𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

20

It seemed like only a few seconds had passed before Hadrian woke to the breakfast bell.

"Yo, Hads!" Leo knocked on his door. "We're landing!"

"Landing?" He sat up groggily.

Leo opened the door and walked in.

"Dude! I could've been naked!" Hadrian stood up rolling his eyes, "Is that really something you want to see?"

"Look man, I'm not gay, but I wouldn't say no"

Hadrian barked out a laugh and had to steady himself by grabbing the closet door. He was already shirtless so he searched for a t-shirt or shirt first. "Dude-"

"What, I'm just saying," Leo shrugged. "Have you tried white hair like Jack Frost?"

He gestured to Hadrian's mop of shaggy hair. Hadrian didn't usually like this- feeling like a cheap trick for the entertainment of others, but he complied. He even picked out an outfit to match the hair.

"Suits you, man"

"Leo" Hadrian looked at him, "Why are you here? And don't say it's because you want to see me naked, I'll have to report you to Coach Hedge for harassment"

"Oh please, you love the attention"

Hadrian couldn't argue with that.

Leo started moving back out of the room "Anyway, we're setting down. We'll leave for Kansas tomorrow. And, um..." He glanced out in the passageway, then leaned inside again. "Thanks for not hating me, about blowing up the Romans yesterday."

Hadrian rubbed his eyes. The feast in New Rome had been only yesterday? "That's cool, man. You weren't in control of yourself."

"Yeah, but still... you didn't have to stick up for me."

"You don't have to say thanks"

"Uh...th-" Leo was about to say thanks, but he wisely changed track, "Cool"

From above, Coach Hedge yelled, "Thar she blows! ahoy!"

"Holy Hephaestus," Leo muttered. "He really needs to work on his ship speak. I'd better get above deck."

By the time Hadrian had showered, changed, and grabbed a bagel from the mess hall, he could hear the ship's landing gear extending. He climbed on deck and joined the others as the Argo II settled in the middle of a field of sunflowers. The oars retracted. The gangplank lowered itself.

The morning air smelled of irrigation, warm plants, and fertilized earth.

Percy was the first to notice him. He gave him an upward nod in greeting which Hadrian didn't return. He was wearing faded jeans and a fresh orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, as if he'd never been away from the Greek side. The new clothes had probably helped his mood—and of course the fact that he was standing at the rail with his arm around Annabeth.

Hadrian's heart seemed to twist inside his ribcage. He would never have that. Percy and Annabeth, the two oblivious idiots would eventually confess their feelings for each other and they'd live happily ever after (at least as much as demigods could).

But Hadrian felt like he was cursed. His first girlfriend had said he was a freak and dumped him and his first boyfriend had cheated on him with some other demigod in Luke's army. The son of Eros who was cursed romantically. Seemed about right, exactly something the fates would cook up for him.

Hadrian remembered feeling so small, Kira had wrapped her arms around him and held him all night while he sobbed into their shoulder. Thinking of Kira made his stomach feel worse.