This is the story of how Jason and Pythagoras first kissed. It takes place after 'The Furies' and involves a guilt-ridden Pythagoras and a comforting Jason. Enjoy!

Pythagoras dragged his knuckles across his eyes as he heard his friend enter their home. Their. It seemed strange, yet natural how Pythagoras felt so accepting to this man who'd literally fallen into his life.
He knew what had happened to his father wasn't his fault. Jason had told him. Hercules had told him. Mother had told him. Even Arcas had told him, yet he felt...bad. Like there could have been something he could have done. It was ridiculous. Yet, tears slowly dripped down his face, burning his eyes and biting into his cheeks. How could he help but blame himself? True, he had been a child, barely thirteen years of age, but he..

He'd killed a man. He killed him. Ended his life.

He kept his face away from Jason. He didn't deserve Jason's gentle eyes, he didn't need the man's musical voice to tell him that it was not his fault Mnesarchus was dead. Jason had his back to him. He was fiddling with the hem of his shirt. Soon, it would be lifted over his head and if Pythagoras was lucky, Jason would not realise he was being stared at by the appreciative mathematician.
Pythagoras didn't look. As much as he liked enjoying the view of Jason's toned, beautiful body, today was not the day to be gazing. He knew his eyes would be red, judging by how sore they felt and knew Jason would imediately realise what was on his mind. He tried to breathe slowly so that if Jason spoke to him, he would not hear the quiver in his voice. He gave Jason a watery smile (not that he saw) and rose from his seat to go to his chambers.

"Are you tired?" Jason heard him get up.

Pythagoras nodded. 'Mustn't worry Jason. He already thinks of you lowly enough, you piece of evil.'

"Get plenty of rest." Jason advised.

Pythagoras nodded and walked briskly to his room, praying Jason wouldn't worry about him. He needed to be alone.

Jason was not a fool. He knew damn well Pythagoras wasn't happy, but the genius wasn't going to tell him that, was he? He was really stubborn when he wanted to be. He looked in the dorection of where the mathematician was and sighed softly. How could Pythagoras think Jason wouldn't know? He knew the man like he knew the back of his hand. He wondered about going after him and telling him he knew something was wrong, but that was ridiculous. Pythagoras would surely deny it.
He could just wait for a while and then check up on him. He was allowed to care for his friend for God's sakes! His wonderful, naive, gentle friend. He remembered the fear he'd felt as Pythagoras had been sucked up by the sandstorm. He'd felt so scared, more than he had been with the Minotaur, more than he had been with the Priestesses, more than during the Pancration. If Pythagoras had died, he would be lost. Pythagoras was the only friend he had. Sure he had Hercules and Medusa, but Pyth was...He was his. He loved the man.
They'd kown each other for so long, they'd protected each other, cared for each other. Sometimes Jason found himself...

Wanting. He wanted Pythagoras. He'd realised during the pancration. Ariadne had just stared at him. Pythagoras was the one with emotion in his eyes, the one who did all he could. He always did. He truly was the kindest man Jason had ever known. And with his golden hair, his large blue eyes, his delicacy that made Jason want to hold onto him until the end of time, he was one of the most oddly desirable men he'd ever met.
Jason knew what he had to do. He had to be there for Pythagoras no matter what happened.

Pythagoras was trying to sleep. But every time he closed his eyes he'd see him. His father falling, dying. The Furies screaming. His brother's hating, accusing eyes. His mother weeping. He felt scalding tears make their way out of his eyes. He sniffled and buried his face in his pillow. He jumped as he felt a pair of strong, yet gentle arms lift him. He felt a firm surface beneath his back and realised someone was holding him, as an act of comfort.

"Jason?"

"I've got you."

He felt hands smooth his hair and nearly lost it. No one, except his mother, had ever petted his hair. No man had ever done it and there was Jason, doing this loving gesture like it was perfectly natural to do it to everyone. He dug his fingers into Jason's arm and tried desperately to stop his crying. It didn't stop. He felt Jason pull at him and suddenly he was pressed up against Jason's warm skin, feeling the man breathe, hearing his heart beat. Any other time and he wold've been thrilled. Now, all he wanted was Jason's comfort. He wanted him, but not in the romantic ways he'd been thinking of these past months. He needed his comfort, so he wrapped his arms around Jason's middle and tried to forget.

"Ssh. It's OK.."

Was he still crying? He couldn't feel it.

"It's not your fault. You know that. It was never your fault."

"I know, I just, I..."

"You saved your brother and your mother. He would've hurt Arcas. You saved them."

"I..he..."

"You did nothing wrong. You didn't murder him, you protected your mother, your brother. You saved them."

"I'm not proud of it!"

Jason didn't know what to say. He kept on stroking his hair, waiting for the man to say something.

"I'm glad she was never hurt again, and I'm glad he was safe, but... when I die and I get to the Underworld..."

"No one could hold it against you, Pyth. No one."

Pythagoras coughed miserably. "I know, but.."

Jason understood. Without thinking, he pressed a kiss to the younger man's temple. "I understand."

Pythagoras froze. He shakily lifted a hand and touched where Jason's lips had been.

"Sorry..." Jason bit his lip. How could have done that?

Pythagoras propped hismelf up on his arms. He looked Jason in the eyes and leant toward him. He knew he must look a mess, hair sticking up, face streaked, eyes red, but Jason didn't look repulsed. He kept still and responded enthusiastically to Pythagoras' exploring mouth. They stayed where they were, Pythagoras lying on Jason's chest, running his fingers through his dark hair, Jason lightly massaging the mathematician's lips with his own, his hands exploring, running over curves and lightly squeezing soft, warm flesh.
it was amazing, like nothing any of them had experienced. This was, Jason decided, better than kssing Ariadne. WIth pythagoras, this seemed more natural, more amazing. Eventually they parted, coming up for air, and stared at each other in awe.

"Do you feel better?" jason mumbled.

"Much. Thank you."

Jason smiled and ran his hands through pythagoras' hair. He'd noticed how much they younger man had enjoyed the action and was determined to do it as much as possible.

"Jason?"

"Yes?"

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

Jason kissed him again. "Of course."

Hope you enjoyed!

Love from Shania. xx