Disclaimer: Characters belong to Rick Riordan, music lyrics belong to Kylie Minogue. I own nothing but the story.

A/N: Coffee shop AU one shot.

ALL THE LOVERS

«All the lovers that have gone before, they don't compare to you. Don't be frightened, just give me a little bit more.»

I.

The first time Jason noticed the new barista, the boy was trying to throw little paper balls into a bowl three feet away from him.

Jason had tried hard not to stare, but his mind was overwhelmed with laws, trials and the history of court; any kind of distraction was well received.

He didn't quite recognize the boy.

Jason was a frequent customer of that coffee shop: the coffee was exquisite, it was 5 minutes away from Columbia Law School and 2 minutes away from his apartment. He was in that coffee shop at least 4 days a week with a ton of books spread over the table and his laptop in front of him as he wrote endless papers and essays. He knew the whole staff by name and the black haired boy was definitely not one of them. Was he a new hire?

The boy kept playing for at least five minutes before getting tired of his terrible aim. When he lifted his gaze, he discovered Jason staring and smiled at him.

Jason looked away immediately and tried not to look too flustered.

Stalker much?, he thought as he focused on his laptop.

II.

For a whole week, the black haired boy had his shift while Jason had his after school studying sessions. After that first and horrible encounter, Jason tried his best not to look at him, but every time their eyes met, Jason flustered and tried really hard to look busy pressing random letters on his keyboard.

He even tried to refill his coffee mug when the boy was in the back kitchen. He waited until Frank or Hazel were in front of the registry to get up, smile at them, make small conversation and run back to his seat before the new boy came out again.

His plan had worked for almost a week. Until one day, it didn't.

Frank was taking a girl's coffee order as he pressed different areas of the touch screen and smiled candidly. When he was done, Jason stepped forward.

"Hi, Jason! Time for a refill?", he asked politely, but before Jason could answer, a loud thump emerged from the back of the kitchen and Frank's eyes shot wide open. "Shoot", he muttered as he turned to look at the new boy standing under the door frame.

"Uh, Frank… Hazel needs you", he said in a hurried tone.

Frank rushed to the kitchen, patting the guy's shoulder as he walked past him. "Take his order, please", he said, nodding towards Jason.

Jason really thought about getting back to his seat coffee-less (who really needed coffee? Not him!). But before he could retrace his steps, the new boy was in front of him, smiling widely. "Oh hey!", he said. "What can I get you?", he asked as if they'd known each other for ages.

Jason cleared his throat and offered him his mug. "Just black coffee, please."

Up close, Jason noticed the guy's eyes were a bright shade of green. He had shaggy black hair that fell recklessly over his forehead and brushed the top of his ears (and Jason felt an urge to touch it and discover if it was as soft as it looked).

He frowned at his own thoughts and tapped his feet on the ground as the boy entered the command on the registry screen. "Perfect, one black coffee coming right up! What's your name?", he asked, lifting his gaze to find Jason's eyes.

"Uh-, Jason", he muttered.

The boy giggled. "Great, uh-Jason, that'd be two dollars and twenty five cents."

III.

A week before his mid-term, Jason discovered the boy's name was Percy. (Puhr-see, which he assumed was short for Perseus but didn't dare ask).

Percy had taken over the registry almost every afternoon during that week and every time Jason got up for a refill, Percy guessed his order and offered to bring it to his table.

There weren't many other customers, since most of them spent their day in the library studying for the upcoming exams. Jason figured the lack of customers had to be the reason for Percy's kindness.

(But a shiver went through his spine and exploded in a different set of emotions as Percy smiled at him, delivered his coffee and lingered there a couple of seconds).

IV.

The day after his mid-term, Jason decided to indulge himself. He hadn't received his grades yet but he was fairly confident of his performance.

When he walked to the counter he decided to order a cappuccino and a big chocolate chip cookie. "Whoa! What's the occasion?", asked Percy in an amused tone as he changed his regular order.

Jason shrugged and couldn't help but smile. "I think I passed my mid-term."

"That's awesome! Now I'll know who to call if I ever need a lawyer", he said with a candid smile, serving him the cappuccino and a big cookie on the side. Jason reached for his wallet but Percy lifted his hand and smiled. "This one's on me, congrats on the test, Jason."

Jason tried really hard to pay for his order, but after a minute of bickering, he said thank you and smiled at Percy. As he walked back to his table, he noticed he had never actually told the boy he studied law.

Jason smiled as he looked at the books displayed on the table. Someone was paying attention.

V.

Jason started noticing random facts about Percy.

It's not that he was a stalker because he wasn't (he wasn't!). He just had a lot of free time in the coffee shop as he procrastinated his papers and Percy always seemed to be around.

Even when Jason didn't want to look at him, his gaze kept wandering back to his green eyes and his rebellious black hair. He noticed that he had an easy laughter that sounded on every corner of the coffee shop at least twice every hour or so. He always had a different band t-shirt below the apron and Jason recognized a few, but mostly he had no idea what kind of music they did.

He noticed he generally carried a notebook with him and that when customers were scarce, he'd sketch carefully in it as his forehead wrinkled in utter concentration.

But most importantly, he noticed how every time his green eyes wandered around the room and found Jason's, he'd smile and hold his gaze until Jason looked away.

VI.

One October day as the staff put up decorations for Halloween, Jason shut his computer with an exasperated grunt. He shuffled his face between his hands and closed his eyes.

He was tired, his eyes hurt and he was ready to quit life. No one ever told him law school would be that frustrating. He remained with his eyes closed for a little while until he heard Percy's voice next to him.

"I don't know what that laptop did to deserve your rage, but I'm sure it had it coming", he said.

Jason looked up only to find the black haired boy taping Jack-o-lanterns to the window next to him. "It's just been a hard day…", he said, looking at him as he carried on with decorations.

"Well, a bad day doesn't necessarily mean a bad life", he smiled over his shoulder. "Do you want to help me?", he asked, offering him a series of pumpkins as he gestured towards the empty windows. "I'll treat you with a cookie afterwards."

Jason smiled slightly as he got up. "Anything for a cookie."

Percy laughed as he passed him the scotch tape. "Anything?", he asked, catching his eyes.

Jason blushed furiously and didn't dare to answer.

VII.

As finals approached, Jason's stress increased. Suddenly, five hours in the coffee shop turned to six… then to seven. Until one day he lifted his eyes and noticed the only customer left was him and Frank was shooting him evil eyes from behind the counter.

"Oh, I'm sorry!", he said, saving his work and immediately closing his laptop. "Were you waiting for me to close?"

"Yes", admitted Frank, shrugging. "But it's okay, if you need to finish something…"

Hazel looked at the barista as if he had lost his mind but didn't say a thing. Jason looked at his watch and cursed under his breath. Of course they were waiting for him, it was almost 11pm.

"Guys, I'm so sorry, I lost track of time", he promptly picked up his books and walked to the tip jar, leaving a 20 dollar bill with an apologetic smile as he exited the coffee shop and walked home.

Sadly, he didn't learn his lesson.

The next day he started to write his final paper for International Law while he ate a cookie and the next thing he knew, it was dark outside and he felt a hand touching his shoulder gently. When he looked up, Frank was smiling politely. "Sorry, Jason, but we're closing soon."

"Oh…", he said, looking at his laptop screen. He was so close to finishing, he was only lacking a paragraph and some editing. If he had 30 more minutes, he could definitely leave that matter closed. "I-", he started to say, biting his bottom lip. "Could I stay just another half hour?"

Frank opened his mouth to speak and Jason could foresee the absolutely not response. However, before the words came out of his throat, he heard Percy speak from behind the counter. "Let him stay", he said, looking at Frank. "It's my turn to clean up before closing, so he can stay while I finish."

Frank twitched and started to shake his head. "The thing is I already closed the registry, you couldn't order anything else…"

"I won't, I promise!", Jason said promptly. "I just really need to finish this paper, Frank, please", he pleaded.

"Fine", he sighed and walked back to the counter to speak to Percy. Jason just hoped he wasn't in trouble.

He went back to his work and waved goodbye to Frank and Hazel as they left the place holding hands. Were they dating? That was an odd combination…

Jason didn't give it much thought as he wrote the finishing lines of his essay and started to read it from the top. As he edited he heard Percy hum a Hozier song as he mopped the floor. When he passed next to his table, he stopped humming and Jason lifted his feet without looking away from the computer. Twenty minutes later, he saved his work and lifted his arms in the air. "All done!", he yelled at an empty cafeteria.

"Good!", said Percy, jumping down from the counter. "I finished like ten minutes ago", he laughed. "But you were in the zone, I couldn't possibly interrupt."

Jason flustered and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm so sorry. I've just gotten so used to working here, whenever I try to be productive in my apartment I fail miserably."

"Don't worry about it", said Percy with a genuine smile as he took off the apron and revealed an Arctic Monkeys t-shirt. "I don't mind waiting", he said as Jason finished picking up his books. He walked to the tip jar and tried to put in a twenty when he heard Percy's voice. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's that for?", he asked, grabbing his arm. Jason felt a bolt of electricity cross his body, but didn't dare to move.

"Uh, just a tip… as a thank you for going through so much trouble."

"Yeah, but that was all me, I'm not sharing my tip with Frank and Hazel", he said, laughing under his breath. "Come on, you can get me a taco and a coke with that money". He finally let go of his arm and Jason immediately craved the contact. He stood there with a hand on the jar of tips and the other one holding a twenty dollar bill. "So? Are you coming?", asked Percy with a hand on the door.

VIII.

It took them five minutes to arrive at a taco truck by Riverside Park and five minutes more to find a bench where they sat looking at the Hudson, each of them with a taco and a soda can.

In those first ten minutes, Percy asked Jason about his paper and what started like an easy explanation of international law turned into a rant about way too many laws that no country fully abided. Jason then explained it was his least favorite subject and that he wanted to become involved in human rights, to fight the good fight. Percy looked at him amusingly and didn't say a thing until Jason finished speaking.

Then Jason asked about him and Percy explained he was studying marine biology and all those sketches he did in the coffee shop were mostly whales, fish and sharks because he learned better when he could see things, rather than read about them. Jason did a little joke about Percy painting him like one of his french fish and the black haired boy laughed before saying he wouldn't mind sketching him if Jason wanted to. Jason blushed furiously and muttered something like "good to know" before ordering their tacos.

As they ate, the conversation deviated towards their families. Percy explained he didn't need to work at the coffee shop, but he had just become an older brother and wanted to chip in with the countless expenses around the house. Percy talked highly of his mom and his baby sister and Jason felt wondered as his green eyes sparkled with love and adoration. He took his time to notice other things. Like the way his nose wrinkled whenever he was speaking of something he didn't like or how he threw his head back when he laughed. He noticed his Adam's apple dancing in his throat as he ate and his long dark eyelashes casting shadows over his cheekbones.

He felt so mesmerized, he almost forgot to eat.

"Aren't you hungry?", asked Percy, gesturing to his mostly uneaten taco.

Jason blinked and looked down, shrugging. "I had a big cookie at the coffee shop-", he started to say.

Percy laughed and gestured toward Jason's taco, brushing his hand with the tip of his fingers. "Here, let me help you with that", he said, giving a big bite as he turned on the bench to look at him. "So… what about you? What's your family like?"

Jason took a sip of his soda and laughed bitterly. "Well, how much time do you have?", he asked blatantly, meeting Percy's eyes.

Percy smiled slowly. "All night."

Jason broke eye contact as he smiled and looked at the river. It took him a minute to regain composure before starting to speak. He was planning to keep the conversation light, he started to tell him about his older sister Thalia and how she was his best friend. (Which was perfect because she was actually dating Jason's best friend from high school). He told him how different he and Thalia were; she was a professional soccer player training for Olympics, someone that chose her own path in life, while he had accepted his father's wishes and pursued a career in law because that's what all the Grace men do.

Somehow the conversation deviated to his father and how little interest he placed in his children. His mother was even worse. As a trophy wife from the suburbs she literally cared for her children once a month when she called them to attend a fundraiser or a charity event. And what they lacked in parental love they compensated with reckless expenses like a two bedroom apartment for Jason next to Columbia Law School and countless travels around the world.

Jason's expression turned grim as he finished speaking and he turned to look at Percy, who hadn't stopped looking at him. The green-eyed boy smiled candidly. "Well, parents are messed up", he confessed. "All we can do is be better versions of them."

Jason looked down with a little smile and shrugged. "That much is true."

Percy took a sip of his soda and sighed deeply. "I feel like I need a cigarette. Do you mind if I smoke?", he asked, already fumbling his jacket pockets as he looked for the box and the lighter.

"Go ahead", said Jason. He wasn't much of a smoker, he'd take one or two at parties or when there was alcohol involved, but rather than that he wasn't one to carry a box of cigarettes around. However, as he saw Percy ignite the tip of his cigarette, he wrinkled his nose and couldn't help but ask: "Can I have one?"

"Sure", said Percy, offering him the open box of cigarettes. Jason grabbed one with the tip of his fingers, smiling at the boy when he lit it up.

"Thank you", he said as a comfortable silence established between them.

After a minute, Percy exhaled a long column of smoke and said: "I didn't take you as the smoking kind."

"I'm not", confessed Jason. "I'll smoke maybe once or twice a month. Not really a fan."

"I love social smokers", said Percy with a grin. "They always say they don't smoke but end up finishing half your box before you notice."

Jason laughed and pushed his shoulder. "I just bought you tacos, I think you can spare a cigarette on me."

"That's a big assumption", he replied, turning to exhale as their smoke combined in the space between them.

Jason's eyes danced along Percy's face and none of them said a thing. Jason felt in such peace, he was afraid to break it with conversation. He took a new puff of his cigarette and exhaled slowly, noticing the smoke surrounding Percy's face. The green-eyed boy smiled with pursed lips and lifted his eyebrows.

"You know what they say… if you throw your smoke at someone's face that means you want to kiss them."

Jason almost choke with his own smoke. "Who says that?", he asked in a small voice.

"Everyone", replied Percy with a little smile still dancing on his lips. He brought his own cigarette back to his mouth, took a big puff and locked eyes with Jason as he exhaled the smoke on his face. Jason inhaled the scent of tobacco and mint, feeling his heart pound furiously against his chest as he smiled, unable to look away.

In a rush of courage he would later question, he took a new puff without breaking eye contact. He held it in his lungs for a little while, exhaling slowly through his parted lips, letting the smoke caress Percy's face in a soft and lingering motion. He hadn't noticed when the distance between them had shortened, but now he was only inches away from the boy and he wanted nothing more than to be closer.

Percy smiled as he inched closer and Jason stood still, tilting his head a bit to the side. At that point he could feel Percy's breath combine with his and for a moment nothing really mattered. He wanted to be kissed by him so badly, it was the only coherent thought bouncing around his mind.

Percy's green eyes closed slightly as their noses brushed and time stopped for Jason. He closed the existing distance between them and felt his lips caress Percy's as his eyes closed automatically. Percy kissed him softly, their lips brushing in a silent dance as his nose touched his cheek and Jason melted into the kiss.

There was nothing rushed about the encounter. Percy took his time to tease him as his fingers caressed the top of his knee and his teeth brushed his bottom lip. Jason tilted his head to gain depth and when their tongues touched, a rush of energy bolted through his body and exploded in his heart. He hadn't noticed he was containing his breath until they broke the kiss and he sighed deeply, feeling oxygen fill his lungs. He looked at a smiling Percy and he felt a shiver through his spine.

He blushed and smiled towards the river, placing a hand on each side of his legs as he tried to regain focus. When he looked back at Percy, he was still smiling. "Can I walk you home?", he asked and Jason nodded trying to contain his own smile.

XIX.

"How did you know you liked girls?", asked Jason on the phone as he stared at the ceiling of his room.

"Jason, I love you and I appreciate you caring about my relationship with Reyna, but this doesn't seem like a 2am conversation and I was sleeping", Thalia replied at the other side of the line.

"I think I like a boy."

"Okay, this does seem like a 2am conversation", said his sister as Jason heard her fumble in her bed and sit up. "Tell me everything."

And he did. He told her about the night he'd spent with Percy, how they kissed by the river and joked on the way back to his apartment. He told her how Percy stopped him twice to kiss him against a wall and in the middle of a park just for the fun of it. He told her how they lingered in a long and sweet kiss at the bottom of the stairs before Jason went up to his apartment.

"Had you ever felt this way about a boy before?", she asked, her voice still rusty from sleep.

"No."

"What's different about him?"

"He's just… magnetic", he confessed.

Thalia laughed loudly. "You're so screwed."

X.

Jason deliberately ignored Percy the next day.

He had a paper on the History of Civil Law and the first hour in the coffee shop he had written nonsense because he was too busy sharing long stares with the green-eyed boy at the back of the counter. He decided to concentrate on the task ahead of him and had finally written a paragraph down when a cookie appeared in front of him.

When he looked up, Percy smiled and shrugged. "You looked like you could use a cookie."

Jason suppressed a smile and laughed under his breath. "Are you trying to distract me from work?"

"Yes", replied Percy with a huge grin as he left a small note beside the cookie. He then rushed behind the counter to take a girl's order and Jason's eyes lingered on him as he walked away. When he picked up the note there was a drawing of him with a fish body, a red beret and a conversation bubble that read: draw me like one of your french fish. Jason laughed loudly and noticed the eight digits under the drawing.

He promptly took his phone and added the number, texting him: "You're an amazing artist."

After a minute, his phone buzzed with a reply. "Well, I have a great muse."

Jason blushed and didn't dare to look up, focusing again on his paper. He had barely written a coherent sentence when he received a new text. "Can I walk you home tonight?"

He looked up from his phone and found Percy glancing at him from the back of the counter. A slow smile curved his lips and he nodded.

He wasn't sure if he liked boys but he was sure he liked him.

I hope you enjoyed this little one shot to celebrate Jason day! It's July 1st, so happy birthday to our darling Roman.

Legend says if you leave a review, you'll find a cute Percy-looking-like barista in your next coffee shop visit :)