hellooo!! so as i've promised, here i am being insufferable in your inbox about ethan x jason x percy (perjasethan? jercethan? idk what's the better ship name lol).
here is an ask i answered abt how they'd be in canon. and here's a royalty au (just tw for age gap cos idk if you're cool with it :3) that i had with one of my enablers friends (if you see this, hi pip XD).
anywaaayyyy, i hope you enjoy it ^^
Yes! Yes! Yes! Join the Jercethan/Perjasethan Train!
I love these headcanons and they must be shared and read by others. Jercethan is probably the most fandom adoptable as a ship name.
Stolen from This Post (where I added more plot ideas in the comments)
>>i'm thinking of ethan who lived (and was grieving luke) after tlo, staying at chb, only to make sure percy jackson fulfills luke's last wish ofc.
he's never quite resolved that tension with percy, but then one day this not-friend of his disappears and is replaced with someone who looks like luke.
jason and ethan go sparring and talk and nothing weird happens wdym haha XD <<
If anybody has more Jercethan ideas to share, do it! Reblog this post or any of the ones linked above and/or chatter about them in any of the comment threads.
i’ve decided to try and pressure myself into finishing this by posting the first half right now. send help.
pairing: ethan/jason/percy
previous part in a separate post bc apparently tumblr hides everything with links in it and i am not in the mood for that kinda bullshittery
After his outburst, Ethan’s done a pretty good job ignoring the existence of the pretty downstairs neighbour and said guy’s equally unfairly attractive boyfriend. Maybe it’s ridiculous to sleep on the couch and to wait and hear if there’s someone else in the hallway before he leaves and comes back to his flat – but for Ethan it’s working… somewhat.
It doesn’t help with the lingering embarrassment of having admitted to listening to them get it on for weeks, nor does it help with the persistent little crush that Ethan has been fighting since long before his outburst. He doesn’t exactly sleep any better on his ratty couch than he would be listening to the creaking from below in his actual bed, and maybe his thoughts get caught up in unwarranted images every now and again, but he’s trying.
Trying, as it turns out, is not enough. With bills due again, Ethan’s picked up extra shifts at the take-out place by his school and by the time it’s Friday and he’s certain that he won’t be short on funds, he feels like he’s been thrown off the empire state building. Every bone in his body aches in a different way and he’s too tired to think about much more than crashing on his couch and not moving for the entirety of the upcoming weekend.
It’s the only reason he doesn’t stop to wonder about the laughter in the hallway, doesn’t consider who he risks running into before he rounds the last set of stairs to his flat anf comes face to face with the pretty guy he’s been trying his best to avoid.
“Oh.” The guy says, and then he’s stepping down the last stair between him and where Ethan is still standing on the ledge. It’s far too close for Ethan’s comfort, but taking a step back feels rude and Ethan really doesn't have to make it any worse than it already is.
“I haven’t seen you in a while.” The guy says, which does not explain what he’s doing on Ethan’s floor. “I almost thought you left…”
The guy’s face is caught somewhere between shy and expecting – like he’s waiting for Ethan to realise something that is clearly out of Ethan’s grasp. The words are perfectly innocent though, as if the last time they spoke Ethan hasn’t told the guy off for the creaky old bedframe he owns. Ethan blinks twice, cocks his head to the side and only barely stops himself from scowling.
“I … work?” He says, because apparently this is now a conversation they are having. He still hasn't figured out what the guy’s doing here, although the simplest explanation that unlike Ethan, he’s not a hermit and knows some of the other people living in the house is probably as good a guess as any. “I’m not leaving.”
“Good.” The guy says quietly after a moment of silence and Ethan contemplates just fleeing. All he wants is to crash on his couch, but this awkwardness now is almost enough to make him consider turning around and leaving again anyway. There clearly is something he is missing, but Ethan can’t put his finger on it. “I… uh. I guess I’ll you get some rest then?”
Ethan closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. There’s a headache building right behind his eyes, his back aches and he feels the fatigue all the way down to his bones. There’s only so much he’s willing to deal with today, and when he realises he must look really annoyed, he drops his hand and opts for a tired smile.
“Thanks, I’ll try.” He whispers and it sounds a whole lot more defeated than he meant it to sound.
The guy’s looking at him with what might pass as concern put probably is nothing of the sort. Ethan shakes his head and decides that he’s had enough: he pushes past the guy with a quietly mumbled apology and entirely ignores the Sleep well! that’s shouted after him.
By the coming morning, Ethan’s hardly feeling any better than before. There is for once no place he has to be, which means there really isn’t any reason to rise up from his couch and get himself ready for the day even as his stomach starts complaining quietly and sleep becomes a distant thing.
He’s comfortable and tired and not willing to put up with the world just yet, though, so drifting in and out of fitful dreams seems like the better option than doing anything productive with his day off even as a few more minutes turn into a lot more minutes turn into well over an hour. Ethan used to enjoy long lazy mornings, but he doesn't really find himself enjoying this and deep down, Ethan knows this more than just needing a lay-in that's keeping him anchored to the couch.
It’s not until his doorbell rings, followed by a knock right there on the door to his flat, that Ethan realises he has to force himself off the couch at some point. With a long-suffering, and maybe slightly dramatic groan, Ethan lifts himself from the couch and out from under his covers. His tank top hangs loose on his frame, the sweatpants just about holding where they sit on his hips and his hair must stand up in every direction, but all he does to smooth it down is run his fingers through it once. He grabs his glasses from the table, big and ugly, and drags his feet over to the door looking as much of a mess as he feels today.
Looking back, he should have checked who was waiting on the other side before opening his door looking barely better than a freshly dug up corpse. The pretty guy from the flat below is there, looking sheepish of all things, a small tupperware box in his hands.
“I didn't know you wore glasses.” The guy says, rather than a greeting, and the shy, uncertain smile on his face is making Ethan feel weak. “They’re cute.”
“Thanks.” Ethan manages, and then, because he hasn't interacted with anyone he’s been attracted to since 1936: “I need them to see.”
The guy laughs, though, like it was really a funny joke rather than Ethan being too awkward to hold a conversation. This might feel like it, and Ethan might be feeling his face heat up, but it sure isn't flirting. The guy’s got a boyfriend and Ethan needs to get a grip.
Before he can save himself from his own words, though, the guy raises the box in his hands toward Ethan.
“I was baking last evening and… you looked real bad when you got home, so I thought you might need a lil’ pick me up?”
Ethan looks down at the box, blinks, and looks back up at the guy. Is it somehow normal to offer strangers treats now and Ethan’s just the only one out of the loop or is there something else going on that he’s missing?
“A nice way to tell me I look like shit.” He mumbles, and his stomach choses this very moment to protest. Ethan gives up, he raises the lid and looks at the contents, finding almost neon blue cookies inside. It’s not the icing, but the dough that’s dyed. He opens, then closes his mouth. What the fuck?
“Take it as an apology for ah… keeping you up?” The guy’s blushing again now, evidently not over Ethan’s outburst yet either. He’s biting his lip and Ethan’s eyes are definitely not caught by the movement. There's a flash second where Ethan wants to lean forward and steal a kiss, as if it's something he's done before, as if that's something he can do.
“I promise it really wasn’t how I meant to get your attention again.” The guy admits jokingly but the words make Ethan still. Again?
Ethan raises an eyebrow, and because he has a feeling he’s not gonna be allowed back to his hovel until he accepts the offering, he takes one of the toxic looking treats out of the box. Poisoned cookies are as good a way as any, he figures.
“My attention.” He says, rather than asks, and takes a bite from the cookie. It’s good, and Ethan’s stomach growls to remind him that he hasn’t actually eaten yet and it’s way past 12.
Under Ethan’s faux-disinterested gaze, the pretty guy blushes again. Distantly, Ethan wonders when he’s slipped into an alternate reality where this kind of thing happens to him. Why on earth would someone like that want the attention of someone like him, especially given the matching captain-america-lookalike boyfriend.
“Ah… yeah?” The blush has reached the tip of the guy’s ears now, he refuses to look at Ethan. It's more embarrassed than it's shy now and Ethan is certain now there's something here he's missing, that he’s forgotten or never even realised to begin with. His hands twitch around the box and Ethan can see him trying to speak three times before actual words come out. Somehow it’s reassuring he’s not alone in his social incompetence, although it only cements the feeling of being blind to some part of this whole mess.
“I should have figured by now that you didn’t remember by now… This is stupid, I’m sorry.”
Ethan opens, then closes his mouth. The guy should have done what now? They do not know each other, Ethan is certain of that – he would remember it if he’s ever had the attention of someone like that. Sure, the guy always looked familiar, but Ethan figured that was because they attended the same university and saw each other in passing on campus sometimes. There certainly isn't anything there for Ethan to remember.
“Doesn’t matter. Sorry, this is a weird, isn’t it?” The guy sighs, rubs a hand over his face and shakes his head. He looks like a kicked puppy and Ethan has never been more confused in his life. “Forget I even said that. Jason’s told me to let it go too… Keep the cookies, yeah? I’ve got a ton more…”
The box is pushed into Ethan’s hand and he has no time to protest or ask what the fuck is going on before the guy turns around and flees down the stairs. Ethan is left standing in his open door, holding a box of homemade cookies that are bright freaking blue of all things, wondering at what point he suppressed the memory that clearly stuck with the pretty neighbour. It takes him a full minute to pull himself away from the door and turn back into his flat.
< Help. >
Ethan texts Luke, because at this point, he really doesn’t know what else to do. He’s managed to take a shower and feed himself, which is an accomplishment given how his day started. He’s allowed himself to fall back onto the couch and grab his phone from between the cushions, the box of cookies neatly resting on his stomach while he’s trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
Clearly there is no hope of him figuring this mess out by himself at this point, and while Ethan feels there is some memory just out of his reach, he isn't sure how much of that is his imagination. Ethan doesn't have that many friends to ask, but out of the few of them, Luke is the only one who might actually be able to help.
< whats up >
Luke's reply comes almost instantaneously, which might mean Ethan isn't entirely lost yet. Whereas Ethan has always been a bit of the odd one out, Luke has been the opposite. He's dangerously charismatic and more people call Luke a friend than he himself even knows. And more than that… on the rare occasions that Ethan let's himself be convinced to go to a party, Luke's there as well. And at this point, there are few other possible explanations for his lapse in memory than Ethan’s intolerance to Luke's encouragement to keep on drinking.
Part of him wants to bang his head on the wall until it bleeds. What has he come to...
< do I know him??? >
It takes a moment before Luke starts up typing. Ethan is frowning at his phone, like that’s somehow going to speed things up. There is a high chance Luke is laughing at him on the other end, but Ethan needs to know, and despite the impending ridicule Luke is still his best shot.
< wait. percy? >
Luke’s definitely laughing at him.
The name sounds eerily familiar, too, which is scarier than Ethan likes to admit. It's like an old scrape starting to itch again after the wounds long healed and even though he tries to wreck his brain for answers, whatever memory he might have buried of the guy seems just out of his reach. It makes Ethan angry more than anything else, and mostly at himself. Percy’s been waiting for fuck knows how long for the other shoe to drop and Ethan for the most part just flat out ignored him.
< idfk his name >
< do you think i wouldve asked if I knew >
Ethan has to take a slow breath, because even if it was Luke that got him drunk enough to black out, it's still mostly his own fault for not knowing his limits.
Rather than texting back, Luke calls. Ethan hesitated for a second before picking up - and like expected he's greeted by laughter from the other end.
“You're kidding.” Luke says, before Ethan even gets as much as a ‘Hi’ in. “You're shitting me - please tell me this is a prank.”
Ethan has to bite his tongue so he doesn't bite back something nasty and angry. Luke's pushing him, and probably knows it too.
“Not funny.” He grits out, because that's the best he can do without outright insulting his friend. Luke only laughs again, Ethan silently contemplates stabbing him next time they're together.
“Amazing.” Luke is wheezing, Ethan feels red hot hatred that he swallows down, knowing he's being a bit more touchy than he has any right being. “I thought you were like… fucking or something.”
Ethan makes a strangled noise, Luke snorts, and his desire to finally get a damn answer is the only thing that stops him from throwing his phone at the wall.
“We're not. He's got a boyfriend.” Ethan mumbles, admittedly sour about the fact that apparently he's had a shot at some point but lost his chance to a damn captain-america-lookalike.
To Luke's credit, he doesn't laugh this time, although Ethan can still hear entirely too much amusement in Luke's voice when he speaks.
“Do you remember Thalia’s 24th?” He asks and when Ethan pointedly doesn't answer, finally goes on with an actual answer. “You two sat out on the balcony the entire damn evening like anti social twats.”
Ethan wants to punch him. He really, really does.
“All I remember is the hangover that killed me for like 3 days after.” He grinds out, because there it is: exactly what he feared had happened.
“You took him home, too.” Luke says gleefully, like Ethan’s misery brings him joy. “At least you left together and Thalia swore she caught you making out at some point - don't really remember that myself either.”
Ethan is quiet for a moment. It’s a bit fuzzy, and not just because of the time that’s passed since the party. He does distantly remembers the hangover that seemed to last longer than a hangover has any right to, and he remembers texting Luke asking him to come and put a bullet through his skull because that’d still hurt less than the pounding headache.
Ethan also recalls getting a nasty cold the days after and Luke laughing at him for having sat outside for most of the party - but even Ethan isn’t anti-social enough to spend that long in the cold without decent company.
“Fuck.” Ethan whispers quietly, anger leaving him as fast as it had build up. There was a kiss, if not more than that, and Ethan remembers lying on his bed the next morning thinking it was a dream because who'd show interest in him of all people?
“Fuck, you’re right.”
“I know, dickhead.” Luke says, then huffs a laugh. “I’ve been wondering how you managed to live in one building that long and not get it on again.”
Ethan’s fairly sure he hasn’t actually got it on to begin with, given how drunk he must have been, but he doesn’t tell Luke as much.
“I already told you, Percy’s got a boyfriend.” He says instead, which makes Luke snort.
“Yeah, I know.” Luke replies and the grin is audible in his voice. Sometimes Ethan wonders why they're even friends. “He's dating Thalia’s baby brother.” Luke says and that stops Ethan’s pondering right in its tracks.
“You're telling me that … guy is Thalia’s skinny awkward brother?” Ethan says, finding it hard to connect the image of the Jason he knew as a kid, the image of a boy even lankier and tinier than him to this Jason.
“I know.” Luke says, drawing out the words like it's making him suffer just as much. “Doesn't really look like he did at 15 does he?”
By the time Ethan gets over himself, and through the last of the cookies, he still isn’t entirely sure what - if anything - happened after Thalia’s party and days mulling over it have only made him more uncertain rather than bringing any clarity.
Maybe it’s just because Luke’s told him, but Ethan’s mind keeps supplying him with images of sitting out on the balcony with his legs dangling out between the fencing, images of sharing cigarettes and cups of whatever Luke brought out to them every time he came for a smoke himself, allegedly to keep them warm in the cold.
Ethan thinks he remembers Percy’s laughter, and thinks he remembers leaning into him a little too heavily and he thinks he remembers the taste of stale smoke and alcohol on soft lips before they whispered an offer to ditch the party they'd hardly even joined to begin with.
How much of that he’s making up and how much of it really happened, Ethan isn’t sure. It’s been two years, and Ethan knows they haven’t even seen each other again after that – until Ethan moved into this building a few months ago that is… He doubts that's entirely on him, can't imagine that there was no way for Percy to reach out when Ethan woke up with no recollection of the previous night.
The realisation that blonde superman is Thalia’s tiny little brother Jason hits almost harder than the entire ordeal regarding Percy and their alleged night together. They used to be friends, years ago, when they were both equally awkward and unpopular and confused. There was nights that they spend awake in Jason's bedroom, Ethan on the floor and Jason hanging half off his mattress to stay close and whispering about things they were too afraid to admit to anyone else just yet. Maybe, if Jason's mother hadn't took them and moved Jason and Thalia halfway across the country, those nights would have turned into something he didn't dare even dream of then, won't dare to consider anymore now.
Ethan shakes his head, he's already too hung up about what might have been with one if the two, he really doesn't need to reignite all the regret his 16 year old self carried around when it came to Jason. They lost contact for a reason, it's not like Ethan didn't try to keep their friendship alive over e-mails and odd texts once their owned their first phones. They found new friends, new interests, and with Ethan’s fosters and Jason's mum showing no interest in ever making them meet again keeping in touch became less and less of a priority. It didn't even take them a full year to give up on each other and looking back it makes Ethan ache inside.
For all the times in his life that Ethan might have chosen the wrong path to go, this may just be the first time he can really turn things around after the fact.
Nothing's going to come out of it, Ethan doesn't even allow himself to entertain any wild thoughts about scenarios in which something could… but at the very least, Ethan wants a shot at being friends.
He isn't entirely sure about Percy, although they clearly must have gotten along well enough at Thalia’s Birthday, but Jason and he used to be so close and this is the first time in forever Ethan feels like he's got a shot at reconnecting with that old friendship. Maybe it's a long shot, Ethan doesn't know a thing about the man Jason's become since their times spent whispering secrets in the dark of night, but he knows for a fact that if he doesn't try he will not forgive himself.
Even so, its harder than Ethan made it out to be in his head when he talked himself into taking the stairs to the flat below his own this morning. Ethan has been standing in front of Percy’s door for a good ten minutes now, debating whether this is stupid after all or if there is … something salvageable in all of this mess that he'd regret not having chased.
Ethan has almost resigned himself to leaving Percy’s box outside the door with a little post-it ‘Thanks!’ taped on top and leave it at that, he’s almost decided not to dig around in things that he should definitely be over by now, when someone behind him clears their throat. Ethan almost doesn't want to turn around, but he has a good idea who's caught him in the act.
“He has a doorbell, you know.” Jason says and it almost sounds a little sheepish to Ethan’s ears.
He turns around, ready to face the ridicule, but when he comes face to face with Jason the other’s smile mirrors what Ethan suspected to have heard in his voice in the first place.
“I know.” He manages, given that denying it won't help his case at this point either. “I'm just… I feel a bit stupid?”
“Me too.” Jason says and Ethan can't entirely tell if it's just because Jason's taken pity on him. “I didn't recognise you last time.” He admits quietly and his eyes skirt down to the floor between them. At least Ethan isn't the only one who struggles to connect what they used to be to who they are now.
“Guess it's been a bit longer than I thought.”
Ethan manages a smile, if only a shaky one. This is already going much better than he allowed himself to hope for.
“Yeah, 8 years?” He agrees and finally brings himself to properly look at Jason. Luke's long suffering sigh comes back to mind, Jason looks hardly anything like his awkward 15 year old self.
“I didn't make the connection until Luke told me.” Ethan adds and then makes a vague gesture to Jason in front of him. “You've sure grown.”
Jason huffs, an amused sound that's not quite a laugh, then raises a hand to run his fingers through his hair like he's still as self conscious about his looks as he was then.
“I wanted to ask him for your number when I got here, but … I thought that might be a bit weird after all time?” Jason says instead of answering and there's a hopeful tone in Jason's voice, or at least Ethan wants there to be.
“No, it's… that's fine. It… it'd be nice to catch up?” Ethan offers and what he only imagined to have heard in Jason's voice rings true in his own.
The smile that splits Jason's face is reward enough though. Without hesitation he pulls out his phone and hands it to Ethan.
“I'll text you sometime?”
Before Ethan can reply, or punch his number into Jason's phone, the door opens behind and Percy’s voice rings through the halls.
“Sorry, I wasn't really dressed yet and…” There's a moment of silence and Ethan knows full well he should be turning around but he can absolutely not bring himself to. “Ethan?”
“Hey…” Ethan manages and it sounds so terribly insecure and awkward that he wants to kick himself. He forces himself to turn, if only slowly, and Jason steps up as Ethan does. Their shoulders brush, but Ethan doesn't know if it's meant as reassuring as it feels or just on accident. “Thanks for the cookies. They were really good.”
Percy smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“My mum’s recipe.” He says and takes the box when Ethan offers it. He almost looks ready to close the door again, despite Jason still being right outside with Ethan and Ethan knows it’s gonna haunt him if he doesn’t speak up now.
“I remember.” He blurts out and his heart drops to his stomach. This was not how he had planned to go about it, yet here he is, fumbling with his words before he manages to make this worse than it already it. “I… didn’t at first. But I do, sort of. Some of it, I guess?”
Percy just… stares at him. Uncertain and with wide eyes, hand still on the door handle as if he’s contemplating just closing this chapter by closing the door in Ethan’s face. Jason's gone very still too, and Ethan knows he's royally fucked this up. Out of all the approaches he's gone over in his head the last few days this truly must be the worst possible outcome.
“I’m sorry.” Ethan says, even quieter, and drops his gaze to the floor. What is he doing? This is long done, and whatever happened then really doesn’t matter now and Ethan needs to leave before he says anything even more stupid. He takes a step back, runs his hands through his hair, but doesn’t look up.
“Just wanted you to know I didn’t ignore you on purpose, or something like that.” Ethan says quietly and shoves both his hands in his pockets. He's making it worse, digging his own grace a little deeper with each word that leaves his mouth.
“I’m… gonna go now. Thanks again for the cookies.”
Unlike Ethan a few days ago, Percy doesn’t let him get away with just turning around and leaving. A hand shoots out, catching Ethan by the elbow of his hoodie, almost making him fall backward. It’s dramatic and ridiculous and it feels a whole lot more like a TV show than it feels like real life – but Ethan stops and looks up at Jason who only just seems to be realising what he's done as well. His cheeks are blooming pink and Ethan is hit with the urge to lean in and steal a kiss. It feels impossible to draw his gaze away, but at least Ethan caught in his staring alone, as Jason's eyes don't make a move to leave his either.
“Stay a bit?” Percy says behind them, breaking the spell. “I… I'm sure I can help you put the pieces together?”
Jason licks his lips, Ethan can feel his face heating up. He should be getting out of here, but instead he turns his face to Percy. The uncertainty on Percy’s face mirrors the turmoil in the pit of Ethan’s stomach, and despite all reason, Ethan finds himself nodding.
