Chapter Text
As far as Jason knew, he was the beautiful mistake of his father wrapped in ribbon and gifted on a silver platter to a drill sergeant. The clock tower of the Olympian's palace was all Jason’s ever since Thalia left. He didn’t blame her though. Honestly, leaving sounds a lot better than being his father's little puppet on golden weaved strings.
Father needed to improve his relationship with his siblings, so he’d be sending Jason down to take some photos and have some interviews with Poseidon and Hades’ sons. Jason hadn’t even met their fathers, so meeting Perseus and Nicolo shook his bones.
“It’s just nerves, Mars. I’m fine.” He explained to his older brother. Mars always knew when something was bothering him. It was kind of annoying.
“Well you won’t be. I’ve met that wet brat, and Poseidon lets Perseus run amuck like a purposeless mortal all because he, the god of the oceans, can’t control a child.” He explained.
“Not promising, judging that I’ll be spending the next month with him.” Jason groaned impolitely. Mars flicked his forehead, disappointed in his unprincely turn of phrase.
“Just be nice to Nicolo. I believe he is around eleven or twelve years old.” Mars begged. Jason just rolled his electric blue eyes and ran off to his room.
The clock tower had a titanic sized window, letting in showers of natural light. Shelves upon shelves of scrolls and books, old and new, filled his overly opulent sleeping chambers. Minerva, who had become almost a second parent to Jason when Jupiter and Juno forgot about him, insisted his room be both near hers and stuffed with only the finest of literature. The only sign that a teenager lived instead of an ancient scholar here was his bean bag and mini fridge snuck past multiple gods to bring in here.
He laid across it gracefully. His limbs weren’t long enough to not fit, yet, but they were coming close. Minerva popped her head through my doorway, golden hair whipping around my doorframe.
“Jason Andonius Grace- Olympia, please tell me you are packed because father’s chariot has arrived. I will not have you embarrassing us at this godly show off by arriving late. It is not fashionable, Jason, it is rude.” Minerva sneered, glowing with mild annoyance as per usual. Her dark olive skin greatly contrasted the fine marble and colorful paintings surrounding her, yet she caught attention far quicker than her surroundings. Jason had grown accustomed to the great beauty that gods and goddesses took advantage of. Nobody muttered about him looking too long like his father. He knew better, acted better than Jupiter ever would. After all, if all goes well, soon he will become an immortal just like most of his other siblings. Habits are impossible to break once you become a god. Jupiter would know.
“Good morning, my dear fiance. Oh how I shall miss you these weeks we must spend far appart.” Petunia, Jason’s absolute tragedy of a betrothed, shrilled like a teenage girl at her favorite boyband’s concert. He despised the air she breathed, wishing he had the power to take it away. Petunia was an altogether miserable person to be around. She’d’d so far spent her eternal life sending steaks back because they were ‘over cooked’, left her shoes on in multiple temples with giant no shoe signs, forgotten like twenty feast days, complained about Jason’s yiya’s grape leaves, et cetera. Rooms seemed to absorb her evil energy whenever she decided to grace them with her presence. The worst part was that Jupiter didn’t care about her disrespect because she was prettier and more blessed than her nymph counterparts. And even worse than that, she’s a woman. Don’t get him wrong, women are great. He loves and fears the women in his life, but if he’s up somebody’s ass, he’d rather it be a man’s. His father says he can simply take a lover, but he will never be able to love her.
“Good morning, Petunia. I will see you in three weeks when my captivity ends.” He skirted past her, bags in hand looking for a servant to take them downstairs.
“Goodbye Jason.” Minerva and Petunia called. Mars waved goodbye at the door. Juno and Jupiter sat idle in the chariot they planned on taking to make an expensive appearance.
“Remember the plan, my son: we land and get our photos taken by paparazzi, then I make a speech with my brothers where we will formally introduce our children, then you will be interviewed along with the others.” Jupiter mumbled, going on and on.
“Interact as little as possible with Poseidon’s brat, he’s trouble. I don’t want that energy rubbing off on you, Jason.” Juno ordered.
“Yes, your highness.” Jason responded like a soldier. They arrived after about an hour of being drilled on what to say and how to say it.
“Your highnesses, a pleasure. My name is Huginn, and this is Muninn. We will show you to the waiting chamber until the speech.” A large raven spoke in a raspy voice. He fluttered away with another by his side, urging us to follow. He led them through halls decorated in paintings of godly splendor. Heroic deeds were captured everywhere you looked. Most tales he could recite from memory. Both Zeus and Jupiter spent both forms talking about their heroism.
The waiting room held four other gods in traditional clothes, and three other demigods looking incredibly uncomfortable. Poseidon and Hades held their children close as they approached. Jason watched as Jupiter and Juno became their Greek counterparts to begin chatting with their siblings. Persephone was braiding a young, black girl’s hair while another boy watched them pressed against her side. He expected only two other children of the gods to be here, so the girl was a definite surprise.
On the couch opposite to Hades and his family was Poseidon watching Perseus Jackson with a hawk’s eye. It had long been an open secret that he was trouble for all demigods and immortals who crossed his path, so Poseidon only agreed to send him here to be around some better influences. Nicolo, everyone in the room agreed, was a good influence for him. As was Jason. People also knew that Poseidon treasured nothing more than his soon to be immortal son and would rather die than let him stay like this. He charished dear Perseus and tried at spoiling him at any opportunity. That was really all that Jason knew about him. Jupiter hated talking about him.
“We shall see you children soon. Please behave.” Amphitrite pleaded as she left by her huband’s side. The others followed suit, glaring at their demigod to stay away from trouble for the next hour. That clearly didn’t pass through Perseus’ thick skull.
“Good morning folks. Nico! Nice to see you again.” Perseus began.
“Leave me alone, Jackson.” Nicolo muttered.
“We all know I’m incapable of doing that. Hazel, my dear, it’s great to see you outside that stuffy ass school uniform. Loving the diadem, sweetheart. And you- I don’t know you, Jason Grace, but I’m always open to new friends. I’m Percy!” He grabbed my hand and shook me around for a minute.
“I’m here on business… Percy. My father warned me against interacting with you, so please leave me alone until we go on.” I said, looking away from him.
“Wow Jason, I knew you were gonna be a sheltered prick, but I expected at least a warm, fluffy welcome, man. Bet you do everything daddy says huh, Grace.” Jason wouldn’t stand for it.
“You spend your free time muddying up the family name, Perseus, at least I don’t have to worry about flees.”
“My dad’s name is clean, but last I checked your dad has to keep a record of all his lady friends cause last time it ended with you.” No he didn’t.
“Both of y’all need to shut up before you give me an aneurysm.” the dark skinned girl next to Nicolo caterwauled.
“Hey Percy!” A low voice came from the doorway. Out came the sexiest man I had ever seen. A dark tan with piercing green eyes walked up to Percy, kissing him on the cheek. His chestnut colored hair swished in angelic waves, revealing a jawline sharper than a diamond underneath. He streatcehed out his long torso, tee-shirt raising just enough to reveal abs that made Nicolo and Jason jump from their seats. Perseus filled the stranger’s arms in a hug. The man held him gently as if Percy was the most precious thing in his entire universe, as if trying to fill him with love. “Oh! I have been rude, haven’t I, my love. My name is Malik of the Erythaean sea, lover of Perseus Marino Thalassa, and son of Lord Poseidon’s head of treasury. Now tell me, dear Perseus: who are your friends?”
“Hi! My name’s Hazel Erebus, single, daughter of Pluto or Hades or whichever one comes to mind first.” The dark skinned girl, Hazel, said sweetly. “I know Percy from school.”
“Nico Erebus, father says I’m too young to date, and I am the son of Hades.” Nicolo glanced at Percy, who had Malik playing with his hair. “And I met Percy when he accidentally snuck through my window when he was trying to harass my dad. Thanks.” he deadpanned.
“You’re always welcome, you Debbie downer.” Percy interjected, grinning wildly at Nico.
“My name is Jason Andonius Grace, I’m sadly engaged to the worst monster to ever grace Olympus, and my father is King Jupiter.” Jasom exclaimed.
“Oh quit moaning, you dumb blond!” Hazel complained. Jason ghasped dramatically.
The lights suddenly flickered out, the only light being the flashlight Hazel accidentally turned on on her phone. Two sudden knocks came from the door. Nico, Hazel, and Jason flinched as the tap-tap sound rang through the air, but Percy and Malik looked over without an ounce of surprise. In came five demigods, armed with weaponry and packs full of wartime supplies. A young, blonde girl around Percy’s age led them, her knife shining in what remaining light came from Hazel’s phone. Behind him were two other women, one with dark skin and eyes changing color magically, and the other a red head with a warm grinn and loud eyes. The other two were an elvish latino who grinned like a caffined up lunatic, and a muscular man, pale and modest. The elvish boy ran up to the blonde with wild eyes, holding onto something that looked vaguely like a machine. He whispered something in her ears, the blonde responding with a smile and thumbs up. The girl with rainbow eyes began making vague gestures at the redhead, a few at Jason, with the redhead whispering back answers. Another boy ran in, blond and lanky like a cat, with a crazy expression and what looked to be a sledge hammer.
“Annabeth! Annabeth!” the blond boy began, “I hit the lighting with this, so we’ve got about five minutes to get Perce and Malik out before the power comes back on.” the blonde girl, Annabeth apparently, nodded.
“Thank you, Will. Percy, get your boyfriend on his feet so we can get out of here.” Percy pulled Malik to his feet and joined the group.
“And what do we plan on doing about the rest of them?” The girl with redhead asked, pointing at Jason, Nicolo, and Hazel. “Hazel and Nico aren’t snitches, but none of us have ever met Jason before. For all we know, he could rat us out and send us all back to square one. And- and Percy is putting his happiness on his chance of escape-” Hazel ran over and stopped her.
“I wanna come with, and so does Nico, he needs more experiences outside the underworld. As for Jason… let’s just bring him along.” Hazel said, shrugging her shoulders while walking back over to Jason menacingly.
“What?!?” I screamed.
“Why!?!” Everyone else yelped. Hazel just cackled while taking a spot on the couch, eating up the attention.
“He could rag y’all out, plus, he’s strong enough that once hems convinced of the cause, he’ll be one hell of an asset.” She showed him off like a potential tool they could buy.
“That’s honestly enough for me, love. Frank, can you grab our dear Jay Jay for us, please.” Annabeth asked, smirking at him. “Oh, and Jason?” She began again. “It would find you well to shut up because you’re one against eight pint sized psychos. Jupiter does not need to know about us until there’s nothing he can do to stop us.”
Jason shook his head up and down. Frank just picked him up and settled him on top of his muscular shoulders like a small child. It didn’t take long before Jason decided being a captive was the only option no matter what stage of life he was on.
As the nine of them fled the building, the power flickered back to life. Cameras caught the last bit of their escape, though not enough to have any semblance of what could possibly be going on. Honestly, that was all that was on Jason’s mind too. What was going on?
——
The gang had run for a while before getting in a large, white, unmarked van just inside the city. Jason’s mouth was covered with a piece of duck tape. He wasn’t bound nor gagged, though. Most of the others just tuned out to the sound of 90s punk rock and Percy’s war stories.
“Sorry about the tape, Jason, but we really don’t want you asking a billion questions before we get back to base. I’m Piper.” The rainbow eyed girl told me happily.
“The scary blonde is Annabeth Chase, the best soldier we’ve got. That red haired girl is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, she knows a guy for any situation. The little tiny Latino is my bestie Leo Valdez. The other blond is Will Solace, our only medic, so try not to get sick or hurt or do anything too stupid. That guy who carried you here, that’s Frank Zhang, the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. And you already know the others.” Piper piped.
He typed something into his phone, asking a quick question for the sake of boredom.
“Where did you guys meet?” Piper muttered, “We met at the same boarding school all the gods send their troubled kids. You and Nico didn’t go, but the rest of us have known each other since like kindergarten.”
He typed in another question.
“Will I return to my father any time soon? Haha! No!”
“Alrighty kids, we’re home free!” Annabeth exclaimed, joyous. Her gray eyes met mine sternly. “If I take off the tape and open your door, will you refrain from running?” Jason nodded in fear. “Good.”
Annabeth pulled off the tape, making no attempt to be gentle. It felt almost liberating to step outside into what looked to be a few acres of land with one very big cottage in the middle. Smaller cottages ran in a few circles around it. In Jason’s fifteen years of life he had yet to really see earth in all her glory, so this was a pleasant experience. The blue of the houses’ walls popped next to the woodlands that made up the surrounding area. Jason had absolutely no idea where they could be as for places as he’d never been outside the city.
“I guess we have some explaining to do, huh.” Hazel remarked.
“We’ll give you anything you wanna know if you promise to not snitch.” The little blond, Will, promised. Jason, knowing full well he had no other feasible options, shook Will’s hand with what remaining hope he had left.
“Good, cause snitches don’t survive RARA, do they Rachel.” Leo said, turning his chestnut eyes on Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
“Never!”