Camp Half-Blood was practically on fire when Camp Jupiter's reinforcements arrived. A huge monster attack was raging, and despite the pandemonium, Jason couldn't pry his eyes off the Ambassador of Pluto.
The son of Pluto fought with a style Jason had never seen before. He decided it was something out of a movie. He waved in and out of shadows, his sword slicing any monster that dared approach him. It was enrapturing, impossible to ignore.
Eventually, Jason started to notice he blurred into the shadows from time to time, sword slashes becoming lazy but staying just as deadly.
Jason was snapped from his staring by claws slashing at his skin. A quick swipe of his sword dealt with it, and Jason realized the one of the last still wandering the battlefield.
Jason surveyed the field. Greek and Roman soldiers limped to the infirmary, but for the most part, no one was horribly mangled.
Jason looked over at who he'd kept his eye on the whole battle. The son of Pluto huffed, leaning on his stygian iron sword like his life depended on it. Jason swore he saw the hint of a smile on his lips, ghosting just like the whisps of shadow that surrounded him still.
Jason walked over to him. "Great job out there," Jason smiled.
"Huh?" He panted, finally catching his breath.
"You're a skilled fighter. You were essential in winning this battle." Jason patted his back.
"You too," he half-smiled before another Camp Jupiter member called him away to talk to Chiron.
Jason watched him leave with the faintest feeling of a blush on his cheeks.
A few hours later, Jason himself was called into the Big House to talk with Chiron and a few Camp Jupiter demigods.
Chiron spoke specifically with the ambassador of Pluto. They talked seriously, but Chiron's eyes lightened when he noticed Jason had walked into the room. "Jason, glad to see you. Wonderful fighting today. Have you met Nico here?"
Jason nodded. "Yes, sir."
"We keep meeting," Nico smiled. There was an air of professionalism surrounding him, like he was made for this kind of setting.
Chiron smiled softly. "Good, you'll have no problem escorting him through the forest. All of the souls of the monsters killed today have been collecting in the center of the woods, I need you two to go in and send them back to the underworld."
Soon after being given the instructions, they started their journey through the woods. Jason learned quickly that Nico was not one for small talk. He didn't mind though, and silently observed the other.
He looked serious at all times. His face never broke its hardened mask of calm. Jason recognized the same look on all the other Camp Jupiter camper's faces. However, on Nico, it was oddly beautiful. He seemed harsh but respectable.
At the center of the woods, ghosts and souls chattered. They reached out, desperate to cause any kind of harm to the demigods.
Jason felt a pang of fear, but Nico put a finger to his lips and all the souls shushed. Jason wasn't sure whether he should be concerned about how attractive he found that.
Nico focused, his calm expression starting to crack with effort like porcelain. The earth opened up, swallowed the ghosts whole, and closed again with a sigh from Nico.
Jason stood there with his mouth open for a second before Nico called him away and out of the woods.
Maybe he should be concerned about this. He was blushing way too hard for that to be normal.
"I like your camp," Nico said, voice flat as they returned to the Big House.
"Yeah? Is it very different from Camp Jupiter?"
"Very different."
Jason wasn't sure whether Nico was making fun of him or not, but he decided he didn't care either way.
They arrived at the Big House, and Nico walked away without another word. Cryptic.
Soon after, the Jupiter campers left. Jason couldn't help but stare at Nico the whole time, examining how he slotted in with the other military-style surroundings like he was born for it.
"Are you alright, Grace? Your face is a little flushed." Chiron said, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, great. Just, uh, when is Camp Jupiter visiting again?"
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