are you mine[?]

.neuf.

Patroclus sat down on his throne, sighing. He leaned back, watching the Roman messenger explain what was going on quickly.

"Okay," Patroclus said. "Let me first speak to the others."

The messenger stood off to the side as he called for a guard to alert his regents — the first time since August. Nico entered the room, looking exhausted.

The messenger looked at Nico, her eyebrows furrowing. She leaned in. "What's the Ambassador of Pluto doing here?"

Patroclus almost let his confusion show before it clicked. "Ah. Nico, he lives here. Personal request from his father, as well as being Achilles reborn."

She nodded and leaned away.

Nico marched forward and stood beside Patroclus, deciding to wedge himself between the two. Patroclus snickered and took Nico's right hand with the magical skull ring.

"What's the problem?" Reginald sighed.

"Praetor Jason Grace has gone missing," the messenger said.

Miya leaned forward. "What do you mean?"

"He just... vanished! We had Octavian check but he found nothing in his stuffing."

Patroclus snickered. "He's still stabbing teddy bears?"

The messenger stifled a smile. "King Patroclus, this is serious! We can't find Jason Grace!"

Patroclus smothered his grin and turned to face the others. "Henry, Miya, Cleo. Would you three accompany Liz back to Camp Jupiter? You could help them search. Henry, maybe you could... reach into the depths of everyone's souls and..." he trailed off. "Don't look at me like that!"

"No, I'm sorry," Cleo said smothering a smirk. "It's just... I'm mortal, Miya's the daughter of Aph—Venus, and Henry's the son of some completely unknown Underworld god that even his mother can't name. What are we going to do?"

"Snoop. Dig. What you three do best together."

Miya shrugged. "He isn't wrong. We are very good at snooping and sneaking around."

"Regardless," Liz interceded, "that isn't tolerated in the legion. Octavian would be searching for any ways to have your heads sent back here to New Troy on sticks."

"He'd never get close enough," Henry said confidently. "We're too good at sneaking away and finding something out in the process."

"You have a spy, don't you?" Miya blurted.

Liz flinched.

"You do!" Henry gasped.

"Oh my gods!" Cleo exclaimed.

"See?" Louis leaned back. "They're very good at snooping."

"Hard to disagree," Jamie snickered.

Jami swatted his arm. "They also get into a lot of trouble. Should I go? I'm a medic and..." she trailed off.

"Yes," Reginald agreed. He looked at his granddaughter curiously. "They do need a medic."

Everyone looked at Patroclus. He was tickling Nico's fingers.

"What?" he asked.

"They need your approval," Nico drawled.

"Oh! Yeah, the four of you is our best bet. Jami, try to keep them out of trouble, please? I like having these three on my council."

She nodded. "I'll do my best, obviously."

Patroclus clapped his hands. "Pack well, don't forget money, and talk to Reyna as soon as you can."

"How's Hazel?" Nico asked.

"She's... different," Liz said.

"Hazel?" Patroclus whispered.

"My sister," Nico whispered back. "That wasn't what I was asking. I was asking how she was doing."

"Good, I guess. She only really talks to a new probatio, Frank Zhang, and Bobby to be honest."

Nico nodded. "Good."

He stepped back and Patroclus reached over to lace their fingers together. Everyone filtered out.

Patroclus stood and faced Nico, taking off his laurel and placing it on his seat.

"Why didn't you tell me about her?"

"I..." Nico trailed off, staring at him. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I didn't know how."

"Nico, for all I care you can say it right before I fall asleep. I want you to be able to trust me."

"I do! I do. I just don't like having to talk about... everything."

"And I get that. I respect it. I respect you. But I don't want to find out these big things from a conversation I'm witness to. It's just..."

"What?" Nico asked.

"Can we try again?" Patroclus whispered. "That night, after the battle in Manhattan, when we were in the secret corridor?"

Nico hesitated. "...Sure."

Patroclus smiled and brushed Nico's growing hair behind his ear. He stepped closer and Nico held onto the arm of the throne to steady himself. Patroclus wrapped one arm around his waist and pulled him in, staring into the depths of his midnight eyes.

"You," he whispered, lifting Nico's chin with his index finger, "are beautiful."

Nico's knees wobbled, though Patroclus held him steady, green eyes shining. Their fingers laced together as Nico leaned on the side of the throne. Patroclus stepped closer, squeezing Nico's hand. He leaned in slowly, carefully... nervously.

But Nico stiffened.

Patroclus pulled away, trying to hide his disappointment.

"I'm sorry," Nico whispered.

"It's okay," Patroclus fibbed. "It's fine."

Nico hung his head. "I'll... go now."

"Where?"

"Just... our room."

Patroclus sat on the armrest of his throne. "Okay," he mumbled. "Okay."

And he left.

}{}{}{

Mwahahaha... you thought it was coming. I promise, it will eventually. And besides, in the story it's been only a few months. Like Jason just went missing. I'm also placing Jason's disappearance to be when Percy's is so in December because the timelines do not match up. At all.