Percy groans as he bobs up from the clinging, syrupy dredges of sleep. He stretches his arms out behind him, but they smash into the headboard—his bed at home doesn't have one—and he lets out a shout, curling onto his side in pain. He blinks slowly, irritated by the blur and the prickling lamplight. Jason is hunched over the nightstand, rummaging through the drawers.

"Can you be a little louder?" Percy mutters, not awake enough to raise his voice. "I want to make sure I definitely can't fall back asleep."

"Sorry," Jason sounds sincere, numb to Percy's sarcasm.

"The fuck are you looking for anyway?" Percy rubs his eye. "And what time is it."

"Almost seven p.m. Shit, where the hell is it?"

With a sigh that turns into a yawn, Percy sits up, his muscles protesting every bit of movement along the way. He doesn't dream of leaving Jason's warm, familiar sheets, covered in faded dinosaurs. He's had countless sleepovers in Jason's room growing up and knows every inch of its four walls, probably better than anyone else in Jason's family. Although it wasn't until high school that he'd ditched the sleeping bag and started joining Jason under the covers. The fear of Jason's dad discovering them still hasn't dulled yet. It just goes with the territory.

"What's got you in a rush?" Percy squints, eyes following Jason as he crosses over to his closet and throws it open.

"Nothing."

"Did you smoke that joint without me?"

"I'm not high." Jason throws a hanger to the ground and a few articles of clothing flutter down after it. Making a mess and not caring? Very unJason-like

"You're acting like it," Percy comments inoffensively.

"Well I'm not."

"Well what are you doing then?"

Jason is quiet for a second. He scrubs the back of his neck and casts his gaze across the room. "Looking for something."

Well obviously. Percy doesn't have the energy to argue, so he picks at a bit of lint that's stuck to the old blankets. "Sounds boring."

"Frustrating is probably a better term."

Percy nods, understanding. "You know what you could do instead?" His tone hooks Jason's attention, whether Jason wants it or not. Wandering blue eyes focus like a spotlight has been thrown, and Percy smiles where he's perched in bed, with his messy sex hair and t-shirt that's provocatively slipping down one shoulder. Percy shrugs to help it along, displaying more skin, making his invitation crystal clear. Jason's throat bobs. His pupils have dilated as well, but he's always exhibited the most annoying amount of self-control, and he shakes his dumb blonde head.

"Can't."

"You've got something better than fucking me on your calendar?" Percy asks. "I'm interested now."

"You shouldn't be. It's dull."

"What're you looking for?" Percy realizes that should've been the obvious question instead of offering sex.

Jason pauses. Licks his lips like he doesn't want to tell, and Percy subconsciously leans forward so he won't miss it.

"It's ah—my tie."

"Oh." Percy slumps again. So Jason's going somewhere fancy. Not a rare occasion, given his family is loaded. He's not jealous or anything. Jason should know by now that Percy is used to it. "I can help you find it if you want."

"Sure," Jason frowns, his voice a grade lower than usual. "I've already checked the armoire, the bathroom—"

"—the nightstand and the closet, yeah I saw." Percy slides out of bed with surprisingly less difficulty than he expected. "I'll check the chest, you look under your bed?"

Jason agrees, flashing a smile for a brief second.

When they finally do find the tie, Jason is freaking out because he's late and he's never late and apparently that's a real fucking tragedy. Percy stops himself from rolling his eyes and bickering because he's in a good mood. Maybe it was the nap; something to do with lying in Jason's bed for hours afterschool, perfectly welcome there and surrounded by his scent. Percy hates to admit it, even to himself, but Jason is the only stability he has in his life. He never knows what type of mask his step-dad's going to be wearing when he gets home, and his caring mom stopped being enough a long time ago. She needed to prove her love and kick Gabe out once for all. Of course, that's never going to happen so Percy can't rely on her. Jason's all he got, Percy thinks while he's fixing Jason's collar, smoothing down clumps of rowdy hair. Jason has to be some kind of superhero.

"How do I look?" Jason asks. "Like shit right?"

They're standing side by side facing the bathroom mirror, different as black and white, with Jason in his tux, his hair combed, all princely and noble-looking; meanwhile Percy's still in a rumpled t-shirt and boxers. Percy leans into Jason's side, clinging to his strong arm, eyes on the mirror and loving how much more delicate he appears in comparison.

"Like I'd let you fuck me over this sink," Percy says. "Or anywhere you want, really."

A grin dances over Jason's lips. Maybe he keeps Percy around for his crude humor, who knows. If that's the case, Percy will just have to keep being as crude and honest as possible, even if it tears him in half.

"You," Jason says, murmuring, "Look like a good-kisser."

"I was going to say homeless, but that's probably better." Percy raises his eyebrows as Jason sways in. He easily receives the kiss, slotting their lips together and tasting Jason's chapstick among other things, like warmth and steady pressure. He's flushed and apple-cheeked by the time Jason breaks away.

"When I get back," Jason promises

Percy tilts his head, coyly narrowing his eyes. "I'll hold you to that."

Jason's dad works until nine, so there's no danger in Percy going downstairs, following Jason to the front door.

"So you're just going to hang out here?" Jason hops on one foot, sliding on his dress shoes. When he gets the second one on, Percy has to hold himself back from ruffling his blonde hair. Jason is too cute when he's spiffed up. Percy wants to make him lose the composure that's wrapped around him so nice and tidy, and draw out the wild part of Jason that's buried underneath. He'll save it for the bedroom though.

"You don't mind, do you?"

"Course not," Jason says. "What's mine is yours. Warm up some leftovers if you're hungry, I think we still have a little meatloaf."

"Don't put it like that," Percy makes a sour face. "We sound like we're married."

"You don't want to be?" Jason's smile means he's not serious, but Percy's heart has a harder time of differentiating things.

"I'd only marry you for your money," Percy tells him.

"A trophy husband then. I could live with that."

"You sleazeball."

Jason checks his vibrating phone, "Being late is so embarrassing. I don't know how you manage it all the time." He unlocks the door and holds it open with his foot, texting at the same time.

Percy is about to make a snarky reply when he's struck by a pulse of curiosity. "Where are you going anyway?" He sidles in behind Jason to glimpse the phone screen. It's Piper's contact and she's asking to be picked up. Percy's feels his stomach drop out.

Jason whips around, expression changing from light-hearted to wary. Percy stares daggers, waiting for an answer. He's like one of those handsome princes in fairy tales who are stupid as hell, and are just lucky they won the gene lottery because nobody else would get a pass for being selfish.

"She's my girlfriend," Jason sighs.

"Right," Percy forces a bitter smile. "Great, have fun."

Jason's too duty-bound to leave things like this. Percy wishes he wasn't because he wants Jason and his stupidly handsome looks to get as far away from him as possible. Instead, Jason steps back inside and shuts the door. "You knew from the beginning that we couldn't be public. My dad would throw me out. Piper's just a cover, so no one starts any rumors."

"So what's the occasion?" Percy prompts. Jason never takes Percy anywhere, and currently, Jason's better dressed than Percy's ever seen him. Which somehow makes this worse than all his other dates with Piper. "You're going to take her to an expensive restaurant. Or is it a show?"

Jason lets out a dry laugh. "You hate the theater—"

"—while I wait patiently in your bed for you to come home, so I can get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to suck your dick?"

"You already know how much you mean to me," Jason says, features hardening. Percy glares at the wall on his right like it's personally insulted him. Jason tries to reach for him, as if he might actually get a kiss out of this. "Want me to suck you off right here? Will that make you happy?"

Percy smacks his hand away. "Fuck off."

"I'm not even taking her on a date. It's prom."

"Oh wow," Percy scoffs. He doesn't go to school often enough to remember when prom is, not that he'd want to go anyway…(unless Jason asked him out.) "Even better."

"It'd be totally weird if I wasn't there. I'm in student council, on the same committee that organized it."

"Fine, I told you to go," Percy shakes his head. "Don't forget to take lots of pictures." The burning anger inside him has evaporated, leaving nothing behind. Just emptiness. He turns on his heel and calmly heads for the stairs. Why not just walk out of the house altogether? Well for some pathetic reason, sulking in his fuckbuddy's room is still better than his situation at home. Go figure.

When he closes his eyes, he can picture Jason chasing after him to grab his arm, telling Percy he changed his mind, he isn't going. But there's only the sound of the door swinging open again.

"I'll bring you back dessert," Jason calls. After he's met with silence, the door slams shut, followed by a string of turning locks.

Percy feels a pull on his arm. He opens eyes, and it's gone. He blinks. He's alone. It's image first for Jason, always has been. Percy couldn't be more different. Maybe he will go to prom—he starts climbing the steps—maybe he'll flirt with random guys and see how many of them he can get to cheat on their girlfriends. He knows from experience it won't be too hard. Luckily, experience has also taught him to stay detached because they always leave you, every single time.