It’s been 6 years. 6 painful years without her. Jason thought to himself in the silence of a cemetery. He stood in front of her tombstone, that never seemed to age, it was beautiful in a macabre way he guessed it was Aphrodite working her magic. He laughed grimly still her children have beauty, even in death.
Gently he laid a picture of her down so it leaned against the granite. The photo was taken about a month before the attack, it was of the two of them backstage at her what came to be her final show. She became a model and he followed her, eventually being dragged into more than a few pictures getting himself some attention as well.
“You know she’s waiting for you.” A voice said from behind him.
Jason sighed and let his eyes drop to the ground below him, “I know and I intend to meet her there.” Slowly, he rose to face the Ghost King himself, “Did you follow me here?”
“No,” Nico said but was meet with suspicion, “Okay, a bit but it’s only because I worry, we all do.”
“Don’t ever be sorry, don’t ever feel like you have to hide your sadness to please others. We’d rather see what you’re feeling and be able to help.” Nico took a step forward making Jason take a step back. “Jason please, just come with me, it’s not healthy for you to be here for so long, trust me I know.”
And just like that, Jason relaxed himself and cautiously walked forward towards Nico, Nico held out his arms and allowed Jason to collapse into them, he began to cry, “She’s been gone for 6 years Nico, Why does it still hurt?” He asked through tears into Nico’s aviator jacket.
Nico had grown accustomed to death, especially after having to deal with Will’s himself. He lead Jason out of the graveyard until they were standing next to his car and ran his fingers through Jason’s hair, “because you loved her and because you know that she loved you. The pain lingers, forever, but it doesn’t have to be bad or consuming your whole life.”
Jason sniffled and pulled away, “You didn’t drive?” He asked with a choked laugh, looking around to find his car as the only one in the lot.
“Never really saw the use of cars if I can just shadow travel. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to drive one.” Nico reached out and lead Jason to the passenger seat before taking the keys and sitting in the driver’s seat himself. “Yeah, Apollo, uh Greek Apollo, is a bit more chill and loves teaching any kid of the Big Three how to drive, I’m not sure if Thalia ever told you this, but-” And just like that Nico launched into a story of his first experience with gods and demigods and Thalia’s atrocious driving. He laughed saying that nobody needed to pinch him for younger him to believe in this world, Thalia’s driving couldn’t have been dreamt up even by the Ghost King himself.
After many stories of Nico’s more amusing adventures Jason started to feel better and think more clearly. When they pulled into Jason’s driveway he found himself wanting to stay seated and not because of depression, but a certain child of Hades in the seat beside him.
“Alright, so I guess this is your stop.” Nico said patting his legs awkwardly, not exactly sure what to do anymore.
Jason bit his lip still hesitant, but then he thought I deserve happiness. I’m allowed to move on and it’s what Piper would’ve wanted anyways. “Maybe this could be your stop too.” He spoke clearly so that there was no misconception about what he was offering.
“Great, I didn’t feel like paying for food tonight anyways and my fridge is empty.” Nico said as turned to get out of the car, he had lived alone after Will not because he was mourning, although he did for a while, but because there was really only ever one other person he could see himself with. And they just invited him inside for the night, hopefully for many more nights as well.
