Chapter Text
FRANK
Frank found himself seated on the ground, leaning on a wall.
The child of Mars had snuck away from the rest of the crew after dinner, away into a more secluded part of the Argo.
His heart still hurt even now, it still hurt even though Hazel had confided in him of her liking Leo Valdez months ago.
He had foolishly thought that after the quest in Alaska, he had made progress and that maybe just maybe after the Mother earth quest he could confess and they could be together.
Stupid.
Frank thought to himself, he ran a hand through his hair. He was more moscular now, jaw more defined, the baby fat was gone. Huh, the blessing of Mars, everybody.
"You were cool out there, Franky."
Frank didn't even flinch, after years of hearing that voice he couldn't find it in himself to be scared of it. Only one person could call him Franky, and that was the daughter of Tristan McLean, favoured child of Aphrodite.
Piper McLean.
"Hey, Pipes.." He spoke, registering slightly that the Cherokee girl had sat beside him.
When he saw Piper for the first time after a long time, she didn't look any different from when they were but five years old. Just.. Developed.
".. You've changed."
Frank couldn't bring himself to look back at her, he didn't want Piper to see his red rimmed eyes –the consequences of him being pathetic – then, he heard a small yet surprisingly happy sigh leave the Cherokee's lips.
"I guess you didn't change that much. Hey, come on, Frank. Look at me." Soft hands guide him, his eyes meet another pair. He could see colors dancing around her eyes, like they were changing with each shift of the Argo.
"There. Not too bad, huh?"
The silence was eating Frank from the inside out, they just stayed like that. It wasn't unfamiliar but it had been so long since he's been in this position.
Suddenly, Piper let go. Then rested her head on his shoulder.
"Is it funny that a daughter of Aphrodite can't even get a boy she's liked?"
It was a way to comfort him, indirectly telling Frank that they were two of the same coin.
"No. Not at all." Frank finally spoke.
Then, there was silence again. This time, it was warm, like he's mother's cooking. The time they saw each other again, after years, they acted like they didn't know each other.
For what reason, he didn't know. They were playmates in the past, even came close to getting engaged because Frank's grandmother wanted them to. Maybe that's what made it awkward when they saw each other again.
"Do you still want that ring?" Frank said, not thinking in the slightest. And when he realized what he said he wanted the Argo's floor to open and throw him over board.
Piper laughed as Frank stammered on about how he wasn't thinking and apologizing over and over about it.
"Nah, your cool." She waved a dismissive hand, "Chill, Franky."
"And... Yeah."
"I do still kinda want that ring. It was simple, I liked it. You really knew what I wanted." Piper smiled.
"Wanna know something?"
"What."
Frank watched as Piper gasped, eyes wide, "I was going to give it to you during dinner but you sat far away so.."
Frank chuckled nervously, "Here." He took her hand in his. he's just noticed how small her hands are..
"It fits.." Piper whispered, pink now shimmered in her eyes. Even Frank was surprised it fit, thay ring was welded almost eleven years ago when they were still little.
"It's the fates." Frank gave a cheeky smile, huh, when was the last time he's felt like this?
The Cherokee laughed.
"Yeah. The fates.."
Frank woke up to the sound of Piper's voice, it had been weeks since their last interaction in the secluded room that they now called their hide out.
So when he had seen the Cherokee at 2pm, hovering above him with a smile he had yelped and almost fallen to the floor.
The Argo was big, and there were two compartments of bedrooms, the greek side and Roman side. And they were FAR away from each other.
"How did you get here? " He was about to say
But he knows better than to question the daughter of Aphrodite's ways.
"Well, if you have to know how I got here–" Danm, was he really that much of an open book?
"One word. Determination. And motivation of your cuddles."
"My cuddles?"
Piper nodded, "Yes. And your hoodie."
Frank sighed and took off his Camp Jupiter hoodie, he wasn't wearing anything under that so it left him only in his sweatpants.
"I'm guessing you want a sleep over?"
The Cherokee beamed, "You know me so well." They got comfortable with Piper cuddling up next to Frank.
"Happy?"
"Very."
The next morning, Frank woke up to Jason opening the door in a frenzy about "something, something Piper!"
Frank was half asleep, also, what'd Piper do? She's literally right next to him sleeping.
"What..? Wait, Jason, what??" Frank said, groggy, running a hand down his face to wake up.
"Frank, please! I said that Piper is missing! She's not in her room, everyone's been trying to fine her!"
Oh.
Wait, huh?
Frank suddenly registered the other noises. Annabeth, Hazel, Percy and Leo were calling for Piper. Nico was nowhere to be seen, Frank hoped he wasn't searching other parts of the country.
"So much noise.." Piper finally woken up, beside Frank, in his hoodie. Jason stopped in his tracks, brows furrowed.
"What time is it..?" The daughter of Aphrodite continued, unaware that her estranged boyfriend had a fire in his eyes that spoke volumes.
Frank tore away his eyes from Jason's stiff figure, ".. It's seven in the morning." Piper hummed at the response.
"What is going on?"
The Cherokee tensed. "Morning, Jason.." She greeted her boyfriend, smiling nervously. Now, Frank doesn't have anything to hate about Jason personally. But, he's seen how he's pushed Piper aside the moment he reunited with Reyna.
And Frank is really protective of those close to him.
Mentally, Frank and Piper decided that they should fess up about their past together.
"We'll explain during breakfast, Jason."
JASON
Jason sat right across from Piper, the daughter of Aphrodite fiddled with her fingers. Looking at everything and anything but him.
He bit his lips as Frank offered her hot tea, Piper smiled and awkwardly drank the beverage. It was quiet. Everyone were sitting across the dou that were in bed together.
The son of Jupiter raised a brow, "Well?"
"It's not what you think, that's for sure." Frank butt in, taking his seat beside Piper, a tea of his own and a plate of two PB&Js.
"A Piper special." Jason heard him mumble to the Cherokee, who smiled and took a piece.
"Thank you."
"Uh.. You guys wanna talk about the weird married act?" Leo piped up, Frank looked at him like he'd just said something in greek and Piper just stared wide eyed.
Soon, they looked at each other, the same looks on there face. Then back at us, before tilting their heads like they were on Bluetooth mode.
"Weird?" Piper.. piped.
"Married?" Frank.
Jason heard Percy and Nico snort. The duo almost replicated a bickering couple that after their fight were acting like nothing happened, but in reality were still mad at each other.
To sum it up, it reminded him of Zeus and Hera's relationship. Just more healthy. And without any infidelity.
...And just a more perfect version that Hera would probably envy if she saw down in the heavens.
"We're getting off track." Jason finally snapped, "When did you two get so close?"
They looked at each other and what looked like a mental battle.
"I.. No." Frank mumbled.
"Why?... you... Rip." Piper.
"Uh, guys?" Hazel finally spoke, after Piper had been found she hadn't spoken. It was obvious that she liked Frank, maybe to everyone but Frank.
Frank sunk down on his chair, Piper looked at him with a look that said "Get up." She ultimately sighed.
"We were engaged."