Soul Mates (Jercy)

Chapter 6: I Face You!

Jason brought Nico along for moral support, and now he was highly regretting it. The boy wasn't any less nervous than him. His own soul mate was meeting here with him today, not for the first time, but for the first time face to face. Jason squeezed Nico's hand, sighing, rubbing his eyes. "Nico, he'll love you. You two have been talking for a long time."

"I know, but there are ways to make himself look different over Skype..."

JAson rolled his eyes. He himself had met and talked to Nico's soul mate, a nice blond boy with a scar across his eye. Luke, his name was, and apparently he already had one soul mate named Octavian. But somehow their clocks had started up again when they'd hit seventeen and they searched for Nico until they finally found him one day, online on one of those find your mate websites. When they'd met, Nico had been changing clothes, not realizing the camera had been rolling. He's been halfway out of his pants when he heard one of them whistle. Jason remembered Nico calling him frantically the day after, worried he'd done something to scare Luke off. But then everything slowly fell into place for them. Nico loved OCtavian too, just as much as he loved Luke.

Jason swallowed, hard, as they approached the park. They were a few hours early, since Jason had not been able to wait and Nico had looked like he was about to throw up. So they went out and bought food and a picnic blanket, coming to spread it out and eat. Nico had the bags of McDonald's while Jason had their checkered blue and grey blanket. Nico set the food out, smiling, and sat beside his friend. Jason ruffled Nico's hair before pulling out his burger and starting to eat, quietly, watching the water. He sipped his Coke as he ate. PEaceful. This was peaceful. This was nice. He wanted this to be the rest of his life.

But he knew that couldn't be.

Way too early, footsteps approached their blanket. Jason looked at Nico, who was looking up at the person behind him. Nico's eyes widened, and he stood, grinning at the man. JAson sighed and assumed it to be his Mate. Jason closed his eyes, shaking his head a little. "Is it already five?" He tilted his head back and opened his eyes again to look up at the stranger.

"Nah, we just wanted to get here a little early. Seems you guys did too. Kinda ruined the plan to take you to dinner after this whole debacle was over." Luke was a nice guy. Taller than Jason had expected, looming over Nico at an intimidating six feet. Jason still had an inch on him, which he was proud of. THe man behind Luke, though, no one could dwarf him. He had a good four or five inches over Luke, his eyes a piercing, cold blue. Jason;s eyes lingered on them, not wanting to leave his friend alone. But Luke's smile more than made up for the intimidating presence of the man behind him. Octavian, that was his name. Jason watched LUke lean in to hug Nico, his eyes closing slowly. "Gods I feel so complete... "

Nico looked giddy, standing on his tiptoes to kiss Luke on the cheek. "So do I..." He looked down at his watch, stopped on the time 1:23:17. One year until he was sixteen. The only issue JAson had with Nico's feelings for the two men was that they were both nearing mid twenties while Nico was lost behind at fifteen. Almost a ten year age difference. But Nico didn't even seem to mind as he was swept up and away into their affections. Jason waved them off to walk together for a while. His own mate better-

-+-

"-Not be late, Jackson, or I swear to god I'll kill you if he doesn't." Annabeth was shouting at PErcy to get out of bed. He had changed his mind. He didn't want to go meet Jason, he didn't want any of this. Jason was going to hate him. Punch him. Shriek at him. He swallowed hard and burrowed further into the blankets of his bed.

"Go away. I'm not going."

"You'll kill Jason. He'll die. Literally die."

"No he won't. We've excahnged vocal words. His clock won't start ticking again."