The Preserve, Wednesday evening

[dontvotemeout]

Jason had been feeling weird all week, but it was nothing compared to today. He hadn't been around people too much, but every time he talked, little things that he hadn't meant to say kept coming out. He was pretty sure it wasn't just him - the island did seem to love screwing with people in great big batches, after all - but avoiding people as much as he could still seemed like the wisest course of action. Even though it was nighttime, he decided to go for as long of a run as he could.

Yes, he'd already gone for a run this morning. He still had way too much energy to burn off.

[For one person in particular, but feel free to come across him if you'd like!]

Comments

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Normally that sort of comment wouldn't have spiked an interest, but there was that hand with those nice, long fingers halting more words that cause Nico to see if he couldn't hear more. "Should I give you a try or are you gonna tell me why I shouldn't?"

[dontvotemeout]

God help him, Jason tried so hard to stay quiet. But it wasn't long before he said, "You shouldn't, because I'm a costumed hero's sidekick." Oh god, Bruce was going to kill him if he didn't do it himself.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Oh, all eyes were on Jason for that bit of sharing time. "Costumed?" Yes, that was the part that stood out for Nico. "Like, spandex and masks? Kinky."

[dontvotemeout]

"It's not kinky! I mean yeah, there's masks and spandex and the shorts are way too short--" Jason said, groaning. "I hate this place so much right now."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Nico maybe stole a quick look at Jason's current shorts and bit his lip in interest. "Shorter than those? By how much?" He probably shouldn't want to see this.

[dontvotemeout]

"Like, underwear short," Jason admitted. "But they're armored and I can move freely and you can't tell anyone about this or I'll be really, really angry." Geez, he couldn't even threaten to kill Nico like this, since he'd never really do it.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Your secret armored underwear shorts are safe in my hands," Nico said, leaning to bump Jason's shoulder with his and trying to ignore the way his words sounded. "Even if I'm still not sold on how this works."

[dontvotemeout]

"We find criminals, stop them from getting away with their crimes, and make sure the authorities take care of them. Basically," Jason said. "It works really well and it's a lot of fun. It's like, the best thing that's ever happened to me." Now he really was going to strangle himself.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"You make it sound like your life's a comic book," Nico quipped. "Why didn't you tell me you're a hero? This is great! So wait, who's the we?"

[dontvotemeout]

Jason put both hands over his mouth this time, to stifle "Me and Batman," when it came out and pray Nico wouldn't understand it. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone," he said, after dropping his hands. "I know secret identities aren't a big deal to people here but I'm still not supposed to tell and I don't want to get into trouble because then I couldn't be Robin anymore and that would suck. I'm glad you think it's great though," he added. "It's not as cool as being part god, I know."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"I'll keep it to myself," Nico promised. Jason was right that Nico didn't know how to cope with a secret identity. Everyone and their mother could feel who he was half the time. "So, this means you get to be this other person when you fight and you when you're just hanging out?"

[dontvotemeout]

"That's...pretty much, yeah. I mean, I can still fight as me. Like with the piranhas and stuff," Jason said, feeling at least a little relieved at Nico's pledge that he'd keep quiet, since he had to be being honest about that. "But when I'm in costume, it's a lot different. And a little colder. But still awesome."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"I guess it's stupid to ask if you like it. Having the whole secret hero in shorts thing going on, I mean." Nico needed to stop focusing on Jason in the tiny shorts, but it was really the week for that to stick in the forefront of his mind.

[dontvotemeout]

"Yeah, I like it a lot. My legs are awesome, so I don't mind the shorts." Jason facepalmed again, and peeked at Nico from between his fingers. "Are you okay?"

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Okay isn't possible when your cousins are screwing and it might destroy one of their worlds. But I don't feel like hitting anyone anymore. Especially when thinking about legs." Nico very nearly took out his own eye with a skull ring as he facepalmed.

[dontvotemeout]

Jason wasn't sure if Nico meant his legs, or someone else's, but there was something a little more important to question first. "Wait. Who's screwing?"

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Percy and Luke. Probably. They're definitely making out. And in my room!" Oh that was a fresh thought to ruin Nico's original one, there.

[dontvotemeout]

"Ew! I thought Luke had better taste than that. He'd better not be doing anything like that near your stuff," Jason said. "You might get Percy germs and no one needs that."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Don't say that!" Nico groaned, looking completely grossed out. "I don't want to end up diseased because Luke went for Percy. Why didn't he go for you? You're way better looking. No stupid gray hair or scar."

[dontvotemeout]

"You think I'm better looking than Percy?" Jason said, perking up a little. "You know we look the same, right?"

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"It helps that you're never a jerk. And you definitely work out more." Nico really wished he could add something about how it wasn't like he paid attention to these things, it was just that obvious, but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth.

[dontvotemeout]

"I need to stay in shape, even if I'm not battling criminals every night here," Jason said, thinking he was being pretty suave until he blurted out, "I think you're better looking than Percy too. And Luke. Um, obviously."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"What?" Nico was kind of shocked, given Jason wasn't even goth or a big fan of death or something. "Uh, I mean, Luke'd kick your ass for saying that."

[dontvotemeout]

"What, like how dare I think someone is hotter than him?" Jason asked. "He doesn't seem like that big of a jackass. And you can't be surprised. You have to know you're hot, even if you're weird too."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Did you just use hot and weird together?" Nico had to snicker at how Jason said that.