Archive of Our Own

     The air was humid and thick inside the labyrinth, the dull torchlight illuminating the aged stone walls, floor, and ceiling of the massive maze. It was silent; dust continued to gather along pathways once well-travelled. It was as if time itself had preserved this section of the world, only for the serenity to shatter into pieces as a voice filled with disbelief and desperation howled down the infinite corridors.

     “Jasper!” A name, and yet it roared with such utter betrayal and sadness that the stone walls themselves shook in melancholic sympathy.

     “Cas’...” Jasper whispered in response, his voice drenched in pain and so apologetic. The walls confining the sound caused the whispered name to sound like a gunshot between them as they stared at one another. They stood, the tension between them growing with every second as they shared the small corridor. Behind Jasper was the option to run further into the maze, to meet up with Psychi and Devin and escape the conflict that was quickly approaching. Casper, opposite Jasper, stood in front of the only entrance and exit to the maze within Camp Half-Blood’s walls. Jasper took a step backward, the obsidian boot thudding against the cold cobblestone underneath him as he made to increase the distance between them, to escape from… whatever this was quickly becoming.

     “Stop.” Casper ordered, and Jasper stilled. It was one word, such a simple and common word, and yet it was laced with both confusion and hurt. “You’re leaving?” Casper asked, his golden eyes staring, no, searching as they roamed over Jasper’s form, the gold hardened. “You’re leaving.” This time it was an accusation- twinged in anger, disbelief and so, so much sadness. Casper took a step, his white sneakers a stark contrast to the dark tones of the labyrinth, as was the rest of him. Casper was wearing his orange Camp Half-Blood shirt T-shirt that covered his tanned skin and accented his blonde hair, his jeans were well worn enough to look grey, and the many silly bands and bracelets that decorated his arms all pointed to one statement. Casper did not belong down here. “Why?” Casper demanded, his eyes searching for reason as Jasper flinched and didn’t respond; he didn’t want to answer. He couldn’t answer, but for all of Casper’s kindness none could be spared for this moment. “ Why, Jasper?”, He demanded.

     “I can’t stay here.” Jasper whispered, his brilliant violet eyes diverted to counting the cracks in the walls of the labyrinth rather than the intense glare of Casper’s own golden eyes. He shifted his body, his unzipped black leather jacket lined with purple moving with him, covering up his long sleeve black shirt with three white Z’s printed on it. The shadows of the labyrinth helped hide his curly black hair, his black jeans and boots merely more than an outline in the barely lit corridor. Jasper didn’t belong in Casper’s world, he belonged down here. “I made an oath, Casper.” He confessed, tensing at the sharp gasp the blonde across from him made as he fidgeted with his silver ring. “I have people I need to keep safe, I have someone I need to get back to...” The boy trails off as Casper took another step into the labyrinth. Jasper’s tired eyes trailed Casper as the blonde’s face took many shapes, flashing through too many emotions for Jasper to process before he took another step back and Casper stilled.

     “And so you’re leaving camp? You’re leaving Alice? You’re leaving Rowan, Xander, and Chessie? You’re..” Leaving me? They both heard the unasked question Casper had spoken. 

     Jasper felt a knot work its way through his stomach as Casper stood only four steps away from him now; the closeness was suffocating. Casper clenched his hands into fists, his golden eyes pulsing with anger. “You made an oath to leave camp?” Casper accused, “You’re running away from us? You have someone more important out there that’s important enough to throw all of Camp away for?” Casper finished, eyes begging for Jasper to refute anything, to claim it wasn’t so painfully what it was, but Jasper remained silent. “What aren’t you telling me, Jasper?” Casper said, the anger in his voice evaporating and leaving nothing but thick and ugly pain in its place.

     “The Gods aren’t-” Jasper began, only to be interrupted as Casper took a step forward, his eyes blazing. Only three feet remained between them. If he reached out, he could take the other boy’s hand, he could uncurl the fingers that were digging into Casper’s own palm, he could wrap him in a hug and use the magic his father had gifted him to soothe the blonde’s anger.

     “ Bullshit !” Casper roared, and Jasper wilted. He hated this. He hated that he couldn’t do everything within his power to stop this, to calm Casper, to keep him safe. “To Hades with the Gods! Why are you leaving, Jasper!?” The child of Apollo bellowed, his voice charged with sorrow. Jasper felt a hole in his chest begin to open, yet he remained silent, he couldn’t tell Casper; he couldn’t let him know just how deep he had gotten himself; he couldn’t let Casper become as tainted and bound as Jasper was to his own faults and to powerful people. “Say something!”, Casper demanded, desperate for an end to the silence, pleading for some sort of reprieve, something to sedate the breathtaking pain in his chest.

     “Casper, you don’t understand-” Jasper began only to be silenced by Casper once again as the boy took another step closer. Jasper could see the shine Casper’s eyes had taken, the molten gold falling from his eyes as he pressured Jasper, the pain that was snarling and clawing his chest and stomach was obvious in the blonde’s golden irises. They were so close, only a step between the two of them yet it felt like a mile, and that hurt . He had never felt this disconnected from Casper, he had never felt this level of wrongness hit him all at once. Jasper wanted nothing more than to close the gap between them, to apologise and beg for forgiveness, to take Casper into his arms and promise to never leave him. But he couldn’t, and so he did not. “I need to finish what I started, Casper.” Jasper whispered, the air between them heavy, “It’s for the best. It’ll keep you safe, It’ll make life better for everyone, but… I need to leave to do this Casper.” He pleaded, his violet eyes begging for understanding, begging for acceptance that was never received. All Jasper was given was a widening of gold and dawning horror.

     “You’re starting another war.” Casper said, his voice soft and disbelieving. “You’re starting another war , aren’t you?” Casper questioned, his voice gaining strength as he stared into unblinking lilac. “I can’t believe it. You, of all people, you , are starting another war!” Casper roared, backing away from Jasper and putting his hands into blonde strands, trapping his fingers in his hair and pulling. Casper couldn’t believe it- everything was too much, and he couldn’t understand why. He was breathing hard and his throat felt thick:The air was like sludge in his lungs as he struggled for air. His pulse was racing.

     “Casper,” A voice, Jasper’s voice, called out. “Calm down, listen to me.”, He spoke, the gentle thud of his boot alerting Casper to him approaching. Jasper gently and slowly took Casper’s hands away from his hair, tangling their fingers together in place of the strands. Casper felt a pleasant cool at their touch, the cold wrapping around him and sharpening his senses. He could feel the rough texture of Jasper’s hands around his own unblemished skin, he could smell Jasper’s breath- warm milk and honey- and as his eyes focused he stared into Jasper’s violet eyes, laced with concern. Casper couldn’t take it, he snapped his eyes shut and launched himself at Jasper, wrapping his arms around the taller boy’s chest and burying his face into the soft cotton of his shirt. Tears fell from his eyes mercilessly as he sobbed, clutching onto Jasper as if he’d vanish if he let go. Casper stilled as Jasper tentatively reciprocated. Jasper’s arms wrapped around the blonde, settling on the small of his back and pushing him further into himself. Casper’s shoulders shook with the weight of his sobs as they stayed embracing one another.

     “ Please, Jasper.” Casper begged, “Please don’t leave me alone.” And Jasper’s heart burned cold. He looked downward, his lilac meeting leaking gold filled with so much sorrow, loss, and desperation. He raised his hands from Casper’s back and cradled the blonde’s face in his hands, his thumbs brushing the tears from Casper’s eyes as he shushed him. They stared at one another, complete stillness enveloping both of them as they took in their position. Casper’s chest was flush with Jasper’s, his hands clenching on the cotton shirt, grounding himself, their faces inches apart. Jasper’s hands were caressing his face, the painted nails reflecting off the torchlight of the corridor as they were completely encapsulated by the other. And then slowly as if fearful, Casper moved. Casper’s lips fluttered against Jasper’s in a fleeting kiss before pulling back slightly. The boy hesitated before pressing his lips firmer against Jasper’s. Jasper was cold to Casper, intoxicatingly cold. The cold bite against his lips, surrounding him in a chill that made him shiver and need the closeness between them to warm himself. Casper pulled back, dazedly, only for Jasper to close the distance between them again. Casper’s heart hurt as Jasper pulled the blonde further into himself, his frigid hands painful against Casper’s sensitive skin as he pulled. Jasper gently bit Casper’s lip and the child of Apollo gasped, reaching his arms up and looping them around Jasper’s neck as the child of Hypnos entered his mouth.

     Jasper felt like he was dying, after so long of being cold, of shivering during even the hottest days of summer, he was finally warm- no- he was burning . Casper was hot to the touch, Casper’s hands felt as if they were being eaten by flames, and yet he held Casper regardless. Jasper needed the boy in front of him, he needed him to be warm, to finally feel the heat that he so desperately longed for; he needed more of Casper. He bit the blonde’s bottom lip gently, relishing in the sharp gasp Casper gave him and greedily met Casper’s tongue with his own. Jasper was burning, lava pooling in his body and replacing his blood as he explored Casper’s mouth, losing himself in the sensation of Casper’s heartbeat against his chest, the warmth in his cheeks, the desperation in the kiss, all in the closeness of them. Jasper finally separated, pulling his face away from Casper’s and pushing down a violent wave of desire as Casper stared up at him. Casper’s face was flushed, the hue of red coating his tanned skin and his soft lips puffy and swollen from Jasper’s kiss forced the violet eyed boy to calm himself. Casper stared at him with such hope and love that his stomach twisted and his resolve shook . Jasper stared into gold and moved forward, kissing the boy on the forehead. Casper’s eyes fluttered closed.

     As Jasper pulled away he sighed. “Okay.” He whispered, and Casper’s heart soared. Casper began to tear up again and hugged Jasper again, the biting cold a comfort as he smiled.

     “Thank you, Jasper. Thank you so much.” Casper whispered in gratitude, smiling at Jasper’s nod and kiss on his forehead. Casper took a step back and grabbed the hand of the child of Hypnos. He looked at Jasper’s eyes and saw nothing but love and an overwhelming emotion that Casper could not name. He pulled the boy with him as he moved closer and closer to the entrance of the labyrinth. Casper’s heart was beating through his chest as he walked up the steps, the sun blinding him a bit after the darkness of the labyrinth- but even as Casper blinked, the light wouldn’t go away. It surrounded him, separating him from Jasper as, distantly, Casper heard the words he wished he could’ve said first whispered in his ear.

     “ I love you. ”

     Casper’s eyes snapped open, staring uncomprehendingly at the wooden roof of his cabin. The dream catcher Jasper had gifted him hung from a rafter above, its intricate knots almost mocking him as the realisation hit. He licked his lips, still tasting the faint mix of warm milk and honey, his body shivering from the lingering cold of Jasper’s embrace. But when he turned to his left, the space was empty. No dark haired boy, no violet eyes meeting his own, no tired smiles and whispered good mornings. Just emptiness.

      Curling around his pillow, Casper gasped out a sob, his chest tightening with a pain that wrenched at his soul. Jasper’s cruelty cut deep, leaving him with nothing but the memory of a dream. The howl of loss that escaped Casper echoed through the cabin, a haunting sound of desperation and unfairness as Jasper walked further and further away, somewhere in the rebuilt labyrinth of Daedalus.