You Saved Me

He looked at my arm, sucking in his lips, obviously holding back an outburst of emotion. He cleared his throat, trying to look business-like, maybe? Honestly, I didn't know.

"Uhm..." he looked up at me, "...why exactly did you tattoo my name on your arm?" he asked, and I couldn't hold back my grin.

"Well, that story starts the day you first came over for taco night," I said, leaning into his ear, grazing my teeth over his earlobe. "The night I took your virginity." I saw him shiver before he turned onto his side so that he could face me. It felt a little cruel to tease him again.

He stared at me, eyes turning a shade darker, which made the swirling emotions within them even more confusing. I really couldn't peg down what he was feeling. Somehow, the only thing I could read in them was that he wanted me to continue.

"You changed me for the better that day, Jase." He frowned.

"What do you mean?" He reached a hand around onto my back, trailing up and down my spine. It felt extremely good.

"Okay, so I wasn't in the best place after the whole prostitution thing," I started.

"Understandable," he nodded back.

"It was like I had lost any interest in life." He studied me carefully with those baby blues, still caressing my back. "I was pretty much void of any emotion. I was cold-hearted. I lost all hope that I would ever find love, happiness, because somehow, at that point, I didn't think it even existed.

I looked at all my clients. Most of them were cheating on their significant others. I looked at my parents. They supposedly loved each other once, but they could hardly get together to discuss where I spend my holidays civilly." He reached up to cup my cheek, pulling...no, guiding me closer as he turned onto his back. I went to rest on his chest, my crossed arms supporting my chin.

"I was an empty shell. I did whatever needed to be done," I shrugged. "When I was hungry, I'd eat, when I was tired, I'd sleep, when I was horny or bored, I'd fuck." I felt slightly ashamed at the thought that I actually manipulated people, their feelings, for my own entertainment.

"I'm afraid that if you had gotten to know me while I was still working for Gabe, you'd hate me," I whispered, the what-if forming in my mind. What if I was still working for Gabe when Jason and I hooked up? Would I have done it? Or would I have sent him packing when I found out he was a virgin? Would I have steeled myself against all emotions because I'd have to be ready to fuck someone else the next day?

"And then you came over for taco night, and you actually cared about me." I smiled at the fond memory, as did Jason. "To be honest, when I kissed you, it was purely for selfish reasons. I was going to fuck you into the mattress." I saw his eyes dilate slightly at the image. "Not because I saw the potential for something more, but because I simply wanted a fuck, simply because I was hard and wanted release." I leaned in closer so that our noses were almost brushing against each other.

"I honestly just wanted to fuck you so hard that you couldn't walk straight for a week. I wanted to make you forget your own name," I whispered, and his breath hitched slightly. Then I pulled back, chin resting on my arms again. He groaned. Okay, so I wasn't completely done torture- I mean, teasing him yet.

"Then I found out you were a virgin," I shrugged again. "Normally, that's where I would've said goodbye, because taking someone's virginity usually leads to emotional attachment, and I didn't want that. Like I said, I was an emotionless shell." He chuckled slightly at that.

"So why didn't you say goodbye that night?" he asked as he started running his fingers through my hair.

"I still don't know why I didn't say goodbye," I said, thinking back to try and sort out what I was feeling back then. I was a little shocked that this was the first time I've actually thought about it. I guess I've been caught up by my blonde Superman all this time.

"All I know is that when I looked at you, pulling into yourself, almost like you were ashamed of being a virgin; like you didn't think you were good enough for me when in reality you were so much better than I deserved. That look on your face, it was the sledgehammer that broke through my walls, and I found myself feel something. I didn't want you to leave. You spent the night," I chuckled dryly as my mind entertained a thought.

"Did you know that I've never let anyone spend the night, actually sleep in my bed? That is, before you."

"No..." he whispered, a blush creeping into his cheeks, "...I didn't."

"Well, I haven't. I usually just sent them on their merry way. But when I looked at you, all angelic and exhausted. I couldn't do it. I wanted you there, wanted to cuddle up with you, share my bed." I leaned up to give him a little peck, then another one and a third one, because good things always come in threes, right?

"I didn't get much sleep that night," I confessed. "I held you in my arms, thinking I don't want to say goodbye." The blush was back in full force. "Morning came, and I still didn't want to, and all I wanted to do was kiss you..." I pecked him again, "...and then we spent the day together, and I found myself thinking that it wouldn't be the worst thing to have more days like that."

"I found myself actually wanting to have more days like that...with you... regularly. I found myself wanting a relationship, but I didn't know how to do it. You know, have the relationship talk. Then you left, and I wasn't brave enough to tell you what I wanted, because what if that's not what you wanted."

"I went pretty much crazy that Sunday, and even Monday morning. I woke up in the hospital, thinking I've lost my final chance at happiness, but then you told me you were interested, that you shared my same fears. You were a dork about it, though." He shoved at me, playfully, and we both started laughing.

"That's how you saved me, Jase," I concluded, looking into his eyes with nothing but love. He sucked in his lips again. I could also see the wheels in his head turning, though. He was very deep in thought. "You okay?" I asked with a smile.

"Never better," he said, pulling me in for a kiss. It was sweet and caring, full of love and promise. "You just gave me a lot to think about," he said, placing a hand on my cheek. I felt my own cheeks heat up under his touch.

"So, what are you thinking about?" I asked, and he shrugged.

"Well, for starters, I think it might be time I told my father I'm gay." My jaw plopped open...very loudly. It was kind of embarrassing. I couldn't deny that I've been dreaming of it some time.

I mean, we haven't even been on like a real date, in public. Our nights pretty much consisted of dinner in each other's flats. If we felt adventurous, we would go to secret little places like the roof.

"You sure?" I asked. Even though I had wanted him to do it for so long, I also knew why he didn't want to do it. He nodded. "What if he cuts you off, disowns you?"

"Well, he's already given me the money for this year," he shrugged. "And next year I could apply for a football scholarship, get a job to earn some extra spending money." I smiled at him. He was always so logical. Some part of me was thrilled, picturing him at the kitchen table in our future home, trying to talk to me about our taxes even though he knows I'm pretty much useless...was it too soon to think about that?

Honestly, I knew he was it, though. He was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I didn't want anyone else. In fact, if he asked me to marry him in that very moment, I would have probably been dragging him to a chapel first thing in the morning.

"I even have my own apartment to live in on breaks. It's on 320 East 42nd Street, Woodstock Tower." My jaw once again plopped open. Jason chuckled. "Not gonna lie to you, Perce. My father's been very generous over the past years. I have enough in savings to live until I'm done with my studies. If need be, I could always sell my car, which Thalia is bringing back to campus at the end of the break."

"You have your own fucking apartment?" I nearly screamed, and Jason smiled at me shyly. Somehow, that same part of me that would marry this man tomorrow started entertaining a thought. What if that turned into our apartment...I shook my head to clear it.

"Yeah..." he started full on blushing again, "...so I'm really not in the worst position to actually come out to my father." I just continued staring at the man.

How the fuck did he have his life so organised, so fucking sorted when I was struggling just to make tuition payments? Or I would have been if my father didn't become my swim coach. I took a look around the room. How could he have said he loved this? He was used to so much better...to something I'll never be able to provide.

"What's wrong?" he asked, reading my sombre expression.

"I just realised that you really were, are way too good for me," I whispered. Next thing I knew, Jason's hand was on my chin, pulling my gaze back to his.

"I don't want to hear you say that ever again, you hear me?" he asked with a solemn expression. My eyes went a little wide, and I nodded once. He sighed. "Yes, I grew up in luxury, Percy, but do you know what I never had?" he asked as his eyes started to glisten. I couldn't have said a word if I wanted to.

"A home. I came back to an ice-cold mansion every day. We never had a family meal. I basically saw Thalia as my mother, until she too, pulled away, made her own friends.

The only football games my dad ever came to watch was when we played Half-Blood High, and then he would ask me why I didn't play better than you." The hurt was evident in voice.

"You might not have grown up with much money, but you have a father and mother who love you, you have warmth, love and a family. You have a home, Percy, and that makes you richer than I ever was."

"Well, I'm always willing to share," I said, leaning closer to kiss his tears away.

"Me too. Everything I have is yours," Jason said, suddenly coming to life again. "Which brings me to the second thing I thought about."

"Which is?" I asked with a smile.

"Move in with me." My jaw popped open for the third time that day. I swear I got locked jaw for a whole different reason than usual.

"What the actual fuck?" I squeaked. Not very manly, I know, but I believe it was a suitable response.

"Hear me out," he said, still very enthusiastic. "I have an apartment, fully paid off. Only payment needed is utilities. It's even fully furnished with free wifi." I raised an eyebrow at him. "The wifi is included in the maintenance package," he shrugged, and my head started to mill around all the possibilities. That little part of me that had fantasised about precisely this was doing backflips and screaming at me to say yes.

"I'm gonna have to talk to parents first, Jase," I said, biting my lip to stop myself from saying 'fuck it, I'll move in with you'.

"I know," he said, his spirit not dampened at all. "But think about it. Both of us are going to be away at college most of the time. The only difference is that when we go home for breaks, we go home together..." he took my hand in his, "...our home." He looked up at me again.

"You're my family now, Percy." And with that, I found myself smiling like an idiot.