Chapter Text
It started because of Coach Hedge.
Or rather, the Coach's warped idea of how to chaperone a crew full of demigods.
Leo, for once, was in his cabin, tinkering with foils of fabric, strings, and chipped pieces of wood. He was sculpting a figurine -- he thinks, or possibly some sort of fidget toy. He's been told he needed one of those.
It was a quiet afternoon aboard the Argo II, where the only noises that could be heard were the creaks and groans of the ship. Leo wasn't too concerned with the whereabouts of his crewmates; he assumed they were split in pairs -- Percy and Annabeth, Frank and Hazel, and, of course, Jason and Piper.
Leo told himself he didn't mind. He didn't, really. They all had the right to spend their moments together. He's been feeling pretty bad about this whole thing with Hazel, and he knew he'll eventually wind up disappointed. It made sense for her to spend time with her actual boyfriend.
He didn't have anything against Percy and Annabeth, of course. He was glad they reunited. That scary blond girl didn't like to show it, but she really seemed to miss her boyfriend back at camp. Then there was the couple's little 'moment' in the stables... Yeah. They had really managed to impress Leo.
What actually bothered him was Jason and Piper. They couldn't keep their hands off each other lately. He was glad his two best friends were happy and all, yet he couldn't help but feel excluded, unwanted.
Thrown away.
You should be happy for them, he chided himself.
He should be. But he wasn't.
Every time he saw the two of them together, it hurt. Like he got a second chance and ruined it again. He thought maybe he could've finally--
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Leo? You in there?"
Gods, it was Jason. Guilt suddenly washed over the son of Hephaestus. Jason, his best friend, whom Leo had just been resenting for being in a happy relationship.
"Come in!" He managed.
The door swung open. He was met with Jason Grace, tall and handsome as always, with the same piercing blue eyes that Leo marveled at in his sister, Thalia. The comparison made his stomach flutter.
Jason looked more flushed than usual -- hints of red dusted his cheeks and neck, his eyes unwilling to meet the other boy's. His lip quivered, like he was embarrassed by what he was about to say.
Leo rolled around in his chair. "Everything alright, man?"
Jason seemed really interested in Leo's carpet.
Leo waited.
"I miss kissing," he finally mumbled.
Leo wasn't sure he heard him correctly. "I'm sorry, could you say that again?" There was a hint of humor in his voice.
Jason looked like he didn’t know where to put his hands. Leo had to admit he found the scene a bit amusing coming from his (usually) confident friend.
"I miss kissing, Leo." He paused, like that explained enough. It didn't.
"It's like- remember how Coach Hedge freaked about Percy and Annabeth in the stables together?"
Leo held back a chuckle. "Classic."
Jason shot him a look before remembering what he came to say. "Well, he's been super strict with every boy/girl pairing on the ship. He wouldn't even let me look at Piper. The satyr is watching me like a hawk." He grimaced at the poor simile. "We've been touching a lot, me and Piper-"
"Gross," Leo interrupted.
Jason went even redder. "Not like that! It's just that we're new to the relationship, you know? So there's lots of kissing, lots of physical affection..."
Leo didn't need to be reminded.
"...And now that it's just been yanked away, I miss it."
Leo pondered this. He wondered exactly how Jason wanted him to proceed. He thought he was getting better at reading his friend, but the blonde's expression was way different than what he was used to.
The shorter boy hesitated. "Do you want me to build like...a secret tunnel to her room?"
Jason finally met his eyes. "Huh?"
"Or maybe," Leo continued, hands moving, mind racked with different possibilities. "Distract Hedge while you sneak off to her? Create a diversion?"
"What? No-" Jason frowned. "Gods, no. Piper and I are taking a break."
Leo's hands stilled. "You broke up? Why?"
He tried not to sound too elated.
Jason contemplated the question. "We didn't break up, exactly. She's willing to give it a try after this-" he gestured to their surroundings. "This mess."
Leo thought Jason was talking about the state of his room, then he continued. "The war, the stress. She says maybe the Coach separating us was for the best. If we couldn't act like a couple right now, we shouldn't dwell on it. We should focus on what's important."
Piper's logic made sense, but Leo couldn't tell if Jason agreed with it. "Her idea then," he said, teasing his friend.
Jason sighed. "Totally her idea."
Leo laughed, and for a moment the conversation seemed to have ended. Leo was glad Jason was confiding in him, but felt like the other boy was expecting more.
The son of Jupiter shuffled, uncomfortable. "I really, really miss it, Leo. You spend your whole life trying to set an example -- to contain yourself, but once you get a taste it's difficult to let go. You want to catch up on what you missed."
Leo considered this. It seemed like Jason wanted more than just to vent. He was dancing around a topic Leo wasn't sure he could name.
"What do you want me to do, Jase?" He started as a joke.
He says most things as a joke.
Maybe he shouldn't.
Too late. "-Kiss you?"
And Jason tensed. He suddenly seemed very inclined to bolt out the door.
Leo didn't know why, but his heart raced at the reaction. His legs began to bounce, fingers drumming on his thigh. He was excited.
Why was he excited?
Jason still didn't provide a reply, so Leo pressed, his ADHD doing the thinking for him.
"Aw, come on, I won't bite. One kiss, since you miss it so much."
Jason seemed to consider this. He inched closer, making Leo's heart pound so loud it produced a beat Apollo would've appreciated.
Leo's body switched to autopilot. He stood up, meeting Jason halfway.
They were really close now. Inches apart.
"...Could you?" Jason's voice was small. Smaller than Leo's ever heard it. He wanted to hear more.
Slowly, he raised a hand to Jason's cheek. The skin there burned under his touch. Jason gasped.
"Yes, if you're sure. Are you?" Leo asked, because he wanted to hear Jason say it.
A pause. "Yes, I'm sure." Jason's eyes flicked to Leo's lips. "Kiss me. Please."
Leo couldn't argue with that logic. He leaned in. Jason's hand found his waist. He could feel his breath soft on his skin.
Their lips met.
Jason sighed into the touch. Leo's eyes fluttered closed, melting from the sensation.
This was good. They needed this.
No strings attached, right?