𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

90

𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞.

Dante was considering manslaughter. Womanslaughter. Bury your lesbians. Whatever.

He was willing to become homophobia personified if that's what it took.

"What is she doing in there?" He whispered harshly to Percy and Annabeth in the mess hall. Nike was still screaming in the stables and Dante was trying to ignore her and eat his lunch. "I thought you said his wound healed, Percy."

"It did," The guy shrugged, he was eating creamy spaghetti with sauce that was entirely blue. "He looked as good as new. Just a scar."

"So?"

"So what?" Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him and Dante realized he had fucked up.

"Well, ever since we got back from, you know, Tartarus—"

"Don't try to guilt trip me, Dora," She said, leaning back in her chair. "It doesn't work. What's up?"

"I'm worried," Dante grit out the truth for once. "He's gotten more... intense."

"I know what you mean," Annabeth set down her fork and made a face at Percy's food. "Back at Ithaca, I couldn't believe Jason was the one talking back to Hera."

Dante choked on his food and grabbed some water. Once he looked up, both Percy and Annabeth were looking at him curiously.

"What?"

"Something happened," Annabeth said matter-of-factly. "Spill."

"What are you talking about?" Dante lied smoothly. "I mean, he's talked to me about feeling like Juno was in control of his life all these years, all the you know, popping up and saying he belonged to her. It's just all that. Hopefully nothing worse."

"Man, you'd think Hera would give up after thousands of years," Percy ate his pasta, "Hating children of her husband, I mean."

Annabeth's eyes were stormy and gray. She knew he was lying, but just not what about. "If you want to talk to him, and I think only you'd completely understand stuff he's going through, you should just go and talk."

Dante looked down at his plate, at the half eaten sandwich. How could he explain it wasn't that simple?

"Did you guys notice Piper was like giving Dante the stink eye at dinner the other day?" Percy pointed his fork at him, "Did you prank her or something?"

Dante thought back to fond memories of pranking Percy with a blue jello on his forehead in the middle of the night after just coming back from Tartarus. Except the prank hadn't worked because Percy was happy for the snack and just ate it before going back to sleep.

"I messed up," Dante admitted. "I— I need to talk to him."

Annabeth clicked her fingers, "I knew it!"

Percy looked confused. "Huh?"

Did you tell him you like him? Annabeth signed.

Dante's eyes widened which she took as an answer and grinned satisfied. "No, no, hold up, back up—"

He doesn't like you?

"Jesus," Dante pushed his plate away. This was a conversation he wouldn't be able to run away from.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth said and Dante looked up to see her sincerity. "I know how unrequited crushes feel. Thankfully, mine wasn't unrequited in the end." She looked at her boyfriend who was still looking between them.