His first thought was to tell her she'd have to catch him first because he could fly and she couldn't. Then he remembered she had the backup of all the Hunters and his thirty count army was only for the game. At most he'd have Leo and Piper on hand. Actually maybe just Leo because if Jason did something out of line Piper would be the first one trying to give him a beating and he really didn't want his only sister upset with him.
His gaze fell on the movement behind Thalia's head that turned out to be Nico mocking Raquel who thankfully hadn't noticed. Jason couldn't believe the complete fearlessness Nico could have. Not that he didn't have fears because he and Jason both knew different but he could probably face every Hunter here alone and not even blink. "Not another species, huh?"
"What does that mean?"
"When we first met I didn't understand what it meant you being a Hunter. But now I see it. Because you would always have chosen to be a Hunter. Even if I was standing there that day, alive, an begging you not to leave me. You still would have gone with them, wouldn't you?"
"Jason . . ."
"Wouldn't you?"
"You don't understand what was happening."
"Tell me."
"I can't."
"No, I want to know. See I—I remembered you. All the time I was at Camp Jupiter and I kept hoping that somehow you'd find me just like you always did when I wandered off. I was alone there. I could survive it but I was still alone. Everyone looked to me and I wanted so bad to have one person I could look to."
"Jason."
"When I saw that photo and I realized who you were I wanted to run off right then and find you. When the quest led me to you and we were together again I didn't want to go on alone. I wanted you to come with us. I wanted someone to share all the responsibilities because I wasn't sure I could do it. I lost my memories and I felt like I had no idea what to do or where I was headed. So tell me. Tell me, Thalia. If Juno hadn't taken me away would you have left?"
They weren't exactly far from the celebration but if anyone was listening or noticed what was going on they weren't saying anything. Thalia was shaken and as they stood there Jason became aware that his hands were clenched in fists and there was the sound of crackling in his ears. He was waiting for her to respond, knowing the answer, and getting more irritated the longer he waited.
"I was scared." She answered.
