Hello, there! Do you wish Jason had just apologised to Reyna? Are you (platonic) Jeyna trash? Good, because so am I. My (slight) obsession with Jeyna, and Jeyna apology, has led to this, For Everything: a three-part apology fic told from Jason's perspective. Enjoy, and please leave a review!
[Disclaimer for the whole story: Anything you recognise belongs to Rick Riordan. Anything else is mine.]
Jupiter. The king of the gods. High, mighty, and revered by all. At Camp Jupiter, children of the sky god were treated with the utmost respect - the only problem being there were hardly any of them.
Hardly any, except for Jason Grace.
Sometimes, Jason wished he wasn't the son of the most powerful god. Sometimes, he wished he could be a child of a minor deity. Sometimes, he wished it wasn't such a big deal to be a son of Jupiter.
Of course, nothing like that would ever happen. Jason had to live with the stares and whispers that followed him everywhere he went.
The stares and whispers that followed him even as he made his way to the river, where apparently a 'new arrival' was waiting for him, or so Terminus had told him. Brushing the last brownie crumbs from his chin - because of course he had been in the middle of eating when the god had interrupted him - he made his way through the camp.
He had been there long enough for the residents to get used to him, or at least that's how it should be, but he couldn't help but notice the way the campers parted for him as he walked past.
He wasn't even a praetor, for the gods' sake!
'Hey, Jase.' It was Simon, current centurion of the Fifth, and one of the few demigods who treated him like a normal person. 'Where you going?'
'New camper, apparently.'
'Really?'
'Yeah: Terminus interrupted me when I was at that nice café.'
'Which one?' Food was one of Simon's main priorities, and he'd never pass up an opportunity to find a new place to eat.
'Oh, just that one that does the incredible brownies.' Jason was starting to feel impatient - it was important he got to the river and welcomed the new camper, in absence of the praetors - but Simon wouldn't budge.
'Man, you're obsessed with brownies.'
'That's because they're so good!' Normally Jason would be happy to have a conversation about brownies, but he really had to go. 'Si, you have to try the white chocolate and raspberry ones.'
'Really? I've never had them before!' That was a surprise. Simon had tried nearly everything in New Rome, including things that weren't meant to be eaten.
'Well, you'd better hurry - they're running out,' Jason said, feeling a bit mean.
'Okay!' With that, Simon bounded off down the hill, running weirdly fast for someone who ate huge amounts every day.
Feeling slightly guilty, Jason continued on his way.
The girl on the other side of the river looked wild, almost feral. Her dark hair was tangled and matted; her clothes were dirty, torn and bloodied; her eyes flashed menacingly as she paced the riverbank.
'Hello,' Jason called across to her, his voice barely audible over the rushing water. The river seemed excited, as if it knew that this girl was something important, something special.
'Hello,' she replied warily. Jason wished a praetor was here, but they were away questing somewhere, and, in their absence, a son of Jupiter was the obvious choice for their replacement.
'Do you - do you want to come across?' He cringed at how awkward he sounded, but the girl didn't seem to mind. She stepped into the water.
'Would you like a hand? There's a bridge, if you would prefer?'
'I'm fine,' she said, her voice composed. 'I've seen worse.'
She moved through the water, the depth and currents not seeming to bother her, as she easily found places to put her feet and navigate across. Jason could already tell that this girl was going to be a gift to the camp.
'What's your name?' he asked, once she reached the other side.
'Reyna,' she replied.
'Just Reyna?'
'Just Reyna.'
'Well, come on then, Reyna, we need to register you.' He sounded so awkward: How would he ever be praetor?
Speak of the devil - at that moment, May and Chris came hurrying into the camp.
Praetor Evans - May - was a daughter of Mars, and just as violent as her father, although slightly more intelligent. One glance at her bulging muscles; her tall, stocky build; and the variety of weapons that hung at her side, and you'd definitely know who her father was. Praetor Chris Roberts was the exact opposite. He was a child of Mercury, and he was slim and wiry. His light brown fringe flopped into his eyes - although currently it was slicked back with sweat - and he didn't look at all lethal. Enemies would think he was child's play, until he pulled out his knives. His small build helped with his agility, and he was one of the best fighters in camp.
'Praetor Evans! Praetor Roberts!' Jason hoped his formal greeting contained the welcome he wanted to give them.
'Jason.' May inclined her head slightly, but her green eyes were warm and friendly.
Chris and May made their way over the bridge and into camp.
'And who's this?' asked Chris.
'This is Reyna. She just arrived.'
'Welcome, Reyna!' Chris's voice was so warm, so friendly, that it seemed to melt Reyna's icy shell.
'Th-thanks,' she stammered, before offering up a small smile.
'Thank you, Jason.' May was tall, and Jason had to look up at her to see her face. 'We'll take it from here.'
Jason stepped to the side to allow the praetors through, as they ushered away Reyna.
Jason shook his head admiringly. Even he hadn't been able to adjust so quickly, let alone walk through the Tiber without slipping and drowning.
The moment was ruined by Simon. 'Jason,' he complained, 'they didn't even have any of those brownies!'
'Oh, sorry, Si - but it's dinnertime now, so it doesn't really matter, does it?' Jason said.
'I guess not.'
With that, they began to walk back into camp. Jason could only imagine what would happen next, with this new, strange, wild girl.
