American Royalty III

Part 22: Jason

Jason Iris messaged the group almost immediately after he and Ron landed. The shimmering image appeared in the middle of the tent, flickering slightly as the connection struggled to stabilize. His face was tense but intact, though his windblown hair and the unmistakable frustration in his expression made it clear that things hadn't gone smoothly.

"Jason!" Annabeth was the first to step forward, her tone both relieved and sharp. "Where are you?"

Jason exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "We're at Shell Cottage—Bill and Fleur's place. But there's a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Percy asked, narrowing his eyes.

Jason gave him a look. "The kind where I accidentally Apparated with Ron, and now I'm stuck here because I can't Apparate back."

"You what?" Annabeth said, her hand already flying to her temple.

Jason raised a hand defensively. "Look, I didn't plan it! I was chasing Ron to stop him, and somehow... I don't know. It's like I latched onto him when he Apparated, and here I am."

Hermione gasped. "That's possible?"

"I guess so," Jason muttered. "I didn't even know it could happen, but apparently if you're close enough—"

"Great," Percy interrupted, crossing his arms. "So now you're stuck babysitting him?"

"Pretty much," Jason said dryly. "Ron's... not in the best state of mind. Bill and Fleur are keeping an eye on him, but the guy's a mess. He won't even talk to me."

Piper stepped into view, looking worried. "What about you? Are you okay?"

Jason gave her a faint smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Fleur whipped up some food, so at least I'm not starving. But I'm useless here—I don't even know how to get back without someone helping."

"You really can't Apparate yourself back?" Connor asked, leaning in curiously.

"Nope. Pretty sure I'd end up splinched if I tried," Jason admitted, shaking his head. "And I'm not about to risk it."

Annabeth sighed heavily, her mind clearly racing. "Okay, just sit tight for now. Keep an eye on Ron, and we'll figure something out. Maybe Harry, Hermione, or one of us can get to you."

Jason's image flickered as he raised a hand to stop Annabeth before she could launch into a plan. "Wait—don't come after me."

"What?" Annabeth stopped mid-pace, staring at him. "Jason, you're stranded. You can't Apparate, and Ron's—"

"Annabeth," Jason interrupted firmly. "I'm fine. Bill and Fleur have everything under control here. And Ron... he's going through a lot, but I think he just needs space right now."

Percy crossed his arms, frowning. "And you're supposed to do what? Play counselor until he snaps out of it?"

Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know how it sounds, but trust me on this. Ron made the decision to leave, and honestly, chasing after him right now might just make things worse. If I try to drag him back, it'll only push him further away."

Hermione stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "But what if he doesn't come back at all?"

Jason looked at her sympathetically. "He will. He just needs time to work through... whatever he's feeling. I'll keep an eye on him, but you have to trust him to make the choice to come back on his own."

Annabeth's lips pressed into a thin line. "Jason, if things go south—"

"I'll let you know," he promised. "But for now, don't risk splitting up any more than you already are. Stick together, focus on the Horcruxes, and trust me to handle things here. I'll find my way back when the time is right."

Piper stepped closer, her voice soft but firm. "Are you sure about this?"

Jason nodded. "Yeah. Fleur's already threatening to stuff me with pastries if I even think about leaving. I'll be fine. And so will Ron. Just... focus on what you guys need to do."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but Annabeth finally sighed and gave a reluctant nod. "Alright. But if anything changes—"

"You'll be the first to know," Jason assured her, flashing a small, reassuring smile. "Trust me, I've got this."

The Iris message flickered and faded, leaving the tent in heavy silence. Hermione sank into a chair, her face pale and drawn, while Harry stared at the ground, lost in thought. Annabeth stood motionless for a moment, her jaw tight, before finally turning to the others.

"Alright," she said quietly. "Let's get back to work. For now, we trust Jason."