Chapter XXVI You Need to Watch Your Language, Sir. Now if You'll Excuse Me, I Want Cuddles

Jason and Leo were talking quietly, shooting glances at the hunters, who were huddled in a circle, glaring at any male who even breathed within a five foot radius of them. Jason personally thought that was a bit much, but whatever. They weren't his troupe. He was shooting Conner and Travis warning looks (he just knew they would try to cause some shit) when Thalia and Percy returned, both with solemn looks adorning their faces. "Everything alright?" Jason asked, arching an eyebrow at his sister.

"Yeah, Fine. I just needed to ask Percy about some old friends of ours." Thalia gave him a smile, ruffling Percy's hair, which he batted away with a huff.

"I am older than you now, you kno-" Percy said.

"Nope. I'll always be older." Thalia smirked. Percy rolled his eyes and Jason cracked a smile. But then Thalia's smile dropped and she turned to face her brother. "I wish I could have seen you again under different circumstances, but either way, we need to discuss what's been going on around here." Thalia spoke, every bit lieutenant she was. Jason returned her look.

"Agreed. Should we go back to our cabin? I don't feel like we should talk about this in the middle of the camp."

"You're right, but I don't think my hunters would be okay with that. I know a place, c'mon." Thalia made a gesture, and soon her, the hunters, Jason, Percy, and Leo were heading to the hill Percy and Thalia had just been. Percy could still see a tiny sparkle of residue purple dust, and quickly sat on the area it covered in panic, prompting everyone else to sit down as well. Percy knew, that if it hadn't been crushed, they would have gone to the Big House instead, where all important meetings were held, but this was the best they could do at the moment, he admitted.

"Right. What've you guys been experiencing on your end? I've heard that something has been happening when the Gods or Goddesses die, but I haven't heard any details." The boys shared a glance. Percy noticed a hunter (Phoebe?) scooting further away from Leo, who scooted closer to her to annoy her, a small smirk on his face as she glared at him.

Jason heaved a sigh. "Nothing good. We're running low on cabin space. We can only assume that the way a god dies is imitated in their cabin, for some reason. The Ares and Aphrodite cabins are completely destroyed, but Athena is fine for the most part, though I've heard several campers have gotten panic attacks from it. Percy's cabin is rather damaged too, so he's been bunking with me." Jason ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "It isn't good, but we're building as quickly as we can."

Thalia rested her chin on her hand. "Well shit." Leo nodded. "Anything else? Anything that could possibly give us any information on who has been doing this, or their whereabouts?" Jason shook his head, but everyone noticed many eyes flickering to Percy. Percy glared at them.

"I'm not doing it, alright? I'm sick and tired of everyone thinking I am! I'll admit, I was the one who hurt Thalia and Ares, but here's what everyone doesn't seem to understand. I. Was. Possessed. I've been here ever since I got free, not that I know how that happened, and I haven't done jackshit to hurt anyone sense! You think I would kill my own father?" Percy stood, ranting and waving his arms about. Finally, he crossed his arms and shook his head. "You disgust me. I'll be in the stables if you need me." Percy huffed, stomping off as everyone watched him go.

He jogged to the stables, opening the door slowly. He hadn't been here in ages. He was quite impressed with himself at the moment, actually, and so he walked in with a small smile on his face. Immediately, the voices of all the horses around him erupted in cheers and neighs, many of the creatures mankind excited head motions. Percy walked to the back of the stable, chattering voices filling his head, but one standing out amongst the rest.

Boss! Percy couldn't help the smile stretching across his face as he pet the midnight black horse.

"Hello Blackjack. Good to see you buddy."

Boss! Where've you been? Do you have any doughnuts? Why do you smell different? Doughnuts? Percy frowned. He smelled different?

"No, I don't have any doughnuts, sorry buddy." Percy gently patted the horses muzzle as he bumped his hand. "Blackjack! Language!"

Sorry Boss. "And don't call me Boss, you insolent creature." Percy laughed.

Can we get doughnuts? Percy snorted, but a small smile creeped up his face. "Soon, buddy. Just have to wait a little while longer. And then we're going to go on a long flight, and we can stop for doughnuts along the way, as many times as you want." As Blackjack cheered whilst simultaneously complaining about having to wait. Percy just laughed softly, stroking Blackjack's mane. He didn't leave for awhile, and by the time he did resurface out of the stables (he was becoming nauseous off of the fumes) he could hear the campers bustling about to get to lunch. He dragged his feet only slightly as he walked over to his table. For appearances. Duh.

He didn't encounter Jason until well after he had gotten into bed. He had the slight feeling that the man had been avoiding him, but shook off the feeling as the man walked in, stuffing the small vial back under his pillow. He had been playing with the persuasion dust, studying it as it sloshed around. Jason immediate walked to his bed, getting ready to sleep.

"I'm sorry about the hunters earlier. That was uncalled for. But they're gone now, they left before lunch." Jason murmured.

"It's fine. I'm just sick of it. I can feel everyone looking at me. I can hear the whispers. It's just...so annoying, and...it hurts. These are my friends. And yet...no one trusts me. Grover is dead for Gods sake! And they think I did that! He's been my best friend for almost a decade..." Percy rubbed his face. He felt a twinge in his heart as he mentioned Grover, the bond reacting, pulling real tears into his eyes that weren't good at all. Useful, at the moment, but they were a point of weakness that wasn't acceptable. He could feel Nightshade inside him, could feel her scolding him for the genuine weakness. He shushed her.

"Percy felt a hand on his shoulder, but didn't move to look at Jason. "I'm sorry. I know you aren't doing it, and Leo and Nico know that too. You have us. Remember that."

"Thanks." Percy sniffed. Jason floundered. He wasn't good with these situations. Awkwardly, he sat down next to Percy and pulled him into a half hug, tensing when Percy leaned into him. Percy tucked his head into his chest, a hand coming up to grip his shirt. It took Jason many moments to relax and when he finally did, he realized Percy's breathing had evened out. Cursing, Jason sighed, and gently leaned the two of them backwards. He knew Percy hadn't gotten a proper night's rest in many nights, each dream riddled with nightmares. Jason knew this because he had woken up several times to Percy thrashing around and whimpering. He didn't want to risk waking the man, which would be more than likely if he were to move, so he shuffled the blanket over them and tried to get comfy without moving very much.

He fell asleep quickly.