Frank always listened to Jason's advice.
Being Praetor as a 5th Cohort newbie meant people were very quickly to dismiss him.
He took heed of his warnings, kept a close eye on a list of people he memorised by heart and than burned.
Leaving no trace of such a list to have been made.
Learning from Jason had the side effect of Frank learning things about the other he probably wasn't supposed to.
How he always surveyed the room with a subtle glance.
Checking for exists, entrances, any weakness in the structure to exploit if something were to happen.
How light his steps were.
Practically undetectable.
Everytime he'd walk into something or get clumsy, it was practiced.
To draw attention to him but also away from him.
How even his smile was practiced.
The first time Frank heard him laugh, genuinely he wondered how he didn't notice it wasn't before.
He'd never been more thankful for Leo's terrible puns.
Jason never sat unless someone offered him a seat or mentioned he could.
His hands shook but you wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it.
Frank only knows because of the time Percy mentioned the Titan war and Jason froze.
For a few seconds, his emotions were on full display before being bottled back up with practiced ease.
His grandmother, once mentioned what his mother had been like coming from war.
How she'd been a shell of herself.
Everything felt like a threat.
She had only begun to heal because her family was their for her.
Frank wishes he could tell Jason he's their for him too.
He hopes that Jason knows.
He remembers when Percy and Annabeth fell into Tartarus.
How Jason for the first time had crumbled to the ground and screamed.
How he'd almost jumped after them.
He would have if Frank hadn't held him close and firm.
Frank wasn't losing anyone else.
Remembers when Jason tried to bottle it all up, resume control and worked himself ragged while caring for everyone else.
How Frank would find him sat at the table at midnight and put a bowl of leftovers in front of him.
How he'd eat in silence until one day he just shook his head and sobbed.
Frank didn't know hearts could break until he saw Jason's shatter.
He hugged him, held him. Ran a hand through his hair and tried to muster up encouraging words.
That all bled into "I'm here, I'm here, I've got you."
Frank remembers seeing Jason, really seeing Jason.
All the broken, hurt, bleeding parts of him that lay on the Argo's floor.
As he sobbed like a boy who had never cried before.
Frank takes his advice, because Jason knows this life better than him.
And Frank curses the God's for ever letting Jason think he has to hide how he was falling apart.
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