what's troublesome to others is a torment to themselves

[swedge]

[it all started with the Hunters. Or, more specifically, when Jo turned them down. Before then, the Aphrodite kids had just been annoying. Giggling here and there, refusing to take part in activities because of how it would ruin their insert-appearance-thing-here, etc. Annoying, but there were plenty of them she could handle. Deal with. Some of them were even kind of fun to hang out with.

But then she ate breakfast with Merlin at his table - because he was lonely and she wanted to spend more time with him so what - and she felt their eyes on their backs the entire meal. She could tell they were plotting something, but she couldn't figure out what. All that she knew was they were getting way too close to Merlin and she didn't like it. At all.

She just turned down immortality for Merlin (granted, he didn't really know that, but still she did) and suddenly the Aphrodite cabin had incredible interest in him. During activities, lunch, capture the flag...two weeks went by and Jo just bit her tongue, stormed off when she got mad, anything you would think of that probably just confused Merlin further. That was, until she had a conversation with the head of the Aphrodite cabin, one of the few girls with an actual head on their shoulders.

you're jealous she'd told her. 'Am not.' yes you are. 'No I'm-' and then followed a long-winded discussion about how Jo is oblivious when it comes to boys and the over protective feelings she has are because she cares, likes, perhaps even loves Merlin and she should do something about that. And that's where the conversation ended, leaving Jo with more to think about than she ever wanted.

But that also meant that the Aphrodite cabin shenanigans annoyed her even more. So when she walks down the pathway between cabins and sees Merlin and one of the older Aphrodite girls talking...well. Jo always did have anger issues.]

Comments

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin's danger radar starts going off while he's explaining the different way the two camps sorted their demigods to the Aphrodite girl--Karen, he thinks? Merlin isn't usually so terrible with names, but what seems like half of the Aphrodite demigods have approached him in the last week or so.

At first, Merlin isn't too worried, since demigods are meant to get into all sorts of trouble, especially while experimenting with their powers. Then, he turns and sees Jo practically storming down toward him. Merlin cuts off mid-sentence in surprise.]

Something happen?

[The unhappy look on her face is one that he recognises. Jo's angry about something, and he probably has something to do with it, guessing by the way she's glaring in their direction. This means trouble.]

[swedge]

[ Jo doesn't even want to think about what else could possibly be going on here - since when did children of Ares think about anything? - because all she sees is Karen. Karen and Merlin and Karen obviously flirting with Merlin and the talk she'd just had with...

Well. Whatever it was, it was ending right now. Jo shot her worst look possible over to the Aphrodite girl, bad enough that even if she had been innocent (which she wasn't) it made her cringe away anyway. ]

Yeah, something I need to talk to you about.

[ Jo didn't even give Merlin time to react before she had her hand on his forearm, dragging him away with her as she continued on down the walkway and behind the Artemis cabin, out into the woods so she could scream at him all she wanted and boy, did she want to. ]

[dragonspeak]

All right, just a se--whoa!

[Before he even has a chance to turn back to the girl, Merlin finds himself being dragged away. He throws Karen an apologetic look over his shoulder, noting to himself that he should maybe finish talking to her later.

Now, to deal with the problem at hand.]

What's this about? Must be important if you had to come all the way out here.

[swedge]

It amazes me- [ she jerks back around to face him, seething ] how you survived this long. How dense you are about everything!

[ her instincts tell her to surge forward, to actually punch him, and she has to take a breath or two or four because that's just her Ares blood talking. It's the first thing they teach the kids of Ares and as head camper it's embarrassing that she's letting it get ahold of her.

So instead, she'll just...make a very frustrated noise and kick at the ground, sending dirt and leaves everywhere. It takes just a moment or two before she's calmed herself down. Too much deja vu. Too much. She breathes through her nostrils before turning back to him, obviously still pissed. ]

Did you even notice? Karen?

[dragonspeak]

[The concern for her spikes just then. Not that the behaviour is unfamiliar to him, especially as he'd known her before her camp training, but Jo usually has a good hold on her anger nowadays. Whatever's bothering her must be fairly important.]

What do you mean? What's wrong with Karen?

[Perhaps something had happened. Merlin hadn't known Jo and the Aphrodite girl were that close to begin with.]

[swedge]

Nothing's wrong with Karen.

[ because really, there isn't. she's quite good at what she does. being in the aphrodite and all. ]

She was using her charm speak on you! [ no she wasn't, Jo's just being jealous. ] She was flirting and you didn't even notice!

[dragonspeak]

I--what?

[Whatever he's about to say, Merlin quickly forgets, looking severely wrongfooted.]

She was only asking about the way Camp Jupiter's split into cabins, Jo. I wouldn't call that flirting.

[swedge]

You wouldn't, maybe. [ jo crosses her arms over her chest and gives him a look. ]

Then again, you might just be developing a thing for kids of aphrodite who knows.

[dragonspeak]

I'm not developing anything.

[Merlin watches her with a frown, thoughts churning in his head.]

You don't need to worry. Explaining the differences between the camps is all part of the reason I'm here, isn't it? That's all there is to it.

[swedge]

[ she watches him back, her anger stilling if only a little bit. ]

Yeah, but that's not what they're try do. You don't know them like I do, they wouldn't talk to anyone without another reason.

[dragonspeak]

[Now he laughs, a little amused at Jo's worry.]

I doubt they'd go out of their way to flirt with me. I've got twiggy arms, compared to some of the other campers here, remember? You really think they'd make a fuss over someone who trips over his own feet half the time in spars?

[swedge]

[ now she's mad because are you making fun of the fact she likes you talking down about yourself? ]

They don't care, Merlin. You're new. And gullible, apparently.

[dragonspeak]

[He senses her change in mood, holding up his hands in surrender.]

All right, all right. I'll be careful.

[And he reaches out, squeezing her shoulder.]

I know you're just looking out for me, but you know I'm not here to chase skirts, right? I won't fall over myself to please the first girl that bats her lashes at me or whatever else they do.

[swedge]

[ and it's like a switch, when he touches her shoulder. She can't really be mad at him. even if she tries. ]

It's called magic for a reason, Merlin. You don't really have a say in it if they're trying hard enough.

[ but it's pretty obvious by this point that she's not nearly as mad anymore. more frustrated. ]

[dragonspeak]

Good thing I've you to look out for me, then.

[He gives her a cheeky smile, knowing that'll probably convince her to let the issue go for the moment. He doesn't understand why she's so worried about the Aphrodite children, but Merlin supposed she has her reasons.]

[swedge]

[ . . .

Merlin that's not what she means. At all. In fact, she kind of rolls her eyes at the comment because ugh, why do you not understand what Jo is trying to hard not to admit to herself. ]

And what are you going to do when I'm not?

[dragonspeak]

[...or not. Hm.]

I'll be fine, Jo. You're being awfully persistent about this.

[swedge]

Maybe I'm worried about you.

[ and not at all trying to deny her own feelings. At all. ]

Maybe I don't want to see you get hurt.

[dragonspeak]

I know. [He smiles, tapping her nose again, hoping to relieve some of her worries.]

I promise I'll be more careful, if it'll make you feel at ease.

[swedge]

[The worst part is that it does, and she rolls her eyes and is totally useless in the fight against that little smile that comes up.]

I feel so much better now.

[dragonspeak]

You should.

[He can tell it's working, but she's been so high-strung, Merlin decides after a moment to tug her into a hug anyway.]

I know you're looking out for me, but I'm not the little boy you had to protect all those years ago anymore. I can hold my own in a fight now. Stop worrying, all right?

[swedge]

[ Jo falls surprisingly easy into the hug, tucking her face into his chest and wrapping her arms around him. Usually she's not a fan of contact like this, but it's Merlin and sometimes. Well. Old habits die hard, no matter how old.

She sighs. ]

I know. I just feel like I have to. Like there's nothing else for me to do if I don't.

[dragonspeak]

Now I know there's something wrong.

[Merlin tips Jo's chin up, raising a brow at her.]

Where's the girl who felt independent enough to turn down the Hunters because she wanted to take another path? They approached you, and you turned them down, remember? There's a lot you can do, and you know it.

[swedge]

[ She frowns a little, looking up at him.]

I'm being serious, Merlin, I just-

[ But then the thought happened, the 'oh what the hell' moment where she was looking up at him and him down at her and this opportunity wasn't going to happen again. She needed to grab it now.

So she did. In a quick grab and tug, she had the material of his t-shirt in her hands and was pulling him down, closing the space between them for a kiss. Brief, light, but definitely a kiss. ]

[dragonspeak]

[As soon as their lips meet, Merlin freezes in shock. Even when she's pulled away, all he can manage is a wide-eyed stare.

It takes all his willpower not to reach up and touch his lips, to make sure that really happened.]

What... [He coughs, clearing his throat when his voice comes out croaky.] What was that?

[swedge]

A kiss, Merlin. Even you should at least know what it is.

[But then Jo's pushing back on his chest, just a gentle shove, to separate them. This was a mistake, she shouldn't have done this, what was she even thinking?]

It was nothing, don't worry about it.

[And that's when she takes a step to walk past him, head back to camp and maybe find something for her to do. Ignore what she just did and pretend it never happened.]

[dragonspeak]

Wait. [He catches her around the waist before she can go any further.]

I didn't--you just took me by surprise, that's all. [When he pauses, he looks uncertain.] Why did you kiss me?

[swedge]

[When he watches her waist, she does actually stop, because there is some small part of her that doesn't really want to go. That wants him to keep her here, force her to face all this.

But his question, his uncertain look. Jo feels like she has to defend herself in some way.]

Why? [Is it obvious?] I- I just... [Her eyes fall away from him, even though she hates it when she does that.] I don't know. I just did.

[dragonspeak]

Hey...

[He uses his arm to turn her toward him.]

You know you can talk to me. You kissed me and...almost ran off before I could really say anything. [A pause, and he's suddenly blinking.] It's...not a dare, right?

[swedge]

[She goes, probably more pliant now than she's ever been while uninjured. She just let's him move her because it's easier. Jo doesn't want to look at him, though, because every time he does and she sees that confused look she thinks i made a mistake and that's one thing she can't really handle.

But at his question, she can't help but look back up at him, giving him one of those looks.] A dare? [She barks out what almost sounds like a laugh, her actions and body and instincts taking over her mind. Her self-consciousness slowly receding back where it belonged.] One, no one could dare me to do anything I didn't want to, and two-

[And there goes her body again, moving on it's own, grabbing the front of his shirt right under the collar and jerking him down again, kissing him again, and yeah the bells are going off and the what are you doing what are you doing but she's so far past that point she can't even care.]

[dragonspeak]

[It's true, Merlin knows. He can't think of many people who would be able to convince Jo to do anything when she's made up her mind, let alone force her. So all of this, it must mean Jo's doing it because she wants to.

It's that thought that gives him the courage to fit his hands over her hips and return the kiss tentatively. He doesn't know where this is going, doesn't know what he's doing, but all of a sudden, it's hard to imagine doing this with anyone but her. ]

[swedge]

[ All the intensity and need to prove herself drains out almost instantly, not so much in fear, but in acceptance. In the fact that Merlin is kissing her back and has his hands on her waist and she just.

She doesn't really know why she was so terrified. Or maybe she knows exactly why, and it's no longer a problem. When the kiss ends it's less of Jo jerking away and more of her pulling back a bit, looking up at Merlin to try and see what he's thinking, how he's feeling, now that she's no longer on the verge of bolting. ]

Get it, now?

[dragonspeak]

Probably. Maybe.

[Now that the shock's mostly wearing off, Merlin can give her a smile, the kind that makes his eyes crinkle a bit at the edges.]

But I'll have you to make sure I do if I don't, right?

[swedge]

[ his smile is contagious, and Jo finds herself smiling back. ]

Only if you're not sure.

[dragonspeak]

I guess I don't have much to worry about, then.

[He leans forward, pressing their foreheads together and just sharing the space quietly.]

With you around, I'll be fine. Even if I don't need looking after anymore.

[Much.]

[swedge]

[ She keeps eye contact with him when their foreheads touch, unable to get rid of the smile even if she wanted to. It turns into a little grin, after a moment, as she tries to raise her eyebrows and it fails (what with their foreheads pressed together and all) ]

You haven't grown up that much.

[ A pause, and then: ]

But I'll always be here, when you do need me. Okay?

[dragonspeak]

Oy, I'm taller than you are now, aren't I?

[He says it without much heat, smile brimming with amusement.]

I know. It's the same with me.

[Merlin tucks her hair back, meeting her eyes.]

Don't look now, but I think we've got an audience.

[swedge]

That doesn't mean anything and you know it.

[ but she's smiling too, and that's all that really matters. when he mentions the audience, though, her smile drops so she can look over her shoulder. catch sight of a few of the aphrodite girls giggling and running away. ]

I'm going to kill every last one of them, I swear. [ and it's an empty threat, said with a little more fondness than anything. ]

[dragonspeak]

I don't think Chiron would be too happy about that. Or Aphrodite.

[He purposely leaves out Dionysus, because even a Roman like him knows that the god of wine really could care less sometimes. Most of the time.]

So this is what they've been up to all this time?

[swedge]

Good thing I don't care what either of them think.

[ she shoots them a glare and the girls all start to rush about, head back into the forest and probably back to their cabin. their work here is done, after all. ]

Apparently. [ jo grumbles a little, realizing she's probably been set up for this the whole time. ] I can't believe them...

[dragonspeak]

Maybe not. [He gives Jo a knowing sort of smile.] At least it wasn’t something harmful. You know they were just trying to help.

[In that weird Aphrodite-y way of theirs.]