obsidian black ● jason grace

my

Jason stumbled into the kitchen the next morning like he had a bad hangover.

Daria and Frank had left to go find some deadly poison earlier, maybe around 7. He didn't remember why Daria had to be the one to go with Frank. He didn't care.

"You're up later than usual," Piper commented, sipping her coffee. There were a few stragglers in the Mess Hall along with her. Percy, Hazel.

"I thought you wanted me to sleep more," he mumbled.

"Did you?" Hazel asked incredulously. "Sleep. I mean."

"Doesn't look like it," Piper agreed.

"God, Piper," he snapped. "I slept, okay? Can you leave me alone?"

She set down her mug, staring at him like his Latin professor used to. "I know you didn't just snap at me."

"Man," Percy said wearily. "Just talk to her."

Jason stared at Percy for a moment, nearly spilling the coffee he was pouring. The son of Neptune looked more sad than annoyed; apparently, there were some things that didn't travel around the Argo II at the speed of light.

"We broke up," Jason told them. "Last night. Now will you please leave me alone?"

Hazel's eyebrows shot up. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Uh," Piper echoed. "Huh?"

"She broke up with you?" Percy demanded. "Bro!"

"Other way around," he muttered.

"You broke up with her?" Percy asked again. "Bro!"

"He's right," Piper said, following him out of the room with her ducklings not far behind. "I mean, why on earth would you do that?"

"Do what?" Annabeth asked as the open air came into view. Jason was going to off himself.

"Don't you dare," Jason told the trio behind him.

"He broke up with Daria," Percy told his girlfriend. Traitor.

Annabeth crossed her arms, "now why would you do a thing like that?"

"It's not really a break up," he corrected himself. By now Leo had gathered as well, which meant he could explain to everyone at once. "It's a break. No up."

"Jason, dude," Leo said. "Please tell me you've never seen Friends."

He scanned his best friend, who didn't look very surprised. Jason scowled, "oh, yeah, you're the best person to be talking right now."

"Oh, no no no," Leo raised an eyebrow. "This is not on me. I'm the one who told her to go talk to you."

Jason deflated. "You're right," he murmured. "Sorry."

"Um, excuse me," Piper interjected. "You owe me an apology too."

"Keep walkin, Beauty Queen," Leo smirked. "You got nothing on the bro code."

Jason rubbed his temple. He appreciated his friends, he really did. But, "can you guys give me some space?" He asked weakly. "Just five minutes and I'll be right there."

They all nodded, already going on with their day. It was clear that none of them thought that this was a big deal; maybe Jason was just being overdramatic, after all, only an idiot would let Daria Jackson go. He grabbed Hazel's arm, "wait."

She looked back at him curiously.

"Can you," he struggled, being vulnerable with a girl that he was supposed to watch over, though Hazel had outgrown him a long time ago. "Stay with me for a second?"