Wowwww I haven't updated in forever haha sorry about that!
School has stared and I have a pretty full schedule. :/ this is pretty shirt but I wanted to get something up. :)
Piper entered Jason's cabin, the day after the battle. Both of them had recently been released from the infirmary, luckily with no serious injuries.
"It could have been me." Jason said, by way of greeting. His voice sounded tight. "Storm or fire. It should have been me."
She silently willed herself not to cry. Jason was sitting on his bed, staring into space. He turned to look at her, and the sadness in his eyes broke her heart further.
All Piper could say was, "I know."
She understood the feeling. It was going to be one of the three of them who died, but she had been optimistic that nobody would die. That they could find a way to save everyone. They had the physicians cure.
"I just... I feel like I should've died." Jason continued. "I-I couldn't imagine if you had died, and Leo... Leo didn't deserve to die."
"I feel like I'm responsible." Piper finally felt the tears flow, like a dam had broken. "If I'd realized that I didn't have the cure-"
"I should've done something." He looked at the floor, scowling. "I should've..." He trailed off, clearing his throat.
"There was nothing you could do." Piper said, squeezing his hand. "It was Leo's decision."
"We could've- I could've changed his mind!" Jason exclaimed, his voice quivering dangerously.
"We didn't know about his plan until it was too late." She said mournfully, not bothering to wipe away her tears, which continued to fall.
"I know. You're right." Jason was staring at the floor, his voice still shaking. "I just miss him." Piper offered him her hand in silent support.
"I know. We all do." She murmured. "But he's okay. He's in Elysium right now, or there is that slight possibility that he didn't... That he didn't die."
"How?" Jason's voice sounded tight and hoarse. "How could he still be alive? That blast-"
"That blast was huge, but this is Leo we're talking about." Piper finished his sentence. "Leo McShizzle Valdez. He's got to be out there somewhere, I just know it."
"There was too much fire, even for Leo." he cleared his throat, and Piper recognized what was happening. Everyone had a tell. Jason tended to clear his throat to keep from crying. Wordlessly, she pulled him into a hug, which lasted for a long time, because she started crying, then he let a few tears fall, and then the two were just comforting each other. Leo had been both of their best friends, and it hurt both of them immensely to know that he had died.
"The thing is," she piped up, finally. "Leo wouldn't want us to be sad. He'd want us to focus on being happy, finding contentment. So let's focus on things that make us happy."
"Okay..." Jason said uncertainly. "Well, I love going out to the strawberry fields with you."
"I love the chaos of the Aphrodite cabin. There's something comforting about it." Piper added.
"And thunderstorms," he continued. "They're relaxing."
"Sunshine, too. Especially when it's sunny but kind of cold... Not too cold, but cold enough that you could wear a sweater and not sweat to death."
"And brownies."
Piper laughed. "You men and your food."
And they continued on like this, moving forward, focusing on things that made them happy, as they accepted the fact that their best friend had died.
anyone ever just want to give Jason and/or Piper a hug bc I do.
High school is fun. I didn't think it would be but it is.
Also im now banned from raising my hand in geometry class because I'm "not giving the other students a chance to answer". xD I'm a real life Hermione Granger, guys.
Also, any story requests? I'll do them this weekend hopefully.