#and percy would willingly stay in that relationship too for fear of being alone again

[impulsivemuses]

Yeah so, remember how I said earlier that Percy tends to be desperate and force relationships for the sake of trying to have people like him? Well... there's a flaw to him that I really think that I should make aware... Percy tried to get with Jeremiah even when Jeremiah already has a girlfriend. He was so desperate for love and attention and just anything to make him feel alive that he would be willing to have Jeremiah cheat on his girlfriend for the sake of feeling another's touch in a regard that WASN'T friendship like.

Percy didn't tell his girlfriend or tell Jeremiah his ACTUAL feelings for him. He just... tried to sneak a kiss or hold hands with Jeremiah even when they've only known each other for FOUR MONTHS mind you. I think after Percy was kicked out of his house, he saw Jeremiah's allowance of letting Percy stay at their shared apartment as a offer into their relationship or something... but, Percy was too much of a fucking coward to ACTUALLY kiss Jeremiah or hold his hands... afraid he'd get kicked out AGAIN for fucking something up good.

[percyinpanties]

Jercy with 148 for the prompt game?

i know fuck all about publicity stunts and press and you can tell in this :) also the prompt says married but i went for dating because i couldnt make married work for what i had in mind. the plot is something like “jason’s a famous athlete/actor/whatever who got outed by paparazzi constantly up in his face. percy is hired to make it look like jason is in an actual serious relationship rather than fucking around.” kind of want to write a proper fic for this, since what you’re gonna read down there is a mess with little plot and a lot of rambling but alas. i always feel guilty picking up new wips given the state of my current wips….

also read on ao3 if you wanna.

148 - “Let’s pretend to get married for the free stuff/to evadethe law/so I can get this promotion.”

There is certainly something to be said about how easy itis for Jason to pull Percy against his side like this, to press a kiss toPercy’s temple as cameras flash around them. Percy doesn’t look bothered,smiles politely at the press and even answers a few of the questions throwntheir way – he isn’t new to this, of course, but Jason still finds it strangeto see this public Percy in place of his own, private version. It’s a strangethought to have, as if anything about Percy had ever been his – or ever wouldbe after this mess, and Jason tries to shake it before the thought can takeroot.

As they finally manage to push through the crowd and intothe restaurant, part of Jason still cannot believe Percy agreed to this, andhow easy it was to convince him in the first place. Had it been the other wayaround, Jason isn’t sure he’d have gone along with it so willingly. Then again,it wouldn’t be a lack of companionship on Jason’s part that’d make himhesitate, but an excess of it. Jason is sure Percy doesn’t have that kind ofproblem, not when it comes to Jason  –but now is not the moment to mull over it.

“That went well.” Percy says quietly, leaning lightly intoJason’s touch as they step through the door.

Jason doesn’t answer right away, instead reaches to takeoff Percy’s jacket and hang it up with his own.  His hands linger on Percy’s shoulder a momentto long, but Percy doesn’t shrug them off. They’re not out of view yet,probably won’t be for most of the night, but either way Jason is selfishlyenjoying it a little too much to let go of the act just yet.

“It did.” Jason agrees finally. Nothing about this is goingwell, if Jason personally is concerned, but regarding what Jason’s managerhired Percy for, they’re doing pretty well.

He’s turning back toward Percy, who gives him a gentlesmile and smoothly steps back into Jason’s space to lean against his side as awaiter approaches them. Being close feels natural, and Jason hates it as muchas he loves it. There are a lot of ways Jason has wished for this to happen,but this – this false pretence, itisn’t one of them. This is going to tear him apart, Jason knows it, and worse:it’s going to ruin what is left of his and Percy’s friendship.

The restaurant isn’t empty, although there are suspiciouslyfew people for a Friday evening, especially in a place as popular as this, andJason wouldn’t be surprised if he found out that his manager had something todo with that. It was him who had set this thingwith Percy up in the first place, after all, a desperate attempt at controllingthe damage after Jason’s unplanned outing. There is little Jason thinks thatman wouldn’t do, and it leaves him with an uneasy feeling.

“Relax.” Percy says quietly, half turned towardJason who just flinched at another flash going off from the windows. The waiterglares toward the paparazzi, although it’s doubtful he can actually see theculprit.

“It’s just the two of us having dinner, okay?” Percywhispers, and it sounds like he believes it too.

Something inside Jason breaks a little at that,but he swallows down the feeling as best as he can. Jason turns his head tomeet Percy’s gaze, green eyes regarding him soft and affectionate. For asecond, Jason almost wants to believe this really is just them on a date, not astunt for the sake of his ruined public image.

Percy rests a hand on Jason’s arm, a gentlesqueeze when Jason gives no answer, then trails it down to find Jason’s handand links their fingers together while they walk to their seats. It’s a fancyplace, no doubt about that, a candle already lit at the table, and a cooler forchampagne by its side. Normally, this isn’t where either Percy or Jason wouldbe seen, not that it wasn’t within their budget, but certainly not their style.The last time they really hung out, it was at a drive through theatre aftergrabbing terrible take-out from a close-by diner. That’s months ago now though,and the distance of the memory sends a pang through Jason’s chest.

Percy only let’s go of Jason’s hand when theytake their seats and even then, he manages to make it look reluctant. Theydon’t have to play it up like this, not now that they’re mostly out of thepress’s eyes, but Percy seems to see no point in stopping now. He’s all softsmiles and little touches, quiet talking over shared foot, reaching out toghost his fingers over the back of Jason’s hand across the table. It’s toointimate, and it makes Jason ache inside, but at least anyone still watchingwill believe their lie.

Despite his aching heart, the dinner is…nice,in a strange way. Jason manages to relax into it, almost forgets what this isabout in between. For a moment there, it’s almost like it used to be when theyhung out more regularly – before Jason caught feelings and pulled away in fearof ruining what they had. It didn’t help, of course it didn’t, but if Percyever noticed he never said anything.

“I missed this.” Percy says, eyes raising fromtheir shared cake up to meet Jason’s cake. “Feels like we haven’t done this inages.”

Jason has to stop himself from pointing outthat technically, they’ve never done thisbefore, but he bites his tongue to keep the words in. It won’t help to becynical, and it might open doors to conversations Jason is nowhere near readyto have.

“Guess we’ve been really busy recently.” Jasonmuses quietly, and it’s such a blatant lie that he’s sure Percy must see rightthrough it.

There’s a raised eyebrow, but Percy doesn’tcall him out on his bad lying. Instead, Percy grins. It stretches slowly acrosshis face, usually the kind of expression Percy wears when he is up tosomething. Jason doesn’t like it at all, not now when he’s so apparentlytransparent and every little gesture makes his heart skip a beat.

“At least, this time, you won’t get away fromme anytime soon.” He says finally, steals another piece of cake with his forkand even with his mouth closed he looks cheeky.Jason has no idea what he is supposed to reply. This is the first time Percyhas even let on he knows Jason has been avoiding him before, and there islittle Jason can say without acknowledging that fact.

Luckily, Jason is saved by the waiter coming byto check on their table, topping up their wine and promising to come back withthe check in time. Jason eyes his glass with distrust. He isn’t much of adrinker, never has been, and he can already feel the first effects from whatthey had before. Percy’s cheeks are a shade pinker than they ought to be too, andJason fears he doesn’t look much better himself.

“We should probably call a cab.” Jason says,watching the waiter leave so he has an excuse not to look at Percy just yet. It’sgetting harder, the longer they’re sitting here, to stick to acting in place ofletting his actual feelings shine through.

“Your place or mine?” Percy asks, alreadyfishing his phone out from under the table, watching innocently while Jasonflushed dark at the suggestion behind the words. They can’t be seen going to separatehomes tonight, but Jason’s solution had been to not get caught leaving ratherthan just staying over at either of their places.

“I… I don’t mind either.” He manages, his tonejust a little off, but if Percy follows the turn Jason’s thoughts havethreatened to take, he doesn’t let it on. Jason has a guest bedroom, Percydoesn’t, but Jason isn’t sure mentioning that will make this easier. This willbe awkward either way, Jason dreads it already, but there is nothing he can doabout it now.

Percy hesitates a second, then dials a number andbrings his phone to his ear. Jason watches him make the call, listens to himgive Jason’s address to the operator, and tries not to feel relief.

“You’re tense.” Percy says quietly when hehangs up, and for no reason Jason can discern, reaches over the table to takeJason’s hand in his. There’s no one watching, or at least none that Jason cansee, and they are not a couple,regardless of what their act suggests. “What’s going on?”

“I know they’re going to follow us.” Jasonsays, and this time he almost believes his own lie. It’s not the reason he isso on edge, and maybe Percy knows it too, but regardless the press isn’thelping the situation. “I just… I hate it. The only reason we’re even here isbecause they can’t leave me alone for five fucking minutes.”

It’s a strange outburst of anger, evident inJason’s tone even if he keeps his volume level. Something changes in Percy’sexpression, he pulls his hand away and Jason knows that he said something wrong. Percy doesn’t meet Jason’seyes, his brow drawn into a frown as his gaze sweeps over the windows of therestaurant.

“You’re right. I guess we wouldn’t.” There’ssomething off about the way he says it, but Jason can’t for the life of himfigure out what it is. Clearly, Jason’s dislike for the paparazzi was not theanswer Percy was looking for, but Jason doesn’t know what he could havepossibly said instead either – without another obvious lie or outing his feelings.

Whatever mood they had before is ruined now.Percy doesn’t speak while they wait for their cab, so Jason doesn’t say anythingeither. When the waiter brings the check, Jason silently pays, adding on a tipthat surely looks like he’s compensating for this date suddenly gone wrong.