𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

17

"Hey" Jason croaked.

Hadrian, who had drifted off next to Jason's bed, jerked awake. He managed to not fall out of the chair and frowned. "You're awake"

"You sound disappointed" Jason touched his bandaged head and frowned. "What... what happened? I remember the explosions, and—"

"You kissed me, the Romans got mad and jealous cause they are all secretly in love with me" Hadrian said dramatically sighing, "It's hard being this pretty"

If nothing else, at least he made Jason laugh. He had never made Jason laugh before. Hadrian supposed there was a sort of bond formed when Roman teenagers tried to kill you with cutlery. Hadrian helped him sit up and gave him some nectar to sip while he brought Jason up to speed.

"And then the others left me to babysit you. I feel like a very valued member of the team" He said, "Also, technically, you getting hit in the head was partially my fault and for that I apologize"

"Yeah, I remember you pulling my arm and then... Black"

Hadrian was about to apologize again when he heard horse hooves clomping across the deck over their heads.

Moments later, Leo and Hazel stumbled to a stop in the doorway, carrying a large sheet of hammered bronze between them.

"Holy Hera." Hadrian stared at Leo. "What happened to you?"

His hair was greased back. He had welding goggles on his forehead, a lipstick mark on his cheek, tattoos all over his arms, and a T-shirt that read HOT STUFF, BAD BOY, and TEAM LEO. Hadrian grinned.

"Long story, we could have used you on the quest" he said. "Others back?"

"Not yet," Hadrian said.

Leo cursed. Then he noticed Jason sitting up, and his face brightened. "Hey, man! Glad you're better. I'll be in the engine room."

He ran off with the sheet of bronze, leaving Hazel in the doorway.

"Well, isn't he a charmer?" Hadrian whistled.

"We met Narcissus," Hazel said, which didn't really explain much. "Also Nemesis, the revenge goddess."

Jason sighed. "I miss all the fun."

"Me too, man, me too"

On the deck above, something went THUMP, as if a heavy creature had landed. Annabeth and Percy came running down the hall. Percy was toting a steaming five-gallon plastic bucket that smelled horrible. Annabeth had a patch of black sticky stuff in her hair. Percy's shirt was covered in it.

"Roofing tar?" Hazel guessed.

Frank stumbled up behind them, which made the hallway pretty jam-packed with demigods. Frank had a big smear of the black sludge down his face.

"Ran into some tar monsters," Annabeth said. "Hey, Jason, glad you're awake. Hazel, where's Leo?"

She pointed down. "Engine room."

Suddenly the entire ship listed to port. The demigods stumbled. Percy almost spilled his bucket of tar.

"Uh, what was that?" he demanded.

"Oh..." Hazel looked embarrassed. "We may have angered the nymphs who live in this lake. Like... all of them."

"Great." Percy handed the bucket of tar to Frank and Annabeth. "You guys help Leo. I'll hold off the water spirits as long as I can."

"On it!" Frank promised.

"Hads" Percy said sarcastically, repeating what Leo had called him. The nickname brought back a lot of memories of Kira, but Hadrian looked up, "A little help?"