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The sun was shining, a warm summer breeze floated through the air. Almost every hero of Olympus had gathered at Camp for a beach day.
Percy, (naturally) was splashing around in the water. He wore blue swim trunks with sharks on them. He was carrying Annabeth around in his arms, using his water manipulation to do tricks, and get basically everyone, (in the water or not) soaked.
Annabeth had her arms wrapped around Percy’s neck, trying to prevent herself from getting in the water completely. She wore a pale blue bikini, the sides were tied with string. it didn't have any sharks on it but it suited her amazingly. Her long blond hair flowing loseley in the breeze.
Piper and Hazel were on the shoreline building a sand castle, previously Annabeth had been helping them. (being the architect that she is) until Percy scooped her up and ran into the water with her.
Piper wore a pink flowered bikini that crossed in the back, a sheer pink cover up wrapped around her waist. Her brown hair pulled into a loose ponytail, pisces if hair flowed out in the wind, framing her face.
Hazel had put her golden brown hair into two french braids going down her scalp. She wore a golden one-piece, it had a scoop neckline and small details of different crystals around the hems. She kept summoning gold nuggets to decorate their castle.
Leo had foolishly challenged Frank to a wrestling tournament in front of Nico and Will, who were pretending to watch and keep score. So far Frank hadn't even touched the sand, he just kept picking Leo up when he charged towards him and throwing him away. Once the Leo-ball had almost hit the sand castle, which all three girls had started yelling at him for, not yet knowing that it was Frank who threw him.
Leo was wearing shorts with fire detailing coming up from the leg holes, when he had done his insisted upon grand reveal of his wonderful trunks, he had made sure to set his legs on fire. Apparently he was shocked that the cartoon fire pattern on his shorts didn't match the very real fire coming from his legs.
Frank had kept things much more simple, he wore plain red shorts, originally he was going to wear a swim shirt with them until Hazel practically begged him to take it off. Will then made him put plenty of sunscreen on. Being a hypocrite he never wore sunscreen himself but being head medic he insisted for his pale friends at least.
Nico and Will were Sitting on beach towels in the sand. Will sported some bright yellow swim trunks, they matched his tan skin and blonde hair perfectly. Next to him there was his boyfriend. Since Nico had been spending so much time with Will, (who was forcing him to eat full meals) his muscles from many years of training finally came through; Shining in the sun.
He wore black trunks with miniscule skull details rimming the hems. He and Will had some flirtatious banter going. When Leo turned around to ask for the score, he turned right back on his heels and pretended not to hear. With anyone else he would have cracked a joke or two but Nico kinda scared him. (Nico was secretly glad of this)
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Leo, (in ball form) was launched into the water by Frank, who was still very much winning. Percy saw him coming towards him and Annabeth and decided. ‘Hey, why not play some Leo-ball. I got time’ and still carrying Annabeth, summons a giant hand of water and catches Leo, mid-air. “Hey Frank, Heads up!” He shouted at Frank. Then he launched Leo out of the water towards Frank. It was only a couple metres but the force that Leo was thrown knocked Frank into the sand, spraying Nico and Will. “Percy!” The couple shouts at a grinning son of Poseidon.
“Let’s get him!” Leo says to Frank excitedly, trying to pull him to his feet. “He did just knock both of us down, huh?” “Yeah! Lets go big guy!” “Sure” Frank says, like he was babysitting an excited toddler.
Both boys charge at Percy, who had thankfully put Annabeth down in the water. She was watching the two come barrelling into the water. Percy followed her gaze and had just enough time to brace himself before Frank smashed into him, Leo a second after, jumping on top of frank. Percy knocked easily into the water. Frank and Leo got up and Whooped’. Annabeth, who had been soaked again from the splash, sighed defeatedly and walked back to Piper and Hazel to continue their castle.
Percy, Frank and Leo wrestled in the water for a while before Percy spat them both into the air, making both of them belly flop hard into the water and hobble towards the shore for a snack and a break. Percy stayed in the water, satisfied with beating both of them, floating on his back.
Piper, Hazel and Annabeth finished their castle and went into the water. They started a splash fight with each other, oblivious to the couple ashore. Will and Nico had decided to make an opposing castle. They had stated that it was going to be ‘bigger, better and will win all the wars’ Much to their dismay without Annabeth's architectural skills, Hazel’s gift with precious metals and Piper’s artistic abilities, comparing theirs to the opposing castle made it look like shit.
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Will and Nico had given up and went back to their towels. Frank and Leo had decided to see if Leo could blow fire farther than Frank could throw him. Annabeth had split off from the splash fight to see her boyfriend. Who was still floating on his back in the water.
All of a sudden, out of the blue Nico and Percy scream. Nico falls to his knees clutching his head. Percy is bolted upright by the water. Which he now had swirling around him midair. He looked terrified. Once their screams had subsided the two looked at each other, faces gaunt.
“You felt it too?” Nico asks Percy. He was used to these things but Percy definitely wasn't.
“Yea.. I don't know how, but I did.” They lock eyes while the group proceeds being very confused.
“Feel what?” Piper said, looking around.
“Nico, what happened?” Will asks carefully. Moving towards his boyfriend.
Then suddenly he and Percy take off, Nico running full speed and Percy using the water as a torpedo, to speed towards Cabin 14. The rest of the group follow suit. All very confused but knew they needed to be beside Nico and Percy.
As they run, following Percy and Nico, they pass Chiron.
“What’s happened?” he asks, very confused. “Aren't you all having a beach day?”
“No clue man!” Leo shouts to him. “But it's not good” he points to Nico and Percy ahead of them. Percy’s water tornado depleting. Chiron joins the confused brigade. Not knowing what the fuck was happening.
Percy and Nico reach cabin 14 and rush in. All the Iris campers jump at the two, a couple seconds after the rest of the group rush in. Chiron couldn't fit through the door so he stayed right outside. Percy and Nico rush to the altar where you could make Iris messages. Percy makes a rainbow come out of the basin with the water. Nico rushes to the podium, looking for a drachma
“You felt it too, huh?” he asks Percy, who was standing next to him, scared and confused.
“I don’t know why… how do I know?” He asks the son of Hades, who wasn’t having much luck finding a drachma.
“I need a drachma!” he shouts to the cabin at large, the energy that radiated off him and Percy, two of the most powerful demigods at camp, made everyone check their pockets. Even those who were still in swimsuits.
Butch Walker, head of the Iris cabin, makes his way towards Nico and Percy. He pulls a drachma out of his pocket and hands it to Nico.
Nico throws it into the basin and yells “Jason Grace!” The cabin went silent as it tried to connect. Nico scoops the drachma out of the basin and throws it in again. He yells even louder “Jason Grace!!”. No answer. He tries once more. Nothing.
Percy falls to his knees and clutches his face in his hands. Nico slowly turns around. Tears in his eyes.
He pauses, and then says to the cabin: “Jason Grace is dead.”
The entire cabin freezes. In the distance they hear a geyser shoot out the water. A small crack appears in the floor below Nico. Leo lights on fire accidentally, he quickly extinguishes himself. Below hazel many precious metals appeared at her feet.
“How can you be sure? Couldn't the message just be broken?” Annabeth asks.
“We have great reception in here, that can't be it” Butch says. Shaking his head.
Will walks towards Nico and holds him in his arms. Nico buries his face in his boyfriend's shoulder and starts to cry. Annabeth pulls Percy into her and they do the same. After a minute Nico opens his eyes and addresses the cabin.
“He was shot in battle. Fighting with Apollo and Meg.”
The crack at his feet extended outside.
Piper sobs. She and Jason had broken up but they had still been great friends after. Frank pulled both piper and hazel in a hug. They all started crying.
“But.. how could I feel it?” Percy asks Nico, looking up from his hands.
“He died in the sea. Same time as you were floating around.”
Percy pulls Annabeth closer and cries. Everyone cries like nothing else. Percy, Annabeth, Will and Nico hadn't cried so much. Even when they met misery herself.
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Everywhere Hazel walked gemstones and metals kept popping up behind her. Nico keeps having accidental cracks in the earth show up at his feet. Percy had been floating aimlessly in the water. On his back or on his stomach. Occasionally ducking under, then a couple seconds later a huge geyser pops up nearby. Annabeth and Frank contacted Camp Jupiter to ask what happened and to organize the funeral.
Will was going around with Nico. He was the only person who was able to calm the son of Hades down. There were a few slip ups that involved accidental skeletons that broke down crying once they were fully formed, but since then there hasn’t been much.
Piper and Hazel Were basically joined at the hip that evening. Both crying together and comforting each other.
Leo had taken off on Festus the dragon, no doubt yelling into the air and blowing as much fire as he wanted. He promised that he would be back in time for dinner so the others didn't get worried. After all, the last time he took off on Festus he had died and come back.
Later that night the dinner bell sounded. None of them really wanted to go but they all got together for the speech. They all sat at one table, away from their siblings. No one else knew what happened, they just saw everyone looking solemn.
Chiron began his speech. “Today we have some.. upsetting news. Jason Grace, one of the seven, has died bravely in battle.” a ripple of sadness and confusion washed over the demigods. “Nico Di-Angelo, son of hades, will begin the burial rights.”
Nico trudges up to the stand, Will close behind him. Nico spoke the ancient Greek rights into the pavilion. Will stood behind him, holding his hand. Once Nico was done, a minute of silence was held for Jason. Everyone’s head hung, silent tears dropping to the ground.
After the minute passed, Nico spoke again, not in English, but also not in Ancient Greek. “Era un buon amico per me, mi ha accettato quando ha scoperto la mia identità da Cupido. Mi sono assicurato di essere sempre il benvenuto in entrambi i campi. Andato troppo presto.” he said all this very fast, with a mix of wistfulness and bitterness in his voice.
[He was a good friend to me, he accepted me when he found out my identity from Cupid. He always made sure I was welcome in both camps. Gone too soon.]
A little girl from the Athena cabin came running up. She looked very young to be at camp, with fiery red hair. It was Lancey, a young new camper who only spoke Italian. Nico had welcomed her into camp and started her English lessons. They had connected immediately.
She reached the podium and hugged him. They exchanged very quick words in Italian before Nico raised his cup. “Jason Grace!” he toasted. All the demigods, satyrs and dryads alike toasted. Mr. D and Chiron walked up to Nico, Will and Lancey, patting Nico on the back for the toast.
“Good job Nico” Mr. D said to him. Nico and Will’s names were the only two that he ever got right. Even Percy himself was still ‘Peter Jhonson’
“Thanks, hey, do you mind if Lancey sits at our table?” Nico asks the god of wine.
He responds lazily. “Eh, sure. Why not”
Nico smiles and tells Lancey. He takes her and Will by the hand and they go sit down. Nico had basically adopted the little daughter of Athena himself.
About 20 minutes Into dinner Leo comes out of the sky. He makes a pretty bumpy landing on Festus but goes and regions the group casually.
“Leo? I didn't actually think you would be less than an hour late! Good job buddy.” Frank says to him. Patting him on the back and almost making his knees buckle.
“Are you still in your swim shorts?” Piper asks, Looking down.
“Uhh, yeah. I guess I am.” Leo responds as he begins to eat his food.
The group starts exchanging happy stories about Jason to each other. Less and less tears were shed every minute. Nico kept translating everything to Lancey, who marveled at every story. Wowed by all the adventures that were had by the people around her.