Jason sat beside Leo on the steps of the Hephaestus cabin, the evening air warm around them. He had only come to Camp Half-Blood for the day, but Leo had been glued to his side since he arrived—not that Jason minded.

Leo was talking, his words coming fast, hands constantly moving, fiddling with a loose bolt he’d pulled from his tool belt. Jason watched him with a soft smile, amused by how restless he always was. Even now, while just sitting together, Leo couldn’t keep still.

“You listening, Sparky?” Leo suddenly asked, pausing mid-sentence to squint up at him.

Jason chuckled. “Yeah, I’m listening.”

Leo huffed but grinned, turning the bolt over in his fingers. “Good. ‘Cause I was saying that I could totally upgrade your sword. Give it an electric charge or something. Wouldn’t that be cool?”

Jason tilted his head. “Wouldn’t that electrocute me?”

Leo shrugged. “Details, details.”

Jason laughed, reaching out to still Leo’s busy hands, intertwining their fingers instead. Leo stilled for a moment, then glanced away, ears turning pink. Jason squeezed his hand.

“I think you’re perfect just the way you are,” Jason said, watching Leo’s face soften.

Leo scoffed, but his grip tightened. “Yeah, yeah, you’re such a sap, Grace.”

Jason only smiled, knowing Leo wasn’t pulling away.