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Jason could barely remember what Christmas was supposed to be like. Sometimes, if he reached far enough into the back of his brain, he could pull out scraps of memories, fuzzy and worn at the corners. Soft glows from Christmas lights Thalia had hung around the room, the sweet taste of sugar cookies lingering in his mouth. But that was all. December 25th was just another day, in another month, in another year. It felt like it should be special, but it wasn't.
His friends, however, couldn't stop talking about it. Annabeth and Percy were going to visit each other's families, already planning badly hidden surprises from one another. Piper's dad finally caught a break between filming, and she insisted Reyna meet him. Frank and Hazel were staying in their position as Preators, getting a festival together for the holidays. Even Nico and Will had their own plans, though they hadn't told him what they were. It looked like Jason and Leo were the only ones in the group who were staying through the winter.
Jason tried to plan something with Thalia, but her and the other hunters were off on a mission, and they wouldn't be passing through. The son of Jupiter could practically hear his sister's regret through the rainbow illusion, but he brushed it off with an easy smile and a few 'it's fine's. With a last sad smile from Thalia, the Iris message cut out, and Jason sunk into his bed. He missed his sister. He barely knew her, and that was the problem. He wanted to. He wanted to know stories of them when they were young, what Camp Half Blood was like for her. He wanted to talk and talk and talk with her, late into the night until he couldn't register the words he was saying.
Maybe another time…
~ * * * ~
A few hours later, a knock echoes throughout the Zeus cabin, the place hollow and cold. "Come in!" Jason called, not bothering to move from where he laid on the bed, mind running with a nervous energy. It was already obvious who was at the door.
Leo peeked his grease stained face inside the door before pulling himself inside, shaking off his snowy steel toed boots. He pulled them off, thawing near the door before plodding over to Jason.
"It's now officially Christmas, as of the past two minutes, and I see nothing holly, jolly, or merry in this little cabin." He declared, crawling onto the bed beside Jason, who instinctively curled around him.
"I didn't have time." Jason mumbled into Leo's hair, his eyes drooping at the familiar comfort of another person, the restless anxiety already beginning to slip away.
Leo ran his calloused fingers along the arms that wrapped around him, brushing fine blonde hairs back and forth. "We really gotta fix that, you know." Even though it was past midnight, jittery energy was pent up inside Leo. He hadn't had a proper Christmas in years, and now he's finally found someone he'd actually like to spend it with.
"Right now?"
"No, let's do it when Valentine's day rolls around. Yes, right now!"
"I'm tired." He mumbles into Leo's hair, his chin buried in brown curls.
In his arms, Leo fidgets relentlessly. Jason knows there's no way either of them goes to bed if the Zeus cabin isn't decorated. With a sigh, Jason takes his arms back from around him and sits up.
"Okay, let's go grab the lights."
~ * * * ~
Frost crunched under their feet as they raced to the Big House, breath puffing in foggy clouds behind them. Snowflakes tumbled from the sky, adorning their eyelashes and hair like lace. The cold bit at their faces, skin flushed and pale.
Leo blows out hot air, the steam curling into the night. "Ha, I'm Festus!" He cackles, snow melting in his footsteps.
Jason shushed him, a quiet laugh passing his lips. "Leo! People are sleeping!" He mock whispers. "The harpies are going to get us if you don't be quiet."
In response, Leo sticks out his tongue and picks up the pace. For being so small, he was wicked fast. By the time he reached the door of the big house, Jason was breathing hard, his nose and ears tinged with red as he jogged to keep up. Jason's regret for not grabbing his jacket was increasing by the second.
The Big House itself was a huge cabin, the walls thick and wooden. It was nearly humid with lukewarm air as they stepped in, trampled snow and water dripping from their boots. Leo's hair was frizzy and steaming as the snow dried off of him, heat radiating like an air vent. Jason wrapped his arms around Leo, sighing as his warmth seeped through to his skin.
"Clingy much?" Leo joked, and Jason flicked his arm in response.
"I'm literally freezing, Human Torch. Give me a break." He mumbled through a smile.
The room was dimly illuminated by candles and strings of fairy lights, twinkling in reds and golds. "Well," Jason started, "at least we know they have decorations. They must be around here somewhere. The attic?"
"Sounds like a good place to start."
Since the Oracle of Delphi had transferred to Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the once powerful aura the attic held had faded. Now it was just....cold. and cluttered. The two boys had to shove boxes of weapons and battle spoils aside to find what they were looking for- a couple cardboard boxes labeled Holiday Decor . Some held Halloween, with foam gravestones and....possibly real bones. Others were for Valentine's, Saint Patrick's, and finally, Christmas.
Leo hefted the lights out, grinning. "Bingo bango, ya boy knows how to tango! Let's get these babies back to the cabin!"
A few strands of garland and mistletoe lay at the bottom, and Jason swept them up. "I think we're well equipped. Let’s roll."
~ * * * ~
Lights were strung around the edges of Cabin one, the multicolored bulbs hanging off of bunk beds and wrapping around the perimeter. Even the Zeus statue was wrapped in them, the end of his hand extending to hold the mistletoe in place.
"Ready?" Jason asked.
"Hit it, Sparky."
Jason tapped his finger to the end of the string of lights, the power cord zapping under his touch. The room instantly lit, bathing the two in warm hues of every color imaginable. The simple change had altered the room entirely. Instead of feeling cold and dark, the cabin was cozy and warm and homey. Home.... The cabin finally felt like a home.
"Great job, Leo."
Leo nods in response, letting Jason bend down to give him a quick kiss. "I couldn't have done it without you, Storm."
"Yeah, yeah. Come on, Fire. I'm exhausted, and we have Christmas celebrations tomorrow."
Diving into the blankets, Leo curled into the bed until he was a comfortable puddle in the sheets. "It's no fair, your bed is a million times more comfy than mine." He grumbled.
Jason slid in beside him, tucking the other boy into his chest. He snorted. "Leo, all the beds in camp are exactly the same."
"Yeah, but this one has you in it." Leo grins and pokes him. "So it's obviously, like, way superior."
His heart glows as he feels Jason's chest rumble in a laugh, and kisses are dotted around the crown on his head.
"Merry Christmas, Leo. Get some sleep."
"Merry Christmas." He whispered quietly, snuggling further into his cocoon of warmth and safety, quickly falling asleep.
~ * * * ~
In the morning, a familiar hunter, who knew that family was worth more than any mission, would open the door, her leather jacket catching the light and boots dragging in snow. She would find an open embrace from her drowsy brother, and a wave from his eager partner. The three would stay curled up together in the bunks, wasting away the day with cookies and stories and memories. And after Christmas was done, Thalia would kiss her brother on the head and depart again for the Hunters, leaving him and Leo together once more. For how unplanned the day was, it was certainly the best Christmas either of them had ever had.