Chapter Text
Jisung’s high school career has been pleasantly mundane. Or, about as mundane as a demigod going to a mortal high school can be.
He makes it work, though, trying his best to fit in and not bring any attention to himself. It’s hard at times, on the days where there’s a random monster attack on his way to school, and he gets injured while not having any ambrosia on hand, and has no idea how to explain that to his teachers and peers.
Though there’s one part about high school that puts him off. It’s not something he can explain, he honestly can’t put his finger on why he feels odd, but a weird feeling follows him around most days.
It all started on a tuesday. They aren’t bad days necessarily, but this tuesday left him with a bad feeling in his stomach.
“Okay class! I’d like you to welcome our new student, Chenle!”
Judging by the kids reaction (he flinched, but still smiled wide at her and said thank you, making it down halfway in a bow before remembering that that’s not a tradition in america) she butchered the pronunciation, but he doesn’t correct her, just makes his way to the nearest empty seat that just so happens to be next to Jisung.
Great.
The boy sits down, and Jisung feels a wave of something wash over him. Jisung freezes, feelings like this usually only come out when he’s battling it out with some monster. Chenle smiles at him and he pushes his chair away from the boy, the screech of the chair sliding against the floor sounds out loudly throughout the entire classroom.
Chenle frowns and Jisung feels a teensy bit bad until he realizes that the new kid might be some monster in disguise, then he doesn’t feel so bad anymore.
(That’s a lie, Jisung has a soft spot for pretty boys, and Chenle fits that to a tee.)
-
“I’m pretty sure there’s a monster in my first hour,” Jisung drops his tray onto the table in front of his usual seat. Sliding into the chair and looking up with wide eyes at his friends.
“Yeah, his name is Jisung,” Renjun snatches Jisung’s cookie off of his tray.
He whines. “Hey, give it back Renjun! And I’m not the monster, the new kid is!”
Renjun just shrugs at him, tearing off the plastic before taking a huge bite. Jisung pouts, mourning the loss of his cookie, wondering why in the hell he’s still friends with Renjun.
(Jisung remembers last summer at camp when one of the Ares kids insulted Renjun’s mom, and then told him, “You shouldn’t even be here, what would a monster want with a wimpy child of Hecate that can’t even do anything.”
Let’s just say, it’s been over a year, and Jisung isn't even sure the kid’s out of the infirmary yet.)
All in all, Renjun’s powerful, and anybody that messes with him is an idiot asking for a death sentence, and Jisung is neither an idiot nor asking for a death sentence.
Jisung stays quiet about his cookie, he treasures his life, thank you very much, and would like to live at least until he gets his Red Velvet album in the mail. He perks up a bit after hearing Mark’s loud laugh project through the cafeteria.
Mark and Jeno are walking their way towards the other two boys, waving and saying hello to practically the entire student body. Jisung rolls his eyes, Mark and Jeno are the heartthrobs of both Camp Half-Blood and their miserable high school.
Jeno is a child of Hermes; he has this dorky, older brother personality that makes everyone swoon, maybe even Jisung at times. Mark, on the other hand, is the son of Poseidon, and nobody can resist a child of the Big Three.
That is unless said child is Jisung and the son of Hades. Most people don’t swoon over him, they’re just afraid or think he’s creepy.
Which he’s not, creepy that is, Jisung’s just shy and doesn’t know how to talk to people.
Jisung blames his dad for that brilliant aspect of his personality. He sure as hell didn’t get it from his mom who could entertain dozens of people at a time with the most beautiful and real smile on her face.
Whenever someone tries to talk to him he just sort of grimaces and hopes the ground will swallow him whole. Sometimes it actually happens, when his dad wants to do an impromptu family dinner or lunch. Jisung’s incredibly glad that the mist exists on those days.
“There’s a new kid and I’m pretty sure he’s a monster,” Jisung says immediately after the two sit down.
Mark frowns, “Really? Are you sure Sungie?”
“Yes! He makes me feel weird and I usually only get that feeling around monsters so,” he trails off, waving his hands like the rest of his sentence is obvious. Renjun laughs at him and he sends a glare the older boy’s way.
“Maybe you just think he’s a cute mortal and your socially awkward ass doesn’t know how to deal with it,” Renjun wiggles his eyebrows at Jisung before stealing Jeno’s milk carton.
Jisung pouts. “Just because he’s cute doesn’t mean he can’t be a monster!”
“So you admit that you think he’s cute?” Renjun smirks at him and Jeno laughs.
Jisung sighs, admitting defeat, and shovels some applesauce into his mouth. Right as he spoons too much into his mouth Chenle walks past their table. There’s an aura to him that knocks the air out of his chest, and Jisung chokes when Chenle sends him a sweet smile.
It quickly turns to concern when he sees Jisung struggle to breath, Mark slapping him on the back. Jisung finally swallows and sends what he hopes is a smile back, but knowing him it was just another grimace. Chenle giggles, biting his lip, and then walks away, heading to toss out the remnants of his lunch.
“Bro, you good?” Mark asks him, eyes flitting between Jisung’s red face and Chenle walking out of the cafeteria.
“I told you he was a monster,” Jisung wheezes out, still trying to catch his breath.
Renjun bursts out laughing and Jeno follows suit. “Yeah, okay Jisung.”
-
Jisung’s next encounter with Chenle leaves him disoriented.
It happened while he was running down one of the school’s hallways trying to get away from a very angry Renjun. Jeno used his damn persuasive skills to get him to steal one of Renjun’s favorites blades as payback for yesterday when Renjun manipulated the mist to make it seem like Jeno failed his math test.
Jisung thought he was getting better at saying no to Jeno’s hermes kid abilities, but it seems he was mistaken.
He’s currently trying to open a door to a dark hallway he knows he can use to shadow travel out of the school when footsteps approach him.
“What are you doing?” he hears a voice behind him. Jisung freezes and turns around, prepared to be yelled at by a teacher, but instead he’s faced with Chenle.
“Running from my friends,” Jisung says, slightly out of breath.
Chenle raises his eyebrows at Jisung, and then turns his attention to the door, “That’s locked.”
“Yeah, I know, but it’s my only way of avoiding Renjun and trust me, you do not want to see an angry Renjun,” Jisung pauses, shivering, before tacking on, “Do you know how to pick a lock?”
The shorter laughs before motioning for him to get out of the way. Chenle kneels in front of the lock, eyes flitting towards Jisung who’s watching him intently, before shifting so Jisung can’t see the lock. He does something for a couple seconds, and then stands back up, brushing off the front of his jeans.
“Got it,” Chenle winks at Jisung and then twists the door knob, opening the door.
Jisung doesn’t have to chance to voice his surprisal because as soon as the door swings open a teacher walks through.
“What are you two doing?” he asks, lips curled into a snarl.
Jisung freezes, brain desperately trying to find an excuse, when Chenle speaks up. “Oh! I’m so sorry, we must have gotten the room number wrong,” he sheepishly scratches the back of his head, sending the adult a soft smile that makes Jisung weak at the knees. “I’m kinda new, I must’ve given Jisung the wrong room number.”
The teacher looks back and forth between Chenle and Jisung before shaking his head, “Don’t let it happen again.”
Chenle nods enthusiastically, assuring him that it won’t, and grabs Jisung by the arm, leading him away.
Jisung stops him once they reach the end of the hallway, looking back towards the teacher when he realizes the adult somehow disappeared in the five seconds it took them to walk away, “Uh, thanks, but i kinda have to go. You know, murderous friend chasing me and everything.”
“Of course,” Chenle giggles, and Jisung’s head whips back towards him, mouth drying at the sight of the other, “Good luck Jisung, please don’t die, math wouldn’t be very fun without you.”
He winks at Jisung again before disappearing down the next hallway. Jisung watches him go, mind replaying their entire encounter when he realizes something.
One, Chenle didn’t use anything to unlock the door, somehow getting it to open without any tools, and two, he got them both out of detention with the strictest teacher in the world with just a smile.
If he wasn’t sure that Chenle was a monster before, he’s definitely convinced now.
-
Staying late after school because Renjun, Jeno, and Mark are good students and participate in clubs is Jisung’s least favorite part of high school. He usually just sits in the library and waits, but today it’s closed for some reason, so Jisung’s just wandering the halls as he waits.
He’s heading in the direction of the cafeteria when he hears a loud bang. Jisung furrows his eyebrows, but continues on his way, assuming it’s just the janitors dropping something.
That is, until he hears it again, except this time it’s louder, and more like the noise a pissed off monster makes. Fuck.
Jisung walks into the cafeteria and is confronted with the sight of a very real and very angry monster. He curses under his breath, yanking his necklace off his neck and stalking his way forward as it turns into a sword.
He knew Chenle was a monster, there was no way the very pretty boy that seemed kinda into him was human. Though, Jisung does feel a teensy bit bad about having to, you know, kill him and send his soul to the depths of Tartarus.
The monster roars, shaking the rafters of the building, and Jisung smirks, cockily swinging the sword around before getting into a proper fight stance.
“What the fuck,” Jisung stops dead in his tracks when he hears the voice. He knows that voice incredibly well, Jisung melts when he hears that voice.
He thought that voice was currently in monster form, so why is Chenle standing at the entrance of the lunchroom, eyes trained not on the horrifying monster but on Jisung’s sword.
Chenle’s eyes widen and before Jisung knows it he’s being flung against a wall. The monster roars again, eyes trained on Jisung’s body on the floor.
Fuck, he’s fighting a monster that he thought was a cute boy in front of said cute boy and getting his ass kicked. This is not Jisung’s idea of a great thursday.
Chenle runs up to him, still not paying any attention to the monster, which of course he isn’t, he can’t even see it considering he’s just a mortal.
“Oh my god, Jisung, are you okay?” he asks, hands trailing around Jisung’s torso, checking for blood.
‘Yeah, I’m good,” Jisung looks up at Chenle who looks unfairly pretty right now before the monster yells again, putting the attention back on it. Chenle finally looks in the direction of the monster and his eyes widen and then he squints in confusion.
Jisung sighs, getting up off the ground and dusting off his shirt. Chenle, bless his heart, tries to push Jisung behind him, putting himself in between the monster and him.
“Chenle this is nice and all but you’re just a mortal, let me take care of this,” Chenle whips his head around to look at Jisung, eyes set in a glare. He doesn’t get the chance to say something back before Jisung’s running off in the direction of the monster.
Chenle yells for Jisung to get back here and explain, but Jisung doesn’t listen, too focused on landing a few blows on the monster.
“Chenle you need to leave, like right now,” Jisung pulls back from the fight, a little bit dizzy, but body still hyper focused on the monster.
Chenle looks at him like he’s out of his mind, “The fuck you mean i have to leave, I’m the only way we’re getting out of this alive!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I swear if your dumb, but very cute, mortal ass gets me killed I will be so pissed,” Jisung pants out, head a little too disoriented from the blow earlier to be having a conversation right now, not to mention the elephant in the room.
“Quit calling me a mortal, what are you a shitty video game villain?” Chenle asks, exasperated.
Jisung sighs, eyes flicking back to the monster gearing up for another attack, “Swear on the River Styx you won’t get me killed.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
Jisung rolls his eyes, running back towards the monster, sword gleaming in the afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, not caring enough to get a response.
Chenle huffs in the background, diving towards his backpack. Jisung, thanks to his very convenient demigod powers, aka ADHD, manages to avoid most of the monsters attacks.
That is, until his eyes unconsciously wander to where Chenle should be standing, then the monster catches him off guard and knocks him to the floor. It stalks toward him, disgusting mouth curled into a familiar smirk. He reaches for his sword but it’s out of reach.
Jisung’s out of options with no sword or backup, the monster steps on his chest, and he can’t breathe.
Suddenly, the monster freezes, and then disintegrates. Jisung gasps, gulping down air, when he looks up to see Chenle standing their, two blades in his hands, looking incredibly pissed.
Chenle flips both blades and Jisung watches as they turn into two rings. He slips them on his fingers, staring at Jisung like he doesn’t know what to say.
Jisung’s fucked, if Chenle wasn’t his type before, with his pretty everything, he definitely is now. He’s always had a thing for pretty boys that are good with swords and can kick his ass.
“What are you,” Jisung asks, voice hoarse.
Chenle squints, “i’m Chenle Zhong, son of Mercury. What are you?”
“Jisung Park, son of Hades.”
There’s a loud bang heard throughout the cafeteria, though neither of them turn to look for the cause.
“Oh my god, he’s a fucking Roman,” Renjun screeches, hitting Jeno repeatedly on the shoulder.
That gets Chenle’s attention; he turns to look at the newcomers, jaw set like he’s expecting another attack. Chenle surveys the trio, apparently finding nothing to be concerned about because he relaxes, holding a hand out to Jisung to help him up.
Jisung takes his hand (they’re really soft) and allows himself to be pulled to his feet. He coughs a bit, chest hurting from the attack, and Chenle looks at him worriedly.
Chenle opens his mouth to say something but is cut off. “Wait, did you say Mercury?”
They both turn to look at Jeno. “Yeah, I did,” Chenle says cautiously, eyes flicking back at Jisung.
“Yo, little brother!” Jeno’s eyes light up as he walks forward, pulling Chenle into a tight hug. Chenle squeaks and Jisung giggles, though his mind still hasn’t wrapped completely around the situation.
Chenle pulls back first, “Hello?”
“Jeno Lee, son of Hermes,” he smiles proudly, and then furrows his brow, turning back to Renjun. “Wait, are we still brothers even if he’s Roman?”
Renjun walks forwards towards them, dragging Mark along with him, “Yeah, I think he does,” he says it softly, smiling at the two boys. Jeno smiles, ruffling Chenle’s hair before stepping back.
“Am I the only one who isn’t sure what’s going on right now?” Jisung asks, pouting slightly.
Chenle laughs softly, bringing a hand up to smooth down Jisung’s hair. “I’m a demigod, you’re a demigod, got any questions?”
Jisung sighs. “When my dad told me to go to an actual school this year because I’d have fun was this the fun he was talking about?”
“Are you saying I’m not fun Jisung?” Chenle teases, eyebrows raised.
Everyone laughs and Renjun asks if Chenle wants to get dinner with them. He says yes, and the three older boys turn around and make their way out of the semi destroyed lunch room.
Chenle starts walking too, but turns around when he doesn’t hear any footsteps following him. “Jisung, you coming?”
“I thought all I was gonna have to deal with this year was Jeno and Renjun’s obvious crush on each other and the pretty boy in my math class that I thought was a monster,” he pauses, turning to look at Chenle’s flushed and pouty face. “Now i have to deal with the first thing and a Roman.”
He lifts his head and says, “Thank the gods,” in the most sarcastic tone he can manage, before turning his attention back to Chenle.
“You thought I was a monster?” he asks, cheeky smile on his face.
“A very pretty monster,” he corrects, walking forwards to bump Chenle’s shoulder with his own.
They’re both blushing, and Chenle’s biting his lip. his eyes flick up from where he’s looking down at the ground to look at Jisung, hand grabbing Jisung’s own.
Jisung’s face gets impossibly redder, head turning away from Chenle, embarrassed. Chenle giggles at his reaction, and Jisung joins in when they hear a distant scream of hurry up lovebirds! from Renjun.
They start to leave the cafeteria, stopping so Jisung can pick up his bookbag. Chenle swings their connected hands as they walk, and Jisung thinks that he could get used to this.
Being friends with a Roman demigod sounds cool, and a tiny voice in the back of his head says that having a Roman boyfriend sounds even cooler.