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Jason woke up to a gentle tapping on his hand. He was warm with sleep and the body pressed up behind him, draping an arm over his waist, didn't help waking up anymore. He blinked his eyes a few times to bring what was in front of him into focus.
“Can I sleep with you, Mom? I had a nightmare,” whispered the small girl in front of him.
She was the youngest camper they had gotten in a while. She was 6 and had run away from her family. She'd been at Camp for over two weeks and still hadn't been claimed. The gods were being lazy during the spring weather- probably out creating more Demigods rather than claiming the ones they had already created. Cabin 3 was currently full of unclaimed kids, but not too many that they needed to split them into Cabin 1 as well. That's how he ended up sharing a bed with his best friend, Percy. They didn't want to split up the kids and Jason didn't want to sleep alone in his cabin.
“Of course, Dani,” he said, his voice still rough with sleep.
He tapped at Percy's hand on his waist to get him to wake up. Percy just nuzzled his face either against Jason's back, not wanting to be disturbed.
“Come on, bro. Make room. Dani had a nightmare.”
Only then did Percy move back toward the edge of the bed. Jason followed him and the young girl joined them. She cuddled up to Jason's chest real tight.
“Thank you, Mom and Dad,” she whispered.
“Sleep well, love.”
⚡🌊
It only made sense really.
The Hermes cabin was tired of being overly full. Percy and Jason were the only ones in their cabins, since Jason had decided to stay at Camp Half-blood. Obviously they needed to team up to take care of the new unclaimed kids.
Jason wasn't sure when the kids started calling him “Mom,” but he didn't mind it. Actually he kind of loved it. He was the one who would patch up their scrapes and cuts. They came to him for words of encouragement. They came to both him and Percy for hugs. Jason wouldn’t let them be shut down like he was as a child in New Rome.
Percy got the “Dad” title because he loved to rough house with the kids. Sure, Jason also rough housed with Percy, but he was much more cautious when it came to the campers. He wouldn't even let Percy get too wild. It was at the point that Jason could just catch his friend's eye and Percy would know to calm things down a bit.
Maybe Percy also got the Dad title because he was much more willing to threaten the gods into claiming their kids. Jason still had some fear of reckoning in him.
Cabins One and Three stopped feeling so lifeless after a while. They preferred to use the Poseidon cabin, because who would want to sleep under that giant Zeus statue if they had a choice? But Jason did it if their number of kids grew big enough even if he also preferred Cabin Three. It fluctuated throughout the summer based on the number of unclaimed kids. There were six bunk bunks in Cabin Three so they could keep 11 kids before they needed to branch out. He didn't mind sharing a bed with his best bro. It was even nice sometimes. They added four bunk beds to Cabin One for when there was some overflow or if a few kids had problems with each other. But it didn't last long.
The whole summer, they had kids in and out of the two Cabins. They would come in unclaimed, spend some time with Percy and Jason, and then find their own cabin with their siblings. They never stopped being their babies though.
Jason couldn't walk through camp without hearing exclamations of “Mom!” And getting best hugged by kids in full armor.
It was nice. This was his home. He was more himself here than he'd ever been in New Rome. He was a leader because he wanted to be- not because he felt obligated. It was a nice difference.
⚡🌊
Jason was sat next to Percy at the final campfire of the summer. His arm was around Percy’s waist and Percy’s arm was around his shoulders. They swayed back and forth as they sang along to the songs Jason knew by heart now.
He couldn't help but steal glances at Percy. The way the light of the fire lit up his face was mesmerizing. He knew his friend was beautiful, but it was times like this that he had to pay attention to it. He had no choice.
Dani, daughter of Aphrodite, walked over and sat on the ground in front of them. She held something behind her back. She smiled her big, front toothless, grin at them.
“Mom and Dad, when you get married, can I be there?” she asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
Jason caught Percy's eye and they both let out a small chuckle.
“Dani, we're not getting married. We're just friends,” Jason corrected gently.
Dani shook her head. “Nuh uh,” it was very matter-of-factly for a sound.
She pulled the gift out from behind her back and held it out to them. It was a scrapbook.
“A bunch of us put this together for you. And when I showed it to my new siblings. They said you two were in love. That they could tell. And I can see it too now that I know what to look for.”
Jason and Percy met eyes, both of them wearing confused looks. Sure, they were close. They were best friends. Who shared a bed sometimes. And Percy was definitely attractive. But Jason hadn't ever thought about him like that. Not really.
“We're not-” he cut himself off as Percy gently took the book from Dani’s hands.
“Let's see what they see, Jace.” Percy’s voice was soft as could be.
He opened the book to the first page. The picture had Percy on his back on the floor. He was clutching a pillow to his chest, mouth open midlaugh and eyes almost closed with how big his smile was. He looked stunning. Multiple young campers were around him, in different positions but all somewhere mid swing in hitting Percy with pillows. Jason was standing in the background of the image. He's never seen himself look so fond. His eyes were focused on picture-Percy. They were soft. The barely there smile on his lips and his crossed arms just screamed of fondness and being in love with the target of his gaze.
More than anything, Jason wanted all these unclaimed kids to be able to just be kids. He hadn't ever gotten the chance. He knew it was rare for Percy to get those moments even before he had been claimed. They wanted their campers to know a better life. So they did silly kid things with them.
Jason was the one who started it. He had hit Percy with a pillow when the older boy had said something silly. Suddenly someone was yelling “pillow fight” and Cabin Three was full of demigods, hitting each other with pillows.
Jason wasn't too keen on being rough with the kids, but Percy had no such qualms- though he would never actually use his full strength or power.
So Jason watched as his best friend was surrounded by their kids. Percy had definitely hit them all with a pillow at some point and they were all crowding him.
“We got you now, Dad!”
“Surrender!!”
And Percy did it. He fell to his back and just clutched his pillow to his chest. “I've been defeated!” He cried.
The kids all started to hit him with their pillows. Percy wasn’t even the least bit upset he was being pelted with the soft items. He was laughing in delight. His smile was so bright and his laugh so joyous, he was practically glowing.
Jason felt his heart swell. He always wanted to see Percy this happy. He was so beautiful even as he writhed on the floor and was hit with pillows. His hair fell back towards the ground and his nose was crinkled as he laughed. It was good to see Percy without those underlying fears and worries that Jason knew always plagued him.
But Jason wanted in on the action too.
“No! Not my husband!” He cried out dramatically and headed towards the group. Of course the kids knew he was just playing up the drama. Percy and him weren't in love or anything. But the kids called them Mom and Dad so he just played into it.
Soon the kids were hitting Jason with just as many pillows.
Cabin Three was filled with laughter (and a few feathers) until all of them were out of breath and lying in a pile on the floor.
Well. Maybe they had some sort of a point there. Jason had never thought too much about it. But he'd never felt about anyone the way he felt about Percy. He could never put words to it so he hadn't ever dwelled. Percy was fantastic in so many ways. He was handsome, strong, and brave. But he could also be so soft and he was so caring. Maybe .. maybe Jason was a little in love with his best friend. But that didn't mean Percy felt the same. He was just Jason. Nothing too special.
They ended up skipping around a little but landed on a photo from the beach day they had with their kids- their campers.
In the image, Jason was lying on his front next to Damontae, who they now knew was a son of Athena. Damontae’s eyes were filled with wonder as he looked in front of him where Jason was showing him how to build a sand castle. This time, Percy was in the background. He was in the water nearby, but his eyes were on the pair of them. On his face was such a look that Jason would've bet, if the photo could be zoomed in, Percy’s pupils would be in the shape of hearts.
”You just have to push the sand together with a little water. Make sure it's really close together. And then it will stay in place,” Jason explained to the boy next to him.
Damontae looked at Jason with such light in his dark gray eyes. It really made Jason's heart so full.
“Do you think my godly parent will claim me after I make them a little sand temple?” The boy asked, nervously.
Jason ran a hand over Damontae's braids and rested his hand at the back of his head.
“Tae, I think they would be crazy not to. You're wonderful and anyone would be lucky to have you as a son,” he comforted gently.
Those eyes were undeniable though. It was just a matter of time before Athena claimed the child. He'd talk to Percy about sending some passive aggressive prayers if Damontae's temple idea didn't work. Percy and Annabeth hadn't been together in a while. They decided they were better as just friends. So Jason knew his friend wasn't as nervous about pleasing that particular goddess anymore.
“Thanks, Jason… Mom,” the boy added the last word quietly.
Jason just smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head. Then they started building again.
Jason turned his gaze up for a moment and caught Percy's eyes on him. Percy had taken most of the campers into the lake to swim and play some games. Jason stayed on shore. So he just smiled and gave him a nod in greeting.
He watched as Percy’s cheeks grew pink and he quickly turned away. He looked like he'd been caught doing something he wasn't supposed to. But he wasn't doing anything wrong. The kids were all safe. He wasn't sure what got his friend so flustered.
And if Jason's eyes lingered a bit longer on Percy's slim torso and hips, then nobody had to know.
All of the pictures were like that- the two of them looking at each other with so much love in their eyes. There were so many pictures of them casually holding hands. Or holding onto each other like they had been before Dani and the other campers had gathered around them to show them the scrapbook. Friends didn't do that. Leo, Piper, and Annabeth were in some of the pictures, but none of that feeling was present. No touching that could be read as anything but friendly.
Jason couldn't bring himself to look at Percy, but he had a feeling they had matching rose colored cheeks.
The last image made things undeniable. Dani had drawn a heart around the picture and labeled it ‘Mom and Dad’ in her messy handwriting. Jason felt his breath catch in his throat and Percy’s hand tighten in his- he didn’t know when they had started holding hands.
Percy and Jason were asleep in the same bed in the Poseidon cabin. There was no denying that it was a choice- there were a few empty bunks in the photo. Even then- it was definitely not platonic bed sharing happening. Sleeping Percy had an arm strewn across Jason’s waist, the hand gripping onto the loose sleep shirt Jason was wearing. Jason had one hand in Percy’s hair. Their foreheads were pressed together and between them, their other hands were intertwined.
Jason just stared at the photo.
“Told you they would be the last ones to figure it out,” came Annabeth’s voice from behind them.
“I had some hope. But I guess they both have always been kind of clueless about love,” Piper replied easily. Like they had discussed this before. The two of them obviously had.
“I really should’ve bet on the kids making them see it instead of one of them getting hurt,” Leo complained.
Percy turned around to look at their friends first, Jason turned with him after a moment.
“You all KNEW?” the raven haired boy exclaimed.
“There were BETS?” Jason added, exacerbated.
“Literally all of camp thinks you’re dating. We even had bets on when and how you two would figure it out,” came the voice of an Aphrodite boy.
“It's so not fair that you used your little sister to make it happen, just so you could win,” someone else complained.
Percy stood up, not removing his hand from Jason’s- just pulling Jason up with him. He kept his attention on the kids in front of them.
“Thank you for the gift, Dani. And all the rest of our babies,” Percy’s voice was soft again.
“It was very sweet. Very thoughtful,” Jason added.
The two of them opened their arms, beckoning the kids into a large group hug.
“Okay, loves. Mom and Dad are going to go have a talk. Keep your bigger siblings here, please. We need some privacy.”
With that, Jason was being dragged back to Cabin Three.
Most of the campers were gone for the summer. Those who were staying had been claimed by their godly parents. Percy did not speak until they got back. Not a word despite Jason continuously asking what was happening. Percy didn’t even speak right when they got back. He let go of Jason’s hand.
The door barely closed behind Jason before his back was pressed to it. Percy had a hand on either of Jason’s shoulders. Percy’s eyes were bearing into his soul.
“Are they right, Jace? Are we more than just friends?” There was a moment's pause. “Are you attracted to me?” Percy’s voice was breathy, but still intense. His eyes were so beautiful, but Jason’s eyes kept finding his lips as well.
“I didn’t realize it. Not until now. But yes. Gods, Perse,” Jason leaned forward and every so slightly down. He was going to kiss him until that little spark of doubt reignited in his gut. “Do you feel the same?” He knew Percy would be able to feel his breath across those soft lips that Jason wanted to taste.
Then he got his opportunity. Percy leaned forward the last few centimeters to press their lips together. It wasn’t just like fireworks, or sparks flying, it was like coming home. It was like melting into your favorite spot on the couch after a long day of sword training. It was just right.
When Jason needed his breath, he just let his forehead rest against Percy’s. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
He could feel Percy’s soft breath of a laugh across his face.
“I didn’t realize either. Maybe they’re right. Maybe we’re both idiots. I just didn’t… I didn’t think you’d be interested in someone like me.”
Jason got a hand in Percy’s hair, running his fingers through the dark locks.
“I felt the same. Gods, I didn’t even consider it. We could’ve been doing this for so long,” Jason chuckled and pressed their lips together again, ever so softly. He was still scared of how Percy was going to react, but the older boy just returned the kiss and pressed closer.
“No one has ever made me feel the way you do. I didn’t know what it was before. But I do now. It’s a deep understanding and love. One I’ve never shared with anyone before.” Percy traced his fingertips along Jason’s jaw and up to his lips, his touches so gentle. “I don’t want this to ruin our friendship. But I think I love you, Jason Grace.
Jason just smiled and kissed Percy’s fingers when they touched his lips again. “You’re my best friend, Percy. I don’t think that will ever change. Even if we add the title of boyfriend.”
“Oh? You wanna be my boyfriend?” Percy’s voice had its usual teasing quality to it.
“Yeah, Jackson. You got a problem with that?”
“No, not at all. I think I would actually like that quite a lot."
Hands intertwined between them and Jason leaned forward to kiss Percy again.
They may have been the last to know and they may not have won any of the betting pools, but Jason was pretty sure they were the happiest people at camp that night.