tight.

The coffee finished and Jason got up to add some creamer, but when he turned around to head to the living room, he saw Percy walking into kitchen. Jason just stood there stupidly while Percy yawned and jumped when he looked up and saw Jason. Neither of them said anything. It was the most awkward moment Jason had ever experienced in his eighteen years of life. They just stared at each other, eyes a bit widened.

Percy was the first to break the awkwardness. "Good morning," he said softly.

"Did you want some coffee?" Jason said. Percy nodded.

Jason turned around to make another coffee for Percy. He tried to not turn around because he knew he would see Percy. Jason could practically feel Percy's eyes on him and it made him shiver. But not in some creeped out kind of way. It made Jason kind of nervous, and Jason doesn't get nervous. He would speak at pep rallies on behalf of his time in front of the entire school. He would give speeches to the student council. He can even confront Thalia. But Percy somehow manages to make him nervous?

"I never got to say thank you for helping me with my work," Percy said.

"You're welcome," Jason said rather quickly. He cursed himself for feeling so awkward. He poured Percy's coffee into a cup and gave it to him, sitting across the table from him.

"Thank you," Percy said, giving Jason a small smile, and Jason felt a weird feeling in his stomach. It felt all loopy and fluttery.

"I'm so tired," Percy sighed and rested his head on the table.

Jason just gazed down at Percy's messy hair. "Didn't sleep well?"

"Not really." Percy sighed and sat back against his chair.

"Any reason why?" Jason wondered if the same thing that kept him up last night was what kept Percy up too. Jason wouldn't feel as awkward if he knew it wasn't only him. But Percy's olive skin started to turn pink. Jason's eyes studied the other boy's face like he was trying to read what he was feeling. His gaze must've been intense to Percy because his pink face was getting redder and redder by the second.

"I - I just couldn't fall asleep," Percy stuttered. "A lot on my mind, you know?"

Jason nodded and decided to divert the conversation to something else. He shouldn't be selfish and pressure Percy when he was clearly dealing with other things. "How does it feel to be here instead of  . . . you know." Jason didn't want to mention his stepdad, or his old apartment. it wasn't his place to bring up specific and possibly triggering things like that. Jason knew that if Percy wants to talk about it, he will. Or he might.

"It feels . . ." Percy paused, as if he was trying to find the right words to describe how he felt. "It feels different."

"Different, how?"

"Well, here, I have other people to talk to and I can do my homework. It just feels different."

Jason knew Percy was holding back. He knew Percy had more to say than he was actually saying. And Jason wanted to pry. He wanted to try and get Percy to open up, so he took the chance. "What was it like before?"

Jason immediately regretted asking that because Percy's head shot up and his eyes looked straight into Jason's eyes. Percy's eyebrows were knit together and his eyes grew dark. The once bright sea green orbs seemed to be clouded with anger and frustration. His lips pursed together as he glared straight at Jason.

"I don't think it's any of your business, Jason," Percy said sternly.

Jason felt a pinch of anger growing inside his chest. "I'm just trying to help you."

"By doing what?"

"I just wanted to see if talking about it -"

"I don't need to talk about it, Jason."

"Maybe if you just let people in it would help!" Jason's voice was louder now and he felt enraged. Enraged that Percy wouldn't accept help. Percy looked taken aback by Jason's sudden tone, and Jason felt a tad guilty. He took a deep breath, ready to apologize, but then a voice in the doorway interrupted.

"What is going on in here?" It was Thalia, still dreary eyed and hair jumbled up into a black mess.

"Nothing," Percy said immediately and walked out the kitchen. Instead of going after him, Thalia just stood there, watching Percy walk away back to his room.

Jason wanted to punch himself for being such an idiot. For someone who wanted to help Percy, Jason sure didn't know how to be compassionate enough. Jason had never met someone like Percy: so fragile, dark, secretive. Jason wouldn't get anywhere at this rate, and he might've just drove Percy away. He might've forced Percy to guard himself even more. Jason might've made those stone walls even harder to break.