PJO/HOO Sickfics and Prompts

Irritable

Synopsis: Jason is kind of being a jerk. Then Piper and Annabeth figure out why.

Things were a little off today on the Argo II. Jason sat at the head of the table, while he and Annabeth discussed battle strategies.

"That won't work." He said.

"No, it's flawless." Annabeth argued. "I spent days working on it, and... and you didn't even look at it closely enough to tell!"

Piper sighed. This is where she usually stepped in, playing the mediator. Jason and Annabeth either got along perfectly or wanted to rip each other's heads off. Today seemed to be a rip heads off kind of day. But maybe if she just let them argue a little longer, it would work itself out. That's how arguments usually go, anyway, she thought. The sun beat down on them, even through the windows as they were below deck, making Piper sweat.

"Just stop talking." Jason put his head in his hands exasperatedly, massaging his temples. Unlike the others, he was wearing a sweatshirt, which Piper didn't see how it was tolerable in this heat.

Annabeth looked hurt for a second, but she masked it quickly. "I should go make sure Percy and the others are up. I know that's usually your job-" she glanced at Jason. "But seeing as you haven't done it, I might as well step up." Then she left the mess hall.

Leo whistled from the doorway. "That was rough."

Jason sighed. "I should go keep watch upstairs."

Piper followed. "Jason, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." He said immediately, then gave a very poorly masked sneeze.

"You're sure nothing's wrong?" Piper pressed.

"Yes," Jason sighed exasperatedly and stepped away from her. "I have to go keep watch. Frank has been doing the night watch and I was supposed to be up there like thirty minutes ago."

Then he climbed the stairs to the upper deck, leaving Piper alone. Gods, what was up with him today?

---

An hour into his shift, Jason was leaning against the railing, trying to will away the merciless pounding in his head. He'd already contemplated throwing himself off of the ship, but decided against it. He could deal with a slight sickness, and no one even had to know about it. Maybe.

Jason gave a stifled sneeze. He was alone, but still didn't want to draw attention. His throat burned from the irritation of holding back a sneeze, and his nose was slowly becoming hopelessly stuffed. All he really wanted to do was curl up in bed and feel sorry for himself, but there was no time for that.

"Jason." Someone said, snapping him out of his daze. "My turn for watch. You can go inside."

Jason blinked, and realized Percy was standing over him.

"Okay." Was all that Jason could manage without revealing his sore throat. He got to his feet, then was immediately hit with a wave of dizziness, and had to grab onto the wall to stay on his feet.

Percy looked concerned. "You alright?"

"Leg fell asleep." Jason managed. He finally went inside, ready to just crash and sleep whatever this was off, but of course, that didn't happen.

"Jason!" Annabeth stopped him. "I need your help with something."

"I'll help you later." Jason kept walking.

"It's kind of life or death." She frowned. "And why are you being so... irritable today?"

"I'm not being irritable." He scowled.