#but jason? we get told he belongs to both camps

[twoidiotwriters1]

Daughter of Olympus (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: Adult life is like, really great beautiful and fun, I'm having a blast -Danny Words: 2,262 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter / Next Chapter Listen to: 'Will I Find My Home' -by Juniper Vale

VI. Mom Gives Her Silliest Battles to Her Most Tragic Clowns

Boreas is like a scary Santa with purple wings. He likes her and Piper because they're aphrodites and can talk French with no problems. 

Ara wants to like him, but he's got orders to kill them, so he's not such a fun guy. All this talk about gods wanting to exterminate half-bloods is old news, but then the god changes when he sees Jason's tattoo, and he becomes his Roman version.

"My dear," Boreas says happily, "there is no reason for me to kill you. If Hera's plan fails, which I think it will, you will tear each other apart. Aeolus will never have to worry about demigods again."

"I don't suppose you could explain?" Jason asks.

"Oh, perish the thought! It is not for me to interfere in Hera's plan. No wonder she took your memory. You know, I have a reputation as a helpful wind god. Unlike my brethren, I've been known to fall in love with mortals. Why, my sons Zethes and Calais started as demigods—"

"Which explains why they are idiots."

"Stop it! Just because you were born a full goddess—"

"Both of you, freeze. Now, as I was saying, I have a good reputation, but it is rare that Boreas plays an important role in the affairs of gods. I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilization, and so rarely have amusements. Why, even that fool Notus, the South Wind, gets spring break in Cancún. What do I get? A winter festival with naked Québécois rolling around in the snow!"

"I like the winter festival," Zethes mumbles.

"My point is that I now have a chance to be the center. Oh, yes, I will let you go on this quest. You will find your storm spirits in the windy city, of course. Chicago—"

"Father!" Khione cries, but the god is unbothered by her.

"If you can capture the winds, you may be able to gain safe entrance to the court of Aeolus. If by some miracle you succeed, be sure to tell him you captured the winds on my orders."

"Okay, sure," Jason shrugs. "So Chicago is where we'll find this lady who's controlling the winds? She's the one who's trapped Hera?" 

"Ah... Those are two different questions, son of Jupiter."

Ara notices he's using Roman names now. Chiron said Jason doesn't belong in her camp. A scary thought comes to her as she glances down at his tattoo: there are more like him.

Lily's got a fascination with the Underworld, her grandmother taught her to respect the dead and the deity that looks after them. I met Hades last summer, and she got really talkative after she found out, showed me some collectible cards, and we play with them when none of us is training.

Lily's quiet, but only because she's got this accent that slips out when she gets excited about things. I said some of the swear words she uses and Silena told me that's Italian. My friend also has dark hair and is a bit too grumpy, which explains why most campers think she's a daughter of Hades.

Lily's sneaky, that's true, but so are the Stolls. I've been to the Underworld, and she doesn't feel like it."If she were," Travis says, "someone would've sent something to get rid of her."

"That's true," I sigh. "Lily hasn't shown any death-related powers either. I mean, she's crazy good at stabbing but she also likes archery!"

"She's a little scary," Travis admits, the lock he's been trying to open snaps and he closes it, handing it to me.

"Not that scary," Connor replies. I didn't know he was listening. "You shouldn't scare Ara, she's gonna think it's no good to be nice."

I frown, nothing would ever stop me from talking to a lonely person.

"Now go, demigods," Boreas finishes, "before I change my mind. Zethes, escort them out safely."

Ara's mind swirls in overwhelming thoughts as they leave. Romans and Greeks have disliked each other for ages, no wonder Chiron doesn't want Jason around! And to top it all, Boreas also said Hedge is still alive, but he wouldn't tell them where he is.

As they fly away in Festus, Piper speaks French under her breath. "If you knew the truth about me, you wouldn't think I was so amazing."

"What?" Ara looks at her. Piper locks eyes with the girl and remembers she speaks French too. She blushes, turning her gaze away. 

Ara frowns, these three are more frustrating than Percy and Lily...

Percy thinks Lily might be a Big Three kid. I disagree and he doesn't take me seriously.

"I knew who you were right away," I remind him.

"This is different, Ara."

"She doesn't feel like that place!"

"She doesn't feel that way to you," my friend corrects me. "Didn't you see her fight that Ares kid?"

"She's enthusiastic about training..."

"She broke a guy's leg!"

"Oh fine, she's a little violent," I roll my eyes. "But saying that she's a daughter of... you know, that's insulting for the both of them."

"She'll get claimed and you'll know I'm right—cause she's no Apollo." Percy walks past me.

"Was it easy for you when you started working in the forges?" Leo asks quietly since Piper and Jason are napping. 

"Not at all," Ara smiles, looking down at her squeaky-clean palms. "I almost lost a few fingers, and my arms were covered in bandaids most of the time... but it felt like I was on the right path."

Leo glances at her with his brows furrowed in amusement. "You were getting injured all the time and you still liked it?"

"You know what I mean!" Ara pokes his back. "Don't you love it when your hands are all tired and dirty but it's because you created something amazing?"

The boy looks down at Festus and pats his head affectionately. "Right... I get it."

"So to answer your question, it wasn't easy—but I was learning, and I was able to see my progress more clearly than with other stuff. I fell in love with it."

"Didn't believe it at first, but you've got skill, Ara," Beckendorf nods in approval. "And you, Tyson, you like it here?"

"I like how this bends," he replies, folding a huge chunk of metal.

"Silena's happy to hear you're getting better," the boy continues.

I stare at my dirty nails and the callouses on my palms. I thought I'd be disgusted by them, part of me wants to be nice and prim, but at the same time, I feel like a grown-up getting things done. "It feels nice," I open my teddy bag and pull out boxes of apple juice. 

"You'll learn to love it," Beckendorf takes one of the juices. "Or you might discover you're good at it, but it's not your favorite thing. That'd be okay too."

I get a sudden urge to cry. How cruel would it be if I had found something, but it didn't make me happy? "No. I'll make it work. I've made up my mind."

He pats my shoulder, leaving a stain on my shirt that I have a hard time ignoring.

Ara wakes up abruptly, she would've slept through the night if Festus hadn't decided to practice his free-falling. It's really lucky Jason can fly, otherwise, they would've all plummeted to their deaths.

It's a pity she can't say the same about Festus, who crashed down in a cloud of thick, dark smoke. Leo cries out as it happens and her own stomach twists with anxiety. Ara must've fainted, cause the next thing she remembers is hearing Piper's screams.

Lily got claimed the other night, and she's not happy about it, I don't know why. Annabeth is the only person that she talks to in her cabin. She's uncomfortable with the idea of not having her sister around, so she's upset when she guesses what we're about to do.

"Percy wanted that quest, so you'll sneak out, won't you?"

"I never said that." 

Not to Lily, at least.

"I know Annabeth will go with you, I wish I could go..."

"We'll be back before you know it."

"You're going to the sea of monsters," she scoffs. "It'll be lucky if you don't die on day one."

"Thank you. Make sure to offer some good food to Hades so he keeps me nice and cozy," I joke.

Piper whimpers on the catwalk. Leo, Jason, and Ara find her there, ankle broken. "You okay?" Leo sees her foot and winces. "Oh no, you're not."

"Thanks for the reassurance," the girl breathes heavily.

"You'll be fine," Jason tries to calm her. "Leo, you got any first aid supplies?"

"Yeah—yeah, sure..." He pulls out gauze and duck tape from his seemingly empty belt and Ara grabs the items without asking. 

"Stay still, Piper..."

"How did you—" The girl hisses when Ara sits her up. "How did pull that stuff from an empty belt?"

"Magic. Haven't figured it out completely, but I can summon just about any regular tool out of the pockets, plus some other helpful stuff—Breath mint?"

Jason seizes the metal box impatiently. "That's great, Leo. Now, can you fix her foot?"

"I'm a mechanic, man. Maybe if she was a car..."

"I can." The lessons come back to Ara's mind as clear as Michael's voice. "I can't heal you entirely, though..." 

"Wait, what was that godly healing stuff they fed you at camp," Leo asks. "Rambo food?"

"Ambrosia, dummy," Piper huffs. "There should be some in my bag, if it's not crushed."

"That should help," Ara gestures at Jason to get it.

He seizes a Ziploc bag full of ambrosia and gives a piece to Piper while Ara works on her ankle. The girl's hands are quick, she's singing something Will and Mike taught her to speed up the process, and her heart breaks even more. Ara's avoided her memories like the plague, but they keep coming back when she least expects them.

Once she's done, she sinks to her knees in front of Piper, tears falling down her face, and she dries them hastily along with the sweat on her forehead. Jason, Piper, and Leo are staring.

"What?"

"Nothing," Jason shrugs. "It's normal to cry when you heal someone... Right?"

Ara groans. "I've had a rough couple of..." Days? Months? Years?"I'm worn out."

"Well, I think you were awesome," Leo says. "You've got a nice voice."

"It's useful," she examines Piper. "Feeling better?"

The girl nods. "How did you learn this stuff?"

Ara spots a logo on the wall: a single red eye looks back at her and it gives her a bad feeling, but she can't tell why. It reminds her of Tyson, she would give anything to have him here, a Cyclops is always a great help.

"Lots of practice," she shrugs. "The gods took away all the traces of hard work on my body when I got my wish granted, so you can't tell..."

"You're so cool," Piper looks pale, but at least she's smiling. 

Ara grins a little in return, cleaning her hands on her dirty jeans. "That's... Just doing my job."

She almost says "That's what friends do", but she doesn't want more friends, it would be like trying to fill the holes in her life and that's not right. It's better to keep her distance.

A loud explosion comes from C.C.'s office and a bunch of men run out of the place.

"Ah," I tense. "Gotta go."

I yell out Percy and Annabeth's names and they yell mine in return, Annabeth finds me and drags me out of the island. We climb into Queen Anne's revenge and I cling onto a barrel when Percy propels us out. After the worst passes, he looks over his shoulder and notices my clean clothes and brushed hair. 

"You were enjoying yourself—It's the first time you've looked like an Aphrodite!"

He didn't mean to be rude, but for some reason, the realization that maybe no boy had ever perceived me as beautiful struck a nerve that had been dormant for eleven years. "Shut up."

Annabeth got dizzy and had to go lie down. My mom was born in the sea, so I handle this well. Besides, I'm a Cancer, so water is my happy place. I think about our quest, Annabeth told me Percy got turned into a guinea pig before we escaped Circe's island. 

"Can I touch you?"

Percy looks at me like I've gone crazy. "Whatcha say?"

"Can I use my empath touch on you?" I clarify. "Or you can tell me how you're feeling?"

He sighs and stares ahead. "Don't know how I'm feeling..."

"Hmm..." I grab his hand. "Oh."

"What?"

I pout. "I miss him too."

"Yeah, he was..." Percy gulps, he knows who I'm talking about. 

"Your little brother," I look at him, waiting to see his reaction.

He nods briefly, blinking a lot. "He was."

"Was it weird? Having a Cyclops as a brother?"

"Was it weird when you suddenly had like ten new siblings?"

"That's not a real family," I reply.

"What?" He exclaims. "What do you mean?"

I let go of his hand. "My siblings have families outside camp, I just have a bunch of roommates," I try not to think about it, this is a delicate subject and I find it difficult to approach.

"Well," Percy says after a short pause. "Sometimes friends are better than siblings. Look at us!"

I frown. "Dude, we look miserable."

"We're fine," he retorts, but that doesn't help me. His shoulders fall, and his voice softens. "Alright, let's play pretend. You like playing pretend, right? From now on we're siblings."

I snort. "That's not how it works."

"What, you don't want to adopt me? That stings, Ara."

"Stop it."

"You'd rather be Annabeth's sister like Lily? I get it, boys suck. I'll throw myself off the ship—"

"Stop!" I laugh, clutching the back of his shirt as he leans forward.

"C'mon then!" He smirks. "I'll try my best to make you hate me like a real brother."

I laugh and hug him. "Fine. Can't wait to regret it." 

Next Chapter ->

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @ash-the-hoarder @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen

[tagthescullion]

Diplomacy: a Net of Embellished Lies

Fandom(s): Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus

Rating: G

Summary: Five times Nico lied to the people around him, and one time he told the truth.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5

AO3 link

Chapter 6: The Truth

I may have used you, but Nico used you and lied about it.

That’s what Gaea had said. But Gaea would have said anything back in that suffocating mud in Alaska for Hazel to let go.

You’re wondering if we can trust the guy. So am I.

Jason’s words had cut deeper than Hazel was willing to admit out loud. 

The few months she’d known Jason before his disappearance the year before, he’d always seemed like an agreeable boy. Perhaps a bit reluctant as a leader, Hazel had always found his jolly disposition faked to a certain degree, it made her think he wasn’t all too sure about what he was doing, but he’d always been honest and hardworking. And above all, he’d been understanding.

That empathy had clearly dissipated like hot steam when you opened the window after a shower.

Hazel sat on a comfortable armchair in her cabin, next to the sleeping form of her brother. 

After the absolutely ghastly day they’d had, she thought he deserved to sleep properly. And that he wouldn’t do if he was alone after the whole ordeal he’d been through. Much less on a ship with hostile allies.

She wasn’t sure how long he’d actually rest, he’d refused to go to bed for a long while, offering to take up the first few watches above deck, but eventually Hazel had coerced him into at least trying to get some shuteye.

He looked small, exhausted, too thin and gaunt. And yet, there was such an angelic definition to his sleeping face that Hazel had no doubt the prophecy’s line, ‘twins snuff out the angel’s breath’, wasn’t only referring to his surname.

Angels, however, weren’t supposed to lie.

Hazel’s idea of an angel was heavily influenced by the nuns in her childhood school. Sammy had once commented that biblical angels weren’t the cute cherubs they painted in churches, but in spite of all the reasoning he’d given, Hazel had still imagined a young-looking, humanlike creature dressed in a white tunic, and who did acts of good in the name of an all-forgiving God.

Hazel couldn’t quite believe in God after everything that had happened both to her and to the people she loved, but in her mind, Nico di Angelo was nothing short of a guardian angel.

He’d rescued her from death itself, guided her in a world that had changed almost entirely, led her to a safe space where she could try to belong. He was a shoulder to cry on, and a source of knowledge of all things mythical. Every time Hazel had felt everything was overwhelming, or whenever her blackout memories were happening too frequently, Nico had been there to offer his support. All of that in exchange for nothing. 

Had it been in exchange for nothing?

Hazel’s brain was battling itself. 

One side was falling prey to Gaea’s, Octavian’s, Jason’, even Leo’s mistrust. Nico had lied. He’d hidden important information from her, he’d lied openly to Percy, he’d betrayed Camp Jupiter’s hospitality by refusing to acknowledge the existence of another section of demigods.

The opposing side called all of that bullshit. Nico was her brother, the only family she had in this century. None of his lies had been personal, nor had he kept information for nefarious purposes. 

“You look troubled.”

Nico’s sluggish voice startled her.

He’d woken up and was looking at her with concern.

“It’s nothing,” Hazel said, trying to clear her expression.

Nico raised an eyebrow. His manner reminded Hazel of their father.

He stretched like a cat, crossed his legs, and leaned with his back to the wall and her comforter around him like a cocoon, despite the Mediterranean summer’s heat. 

“You are a terrible liar,” he said.

Unlike you. But Hazel couldn’t tell him that, could she?

Hell, of course she could. But whatever anger or mild betrayal she felt wasn’t strong enough to want to hurt him.

“I hope you’re feeling better,” she said instead.

Nico shrugged. “Physically, yeah, I guess.”

“Is your Catholic guilt acting up again?” She asked. 

Nico snorted. He seemed to be on the brink of despair. “It was my fault. I should have been quicker.”

“I could have been quicker too,” she told him. “And the rest. But even demigods have limitations.”

Nico wasn’t looking at her. 

“If they didn’t have to rescue me,” he muttered. “Percy could have gone to Annabeth sooner.”

“Even Percy has limitations, Nico,” she argued. “They would have fallen earlier, perhaps. What if they fell and we didn’t even know what had happened to them?”

He didn’t look much relieved. 

“We will find them,” Hazel promised. 

Finally, Nico looked her in the eye.

“Yes,” he agreed. “We will. I owe them that and more.”

“Why?” She asked.

“Why what?”

“Why do you ‘owe them’ so much?” She wondered.

“This and that,” he said, waving his hand dismissively.

“No.” 

The firmness in her own voice surprised her. And her brother too, his eyes snapped up to meet hers again.

“It’s always the same with you,” she told him. “You hide your past and expect the rest of us to ask no questions because ‘Pluto sent you’ and nobody dares challenge that. But it wasn’t Pluto who sent you, was it?” Hazel breathed in to give herself some courage. “It was Hades. You’ve been lying to us —to me— since last year!”

Nico had the decency to look ashamed. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were fixed on the sky outside her window.

“He told me not to—,” Nico started. “Father, I mean. He told me to pretend to be one of you guys. He said it would be easier if I made myself pass for a Roman demigod. Children of Pluto may be considered bad auguries but they’re better than a Greek demigod —you’ve seen how Octavian’s like—.”

“How did you find out about Camp Jupiter?” She inquired. 

“Father told me,” he answered. “I saw Jason and Reyna last year in Mount Tam. They were scouting the enemy lines, and so was I. I was curious because, well… because I’d never seen them before, and demigods that age weren’t likely to be alive without some training.”

“Did father tell you then?”

Nico huffed. “As if. He told me they weren’t enemies, that was all I needed to know, and that I stayed well away from them.”

“Which of course you ignored,” Hazel guessed.

Nico made a more-or-less gesture with his hand. “Father knew I wouldn’t leave it fully alone. But the war had begun, and I had to spend most of my time convincing him to be part of the battle.”

Hazel swallowed down the envy she felt at Nico so casually being invited to converse with their father. Pluto had ignored her for her whole life with the exception of two minimal conversations, yet Hades had allowed his 12-year-old son to convince him to take part in a battle. 

Still, it wasn’t Nico’s fault. 

“And then I saw you,” Nico continued. “I knew you were one of them, whatever it was they were, not a Greek demigod. But you were also my sister, I couldn’t leave you down in the Underworld if you could have another chance!”

“How did he react to that?” Hazel had never asked that before. Maybe she’d been afraid the answer would be awful.

Nico shrugged. “He wasn’t exactly happy I was messing around with life and death. But he was glad, I think. Your death was an unfair thing, he’d been upset about that.”

Hazel doubted Hades, or Pluto, or whatever he wanted to be called, had been upset necessarily, but it was kind of Nico to suggest it.

“Anyway,” her brother said. “He had to explain then, I couldn’t just take you to Camp Half-Blood. Chiron realised Jason didn’t belong immediately. He’d have known about you too, and he doesn’t like me at all, he wouldn’t have let you stay.”

“What about the ambassador thing?” She wondered. “Was that real or was it just an excuse to give you some leverage?”

“He told me to use that name,” Nico said, giving her a funny look. “I would never have come up with that alone, I don’t think I fit very well in the diplomatic category.”

“You know how to bend the truth to your convenience,” she argued. “A pity you hate people, you could have gotten far in life with that.”

Nico gave her a wry smile. “My grandfather was a diplomat, did you know?”

Of course she didn’t. She didn’t even know his mother’s name.

“I see you got the unsociable genes from the other side of the family,” she commented.

“Or from his wife,” Nico offered. “My nonna hated people too, but she was cleverer than I, because she knew through gossip you could blackmail others so she endured social events all the same.”

“Sounds charming,” Hazel deadpanned. 

“Hard times, I suppose,” he said. 

“Because of the war?”

Nico shook his head. “Because she was a woman born in the nineteenth century, more like.”

There was a moment of silence. Not too charged, Hazel thought. She’d learned more about Nico in a quarter of an hour than she had in almost a year. 

Nico leaned forward and took her hand.

“I’m sorry,” he said. Hazel knew he meant it. “I should have told you sooner. I…” He sighed. “At first I didn’t know if I could trust you. Don’t take it personally! I— I hate being disappointed by people, it’s easier to keep everyone at arm’s length. And then, as the time passed I thought —perhaps I hoped— that I could ditch the Greek side. In Camp Jupiter people may be wary of me, mistrustful now, but they’re not scared. I liked being there as if I belonged.”

Hazel squeezed his hand. She wasn’t sure why Nico owed so much to Percy Jackson if he wanted to leave that part of his life behind so badly, but she thought Nico had told her enough, it could wait for another day.

“You’ll always have a place in Camp Jupiter,” she promised him. “When we get back—” Not if, when. “Well, either we’ll be killing each other or we’ll leave all this resentment and hate behind. Let’s hope for the second one.”

“Mild difference, those two outcomes,” he stated.

Hazel rolled her eyes. “Let me put it in other words: either we’ll both be dead, or you’ll have a place in the Twelfth Legion if that’s what you want.”

Nico snorted a laugh. “Sums it up nicely.”

“Now let’s go eat something,” she pulled from his hand and got him up, comforter poncho included. “I’m starving, and I want you to eat something too.”

“I—”

“At least a couple of grapes, as an apology to me,” Hazel insisted. “And to whoever else you’ve been dishonest to in the past year.”

Her brother didn’t look amused. 

“Fine.”

[joyglass]

morgann how are you enjoying hoo? any miscellaneous thoughts? that percabeth snippet you shared sent me right back into middle school 😭 i remember actually not minding rick’s third person writing, and enjoying it when it seem to be a problem for other people. honestly my qualms with the series was the plot but it did give me son of neptune so!!!

very big agree. i actually prefer third person!!! also im on the TOA 😭😭😭 i finished the original pjo and HOO in like a week LMAO i kinda wish RR had kept it 3rd person for TOA. anyway so im just going to use this ask to word vomit everything that struck out to me rereading the HOO series

nico has skyrocketed to my top 3 favorite characters in this reread. i sympathized with him feeling like an outcast who doesn't belong to camp jupiter or camp halfblood. he's even stranded from the time period he was born in. i just think he deserves the world and happiness!!!! especially since he got so much flack from other people. like don't get me wrong i do think part of it was nico's own attitude of assuming the worst that got in the way of making friends but also. he's the youngest of all of them. and he's suffered unimaginable horrors. at least percabeth had each other when they were stuck in tartarus 😭 he is the saddest character to me. mom dead. lives out 70 years of his life in a magic casino. sister dies. tries to talk to mom and/or sister. neither or them answer him. makes one betrayal that he later regrets. except percy doesn't really forgive him even though he's plays a huge role in winning the titan war. figures out he's gay which is just another reason he'll be ostracized. goes to tartarus. gets put in a jar and almost dies. the seven have to debate on whether or not it's worth it to save him :/ gets outed by cupid. and that's literally not even half of it. i love him SO much. he can do no bad in my eyes. that's my son.

speaking of nico. his relationship progression with hades >>>> i do think RR somewhat changed some of it to make hades into a better dad. but i actually think hades has a better relationship with nico than poseidon does with percy. like i think ppl forget that nico actually goes to the underworld on a regular basis and eats dinner with his dad and extended family lmfao. hades also gave nico a zombie chauffeur AND told him that he'd prepare a room in his palace in case nico dies 😭 hades is just that Parent i guess

THERE'S NO ANNABETH ATHENA CONFLICT RESOLUTION AT ALL which i personally find annoying. i wish we had like one scene of annabeth with athena at the end of HOO. athena tells annabeth she's a failure of a daughter and basically curses her into retrieving the athena parthenos. she SUCCEEDS but falls into tartarus. they fight together but i need an APOLOGY from athena.

SON percabeth reuniting kiss scene is the scene of all time to me. nothing will come close to annabeth and percy making out and then annabeth judo flipping percy onto the ground. your favs could never.

jason jason jason jason jason....jason is MY greek tragedy. there's a reason why i think nico and jason work really well together and it's because they both know what it feels like to be untethered. nico is an outsider. jason has to choose between camp halfblood and camp jupiter. that scene where the skeleton's don't listen to him because they don't acknowledge him as praetor is such a full circle scene i loved it

also jason is the second most tragic character to me. he grew up without really knowing he was. his life belonged to hera before he could even live it. then she goes further by manipulating his memories so he can be a pawn in the war. i just think there's an inherent goodness to jason like there is to percy. he deserved a long fulfilling life :/

also. nico not being able to find jason's soul in the underworld. ouch.

i like leo despite ppl's opinions on him being annoying. i think leo's life is super sad and ppl forget that. every time there's a one liner from him about how he used to be homeless and sleep in the streets i feel so bad for him 😭😭😭

i hate leo and calypso im sorry. i dislike calypso but i would dislike her less had RR not paired them up together. love her attitude! do not love her relationship with a 16 year old. besides i don't even think they like each other 😭 (side note i feel soooo bad for leo in TOA when he talks about how his relationship with calypso and how he basically puts the onus of their relationship on himself :( he really deserves more than calypso nagging at him for being the person she supposedly fell for HE WENT BACK FOR HER!)

percabeth....there are no words to explain how much i love percabeth. they have cemented themselves as That couple. the IT couple. i do wish RR wasn't so obsessed with pairing ppl off in romantic relationships. but percabeth is perfect to me. percy literally worships the ground she walks on. and annabeth needs the levity that is percy. like im sorry they just complete each other. percy literally goes to HELL because he won't let her go alone. im sorry ur favs could quite literally NEVER.

nico and hazel's relationship is something very special to me.

so is nico and reyna's relationship.

so is nico and jason's

anyway you get it.

i rlly like how everyone just straight up acknowledges percabeth is the superior couple.

really wish we got a couple of scenes about the aftermath of HOO especially the relationships between the gods and their kids....i think it ended a little too abruptly!!!!

[pain-is-too-tired]

Honestly, I think it's more sadder what really happens

Jason, by the time we see him in ToA, he saw Leo get blown up and believed he was dead, recieve a scroll from him alluding to him having survived, spent so hard trying to find him that Chiron had to step in to tell them to start their school year(one the only other times I remember Chiron stepping in to tell someone to get back to schedule was him telling Clarisse when Chris was kinda on his death bed before being cured)

Then he's told at some point that him or Piper might die. And he makes the decision then and there that it had to be him.

He already knows that Leo might still be alive out there. He doesn't know where he's at. He doesn't know if he was dead again.

But he does know that Piper is still here. She's still alive. She has her father, she has life to look forward to.

Jason can't lose her too. He can't. Especially with no Physican's cure. If she dies there no hope to bring her back. She's all he really has. Sure there's the rest of the 7, and the camps. But he doesn't really feel he belongs at either without Leo and/or Piper. After years of just being a soldier they have him a place to truly belong.

Saying that Leo coming back to life doomed him takes that agency from Jason. It become more destined to always been him with no roome for doubt. It makes him choosing that he be the one to die mean so much less because it was more of an illusion of choice.

The Great Prophecy might've always been meant to be Leo in a way narratively, but there was still a choice there. There was still room for doubt. He wasn't mean to be the one to defeat gaea just because of fate, but also because he made that choice and laid his own groundwork to make sure it was FIRE that took gaea. That it was him that died. The oath wasn't just to Calypso. It was in a way to himself. He swore to himself that it would be him, not Jason. The same way Jason swore it would be him and not Piper.

Both were brought up to be lambs to the slaughter. Both had some raising by Hera. Both became disconnected from their family at a young age. Both had no true sense of stability or family. Jason spent his life as a soldier, as the "Son of Rome". "Juno's champion. Leo spent his life on the run. No real family, no place to call home. He was a trouble kid, to the point he was sent away to the wilderness school.

Finally finding eachother and Piper gave them an actual home. A family. And they chose they would risk everything for that. Of course it would be Storm or Fire. Because both had nothing else to lose but the family they built together. Storm or Fire. Two things that can cause so much destruction but also so much comfort in its calmer states. A fire that warms you in winter, that helps cook your foot and boil water to help make it safer to drink, can destroy everything around it just as easily.

Or a storm, that can bring water, that can ease one to sleep in the sounds again one's home, can sweep you and everything you have away.

Both so dangerous, so destructive, but part of life. Even when it destroys, it leaves room for things to grow back. A storm washes items and crops away and more grow back in their sted. A fire burns through a forest and life returns anew.

They're similar in their own ways, it was no shock they would die not too differently. That they would give everything to protect others. They were two sides of the same coin.

As much as I love the whole "Jason died because Leo didn't fulfilled the prophecy' this is not even remotely canon guys, that's why it's just an headcanon. Gaea was supposed to fall by storm or fire, not that one of them would simply die.

And she fell, the prophecy was fulfilled, Leo really died for a few seconds, he took his "final breath", it was him since the beginning . The point of prophecy is that all things happen as they should happen. If anyone is mad at Leo it's not the Fates for ""cheating the prophecy", it's Thanatos, and I assure you he wouldn't be taking Jason's life to compensate for Leo's. It's a great hc tho

[imeternallylove]

Satisfied - Jason Kolchek

Jason Kolchek x Reader

genre: both angst, and fluff (you know me well) imply of lemon!

warning: cursing word

words: 1.1k

prompts: x

61. Shut up. Kiss me now.

76. So, you jealous?

(gif belongs to me)

* 　　　 ˚ . 　˚ 　　　 ⋆ . · 　　 + 　　 ˚

You awoke to the sound of someone shifting alongside you and the lack of body heat. You grumbled in frustration and stretched out for the missing individual, only to snag a limb that easily drew away from you.

"I need to train," Jason mumbled. "Shut up, beb. This is our Sunday!" You confronted him with a dramatic complaint. You cherished his natural features as he just woke up, but no matter what time of day it was since this man was always handsome.

Jason Kolchek, who is about to turn 36, is making you passionate and irritated at the same time. You even liked how his blasted dimple was visible when he was staring intently at your disheveled hair and frowning face.

Yes, exactly! Your whole naked body. As well.

Jason is still getting dressed. “And?” You reached out and grabbed his arm, dragging him with your arm power alone. It didn't even bring him any closer to you, but it also didn't bring him any further away, so you kept chatting to him. "You are the most hopeless romantic I. Have. Ever. Dated! I want you to stay here with me! Cuddle me and we can have breakfast together! Whatever, I mean we could kiss all day and-” Your Marine cut you off with a kiss. You took advantage of this quick opportunity to draw him closer, but he was so strong. He stroked your cheek with his palm and smiled, a foolish tiny smile. "Later, sweetheart."

As your boyfriend went away, you groaned. He left you alone to eat breakfast and cuddle a stupid pillow, and absolutely not kiss anyone. This wasn't how Sunday mornings were meant to be; You and Jason should be laying or tangled together. He was busy being the new shape as a Marine coach at the boot camp five years ago, following the Iraq war. He told you again and over that he would stay in on Sundays, but something always came up, something you despised.

While the door closes, you grunt as you rush out of bed. He had left you and your house, again. As you wrapped the towel over your nude body, you imitated in his thickie-southern tone in the mirror, "I need to train." You sulked and patted your firm ass; pointing at it. "Train my ass."

* 　　　 ˚ . 　˚ 　　　 ⋆ . · 　　 + 　　 ˚

On this ridiculous morning, you pondered earnestly whether Jason was cheating on you. It was a last resort, though, because he always left you alone on purported leisurely Sundays. You didn't want to ask him because if he was, he wouldn't say anything, and if he wasn't, he'd say exactly the same Goddamn thing. Plus, you couldn't take your mind off the other women he knew. You walked to the shower, talking to yourself about an unspoken love story between him and his previous coworker, his first love. It's Betty.

You begin your dull day without Jason with your first iPhone and YouTube. You had started crying and had ended up on the shower floor with water streaming down your back as a result of your efforts.

His change causes you entirely troubled. This only triggered a new wave of tears in your body. There was also the actual worry. You didn't ask since you were also terrified. Any good girlfriend would put her faith in her man. You wished for it, nevertheless. You were eager to find out.

You spent the day in the bedroom, which was unusual given the variety of activities available in the new home both of you had purchased. All you wanted to do was wait for him. You simply desired for Jason to come back here and hold you.

Jason just plant his little kiss on your fore and then went directly to the shower when he returned. You were still awake, almost midnight, burying your sorrows in food and television. He strolled past you in the bedroom when he came out, but it didn't stop him from conversing with you. "Miss you, ma'am." He added. "I missed you all this fucking day."

You let out a sigh and wiped a tear from your face. “Oh?” You sobbed, hoping he wouldn't notice, but yet hoping he would so you wouldn't have to bring it up on your own. "Yes, Betny called to check how you were!" He was getting ready in the next room. Hearing Betty's name with his lips; slammed through your fragile heart like a bulky hammer.

"I'm alright," you claimed, tears streaming down your cheeks. "Everything is fine." You cleaned them up when he came in.

"How are you, princess? Hey, did you get hurt?" You scoffed, oblivious to the fact that you were raising your voice at him. “Nope. What happened to 'Betny'? Did she make your bedside brunch with a coupling today?"

Jason was startled by that. "Y/N. What were you sayin?"

"I mean, if you were truly training, you would be back ages ago, and I don't know - I just… You! Jason, I know don't love me anymore," you admitted and pushed your hurtful remarks upon Jason, and you could tell it had an impact on him.

"What the hell is going on? From where is this coming?" He asked, his gaze locking fixed on you. You didn't want him to believe you didn't trust him, but you could never be certain. "I love you Y/N. More than anything in this world."

You only gave Jason a blank and cold expression as you watched him try to tell you with tears streaming down your cheeks. He looked at you, distressed. "Honey, I'll take tomorrow off, and we'll stay in bed together, or eat breakfast in bed, or whatever! Whatever you want, love. All I want is for you to be happy." The declaration of love caught you off guard. Is he yet remembering everything you told him this morning?

You let out a sigh. That sweet lie took away all the pains in your skull. "No needed to do that." However, your Marine quickly shook his head. He might be speaking the truth. He most definitely was. It was self-evident. "So you don't love Betty?" You asked calmly. He laughed softly as he tightened his grip on you, spreading his delicate peck of kisses all over your flushed face.

“No. Only one strong-willed lady has my attention." Jason leans in for a brush on your lips, drawing you out and forcing you to stare into his honest eyes, cupping your cheeks. "You're the one."

You sighed once more, still buried in his warm embrace, and before you knew it, you were both laughing maniacally.

“So, you jealous?” While your fingers played with his hair, Jason teased with his chin resting on your shoulder.

“Shut up. Kiss me now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

You were simply satisfied with his reaction.

* 　　　 ˚ . 　˚ 　　　 ⋆ . · 　　 + 　　 ˚

[slasherhaven]

how would the slashers be when they have a crush on there future s/o and when the s/o breaks up with there boyfriend/girlfriend? the slashers and s/o are friends, so the s/o goes to them crying/ to be comforted telling them what happen, how would the slashers react?

The Slashers reacting to their Future S/O coming to them for comfort after ending their current relationship:

Thomas Hewitt

As soon as you finished speaking with you partner, now ex-partner, you headed to the Hewitt household because you needed to see Thomas. He always made you feel better.

You knocked on the door and Luda May let you in, seeing the tears in your eyes. You’ve known the family for so long that she considers you family, she offers to talk to you and make you something to drink but you just told her that you were there to see Thomas. She understands and tells you where he is.

When Thomas sees you, he knows that something is wrong and is instantly worried.

You just sighed, hurrying over to him and wrapping your arms around him. He instantly returned your hug, holding you and letting you cry if you needed too.

He will listen to you talk about what happened, wanting to know everything, wanting to help you anyway he can.

He hates them. He hates them for hurting you. But he quickly forgets about them, focusing on you once again. You’re what’s important.

Thomas knows that he loves you but he had accepted that you were with somebody else. You were his best friend, his only friend, and you meant the world to him.

He absolutely means it when he tells you that you’re the best thing that they would ever have and that you would find somebody who realises that. 

Maybe that was the moment that you truly saw what had been in front of you this whole time, that Thomas was the one who thought you were the best thing he had ever seen, the person who would appreciate you how you deserved.

Michael Myers 

How you ended up befriending Michael Myers is a mystery. You were probably childhood friends and he must trust you a whole lot to be okay with you having a normal social life.

Still, he is your friend who has been dealing with some very confusing romantic feelings for you, so he is extremely protective of you.

When you come home teary eyed, he assumes somebody hurt you and is furious. Not that you could tell unless you noticed the clenching of his fists.

You just blurt it out when you see him. “We broke up!” he wasn’t expecting that...

He could....kill them for you? Oh, you don’t want that? And you’re quick to tell him that you don’t want him to kill them because you knew what he was thinking as soon as he moved towards the door.

Michael is just silent so you can only guess he is listening as you talk, telling him that it was for the best.

He’s not going to make a move to comfort you, but his presence is kind of comforting, at least to you. He was there to protect you and he was, seemingly, listening.

In the end, Michael didn’t really know what to do but you seemed satisfied with just having him around when you were upset. So...he just stayed while you worked through it.

Jason Voorhees 

You spent as much time with Jason as you could but you still had a life outside of the abandoned camp and he understood that. You were his friend and he didn’t want to take that away from you.

He loved your visits and hearing about your life, it was a bit of normalcy for him. He is nearly completely selfless when it comes to you, he would do anything for you, and despite his growing feelings for you he listened to you talk about your partner and supported you.

Jason was overjoyed when he saw you approaching his cabin, always glad to see you, but he quickly became concerned when he saw the sadness on your face. Something had happened...

He’s quick to approach you, greeting you and asking if you’re alright.

He’s comforted you before over things, but he was still a little surprised when you just hugged him, telling him everything.

He’d hold you without a single complaint, and he would listen to everything you had to say.

Of course he welcomes you into the cabin, ready to help in whatever way he can. If you want something to eat or drink, he’ll get it, he’s been keeping better food around since you started visiting. He would also get you a blanket just to make you comfortable.

You would probably stay at the cabin that night with Jason, he was your best friend and he always made you feel better. You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else after having a bad day.

Brahms Heelshire

You and Brahms had an agreement. You would stay after discovering the truth but you had to be able to have a normal life. 

He is an incredibly jealous person but you were the best thing to enter his life in a very long time, as long as your partner never came into the house he could try to look past it.

He knew it was wrong and he actually felt bad about it but he was glad that you and your partner had broken up. Now he could finally have you all to himself.

But how sad you looked when you returned home just made his heart ache for you.

Despite you and Brahms having grown very close, you didn’t expect a sympathetic reaction when you told him about the break up. 

You knew he was jealous, that he had a crush on you (he wasn’t good at hiding it), and you thought he would be happy.

However, you were pleasantly surprised when Brahms innocently pulled you into an embrace. “I’m sorry, Y/n” he touched the lips of his mask to the top of your head before stroking your hair.

It wasn’t what you expected but you were grateful for it, tightening the hug as you buried your face in his chest, glad for the comfort.

He can be surprising comforting, holding you and reassuring you. He’s very honest with his opinions, saying that they didn’t deserve you, that you are too good for them, and that you belong here with him.

And, well, it was difficult to disagree as you made yourself comforting on the couch as he held you.

Bo Sinclair

As soon as you walked into the house, Bo was about to come and greet you with a flirty comment and a smirk but stopped when he saw your face. You looked upset.

He didn’t falter too much, asking you what happened. Then you told him that you and your partner had broken up, and you came right here.

Even though you had made it clear that you had been in a relationship and just his friend, Bo enjoyed flirting with you.

But now, for once, he wasn’t flirting. He let out a sigh and started to act more seriously.

“C’mere darlin’” Bo’s voice was surprisingly soft as he guided you towards him. He genuinely cared about you, you were one of the few people he cared about, and he didn’t like seeing you upset, especially because of some asshole who didn’t know what they had. “It’ll be alright.”

His embrace was comforting, making you feel safe, and you allowed yourself to just let go and be vulnerable. 

Bo is not good at comforting people but he’ll hold you if you need it. Then he’ll grab two beers and let you talk about what happened.

Deciding to be a decent person, he would lay off of you for a little while until you seemed to be doing better, but then you can bet that the flirting is going to be more than ever now that you’re single.

Vincent Sinclair

Vincent loved whenever you visited, it stunned him that you visited at all. You left Ambrose, you didn’t have to return, but you always did. All because you were his friend.

What he hates most is seeing you upset, he just thinks you deserve all the happiness in the world.

So when you knock on the door of his workroom and he opens it to see your teary eyes, he just wants to help.

Of course he ushers you inside, expressing his concern and asking what was wrong.

You tell him everything about the breakup and were honest about how you felt.

When you asked him if he could just be with you for a while, he instantly agrees and holds you for as long as you need.

Vincent is a little more surprised when you asked him if you could stay with them for a little while, at least tonight. You really didn’t feel like driving home but you hadn’t packed to stay in town. But he agrees, understanding that you didn’t want to be alone.

When Bo asks what the hell is going on, Vincent give him the short story that you had broken up with your partner, and of course Bo patted his twin on the shoulder and told him go for it.

Yes, Vincent had feelings for you and both of his brothers thought it was obvious but you didn’t seem to be aware of them. However, Vincent was more concerned about making sure you were alright than trying to confess his feelings for you.

Now simply wasn’t the time and in the end he just wanted the best for you.

Lester Sinclair 

After the break up, you went to the first person you thought of. Lester.

You didn’t feel like seeing Bo and dealing with him, so you went straight to Lester’s house outside of town. But he wasn’t there.

You were best friends and you were often at his house, so you just let yourself in and waited for him.

When Lester returned home, he saw your car and was just excited to see you. He entered the house with a grin, assuming you would be in a normal mood and greet him with a hug as usual.

You did technically greet him with a hug but he had seen the teary look on your face as you embraced him. 

Lester instantly wrapped his arms around you, asking what was wrong as he comforted you. He just wanted to hold you and make sure you were okay.

You had told him about your partner before and how things had been different recently and, despite his feelings for you, Lester always told you that things would be okay and that it would work out.

He would let you stay at his house, just being a supportive and caring friend that he always was.

“Thank you Lester, you’re the best” he hates that you’re upset and that you were hurt by somebody you cared about, but he smiled slightly into your hair as he held you. 

He would do right by you, he promised himself that.

Bubba Sawyer

As soon as you show up at the Sawyer household, clearly upset, Bubba is worried about you.

He’s your best friend so of course you went to him after the break up, and once the two of you went to his room to sit down, you told him everything.

Bubba didn’t really know what to do. He wanted to tell you that everything would be okay, that he’s here for you, and you got the general idea of that from his noises of concern. 

He wishes he could more easily express those reassurances but will settle for just holding you, whether you need to cry or not.

And he’s a great listener! He’ll let you talk about it for as long as you need. 

Bubba will hold you and comfort you as much as you need but if you need to just forget everything for a little while get him, Nubbins and ChopTop together to cheer you up. You’re family now and they don’t want you to be sad.

Billy Lenz 

How does one befriend a pervert living in your attic that keeps making inappropriate phone calls to your house? You don’t even know, it was a bit of a blur. You just grew used to him, you finally met him, and now he was pretty much your best friend.

It was actually more surprising to Billy than to you.

After the break up, you returned home and were met with a silent house.

As if he was waiting for you, the phone starting ringing only seconds later. You answered it but Billy instantly heard that something was wrong just from your voice.

When he asked what was wrong, you simply told him that you and your partner had broken up.

He instantly hung up the phone and for a moment you thought that was it, until you heard him scampering down the stairs in a hurry to get to you.

You are his best friend, his only friend, and he cares deeply for you. 

He can still make inappropriate comments and jokes but you were used to them. You also had a feeling that he had a crush on you, just from the way he acted, but you weren’t thinking about any of that in that moment.

Billy was quickly asking you if you were alright and pulling you into a hug, assuming that was what he was meant to do. You assured him that you were fine, just upset by it all.

Billy can be unpredictable and not really the most supportive or reliable person but he was trying really hard, listening to you tell him everything that happened.

Asa Emory (The Collector)

You had told Asa about your relationship before. Despite being a little cold at times, he had somehow become a close friend so of course you mentioned it too him.

At first he didn’t seem to care too much but he eventually started to become more interested, like he wanted information on your relationship. Unknown to you, this was happening because he was starting to accept his feelings for you.

Anyway, he instantly knew something was wrong when you arrived at his house. You knocking on the door and him opening it to see your saddened face.

He invites you in and quite bluntly asks you what happened, and you confess that you and your partner broke up.

Yes, of course he is interest in this. He has developed feelings for you and now you were single, that’s an interesting development. 

However, you are his friend first and he does genuinely care about you.

So, he pushed away those thoughts and listens to you talk about what happened, even comforting you when you need it. 

You see a softer side of Asa when you’re upset and he’s attempting to comfort you.

Jesse Cromeans (Chromeskull)

You had started out working for Jesse as an assistant (well, that was your title) and the two of you had become close friends while working together. 

You swore that you spent more time with him than your partner, and maybe that had been one reason for your break up. 

As soon as you and your partner broke up, you texted Jesse the short version. Something as simple as: “Broke up. Need to talk” and he instantly sent a car for you.

If Jesse cares about you, he will do anything for you. You’re his friend and he’s well aware of his deeper feelings for you, so he’s not going to let you deal with this on your own.

If you’re angry with them, you can rant as much as you like and he’ll listen. If you’re upset, he’ll let you cry against him.

He’ll tell you that you’re too good for them, that you deserve better and that he’s sure you’ll find that person soon. He’s...surprisingly supportive?

And he’s taking you out! Whatever you want to do, he’ll arrange it. His best friend is heartbroken and it’s his job to fix that. Anything for you.

Jesse hates them for hurting you but won’t hurt them for your sake (I mean...unless you want him too, I guess), break ups happen and he knows that. Plus, he has to admit that he’s never thought your partner was good enough for you, and of course...he has had a thing for you for a while now.

Otis Driftwood 

When you show up to the house, upset and searching for Otis, he isn’t quite sure what to do with that. If you came in angry at your ex, shouting and frustrated, he could work with that, purposely riling you up.

But you’re calm, just effected by the fresh break.

Otis isn’t great at comforting people, he has next to no experience with it so he’s not completely sure what to do.

If you want your ex dead, he can do that but...if you don’t he’s a little more lost as to how to help. Thankfully, you talked him out of killing your ex and he settled for other ways to comfort you.

If you want some sort of physical comfort, just hug him. He’s not going to push you away, he’ll hold you when you cry or hold you just because you want to be held. It will be quiet but peaceful, and he remembers that he likes holding you like this.

He lets you talk about the break up as much as you want, listening surprisingly intently.

Do you need a drink? Something stronger? If yes to any of these, he will get you what you need and the two of you will just have a good time to cheer you up. 

Otis is a particular taste but he always manages to make you smile.

Baby Firefly 

As soon as you show up on her doorstep with tears in your eyes, she has a good idea what happened because you always confided in her about your relationship.

She invites you in and she comforts you.

Baby is the best at making you feel better because you know that when she tells you that you are amazing, she means it.

She’s quickly telling you that you can do better and that they didn’t know what they had, it’s their loss.

Oh and, if you let her, she is taking you out! She hates seeing you sad and she wants to cheer you up. She wants to take you out and help you have some fun.

And who knows, maybe you’ll realise the right person for you has been right by your side this whole time. 

[roseunspindle]

I just feel bad for both Percy and Nico. It seems one or the other of them must be the “bad guy” in the writing of their relationship?

Both are kids. I think Nico was like 10 or 11 (possibly?) when he first met Percy who seemed super cool and was a demigod and told Nico he was a demigod. But Percy himself was still a kid.

Now, Nico’s feelings of abandonment are pretty obvious, his mother and his father in ways, then they get to camp half-blood and without really telling him Bianca has joined a “girls only” club. So Nico has some trust issues here.

I don’t blame Bianaca, she’s a little kid too, who’s been taking care of her little brother, essentially parenting and when they get to camp half-blood it has to seem like maybe she can let that part go. So she joins the hunters.

Nico, a child, tries to get the person he trusts most right now, to promise to protect his sister.  If I recall, Percy tries to say he can’t promise that. 10/11 years old’s often can’t grasp why someone at the ancient age of 14 (who has a sword) can’t do everything. 

Bianca steals in the junkyard, and it was for Nico, possibly she did feel guilt about leaving him for both the hunters and the quest? She chooses to be the one to sacrifice herself as she caused the problem. 

Of course Nico doesn’t take this well when he finds out. Percy had already been put on a pedestal by him, and there’s the fact that Nico is grieving his sister’s loss. It’s easier to be angry at Percy right now, for it to be someone’s fault, then deal with her death.

A lot of their interactions later come from a miscommunication and misunderstanding of one another and their motives. Percy is pretty loyal (fatal flaw) and he does feel like he failed a little kid, which is awful, Nico lost his only family and any sense of home and has been living amongst the dead, and not very nice dead people either. 

We’ve seen that Percy can be awkward, so he’s awkward with Nico and Nico is made of awkward as well, both are kids/teens. Awkward is the name of the game. However, Nico is more emotionally sensitive and probably has a lot of inner feelings about his continued crush on Percy, so the awkward probably comes across as dislike, and Percy doesn’t really know this kid, they’ve had like, three interactions. So he’s also a bit leery.

Nico of course is mad at percy for Bianaca’s death, but odds are knows it wasn’t percy’s fault, so is guilty about that, but he likes percy, and is guilty about that and add in that messed up mind set that he  “knows” percy would never like him back and also percy was there when Bianaca died so is liking him a betrayal of her? (grief often makes no sense)

Nico tries to help, then Hades is a dick and kinda ruins it, and Percy is prepping for a big (final battle) and all the pressure is on him, so he’s not the best when he refuses Nico’s help and doesn’t quite trust him. 

Again, adults screw up like this and these are kids.

In the next series, Nico belongs to neither camp, and has possibly gotten a bit caught up in his own head (hi, he’s a teenager now) and he doesn’t know what’s going on. So he lies to Percy about knowing who he is.

Then he goes through the trauma of tartarus and being trapped in the jar. Again, Percy is convinced this kid hates his guts, while nico is dealing with new trauma, and his feelings for percy and all sorts of painful emotion stew.

Jason is a good person for Nico to bond with, Jason is very forthright and honest and has no history with Nico, and Nico doesn’t have a mess of emotions regarding him, nor has a crush on him. So their interactions are easier. Nico is pushing at him, and everyone, as teenagers do.

By the end, Percy does not have the information we and other characters have. All he knows is maybe this kid has decided to tolerate his existence. But Nico does still avoids him at all possible. So no, Percy is not going to assume a crush on himself is the cause and assumes (because he was raised in a heteronormative society) that Nico has a crush on Annabeth.

So Nico’s “You’re not my type” comes out of left field for him and we never actually get to see him react or respond to this at all, while it felt to me like Nico (seriously Cupid said “the one you love most”) is protecting his feelings. Like he’s trying to convince a lot of people

I would have loved an actual “clearing the air” conversation between the two.

- their miscommunication tendency is why I like the perjasico ship, as Jason would be a good bridge for them at first and then I think all three would bond over belonging to both camps, being kids of the big three. I dunno - 

[purpleshadow-star]

Tbh, I meant for my og post to be a funny side-by-side. Nothing too serious, but you guys do bring up something that I think a lot of people don't see or realize, so imma take this opportunity to kind of turn this into a character study for a few characters.

So, here's what happened: Percy didn't like the idea of Nico leaving to be on his own, but he didn't say anything because he respected Nico's choice. Will, on the other hand, was trying to make it clear that leaving wasn't the only option. Will was saying that Nico had a place at camp. Will wasn't upset that Nico didn't want to stay; he was upset that Nico felt like he didn't belong (this is a big difference).

Nico's whole thing is that he feels like he doesn't belong. WE know that people care about him because we see things and thoughts from other people that he doesn't know about, but by the Blood of Olympus, Nico still didn't feel like he belonged. The reason he works so well with Will is because Will shows Nico how much he cares for him. That's also why Nico felt like his first true friend was Jason, even when he had known Percy for years before meeting Jason. Jason made an obvious effort to include and talk to Nico during the House of Hades, and Nico saw that.

Nico needs that push. He needs people to talk to him. He needs people to show that they care about him and want him around. He needs people to be obvious about the fact that they want him around because otherwise, he'll keep on believing that he has no place with them.

We see this explicitly at the end of BoO, when Will has to explicitly say that he wanted to see Nico after the battle was over for Nico to understand that Will didn't hate him and still wanted him around. Will was forceful with his wording, sure, but he needed to be for Nico to get the message. Will cares very openly and obviously about people, and this works well with Nico, who needs to be explicitly told that he's cared about before he believes it.

Percy and Will are two very different characters who have very different relationships with Nico. Both of their reactions to Nico wanting to leave camp make sense for their characters and circumstances, definitely. I was never trying to bash either character, and I'd really appreciate it if no one used my post to do that either.

The differences in Percy learning Nico wants to leave camp vs Will is so funny to me and actually very telling.

Yes, these two scenes are a few years apart, but the fact that they literally had opposite reactions cracks me up.

Percy was like, "I don't like it, but you're right. You don't belong. Okay, bye!"

And Will was like, "The only one who thinks you don't belong is you! You have a place here, no matter what anyone says! If you actually gave us a chance, you'll see some people are actually interested in getting to know you!!!"

Literally opposites. Percy agreed that Nico didn't belong and didn't even try to convince Nico to give camp a chance, while Will was more offended at the idea that Nico thought he didn't belong at camp than at the fact that Nico didn't want to stay.

It's just so funny to me.

[starlightshadowsworld]

Friendship isn't magic... The problem in HOO

So I was talking to a dear friend @derpy-grackson on her post regarding that Percy and Annabeth should've gone to therapy.

And well I bought up that I have a problem with how friendship is handled in Heroes of Olympus.

And this... Dear readers is my rant.

Now many of you will have heard the time honoured phrase, show don't tell. The whole show what you mean rather than say it, e.g instead of saying Percy is happy say his eyes sparkled and a grin stretched across his face.

Obviously we can't always show we must tell at times but this is still important to know. If you say a character is pure evil but write about them adopting puppy's and helping the good guys lost cat get home... That creates a disconnect between what your trying to convey and what your readers are well... Reading.

And it really hinders your story.

In the same way... You cannot group people into a story, call them friends but don't have them act that way.

Example, Jason and Reyna's relationship centers around them knowing about the other in a way no one else does. In fact they are so close that others mistake them for being a couple. But if pause for a second... When do Reyna and Jason actually... Act this close? Reyna kept the whole thing with Aphrodite a secret from everyone, including Jason. They both care about each other of course but not in a way that seperates them from the rest.

A better example of this is Grover and Percy, we know there best friends because we see them defend each other constantly in school. We see the empathy bond shared between them, how worried Percy gets when Grover was kidnapped. We see it, it's told to us of course but we're shown how much they care for each other.

Leo and Piper are meant to have a friendship like that. And they don't. Leo is reduced to a side character in his own story, trailing after Piper who's clinging onto her illusion esque romance with Jason. They barely even talk, sure they care for each other but surely it should be on the level of Percy and Grover... But it isn't.

And this is a problem. Because they lose the bond that is supposed to bring them together. What makes this story fun and interesting. It's the 7, the great heroes of the prophecy who will defeat Gaia... Instead it's Percy and Annabeth and their inferior copies, and 2 others who are maybe relevant but only when the plot requires it... And the repair boy.

And that's just not what was happening in the first books.

Percy had a close friendship with Grover, a rivalry with Clarisse, and his relationship with Annabeth grew to mean something. And they while being together were still distinct and interesting characters. They were all equals, with a bond that bought them together.

The 7 aren't friends, we're told they are so close because they bant a lot but just because it looked like it worked in the 1st Avengers movie doesn't mean it does. Not to mention it goes against their characters as a whole?

Jason and Percy would not fight over a role neither of whom have ever wanted, Percy would never have yelled at Leo for being possessed. Annabeth would have jumped at a chance to talk to Leo about whatever smart kids talk about, yeah sure like Annabeth wouldn't have wanted to know everything about the Argo ll and draw parallels to the original and have a bajillion ideas, like Leo wouldn't have wanted to hear them all.

It just doesn't work. And what's worse is that it's over compensated.. With poorly written love triangles which aren't even actual love triangles...

Looking at you Frank, Hazel and Leo...

Can't we have healthy friendships and not bitter and immature teenage feels that don't add anything to the story but draw me out of it...

Like come on Rick you know how this works why are you sabotaging your own books? Especially when there are moments you get it... (Nico and Jason are friends I don't care who objects your wrong.)

We could've had Leo and Annabeth teaching each other about self esteem, what it's like to grow up running from the world and have a vendetta against Hera. We could've had Percy and Jason bonding over what it means to be a leader, to belong to both camps (because both should have found a home there but neither did but we are told they did) We could've seen Frank and Annabeth strategise, Hazel and (Feral) Jason dealing with being in a new world.

The rest trying to hold each other together after Percy and Annabeth fall, Jason being a reluctant leader he promised Percy he'd keep them safe... And knowing he's not alone. And the other 2 worrying about the Argo ll crew, reminiscing about their friends to keep them sane

We could've had bonds and stakes and characters who genuinely care for each other that help develop each other... Instead all we have are what could've been.

Great friends.

[jaalismyhusband]

Roommates (part 5)

Title: Roommates

Pairings: Bucky x f!reader

Warnings: stalking, language, smut smut smut

Wordcount: 1.8k

Catch up: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Masterlist

Part 5

After the fight, Bucky had his breakfast in silence. Steve tried to talk to him, only to fall on deaf ears. After a half an hour of Bucky not responding to his attempts to make a conversation, he gave up.

Bucky knew he had to act quickly or he would lose the chance to get together with Y/N. And just when things were going so well for them! But no, he had to fuck up monumentally. Although, he wasn’t losing hope, yet. He just had to eliminate competition.

Determined to succeed, he left the kitchen and made his way to Y/N’s room, only to find her already gone. She must have snuck out.

“Two can play this game, doll,” He muttered under his nose and followed her to the café.

He parked his car two streets away, in order not to get recognized. Putting a black baseball cap on his head, he blended with pedestrians. Seven minutes later, he found himself just across the street from the café, with the perfect view through the glass windows. That’s when he spotted Y/N. She was about to finish ordering. Good, he wasn’t too late.

As he was watching them, he tried to figure out, if and how should he intervene. He couldn’t just show up at their table. Hey, uhm, so I have been stalking you for a while and I really don’t appreciate how close you are to my almost girlfriend - there was no way in hell he could come up to them, without compromising himself. He knew he had to stay calm and keep his distance.

However, the sight of Y/N holding hands with Jason had him fuming. In a way, he envied him. Jason had something, or someone, he wanted. And from the looks of it, Bucky won’t get his hands on her in a near future, if he doesn’t do something about it. But now, the only thing he could possibly do, was to continue to watch them. Mostly, they were talking and laughing, whilst holding hands.

After what seemed like unnecessary number of laughs to Bucky, Y/N finally stood up, as well as Jason. Bucky clenched his jaw, when he saw them hug. Although, what really hurt him, was a subtle kiss, that Y/N planted on Jason’s cheek. After they pulled apart, Jason looked lovestruck and Y/N gave him a heart-warming smile, that Bucky adored. The fact that he wasn’t on the receiving end of it, stirred something in him. He couldn’t stand watching them anymore. He got to get away. Looking around him frantically, he felt a rush of what he thought was an anger and fled the scene.

He decided to finally make her his.

Y/N felt good after the talk with Jason. Their closure brought her much needed relief. She was ready to come home, take a bath and munch on some snacks. She totally deserved it. As soon as she got to the Stark Tower, she filled her promises to herself. Warmed up after the bath, dressed in comfortable clothes and armed with a controller, she camped on the couch and took out her frustration shooting hostile aliens in her favourite video game.

There was only one piece missing of her serenity. Bucky. She hadn’t seen him throughout the whole day and was getting progressively worried and tad bit sad. Making peace with the fact that they will only stay friends, she sighed and made way to her bed. She succeeded in distracting herself from the drama, but nonetheless, her thoughts started wandering Bucky’s way anyway. No matter what happened between them, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

She changed into her pyjamas and got under covers. Laying on her back, she zoned out, whilst looking at the ceiling. Ugh, why can’t I get over him, she huffed. Turning on her side, she fell asleep.

Bucky was miserable. He almost lost Y/N today, for good. He could always kidnap her and keep her with him, but he didn’t want to take such an unnecessary measure. If there was a chance to get her willingly, he would try. That didn’t mean, he wasn’t tempted to do so. As much as he wanted to give her space and time, he wasn’t cool with fucking around and not doing any progress in their relationship. They were stagnating during her whole fling with Jason and just when he thought, they took a step in a right direction, he made them take two back. He basically rushed her to Jason’s arms, again.

“Fuck,” he let out a frustrated sigh. He had to do something, right now.

And so here he was, standing over Y/N’s sleeping form. He learned, that she was a deep sleeper. For many nights, he tried to be as stealthy and quiet as possible, but as the time went on, he found out, that even his mumblings aren’t enough to wake her. So, he talked away the nights spent next to her. He told her about his day, then proceeded onto his dreams and plans for the future – many of them involving her. Oh, how he wished to tell her about those, while she was awake. He couldn’t help, but took her sleeping form in, admiring how her nose scrunched, when she dreamed. Sometimes he stole a cheeky kiss. Other times he tried his luck, touching himself right in front of her. Maybe he wanted to be caught in the act. He dared her to wake up. Although, she never did. But tonight, he was going to stay here long enough for her to wake.

Morning sun invaded her room, landing its rays on her face, stirring her from her slumber. Feeling refreshed, she moved to stretch her rested body, only to be restricted by handcuffs.

“What the hell?” she mumbled to herself, as she tugged on her wrists once more.

“You’re awake. Good.” A deep voice startled her. Bucky.

“What is this? Uncuff me, right now.” She wanted to sound confident, but her demand came out as a pathetic whimper once her eyes met Bucky’s dominant gaze. He was standing in front of her bed only in his underwear. Y/N zoned out, admiring his godly body and her mouth watered at the visible bulge. He was big.

“I think we both know, what will happen.” A cocky grin plastered over his face.

“Yes, you’ll untie me and then I’ll kick your ass.” Y/N said, trying to resist the wetness pooling in her underwear.

“Feisty. I like that.” Bucky smirked as he climbed on her bed. “We’ll see how long you can keep that attitude on for.” And with that, he kissed her. Y/N was in pure shock. She had to remind herself to move her lips and not only gawk at her beautiful best friend, who was finally kissing her.

So, it wasn’t one-sided after all! Or this is another dream. A very cruel dream. But Bucky’s warm calloused hands exploring her body were, for sure, real. They pulled away to catch their breaths, staring each other right in the eyes.

“I’ve wanted to do this ever since I first saw you.” Bucky cooed. Y/N replied by pulling him for another heated kiss. Bucky then descended down to her swan-like neck, marking her for everyone to see, who she belonged to from now on. She moaned desperately, as Bucky started grinding his hips against hers, while simultaneously playing with her nipples.

“Bucky, please, I need you.” She looked at him, with her eyes hooded. Hearing her beg made something in him snap. He lost control, turning feral. Tearing right through her clothes, he moaned at the sight of her bare body.

“My pretty little girl.” His words made Y/N blush.

“Please…” She squirmed under him, impatient for his touch.

“Tell me, what do you want, doll?” He wanted to make their first time slow, to devour her, to make her go crazy by the time he would finally enter her. All that was forgotten after her reply.

“I need you inside me, Bucky,” she said, her voice timid, just above a whisper. Although it was all the consent Bucky needed for wrecking her tight aching hole.

Quickly, he slipped out of his boxers, making his cock sprung free. Y/N gasped at his size, worried look in her eyes as he reassured her, that he’ll go slow.

He reached between her legs, only to find her dripping and needy for his stuffing. He plunged his two metal fingers in, making her gasp at the sudden cold sensation. Coating them in her wetness, he scissored her, while watching her face expression intently.

“Stop teasing me and fuck me already!” She huffed, clearly frustrated with him, while he only laughed and withdrew his fingers. He smeared her juices on his throbbing cock, mixing them with precum, that was leaking from his angry red tip.

Not wasting any more time, he lined himself up with her entrance. They moaned in unison as he slowly split her in half. She cried out at the impossible stretch, but soon accommodated to his girthy length. His hand wandered to her clit as to ease her pain. Soon enough, he started rocking his hips back and forth.

She struggled against the restrains, wanting to touch Bucky. She would scratch his back, rake through his hair and pull on it, make him know, how good he was making her feel.

“Tell me, who this tight pussy belongs to.” Bucky’s growl went straight to Y/N’s core.

“You, o-only you,” she stuttered, as he hit that special spot with a pronounced thrust.

He sped up, whispering filthy things to her. She could only lie there and take it. Her brain was fogged and the only thing she could think of was her nearing orgasm.

“Fuck, I know you’re close. Can feel you squeezing my cock, you little slut.” Bucky exclaimed, making Y/N moan at his dirty talk. He thrusted even deeper, getting her closer and closer with each jerk of his hips.

“Cum all over my cock, babygirl. I know you want to.” He wasn’t wrong. Not long after, Y/N came with almost a pornographic moan, as he kept fucking her through her orgasm. Her pussy throbbed from overstimulation.

“I want you to cum in me, daddy.” She whispered. Bucky lost control after hearing the title he was given and fucked her harder into the mattress. Tears started streaming down her cheeks. The overstimulation. The pain. The pleasure. It was all too much.

Bucky’s thrusts became sloppy as he shot his seed deep into her, pulling another orgasm from her, as well. Her walls tightened, milking every drop of his potent elixir. He threw his head back, as he stilled inside of her, vein on his neck bulging out. A bead of sweat rolled down from his temple, onto his jaw and neck, making way towards his muscled torso and Y/N thought, he never looked hotter.

Still sheathed deep inside of her, his lips met hers in a breathless kiss. After he uncuffed her, they both laid next to each other, basking in the post-orgasmic bliss.

“Why? Not that I’m complaining,” asked Y/N. Bucky pulled her close.

“I needed to claim you for myself.” He flashed her a toothy grin.

“Well, mission successful,” replied Y/N as she cuddled into him.

THE END

@vicmc624​ @ok-but-loki​ 

[darling-i-read-it]

Extra Blankets

Jason Voorhees x reader

Word Count: 1k

Warnings: talks of murder, blood, cleaning up a wound

Author’s Note: I have been dying to write for Jason lately and I finally did it! I have all 8 of the original movies and I’ve been binging them so thanks to that here we are. Also thinking about doing some house of wax stuff. Haven’t decided. 

Summary: You clean up Jasons wounds after he kills a bunch of camp counselors 

Genre: fluff actually

I don’t own these characters. They belong to author/director 

(not my gif)

It was raining unbelievably hard. You felt the cabin sides shake with the storm outside and hoped that the roof would hold up. You weren’t sure when it was built and it wasn’t like you were going to ask. You let out a sigh and looked continued to look through the dresser. The lights had just gone out so you had a few candles going that you could find and the only flashlight in your hand as you looked for a blanket.

You had one on the bed but it wasn’t enough.

You heard the door shake and you stood up, gasping and without a blanket. It shook harder and you could see the doorknob jilting back and forth in a struggle because you had locked the door. 

Finally a key slid in, likely the one that was under the mat outside. The door flung open just as a clap of thunder sounded and Jason revealed himself in the beam of your flashlight. You let out a sigh of relief.

“You scared me,” you told him. It sounded like a whisper over the storm but he had clearly at least seen you because his mask was angled at your face. You walked over to him and gestured to the door. “Shut it, it’s freezing. Where did you put the blankets?” 

He shut the door behind him and put the key on the table directly beside the door. The cabin was small but it had been Jason's cabin alone before you showed up and he allowed you to move in with him. You had been scared at first but now you were comforted by his presence, sure that no one would harm you while he was around. You had also cleaned up the place. 

You gave him a once over with your flashlight and let out a sigh. He had a dark sticky substance over his shirt and it was ripped on his arm. You couldn’t tell much from the darkness but as you touched it you were sure that it was blood.

“Jason…” you muttered and he looked down at you. You had been together or at least lived together long enough to where he was allowing you to take off his mask. You still hesitated, especially after a night like that night where he had clearly been on an angry rampage. You put your hand up to the mask and waited for his go ahead. He nodded slightly and you took it off, setting it down onto the table.

You examined his face for injuries and found nothing. The mask had protected him this time. 

“Sit,” you whispered and he nodded, sitting down on the chair beside the table. You walked away and to the dresser again where you kept most of your cleaning and medical supplies. You hadn’t been a doctor before you met Jason but now you were pretty sure you could go to med school if you wanted.

You walked back to him and started at his bloody jacket and striped it aside to be washed later. You then looked at his shirt a bit and hiked up the short sleeve. He had a pretty bad gash on the side of his arm.

You started in on it immediately and he winced, pulling back harshly. You waited for him to put his arm back patiently and in due time he did.

“It’s okay,” you promised. He looked at you with big eyes and you nodded again. He grabbed the table and held it tightly as you started to fix up his arm. “How many tonight?” you asked. You looked into his eyes and he of course didn’t answer. “More than three?” He nodded very slightly. “More than five?” He shook his head.

You nodded.

“I guess that's better than ten,” you whispered. You continued on his wounds and soon it was as wrapped up as you could get it. “Get changed before you go to sleep or else I’ll kick you off.”

He let out a soft groan which was about all you got out of him. He did as he was told though, not really because you wanted it but more because he knew you washed the sheets and it annoyed him now when he made them dirty because you left him to wash.

He took off his clothes slowly and put on a pair of comfier pants which you had actually brought him one day that he was now obsessed with. 

You got into bed and cuddled up to the thin blanket that was already there, having given up on the others. 

“Blow out the candles,” you whispered and turned to your side. The bed was in the corner of the room and you slept against the wall and now was facing it. You heard him shuffle around as you closed your eyes.

The candles blew out and then the bed shifted a lot as he sat down. You felt a blanket be put over you and you smiled, nuzzling into the extra warmth as Jason laid down beside you. 

In the darkness of the storm you both fell asleep comfortably and without complaint. 

[octalove]

V: Letting Lie

(Batgirl/Red Hood)

Description: There’s a breakthrough in the case, and Reader takes things into her own hands. Part one, two, three, and four.

The hospital was white. All white. Like a dream. White walls, white floors, white curtains, white stretchers, white papers fluttering around on clipboards, doctors in white coats. Mr. Wayne’s suit was black, so I focused on him. Black suit, blue tie. Black hair, blue eyes. He was filling out whatever paper the nurse had given him. Something about seeing it all play out, despite the face he had put on for me, made my eyes well up with tears. He was afraid, so I was afraid.

“Mr. Wayne?” His eyes shot up as he looked desperately at the nurse. He was so helplessly at the mercy of whatever news they brought us. We both were. “Will you come with us? We’ll have a nurse stay with the girl.” The nurse looked down at me with a warm smile. White teeth.

“We need to borrow Mr. Wayne for just a second. That okay, baby?” I just nodded, not really considering it something I could say no to. No, please, I want him to stay. I’m scared and I want him to stay. A male nurse came and sat by me. He talked to me about school, my favorite subjects- science, math. He asked me what I wanted to be, and I shrugged.

“People who like science and math make good doctors.” He said. I shrugged again, but then considered it more.

“Is it hard?” I asked.

“It’s very hard. Not a lot of people can do it.”

“…”

“But it’s worth it. You help people, you know?”

Mr. Wayne appeared from around the corridor. The look on his face made all the papers stop fluttering. Made all the doctors stop rushing. Made the world stop where it was. Somewhere, maybe, in retrospect, I knew before he said it. I kept my eyes trained on his face, even though I wanted to look away.

“Y/N…” He said, taking a seat beside me. “Listen to me, sweetpea. Your parents-” His voice was cautious, considerate as he tried again. “Your moms got hurt really badly tonight… They- they’re both…“ A tear landed on my hand as the memory grew into a reality, which was bigger than I was. White sheets, red blood. He took my hand, and wiped it away.

“They’re gone now.”

*

They didn’t talk about Jason Todd.

And since they were the only people in his life at the time he died, nobody talked about Jason Todd. We met a couple of times, before Bruce took me in. I hated my expensive gowns, and he hated his expensive obligations, and we hid together at parties, all the while Dick insisted we’d get married. He lived, albeit briefly, as a smart, capable boy, and died as a smart, capable Robin. I had trouble looking at his face- pictures and old year books. When I did, I was looking into the face of a boy who died an untimely, tragic death. That was it. That was his story. Jason Todd died alone, afraid, and probably in a lot of pain. I went to his funeral.

If at all he came up (I could only think of one or two occasions), Bruce would tense, his eyes falling away, and Alfred’s gaze would cloud with memory. Dick, at least, could share a story or two, coveting the fondness and pride he had for his brother without dismissing the whole subject. Tim and Damian didn’t ask. They just tried not to die with the uniform on.

So walking into the cave and seeing Jason Todd’s face plastered on the central monitor seemed like the single most unlikely thing to occur in the Wayne household. I would’ve placed Bruce adopting another child before digging up and displaying dead ones.

Tim, Dick, and Babs were huddled close, faces wound and tight, while Bruce looked distracted, fascinated with his W.E. ballpoint pen. I dragged my feet a little to alert them all of my entry, but only Babs looked up.

“Y/N.” She said.

“Hey. What’s going on?”

Everyone just sort of concluded that someone else would explain, or take the lead, but no one made any attempt to do so. Finally, Bruce sighed.

“Come here. Sit down.” Okay. If there was anything in the world that could make your intestines feel like they were getting turned to ramen noodles by a paper shredder, it was Bruce Wayne telling you to come here, sit down. I searched the others’ faces as I did so.

“What happened?” I asked quietly, trying to fill the chasmic silence.

“I’m going to go over everything. Do you remember…” He trailed off- just for a second. It wasn’t often I saw him battle with something like that. His face was tired, and his eyes revealed a struggle as he fought whatever emotion he was grappling with. “Do you remember Jason?”

I nodded. “Sort of.” An echoing memory passed. Lacy table cloth curtains and chocolate covered strawberries as we camped under gala snack tables, whispering and laughing. Bruce watching me when my parents went out of town, and Jason giving me a tour of the library. The red roses on his burial. Sure, sort of. His blurry picture was on the monitor, anyway.

“Okay. Very good.” Bruce began again, perhaps relieved he would have to go into detail to refresh my memory.

“We’ve been putting a lot of information together regarding the Red Hood. We’ve been able to deduce his origins were The Viper House, but before that, Arkham. He began working out of the Asylum, and contacts there had a lot of information about him.”

That, I didn’t know. I supposed I wasn’t the only one slinking around in shadows. He was addressing everyone now, going through visuals on the monitor.

“He began to placate what was left of Joker’s operations in Coventry before he started on general crime. Oracle was even able to get some information from Harley Quinn.” I looked at Babs with some surprise, and she just nodded along.

“The very first sighting of him- in Coventry- was April 27th, seven months ago. The fifth anniversary of…”

I nodded. I knew what April 27th was. A vapid, despairing day in the manor that Bruce spent in his office and Dick didn’t call. I didn’t follow, but if Bruce had linked Jason’s death to Red Hood, I knew he must have something big.

“All of the information we gathered, on top of his intimate knowledge of us, vigilante or otherwise, has lead us to a clear conclusion. The encounter in Crime Alley on the 21st was just another confirmation.”

I almost flinched as my eyes flew to Tim, but no one seemed particularly interested in me. I texted him quickly, careful to avoid Bruce’s eye.

You told him?

- I told him I was the one who saw it. It was important information.

Shit, Tim. Was he mad?

He didn’t answer, looking back up to the briefing. I slid my phone into my pocket, guilt weighing in my chest alongside the other myriad of emotions building.

“He’s been around longer than seven months. Much longer. And it began with Jason’s death.”

I furrowed my brow, putting together a puzzle with with bent, broken edges, like trying to fit a triangle into a square-shaped hole- just one angle missing.

“Are you saying… Joker didn’t kill Jason? That this guy did?” My body felt cold.

Bruce looked at Dick, who didn’t return his gaze. Then, he turned back to me.

“I’m saying... that Jason is Red Hood.”

I let confusion twist on my face. “What? How? That’s not possible. You think he lived? We- I mean, we had a funeral.”

Dick shook his head, answering on Bruce’s behalf. “He did die, but… are you familiar with the Lazarus Pit?”

I went over my tangling thoughts. The crime scenes. The anger. The vigilante justice packaged in a case of blood and bullets, shipped right to Gotham’s largest looming criminals. The warehouse, the alley. The button. The leather on his gloves as he ran his fingers along my face and pressed it, leaving me all alone.

Tell Batman,

It was all falling in line; bubbling up and searing together like hot, melding flesh pulled together in the burning waters of the Lazarus.

I’m getting impatient.

“So… what are you going to do?” I asked.

Dick’s face was pained. Solemn. “I… we want to try to talk to him. There’s a reason he’s doing all this, and there’s a reason he chose now. If we want to figure it out, we have to find him.”

I swallowed. “I can help.”

“No.” Bruce declared swiftly. “Absolutely not. The only thing we know about him is that he’s dangerous. Red Hood may have Jason’s DNA, but we need to work under the assumption that he isn’t the same person.”

I could answer that. He wasn’t.

“Do not look for him. Do not engage him. Is that clear?” He was talking to me, Tim, and Damian. We all nodded.

“Any unapproved interaction could jeopardize the case, and give him more insight into our movements. We want to try and remain one step ahead. That is all.” The explanation was for Damian, who operated on bargains, not orders. Again, we all nodded. After a moment, I sighed.

“Well… I have school in the morning. Will you tell me if you learn anything else?” I asked. The three of them nodded, and Dick muttered a ‘goodnight’. I turned, mind working against the grain of what I should do and what I wanted to do.

Just go to bed, I willed myself.

Just go.

*

Night fell, black and smoggy. The sea was hissing and writhing, unsettled with the gale of a promised storm. I wasn’t entirely certain what would catch Red Hood’s attention. It seemed that our history comprised of him finding us, and not the other way around. Gotham Docks seemed like a good place to start. Ever since Kuznetsov was found in his watery grave, his men belonged to Hood. They moved drug imports that came to Port Adams- actual drugs- pharmaceuticals, over-the-counters, hydrocodone, acetaminophen; all legal things. But Gotham City taxed the living hell out of medicine imports, so people like Kuznetsov (may he rest in peace) smuggled them in fishing vessels for cheap, and got them into the hands of big pharma and medicare companies for a lot of money.

I’d picked a cozy spot on the roof of a bait shop that made me feel safely invisible as my eyes swept over the docks. Batman didn’t typically prioritize crime of this caliber; over the counter meds weren’t going to blow anyone’s heads off the way crazy clowns and mafia bosses were. It made the busy henchmen on the boardwalks nice and blatant. It wasn’t hard to find tonight’s operation.

I needed to make a scene. Make some noise, throw out some names- one name in particular. Wherever he was, I hoped it’d be enough to make it worth dropping in. I was used to making quick, efficient work of criminals, not stalling. Making a scene meant no disappearing in shadows, or quieting the sound of my breath.

There were a couple of men dollying crates in and out of a packaging plant. Disguised as fishermen, naturally. As they approached the building, several feet from the propped-open door, I dropped. Embracing the momentum, my weight striking the old wood made a salient sound, and sent the startled men gasping and staggering backward.

“Holy shit!”

“B-Batma-

“B-B-Batgirl?” I clipped. “Were you gonna say Batgirl?” It didn’t really matter which bat they thought it was. The fear all worked to the necessary effect.

“Jesus, Joseph, and Mary,” The man muttered, scooting backward along the wood as I let my step fall heavy against it.

“Where is he?” I asked, drumming up my vicious, raspy voice, like smoke on the sea.

“Where-where’s who?” He stuttered. The other man was taking advantage of my focus and scrambling to his feet. Any second, he would bolt into the building. Perfect.

“Red. Hood.” I said, loud enough that the fleeing man would hear.

“I don’t know! Hand to god, I don’t know!” The man on the ground pleaded. I looked down at him, letting the fear and shadow distort my face.

“I don’t believe you.” I kicked him in the chest, sufficiently knocking the wind out of him, but left him there, turning my attention to the packaging plant.

Adrenaline was in my limbs, pushing and pulling with the running blood under my skin. When was the last time I had a good fight? Carjackings and bank robberies felt so small, and predictable. Everything was always stable. Batman always had it under control, watching dutifully from rooftops, appearing in split second if I needed help.

Tonight, Batman wasn’t here. I felt no eyes on my back, no voices in my ear. It was under control, but it was my control.

The men inside had already sufficiently scattered. I didn’t bother to hush my footsteps as I entered. The icy breeze from the open door made my cape flutter, despite its weight- and that was the only sound.

Suddenly, boots on concrete, and a man let out a defiant cry as he shot toward me, with a rusted tire iron raised above his head. I moved on practiced instinct, side stepping and leaving him stumbling, before delivering a hard, well-aimed kick that he wasn’t getting up from. Two other men concluded (incorrectly) if they went together, they could take me.

It was a blur of fists and make-shift weapons comprised of packaging tools, but they were easy to parry and subdue. I kicked the second one back with enough force to send him through a thin wooden partition, which cracked and splintered under his weight. I swung my eyes around the scene.

“Anyone else?” I knew they were there. Tucked behind conveyor belts and crouched low, using fish barrels for cover. No one answered the call of duty.

“I’ll ask again,” I called. “Where. Is. Red. Hood?”

Suddenly, a flash of color, and I went backward and downward, catching myself enough that my arm slid across the concrete instead of my face. I let out a sharp breath just in time to dodge another blow.

“All this,” The computerized tilt of his voice couldn’t smother the anger in it. “For little old me?”

I kept my eyes trained on his hands, because I could entertain close combat, but knew I’d need to bolt if he drew his guns. That didn’t appear to be his intention. I dipped away from one of his swings, but he swiped at the fabric of my cape, grip closing, and used it to heave me into a barrel. I gasped at the force of it as I reckoned with shattered wood. Barely recovering, I rolled out of the way as he swung low. I went for the door, figuring I could use a little more space, since he had a hundred pounds and a few feet on me.

Outside, a frigid wind was cascading across the docks, biting my skin and casting droplets of salt water all around. Red Hood moved imposingly slow-paced, attending the cuff of his jacket sleeve, while I put a hand on the railing and tried to find my footing again.

“There are easier ways to get my attention, sweet thing.” Drawing to a halt, he didn’t look like he was going to attack me again, so I wiped the blood from my lip and straightened.

“Sorry. You forgot..” I was still breathing heavily. “To give me.. your number… last time.”

He laughed; a terrible, beautiful thing. “I guess I did, didn’t I?”

I fought to remember why I was here, and consequently, tried to pull together Jason Todd with the faceless man before me. They seemed to foil one another- a triangle through a square-shaped hole.

“So what do you want?” He asked, more serious this time. Though a reasonable question, it almost sounded rhetorical for the sheer lack of curiosity in it. I swallowed.

“Show me your face.” I said. It was so quiet, so hushed by the jeering sea that I was surprised when he tilted his head in response.

“Liked our little game that much? Had to crack a few skulls just to play it again?” I was frustrated, wishing he would come close, like he had in the alley, and let me touch him. Let me push away the helmet and know.

I tried to convey my seriousness with a look, but he just rolled his shoulders.

“Is that all, little bird?” He seemed annoyed; like I’d dragged him here only to concern myself with the small matter of his secret identity. The secret identity of Gotham’s most prolific crimelord. I wanted to make him understand, but I didn’t know what to say. He didn’t say anything else, either. He didn’t say “no” or “whatever” or “goodbye”. He just started walking away.

Jason.

Suddenly, I stopped myself. What if he wasn’t? What if Bruce was wrong? I’d throw out a name- an accusation- at a monstrous stranger who had no connection to me or my family. He’d laugh his terrible laugh and know that the world’s greatest detectives weren’t so great after all. Nervousness consumed me, tightening around my throat, placating me while I watched his form get smaller as he walked away, the darkness threatening to swallow him up.

“Jason!”

He stopped. His boots dragged to a jarring halt on the wood. Slowly, then, he turned around. The shadows were long and cast over him, turning his helm the color of old blood.

“Come back.” I said. “Please.”

His body language was unreadable, a mix between relaxed and hesitant that left him standing there, looming, and left me unsure as to whether he was going to leave, or pull a glock on me. Then, he lifted his hands. His thumbs dragged beneath his jaw methodically, until there came a hiss from his helmet, and he pulled it off.

“Jason.” I repeated. My voice was tight. It shook. His gaze followed me in the dark before he approached, gate slow and heavy, and sat down on a fishing crate.

“What? Do I look different? Put on a little weight?” Maybe he was joking- I couldn’t tell. The soft rasping of his voice startlingly contrasted the voice scrambler, and blended with the bubbling waters below our feet. But something eerie laced it. It was still foreign to me. “It’s okay. You can tell me.”

I had previously thought I might be able to do this; face him. After all- I should be happy to see him again, alive after five years of Bruce’s grief and wretched hollowness. Years of operating in the long, dark shadow cast by his headstone. But somehow, the man before me was instead a confirmation. A walking death certificate. Jason Todd- the other Jason Todd- was still gone. Bronze skin, of which small, light colored scars adorned. Midnight hair mussed from his helmet, leaving a couple strands to fall over his dark eyes; eyes that used to hold warmth, and now held a malefic coldness. When I drank in the features of his face, I found my chalice empty. He didn’t approach me this time- didn’t draw near enough to feel his heat. Just sat there, elbows resting on his thighs, leaning forward and looking at me. I had trouble holding his gaze, but I did. Then, he gave me a chilling grin.

“Did you miss me?”

His voice knocked something loose, as my mind placed him as a memory. Someone I’d actually known. I had a million burning questions. “How? What happened?”

He pulled out a cigarette, shrugging. “I’ve been busy. Dying’s a lotta work.”

“Why- why are doing this?” This being spending seven months as the most prolific crimelord in Gotham. There was a spark of his lighter. Using his hand to shield the flame from the winds and misting water, it nurtured an orange glow on his face, bathing his skin in auburn light for just a moment. I blinked, and it was extinguished, replaced, again, by the blue darkness. He took a deep drag.

“Know how I died, dollface?” He asked. I did, so I nodded.

“Remember what happened to the bastard who killed me? After.” I studied him, still reeling a bit from accepting the man before me as the boy he’d been. I remembered there was another attack after Jason’s death. Joker took forty pounds of C4 to a shopping center in Fashion district at the beginning of May. Amidst the rubble were Robin: Missing posters. Bruce didn’t make them. Joker kept up his streak thereafter. He didn’t stop until his death, last year.

“Nothin’.” Jason supplied the answer. A hard, bitter, sorrowful nothing. It burned cold, like an inverse flame.

“Batman doesn’t kill. He doesn’t kill, and killers do. So they walk, and keep killing, and he calls it justice.”

I let it all sink in. Batman was the only thing standing between Gotham and complete corruption. I saw, in my memory, all the people I’d helped. All the victims who’d ever clung to me or thanked me through tears. All the pride I’d ever felt carrying the mantle. Batman didn’t kill because you can’t go back from killing. If he did, it wouldn’t be vigilantes against criminals- it’d be dogs eating dogs. Domestic war. Jason had been Robin. Surely he understood the philosophy of it?

But, then, what did it get him? He took those philosophies to the grave. When he finally crawled back out, he did what anyone with a vendetta might do. He overcorrected.

“Tell me somethin’, little bird.” His eyes leveled steadily on mine as I looked back up. “You call that justice?” I swayed under the intensity of it. I was afraid to disagree with him, but I didn’t even know if I wanted to. There were a lot of times I watched Joker slip through Batman’s hands, free to blow up another shopping center, when he could’ve stopped him if he just-

“I don’t… I don’t know.”

He got up, cigarette hanging from his lips, gaunt eyes burning through the blue dark.

“I think you do.”

The sea hissed, and the wind writhed, and I watched as the night swallowed him up.

[currentfandomkick]

Marinette did not sign up for this part 8

first part here previous part here ao3 here

update at last!

--

Marinette almost screamed when she saw the knitting needles on her balcony. It wasn’t even her birthday yet. Was he around? Taunting her?

School wasn’t helping. She kept her eyes on the windows.

It didn’t help her team was scanning the area constantly… and she was certain that Kagami somehow got out of school as she could spot Ryuuko before school even started, and her shadow had’t moved often.

Alya, Nino and Adrien weren’t leaving her side. Kim had taken to joining them (and with him, Max and Alix) with Kim determined to get Marinette to wear one of his hoodies since “you look cold.”

She knew that was code. ‘Let me help.’ She wasn’t sure this was something safe for them to help with.

“Thanks but I’m good!” was highly ineffective.

Before lunch Kim had his hoodie on her. It made it harder to find her with the change from her usual outfits once Adrien and Alix stole her hairbands.

They were doing a plain sight disguise. She knew it.

Going to Alix’s after school helped a bit with that.

She still felt eyes on her. She couldn’t tell who’s.

Alix was the one to break out the guardian translations with her dad. The Kubdels knew more than most of her team—time travel side effects after all. It was a big part of why she could trust them in the first place: Alix wanted to help and her father knew there would be a Ladybug in Paris before giving Alix the family heirloom. When Marinette saw it after studying the miraculous for a bit and asking Fu if there could be two rabbit miraculouses… it lead to Fu merging the two (from two separate timelines).

In the one Mr. Kubdel was from, a girl named Bridgette took up the role of Ladybug and was followed around by a questionable Black Cat. Mr. Kubdel’s grandfather prevented that timeline from happening—changing key events and all—but was prepared for the chances another rabbit would be needed. His son was not a good fit… (poor research, questionable retention, and overall bad at delicate work) meanwhile Alix had street art done quickly and intricately, fast reflexes, and adored learning history to the point some topics had been re-written in the curriculum for “the complete BS this hack is pushing” and “obvious refusal to stick to the facts” among other objections with heavily cited and sourced works to back up her claims. To a truly terrifying degree.

Its also why once they were out of sight, Alix and Mr. Kubdel and her escaped to one of the secret passaged kept off the current schematics for Miraculous related reasons (escape without being seen leaving) and Alix brought them into her burrow sans ‘time windows’ for her peace of mind.

“What do you want us to do Ladybug?” Bunnix asked.

That was the question…

They tracked that the issue began with what let Robin identify her in the first place. The most likely culprit was the flaming akuma… if Alix went as Bunnix and helped Ladybug catch the butterfly or got it someone else, then Robin would never have identified her, and their current situation wouldn’t be happening.

She wouldn’t be hunted by the Ghosts of Gotham.

But then… her team wouldn’t exist, not as it does.

Chat wouldn’t know who she is.

She wouldn’t exist.

She… she wasn’t willing to give that up.

“We’re not undoing the past.”

Bunnix nodded, gliding around the empty space.

Mr. Kubdel opened and closed his mouth before finally offering his own suggestion. “Perhaps, we could capture them.”

Marinette ran over that option. It wasn’t bad. Not by a long shot… but the capture would deprive Gotham of its vigilantes…

“We only keep Robin, any others captured are cut loose as soon as possible and removed.”

“But Robin is the one that knows your identity,” Bunnix reminded her.

“The others probably figured it out already. But that’s not why we’re keeping him.”

Mr. Kubdel gestured for her to clue them in.

“Remember what the Aesir and Vanir did to end their dispute?”

Mr. Kubdel searched his memories until it hit him. “Ah. That.”

Marinette nodded. “Add in a game of chase, move to the home turf, and we have our plan.”

“And you’re bait?” Bunnix checked, no longer moving about as she absorbed the plan.

--

If you were a civilian in Paris, you might catch sight of what must be someone’s idea of a joke. As not only were there Big Justice Members running around with your local heroes—who up until this point had only worked with one other group (Quantics) who were Europe-based.

But seeing some guy in black with a bluebird on his chest go head to head with Rena, Miss Sting and a very pissed off Monkey King and Pegasus (since when does he get mad like that? Kid looks like he’s going to end Bluebird) was not a sight you were able to process at the moment. Wonder Woman joining the group was the cherry on top. and Carapace was moving civilians out of the way and sometimes caging them all in Shelter.

You also catch an enraged Chat Noir and Ryuuko tearing after some fashion disaster in a cape down the street. A cape for godsake. In broad daylight. Green Lantern was flying after them, and since when does Chat’s suit… move? Like, you’re pretty sure that’s not normal… at all.

Ryuuko and Fashion Disaster (FD for short) are sword fighting. Chat is attacking FD at any opening. Viperion is with them, sometimes shouting directions. Green Lantern seems to be keeping the fight from spilling over.

A check on the Miraculous News App shows pics of Fashion Disaster trying to get too close to the baker’s daughter. You know, the one that kind of slips the heroes snacks and is seen with Chat randomly at her balcony? The one you’re 30% sure he’s crushing on and in some war with Ryuuko for the heart of. Why else would the two be seen so often around it?—Akuma school is across the street.

You blink a few times when you realize that baker’s daughter is visibly scared of FD (and you’d be too if a random Mask with a sword showed up) and apparently had Bunnix with her at the time to help move faster.

That meant whatever happened in another time had to be bad…

Bunnix mentioned that in the world where she went Princess Justice there wasn’t much to stop her…

You can see why the team is a tad… okay, really overzealous. You’re pretty sure Chat tried to cataclysm FD after Ryuuko sent him flying with the air attack.

You manage to get a better view (For the People! and not to mock the villain later—no siree!) of the Bluebird fight. Dude gets taken down by a combination of things in short sucession—Monkey King landing a hit with his power, Wonder Woman’s lasso (through a portal—good on you Pegasus!) that he got pulled through, a flute to the head by Best Girl Rena, and paralyzed by your favorite striped heroine.

The take down shocked FD and Green Lantern caged the guy (teen? Kid? They look small.) and moved them over by Wonder Woman and her group, some of whom dispersed to recharge.

Never claim Bruce is not a dedicated parent. The best? He hopes not. The worst? He has met Stephanie’s parents, and he is far from them. And Cas’s. And he knows he’s not as bad as Rah’s. He is dedicated (and a serial adopters, but shhh). How does he know this?

He managed to reactivate his kid’s trackers and noted where they intersected and looked into properties, deeds, and children in the school across from the bakery Stephanie and Cass had taken to camping out in when not at their hotel rooms. So far, he narrowed down his daughter to three possible candidates—Mireille Caquet, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Laura Pretre. The only three girls in the age range he suspects Ladybug is in (he paid attention to the early videos and crossed her references, videogames and knowledge of the teens’ involved (re: knowing their names before the class became an akuma gold mine).  They are also the only three from his candidate pool who were adopted or single mother of the right age to have caught his younger self’s attention—a few interviews of the heroes let slip that Ladybug’s parents and her team’s parents are unaware of what they do, and her vicious support for child support and adoptive parents in a few akuma instances gave credit to her belonging to one of those two groups.

It was between Marinette and Laura in his opinion—they both ran a fashion boutique online. Mireille was a model the two shared, but still a possibility.

Jason was helped him narrow it down—a consolation for being stuck in bed and not allowed on patrol for the night. Apparently he was also trying to call off the identity search in-person to prevent any accidental identity reveals and prevent further stressing of “Lady Bat”.

Bruce may have smiled at the nickname. He doubted his daughter would appreciate it, but nicknames had a strange habit of sticking if Jason gave it… for better or worse in Tim’s case. (He was glad that Replacement was replaced with Tiny Tim, Timbo and Timmy).

He also noted that the girls were intent on Gabriel Agreste being Hawkmoth… and had a strange obsession with his relationship to Mayura given their search histories. Tim was still deciding between designers, and he did note that Marinette ranked highly on there… which was both a relief and terrifying.

That meant everyone but his daughter’s “business conduct supervisor” (Adrien Agreste, only son of Gabriel Agreste, primary candidate as Hawkmoth) had been akumatized and someone she had to personally fight while they hurled who knew what at her. He doubted it was good for her mental health. (Not that he has much room to talk, but still.)

Damian and Dick were refusing to respond to his messages, and likely engaged in something.

Until Green Lantern lit up his screen with a pained look. “Bats, this is not what I meant by get your house in order.”

The view panned to Nightwing and Robin currently held by a very pissed off Wonder Woman. With Chat Noir glaring at Robin, something off with his suit.

Batman sighed deeply. “I told you those two weren’t responding since Robin returned with Red Hood last night.”

Green Lantern looked at someone off screen, clearly taking commands from them.

“Uh, yeah… We’re having Supergirl get the other three back Stateside. Miss Sting and Chat want to interrogate these two since Robin was caught around a civilian they keep an eye on.”

Batman could hear what wasn’t being said. Robin went to talk to Ladybug’s civilian identity and it blew up in his face.

“… are any of you allowed to be present to monitor the interrogation?”

He doubted the teens would get violent. (he hoped) but there were too many unknowns.

A hiss from Chat Noir ended his ‘not likely to get violent’ train of thought. His one of his sons was caught stalking their leader, who he has previously tried to kill, and another aimed a gun at a member of their team. Violence was on the table.

And he couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

“Ladybug will choose who comes.”

Robin looked up at him from the background. “Permission to ask Father a question?”

There was a moment when everyone turned to the figure off screen, likely Miss Sting given Ladybug’s refusal to be in the Justice League’s presence.

Robin turned back to the screen, Hal moving closer to give him a better view of Robin. HE was largely unbruised on his face and his breathing was even. Positive indicators.

“Am I allowed to unmask?”

Batman froze. Jason looked up from his spot. He could feel Babs choking on something in shock.

Hal and Diana reacted somehow, but they weren’t in screen.

He meant to do this far later. When she adjusted. To her alone, and later let her team know. ease them into it—there was no knowing one of their identities without knowing the rest. Not with how Ladybug’s mind worked. And he doubted she kept many secrets from her team.

“…I am not opposed to it. Preferably keep it to those you trust with that knowledge alone.”

Robin nodded. “Understood Father.”

--

When Ladybug showed up, she could feel everyone’s eyes on her. She ignored it as best she could, especially the silent Nightwing and Robin… possible assassins. Sent by her biological father who never even met her. it was going to be a long plan execution (and gods, she still needed to double check on the Hawkmoth as Gabriel theory and work out how to remove him from the company without screwing over a decent chunk of the fashion industry workers from design, store front to manufacturers and suppliers. And emotional whiplash of Hawkmoth trying to kill his own son twice. And the times he tried to manipulate her into Princess Justice and have it Stick in the timeline).

All it took was one look at Pegasus. One look and she blocked all the other issues swimming in her mind.

“Ah, we’re going there then… It’s a good thing Cowboy is resting for the moment…” Pegasus shook his head. “Voyage!”

Ladybug looked them over.

“Chat, Miss Sting, Rena, and Pegasus, I need you with me. The rest of you, patrol or return to civilian life until I return. If you come across an akuma, jar them. Contact us if you need a fix only.”

Carapace nodded, looking over at Kim and Alix. “We won’t let you down.”

Ladybug nodded, her eyes narrowing at the two League members present. She was still debating contacting the ‘only in an emergency do you contact this rogue branch’ group… they were once lead by a Chat Noir candidate, or still were… she wasn’t clear on that detail. What she did know is they went by League of Shadows in the book, but it was noted they favored violent forms of destruction, and she wasn’t sure if they needed that method… didn’t want them to need it either.

But the book stated the Amazons were loyal to Ladybugs. “Wonder Woman, please ensure the Bats are out of my city before we return.”

“Of course Ladybug.”

She turned to the Green Lantern. A shakier alliance with the lanterns historically, but also known to tell the Ghosts of Gotham off, and so far he’s shown a high favor of her team’s stance over his technical ally’s. Perhaps a personal grudge, or maybe the Justice League operated more like Gabriel’s company—a chain of command, specific roles somewhat dependent on each other, and no one had to like one another…

Wonder Woman was better to ensure the Bats left.

Green Lantern was the one holding Robin in his ring. And his “Core” as the book said, was most responsive to Ladybug who didn’t hesitate to protect others and themselves at once. That they showed a level of comradery during times when the Order followed philosophies that could be linked the idea of “personal and individual impact upon others with one’s actions and choice” was the exact wording.

She hoped she was doing this right.

“Green Lantern, if you would be so kind as to come with us and bring Murder Robin? You are free to roam once we get there, but don’t try to locate where on earth we are then. It’s the one place Hawkmoth hasn’t been able to reach, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

Green Lantern and Robin both agreed readily.

Nightwing looked like he really wanted to argue. A lot.

Wonder Woman somehow kept him from speaking as they left.

Marinette could finally breath when they entered the Temple. She wasn’t able to bring back the Guardians. She could bring back their scrolls, the library, the training rooms. It also meant they were far from Paris, from Hawkmoth’s reach, and that now the real plan had to be put in action… how to keep the bats out of Paris and her secret identity a secret. (Hawkmoth could wait. She needed time to work that out, and once she was sure, once the nagging doubt and what ifs stopped plaguing her… then she’d look for that solution… maybe Adrien could inherit early or they could arrange for his father to be caught committing tax fraud or something after getting Nooroo and Duusuu? Anything to ensure he was punished for his actions and that Adrien isn’t caught in the crossfire. She can’t lose the literal other half of her soul. She just. Can’t.)

Ladybug paused when she looked over Chat. His suit was… moving. Shadows were moving on his suit. That. That can’t be good.

“Chat, bring Murder Robin somewhere he can’t find a weapon, Miss Sting, make sure no one attacks anyone in any way, am I clear?”

Miss Sting gave a curt Nod while Chat hissed, but relented easily enough.

Green Lantern put a hand on her shoulder while Pegasus ran off to the library, likely to check up on his own additions to the place… bringing it into the twenty-first century was not easy.

“Going to check-in with what’s going on with your Cat?”

Ladybug glanced at him. “He’s my partner.”

“Pretty sure that’s what a Black cat is for a Ladybug,” Green Lantern said.

Ladybug didn’t respond, moving away from him and Rena to message Alix to find out what shadows have to do with the Black Cat… and if she needs to worry about a second Atlantis event.

------------

so things are happening because Mari is Smart Strategist, Protect Mari Squad is a force to be reckoned with (teen superheros love local baker daughter that gives them food and lets them hang out), Kubdels Know Their Timelines (Sort of) and Wonder Woman and Hal know better than pissing of a Ladybug while Bruce is off Suffering and Putting Shit Together.

and yeah, Damian is both the one who started this, and the one that Marinette wants to confront, (plus respects her secret ID rights unlike Certain Bats who made it a competition) so he gets First Meet rights in the way None Of Them Wanted.

anyone who wants to add to the madness, feel free to comment possible things and i'll see what sticks and doesn't.

fight scenes are Not My Best so i tried where I could (Sorry to batfam fans who wanted Dick to be Badass. he's up against Diana and four miraculous members directly PLUS carapace 'i am locking you into this space now' shelter? he's good but its Wonder Woman and five demi-god level heroes raised on adapt and overcome heroing. long battle but he was going to lose.) Damian's fight is left up to interpretation but Team-Work makes the Dream Work for this story.

@heldtogetherbysafetypins @laurcad123 @raisuke06 @chaosace@jeminiikrystal @toodaloo-kangaroo @kris-pines04 @bisha43rbs @izang

[pannabethjesus]

Heroes of Olympus: Quarantine Edition (Part 3)

Solangelo ( Nico x Will )

Nico and Will quarantine together in Will’s apartment.

Of course, Will being the son of Apollo, goes all-out for safety measures during quarantine.

His mom welcomes Nico with open arms and he finds himself tearing up. He hugs her tightly, surprising himself and Will, who stares in shock, because Nico has never been one to initiate physical contact.

Ms. Solace sits with the two of them during their first night in quarantine, in the living room and asks them about Camp. When Nico thanks her for letting him join in, she smiles warmly and says, “Sei sempre il benvenuto a casa, figlio mio.” ( “you’re always welcome home, my son.”)

That’s the second time Nico tears up. “You speak Italian?” “No, but William told me you did and I wanted to welcome you in our house, so you know you have a home here always.”

Nico goes to bed feeling overwhelmed but safe in a long time, and a little flower of pure joy blooms in his chest.

The next day, Will and Nico stock up on as many supplies as they need. The trip to the grocery store was fun despite the grim atmosphere.

Will sneaked Nico in the back closet and they made out with Nico holding a packet of gummy bears the whole time.

They buy a pack of Cards Against Humanity.

When they reach home, Ms. Solace has already cooked warm food and Will’s stomach grumbles.

He missed his mom’s cooking. It felt good to be back home with her.

He keeps all of the stuff they bought as Nico helps with the dishes after dinner.

His mom winks at him and leaves Will alone with Nico in the kitchen.

“I’m going to bed early, you boys can enjoy yourselves.” *exasperated* MOM!!!!

They both end up staying up late at night, sitting outside in the balcony of Will’s room. There’s a speaker playing The Neighbourhood and Cigarettes After Sex, and right to next it is a bottle of hand sanitiser.

“Your mom is- she’s perfect.” “I know, I’m glad you like her.” “I love her.” “I love you.” “Are you going cheesy on me, Solace?” “As if you don’t like it.” “Just shut up and kiss me.” “Whatever you say.”

The next morning Nico wakes up on Will’s chest. “Did we-?” “Nope, clothes still intact. We’re good.” *start laughing*

And then the days of quarantine pass by smoothly with Cards Against Humanity, Ms. Solace’s cooking and good music.

Nico finally feels like he belongs and feels safe and at home. He IM’s Reyna, Hazel and Jason a couple of times, to check up on them.

Will is happy that Nico likes being here. And he’s glad to be back home without the stress of another injured camper or some surgery to conduct.

In the end, it may be a global pandemic but it’s as peaceful for them as it can get. As long as they’re together.

[munchyn]

Pragma or  Philia

Summary: I can’t remember and I’m too lazy to re-read it. I think Y/n has trouble opening up to people and then something happens between her and Nico

Word count: nearly 2k

A/N: Sorry in advance of I don't get the personalities of the characters right. It's been a while since I read the books. The characters do not belong to me and neither does the story. They belong to Rick Riordan and you belong to you. I'm sorry if it's kinda weird. It's okay if you cringe (I cringed as I wrote it). Also, Pragma is longstanding love in Ancient Greek and philia is deep friendship in Ancient Greek.

Warning: none that I remember.

I looked over at my brother, Percy, as he trotted towards me. I started speed walking away. I knew he wanted to introduce me to his friends. But my anti-social ass always told him that I already had enough friends. Which was half true. Half true because I already did have enough friends. Half lie because I didn't have any friends,

I started to jog when I felt that my half-brother was gaining up on me. Soon, I was sprinting across camp to get away from Percy. Other campers watched in amusement as the two children of Poseidon chased each other. Well, for them the one child of Poseidon. As they surely didn't know who I was. There were only a few people who I had actually talked to. Those people were Percy, Chiron, Annabeth, Connor & Travis Stoll, Nico di Angelo and Jen, the satyr that had brought me to Camp Half-Blood over six years ago.

I had been in camp longer than Percy had. For most of my life here, I had slept in the Hermes cabin and lived there with the Stolls. No, they weren't my friends. Like I said before, I have no friends. They are more like allies or partners in crime. But anyway, I wasn't claimed until one year after Percy had arrived.

On one hand, I was glad I didn't have to sleep in a cabin crowded with thieves every night. On the other hand, I felt left out. Why hadn't my father noticed me until after two of his sons arrived at the camp? One of them being a cyclops. Was I not enough to be noticed? I mean, for more than half of my life I spent it on praying to Olympus for one of the gods to claim me. And then, after a lunatic with a sword comes along is when I finally get noticed. That lunatic had no idea what he was doing half of the time by the way. But he saved the world twice so I guess that makes up for it.

I held no grudge against Percy or Tyson though. What was the point? They didn't have the fault and besides, what was done was done.

"Y/n!" Percy panted as he grabbed my arm, stopping me and my thoughts. "Stop! I want to introduce you to my friends."

"That's exactly what I've been avoiding Percy," I say as I squirm out of his grip. "I also have enough friends as it is."

"You don't have any friends," he says bluntly. 'Wow,' I think to myself. 'So nice.'

"That's the point."

"Whatever," he says and grabs my hand. "You are going to meet my friends." I groaned and rolled my eyes.

"You can be so annoying sometimes," I say, but Percy ignored me and continued to drag me to the Poseidon cabin. He slammed open the door and seven faces turned to look at us. Between them, I recognized Annabeth, Nico and a girl that Annabeth seemed to hang out with a lot. Although I did not know her name. Percy sat me down on one of the bunks. He later sat down next to Annabeth on the bunk opposite mine. The others were already sitting down. I was sat down. I was next to Nico, who had a look that read he was sorry for me. I gave him the same look.

Nico was the closest thing I have to a friend. We used to have talks together about how the camp could improve and how the gods always sent demigods into their fights. In fact, it was our very first conversation together.

I leaned back against the wall as Percy introduced me to the group. I put on my annoyed face, but on the inside, I felt touched that Percy really cared for me enough to take his time to gather up people for me to meet them. As soon as he found out that I was his sister he tried to break down the walls that I had created around me. But so far the only person that had managed to do that was the person that was sitting next to me.

"How come I've never seen you around then?" asked the Latino boy next to the girl whose name I learned was Piper. I shrugged.

"I tend to keep to myself," I say. "I don't think you should be asking that question. I don't see you that much around camp either."

The boy blushed a deep crimson and I saw a bit of his hair go on fire before it went out. I huffed out a laugh. 'Okay,' I think. 'He has pyrokinesis.'

There was silence in the room and the tension was so thick you could've cut it with a knife. Percy must have noticed this and coughed to catch everyone's attention. "How 'bout we play some game?" he says. "Any suggestions Piper?"

Piper sighed. "Do I really need to say it? I think you already know what I'm going to say."

Percy had a confused look on his face as he said, "Seven minutes in heaven?"

Piper, who had already stood up to the center of the room whacked him on the back of the head. "No you dumb ass," she says. "Don't make me any more of an Aphrodite child than I have to."

I smirked. 'I like her.'

"I think you might just be the only person that I actually like in this room, Piper," I laugh out. I heard Nico making a choking noise next to me. I wondered but left it for later. Percy, meanwhile, looked at me with a hurt look. "Oh don't be a baby Percy. You'll always be my brother, I have to love you."

Annabeth smiled and Piper sat down on the floor. "Nice to know Y/n," she says. "It's also a refreshing sight to see Percy the one being sassed so thank you."

"It's no problem," I say. "If you want any more refreshing sights you should hang out with us at the Poseidon table during lunch."

"Could we just move on with what we were previously doing?" asks Percy, looking between me and Piper with a desperate look.

"Well, I was going to say we should play truth or dare."

I jumped off of the bed. "Truth or Dare!?!! This is my jam!" Nico looked at me weirdly. Probably because of my change in attitude around him. I was usually more like him, now I was showing my more Percy-like self. I moved to sit in front of Piper.

"Since you're so excited, Y/n, why don't you go first?" says Leo. "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare," I say.

[Time Skip. I'm sorry.]

We had played a few rounds of Truth or Dare. At the moment, Percy was dressed up as Ariel (which he didn't mind), Leo had red war paint and Jason was wearing a pink princess dress. Nico's face, unfortunately, had been decorated with makeup and glitter by Hazel.

"Y/n," says Piper and I looked at her. "Truth or Dare?"

"You already know my answer Piper," I say and she smirks.

"I dare you to kiss the person to your left," she says and my heart drops. I look over to my left and see that Leo's face was flushing a deep red. Judging from the heat I felt in my cheeks mine was probably in the same condition. He turns to look at me and we both lean in. Our lips met in a kiss. It wasn't just a peck, but it wasn't a full-on makeout session. We both pulled apart and I looked down at the ground in embarrassment.

I didn't dare to look at anyone. Especially Nico. 'Darn it,' I curse to myself. 'Why couldn't Piper have said "to your right"?' Yep that's right. I had a crush on the Ghost King. On the only person that managed to break down my walls. 

I was still looking down when Nico finally decided to stand and leave. I looked up just in time to see the door slam shut. 

"Nico!" I called out for my only friend. I stood up and headed outside to look for Nico. I looked around to see if I could find him. After about ten seconds I saw him going to the forest, and even from here, anger radiated off of him. "Nico, wait!"

I chase after him but he seemed to walk faster when he heard my voice. 'Now I know how  Percy falt about a half hour ago.' I started to run as to not lose him from sight. I nearly crashed into him when he stopped all of a sudden.

"Why don't you just go and play Truth or Dare with Leo," he said as he gestured to the cluster of cabins behind me. 'Wait, did he say Leo?'

"Nico, I wasn't playing Truth or Dare with just Leo," I say and he mumbles something under his breath. "What?"

"I said that it looked like it," Nico rolled his eyes and continued walking into the forest. But he didn't go very far after I grabbed his arm. I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to read his poker face. Then I realized what was going on.

"Are you jealous of Leo?" I ask and Nico looks down. I burst out laughing and Nico goes even more red in the face. I wipe away a tear from my eye. "You are jealous of a guy I just met literally less than an hour ago. Oh, my gods." I catch my breath and Nico looks at me with a grumpy pout. I pinch his cheek. "You are actually really cute when you're jealous." 

I give him a peck on the lips and he blushes fifty different shades of red. My eyes widen as I just realized what I had done. "I'm so sorry Nico," I say as a fidget with the hem of my shirt. "You probably don't even like me."

Before I could say anything else he cupped my face in his hands and placed a soft kiss. I slowly kissed back and hugged him once he pulled away. "I really like you Y/n," he says into my hair.

"I really like you too, Nico," I say and peck his nose. There was a moment of silence. "I'm guessing this is the part where you ask me out?"

"Well, I was thinking more about asking you to be my girlfriend-"

"Yes," I said interrupting him. "I'll be your girlfriend." He grinned his grip around my waist got stronger. "Should we go and share the news?"

Nico paused to pretend he was thinking, "Nah," he says after a while. "They've been trying to get us together for the past year. Let them suffer."

[alien-rainbow]

By Your Side Until My Death(9/?)

Chapter 9: The World We Made

Available on AO3

Princess Artemis, the eldest daughter of the kingdom of Olympus is to be married to her childhood nightmare. In a land where anything remotely magical is banned, Zoë fears for her and Ladon's life but knows that she could never leave the princess's side if she tried. Magical beings, a forbidden romance, family secrets, and safety for magic all wait beyond the kingdom's borders.

- 3rd person, will be completed eventually, teen, not completed, Zartemis

READ PLEASE. Okay, so there was a lot of background going on in this chapter.

Cohorts: These are like the cabins, there are 20 of them for the 20 cabins in the PJO series, I decided to use greek names and move some people around if they are Romans. The only time I used Roman names is if the greek counterpart was part of the royal family.

Praetors: Two people who are elected from any of the twenty cabins and are (presidential system) like the president.

Centurions: These are like the vice presidents, but there are a lot of them. They can make decisions but need the approval of both of the Praetors but if 75% of the Centurions want an action to be taken, they can go forward without Praetor's approval. But Chiron can put a stop to anything he believes is really bad but for the most part, he just guides and observes.

Normal People are just called campers and each Cohort has a cabin that corresponds with gods and their skills. If you want the full list of Cohorts/Cabins and their god/skills, look at the endnotes (There is more explanation in the chapter too)

--------------------------------

Annabeth with the help of Will and commentary from Nico gave the girls a quick tour of the camp. The first stop was the big house where the leaders met to talk. The leaders consisted of one immortal, a centaur named Chiron, and a group of twenty centurions that represented the twenty different cohorts, and two elected praetors from any of the twenty centurions. The centurions were divided based on skill and dominant traits, and in some cases who you were born to.

Percy for example was one of the only members in cohort three, the cohort of water. People that lived in the cabin were closely related to Poseidon, the immortal of seas, or water nymphs, or were incredibly good when it came to any water activity.

Annabeth was a mortal who was incredibly good at changing any form of magic and was in Cohort 6, where the children of Minerva usually went. They were known for Strategic thinking and Leadership, Annabeth was the centurion. Nico is a child of Hades, the immortal Death, The Underground, and Darkness, and is the centurion of Cohort 13. His younger sister Hazle was the only other occupant of Cohort 13.

Will pointed to a solid gold cabin, which seemed to either reflect the sun or was glowing itself. Cohort 7 was for children born to Helios, the immortal of Day. Healing was another large part of Will's Cohort. Will told them that he was a few generations removed but was a descendent of Helios.

"So you have solar powers?" Athena asked after Will finished talking about his Cohort.

"I'm honestly a better healer but I can heal and control light," Will said smiling bright enough to rival the sun itself.

"He also glows," Nico said smirking at the puppy-eyed glare Will sent his way.

"That's not important," Will shoot back at the smaller boy.

"He's the best medic we have," Annabeth said trying to get the conversation back on topic. The two continued to quietly bicker but there was no real heat.

"So how long has Jason been here for?" Thalia asked out of the blue looking away from the two boys over to Annabeth.

"He's been here since he was a toddler, why?" Annabeth asked confused.

"His surname isn't by any chance Grace?" Thalia asked quickly. Nico stopped his conversation and turned to look intensely at Thalia. Artemis, just like Annabeth was confused by the woman's question. She knew that Thalia had a little brother who was said to have died in a wolf attack but besides that had no family that she cared about.

"Why do you want to know?" Nico said before Annabeth could answer.

"I don't see why you need to know?" Thalia said narrowing her eyes at the shorter boy. Before another fight could be started Annabeth jumped in to supply Thalia with her answer.

"Yes, his full name is Jason Grace," Annabeth said still looking confused but trying to stop an oncoming storm.

"Where is he now? Can I see him?" Thalia's voice was shrill and urgent.

"Probably at the arena sparring with Percy, and I guess so?" Will offered to take them while Nico stated that he would be coming with them. Reyna opted to go with Thalia saying that they would meet up later that night. With that, the four hurried off towards the arena.

"What was that about?" Annabeth asked after the group had disappeared from sight.

"I don't know..." Artemis said turning to Zoë who shrugged. Annabeth then continued on with the tour as if nothing had happened. She showed them the climbing wall which was cover in lava. The amphitheater where the campers met at night for a sing-along, campfire, and a variety of other things. The stables held more Asseros' and a few unmagical horses, and pegasi. They then walked past the cabins, each held one Cohort and a number of campers. They ended their trip by walking past the armory then heading to the arena.

They entered the opened roofed area to see Thalia and Jason stabbing at each other. Nico, Will, Percy, and the feather girl sat on the sides watching them spare. Thalia had her long golden spear out, her shield sat on one of the benches next to her brown leather bag. Jason on the other hand was fighting her with a golden gladius.

The three walked over to the group that was already sitting to watch the two dance around each other.

"What did we miss?" Artemis asked sitting down next to Reyna who turned to her with a sarcastic smile.

"Nothing much, except that Jason is Thalia's presumed dead little brother. And they are both the children of Jupiter, the immortal of the sky. But besides that, not much." Artemis and Zoë both gave out shocked reactions before turning to watch the two reunited siblings spar.

The match ended with Thalia disarming her brother and a golden spear pointed at his chest.

"I win," Thalia said grinning at her brother.

"My turn!" Percy yelled grabbing a bronze sword running up to the spot where Thalia had just stood.

"Water first," Jason said grabbing a cantine and drinking the water that poured from it. He then walked over to the blond positioning himself lower to the ground getting ready to go again.

"Bro... what if we had a homoerotic sword fight..." Percy said smiling like an idiot before striking, they exchanged a few blows before backing away giving the other time to think. "jk, jk," Percy said referring back to his earlier comment. The two exchanged a few more swings before Percy spook once again, "...Unless?" The ravenett struck once more causing Jason to get knocked to the floor.

"I am literally the straightest person here," Nico said shaking his head at the Percys comment.

"What do you mean by that?" Artemis asked. The elder princess was confused at their language, straight? homoerotic? And why no one else found it strange that the two boys were acting playfully romantic towards each other.

"By what?" Nico asked looking at her instead of the stone floor.  

"Straight?" Artemis asked her cheeks burning as the others looked at her like this was a ridiculous question.

"Straight is another word for someone who likes the opposite gender," Annabeth explained.

"Are you implying that males can love other males? And females other females?" Athena asked astonished at the information.

"While yea, there's nothing wrong with loving who you want to love," Will said softly. "I mean Nico's my boyfriend," He said smiling and gesturing to the boy next to him. A blush covered the pale boy's cheeks as he mumbled something about 'Significant annoyance.'

"Really?" Zoë and Reyna said simultaneously.

"Yea, and don't let anyone ever tell you differently," Nico said his eyes darkening "Because they are  wrong."

Artemis felt a weight lift from her that she never knew she was carrying. She had never been interested in being intimate with any male. The thought of marrying any man and having his children make Artemis sick. The news that this wasn't a bad thing, that she could love a  female, a girl!  It made her happier than she could say. Zoë, Reyna, and Thalia wore a similar expression. Athena just looked thoughtful and happily surprised.

Artemis turned to look at Zoë and smiled at the older girl, for some reason her aunt's words from the day before came back to her,  "So who is it? I also know the face of heartbreak, whether you know it or not. " Artemis remembered telling her aunt that she loved no one, only for her aunt to ask her if she was sure. Then before her aunt could say who she believed her heart belonged to, Hermes had interrupted. Artemis wished now more than anything that she had gotten to hear her aunt's last words before they fleed.

--------------------------------

WHAT COHORT##BY BIRTH##TRAITS AND/OR POWERS##CENTURIONS##OTHER STUFF

Cohort 1: (Jupiter) Sky and Justice [Jason] Cohort 2: (Juno) Family and Unity [OC] Cohort 3: (Posiden) Sea and Freespirt [Percy] Cohort 4: (Demeter) Earth and Stability [Katie] Cohort 5: (Mars) War and Physical strength [Clarisse] Cohort 6: (Minerva) Strategic thinking and Leadership [Annabeth] Cohort 7: (Helios) Day and Healing [Will] {Apollo is his name in both Romand and Greek, I did what I could} Cohort 8: (Diana) Moon and Independence [Bianca] Cohort 9: (Vulcan) Medal and Inventions [Leo] Cohort 10: (Venus) Munlipltiveness and Indisisviness [Piper] Cohort 11: (Mercury) Trickery and Stealth [Connor] Cohort 12: (Bacchus) Madness and Facetious [Pollux] Cohort 13: (Hades) Death, The Underground and Night [Nico] Cohort 14: (Iris) Messenger and Color [Butch] Cohort 15: (Hypnos) Dreams and Self-preservation [Clovis] Cohort 16: (Nemesis) Balance and Vengeance [OC] Cohort 17: (Nike) Pride and Victory [Holly and Laurel] {They refused to pick one} Cohort 18: (Hebe) Forgiveness and Childress [Paolo] Cohort 19: (Tyche) Good Luck and Balance [Chiara] Cohort 20: (Hecate) Magic and thoughtful [Lou Ellen]

Praetors: Frank and Hazle