"I can't believe you two were having sex. On my car!" Jason grumbled as he stared out the passenger window. Thalia was using his car for some kind of work business. He didn't have another ride to the hospital, so he had to get a ride to the hospital. From Piper.
Piper was the last person that he wanted to see. He was still upset about Piper and Reyna sleeping together. If Piper hated Reyna so much, why would she do that? And on top of it all, why the hell would they sleep on his car? He had given it five different washes already.
Jason closed his eyes and bit back a sigh. They both wanted to visit Reyna in the hospital, and when Jason mentioned he didn't have a ride, Piper offered to take him. Almost instinctively. It seemed like she was regretting it now.
"I apologized five times already," Piper said with a hint of annoyance as she tightened her grip on her steering wheel. Jason scowled.
"But, you still did it," Jason countered hotly. Piper glanced at him with a glare. Jason sternly returned it.
"Are you mad that I slept on your car, or because I slept with Reyna?" Piper questioned. "She's not yours to claim."
"I never said she was," Jason said stiffly.
"You didn't have to, Jason. It's in your face. I remember how jealous you would get when we would sleep together and another guy would flirt with me at the bar. We weren't dating, but you acted like we were," Piper stated. "Even though you didn't want to."
Jason glared and looked back out his window. Piper continued, "Is that because you're a werewolf, Jason? You just have to mark not only your territory but the people you sleep with?"
"It's not that," Jason muttered.
"Really?" Piper challenged. Jason sighed and hung his head.
"Maybe? I don't know," Jason admitted in borderline anger. He rubbed his eyes. "I don't want to think of you as property, and I know that I really did get jealous of you when guys would flirt with you. I just can't help that feeling."
"But, I think I might have feelings for Reyna," Jason began. He looked at Piper and frowned. "You probably don't want to hear this."
"I'm still your friend, Jason," Piper said as she stopped at a red light. She studied Jason for a long moment, and it felt like she was peering into his soul. "Do you have a crush on her?"
"I think it's deeper than that," Jason began. "Like I skipped that crush stage and moved to the actual feelings part."
"You can have feelings with just a crush," Piper commented. She looked back at the road and started to drive again. "Are the feelings that you have for her more than what you had for me?"
Jason looked down awkwardly. Piper didn't say anything as she waited for an answer. A sigh finally left Jason, "Yeah. I think so."
Piper nodded and didn't say anything after that. Jason looked down and tried to contain his guilt. There were no words between them as they finished their drive to the hospital. Jason felt the culpability gnawing at him. He knew that he treated Piper badly during the "friends with benefits" portion of their friendship.
He didn't want Piper to feel like he was using her, and he hated that she might even think that. Jason sighed and looked out the window again. He loved Piper strictly as a friend. But, his feelings for Reyna were deeper, and he couldn't explain them.
"I'm sorry," Jason whispered after a moment. "I didn't want to make you feel like garbage or like you aren't worth anything. I didn't want you to think I was only sleeping with you because you were throwing yourself at me. You're not a whore, and I don't want to make you feel like that."
"You didn't, Jason. You never did," Piper said. She sighed. "I really did, no do, have a crush on you. You're so kind, wonderful, and gentle. Any girl would be lucky to have you, so if I can't, you better treat Reyna right."
"I don't even know if she wants to date me," Jason muttered. Piper parked the car, and Jason laid his head back against the seat. "I guess I know how you feel.
"Sorry. That was a dick thing to say," Jason realized. Piper let out a small laugh.
"A little bit," Piper agreed. "But, that is kind of how I felt."
They both got out of the car and started to walk inside. Piper gently grabbed Jason's forearm and squeezed it gently, "You'll just have to be honest with Reyna and ask her how she feels. After she's out of the hospital."
"Thank you, Piper. I appreciate you being here for me no matter what," Jason confessed. Piper smiled at him. Jason glanced at his phone for Reyna's room number.
"Did Thalia explain what happened to her?" Piper questioned. A grimace came to Jason's face, and he nodded.
"She told me that Exterminata is intertwined with Reyna's family, and they tried to dissect her," Jason explained with a shudder.
"Fuck…" Piper whispered. She cringed at that detail. "I've heard horror stories about what they do. I hope Reyna is okay."
"As far as I know, her sister stopped it before it could get too far," Jason explained as they stepped into the elevator. He tapped the button for Reyna's floor and sighed softly. "It's got to fuck her up in the head, though."
As the elevator door opened, Jason led Piper down the hall. They stopped outside Reyna's room. The door was partially open, and Jason couldn't hear much from inside. He knocked on the door and waited for a moment.
"Come in," Reyna called. Jason stepped into the room, and his eyes shot around to find Reyna's bed and examine her. Piper was right behind him. "Hey, Jason. And Piper. How are you?"
"We're good," Piper replied as she walked towards Reyna's bed. Jason followed right behind her, very aware of the woman near the bed. Reyna started to sit up as they came near, but the woman gently pushed her back onto the bed.
"Hylla," Reyna complained.
"You know better than to be sitting up," Hylla reprimanded. Jason studied the woman. Hylla looked almost like Reyna, just older. She had the same dark eyes and black hair. Hylla looked at both of them and seemed tense in her seat.
Reyna groaned and looked at Jason and Piper. She waved. Her face wasn't pale, but there was an IV in her hand. A blanket was pulled up to her stomach, and she looked miserable in the hospital gown. New stitches were on her lip.
"How are you feeling?" Jason asked as he moved to Reyna's side. Piper stood next to him.
"Like shit," Reyna answered with a sigh. She closed her eyes for a few moments as her face screwed up in pain.
"I told you to get the nurse," Hylla scolded. Jason focused on Reyna's sister, but Hylla paid him no attention. In fact, she seemed to be looking anywhere but them. "Tell them you need pain medicine."
"I really don't," Reyna protested. Hylla rolled her eyes and reached forward. She pressed the call button. Another groan escaped Reyna. "I hate you."
"Shut up," Hylla ordered. She leaned back in her seat and just stared at Reyna. It took a moment for Reyna to open her eyes and look at them.
"Sorry about your car," Reyna began as she looked at Jason. Piper snickered and tried to hide it behind her hand.
"Don't remind me," Jason said with a groan. "Sorry for yelling about it."
"It was a dick move to have sex on top of your car," Piper admitted. Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw Hylla's head snap towards them before quickly looking back at Reyna.
"I just wish your father didn't walk in on us after," Reyna commented as she glanced at Piper. Jason laughed and tried to cover it with a fake cough. Piper elbowed him in the gut, turning it into a very real cough.
"He just wanted to make sure that you treated me right," Piper revealed. She smiled at Reyna and glanced at Jason. He just gave her a small smirk.
"Her dad walked in on us too," Jason added after a moment. Reyna chuckled and then groaned. Another curse escaped her.
"We just wanted to check on you, but we can leave if you want," Piper began.
"No," Reyna declined. "Take a seat. I can't be stuck next to my cranky sister all day."
Jason sat by Reyna's bed and smiled at her. Reyna smiled back. Piper sat by Jason, and they heard the door open. Upon turning his head, he saw the nurse walk in. Hylla spoke, "She's in pain and doesn't want to admit she needs medicine."
"I'll be right back then," the nurse promised with a small smile.
"Thanks," Reyna muttered. The door closed, and Reyna slowly looked at Jason and Piper. "Thanks for visiting me. You didn't have to."
"It has to be boring stuck in this bed," Piper commented. Jason nodded his agreement.
"Did they say how long you would be stuck here for?" Jason questioned.
"The next few days at least," Reyna replied. "I'll be on bed rest for a week after that while my side heals. That doesn't really work with Hylla's leg being screwed up, though."
"Your friends can help," Jason promised. Reyna looked away and shifted uncomfortably. "If you want. How bad is your side?"
"That bitch reopened the scars," Reyna muttered. A scowl morphed her features. "Dug her fucking fingers in there."
Jason had a good view of Hylla, and he could see her turning away with clear guilt. She swallowed painfully. Reyna shrugged and continued, "It was fucking terrifying. I thought I was going to die, but Hylla saved me."
Hylla remained silent, but the shame remained. She looked back towards them and met Jason's eyes. A frown came to her face as her eyes narrowed. Jason quickly looked back at Reyna and spoke, "I'm glad you made it through. I don't know what the bar would do without you."
An elbow drove into his gut, and he almost winced. Piper spoke, "What Jason means is that we don't know what we would do without you."
"Thanks," Reyna said. She shifted and groaned again. Her hand slowly moved to her lip. "You guys can stay, but I've hit my limit for talking."
"Just get some rest," Piper said gently. "We'll leave you alone. You just need to lay there and relax, okay? We'll bring you some food."
"Thanks," Reyna said again. Piper stood and looked at Jason. It took a moment for Jason to stand.
"I'm glad you're safe, Reyna. Maybe we can do that Marvel movie marathon while you're recovering," Jason suggested.
"I'd like that," Reyna agreed. Jason nodded to her and left the room with Piper as the nurse walked in. A small smile rested on his face. He would have to wait until Reyna was out of the hospital, but after that, he would work up the courage to talk to her about dating. From there, they would see what would happen.