The Roommate Arrangement (Valgrace) - Chapter 12 - SevenKookies

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Jason had woken up first. He was off from work today, so there wasn't a need to rise early, but his body had always managed to function with few hours of sleep due to his insomnia, kindly sponsored by his anxiety.

Throughout the night, Jason vaguely remembered changing sleeping positions a few times, but he still hadn't expected to wake up being the little spoon. He'd never been it before, and it felt weird and wonderful at the same time. It was comforting.

But thanks to how narrow the couch was, also a bit uncomfortable. Especially for himself, since Leo seemed to be taking up most of the space, threatening to throw Jason off the floor.

Jason grabbed Leo's arm, which embraced his waist, and removed it as gently as possible as to not disturb him. He proceeded by doing the same with Leo's leg, which was thrown over his hip. Then, he turned around, and smiled.

Leo's sleeping face had been cute at night when he'd tucked him in, but with the light coming through the curtains of the living room, he looked three times that. His face was puffy, cheeks fuller than normal, and his lips were slightly open, releasing snores that weren't exactly gentle, but weren't neither too loud. And he was still in underwear.

Jason couldn't contain a grin. He got to see Leo like this. How f*cking lucky was he?

He covered Leo's bare torso with the blanket that had rolled down to his waist before making his way to the restroom. Only when he was finishing up and staring at himself in the mirror as he brushed his teeth, did he remember something. "f*ck!"

He practically ran to Leo's room, toothbrush still in his mouth, and poked his head in. He sighed. Exactly as he'd expected.

Festus was there, still sleeping. With everything that happened last night, they'd forgotten to unplug him. Jason crouched in front of him, feeling like a bad uncle—because that's what Leo had told him he was to his dragon ever since he moved in—, and finally woke him up.

Festus' machinery came to life until a pair of rubies were staring back at him. Jason could swear he was glaring, as if he knew. He was also still in boxers, which didn't help the situation considering heneverwent around the apartment like this, only doing so in the privacy of his room.

As he had his mouth full of toothpaste and couldn't speak, he brought a fist to his chest and rubbed it in circular motions. Jason didn't know if Festus knew the equivalent tosorryin sign language, or if he even understood English, frankly, but he could always try.

The dragon did something similar to a huff, still seemingly pissed off, before wandering out of the room. After that, Jason quickly finished off brushing his teeth and put on some loungewear.

When he made his way to the living room again, Festus had snuggled close to his dad, his little body as close to Leo's as possible, as if needing his body heat. Jason shook his head fondly before making his way to the kitchen, ready to get the day started.

As he scrambled some eggs, he thought. He pondered over the fact that not only had Leo and him slept together last night, they alsolivedtogether. Would Leo be okay with dating someone he shared a space with? Weren't they skipping over many steps in doing so? Did he really mind? He didn't think so. But did Leo? He had to know.

Should he cook some bacon as well? He personally wasn't a fan, but Leo loved it. He thought it over for two seconds before thinkingyes, he should.

Did their confessions last night make them boyfriends? No, it was too soon. Right? But at the same time, they'd known each other for two months already, so it wasn't like they were strangers. But did they need some time to adjust first before labeling their relationship? Did Leo evenwantto label it? Did Jason? Yeah, he kinda did.

Should he make toasts or crackers? He preferred toasts but Leo was a sucker for crackers. Three seconds later: crackers it was.

Now he was thinking of Leo's lips, Leo's touch, Leo's whispers against his ear. The kisses, the sex, the cuddles. Oh gods, was this what it felt like to actually have feelings for someone? Having them on your mind without getting to catch a break? Because it's not like he didn't like it, in fact he kind of loved it, but it was also exhausting. Was this the so-called honeymoon phase? How long did it last? Why did he want it to last yet have it over with at the same time in order to preserve his sanity,ifhe had any left after last night?

A pair of arms encircled his waist as he watched over the bacon, not wanting it to overcook, and he flinched a little.

"G'morning, handsome," Leo's morning voice greeted.

Just like that, his mind cleared. Racing thoughts adjourned, and the only thing he could focus on was the warmth of the body against his, the kisses on his nape, and a pair of arms that held onto him tightly. Jason had a pair of cooking tweezers on hand, but placed his other atop Leo's arms as he turned his face to the side in hopes to see him. "Hey."

He'd only seen those brown irises yesterday night, but he found out he'd missed them already. He'd never seen his hair this messy before, and call him crazy, but he sort of loved it. Could he call it sex hair? Was that a thing?

Leo burrowed his face back into the crook of his neck, and Jason knew he had to be on tiptoes to reach. He turned over the bacon so it cooked on the other side.

"Festus woke you up?"

Leo hummed in affirmation.

"Did you sleep well?"

Another hum. Jason tried to untangle Leo's hands from his waist, but with only one hand available, it was impossible. Apparently aware of what he was trying to do, Leo tightened his hold.

"Leo," he chuckled. "You should go and wash your face before breakfast is done."

"Don't wanna," Leo mumbled.

"Well, it won't taste the same if you don't brush your teeth first. You'll be eating all that bacteria with it."

"I'll live."

Jason leaned backwards to feel him a little more. "I won't kiss you."

He almost laughed as Leo almost practically pushed himself off him when he said that. He looked past his shoulder, seeing him hurry towards the restroom. Festus, however, had stayed behind and was staring at Jason with pleading, red eyes.

"You can't eat this, little guy."

Festus seemed to understand the opposite, because his little dragon tail began to wiggle.Damn your owner for programming you so realistically, he thought.

"Your dad almost killed me when I fed you some chicken and you got very sick. I can't," he continued.

Festus' machinery made a noise that Jason had come to recognize as annoyance.Crr-clang, crr-clang.

"I'm versatile like that."

Jason pressed his lips together, ignoring the sound of the coffee maker alerting him that the coffee was already made, and caressed Leo's arms. He was shirtless, only wearing some sweatpants he must've put on fast before returning to the kitchen, and Jason wanted to devour him.

Leo was looking at his lips, he noticed, so he bent down a little to be at reach. Leo didn't waste a second more. He stumped his lips against Jason's, curious hands leaving his hips to lift his shirt a little until they were on Jason's bare lower back, temptingly close to the hem of his pants.

"This okay?" Leo broke the kiss to ask.

Jason linked his arms around Leo's neck to bring him closer. "Mhm."

He didn't know why, but he hissed when Leo's hands dived further down, beneath his pants and underwear. He was gripping his ass. Jason sank his fingers in his curls and kissed him again to drown a moan.

Leo tasted of breakfast. He thought he was full already, but apparently he was far from it. The edge of the counter dug into his back, but that was a discomfort he'd gladly go through if it meant Leo could have his way with him.

"I don't know if I want you over me or underneath me," Leo whispered as he tugged Jason's lower lip with his teeth. "Nevermind, both. Definitely both."

"f*ck," Jason kissed him harder, basically punishing Leo's mouth with his tongue.

Leo nudged his legs apart with his knee, and Jason obliged. He leaned against the counter in a way that his legs stretched out so they could be at the same height. At the new angle, it was easier for Leo to grab a hold of him. He inhaled through his teeth when Leo kept his knee in the space in between his legs.

"So gorgeous," Leo muttered, focusing on his neck now. "So sweet. Somine."

Jason thought for a scary second that he had to be dreaming because there was no way real-life Leo would say that unless he'd become possessed. He was trying to decipher if this new facet of the man he'd unleashed scared him or turned him on, when he opened his eyes and looked over Leo's shoulder.

"Festus."

Leo's kisses on his neck halted. For a second, they stayed like that, unmoving. And then Leo stepped away like Jason was the devil himself before turning around and, yup, seemingly dawning on him that his dragon had witnessed all of that.

Festus was there, watching them curiously, with his little head tilted to the side. That dragon behaved more and more like a dog with every passing day.

"We just did p*rn in front of my baby," Leo looked at Jason. "We. Just. Did. p*rn. In. Front. Of. My. Baby."

Jason turned around to keep making the coffee. And also, to hide the tent in his pants from a certain innocent creature.

"It's your fault," he heard Leo say, and he turned to see him.

"Excuse me?Youcame tome."

"You were clearly making eyes at me!"

"I was literally giving you my back!"

Leo's mouth opened and closed repeatedly. "W-Well, you... You have a very broad back! That's not my fault."

Jason looked at Festus and then at his owner. "Just go jerk off while I finish making your coffee."

Leo gave him a smug smile and blew him a kiss in the air before going back into the restroom, hopefully to do as asked. Jason looked back at Festus, and whispered "Your dad is very sexually repressed."

Cling-cling, cling-cling.

———————————

After Leo drank his coffee, Jason looked up from his laptop to watch him load the dishwasher. A blank document was intimidatingly staring back at him. His head was buzzing with ideas, and he knew that the only way for his mind to be at peace was by pouring them into the page. But they were vague, and foggy, and writing them down made him ashamed. What had he been thinkingwhen he decided to study Literature? Had he really thought he could make it big? There were so many writers out there much more knowledgeable on the craft, more gifted. Who was he to compete against them?

He had two options. He could either dwell on those thoughts, or look at the eye-candy a few feet away. He closed the laptop and leaned his chin on the palm of his hand. The right answer seemed like a no-brainer, truly. Procrastination at its finest.

Leo always left his uniform at work and put it on there, so he currently wore a pair of overalls with a simple green t-shirt. They weren't the same overalls he'd worn when they'd met. These were beige, those had been dark blue. He sighed. He was almost jealous of his coworkers, who would get to spend eight straight hours in his company. Or his clients, to whom he'd probably offer some winsome smiles.

Leo closed the dishwasher once done, and immediately looked at Jason. They shared savvy smiles as Leo made his way over. Jason put his laptop aside. He was laying horizontally, with his long legs covering the entire couch, but that didn't stop Leo, who rose his legs to accommodate himself underneath them and put them over his lap.

"What're you planning to do with your day?"

"Oh, nothing."

Leo narrowed his eyes. "Really? 'Cause I'd appreciate it if you went out of your own way to get me some Takis."

Jason narrowed his eyes back. "You can grab some on your way back."

Leo pouted. "Please?"

Jason looked at him, taking in his handsome facial structure, before sighing. "Yeah, sure."

Leo grinned and rose his legs again to scoot a little closer, enough to touch his face if he stretched his arm. Jason tucked his knees in, and Leo leaned to kiss one through the cozy fabric before laying his chin on top of it. "No, but really. Something's up, I can tell. Is your anxiety acting up?"

Jason bit the inside of his cheek. Sometimes, when he really missed her, he'd watch one of the movies where his mom appeared. In most recognized films, she was an extra. He could see her for a second or two, without saying any lines. On a few B-listed ones, she took on the paper of the cashier that rang up the main character at the convenience store or a war nurse that dedicated a flirty smile to the wounded soldiers. But on the lower-budget ones, filmed by amateur directors, she actually partook in more essential roles. When he saw her in those, he'd be starstruck. He didn't see his mother in the woman on the screen despite having her same face. He'd see someone else with a whole different personality, different ambitions, different backstory. Her talent spoke for itself. He couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't acquired that same aptitude to easily hide how he felt when he wanted to.

Leo had begun to caress his legs soothingly when he gave in. "I have this idea," he said hesitantly. "For a book."

He started picking at the dead skin of his dried lips with his teeth, a habit he'd come to do when he was feeling insecure about something. He hated how his lips hurt after he did it, but it was a tic that calmed him down in the moment.

Leo was looking at him with bright eyes. "That's amazing. Why do you say it like it's a bad thing?"

Jason closed his eyes. "Because it's driving me crazy, practically begging me to write it down and elaborate on it, but when I do it doesn't come out right. I feel like I overestimated myself when I chose what to do for the rest of my life."

His breathing was turning shallower, he could feel it, one of the symptoms that warned him of an incoming panic attack. He hardly had those these days, but they came out when he faced obstacles he'd let aside for some time. He hadn't written anything since graduation out of fear, and now that he was, all these feelings he'd been avoiding were resurfacing.

Some people had low self-esteem when it came to looks. Jason's was on his performance. He didn't believe he had any good to offer, despite hearing over and over from other people that he did. In his eyes, people were blind when it came to him.

Suddenly, he felt something sharp. He jumped a bit as he opened his eyes, taking in a Leo with his mouth around his knee.

"Did you justbiteme?"

Leo set aside his hazardous teeth from his knee and propped his chin on it again. "Had to grab your attention somehow."

His behavior had been so random, Jason had to let out a laugh. "And you thought the best way to do so was by turning into a vampire?"

"It worked, didn't it?"

Jason stretched a hand to push back his curls, but stopped halfway. He silently asked Leo if he could proceed, and only when Leo gave him a little nod, did he caress them. He watched as his eyes turned hooded under his touch, and smiled. Leo hardly had to do anything to bring a smile to his face.

"I think you're being too strict with yourself," Leo said in a low voice. "All this time, you've been learning about words in theory, coming from other people. The Greats. You'rejuststarting to find your own narrative. I bet many of the greats' most recognized works weren't their first. They had their own periods of trials and errors before finding their own voices, but they finally did. And so will you."

Jason shook his head. "I think you're putting too much faith on me."

Leo caressed the back of his thigh. "And I think you're underestimating yourself."

What annoyed him the most wasn't that Leo was looking at him like he believed him to be some kind of future remunerated author. It was that, deep down, he knew he wasn't as trashy as he claimed. Yet, that little negative voice kept succeeding at getting itself heard above all else. What if you fail? What if you pour your all for nothing? You don't have talent; you never really did. You're faking it.

He took a sharp intake of breath before retrieving his hand from Leo's hair, and posed a smile that he hoped seemed convincingly genuine to Leo's scrutinizing eyes. "You should get going, Repair Boy, or you'll be late."

Leo smirked. "One of the many perks of being the business owner's only son is that I have flexibility."

"Yeah, but don't push it either."

He expected Leo to stand up after that, but he didn't do so immediately. He eyed Jason, as if testing him.

"I wish you could see yourself the way I see you," Leo whispered, the playful expression he constantly wore, gone. "There's no one I would bide more for."

Jason leaned to peck his lips. "But no pressure."

"Your pseudonym could be Superman Grace."

Jason gently pushed his face away. "Get out of here."

Leo grinned and gave him another kiss, a longer one that took his breath away, before removing himself from the tangle of legs. "Don't forget my Takis. If not..."

"You'll give me a wedgie, I know," Jason smiled. "Bye."

Leo winked at him as he opened the door. Suddenly, Jason was left on his own. And with Festus, who rested in a little bed they kept for him in the living room. He missed him as soon as he'd left. After a few seconds staring at nothing, his cellphone alerted him with a notification. He picked it up and unblocked the screen. It was a message.

All Da Dudes Luv Leo
You've got this. Just write <3

Thoughts were like a snowball, he realized. The more you thought of something, the scarier you made it. He needed to stop rolling the ball.

«Just write» translated to action over inertia. Doing something about it instead of keeping things the same. If he wanted his situation to change, something had to change first.

A sudden rush went through his veins. A dose of dopamine, a hint of inspiration, a push. As badly or not as it comes out, just write. That's all you have to do.

He grabbed his laptop again before he could change his mind, opened it, and glared back at the blinking cursor. He took a deep breath, and he wrote.

«Half god, half man, the boy had been born just to be given away.

Stripped from his mother, forsaken by his father, and raised by the she-wolf, he struggled fiercely for survival.

Brought to the world to become a soldier, a stranger to himself when not wearing his uniform.

Made for one reason only: to fulfill a prophecy he'd have to remain faithful to till his last breath.

Fated to live a hero's life, and therefore, die a hero's death.»

The Roommate Arrangement (Valgrace) - Chapter 12 - SevenKookies - Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2024)

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