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If there is one thing Leo Valdez hates, it’s taking the morning train to his college. He’s blowing on his piping hot coffee while he hurries down the street to the station because he forgot the lid in his rush out the door. To top it off, it’s pouring out, and Leo’s balancing his umbrella in his other hand and dodging fellow pedestrians who grumble insults when he accidentally bumps their shoulders.
The stairs to the train platform rotate down into a dingy but well-loved station, with a man playing guitar on an overturned box, a couple with a gigantic dog, and friends standing together, clearly heading off to school themselves.
It’s another boring day in the life of someone who’s a movie extra at best. Leo’s wrapped his favorite cream scarf around his neck at least 3 times just to keep the cold at bay, and he can’t wait for warmer weather so that he can go chill in the park, study there for a change of pace, and maybe forget some of his troubles for a little while.
At this thought the train pulls up to the platform with a whoosh of chilly winter air. The crowd shuffles into the car while the doors close and Leo sighs internally when he notices that there are no open seats. He resigns himself to free-standing against the doors as they close.
Right when Leo relaxes into the rhythm of the moment, the train lurches as it rounds a corner. He’s usually good about re-balancing himself when the train wheels go rogue, but this time he finds himself tumbling into someone else with an involuntary yelp that he pretends he doesn’t hear.
The shame is a little muted since Leo’s so goddamn tired, but he manages to murmur a soft apology. He also feels the strong, warm grip of another person in front of him, holding him and making him feel so very weirdly safe for a stranger.
“Uh…” Leo manages. How eloquent.
He’d usually ignore the stranger after this and make himself scarce on the other side of the car. But he notices that this stranger is wearing a New Rome University sweatshirt and has the bluest eyes that Leo’s bisexual heart has ever seen. Leo swears up and down to his best friend Piper that he isn’t into smooshy romance stuff, but he takes one look at his hero and decides that he’s a motherfucking liar.
The guy is tall, has muscle, and even has broad shoulders as if he is born to be a football player. But his smile… it’s genuine and concerned, comforting like the summer sunshine that Leo remembers from his childhood in Houston. The crinkles in the corners of his eyes will haunt Leo’s dreams even if he never sees this dude again.
“Hey. Are you okay?” the blonde guy asks without a single shred of judgment or irritation.
Leo gulps and hopes his sweaty hands dry up before this guy notices them.
“Uh, I’m Leo.”
Shit.
The blonde New Rome human laughs with a loud, dorky snort that practically bounces off of the walls. It shocks Leo and several other people on board, and Leo’s eyes widen with sudden affection that surges like the tides.
He’s cute.
Leo remembers his predicament two seconds later and clears his throat. “S-sorry.”
The warmth in the blonde’s own eyes seems to glow. “No, don’t be. I’m Jason, by the way. Are you also heading to school somewhere?”
Leo flushes and fidgets with the strap of his backpack. “New Rome University. Engineering classes are early for no reason.”
Jason gestures to his sweater and lets out a baritone chuckle. “I go there too! I’m a marketing major, but I also play football. Uh, but we’re not that good, so I kind of just go because I like the sport. Do you watch any of the games?”
No, but I totally will now, Leo’s brain supplies.
“Not really a sports guy, but I’m sure the games are fun as hell,” Leo replies with a small smile.
He doesn’t notice the way Jason’s eyes take in Leo’s grin. The blonde hides it well, shrugs, and laughs yet again, sending Leo’s already palpitating heart into a tailspin.
“You should watch sometime! We can talk after if you’re down for that. I love meeting new people on campus. Us commuter students have to stick together, you know?” Jason rambles. “I feel like I don’t get to talk to the guys on the team as much because I don’t dorm there.”
Leo nods in understanding. Having a social life at their college relies on being in the dorms for at least 1 year since there’s more time to get to know other people, including dorm and hall-specific events all year long. Whether or not this Jason guy would ever be into Leo, he feels a wave of relief at the thought of having a fellow commuting student as his friend.
On the whole 20 minute ride there, Jason gives Leo more positive attention than he’s received in forever. He also listens to Leo’s rambling about his classes and projects, asking him questions and gazing at Leo like he’s the most important person in the world. It’s driving Leo crazy and he blushes while he gestures with his hands wildly.
Leo learns more about Jason as they depart the train. His name is Jason Grace, and he’s one of two siblings. His sister Thalia and both of his parents are pretty distant, but they help him pay for school, and he’s appreciative of it. He steers clear of trouble and spends his free time going on runs and finding interesting small businesses around the city. He also watches professional sports in person because he loves the energy.
Basically, he’s an athletic, sweet golden retriever who deserves good things. Leo tries his best to stop himself from developing a quick crush.
He fails.
The two of them walk the whole way to their classes together, and Jason holds the door open for Leo at every opportunity. Leo offers him a bagel he kept in his bag from the previous day as thanks and Jason doesn’t turn up his nose. He even asks for Leo’s number so they can talk later.
There’s no way Leo can pay attention in class now. He’s given a bagel and his whole damn embarrassing, nerdy heart to a guy he met only hours ago. He spends a while trying to talk himself out of getting his hopes up, and instead of pages of notes, he leaves with a blank notebook and empty stare.
Piper stares at him at lunch like he’s grown a third head. She doesn’t prod him directly but she smiles with impish amusement as she chews on her sandwich. He knows that she knows, and she knows that he knows that she knows, and lunch passes without either of them talking about it.
“The guy’s 100% straight,” Percy Jackson says to him later when they share bites of a bagel while waiting for the train home.
It’s so cold that Leo can see his breath, and he’s not feeling much better even though he’s not above ground. He sighs at Percy’s confidence and shakes his head a little.
“I don’t know, man. Either way, he looks like he was carved from actual Hollywood jock marble.”
Percy nods. “I just can’t buy these athlete popular kid types wanting to stray from their pack. Uh, but sorry, that’s probably a dickhead thing to assume.”
After that, the idea of Jason being straight doesn’t leave Leo’s mind for the rest of the day.
He can’t say for sure since he never asked the guy, but Jason doesn’t ever bring up relationships unless he’s talking about other people. Leo was hoping he’d be able to get a temperature check on the guy, but after months and months, he’s still not sure. Jason’s just as nice to him as he’s always been, but he doesn’t give any obvious signs - not ones Leo can read, anyway.
Leo’s thinking over how things have been going as he watches Jason’s football practice. It’s a new routine between the two of them that makes Leo’s afternoons feel a little more relaxed. He doesn’t rush home to his mean Aunt Rosa on a packed train, and instead spends his hours after class doing his homework and doodling into his fraying notebook while he supports his football-playing friend.
Today, Jason looks energetic, with his soft blonde hair dancing in the wind, blue eyes that sparkle and reflect the afternoon sun, and a smile that he shares with the world openly. He’s cute as hell, Leo thinks, positive that he’s being entirely objective about the whole thing. Good for him.
Sitting high up in the bleachers, Leo can see the whole field and more. He’s trying to keep an eye on where Jason is, and the only indication is Jason’s number, 14, which Leo spots darting on the grass. Jason mentioned something about his position as Quarterback and the rules of football before, but Leo’s got nothing in his head from back then - just the number 14, and the way Jason’s uniform fits on him perfectly, accentuating every line of muscle.
A jolt hits Leo suddenly right then and there. He looks down at his worn-out shirt and thin arms and frowns. While Jason rightfully has a fit build from his hard work, Leo is a scrawny nerd. What the hell is he doing, daydreaming about a guy who is practically a male lead?
Leo frowns deeper and pulls at the hem of his top. He’s not ashamed of who he is at the end of the day, and he knows Jason isn’t judgmental. But he can’t help but put himself in his place when it comes to romantic stuff. In general, he’s sure that someone as gorgeous as Jason Grace would never look at him that way, even if they’re happily friends.
Speak of the devil, Jason appears at the fence moments later to greet Leo. Leo is moved that Jason took a second to chat, since he’s busy and often isn’t able to talk until practice is over. The shorter boy chews on his pen cap and reaches up a little to pat Jason’s shoulder.
“How’s it going, Superman?”
Jason’s smile warms even more.
Leo chuckles. “Good, then?”
The taller boy laughs in response, belly-deep and joyful. “Yes, awesome. We’re trying out some new stuff. I’m just… glad you’re here.”
Nope. Not processing that right now!
“I’m always here, Jay Jay,” Leo replies.
Jason scratches his head while his cheeks turn bright red. “That’s true. But I appreciate it. You. Um. Do you— do you have time after this for boba or something?”
Leo raises an eyebrow. It’s not unusual for the two of them to grab food after practice ends, but something shifted to the left the minute that Jason started talking.
Leo tries his best to keep his racing heart rate normal when he says yes.
“No mames…!”
It’s Leo’s luck that he can’t get his boba straw into the lid. The damn thing is just a thin plastic film, but he somehow misses on the downward swipe and is left to deal with it all while Jason watches him with his stupid, beautiful smile.
“Uhhhhh, could you help me out here, Mr. Muscly Arms Athlete?” Leo says with a syrupy sweet voice, even batting his eyelashes for added effect.
He completely misses the way that Jason’s eyes sparkle at the sight of him. Jason nods and chuckles while he snaps the straw into the lid with a simple flick of his wrist. Leo does notice that Jason’s fingers linger on his when the cup passes between them, though, and he clears his throat the second they break contact.
“Mm. The ube with soy milk is fucking delicious,” Leo says after a long silence.
He then fills it with the most obnoxious slurping noise either of them has ever heard.
Jason follows up with the most amused, snort-filled, extra obnoxious laugh that either of them has ever heard. Leo’s wide eyes bore holes into the scene, and he watches with helpless adoration as Jason doubles over and mumbles about how much his stomach fucking hurts.
Leo almost chokes on a tapioca ball before he manages to get a laugh out. He puts a soft hand on Jason’s shoulder and moves to ask for a cup of water, and soon enough, the two of them are sputtering again as they burst into fits. Even on the walk to the station, they feel their facial muscles straining from their cackling.
In the pools of light on the sidewalk at night, it’s easy to believe that the world is simple and peaceful as the duo eases into silence. There are still cars passing by, but way less than usual. Only the occasional headlight interrupts Leo’s mind while it wanders somewhere far, far away.
The warmer weather reminds him of summers in Houston with his mom. She used to take his little hand and walk with him down the street after dinner, murmuring some sort of silly story that didn’t make any sense but was all the rage with her toddler. The humid heat was comforting for him, like a warm blanket that was made up of his mom, summer, and evening stars.
It’s been ages since it was this warm in their northern city, so Leo can’t help but trace the steps back in his mind, especially since he’s unhappy here aside from his afternoons with Jason. At that thought, he frowns and slows down until he stops under the glow of a street lamp.
“What’s wrong?” Jason asks, worry on the edge of his voice.
“Jace, hear me out,” Leo sighs after a while. “Are you happy here?”
Jason quirks a brow and scratches his head. He takes a moment to consider the question and gives Leo a somewhat pinched grin. “Uh, I can’t say either way. There are good and bad things about this place, this school. I hate the dining hall food. I got food poisoning twice. No, three times - remember that? And I could live without all the noise in the city. I guess… I do like my global business class and playing football. And… I like you.”
Wait, what?
Every moment Leo had a feeling and pushed it away comes to a head. His breath hitches in his throat and he can feel his heartbeat until it’s pushing out of his chest. His fingertips are buzzing and tingling and his ears are ringing like clanging bells.
There’s no way.
“I— I like you too, bro,” Leo manages, even though his mouth seems to be made of sandpaper. “Glad I made the list.”
The crease between Jason’s eyebrows deepens and he seems a little saddened by the reply. Leo tries to ignore what that implies. He ignores and ignores, and the bells get louder—
Jason Grace rests his forehead against Leo Valdez’s, and Leo’s eyes ache with the beginnings of tears.
“Jace—” His voice crackles out.
“I think you know what I mean, Leo,” Jason whispers in reply. “You don’t have to answer now, though. It’s okay.”
Leo’s hands shake helplessly at his side, even as he wishes he could wrap an arm around Jason and tell him he’s sorry for freaking out on him. Jason, ever the sweetheart, wraps his arms around Leo instead and holds him without another word until Leo calms down.
“You… me?” Leo manages, still mid-hiccup.
Jason chuckles and gives Leo a small squeeze. “Yeah. I do.”
Leo burrows his head into the soft cotton of Jason’s purple university t-shirt. He refuses to look up, but the gesture reassures Jason and the taller boy fills with relief while he continues to cocoon Leo against his chest.
“Why me?” Leo murmurs. “I’m not, you know…”
“Not what?” Jason asks with genuine confusion. “I think you’re cute. Uh, unless you don’t want me to call you that.”
“No, you can keep calling me that— wait, wait, waiiiit, Ineversaidanything, ” Leo spits as he glares up at Jason, who smiles mischievously. “Anyway, I mean. Wow, it sounds really pathetic out loud. But, honestly, I thought someone who’s an athlete and all hot and stuff wouldn’t be into me. Who are we kidding, Grace? We’re pretty different.”
Jason’s chest heaves a sad sigh and he looks up at the sky for a minute. Leo watches his eyes cloud and then clear with all the thoughts crossing his mind, and he’s enamored up until he’s brought right back down to their conversation.
“I play sports, true, yeah. But I don’t spend that much time with my team or care about keeping up with the Joneses or whatever. You’re funny and I love the way you tell stories… plus, you’re always there for me, and how you smile when you don’t even realize you’re doing it is just… ahem. ”
Leo’s bright red cheeks betray him immediately. He heaves a fist with a quiet thump into Jason’s other shoulder and still doesn’t look Jason in the eye. Jason doesn’t mind, since he is also trying desperately to keep himself together. It’s not every day they’re mid-confession with their crush.
Leo’s a whole yard shorter than Jason, so he uses the cover of their height difference to keep his reaction concealed. Still, there’s an obvious embarrassed warble in his voice when he speaks again.
“Well, you’re really good at sports, you’re handsome as hell, and you’re somehow nice inside and out - which is a massive fucking achievement, by the way - aaand yeah, we really do just hang out with each other. Guess you’re kind of stuck with me, then, huh?”
Jason can tell the tension inside of Leo has eased a little and he kisses the top of Leo’s head. Leo can feel the affection seep from his crown down into every fiber of his being like a gigantic but gentle tide, and he’s shocked to find that he ends up welcoming the feeling with open arms.
“I’m glad I’m stuck with you and not Professor Astor, then,” Jason remarks after a moment.
Leo nods even though Jason can’t quite see it. “Uh, yeah. I can’t even believe he made the craziest history lessons of all time sound that boring. I’m much better company.”
The two of them poke at each other's feet and smile bashfully, with the occasional glance at each other's expressions. They don’t mind the sudden rosy tinge in the atmosphere as they fall once again into a gentle quiet.
“Um… by the way, Jace, when you say you like me—”
Jason’s brows furrow as he looks down at Leo’s wide brown eyes. “I am in actual, lame, Titanic-and-poems-with-red-roses love with you, Leo Valdez. I won’t take more questions.”
“Woah, woah, man,” Leo chokes out with a vibrant blush. “I was just going to ask if that means we’re boyfriends or if we need to do the whole ‘go on a few dates’ thing first!”
Jason’s own eyes go wide before he descends into near-uncontrollable laughter. Leo wants to ask if he’s okay, but he just watches with blooming affection until Jason gets out all of his energy.
“Gods, sorry— I misunderstood. Uh. Well, that’s embarrassing as hell.”
Leo shrugs in reply. “All fine.”
“And to answer your question,” Jason continues. “Whatever you’re comfortable with. I feel like I know you already, so I’m okay with being boyfriends off the bat.”
“There’s your sports references, you jock,” Leo teases, poking a finger into Jason’s side. “If you want to do both, we can still take it slow. Or our pace. Whatever that means.”
“As long as it’s together?” Jason asks sweetly as he gives Leo’s head another kiss.
Leo would continue to tease Jason and fake-gag, but for once, he forgoes the joke and leans up to give Jason’s cheek a soft peck. He feels that it was worth the consideration when he sees Jason’s face light up like a Christmas display.
“As long as it’s together, Jace. We can do it our way.”