Chapter Text
Their little game starts on a day like any other. Connor is sprawled out on his bed, while Jason sits at the foot reading a book. Connor is bored. In the time Jason has been dating Connor it’s been easy to pick up the signs. From rapidly tapping his fingers to loud sighs, Connor does not hide his boredom well.
“Entertain me,” Connor whines.
Jason wiggles his eyebrows which results in a pillow being thrown at his head.
“I’m being serious,” Connor whines again, “Tell me a story.”
“What kind of story?” Jason puts the book down, knowing there is no way he’s getting out of this one.
“Hmmm something lighthearted but still interesting,” Connor puts a hand to his chin to think, “Oh I know! A meet-cute!”
“A what?” Jason can feel his nose scrunching up in confusion.
“Oh, my gods do you Romans have anything good? You know just like a cute little story where two people meet and like each other in a cute way,” Connor explains.
“Well, who do you want this meet-cute to be about?”
“That’s the beauty of it, anyone can have a meet-cute moment,” Connor smiles at him in that way that never fails to make Jason’s heart skip a beat.
“We didn’t really have a meet-cute,” Jason argues.
“Maybe we did in another universe,” Connor pushes back.
“Alright, I have an idea for a story. Get ready for it to knock your socks off.”
Jason has been working at the coffee shop for three months when the love of his life walks in for the first time. Said love of his life orders a caramel macchiato with extra drizzle and smiles when he places his change in the tip jar. Jason is so flustered by the whole ordeal that he isn’t paying attention and accidentally sprays drizzle down the front of his shirt and apron. Caramel macchiato just laughs at him. Jason is fully ready to start looking for wedding rings.
This pattern continues for another three months before someone catches on. That someone is of course Nico who spends more time watching Jason than he actually does doing his job. Jason isn’t actually one to talk about being good at his job because he has spilled something on himself every time that Caramel Macchiato comes in.
“It’s a little sad that you don’t know his name,” Nico says casually one day after Caramel Macchiato takes a seat in the back of the cafe.
Jason is too busy wiping the whipped cream out of his hair to really process Nico’s words, “I’ll figure it out before the wedding.”
Nico stares at him with an amused smile on his face, “Wait hang on a second. Nico, how’d you know I like him?”
“I have eyes,” Nico deadpans.
“I can’t possibly be that bad,” Jason mutters.
“Yes, you can, and you are,” Nico turns to take the customer who has just walked in’s order.
“Nico hey!” Will Solace lights up looking at Nico.
“Hey Will, the usual?” Nico asks, already grabbing a medium cup from the stack.
“Yeah, thanks! Hey Jason! You have whipped cream in your hair,” Will says through a laugh.
Jason scowls at him, “Thanks I hadn’t noticed.”
“Ignore him he’s mad because he still doesn’t know his crush’s name,” Nico says as he makes Will’s hot chocolate.
“I resent the word crush, Caramel Macchiato is the love of my life,” Jason huffs.
“Is he still here?” Will perks up looking around the shop.
Jason shakes his head as Nico point to Caramel Macchiato’s table. Caramel Macchiato is on his computer typing. Jason can’t see his screen but figures it must be important from the cute little nose scrunch on his face. Jason takes a moment to just stare at him and let his mind wander. Will they wear matching tuxes at the wedding or will they complement each other? They’ll have to have mixed bridal parties because Piper would kill him if she couldn’t be the maid of honor, but obviously, Nico and Percy will want to be his best men. Hmm, that will be tricky.
“Nico would you be mad if I had Piper as my maid of honor, and not you?” Jason asks before thinking.
Will answers for him, “He can be the flower girl. I’m sure he’d love that.”
Nico shoots him a glare, “Well at least I’m invited to the wedding.”
Jason perks up, “Oh Will, you can be Nico’s plus one.”
Nico and Will both flush, “You know this requires actually talking to Connor right?” Will asks.
“Who’s Connor?” Jason cocks his head in confusion.
“The guy you’re in love with! He’s and I had the same writing class freshman year. He’s nice,” Will shrugs.
“Oh my god, a name! Yes!” Jason practically shouts.
Now he had a name for his practice wedding vows. Jason decidedly does not say this part out loud. He doesn’t think he could deal with the look Nico would give him. Nico must be a mind reader because he is looking at Jason like he’s the biggest sap on the planet.
“Well go ask him out,” Will urges.
“Woah no way,” Jason panics.
“Come on Jason, I can’t be Nico’s date to the wedding if you don’t ever talk to Connor,” Will leans on the counter as Nico sputters.
“What would I even say?” Jason ignores Nico’s panicked coughs.
“Go give him a pastry and write your number on the napkin. Then sit and talk with him,” Will suggests.
“Will, I’m working,” Jason argues.
“Oh, would you look at that it’s time for your break,” Nico says recovering from his embarrassment.
“Nico no.”
“Sorry Jason I take labor rights laws very seriously,” Nico says pushing him out onto the floor of the cafe.
“Fine give me a blueberry muffin and a chocolate croissant,” if Jason’s doing this he’s doing it with sugar.
“Atta boy!” Will smiles, handing him a pen and a napkin.
Jason’s writing down his number when he hears Nico quietly whisper to Will, “You know we don’t need for that loser to get married to go on a date.”
“Is that so?” Jason can hear the smile in Will’s voice even as he walks away.
The thirty-second walk from the counter to Connor’s table is nerve-racking. Jason focuses very hard on not spilling anything. That would be just his luck. Connor looks up as he approaches, and a smile breaks out on his face.
“Hey if it isn’t my favorite barista!” Connor smiles.
“If it isn’t the customer I embarrass myself in front of the most,” Jason smiles back.
“You actually still have uh, here,” Connor wipes something off his forehead. Jason’s knees go weak.
“I brought you a muffin,” Jason says.
Connor smiles at him and accepts the muffin and the napkin gratefully. Seeing that Jason is still standing there he gestures for him to sit across from him. Jason takes the seat quickly and awkwardly picks at his croissant.
“So what do I owe the honor of this one-on-one time with the famed clumsy barista,” Connor asks.
“Funny thing about me being clumsy actually. I’m only really a disaster around you,” Jason blushes.
Connor laughs, “You allergic to me or something?”
“No um, I just kinda see your face and my brain stops working for a minute,” Jason plays with his napkin.
“That ugly huh?” Connor smiles cheekily.
“Actually kind of the opposite,” Jason smiles shyly.
It’s at that moment when Connor notices the number written on his napkin. He reads it for a moment before smiling at Jason.
“Well, I’m going to need a name before I say yes,”
“Jason!” he says quickly, “It’s Jason Grace.”
“Nice to properly meet you, Jason Grace, I’m Connor Stoll and I’m free the whole rest of the day,” Connor smiles again.
“I get off in an hour. Want to stick around a little while longer?” Jason’s cheeks start to hurt from how hard he’s smiling.
“Yeah I think that sounds good,” Connor brushes his foot against Jason’s.
“Perfect.”
“It was cute, but Jason, I was barely even in it! Nico and Will had more screen time than me!” Connor flops on top of Jason.
“I’d like to see you do it better,” Jason says with a laugh.
“Oh, you’re on. After dinner prepare for the meet-cute story of your life,” Connor protests.
“I can’t wait,” Jason looks fondly.
“Yeah me neither,” Connor sits up to give him a kiss, “Anyway I have a dinner to be getting to and a scenario to imagine.”
Connor is halfway out the door when he yells “Race you there!”
Jason laughs and takes off running as well. Meet cutes are all well and good, but Jason is pretty happy with the universe he’s living in right now.