A few disclaimers before we start.

One, I do not own Harry Potter nor any aspects of its universe.

Two, I never actually read Harry Potter beyond the first book, and I've never watched any movies except the first all the way through in one sitting. Everything I know I've scrounged up from being on the Internet for so many years. Please ignore inaccuracies for this reason, I just thought this AU would be fun.

Third, fuck JK Rowling.

Alrighty, enjoy!!

Something died inside of Jason every time he heard a scuffle in the distance. He should've never accepted a prefect position—sometimes it felt like half of his job was breaking up fights between first- and second-years in the corridor. This seemed no different.

That is, until he got closer and heard much more mature voices than those of the typical twelve-year-olds he dealt with.

There were four wizards in the otherwise empty corridor. A Gryffindor stood with his wand pointed inches away from the face of a Slytherin being restrained against the wall by a second Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw. Jason examined each member of the group as he approached, and once he actually took a moment to look at the Slytherin in harm's way, the scene in front of him made a lot more sense.

Percy Jackson.

Despite being a sixth year like Jason himself, this was the boy's first year at Hogwarts. From what Jason understood, he had been living in America with his mother, but due to her recent death, he'd been reunited with his father in England and sent to attend Hogwarts. The issue at hand, though, was that Poseidon Jackson was not a man for whom the wizarding world had much love. He was widely despised for his constant and rather immoral use of dark magic, and since he'd completely dropped off the grid about three years ago to avoid Azkaban, Jason supposed terrorizing his son was as close as people could get to vengeance.

Still, Percy wasn't following in his father's footsteps as far as Jason knew, even if he had been sorted into Slytherin like his father.

Jason finally got close enough to reasonably intervene. He addressed the Gryffindor who looked as though he might hex Jackson's eyes out of his skull at any moment, "Mr. Yew, is this really necessary?"

Jason didn't think he'd ever seen someone put their wand out of sight so quickly. The two holding Percy back loosened their grip, so Percy wrenched himself out of their arms and stood at a safer distance a few feet away.

"He was going to curse us," Yew jabbed a thumb in Percy's direction, "we acted purely in self-defense."

Jason hummed, clearly unconvinced. "Get out of here, Michael. And this will not be happening again."

The three of them scurried off without argument, probably in fear that they'd get sent to their heads of house if they didn't. Jason turned his gaze to Percy, who was trying to adjust his tie that had been practically undone in his struggle.

Once Percy realized Jason's eyes were locked on him, he glared harshly at the blond for a brief moment before completely undoing his tie and knotting it again. "Thanks so much for all your help. I'm sure you really taught 'em a lesson, letting them run away like that."

Jason wasn't sure he'd ever actually heard Percy speak before, taken aback by the American accent. "And what would you have liked for me to do?"

"Oh, I don't know," Percy pretended to think, "report them, maybe? Since that's quite literally your job."

Jason opened his mouth to speak, but Percy waved him off and continued himself, "Whatever, I get it. I deserve to have all the skin burnt off my face and whatever else he planned to do to me if you hadn't stepped in. Don't have to explain it to me."

"He...he said that?" Jason frowned, ignoring Percy's sarcasm.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Don't waste your energy, Grace. My face is clearly still intact, thanks to you. Maybe next time you can save me from somebody turning me bald."

And with that, Percy spun on his heels and walked away from Jason without waiting for a reply.

*****

Jason was glad that Percy had, at least, made it to his next class in one piece. He always sat with another Slytherin girl named Annabeth Chase in the front corner, an obvious compromise between Jackson's avoidant personality and Chase's desire to stand out amongst her peers. Annabeth was nice enough, Jason supposed, in the few conversations he'd had with her. She and Piper became friends in their third year, but they spent most of their time together alone, leaving Jason with no impression of Annabeth except that she had Piper's approval. That is, in addition to his surprise that she had stuck to Percy's side since the first week of the year.

He wasn't entirely sure what she saw in him, but ever since they'd met, Annabeth practically burned holes into any person that even looked like they might say something rude to Percy. Classes were no different. On the rare occasion that Percy answered a question, Jason always caught Annabeth's wary glance around the rest of the room, waiting for someone to make a comment. Since nobody ever said anything, Jason had to assume that everyone else also saw her dark glare.

Thus, a week after Jason shooed Michael Yew away from Jackson in the hallway, Jason was surprised when Annabeth walked in and straight to where he was talking to Piper.

"I need to talk to you," she told Piper with a sigh.

Piper frowned but nodded, glancing at Jason apologetically. "You'll be okay, won't you?"

"I've brewed a potion on my own here and there," Jason rolled his eyes to accompany his sarcastic tone. "I'm sure I'll be fine."

Piper gave him an unamused glance before disappearing to the last empty desk in the back with Annabeth.

And a few minutes later, Percy Jackson stepped into the classroom, clearly choosing to ignore the inevitable dozen or so cautious glances he received simply by being present. He furrowed his eyebrows at his usual table with Annabeth before scanning the room to see her seated next to Piper. She mouthed an apology at him, but it went ignored as Percy gave the room a panicked glance, his eyes settling on the empty seat next to Jason. He slowly trudged his way up to where the blond was seated.

"I'm sorry," Percy apologized quietly as he set his bag on the ground and sat on Jason's right. "You're just the only person with an extra seat that I didn't think would hex me for coming within three feet of them."

Jason frowned. "Why are you apologizing?"

"People have eyes, y'know," Percy raised an eyebrow at him. "They'll be talking about this all afternoon, and it won't be...pretty, most likely."

"About you?"

"About you," Percy corrected. "They always talk about me. It'd do you some good to end this conversation, Grace, unless you want them saying I've corrupted you."

Jason hummed in acknowledgment. "I imagine that a few house points being taken will quiet them down, don't you agree?"

Percy stared at him like he was crazy but didn't get the chance to say that aloud before class started and their chatter ceased. Truly and honestly, Jason did try to pay attention, but it was hard when Percy was constantly scanning the room for threats with nerves that buzzed to the point that Jason felt like he could hear them. Jason wondered how much Percy was even paying attention to what he was being taught when he seemed so preoccupied with what was going on around him. Although, Jason supposed, that was probably a necessary sacrifice when the entire school hated you. Jason glanced at Piper's seat across the classroom and saw her diligently writing down practically every word the professor said. He and Annabeth, according to Piper, had both wasted far too much time trying to teach her more efficient ways to take notes. Her accidental transcript of the lesson would probably come in handy, though. And with that thought, Jason finished up his final note as they were dismissed before sliding his parchment into Percy's space while the boy was packing up.

Percy frowned at him. "What do you want me to do with this?"

"Have the chance to learn something without half the class staring at you," Jason shrugged. "I'll see you around."

*****

The next few classes that the Gryffindors and Slytherins shared went similarly. Jason wasn't sure what Piper and Annabeth were planning, but it had already taken nearly an entire week of classes.

Exactly one week after his first time sitting with Percy, Jason was nearly late to potions after being stopped by a group of first-years in the hall. Practically everybody else was situated by the time he arrived, and Jason's eyes, much to his dismay, landed on where Piper was sitting with Annabeth yet again. Jason was starting to wonder if this was all for Piper's grade—Annabeth was one of, if not the, smartest student in their year.

Nonetheless, Jason scanned the room for empty seats. It was an incredibly easy choice, really. Drew Tanaka flirted with him non-stop, Connor Stoll would probably find it funny to blow up their cauldron, and really, Percy was actually rather pleasant to sit with since he'd relaxed a bit over the course of the week. He climbed the stairs and sat beside Percy, who looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

Jason already knew what he'd say, so he told Percy, "D'you notice how I'm sitting here of my own free will? Don't bother arguing."

Percy closed his mouth. After a brief moment, he instead opted for, "I was starting to worry you were skipping class, Grace."

"The first-year Hufflepuffs seemed to think that was their mission," Jason smiled.

"Hm," Percy hummed thoughtfully, "the real villains of this school, aren't they?"

*****

Jason was in desperate need of a shower. The Gryffindors had finished up practice forty-five minutes ago, but he'd spent the last half hour or so working on some additional flying practice.

Now, he was traipsing through the halls of Hogwarts on his way back to Gryffindor, feeling tired and gross but certainly like he'd just lifted a lot of stress off his shoulders.

His moment of serenity was short-lived.

There was a loud bout of nondescript shouting before Percy's familiar figure rounded the corner in a sprint, his eyes widening at Jason only seconds before he snatched the blond's wrist and dragged him along. At the speed they were going, Jason couldn't even ask why they were running before Percy opened up a random closet door in the hallway and shoved both of them inside.

Clearly exhausted, Percy thoughtlessly dropped his forehead against Jason's chest, made easier by their slight height difference. Jason was about to ask what was going on when the yelling returned in the hall outside.

"Come on, Jackson!" A voice called out, and Jason instinctively wrapped protective arms around Percy, who seemed too out of breath to care. "I'd like to see if a Cruciatus would finally get you out of here. I'll even let your wand cast it—I'm sure it has loads of experience."

The boy outside—Jason was sure he'd heard the voice from the Slytherin table before but couldn't place exactly who it was—went on for a couple more minutes before declaring that Percy was lucky that time and stomping away. Percy was silent even after he left, still trying to catch his breath in Jason's arms.

"Are you alright?" Jason whispered to him as if speaking too loudly would frighten him away.

Percy's quiet laugh was curt and humorless. "Fantastic." He finally pulled away from Jason, folding his arms in front of himself and clearly trying not to quiver like a child coming in from the cold. "I'm sorry about grabbing you and all that. He knew what direction I was going, and if he saw you, he'd know you'd let me get away. A-and I just don't know what he would've done to you and I don't—"

"Percy, Percy, Percy," Jason cut him off gently. "It's fine. Really. Now, can you answer my question honestly?"

Percy swallowed thickly. "I'm okay. I started running as soon as I saw him, so he never got the chance to hit me with anything."

Jason nodded. "Where were you headed?"

"Well, I was on my way to Slytherin," Percy sighed, "but he's probably outside. Knows he can't do anything once we're inside, so he just sits out there and waits for me to come back."

"Do you want me to walk with you?" Jason offered.

Percy tilted his head at him. "It's on the other side of the castle."

Jason smiled fondly at him. "I'm fully aware of the Hogwarts layout."

Percy shot him a fleeting, half-hearted glare. "You really don't have to. Usually he's a bit calmer by the time I get back and—"

"He wants to send you to Azkaban for the rest of your life," Jason interrupted with a frown, recalling the boy's earlier taunts about the Cruciatus curse. Percy didn't have a response for that one.

Jason sighed, reaching around Percy to open the door and pushing them both back into the hallway. "I'm coming with you to Slytherin, and I'm not leaving until I see you closed inside that common room, alright? And if you're leaving alone in the morning, I will come back and take you to breakfast."

"Jason—"

"Prefect duties, or whatever," Jason smiled again. This time, although incredibly slight, Percy reciprocated.

"Annabeth can walk with me in the morning," he told Jason, "but, uh...thank you."

Jason nodded once at him, and they began their trek to Slytherin. Percy asked him how quidditch was going, clearly set off by the practice gear.

"How un-Slytherin would it be if I said I hope Gryffindor takes the cup this year?" Percy asked him.

Jason laughed. "Let's just say I can't imagine anybody else in your house would be happy to hear that."

"They're not happy to hear anything from me," Percy replied light-heartedly. Jason was struck by a weird pang of sadness for him but decided it best not to share that.

It wasn't much longer before they arrived in the dungeons, Percy gave the Slytherin password far too loudly, and stepped inside the common room.

"Safe and sound, Secret Service," Percy grinned at him. Jason tilted his head in confusion, but Percy just waved him off. "Don't worry about it, just know it was funny."

"I'll take your word for it," Jason smiled. "Goodnight, Percy."

"Goodnight," Percy leaned against the doorway, "and thank you again."

Again, Jason just nodded and watched as Percy disappeared into the common room. He scanned the area and saw three of the Slytherin boys from their year sitting together in a darker corner of the hallway, wands in hand but looking mildly disappointed.

"Have a nice night, boys," his faux smile towards them quickly melted into a cold glare before he turned on his heel and left the dungeons without waiting for a response.

*****

Percy took his usual seat next to Jason in potions and glanced up to where Annabeth and Piper were sitting with furrowed eyebrows.

"What is it?" Jason asked, following his gaze but seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

"There's something going on there, right?" Percy grinned at him. Jason felt his own lips quirk up at the sight.

He shrugged. "Piper does do a lot of singing Annabeth's praises."

"They're dating," Percy stated confidently, "I just know it."

"Why not just ask?"

"She'd tell me I'm too nosy," Percy snorted, "which is true, but just this once it would be different."

"And how is that?" Jason raised an eyebrow.

Percy stared at him thoughtfully before finally answering, "Okay, maybe it isn't as different as I thought. But this time she basically threw me to the dogs to sit with Piper, so forgive me for feeling entitled to the reason why."

"I, for one, am grateful that she 'threw you to the dogs,'" Jason told him.

"I guess she did double the amount of people that talk to me," Percy said.

"And at least she'll still walk you to class," he tried for a joke.

Percy smiled at him nervously. "Well..."

"Percy, I told you that I could—"

"I'm fine, J, look at me," Percy gestured to himself. And, yes, he was perfectly unscathed, but Jason worried. What if the same boys from last night had caught him on the way out? Percy could defend himself like nobody else, Jason was sure, but against three of them? Even if he came out alright, people wouldn't view his actions as self-defense despite the obvious truth. And if he didn't, it wasn't like anybody besides him and Annabeth were going to jump in to help.

Jason was still a tad worried, but Percy smiled at him reassuringly and it all washed away. He was fine. That was more important than Jason's hypotheticals.

*****

The next time was decidedly not as fine.

There was still no sign of Percy five minutes past the beginning of their potions class, and Jason's foot wouldn't stop tapping against the floor as he stared at the door. The only thing stopping him from leaving class and looking for him was Annabeth's calmness a few rows behind him.

Seven minutes in, Percy snuck into class and silently took his seat. He faced away from Jason, retrieving supplies from his bag, and when he finally turned towards the professor, Jason scowled. Right above his eyebrow and below his cheekbone, Percy had harsh, red marks, lined with dried blood.

What in the world happened? Jason wrote at the top of his notes and elbowed Percy to make him look. Percy glanced at the paper but ignored the question, turning his attention back to class.

"Who did that?" Jason asked as soon as class was dismissed.

Percy frowned at him. "It's taken care of."

"I'm picking you up in the mornings," Jason decided as they stepped into the hallway together.

"Jason—"

"I'm serious," he insisted. "You haven't even done anything!"

"You...," Percy sighed, "you do know my father, right?"

Jason frowned. "Of course I do, Percy, everybody does. But what's that got to do with anything?"

"I look just like him, J," Percy told him. "They see him when they see me, and I-I can't blame them."

"Percy, come on," Jason tried again.

Percy shook his head at him. "Just drop it, alright? I told you it was taken care of. Won't happen again."

"I'm still walking with you," Jason said definitively.

With a fond smile, Percy nodded. "That's perfectly fine, blondie."

*****

"I know you're on this whole protective kick right now, but I really have somewhere to go that I don't think you'll want to follow me to," Percy told Jason at the end of class, twirling his quill around in his fingers.

"Where are you going?" Jason asked as he gathered up all his belongings.

"To meet some friends."

Jason seemed surprised at the prospect of Percy having friends, which would have offended him if it weren't so reasonable. "Am I not your second best friend after all?"

"You still are, dear," Percy told him, his tone affectionate but incredibly sarcastic, and Jason rolled his eyes. "I, uh, I would like it if you joined, though."

"And where is this meeting?" Jason wasn't sure what the issue was. If Percy was specifically asking him to join, it was really a no-brainer—he'd be joining.

"The forbidden forest," Percy offered a sheepish smile that Jason certainly did not return. His face must've looked as worried as he felt because Percy continued, "You don't have to come—"

"No, I want to," Jason tried for a more confident expression. "I'm sure your protection will be enough."

"You're assuming I planned on protecting you," he grinned at Jason.

Jason knew better, but he played along, "Well?"

"I'll consider it."

*****

"Who exactly are we waiting for?" Jason asked uncertainly.

They'd been standing in one of the forbidden forest clearings for several minutes. Percy led them straight there, whistled once, and had been standing in silence ever since, his gaze drawn upwards.

"You'll see," Percy reassured him quietly.

It wasn't much longer before a small, blue, speckled bird came flying towards the ground where they stood, only stopping once it landed on Percy's right shoulder.

"This is Mrs. O'Leary," Percy spoke softly and held out a couple of insects that Jason couldn't identify in his hand, all of which were quickly snatched up by the bird. "She's a Jobberknoll."

"And you've trained her?" Jason asked, mildly impressed.

However, Percy just looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"The whistle."

"Oh," Percy grinned at him, "that's not for her."

As if it were planned (knowing Percy, it very well could have been), there was a rustle in the trees in front of them, and a few moments later, a black pegasus trotted into the open space and right up to Percy. Mrs. O'Leary hopped from Percy's shoulder to the spot right between the pegasus's ears.

Percy ran a gentle hand up the pegasus's snout, muttering something incomprehensible to the horse before giving it something from his pocket like he had with the insects.

"This is Blackjack," Percy informed Jason, turning his back on the pegasus only to get nudged immediately afterwards. "He's the trained one. Barely."

Blackjack shoved Percy's shoulder, nearly knocking him over, but the boy just laughed. He made some joking comment to the two creatures before tossing more of his mystery treats into the trees for Blackjack to locate. Percy watched fondly as the pegasus dug through the brush for—judging by the remaining couple in his hand—sugar cubes. Jason couldn't help but smile. He didn't think he'd seen Percy so comfortable before, so happy.

"Mrs. O'Leary," Percy called softly, "over here."

He handed her another bug as she settled on his hand and stared at Jason, tilting her head. Percy raised his hand expectantly as if Jason could read his mind.

"Just relax," he told Jason, and suddenly the blond understood what was going on as Percy grabbed his hand and let Mrs. O'Leary grasp onto Jason's fingers, sitting contently with a still-curious look to her.

Percy silently handed him an insect for Jason to win her over with, which he had to assume was successful when she flew off his hand and onto his shoulder.

"She likes you," Percy noted. He held one of his knuckles right above her and smiled faintly as she rubbed her head against it.

Jason laughed. "How did you meet these two?"

"I found them both," Percy leaned against a tree, keeping a careful eye on Mrs. O'Leary but looking mostly unconcerned. "She had a broken wing, and I found Blackjack tied up in a net near my father's house. They just stuck around once they were free. I visit, feed them, check on them, you know."

"I must say," Jason started, "this is incredibly un-Slytherin of you."

Percy snorted. "You want to hear a secret? You'd be the first to know."

"Well, when you put it like that..."

"I could've been a Hufflepuff."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"The sorting hat was between the two," he explained, "but I told it I didn't think the Hufflepuffs would like me very much. Turns out, neither do the Slytherins."

"Gryffindor does."

Percy smiled at him. "One Gryffindor does."

"That's 100% more Gryffindors than Hufflepuffs," Jason argued playfully.

"Alright, alright. I'll take what I can get, I guess," Percy held up his arms in surrender. "My one Gryffindor and my one Slytherin."

A silence fell over them as they watched Blackjack and Mrs. O'Leary explore the clearing together, occasionally coming up to Percy for their respective snacks. He'd hand the food over to Jason every once in a while to let him gain their favor. Jason glanced sideways at his friend, debating whether or not they were close enough for him to ask his next question.

Eventually, he sighed. "Were things better in America?"

Percy shrugged. "My mother wasn't necessarily...public about who my father was. I'd only met the guy once before she died, so they weren't out to get me because of him over there. I still wouldn't call it great, though, y'know? Didn't get close to a lot of people at school. We moved around a lot because my mother was hiding from my father, so I never befriended any of the neighborhood kids or anything."

"How'd you end up with your dad?" Jason questioned.

"Next of kin or something, I don't know," Percy shook his head. "My mom went pretty suddenly. She didn't have a will."

"And if she had?"

"Well, I certainly wouldn't be here," Percy responded bitterly, then laughed half-heartedly as if he were about to say something stupid. "I miss her."

Jason didn't know how he was meant to respond, so he just opted for a comforting hand on the shoulder and felt some of the tension in Percy's muscles dissolve.

"Thanks, Jase," he offered quietly.

"For what?"

Percy bit his lip thoughtfully before shrugging. "Everything."

Again at a loss for words, Jason just nodded at him. Percy sighed, "We'd better head back, yeah? You have a job to do, don't you?"

He flicked Jason's prefect badge, and the blond laughed. "Unfortunately."

And with that, they bid the two creatures goodbye and started their walk back to the castle.

*****

"I'm glad we spent ages learning about this bloody potion just for me to still be confused," Jason rested his forehead in the palm of his hand.

"If you don't get it, there's no hope for me," Percy nodded in agreement beside him.

"I'll just go talk to the professor," Jason stuffed his parchment in his bag as he stood.

"Have fun with that," Percy scoffed, following suit, "I will be confused in the hallway, waiting for you."

"Don't get lost," Jason grinned, but Percy just flipped him off and disappeared behind the classroom doors as Jason reached their professor.

It wasn't a particularly long conversation—just a few tips about Jason's stirring technique and some nonsense about the potion's properties. He was out within five minutes. Jason stepped into the hallway and took a quick glance for Percy, only to find him towards the end of the hall with two other students—both Gryffindor. That was never a good sign when it came to Percy, so Jason didn't waste any time in his haste towards the group.

"Leave him alone, you two," Jason tried for a calm voice as he approached, but his rigid steps in their direction clearly betrayed him.

"He's got bad blood, Grace," one of them tried to tell Jason. He found it hard to listen when his eyes landed on where the second Gryffindor was gripping Percy's forearm, a wand jabbed into his side.

"Let him go," Jason eyed the wand.

The one not holding Percy rolled his eyes. "You and your whole fairness schtick. I think you can let it slide just this once—let us take care of someone who doesn't deserve your fairness."

"He does," Jason glared.

"You know his father, right?"

"And what does that matter?" He scoffed. "He is better and kinder than you two ever have been, and you're rather lucky for that, too—you two could've been hexed silly if he wasn't."

The two perpetrators stared at him blankly, so Jason just reached over to snatch the wand from the one stabbing Percy's ribs as he continued, "And what does it matter who his father is? He's nothing like the man, and maybe you'd know that if you'd ever given him a bloody chance!"

"Jason—," one of them tried, but the blond just shook his head.

"Just get out of here," Percy interrupted boredly, and they stared at him with slack jaws before taking one more glance at Jason's harsh glare and leaving.

Jason watched them disappear behind the corner before turning to Percy with concerned eyes. "Are you alright?"

Percy ignored his question. "Did you really mean all that?"

Jason furrowed his eyebrows. "Mean what?"

"What you said," Percy explained, rubbing his arm where it had been gripped previously, "...about me not being like my father."

"Are you serious?"

Percy frowned. "What?"

"Of course I did," Jason told him, waving his arms around frantically as he spoke, "Percy, the other day, I watched you feed snacks to the random creatures who you went out of your way to save. And gods know why, but I've never seen you try to fight any of those—those assholes that torment you. And believe it or not, I do genuinely enjoy spending time with you. So yes, I meant what I said."

He took another look at Percy and couldn't help but notice how watery his eyes had gotten. Jason tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

Percy shook his head. "Nothing's wrong, I promise."

"Then why are you—"

And before Jason could finish his thought, Percy stepped forward and threw his arms around Jason's shoulders for a hug. The blond was ever so slightly confused but wrapped Percy in his arms regardless, gently rubbing his hand up and down Percy's lower back.

It was silent for a long moment, and when Percy finally stepped back, his eyes seemingly much more dry, he smiled at Jason.

"Thank you."

*****

"Do you ever go to the Quidditch games?" Jason asked Percy curiously one day on their walk between classes and lunch.

Percy shrugged. "No reason to. People don't want me there, and I don't even know the game."

"Surely you know enough about it," Jason insisted.

Percy shook his head. "Never learned."

"Didn't they teach you at Ilvermorny?"

Percy tilted his head at him as though he'd just said something crazy. "I was never at Ilvermorny."

"What?"

Jason's expression must have looked as silly as he felt considering Percy's laugh as he glanced at Jason. "This here is my first wizarding school. Everything I know is because my mom sent me to this magic summer camp run by two old guys that know, like, everything there is to know."

"But not quidditch?" Jason clarified.

"No, they had quidditch," Percy told him, "I just wasn't allowed on a broom."

Jason frowned as they rounded a corner. "What?"

"My father wasn't public information, but he was definitely still on my birth certificate," Percy answered. "They didn't want me endangering lives or whatever, which is fine—"

"It's not fine," Jason stopped walking, and Percy took another two steps before turning back to Jason with an exasperated look.

"Jason..."

"I'm teaching you how to fly," Jason said definitively, "after classes today."

Percy stared at him thoughtfully before finally sighing. "Fine, but if I fall to my death—"

Jason laughed. "I promise you will still be perfectly alive and intact."

And with that, he got another smile out of Percy that he couldn't help but return.

*****

"Jason, this is hopeless," Percy said as he held out a hand to hoist Jason to his feet after knocking him down on his fourth fall off the broom.

"It's just because you're scared," Jason tried to tell him.

Percy glared. "I am not scared."

Jason raised an eyebrow and stared long enough that Percy sighed and admitted, "Okay, fine, I'm a little nervous."

"How many times have you hit the ground?" Jason asked him.

"Well, I've hit you plenty of times."

"Exactly," Jason picked up his fallen broom and handed it back over to Percy. "I told you I'd keep you intact. Try again."

Once Percy got in a somewhat steady pace in the air, he glanced down at Jason. "Do you think the broom senses my evil genetics?"

Jason rolled his eyes. "No."

Percy grinned at his exasperation before returning his eyes to the space in front of him and narrowly swerving out of the way of a huge tree, immediately sending himself spiraling towards the ground. He faintly heard Jason calling out his name, but with only the sight of the dirt in front of him and no control over the broom, Percy just closed his eyes and braced for the impact as he let go of the broom.

And by some miracle, he collided with Jason and sent them both tumbling to the ground in their hardest collision yet.

Percy immediately sat up and inspected Jason's face for inevitable damage. Once he decided there was nothing to worry about, he started frantically apologizing.

"Hey, hey, hey," Jason calmly cut him off, steadying him with both hands on his shoulders once he was sitting up as well. "You're nearly there."

"Don't lie to me," Percy snipped at him as he pushed himself back to his feet.

Jason followed suit, smiling at him. "I'm not!"

"Wipe that grin off your face," Percy glared with no real heat behind his eyes.

"Are you getting upset?" Jason taunted playfully.

Percy rolled his eyes, mocking Jason's accent, "'Are you getting upset?'"

Jason gaped at him. "I do not sound like that."

"'Oh, Percy, one day you'll be bloody fantastic on that broom,'" Percy continued.

"You're insufferable," Jason said, his words hardly filtering through his laughter.

"'You're insuff—'"

Jason abruptly cut off his teasing as he raised his hands to Percy's cheeks and leaned forward to capture his lips in a soft kiss. It was brief, and Jason was suddenly very nervous when he pulled back to see Percy's confused expression. The anxiety was short-lived, though, as Percy scanned his face once before leaning in himself for a second kiss.

Eventually, Percy placed his hands on Jason's chest and gently pushed him away with a frown. "I—we can't do this."

"What are you talking about?" Jason swallowed thickly.

"It's not fair to you," Percy tried to explain. "You deserve someone you can be with. Someone that doesn't have to be a secret."

"And why do you have to be a secret?"

"You know why, Jason, don't be stupid," he shook his head. "You know what people will say about you."

"Percy, I don't care," Jason placed a hand on Percy's cheek again. "How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Well, I care," Percy argued, "about you."

"Then you should care that I'd rather have you than my reputation any day," Jason told him definitively.

Percy stared at him, clearly considering his options, before he sighed through his nose. "Can I kiss you again?"

Jason grinned and obliged.

*****

The next morning at breakfast, Percy sat at his usual spot at the edge of the Slytherin table, Annabeth seated across from him.

"Hey, Wise Girl," he told her, far too peppy to be Percy Jackson so early in the morning.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" He defended, biting his lip as he briefly paused. "Someone's joining us today."

"It's Jason, right?" She clarified boredly.

He glared at her. "Annabeth."

She simply nodded. "And is there a reason Jason's sitting with us?"

Before Percy could answer, a tall blond appeared at his side at the table, placing a quick and gentle kiss on his temple before taking the seat beside him and smiling at Annabeth.

"Good morning," Jason greeted as if nothing had happened, starting on assembling his plate.

Annabeth stared at him with wide eyes, and all he could do was offer a sheepish smile.

"Ah...good morning, Grace," she said after far too long of a pause.

He grinned in response, taking a sideways glance at Percy's expression and frowning slightly as he asked in a soft voice, "Are you alright?"

Percy looked over at Annabeth, who finally smiled at him before returning to her meal. His eyes traveled down to the table, spotting Jason's hand resting on the surface. He reached out and intertwined their fingers with a nod.

"Fantastic."

I was honestly half-asleep writing a good portion of this because I'm an old lady who goes to bed at like 10:00PM. Exhibit A is one of my notes from before I started writing:
- Piper and Annabeth keep sitting together h yh Gh h bc h by y y h bc  in all of their classes now

I don't really know what happened.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed! Sorry that I've been mildly MIA recently, I worked 6 days a week all summer, and now I'm back in school. Busy, busy! Thanks for bearing with me, and thank you for reading! Have a lovely week everybody!