Room 313, Sunday Afternoon

[dontvotemeout]

After calling Bruce and filling him in on how things were going - some things, at least, and Bruce might have known he was leaving stuff out, but Jason was convinced that it would be worse to tell Bruce everything - Jason went downstairs to check up on Nico. He knew that the demigods had things to make themselves feel better when they got hurt, but Nico had been looking really bad after his fight with Percy, and Jason was, quite honestly, worried. It was a weird feeling, and one he wasn't going to share with anyone else. Maybe not even Nico.

When he got to the door, Jason knocked, and listened for the sounds of anyone being in the room.

Comments

[dontvotemeout]

"It didn't look like you were messing around either. You looked really awesome," Jason said sincerely. He might have had some inappropriate thoughts about Nico in all of his armor.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Uh, thanks," Nico replied, looking as surprised as he sounded that Jason would think that. "I'm still trying to get better. Maybe actually beat him next time."

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"Before you knock each other out?" Jason said, unable to resist. "Are you sure you're okay?" he added, reaching over to gently touch the side of Nico's head, like he could feel for bumps.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Nico eyed him, but allowed Jason to inspect his bruises. "Fine. Just a punch to the side of the head. Nothing more than a reason to wear a helmet next time."

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"Sounds like a good plan," Jason said, letting his hand drift down to Nico's arm until he noticed bruises there too. "Did Percy do that too?" He didn't remember seeing those in class.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Twisting his arm up so he could see what Jason saw, Nico shrugged. "Nah, that's just practice. Luke's working me hard, I'll put something on it later." Since he'd not noticed it before, oops.

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"Luke did that to you?" Jason asked in surprise. "Shouldn't you be taking it a little easier until you're okay again?"

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Going easy won't amount to improvement," Nico told him, looking a little confused now. "Why aren't you getting that I'm okay?"

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"Because you're still all banged up," Jason said, equally confused that Nico didn't get that. "You still look hurt and sore and...you know."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"And I know...you expected me to look better since I didn't actually lose?" Nico was totally guessing here.

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"I expected you to not look worse since you were already hurt," Jason said, shifting closer so he could look Nico over for more bruises. "I just don't get you guys sometimes, I think, even still."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Nico rolled his eyes and pulled off his shirt to let Jason see the full damage from the last days. "It's really not bad. I put a vitamin ointment on the ones I can reach and I chewed a little ambrosia for the rib issue. I was made to get banged around by monsters, what's another demigod?"

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"Someone who's apparently good at abusing you. I'm sorry, I just..." Jason trailed off, looking sheepish. "This is going to sound pathetic, but I just don't like seeing you hurt."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Nico's forehead crinkled with thought. "You're worried?" People weren't supposed to worry about him. It usually went the other way. "I mean, you probably shouldn't."

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"Why shouldn't I?" Jason asked, which sort of answered Nico's first question too. "Aren't you supposed to worry about people you like?"

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Jason was worried and he liked him. Nico had kind of assumed the latter, but it was sort of different hearing it.

"Well, yes. And you haven't exactly hidden that you like me," Nico said, starting to smirk a little. "But none of that is normal, so uh, excuse my confusion?"

[dontvotemeout]

Jason smiled a little as he moved closer to Nico. "I'm sorry," he said sympathetically. "Honestly, I'm not used to people worrying about me either. I guess I should have figured it would be strange for you too." Looking over Nico again, he said, "What about the bruises you couldn't reach? I mean, you said you got ointment on the ones you could."

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Nico tried looking over his shoulder at the ones he'd paid no attention to. "Mostly I ignore them. It's okay, they'll heal naturally."

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"Or you could let me put something on them," Jason said, just barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Hey, I wasn't gonna volunteer you," Nico said, reaching to give his arm a little push. "But I wouldn't complain."

[dontvotemeout]

"You could have asked. It's okay, I don't mind," Jason said, turning to face Nico. "You'd do the same for me, wouldn't you?" If not, he was just going to picture it anyway.

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

"Like I was going to bother you after that display," Nico said shaking his head. "Too embarrassing. But yeah, of course I'd fix you up. I'm pretty good at it with all the practice." He had to be when most people weren't all that interested in touching him.

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"Hey," Jason said quietly, trying to catch Nico's eyes. "You're not a bother to me, okay? Don't be embarrassed. It's not like I'll tell people you needed help or something." He smiled, hoping Nico would believe him. "Show me where you still need ointment, okay?"

[deaths-demigod.livejournal.com]

Nico didn't know how to explain his aversion, so he leaned down off the bed and dug around for the tube of vitamin lotion. "You can slap some of this on any of the spots on my back," he said, offering it up. "Just uh, not actual slapping."

[dontvotemeout]

"I was aware of that part, for the record," Jason said, laughing as he took the lotion and moved around behind Nico. "You're not the first person I've helped patch up. You are the one I'm happiest about getting to touch though."