Save You As I Save My Life (Jasico)

Chapter 5: How Far We've Come.

Nico spent the next few weeks meeting new people, making friends, and learning the basics of being a guy.

Jason helped him along, always there to help him up when he fell down. He spent most of his time alone, but sometimes, Jason would come over, and they'd hang out. Play video games, talk about life, become closer friends. Jason admitted to being bisexual, like Nico, last week, which made Nico grin. He had always assumed Jason was gay, and lost many nights of sleep over it. Now he has closure. Basically, he had found his new Leo, in Jason.

So when they had a long weekend one week, Jason took him swimming. Reyna and Bianca came, as well as a couple people Nico didn't know that were friends of Reyna and Bianca. They were two boys, nearly inseparable, except the darker haired one looked annoyed at the ever chattering blonde that was always next to him.

As soon as they arrived, Jason dove headfirst into the pool, whooping like the idiot he is. Nico shook his head as he resurfaced, staring at the spot he went in at. Surely he couldn't do that too, let alone take his shirt off. Just wearing the swim trunks felt awkward compared to how he usually felt wearing his one piece.

"Nico, come on in. The water is nice!" Jason's voice calls him from his thoughts. Nico runs a frail hand across the shirt he was wearing, and then he put his hands at the hem. Jason had helped him get used to not wearing a shirt, as one of the few things they would do to help Nico through the hard transition from his previous gender.

"You need help?" Bianca asks, and he glares at her, dragging the shirt over his head and throwing it at her. She smirks and walks over to Reyna, who was shedding her own shirt, jumping into the pool after Jason.

Nico hooted and ran into the water, bracing himself for a shock of cold. Years of being friends with Percy left him knowing how to expect the cold.

Jason grinned and slapped his back when he arose from the water, and he spat a stream of the chlorinated stuff into Jason's face. He had to admit, the blonde looked good when he was dripping wet and glasses-less. HIs eyes were sparkling with happiness, and his face was covered in water. Nico bit his lip, stepping back from Jason.

Blushing, Nico turns away, only to catch a face full of water as Bianca dives, grabbing Reyna's waist and yanking her under as well. Nico shivered and stood up, skin glistening in the light.

"You cold?"

The playful lilt in Jason's voice made Nico lift his middle finger, waving it at the blonde as he trudged to the shallow end of the pool.

"I never was one to enjoy water, Jason, I told you that enough times."

"I know," The blonde scratched his head awkwardly, moving with Nico. "But I wanted to get you used to being shirtless in public, instead of just around me. Plus swimming is the most I'm gong to get you to work out, so I might as well use it, right?"

Nico shrugged, not wanting to argue with the puppy dog eyes being cast in his direction. He sat on the top steps of the pool and gazed out at all of the kids swimming and frantically splashing. He noticed Frank and Hazel in the corner, chatting quietly, and smiled slightly.

"They all sort of grow on you, you know? Once you get to know them?'

"Who's that blonde kid over there? He's fighting with the girl with lime hair."

Jason let out a small chuckle, making Nico look over in surprise. "What?"

"Of course you'd manage to notice the full out gay kid in the pool."

Nico's face burns hot. "I just wanted to know his name, Grace!"

"Will. Solace." Jason replies, patting Nico's back gently and sitting beside him. Nico tried not to let his eyes wander, distracting himself by staring at Bianca and Reyna, who were squirting each other with spray guns they brought. Reyna was laughing, hair shining with liquid, pulling the trigger as fast as possible, while Bianca squealed and fired back.