Jasper is my weakness. I'm such Jasper trash somebody stop me.
"I can't tell if this is genius, pretentious, or pure laziness." Jason snickers as Piper ties a knot in the string attaching them.
"And it can't be all three because?"
"Then it would go to your head." He responds playfully.
"Admit it, dressing up as soulmates for Halloween is the cutest idea ever." She smiles at him in that way only she can and his heart melts a little.
He rolls his eyes but kisses her sweet lips anyway, he was touched by the idea when she'd first approached him. Usually they went all out for couples costumes, but they'd just recently finished a move and their lives were a bit scattered. When she said, let's just be soulmates, he was onboard for the idea. That hasn't changed, but he knows their friends will be all up on their case.
"We need to get going if we're going to make it by nine thirty." He says shoving his phone into his back pocket.
"Hey, you've got something on your cheek." She says before planting a kiss where she'd drawn his attention.
"You going to be vomit inducing all night?" He chuckles.
"I'm just selling the costume." She responds, voice lilted with a chuckle.
"Uhuh, let's go princess." He leads her out the door, tying his fingers up with hers they walk down busy streets towards Percy and Annabeth's place. The small house is already busting with life even from the outside. One of those closed down restaurant's turned into a stupidly small house in the middle of New York City, the rugged brick walls nearly pulse with the beat of the music.
Piper opens the door, knowing that the doorbell is a lost cause, and waltzes right in. Percy and Annabeth are the kind of people who might as well know the whole city, and their living room, bursting with people, can testify to that. However, Piper expertly weaves the two of them through the crowd towards the kitchen, where low and behold their friends happen to be taking a break from the action.
Nico sitting on a counter top dressed up as a half-assed batman poking Will who has an expertly put together Robin costume. Hazel and Frank duoing as Marge and Homer Simpson teasing one another at the breakfast table. Then there's Annabeth and Percy both dressed up as mermaids, and Percy's bra looks better than Annabeth's unfortunately, hovering by a bowl of chips and salsa.
"Losers, the both of you." Percy chuckles loudly.
"I can't believe you guys didn't dress up." Will sighs, "You always dress up."
"Excuse you, we did so dress up." Piper argues holding up our hands.
"I didn't need to know that about you." Frank says teasingly.
Jason rolls his eyes before saying, "We're soulmates."
"Aw!" Hazel coos, "Let me go vomit real quick."
"Speaking of, either of you drinking?" Annabeth asks heading towards the fridge.
"Typically." Piper chuckles.
"It's supposed to be byob but I'll make an exception." She winks at the two of them handing each of them beer.
"Speaking of exceptions, where's Leo?"
"To hell if I know." Percy shrugs.
"Last I saw he was grinding on some sexy Sleeping Beauty." Nico says.
"Ah, cute." Jason says.
"She isn't."
"Yikes."
"Anyway, you two 'soulmates' go out and find your love child." Annabeth says with a smirk.
"Are you kicking us out?" Jason asks.
"The love of your life wants to dance, take her and go." She gestures to Piper.
"It's true, finish your beer and take me!" She bounces up and down like a child. "Please?"
"Anything for you." He says with a soft smile. He takes one last drink and then whips her out into the chaos. They manage to find a position in which their hands don't have to separate too much, her body flush against his, their hands resting around her middle. And there they try to make space for themselves.
Moving to every word and rhythm singing along terribly to each song that they think they know. But it doesn't even matter if they don't, because here they have each other. Dancing in a pool of people they probably know, but can't be quite certain. Why should any of that matter when he's got the most perfect girl in the world giving him all of her attention, and he the same for her.
The way her eyes shine bright even as the lights grow dimmer and more club like. He can practically feel her heart racing in her chest, yet she never stops moving. Not even when they escape outside to sit in the semblance of a backyard with the rest of their friends. She stays standing, and he remains wrapped up in her, or maybe he's wrapped around her.
Whatever the case maybe he is reminded of all the reasons why he loves her. The howling laughter, the bated breath every time she kisses him, and especially the way she looks at him. It's less of a gaze and more of a gawking ogle. He loves that even she has moments of awe, that she has him, and as much as he would disagree, she thinks him just as amazing as he thinks of her.
This imperfect love that they have, managed to create a throbbing in his heart, which he has named love. He doesn't feel it every day, but when he does it almost hurts how much he loves her. How much of her leaves him star struck.
For three years he has looked at her and feels like his mind must flatline, because all he can think is wow. Wow, because she chose him. Wow, because she continues to choose him. Wow, because she could have anyone but she wants him. Wow, because somebody wants him.
Once that magical time of three am hits, Jason and Piper call themselves a car. Their tipsy minds manage to get home and once their front door is closed they are back to kissing. Breathing in alcohol and joy, Jason can't contain himself anymore and he smiles like he's just seen her for the first time.
"Hey Pipes…." He waits for her to speak.
Breathless and chuckling she asks, "Huh?"
"I don't think we dressed up for Halloween."
She tilts her head back and laughs, "You know, I don't think we did either."
"I love you."
"I love you too."