Jason Grace isn't really a fan of secrets.
He doesn't like, well, the secrecy. Maybe it has something to do with his memories being stolen away to a part of Hera's secret plan to 'save the world'. Maybe it has something to do with the suspicion he'd seen in a lot of the Greek demigod's eyes when he'd shown up at Camp Half-Blood- like they thought he was lying, keeping secrets; he hated that look. Maybe it has something to due with the guilt that tugs at his chest whenever he lies about something, or the hurt that does the same thing whenever he can tell someone is doing it too.
Whatever the reason, he doesn't really like them.
He doesn't like the way secrets eat away at people when they're kept locked up for too long. He doesn't like the way they're spoken like something that's not supposed to be spoken of when they're released. He doesn't like the way the release can hurt someone who's tried so hard to keep it contained. He doesn't like the way he witnessed all these things in the form of a very angry and very scared Nico di Angelo on the little island of Croatia.
He doesn't like the way the son of Hades looked so anxious- so terrified- when his secret was forced out of him, looked like he was itching to run, prepared for judgment or disgust, prepared to be attacked or yelled at or something. He doesn't like the way he wouldn't meet his eyes afterwards, the way he didn't quite believe Jason's words, the way he isolated himself up on the mast more than ever when they got back. He doesn't like the way he began noticing all the little ways people treated him- Leo's passing jokes, Percy's biased stories, even his own admitted suspicion back before they'd rescued him. He doesn't like the way the kid was treated like an outsider by the people he was trying to help.
Yeah, he doesn't really like secrets.
He doesn't like the way secrets push people away from one another, the way they isolate people and make them run.
He doesn't like the way they hurt people.
And gods, was Nico hurting.
But see, now that Jason knew his secret, he couldn't ignore it- no matter how much the other might want him to. Too caring for his own good, he'd been told a few times- and if anyone needed some care, it was Nico di frikin Angelo. He didn't need pity, just care, understanding- a friend.
And for better or for worse, Jason was determined to be that friend.