HOO & PJO One-Shots

Jasico AU

Jasico
(Can be read as a ship or a bromance)

"Popcorn."

Nico's P.O.V

My bones were heavy like lead as I pulled open the door. A slight smell of jasmine hung in the air, leaving me wistful of a past I never got to live. Most people my age had two loving parents who drove them to school and tucked them in at night, while I had drawn the short straw. My mother had passed away when I was young, leaving my older sister and I in my father's care. Our little family of three lasted all of six months before it all fell apart. Father left town, no phone number to trace or anything, and Bianca and I were left to fend for ourselves. Bianca had been old enough to get a job down at the bakery, and we were able to scrape by just fine for a few years. It started to go downhill when she caught a cold. This cold was persistent and refused to end, so we finally decided to get a doctor to look at her. She'd been given a year at most before her expiry date ran out. By now, I'd reached an appropriate age to start working, so I took over as the family's main breadwinner. I worked lots of hours to cover Bianca's hospital bills, leaving us very little time to spend together. She passed away three months earlier than expected, leaving me to go through life alone.

Somehow, one of my neighbours had found out about my lack of parents and had called social security. Since I wasn't legally allowed to live on my own, it was decided that I'd get a foster family until I was of age. Which is why I was being forced to come into the office on a Tuesday at ten in the morning when I should be in school. You'd think they'd at least want me to get a good education if everything else in my life was going wrong...

"Good morning, Nico, how'd you sleep?" Mrs. Athena asked her usual question, gesturing for me to take a seat.

I followed her silent command and sat down on the old ugly green chair I sat in every interview. "Fine." I lied, but she knew that.

She took a second to fix me her signature glare before putting on a smile as she turned to the other occupants of the room. There was a young lady with bright red lipstick on sharing a couch with a blond haired boy around my age with an unusual scar on his face. "This is Mrs. Grace and her son Jason. They're interested in fostering you."

I raised my eyebrow in fake shock because why else would I be here? "You don't say."

"Behave Nico, I really didn't want to have to mention that this is your tenth interview..." Mrs. Athena sneered at me before replacing her mask and turning to Mrs. Grace. "Would you like some time alone with him to ask a few questions?"

"That'd be lovely." She said in a voice that was way too sweet to be real.

Mrs. Athena simply nodded before getting up and heading towards the door. "Just send him out when you're done." She closed the door, making my anxiety shoot through the roof.

I tried to control my shaking hands as Mrs. Grace fixes her attention on me. The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Even her own son looked uncomfortable. "So Nicholas, where were you born?"

I flinched when she got my name wrong, reminding me of when Bianca tried calling me that as a joke before I picked a very unsuitable nick-name for her, which is when she promptly stopped. "It's Nico."

"Right." She smiled and sneered at the same time, which I found quite impressive and slightly terrifying.

"All my basic info is in my folder." I replied her earlier question before drumming my fingers on the table out of nervousness.

Mrs. Grace's eyes flickered down to the Manila folder in her hand before flicking back up to me. "Of course, I was just trying to break the ice." She nudged her son before nodding at me and whispering just loud enough for me to hear. "Ask him something."

Jason didn't meet my eye. "What's your favourite food?"

"Uh, maybe popcorn?" I replied, saying the first food that came to mind. In reality, food just wasn't that important to me. If it wasn't convenient, then I wouldn't bother.

The boy fixed his gaze on my shoes before finally meeting my eyes. "You like converse?"

"Yeah, they're alright." I replied, because I'd only really gotten them because they were six bucks at value village. Plus, they had little skulls on them.

Jason smiled. "All my friends prefer Vans, and I always have to put up with their teasing. Finally, someone has good taste."

I was about to attempt a smile at him when Mrs. Grace nudged him and spoke up. "Don't make the boy uncomfortable Jay." She looked back to me. "You're folder says that you take Aderall for your ADHD, do you have any other medications you take?"

"Uh, no." I replied, thinking back to the amount of Advil I'd had to have my last family buy for me.

She grinned again, but it was just as twisted as before. "It also says you're introverted, will that be a problem if I host house parties?"

"Depending on if you want me to socialize or not..." I muttered, but judging by the look on her face she heard me.

Mrs. Grace simply frowned before clearing her throat. "Why don't you go get Mrs. Athena?"

I felt my spirits fall as I stood up and headed for the door. Just before the door closed behind me I heard Jason beg his mother to take me in. A small smile found its way to my face for the first time since Bianca's death.

Maybe this wasn't the last I'd see of Jason...

~~~~~~~~~~

So, I may continue this later, but I haven't made my mind up yet. :P

Anyways, if you want me to write you your own one-shot, just leave a comment and I'll get to it asap! :)

Thanks for reading and don't forget to smile! -Tianne :)