Today was the day. Jason made his way over to the Aphrodite cabin, his stride sure and steady. He would get his shit together, put on his big boy pants, and finally tell Nico how he felt. Their happily-ever-after depended on it!

Though easier said than done. The champ of Juno was a hopeless novice when it came to the ancient dance of seduction. Turned out flirting wasn't a trait he inherited from his dad. He sucked so hard, there was a real danger that Percy could have gone bald from tearing at his own hair, and then Jason would have to answer to Annabeth. Not fun. Ultimately they skipped the smooth-talking-biz and moved on to the one part that mattered most according to every teen magazine ever - the looks.

They had 4 hours to turn Jason Grace into the hottest demigod on camp before Nico would meet him in the arena. The clock was ticking and honestly, neither Percy nor Jason exactly knew what they were doing when it came to fashion. Fear not, Percy had claimed, there is nothing a son of Poseidon can't do. After all, I am the brains behind the operation - a thought that still scared Jason shitless. When he heard Mr. Optimism's plan the hero almost instantly asked to back out. But what choice did he really have?

"My, my, my. Look what the cat brought in," Drew Tanaka sneered.

"Don't worry bro. Piper told me she'll help," Percy said and dismissed the girl's poor attitude.

Speaking of the devil. "Hey, Sparky," a suspiciously cheerful voice called as they pushed past Drew and walked through the open door. Piper smiled at them and Jason winced. They'd broken up 7 months ago. The whole camp knew. Of course. News traveled fast - and twice as quick in this particular cabin. Things just didn't work out between them, but staying friends proved to be surprisingly easy. No hard feelings. It wasn't weird. Not at all. Piper laughed. That had to be a good sign, right? Oh gosh, what was Jason thinking? Letting Percy talk him into seeking help from his ex to woo his new flame was a recipe for disaster. He was a lamb among lions.

"Don't sweat it guys, Drew is all bark but no bite."

Jason wasn't so sure about that.

"McLean," she growled while circling Jason like a hawk. Her eyes scanned over his body as if he was nothing but a lump of fresh meat.

"At least not when it's the only hope of getting her bike back," Piper sing-songed without a single care in the world.

"Oh, I remember this particular bet," Percy snickered.

"We'll see who laughs last," Drew snapped. "Those nitwits have no idea what they're up against." She rubbed her hands together and Jason felt like he was part of a villain's origin story. Unceremoniously he was shoved into her dark lair - a spacious lavender-colored bathroom.

"What did she mean?" Percy asked once the coast was clear. "The Stoll's won fair and square. Jason turned her down."

"She's going for semantics. If he's anything but hetero they'll have to reopen the case. All she needs is proof," Piper explained.

"So -"

"What the hell!" The son of Jupiter suddenly shrieked. Not just because Jason was pretty certain he'd just entered the Ladies toilet, but also upon seeing the number of beauty weapons it was staked with - their sole purpose: defiling him. The arsenal of cluttered clothes, hair and skin products, make-up, shoes, and worst, girl stuff that had him blush by simply looking, made him want to dive for cover.

"Come on," Drew didn't wait for Jason to finish his drama and pushed him sternly into the stool in front of the biggest mirror he'd ever seen.

Percy did the same, minus the usage of well-intended force, and flopped down on one of the chairs - of course at a safe distance.

"Let me get this straight," she addressed the son of Poseidon in a tone that meant business and rolled her eyes at his giggles. "What exactly do you want us to do?"

"Fix him," Percy shrugged.

Jason made a face. "Geez, thanks." Admittedly he felt more than a bit panicky, and now he had to add self-conscious to the list. Which was ridiculous. Even he knew he was a solid 8 out of 10. High standards and all.

"Hey, I am 100% on your side!"

Which sounded sweet and nice if it weren't for the fact that Percy enjoyed his torment a tad too much to be genuine. Piper as well. However, she had enough tact to cover her expression like a decent human being. Percy on the other hand started to undress and - wait what?

"See," he announced showing him an ugly pink shirt that had lurked beneath his camp-hoody. In bold sparkling letters, it said: TEAM JASON!

Jason opened and closed his mouth a few times. Regrets. So many regrets. He would not survive. He took a deep breath to stifle his increasing anxiety, but Percy wasn't finished digging his grave.

"Even gave you a head start when Solace wanted to know how to get into He-who-must-not-be-named's pants."

Jason could only continue to stare. Also the insides of Nico's pants hmm...

"Percy, what did you do?" Bless Piper and her ability to speak.

"Nothing," he replied out of reflex. "I mean nothing too bad. Kinda sabotaged his game."

Jason didn't like Percy's sly grin one bit.

"Do you remember the pick-up lines Leo used on anything remotely female?"

May the Gods have mercy on his soul. Jason cringed. He wished he actually could forget.

"Have you no shame?" Piper scolded and another daughter of Aphrodite mouthed, "So that's why we can't have nice things."

"Totally unnecessary," Jason finally said.

"Oh, trust me, it was definitely necessary," Percy assured. "Also told him he likes physical affection."

"You're a bad person Jackson."

"But a good friend?"

"Whatever makes you sleep better," Jason snorted.

"That wasn't a no."

The son of Jupiter burrowed his face in his hands, but to be honest, it was merely so no one would see him smile.

"Quit messing around. I am going to pick an outfit," Drew announced, flipping her hair.

"Do I have a say in it?"

"No," three voices intervened in unison.

The former head Counselor crouched down, elbow-deep in clothes, while a few other girls did something to Jason's fingernails and then to his teeth.

"Time to get serious," she grinned while pressing the play button on an old boom-box. Magically a cold wax stripe appeared between her palms. It warmed up by her malice alone.

'Barbie Girl' and 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' mixed surprisingly well with Jason's screams.

"My turn," Piper smirked when Jason's torture was over. A long pair of scissors glinted in the light as she snapped them open and close.

"Are you sure she's allowed to have sharp objects near me yet?" Jason whispered to Percy, who shook his head in amusement.

Surprisingly it was that bad. He relaxed at the familiarity of gentle hands tracing with purpose over his scalp. It felt comforting. Slowly the snipping sound lulled him in as future and past flew by.

"Not too shabby, Grace," Percy praised when Piper was finished. "How are you holding up?" He sounded slightly guilty.

"No pain no gain I guess," Jason complained half-hearted.

"You guessed right." A set of clothes was thrown in his face. "Stop dilly-dallying and start changing. You own me big time Jackson," Drew interrupted.

Juno's favorite mutter inaudible curses while trying to squeeze himself into a shirt at least two sizes too small. The fabric itched and everything was slightly off.

After what felt like the 100th set of high-end fashion draped over him Drew appeared satisfied. Finally. She stepped back to check him out. Piper and Percy did too.

"Fuck Grace, I knew you had it in you, but damn!"

"Scotch over water boy. You're blocking the view."

"I am the view," Percy stuck out his tongue but obeyed.

Piper ignored him, eyes solemnly focused on Jason. She leaned forward to smooth out the last crease on his shirt."There, perfect."

The air between them was definitely not awkward. The pause not too long. And the way she was holding onto him was nothing to worry about.

Percy frowned.

"Good luck tiger," Piper joked in a strained tone. They were getting there. It just needed time.

With a splash of cologne Drew added the final touch.

"You're sure this will work?" Jason asked.

"No promises. In cabin 10 you don't fall in love, you only break hearts," she mocked without sympathy.