I was born a child of Rome but grew to be a child of the gods. I was crafted to be the champion of Juno but rose up to be a hero of Olympus. Now, I will create my own path. I will keep my promise to represent all the gods and to protect their children, or I will die trying.
Independent Jason Grace Blog from the Heroes of Olympus Series May Contain Spoilers Mun is up to date Multifandom/OC friendly M!A: None but Accepting Tracking: filiusxregis ♃
It was probably the fourth time Piper was dreaming about Leo. And she needed to talk to someone. Her friends weren’t all at CHB, that was pretty sad, because the girl missed them a lot. She was so used to live with them at Argo II, that now, when she had a nightmare, she was taking at least ten minutes to get anywhere. Jason was her first choice, because he maybe was the only one there that understood her feelings towards Leo’s death. Her siblings had lost someone too, but they were moving on so easily. They were used to it, Piper wasn’t. She knocked the door of cabin one, and seconds later, Jason opened the door. “Hey, I’m sorry for waking you up.” She said forcing a smile. “And, Jason. Your glasses.” She rolled her eyes, then straighten his glasses. “I was thinking if maybe we could talk?” She bit her lower lip. “I had another nightmare… With Leo.” It didn’t matter how many times everybody said that Leo was fine, Piper still had nightmares. And it wasn’t the way demigods used to have, she knew that. It was nightmares that mortals had when they lost someone they loved.
As soon as she said Leo’s name and nightmare in the same sentence, after she fixed his glasses, Jason moved aside for her to come in. It was against the rules for the two of them together at night, something he was usually very persistent about, but one night wouldn’t hurt anyone. He could be rebellious when he wanted to, and this was more important than following the rules. Any irritation or exhaustion was pushed aside so he could be alert and attentive for Piper, almost like what happens when he realized what his job was and what needed to get done for that moment. “Thanks,” he smiled, though it was more like a half smile, “Come in. We can go up stairs and the harpies won’t bother us. Then we can talk.” Frankly he’d been having nightmares about the boy as well, so the conversation could be good for the both of them.
"Thanks.“ He studded the other’s face, something about it, no him, was sending warning flags up. He didn’t recognize the face, so maybe it was the attitude or the way that he spoke about Nico that made him feel uncomfortable.
Yet, what right did Jason have to judge someone he knew nothing about. He didn’t really need Will right that second, so maybe the other son of Apollo could use some company or conversation. "Seems like the popular name for Nico around here, but I’m glad that you actually know he has one.” He almost forgot. “Oh I don’t know yours though. I’m Jason Grace.” Usually it was polite to introduce yourself first, though he hoped that a partial introduction would suffice.
"Grace, while I admit you could definitely fit in with the rest of the sunshine brigade here, you probably aren't actually supposed to be in Apollos cabin."
‘Sunshine brigade? That was an interesting name for your own cabin..’ he thought but decided not to say that out loud.
“Thanks? I’m looking for Will. You or anyone else in the 'brigade’ haven’t seen him by chance?”
“I don’t believe I ever got the chance to say I’m proud of you.”
He bowed his head. "I was just doing what I needed to do.” There wasn’t any need for praise, at least in Jason’s eyes there wasn’t. “But thank you, Lady Hera.”
The coin spun around and around, and Jason’s eyes track it’s spinning. Heads or tails? A simple question and one he could, or at least used to be able to, usually predict with Ivlivs, but not with just a normal coin. However the demigod sitting across him seemed to be set on playing the game. “So what is this for anyways? Fun? School project?”
It was always during a pleasant dream, something rare for a demigod, that you’d get woken up, and for Jason his dreams were interrupted by a knocking at his cabin door. It took a moment for him to gather his bearings and realize that no it wasn’t the wolf house, no it wasn’t a monster attacking, and that no it wasn’t time to get up. So needless to say he was a little bit irritated that he had to leave the comfort of his bed and walk across the cold cabin floor to answer the door, but he tried his best to sound pleasant when opening the door. “What’s up?” he yawned, his voice very sleepy sounding and his glasses basically hanging off of his face.
No, it’s not anger that colors her words, and it’s certainly not anything akin to curiosity. Reyna doesn’t know what it is. But what she does know, is how foolish the words sound as soon as they are flung into the tense air between them sharper than she means —sharper than what ought to be warranted. Because she knows as well as he, (maybe even better?) the importance of duty, of leading, and personal desires do not have a place there, here.
“And why is it so important now?”
There’s a bite to her words, brought on by uncertainty. Because she doesn’t know if this new information is better or worse. She guesses she had just always assumed that Jason had all his memories back, and he’d just moved on to better things —no matter how that made her feel. It wasn’t the first time she’d had to let someone go. And maybe she’d even grown….no, content wasn’t the word…resigned to the fact. Until now, that was.
”Why now, Jason?”
Maybe it’s more a plea now. Those soft curved sounds she isn’t very good at.
He’s taken back by her words. The memories he had of them never showed her having that type of tone. Even when she was calling out orders or issuing warnings there had always been a calm and smooth feeling to them. The words she was speaking now… well they weren’t spoken by the Reyna he once remembered.
But that’s what happens when you haven’t seen the person in over a year.
Jason knew that was the reason why he wanted to reconnect with his former co-praetor. He wanted to know what set her off, what made her happy, and how those things changed from what he once knew. He wanted to connect the dots from what he could remember seeing but not remember feeling. There had always been holes that could ever be filled thus leaving him empty, and he wanted- no, he needed to fill them.
“Why not now?”
There wouldn’t be a better time; with peace between the camps and no threat to world destruction around the corner it would be the perfect time to settle down and just enjoy the time that they did have.
"I’m fine?“ he answered, a little confused as to what was going on. One moment he was sitting in his bunk and the next poof a goddess was speaking to him, which usually meant something bad was going to happen even if it was just Juno.
"How are you, Lady Juno?” At least he could be polite and try and hold a conversation.
Nico shrugged and shuffled in place, leaning on one foot to the other. The demigod was uncomfortable to say the least. Yes, the two were on better terms, but Nico still couldn’t get used to him. And since Nico hasn’t seen him in a while, the awkwardness was ten times greater.
Why does he put himself through these things…—?
“Yeah, I suppose.”
There had to be a way to get rid of this lingering awkwardness. Something to get Nico to relax besides smiling at the boy, which would probably tire his cheeks and his patience. He still needed to unpack so maybe that could help.
"Yeah I’m not too fond of that saying either,“ Jason admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But if you don’t want to go right this second you could come back with me to my cabin?” That sounded a lot better in his head that’s for sure.
