𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

39

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, they decided to fly the rest of the way to Rome. Jason insisted he was well enough to take sentry duty, along with Coach Hedge, who was still so charged with adrenaline that every time the ship hit turbulence, he swung his bat and yelled, "Die!"

They had a couple of hours before reaching Rome, so Jason suggested Percy try to get a few more hours of sleep.

"It's fine, man," He said. "Give somebody else a chance to save the ship, huh?"

Dante stayed on deck, not because he wasn't tired, but because apparently no one on the ship could do a good job at keeping watch so he'd have to do it. Leo and Hazel held hands and stared into each other's eyes, whatever that meant, Percy and Annabeth probably did the same. Too wrapped up in each other to do their job.

If Dante stayed for watch with Jason, that would definitely not happen.

Leo was at the controls, talking to himself as he made sure everything was in order. His hands flew across the controls with impressive speed.

Percy, Annabeth, Frank and Hazel went back below decks which left them alone with Piper.

Dante watched the two have an awkward conversation from afar. Unable to keep subjecting himself to the secondhand embarrassment, he walked over to Leo.

The controls were a mess. A controlled mess, Dante could tell, but a mess nonetheless. He'd expected a pilot's wheel or a tiller. Instead he'd found a keyboard, monitor, what looked like airplane controls, a dubstep soundboard, and motion-control sensors from a Nintendo Wii.

"That's a work of art," Dante whistled appreciatively as he approached.

"Man, this is nothing. I can just shake the Wii controllers really fast to raise the sails, fire a weapon by sampling an album and rig explosives on beat to an Abba song." Leo was drumming his fingers on the controls idly.

Dante had admittedly not liked the boy at first. Even after he'd found out Leo wasn't actually responsible for firing on Rome, something about him was just unsettling. He smiled too wide, just too wild. He folded into himself like he didn't want people to look at him, and yet he was loud and annoying, proudly.

"Does anyone else know how to fly this thing?" Dante asked the natural question, "In case something, you know, happens to you."

"Great to see you want to get rid of me," Leo grinned at him.

"Might just push you overboard," Dante mused, sarcastically, "Jason's too busy talking to Piper, he won't even notice."

"Better do it fast, then."

Oh? Dante was starting to tolerate this guy.

"I'm very efficient at murder, I'll have you know," Dante snickered, "Hypothetically. Haven't gotten around to it yet, but I have a plan and everything."

"Was it Jason's murder you've planned?"

"How could you know?" Dante pressed a hand to his chest.

Leo typed something into the keyboard and leaned against the controls as Buford brought over two glasses. "Milkshake?"

"I don't really have a sweet tooth," Dante told him, "You can have some."

"It's an ambrosia milkshake, try it," Leo plucked both glasses off the table and practically shoved one in Dante's hand. "Figured we could all do with a boost after that."