𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

59

"𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬?" 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 as Jason clawed at his arm like a cat. He was breathing heavy, his blue eyes dilated. As much as he wanted to, he didn't push Jason away.

Jason looked up at him with confusion that comes with just waking up, making sense of his surroundings. "Is– Is it my turn to watch?"

"No, you're good, I let you sleep," He mumbled.

Dante had, a little creepily, been watching Jason sleep. Hipp wasn't in any position to judge him since the Titan had literally reminded him twenty times how he was planning to kill them. At one point, he started sharing ideas.

Should I drive a spear through your friend's back?

Would you prefer drowning or breaking all your bones from a hundred meter fall?.

After that, Dante pretended not to hear him and stared at Jason.

Ever since the empousai, he felt enormous guilt choking him every time he so much as looked at Jason. He'd fallen into Tartarus for Dante. He had been fighting monsters for Dante. The least Dante could do was put a hold on his hate.

The only problem was, the thing fueling him, urging him to keep going on was also his hate for Jason Grace. He wanted to get out of Tartarus as fast as possible. Once in the mortal world, he'd be able to hate the guy in peace. They'd be even.

"Pierce," Jason rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked much better than he had when he basically collapsed and started snoring softly.

Dante had hated to know he hadn't let go of that habit.

Jason was also a big cuddler. In his sleep, he'd hugged Dante's leg. With the iron grip of a warrior that most demigods used to battle monsters, Jason refused to let go of Dante's leg.

He had looked so peaceful, Dante didn't have the energy to disturb him.

Briefly, he wondered if he was going soft on Jason.

"I'm fine," He waved Jason's concern aside. "Besides, you need to see this."

Hipp the Giant sat cross-legged by the altar, happily munching a piece of pizza.

Jason stared, wondering if he was still dreaming. "Is that... pepperoni?"

"Burnt offerings," Dante said. "Sacrifices to Hermes from the mortal world, I guess. They appeared in a cloud of smoke. We've got half a hot dog, some grapes, a plate of roast beef, and a package of peanut M&M's."

Hipp had claimed the M&M's. Dante had offered him some skittles, but apparently he wasn't too fond of them. Only M&M's.

Dante brought Jason the plate of roast beef, and watched him wolf it down. He scrunched his nose in disgust, but didn't make any quips. The heat of the brisket didn't seem to bother Jason.

"I think this is from Camp Half-blood," Jason said once he was done. "They have the same sauce."

The idea seemed far fetched to Dante, perhaps a little wishful thinking. But again, he didn't say anything. Jason narrowed his eyes at him.

They finished eating in silence.

Hipp chomped down the last of his M&M's. "Should go now. They will be here in a few minutes."

"A few minutes?" Jason's hand traveled to his pocket.

"Yes... well, I think minutes..." Hipp scratched his slick dark hair. "Time is hard in Tartarus. Not the same."