Jason Grace jogged back to Cabin One, he had just finished training with his newly acquainted friend: Annabeth Chase. On the quest, the two blonds had worked together mostly for the sake of the war, but after, the daughter of Athena and son of Jupiter really had time to interact.

Shortly after Jason got washed up, the conch horn blew-signalling that it was time to gather in the dining pavilion for supper. In the cloud of demigods walking to the pavilion, Jason found himself behind the Nike Cabin, in front of the Tyche Cabin, and beside the Poseidon Cabin, namely: Percy Jackson.

'Gods almighty, I don't think this will ever be normal.' Jason grumbled as he moved with the crowd, Percy snorted. 'Believe me, it gets worse worse whenever we get new campers.' The son of Poseidon returned with a grin, and Jason nodded, he was correct, new campers running to the pavilion was the worse.

Jason then spotted Nico strolling out of the Hades Cabin, the closest cabin to the pavilion. The son of Hades was holding a slip of paper with a barely noticeable smile playing on his lips. The son of Jupiter immediately knew what it was, and made his way over to the younger boy-well, Nico is technically older than Jason. . .

The son of Jupiter cleared his throat from in front of Nico di Angelo. The boy didn't like physical, and Jason really didn't want to ruin his friendship with the son of Hades. Nico's been through a lot, and it was a brave move going between Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood.

'Hey Nico, what's that I see there?' Jason asked, a smirk on his face. The son of Hades rolled his eyes, 'Will gave me a Doctor's Note. His signature has a smiley face Jason-a smiley face!' Nico exclaimed in disbelief.

Jason grinned, he might not have been friends with di Angelo on his first few days at Camp Half-Blood, but from what the Roman demigod could gather from the campers, Nico used to be a smiling, laughing, carefree young boy who was obsessed with a card game called Mythomagic.

And from what Jason could see, Nico was slowly making his way back to the old di Angelo, not the brooding son of Hades that held too much pain in and had too many secrets to keep, for him, and for the gods. Di Angelo was slowly making his way back.

And Jason wanted to be there every step of the way.

♡

Jason picked up his lunch tray, an assortment of food was on it, fruits, vegetables, healthy food, mainly. Which meant that it was probably the Apollo Cabin's week to prepare the food. Nico had sat down at the Hades table with Percy. The Big Three kids decided to sit together at meal-times. It was Hades table that week.

Upon closer examination, Jason could see that Nico was rolling his eyes at Percy rambling at the son of Hades about how he didn't have plans for the next week-first time in months.

Jason sat down beside Nico and opposite Percy, the son of Hades noticed the main dish that was on Jason's plate, and smirked. Jason quirked an eyebrow upwards, confused. At that moment, the Apollo campers left the serving table to return to their cabin table to eat their food. The campers had to go past Hades' table, so Jason was momentarily excused from Percy's ADHD rambles.

'Di 'qualcosa Death Boy. Amore ti.' Will Solace had said to Nico as he passed his boyfriend. At this, Percy and Jason both quieted down, mischief glinting in their eyes.

'So. . .' Jason drawled out, 'What did Will say?' The two boys asked at once, Nico glared at his cousins', though his neck was red from embarrassment. 'Stupidi cugini, fastidioso Will Solace.' Nico grumbled under his breath. Percy grinned, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly.

Soon after, things returned to normal, and Jason was about to start eating his meal, when Percy slammed his fork onto the flat wooden table.

'What in Zeus' name do you think you're doing Jason Grace?'

At this, Nico grinned. Percy was glaring holes into Jason, the son of Jupiter shifted. 'How could you eat a poor fish? Unbelievable.' Percy growled, and Jason raised an eyebrow.

A fish is what made Percy angry?

That's when Jason kind of understood. Percy was a son of Poseidon, the sea god. It was no surprise he would be angry. Jason raised his hands in surrender. 'Okay, sorry, I'll eat something else. . .' The son of Jupiter muttered, before stealing a piece of bacon from Nico's strange dinner, which consisted of a slice of toast-which Nico didn't intend on eating-some pieces of bacon, and a few pomegranate seeds.

The boy needed to eat more.

And that night, was the night Jason really understood the kind of person Perseus Jackson was. He was someone who would jump a bullet for a complete stranger, and be fine with it. He was the kind of person who would be the one consoling others when he was the most affected. And that's when Jason realised why Nico had said to have a crush on Percy back with Cupid.

It wasn't infatuation, it wasn't love, it wasn't jealousy. It was admiration. Even after Bianca died, Nico admired Percy. He wanted to be someone who could die for a stranger, but instead, Nico was somebody who delivered justice, someone who didn't know the meaning of the word mercy.

Jason was still deep in thought when he accidentally took a bite of his fish, and the son of Jupiter realised too late. And in the distance, he could hear the campers' laughter and prayers that Percy wouldn't end Jason right there. In fact, Percy had seen.

'Jason. Grace.'

Jason paled, virga.