More Jasper, this time with Reyna-Piper bonding on top!

This one is more of a character chapter than a plot one. Piper and Jason have been living together for a while now. Jason's kinda good now. All of them have come so far! :)

Pink VI.

"Piper, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes, Jason," she answered for what felt like the billionth time. "I'm sure Kira won't tear your throat out. She's one of Chiron's, remember? She won't go against his decision to keep you alive. Also, my name is Katherine, remember?"

"Sorry. But why do I even have to come? I'll be more than okay curled up with a book in your room. More importantly, I'll be safe there."

Piper sighed as they took a left. "I've heard things. You aren't as safe as you think you are. Even there."

"What if here we meet someone who wants to blow my head off? Or wrench my guts out? Or just plain old—"

"Then I'll pull Annabeth out of my back pocket. People know her, and people know me. People know she can kill, and people know she'd kill for me."

"She won't. Kill for you, I mean."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Two things: (1) Me and you know that, the others don't; (2) At this point, she has to. She had Rei tortured for hurting Christina, right? I'm obviously much closer to her than Tina."

"I guess."

"Good. Now quit dragging your feet; we're almost there. I don't want Kira to see you sulky and/or afraid. She won't kill you, but her words can still sting. So don't give her more material to work with."

"I know," Jason said, straightening begrudgingly. He'd taken surprisingly well to requests/commands after being at the top for so long. Well, not entirely surprisingly. Piper had a feeling that most of his megalomaniac tendencies were actually rooted in a deeper inferiority complex. He was a boy inside just like she was a girl inside: they had killed and tortured and lied, but they had just wanted to live and be happy. Or at least, what they thought was 'happy'.

There was probably a lesson somewhere in there, but Piper filed it away for later because they were at the armory.

Jake Cahill was behind the counter, polishing a broadsword. At the sight of it, she paused. "Who uses that? I thought it was just for decor."

"Clarisse La Rue, sometimes," the armorer said, "and Chris."

"Chris 'One-shot' Rodriguez?"

"That's the one."

"I thought he was all snipes, no knives?"

Jake shook his head. "La Rue is teaching him."

"I'd like to see that in action. Can you give me a call the next time they come in?"

"Sure. Now, I'm guessing you're here for another ass-kicking sponsored by Kira Summer."

Piper put a hand on her chest dramatically. "Man. It's almost like you think I'm not gonna win."

"I know you're not gonna win. The question is, how many knives are you going to ruin while being trashed by Kira?"

"One of these days, I'm gonna kick her ass. And three."

"Good." Jake handed over her usual knives, suddenly somber. "And less stabbing today, please. There was a situation with the Glenwoods, and the medics are busy with them."

"Will do."

Piper found Jason staring at one of the neo-rifs on the far wall. She cleared her throat and he snapped out of it. When he met her eyes, she communicated a 'Get ready for Kira,' without words. He nodded at the door. 'You first.'

Right. If Jason walked in first, Kira would more or less gut him within the first two to five seconds, depending on how far away she was. Piper needed to ease her into it.

The sight that waited for them inside was awesome and weird. The one word that came to mind was 'bouncing'. Because Kira was bouncing. Bouncing around the room and bouncing off walls. With somewhere between one and four knives in her hands. The walls looked freshly torn up, and Piper was having second thoughts about bringing Jason with her. Kira didn't seem to notice them, and continued her strange dance.

"Fighting ghosts?" Piper asked.

Even in the midst of what looked like an extremely strenuous exercise, Kira rolled her eyes and came up with an insult. "About as… good of an… opponent… as you."

Piper pointed out a corner of the room to Jason. "Rude," she said to Kira.

"You're right… should pretend… that you… pose a threat… to me."

And Piper didn't deign to answer to that.

Kira didn't stop until Jason had sat himself cross-legged against one distressed wall. Her final leap placed her in the middle of the room, facing Piper.

"Katherine Hill, reluctant to come to a fight, as always. I don't think I requested a spectator."

"We're babysitting him," Piper clarified.

"I'm not babysitting anyone."

"That's alright. I'll babysit him. You just don't kill him."

Kira went to her backpack in the corner opposite Jason's and began rifling through it. "I'll think about it."

"Fair enough. Did you know that the broadsword hung outside is actually used?"

"Of course. I've seen La Rue wreck this place with that thing."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. It's her type. Sword so heavy the blunt edge could shatter a femur."

"Can you use it?"

"I don't want to. I train with swords to pass time, but smaller ones only. You know, the ones normal humans can lift."

"Why do we even have swords? Why waste money on that?"

Kira stood up and came to her, now with only two medium-sized knives in her hands instead of four smaller ones. "Way back when you were a baby, we used to have semi-gladiatorial contests. And daggers were obviously too small for our totally manly men, so they brought in swords and axes and maces. That's actually where our sparring rules come from. The dress code and everything."

"Did you see any?"

Kira shook her head. "This is what I've heard. Now, shall we fight? Or do you want to keep delaying it?"

"Do you know about the Glenwoods thing?"

"What about it?"

"Jake said to avoid big injuries because medics are busy with the wounded."

"Huh. I knew there was a fight. I did not know that we got our asses handed to us. And by the Glenwoods of all people. Wonder how your girlfriend is handling it."

"One, Annabeth's not my girlfriend. She doesn't swing that way, and she's not my type. And two, hand me your knives. I don't think they're up to standard—"

She narrowly dodged a knife that would've torn through her shoulder, and promptly shut up. Typical. Literally two seconds ago I said to avoid big injuries.

Kira did not pause, even to retrieve her thrown blade. (Which, since it wasn't exactly a replaceable knife, clearly showed her priorities.) Piper barely had time to collect herself before she was hit by a dropkick. Well, almost hit. She managed to stumble back just enough to save herself.

As Kira was getting up, Piper punched her in the stomach. It didn't affect her as much as she'd like, but it gave her a chance to shove Kira backward. Away from her other knife.

She threw her entire weight into the shove, managing to knock the wind out of Kira and push her a couple yards. She decided to not give Kira time to recover. Since stabs were definitely off the table, Piper switched her grip and rammed the butt of her knife into Kira's shoulder.

Deciding to continue the barrage was definitely a mistake, because Kira was expecting that hit. She grabbed Piper's wrist mid-strike. A simple stop-lock maneuver sent Piper to the floor. "You're too excitable," Kira observed.

"Stop gloating," she warned, getting to her knees.

Kira snorted and simply punched her in the plexus. "Can't stop won't stop."

Piper fell to the floor and groaned. Kira went to retrieve her knife, setting a leisurely pace. "You're disgustingly happy today," Piper said.

Kira stopped and turned to her. Piper couldn't see her face, but she knew Kira was grinning. "I sure am."

"Any particular reason?"

"You mean you didn't notice? Dude, you are bad at this. Didn't you see that when you punched me in my stomach, it didn't faze me as much as it used to?"

"No?"

"Well, it didn't. It was a weakness and I'm getting better now. It's kind of a big thing for me, personally."

"Kira, if I knew anything about your personal life, I would say I'm happy for you. As things stand, I hate you."

Kira shrugged. "Fair enough."

As soon as Kira turned her back to her, Piper leapt to her feet, noiselessly. She readied her knife and pounced. A short slash across her lower back— easy to heal and yet a big setback.

But. Piper's horoscope must've been particularly bad, because Kira spun around, caught her wrist, and nearly opened up her arm.

For a brief few seconds, there was no pain. "OhshitI'msorry," Kira said.

"Please go get a Pacifier," Piper mumbled. It was mostly surface, but it ran for miles along her arm. This is bad. But I've been through worse.

When the pain hit, she tried to limit the pain-noises to groans. She failed. It was less painful than almost every other time she'd gotten hurt, but that didn't make it much better. Kira grabbed shoulders and sat her down against a wall. Jason came over to them and checked out her wound. "You need an Anti-Pacifier. Kira, do you have one?"

Kira nodded. "I'll go get it. Keep an eye on her and distract her."

The pain was building up. "The hell are you… talking about? I don't need… whatever the opposite… of pain relief is."

Jason took her knives away and sat down in front of her, taking her hand to calm her. It worked, somehow. "Relax," he said. "We'll give you both. The Pacifier will numb the pain and the Anti-Pacifier will accelerate healing. This can be healed easily, but the window is short."

"What is an Anti-Pacifier."

"A Pacifier has two effects, numbing and drowsiness. An Anti-Pacifier also has two effects, adrenaline rush and healing. The adrenaline is the 'anti' part of it."

Kira returned with a metal case about six inches in size. "Problem is," she said, "an Anti-Pacifier's side effects are mostly unknown. Nobody knows what an overdose may do, so few people use it."

Piper suppressed a scream. "You're gonna… give me an… experimental drug?"

As if to prove her point, Kira poked her near the wound. "Problem?"

Piper promptly gave up. "Do it quickly," she hissed.

Kira shrugged and jabbed her with the Pacifier first. As expected, the pain melted away within ten agonizing heartbeats. Not completely, though: it went from 'AAAHHHH!' to 'Holy shit this must be what prolonged torture feels like.'

While Kira disposed of the first needle and Piper recovered, Jason spoke up. "Kira, make sure to give her a smaller dose."

"I know," Kira said, fiddling with her case.

Which didn't sit well with Piper. At all. "Hey, no! No! Give me a larger dose! This hurts like a bitch! No smaller dose!"

Kira rolled her eyes. "Yes smaller dose. You're so short that even a normal dose will have the weirdest side effects. It's already hard enough that I'm gonna have to freehand the measure…"

Piper took a deep breath. You can't yell at Kira, even if she is a stupid brainless idiot who knows nothing. Don't shout. Do not. Shout.

Like a champ, she kept her calm. "I'm two inches shorter than the average. Two inches. That is not short!"

Kira stared at her for a minute, then went back to whatever stupid shit she was doing. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, kiddo."

And because he was a monster, Jason took over the height-shaming. "She's right, Cat. You smol."

"I'M NOT SHORT! The Eiffel Tower is fine as it is! People don't shame the freaking Eiffel Tower for its height!"

Kira was finally done with the prep. She grabbed her arm to steady it. "Objection: the Eiffel Tower doesn't throw tantrums."

"YOU WANNA GO—"

"Katherine, shut up. I can inject this into your elbow calmly and nicely. Or miss and stab you and make it much worse. Don't move."

Unfortunately, Piper had to shut up. As promised, Kira did her bit cleanly. Putting away the items, she said, "Let's give it some time to heal you. Which means civil discussions only. Here, I'll start. Your choice of knives is horrible."

Piper asked her what was wrong with the knives she'd chosen, and they argued back and forth while Piper anti-healed or whatever.

The score was Kira in the lead 3:1 on the knives when the Anti-Pacifier finally took effect. Piper's first thought on the matter was Holy shit.

She jumped to her feet. She was ready. Ready for something. Ready for action and a fight but she couldn't get the words out, so she just pulled Kira up and shoved her away.

Piper began throwing punches and kicks without giving Kira time to get ready. Her head was repeating Let's fight someone. Let's kill someone.

"Yup, I've overdosed you," Kira quipped. Piper jumped forward with another reckless throat punch. Kira managed to avoid the direct hit, and it landed just above where the crew sleeve of her T-shirt ended. She stumbled for a second before blocking the next kick.

"I'll have to tell Darius the next time I see him that overdose does this," she continued, though this time apparently to Jason. "Maybe he's mixed some type of aggressive caveman instinct extract in it."

Piper snarled and took one of Kira's arms to pull her closer for a better angle on her next attack.

"Too many fight-noises coming out of her. I'm turning up my volume to hear less of your fight," Jason said. "Summer, please tell me if she's killing herself. Before she kills herself, just to be clear."

Kira rolled her eyes again and retreated again. Piper bared her teeth.

"You look like shit, Cat," Percy said.

Piper scowled at him. "Same to you."

"And not even like a cute emoji either," he continued as if he hadn't heard her. "I'm talking about the type you don't wanna look at. Have you been walking around looking like that all day? How many people have you scared? What happened?"

Piper sank down into an empty chair in the row in front of him. "Your girlfriend is a bitch," she said.

Percy tapped a few times on his screen. "I'm assuming you're talking about Kira." He pushed away from the computer and leaned dangerously far back in his chair. "Who isn't my girlfriend, unfortunately. But aren't you two good friends? What did she do?"

"Yeah, she's a friend. I'm not actually I-won't-talk-to-you-ever-again level mad, I'm just you-gave-me-a-really-bad-gift level mad."

"Huh. And did she give you a really bad gift?"

"Not exactly. We sparred and I got my ass handed to me, that's all. Pretty typical for us. After our fights I always look disheveled. And the more I try to fix it the worse it gets. I'm no makeup expert."

"I was about to point out the weird patches in your cheeks, but you've already done it for me, so thank you. Anyway, why do you two even spar? She's way above your skill level and power level. You'll get beaten up and she'll have a milk run! This isn't helpful for either of you!"

She shrugged, not knowing the answer herself. "I dunno, dude. It's how we connect, though. I don't…. Look, my first memory with Kira is of a knife fight. I don't remember how we began talking to each other, but the fights I remember clearly. We talk when we fight."

Percy nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. The only time she gives polysyllabic answers is when she has a weapon in hand. Personally, I think weapons are some kind of subconscious 'safe' objects for her. I mean, they're like reminders that she can talk and behave more freely because she can (violently) protect herself against negative reactions."

"Well, remind me to hand her a gun next time I try to loosen her up for a party."

Percy hummed thoughtfully. "So, why are you here? You wouldn't have stopped by just for the chat."

Piper pulled out a letter from her back pocket. "This is the first time I'm doing this for you, so you probably don't know this: Chiron doesn't believe in electronics. No texts, no emails. He's alright with calls, but nothing else. So he sends letters." She held out the letter.

Percy stared at it in disbelief. "I knew about the no electronics thing, but this…. God. He called you to take this actual physical letter from him and bring it to me. From him, in the most remote corner of the Compound. To me, wherever I could've been."

"I know, right? He looks like a warm and caring grandfather; you'd assume he'd maybe not send me running every time he had orders." She shook her head. "But that's just how it is. Everyone serves."

Percy took the envelope, tore it open, and began reading. When he was done, he looked at her. "Hey Cat, how's this? Next time go to spar with Kira, call me too. I know less than her, but I'll be a better moderator and teacher, at least. We'll make a Fighter of you yet."

It was nice of him to look out for her, especially considering they hadn't really interacted much. They had only two contacts in common, and neither Kira nor Annabeth was a good common topic.

Piper didn't need saving, (she was worth more than a Fighter already), but it wouldn't hurt to extend her influence. And it won't hurt to have a few more moves. After all, I wanna actually win someday.

"And I know Chiron's having you watch Grace," Percy continued, oblivious to her inner debate. "He can stay in the room when we teach you. Maybe he'll have some insights himself; he was a Gamma before."

Interesting. He's okay with Jason nearby.

Then again, Percy was weird. "That's a nice idea," she said, smiling. "But now is work. Annabeth's probably waiting for me."

He gave her a crooked smile and a wave, and went back to his work. Piper took off.

Annabeth's room was five hallways away from Jason's old one and eleven away from Piper's. It took Piper about ten near-misses at seventeen cramped intersections to get to it.

Unlike Jason, who had his room reserved for girlfriend purposes, Annabeth had turned her room into her workplace. Piper had often suggested that she shouldn't let work and rest share the same space, but Annabeth had been adamant. Which was just as well, because fewer locations made it easier for Piper to mutiny whenever she chose to.

Besides being 80% office, Annabeth's room was unbearably perfect. Piper's hackles rose every time she looked at it.

When Piper walked in, Annabeth was bent over some papers. Piper tried to read her mood. "Hey Anne, what are you doing?"

"Not now, Katherine. Alpha mode is on."

Not this again.

Annabeth had been making up situations that allowed her to drop the loving-caring-innocent-queen act, and one of them was the so-called Alpha mode.

Whenever there was a lot of work to do (or whenever it struck her fancy), Annabeth would declare that she had 'turned her Alpha mode on'. Which basically meant 'I'm gonna be a bitch for a while. And you're gonna let me. Because I'm only doing it for everyone's good.' She kept using the excuse that the rank was forcing her to be tough, and Piper was tired of it.

But she also had to play her part. "Uh..." she said dumbly.

Annabeth huffed at her indecision and stupidity. She glared at Piper and pointed at a pile of papers on the bed pushed up against the far wall. "Those papers contain tasks for the rest of the week. Sort them. Hand me any orders you find. Do not make any human noises."

God I hate you.

By the time Annabeth finally told Piper to take the rest of the day off, Piper was two minutes away from faking an illness to get the rest of the day off. She practically ran back to her room after thanking Annabeth profusely. The only reason she didn't actually run, was because she was too damn tired to do that.

Jason was waiting for her in her room, as always. He did not even look up from his book when she drunkenly stumbled to the bed. When she made an exaggerated delirious noise, he quipped, "It's good manners to close doors."

Piper didn't acknowledge that. "If you're done reading about wimpy magicians and whatnot, I'm starved for a movie."

"You go ahead and set up. I'm finishing this chapter in a minute."

"Hell to the no," Piper said, being used to his reading style. "Put down that book right now or you'll end up bleeding from one chapter to the other and reading ten chapters before moving an inch. I'm not going to do all the work myself."

Jason sighed, placed a bookmark, closed the book. He stood up and spread his arms. "Happy? I'm just as— Hey, what happened? Why are you... drooping like that?"

"Don't ever tell a girl she's drooping," she scolded. "Tell her she's looking just great instead of her normal incredible."

"Uh huh. Why do you look just great instead of your normal incredible, Pipes?"

Truth was, she was feeling rather droopy. "I'm just so tired. And I don't know why I'm so tired! Everything that happened was so normal. Kira, then Chiron, then Annabeth… I don't understand— It's that freaking drug you gave me, isn't is?!"

Jason responded with a passing 'Calm down,' gesture. "The drug isn't the reason, Piper. I did thorough research while you were gone. Whatever side-effects it can possibly have, are all limited to like half an hour after it first started showing. Your body devours the ingredient-chemicals like kid plus ice cream plus summer. No catch."

That took the steam out of her accusation. The droopiness set in again. "Then why?"

Jason stood up and locked the door. He began prepping the room for movie time. "I think it's just your 'work my ass off' routine catching up with your body," Jason guessed.

"Yeah, well, it can't do that. I won't let it do that." She forced herself to her feet and started helping Jason clean up. His only reaction to her decision to not let herself be tired was a small scowl and a shake of his head.

They started turning the room into a movie theater, bit by bit. Piper adjusted the lights as Jason gathered random items lying about. She took out rags from the closet to dim the lights just right. He passed her a step stool without her asking, and she stepped up and threw the clothes over the lights one by one.

Once that was done, she moved on to the next task: collecting and sorting snacks and drinks. Her basket of privileges was set carefully next to the door. She dumped it onto the bed with her and started divvying it up.

Jason spoke up before when she was halfway through it. "Hey, I don't wanna trade those spicy green thingies for popcorn this time, okay? My stomach still hurts from last week."

Piper sniggered. "So white, Jace, so white."

"There's nothing wrong with trying out different things," he protested.

"Well, there is something wrong with trying out things that you were literally warned against and then failing spectacularly. I told you that your weak ass stomach couldn't handle the spices I grew up on."

Jason hung his head and muttered, "I was curious... to see if it really tasted as awesome... and if it hurt so bad."

Piper facepalmed. "Too many cliches, Jace. Dude, I'm curious how it would feel to get sucked up into a tornado. Do I go chase tornadoes hoping to get sucked up in one? I don't, FYI."

"I get that now, Piper."

She just scoffed and turned away. They fell into silence for a while. He finished up nice-ing up the room then joined her on the bed, helping her sort.

Piper sighed. "I'm sorry, that was mean."

Jason smiled at the chips in his hands. "It's okay to hate stupid. It's a fundamental right."

"I know people who would disagree. But was it at least worth it? Was the taste worth the stomachache?"

Jason cocked his head contemplatively. "Well, one optimistic way to think about it this: better now than later when I'm old and my digestive system can't cope. But it also taught something much more important: to be very, very afraid of people who can eat stuff like that without getting sick. Namely, you."

Piper laughed. "I thought you learned that long ago. I'm the girl moms warn their sons about!"

Jason grinned. "No mama, can't relate." He grabbed the laptop on the bedside table and switched it on.

"We didn't pick what to watch," Piper realized.

"You didn't pick what to watch. You're the movie junkie. I'm just along for the ride. Just try not to scar me with another horrible novel adaptation."

"But that was one of the good ones!"

He handed her the laptop with a shudder. "Then I don't even want to hear about the others."

She pulled up The Irishman. "This one will do," she announced, showing him the synopsis. "I've heard good things about it. I think it was nominated for the Oscars."

Jason looked at the screen dubiously. "So was Tree of Life and we both saw how that turned out."

"In my defense, I didn't know you didn't like that genre. But no more Tree of Life types, promise."

"Still not convinced, but alright."

She set it up. Adjusted the volume, changed the display from the screen to the projector, adjusted contrast and hue settings. The wall she'd had painted white was quickly losing its neutrality and the projector set was already well-worn from overuse. I should ask for a new one. I've got another year here, might as well enjoy it.

"Let me guess, you want to see the opening logos this time too?" Jason asked as a logo appeared.

"You know me so well, Mr Grace."

He shrugged with the shoulder that wasn't leaning against her. "Well, it's kinda my duty as your wife, remember?"

She shushed him. "This is a serious movie; Don't joke."

Jason started a "You started it!"

"Shh." She absently pawed through her pile when she noticed— "I don't have any chocolates."

"Oh yeah? So that huge bar in there is mine?"

"No, no, no. No, it's not yours. But, I mean, I have no real chocolate. Lee forgot my dark chocolate for the third time!"

Jason sipped at his beer, utterly unmoved. "Don't you have a secret stash?"

"Yeah, of course I have a secret stash but it's a secret and a stash so A, you shouldn't know about it, and B, I shouldn't take from it except in case of disaster."

He simply pointed at the wall. "Look, Mr Old Dude is starting to narrate and if I know you, this is an emergency. Or do you want to go tackle Lee Fletcher into submission right now?"

She weighed the decision for a minute before getting up for the stash.

Before actually going to the place where she'd hidden it, she turned around to warn Jason. "Look, if you want any of my darks you ask me for one, okay? If I see my chocolates missing I'll—"

She didn't get to finish her spirited warning, because the room slipped, the floor came up, and one second before she hit the ground, everything went black.

Next chapter: Piper is NOT pregnant, but everybody thinks she is. Jason has to pretend to be the guy who knocked her up. It's gonna be awesome, I promise.

By the way, Piper being smol and angry about being smol is so effing delightful to me!