Cross My Heart | Jason Grace x Male OC

Chapter 13: But You Sleep with the Bones of a Rabbit

(Hey guys! Just wanted to throw in a quick little trigger warning for this chapter :3 There are mentions of child abuse, specifically being inflicted by another child, so if that is something you might not be able to handle, I suggest skipping this chapter. Actually, it gets a lot darker from here, so maybe don't read this story. Also, there is a part that kind of seems like it might be alluding to sexual abuse, but I promise that is not what is happening. That doesn't make it any less traumatizing, sorry Amias!)

According to Jason, Piper had been amazing during their meeting with Boreas. Amias wondered if that was just the blessing of Aphrodite working, but he didn't speak on the matter.

Piper said something in French.

"What'd you say?" Jason asked.

"I said I only talked to Boreas. It wasn't so amazing."

Amias didn't speak French, but he knew enough about how languages work to suspect that wasn't an exact translation. The name Boreas wasn't even in the sentence.

"Hey," Jason said, "you saved me from joining Khione's subzero hero collection. I owe you one."

Leo began passing out sandwiches from his pack. Amias was hesitant to take one (he suspected Leo might have spit in them, or worse) until Jason turned and gave him a stern look.

"You need to eat," he said. "Don't argue."

Amias glared at him but took the sandwich anyway. 

"I still can't believe Khione," Leo said. "She looked so nice."

She really didn't. The princess had a bad case of RBF, which means a lot coming from Amias.

"Trust me man," Jason said. "Snow may be pretty, but up close it's cold and nasty. We'll find you a better prom date."

Amias didn't see the point in such optimism. After all, there's a chance they could all die soon. But he couldn't help smiling at Jason's joke, even if it wasn't that funny. Leo himself didn't look all too pleased. He hadn't told the others what he was up to during their time at the palace or explained the whole fire-smell thing. His sour mood was affecting Festus; with his hand on the dragon's back, he could hear every thought like his own. Happy was worried about his master.

They ate in silence as they flew. Amias had to admit, the sandwich was pretty good. It had the perfect ratio of mayo to bread. Leo must've made someone else a special sandwich because Amias could faintly smell avocados.

Nobody talked, which Amias was grateful for. It seemed they were all concerned about their suicide mission. That was pretty fair. 

The sun gave way to his sister, and there were a surprising number of stars visible. Amias figured it was due to less air pollution. It was a welcome sight. Without sunlight, it was harder to see the ground beneath them, and Amias could pretend they were traveling by land instead.

Over Jason's shoulder, he saw that Piper had fallen asleep. She was slumped forward against Leo, who was also knocked out. Jason's head turned, and he offered Amias a small smile.

"You should get some rest, too," he said. "We have a long day ahead of us."

Without a word, Amias leaned forward, resting his chin on Jason's shoulder. They were about the same height, so it wasn't too uncomfortable. He remembered when Jason had gotten a growth spurt before him, and how mad he was at the blonde. How dare you be taller than me!

Now, Jason was humming a familiar tune. It was one that Amias had taught him, the one precious thing he had from his life before Camp Jupiter. The sound made Amias's heart ache, and as he fell asleep, he remembered the day he first learned that song.