Doyoung was ten and completely out of place with his oversized white sweater that clashed with the hundreds of people wearing a blinding shade of orange when he came to Camp Half-Blood. Running away from home was only a good idea but he never knew how he actually survived travelling from Minnesota to New York with such a tight budget on his money, with little guidance from his mother Athena, and a trail of monsters that won’t leave him alone for ten minutes.

He was panting and had ran after a close encounter with a Minotaur who he was prepared to fight with his close-to-ruins bunny slippers (A weird weapon choice, his mother would think if she was watching him,) nearly spraining his ankle in the process but he was okay. At least, he thought he was.

“Are you okay?” A boy younger looking than the other people and possibly Doyoung himself asked, wearing the same ugly shade of orange the other people were wearing. A big basket of strawberries was being held by his small arms and Doyoung worried his small arms would be ripped off by weight.

The boy was beautiful, despite a canine teeth still in the process of growing. He had brown hair that Doyoung figured would be soft if he touched it, wide brown eyes that matched his hair, and full lips that parted wide in shock when he saw Doyoung step in. His overall features were far too impossible for Doyoung to explain.

Doyoung squinted, to test if he was actually alive after all he’s been through. Travelling from Minnesota to New York, eating only bananas he stole from home and some neat ambrosia his mother gave him, more than fifteen different monsters attempting to murder him, and talking to a pretty boy.

And all of it done with a tight budget.

“Huh.” Doyoung found himself mumbling before passing out after a good ten seconds.

-

Doyoung was fourteen and was sparring with Jaehyun, the same boy who first greeted him when stepped in Camp Half-Blood.

“I’m thinking of an undercut.” Jaehyun, with his newly dyed jet black hair, was saying as he swiftly avoided a kick from Doyoung and returning a jab that Doyoung dodged. He had a huge grin that shaped his eyes into crescents, something that Doyoung would gladly punch off his face. “You think it would suit me?”

Doyoung thought it would suit Jaehyun’s current hair, but they were in the middle of combat and a conversation like this during a fight was absolutely absurd and ridiculous. “First of all,” Doyoung managed to say within gritted teeth as he countered Jaehyun’s kick with one of his own. “This is an idiotic way to converse with someone in combat.”

“Second of all,” he continued, finally getting a hit on Jaehyun, causing the son of Aphrodite to stumble back shortly before continuing  sparring with Doyoung. “Do you converse with people like this all the time or do you save your inane ideas for me?”

This wasn’t the first time they had such a preposterous conversation. When Doyoung was twelve and Jaehyun was eleven, they both found themselves face to face during a game of Capture the Flag. While their swords clashed against each other, Jaehyun kept a cheeky conversation about how he should’ve bought the ‘moss green shirt’ instead of the ‘blue dress shirt’ during the last season which made Doyoung grew irritated but still nonetheless, he kept his composure and tried not to cry out of frustration because he couldn’t just shut up about how much he would’ve looked good in that ‘moss green shirt’.

(In the end, Doyoung still managed to win the fight and he had ran for his life to capture the flag along with his other teammates afterwards.)

Jaehyun hummed, giving Doyoung a jab that he couldn’t avoid. It was a strike to his shoulder and ego. “I don’t really know.” He said, shrugging. “It depends on the person.”

“You’re dumb.” Was all Doyoung commented as he attempted to strike Jaehyun, only to get it eluded and countered with a lunge that Doyoung also managed to avoid.

Jaehyun raised an eyebrow, and Doyoung felt himself get charmed by that movement. He concluded it was because of the amokineses every Aphrodite child possessed. (Totally not because he thought Jaehyun was cute and nice and a huge dork and just overall adorable.)

“Whatever.” Doyoung said, and getting erpunched by Jaehyun. First of all, ouch. Second of all, did he really just lose to Jung Jaehyun out of all people? He had expected his first loss to be from Donghyuck, the evil and tiny kid from the Apollo cabin, but it turned out it was Jung Jaehyun, out of all people. Jung Jaehyun from the Aphrodite cabin.

Impressive.

Concern was present in Jaehyun’s eyes and he offered out a hand to Doyoung. Normal Doyoung would decline and keep his ego, but this Doyoung found himself reaching out for Jaehyun’s hand instead and Jaehyun's hands were soft and clammy (he probably likes to get rid of callouses every week) and Doyoung almost didn’t want to let go.

There was a ticklish sensation in Doyoung’s stomach and it was lame and stupid and something completely new.

“Good combat, Jung.” Doyoung muttered to the other before he could open his mouth and talk to Doyoung.

Doyoung started his pace fast and he ignored the fluttering feeling in his stomach.

-

Doyoung was sixteen and he felt his entire heart crumble into pieces as he watched Jaehyun and Taeyong hold hands near the camp lake, bright smiles on their faces.

He had been harbouring a silly crush on Jaehyun ever since the last two summers and it was stupid really. Useless and probably won’t get him anywhere in life but the fates hate him and they bring him such misfortune by falling in love with Jaehyun. Absolutely foolish.

It sort of felt right to Doyoung though. Taeyong was beautiful, kind, perfect, and pretty much everything that Doyoung’s not. Always completing a quest without a speck of dust on his face afterward (while Doyoung would come back as a complete mess,) always graceful when eating or sleeping even (while Doyoung would completely stuff his face and drool whenever he slept,) always following the rules (while Doyoung would snort at the reminder and do whatever he wanted.)

A perfect match for Jaehyun, truly. Jaehyun, who was nice and didn’t deserve Doyung’s harsh treatment. Jaehyun, who was also perfect and didn’t deserve Doyoung. End scene.

Ten from the Nemesis cabin was the only who knew, catching up on Doyoung’s actions as quick Zeus’s thunderbolts and asked Doyoung about it, to which Doyoung exploded all of his strange feelings right in front of him.

Doyoung must’ve been staring too much because Ten narrowed his eyes, followed his view, and made a weird sound.

Ten’s worried eyes started to analyse Doyoung and he asked in a soft voice. “Are you okay?” It was light and it was unlike Ten to be so gentle so Doyoung nodded and decided to busy himself with the book he had been previously reading.

Eponine was just mourning at the heartbreak Marius gave her and Doyoung would’ve thought she was being pathetic but at his current situation, he couldn’t help but feel her grief and sadness.

(That night, Doyoung chooses to busy himself inside his cabin's library, reading random science books to distract himself at 3 a.m.)

-

Doyoung was seventeen and heartbroken, a bit lonely as he watched Youngho and Ten chase each other around the training grounds, weakly walking behind them. Yuta was with them this time, by Doyoung’s side and chatting about his boyfriend from the Hecate cabin, Sicheng.

Doyoung listened but never said anything, still sensible about what happened last summer. He had diverted all of his attention to school work after that but since summer had finally came to him, his world full of Jung Jaehyun has returned again, and with a sickening heartache too.

“You’d think he was a child of Hermes.” Yuta snorted, watching as Johnny tripped over a sword.

“I don’t know.” Doyoung shrugged. “He doesn’t need alcohol to be a son of Dionysus since he seems wasted enough by drinking water.”

“Loser.” Yuta said before turning his head and perking up, the corner of his lips curling up into a grin. He glanced over at Doyoung apologetically. “Sicheng’s over there so I gotta run.” He explained, and at Doyoung’s nod, he started to run. “See you later, Dons.”

On the way to his boyfriend’s spot, Yuta punched a random camper in the way. Doyoung proposed to himself that it maybe because he was another regular son of Ares or he was just being Yuta. (Or a combination of both.)

Doyoung didn’t exactly knew where he was going since he lost sight of Ten and Youngho so it was natural that he bumped into someone, and he immediately glared at the person who caused pain on his chest and pride.

Yikes.

“I’m so sorry.” Jung Jaehyun, in the flesh, was chanting to Doyoung. Doyoung felt like his heart was going to break in pieces. “I didn’t look at where I was going---,”

“It’s okay.” Doyung interrupted, just really wanting to end the conversation because one, he didn’t want to have another moment with Jung Jaehyun and two, he was completely baffled at how stupid love is and his overall feelings for one person was.

“But I’m really sorry,” Jaehyun insisted, as if Doyoung wasn’t going to accept it any further. “Like I’m really sorry, really sorry.”

Doyoung sighed. This was dumb. Jaehyun was dumb. He was dumb. Feelings overall were completely dumb. “I said it’s okay.” He hissed, wanting to play the mean card just so Jaehyun can get out of his sight and life forever. “Just let me find my friends and we can---,”

“Let me go with you.” Jaehyun piped up, and Doyoung couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Jaehyun grinned at him. “I’ll help you find them!”

“Alright.” Doyoung found himself agreeing despite every fibre of his body telling him to say no. “Let’s start east.”

They started east, having deep conversations while they walked, and found Ten and Youngho lying on top of each other at west. Disgusting. Doyoung’s thoughts were saying exactly that. They didn’t notice Doyoung and Jaehyun staring at them blankly because they were  each other’s faces off. Not really surprising for Doyoung but as he looked towards Jaehyun, the younger boy had his mouth gaping wide.

“It’s normal. They’re one of the most shameless people in the world.” Doyoung explained, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. “Also, uh,” Doyoung was usually awkward but not to the point where it was straight out of a cliché romance movie. “Thanks for your help.”

“No problem!” Jaehyun smiled at him, dimples showing and sending Doyoung unnecessary tickling in his stomach.

At the corner of his eyes, Doyoung could see Taeyong, his previously dyed pink hair changed into a blinding red. He was staring at Jaehyun, as if he was waiting and--- Oh. Right, they were dating.

“I can see Taeyong’s waiting for you,” Doyoung said with an awkward laugh, he was breathless but he didn’t know why. Jaehyun raised his perfect eyebrow at Doyoung. “You should go… You don’t want to leave your boyfriend waiting.”

Jaehyun’s perfect eyebrows could’ve literally flew off his face. “My boyfriend?” Jaehyun snickered and Doyoung was overall confused. “He’s just a friend... I can see why you would make that mistake though.” Jaehyun hummed knowingly, a smile on his face, probably knowing how much they hold hands. “He just likes affection a lot because he’s often lonely in the Hades cabin so I give him all the attention he wants since it’s a bit sad watching him sulk.”

“Anyone could make that mistake.” Doyoung pointed out honestly, feeling his face flush and some relief washing over him. He had been sulking for a year because of a simple misinterpretation. He was stupid. “Anyways, It was a misunderstanding. I have to admit it was my fault for making that error and I have to apologize.”

“That’s cool.” Jaehyun reassured cooly. “But now that it’s cleared up, we can move on and forget about it.”

“I still think about the time I choked someone in second grade because they wouldn’t give me their grapefruit.” Doyoung blurted out and Jaehyun laughed, all cute and fruity and sending weird sensations to Doyoung's stomach. “But I guess this could only haunt my thoughts for a few days.”

Jaehyun grinned, something pleasant and familiar. “Alright then,” he said, touching Doyoung’s arm lightly and it sends sparks in Doyoung’s body. “I’ll see you around.”

(Doyoung was more than relieved and he felt as if his heart was soaring.)

-

Doyoung was eighteen and finally confessed.

They were fighting a monster, a Minotaur, to be exact. Doyoung with his spear and Jaehyun with his sword (and Doyoung could make out the imperial gold dagger in his pocket that Donghyuck got him for Christmas after stealing it during a Camp Jupiter visit.) They were quite a conversation after Doyoung blurted out his feelings all because Jaehyun decided to do a pirouette when he was stabbed the Minotaur from the back. (The Mintaur was barely hurt but that’s alright.)

“Are you insane?” Doyoung was screeching as he barely escaped the Minotaur’s fist. He was barely thinking too. “I don’t even know why I like you!”

Jaehyun nearly slips, his mouth gaping wide open. “You like me?” He repeated, swiftly dodging the Minotaur’s foot that aimed to squash him. “I thought you hated me!”

“Exactly why I don’t know why I like you, you big dork!” Doyoung screamed, stabbing the tip of his spear onto the Minotaur’s foot. The Minotaur roared in pain and Doyoung felt lighter, they were finally getting somewhere.

Jaehyun punctured his sword into the Minotaur’s chest with a hard jump and he grinned when he saw Doyoung plunged his spear hard into the Minotaur's chest. “I like you too!” He hollered. “Since when did you like me?”

“Since we sparred two years ago!” Doyoung shrieked, finally relieved that the Minotaur was dead after fifteen more hits. He wanted to know more. About Jaehyun. About what would become of him and Jaehyun. Doyoung was panting, trying to catch his breath but he couldn’t wait. “And you?”

“Ever since I saw you with your ridiculously large hoodie during strawberry picking eight years ago.” Jaehyun confessed shyly, also a bit out of breath but Doyoung knew that didn’t matter to him. “Since I first saw you and you fainted right in front of my eyes.”

Doyoung laughed, suddenly getting bashful. Very unlike him and it was strange. “Should we hook up like people would do after a mutual and romantic confession?”

Jaehyun grinned, his eyes shaping into crescents as he took Doyoung’s hand in his. Doyoung didn't complain so Jaehyun's grin stretched further. “I think we should.”

-

Doyoung was ten, a bit out of place with his white hoodie against the majority of orange but he supposed it was worth it, fainting in front of a pretty boy who would turn out to be the only person he would ever (romantically) love.