CATHARSIS, jason grace¹ [REWRITING]

𝟬𝟭𝟲. aera loves skincare products

FINDING LEO A BETTER PROM DATE than Khione was one of the many dilemmas running marathons inside Jason's head. As the glow of Quebec City faded behind them, Jason could hardly stomach the food Leo brought out for them from his tool belt. This...mistress, the one who commanded the storm spirits, Jason was not looking forward to meeting her. They'd barely managed to get out of Boreas' kingdom in one piece and now they were walking straight into another crossfire.

Nobody talked. Whatever they might find in Chicago, they all knew Boreas had only let them go because he figured they were already on a suicide mission. Even Aera was doing her makeup with an unusual amount of tranquility, quietly putting something on her eyelashes and occasionally taking small nibbles of the bread in her sandwich. He thought back to how she had crashed their audience with Boreas. Aera had threatened the gods so openly, and yet, she had arrived right when Jason needed her...

Part of Jason was starting to see where Aera was coming from. As uncivil and frivolous as she could be, it was frustrating how little information they had. They were being ordered to clean up Aeolus' mess and risk their lives without even fully knowing what they were getting themselves into. If anything bad happened to them, Jason would feel responsible. Being cornered in the throne room like that made him realize he couldn't do this alone. Jason just wished he knew what was coming so that he could protect his friends.

"It's exhausting, isn't it?" Aera spoke suddenly. "Constantly pretending."

Jason stopped chewing halfway. It took him a moment to register that she was talking to Piper. Piper whipped around. She had already finished her veggie sandwich.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, an uneasy edge in her voice.

"The whole mediator act." Aera shrugged. She was in her usual sideways saddle position, dangling her feet off one side as her sparkly new toy of a dress fluttered freely through the air. Her barely touched sandwich was resting in her lap, two bites in. "You have the ability to charmspeak, so naturally, you think it's your job to keep the peace. But you don't have to force yourself to do all that."

Charmspeak? Jason pondered, finishing the last bite of his sandwich. Is that what was in Piper's voice?

"Were you really going to take all of them on?" Piper questioned after a strange pause. "I mean, I know you're like a war veteran or whatever, but come on. That would've gone ugly."

"It would've gone ugly if you kept trying to impress him with your bad French," Aera countered. "Boreas is a tin god with a lame beard. All you have to do is show him some smoke. His suits aren't even real designer."

"Maybe you should tone it down a notch or two," Piper suggested darkly, putting her back to Aera. "If he hadn't thought you were amusing, we would've become part of their subzero hero collection. And I didn't even know I could speak French until today. Obviously, I wouldn't be as fluent as you."

"So," Leo interjected, nervously looking back at the two, "when should I ask Khione to be my prom date?"

"Amusing," Aera repeated harshly.

"Aight, never mind," Leo muttered.

"I'll have you know!" Aera proclaimed, puffing up her chest. "I am the most well-trained demigod in the whole North American hemisphere. I would not lose to some—"

Jason shoved the rest of Aera's sandwich in her mouth before she could go any further. Her eyes widened to the size of plates.

"Finish your food," Jason said. "You'll need the energy."

Aera chomped at her sandwich angrily.

That's aggressive. Though, Jason decided he would take that aggressive sight over a fight between the two girls. Jason thought he heard a small snicker from Leo. Piper stayed silent. He got a weird feeling that Aera had pressed one of Piper's buttons without realizing it. Secretly, though, Jason thought Aera did amazing back at Boreas' castle.