Chapter Text
It’s a normal morning in Camp Half-Blood. The Ares cabin is off sparring, the Demeter cabin campers are off to the fields to help some of the satyrs harvest crops. Jimin is hanging out by the flowers, waiting for the news for the new camper. Taehyung, his best friend, is supposed to be the new camper’s guide around the camp. Usually, the one who recruits is the one who also shows them around camp but lately, a lot of campers have been popping up.
And with the number of campers already at the camp, both here and Camp Jupiter, it’s not that tough to have other campers help out. While Jimin waits, he is writing a letter to one of his other best friends, Min Yoonji. She’s a Hunter, travelling around the world with Artemis. It’s a really cool thing, he thinks. Min Yoonji is a badass and she deserved to be with the hunters. She could leave that lifestyle whenever she wanted too. She didn’t have to be a Vestal virgin for the rest of her life and Jimin thinks that flexibility makes for more recruitment.
She also visits the camp at times to meet her twin brother and her friends (basically Jimin and Taehyung) while also delivering messages to Mr D. So he’s writing this letter because he knows that it will be a few months before she visits again. He can just hand it over to Mr D. He isn’t sure how they communicate through letters but he gets replies from Yoonji too even if it is very sparse. But it’s enough to keep Jimin looking forward to her letters and any news of her visits.
He’s close enough to the office to see the new camper walk in with one of their recruiters, he thinks his name was… Lucy? Lucas, probably. He waits for a while, he knows it takes a bit for the camper to listen to all the instructions Mr D gives him. He will probably be situated in the guest cabin for now. The new campers aren’t put into Hermes’ cabin anymore. The gods claim their children pretty quickly nowadays too. It’s a relief.
When the new camper comes out with Mr D who looks around the vicinity, definitely looking for Taehyung, Jimin gets off his seat and runs forward, leaving his writing utensils behind.
“Mr D! I can take it over from here if you don’t mind,” he says, flashing a warm smile to the new camper.
“Ah, where is Taehyung? I thought he was supposed to show the new camper around?” Mr D asks Jimin. Before his face can harden to one of disapproval, Jimin quickly interjects.
“He was here, but you know how bored he can get. I think he’s hanging out in Cabin 7, I’ll take the camper to him if that’s okay with you?” Jimin says, making sure to sound extra sweet, on the verge of Charmspeak. Mr D sighs and nods.
“This is Jeongguk. Jeongguk, meet Jimin, he’s a child of Aphrodite and easily knows more than 80% of the people here. He’s been here for 3 years now so he can show you around too,” Mr D introduces Jimin to Jeongguk.
“Hi, Jeongguk, nice to meet you! I’ll take you to your buddy, so don’t worry. And if he’s ever missing, I will always be there to help you out,” Jimin introduces himself.
“Ah, by the way, Jeongguk’s claim has been done. He’s a child of Hephaestus and therefore will bunk at cabin 8,” Mr D whispers to Jimin once Jeongguk is pulled into a conversation by Chiron.
Jimin nods.
Mr D pats his head and nods towards Jeongguk. Jimin bows slightly before turning to Jeongguk.
“Let’s go?” he asks the new camper who nods and follows Jimin down the steps.
“For now you’ll be shown around the camp by Taehyung and that should take long enough for you to be busy till dinner,” Jimin explains, leading Jeongguk down the path.
He points the different cabins out to him, telling him where to find him and where to find Taehyung. He also points out cabin 9 to him where he was going to bunk. Taehyung and Jimin’s cabins are side by side so it’d be easier for Jeongguk to find either of them if the other isn’t available. Jimin doesn’t tell him that usually, they disappear together. Jeongguk can find that out himself. Jimin’s cabin is right next to Jeongguk’s cabin so that is easy for Jeongguk too.
Jimin leads them all the way to cabin 7, where he knew he would find Taehyung. It also helps that they’re head counsellors so they could come and go as they please. The cabin leader of cabin 7, Yoongi, a child of Apollo and also Yoonji’s twin brother is one of Jimin and Taehyung's closest friends. It’s why despite having so many friends, Taehyung often goes to that cabin or the medical cabin to hang out with him. He’s put up with Taehyung for a long time, they belong to the same city too.
Jimin turns to Jeongguk when they’re in front of the steps.
“Would you like to wait here for me to bring back Taehyung or would you like to meet the head counsellor of the Apollo cabin?” Jimin asks as they look towards the cabin which seems silent and empty from outside. When Jeongguk hesitates, Jimin puts his hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, he’s nice,” Jimin says, squeezing his shoulder in assurance. Jeongguk mulls it over for a few more seconds before nodding. Jimin grins at him before leading him up the stairs. He raps on the door twice, loudly. Without waiting for a response, he swings the door open.
As Jimin would have guessed, Taehyung and Yoongi are in the middle of the floor, tinkering with instruments. He clears his throat, making both their eyes turn to him. They both dissolve into their endearing wide smiles and soft eyes when they see him at the door. Yoongi beckons both of them in, moving to make space for them on the carpet.
“Taehyung, this is the new camper you signed up to be the buddy for,” Jimin says, patting Jeongguk’s shoulder. Taehyung scrambles up at that, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly as he walks closer to them.
“I’m sorry, I get really bored really easily. Jimin is a good first camper to meet though! Don’t worry, you’ll only be in good hands here,” Taehyung says, stopping in front of them.
“I’m Kim Taehyung, head counsellor of the Hermes cabin. I’m glad to meet you,” he continues, extending a hand for Jeongguk to shake.
“I’m Jeongguk, child of Hephaestus,” he introduces himself quietly.
“Hi Jeongguk, welcome to Camp Half-Blood. Don’t hesitate to tell us if you need anything or want to share anything or just want someone to annoy yeah? We’re family here. I’m Min Yoongi, head counsellor of the Apollo cabin. If you manage to get hurt, you can always come to find me,” Yoongi introduces himself, slinging an arm around Taehyung once he reaches them.
“He’s one of the most chill people you’ll ever meet so you don’t gotta worry about formalities with this guy,” Jimin says, gesturing to Yoongi.
“But now that you guys have met, I will take my leave. I have done my part. Yoongi-hyung can we play games?” Jimin quickly changes the subject, skipping his way to stand next to Yoongi, pulling at his sleeve.
“Absolutely not! I don’t trust Taehyung with Jeongguk. Who knows what he’ll tell the kid. We’ll go with them. We’ll go around camp together and come back by dinner time,” Yoongi decides with a finality in his voice that the rest of them know better than to challenge.
The boys walk around the campgrounds, Yoongi and Jimin keeping an eye on Taehyung as he and Jeongguk chat, the newcomer warming up to Taehyung easily (everyone does, that’s why he’s always signing up to be a buddy). It takes them a couple of hours but they explain all the ends of the camp, a little more about being a demigod, what the different gods are for (Jimin lets his nerd out as he recollects myths about the gods and their creation, their relationships, etc).
Jimin asks Jeongguk questions and tells him how they could be because of his godly parentage. He explains what about himself was because of his parentage, what traits of Yoongi and Taehyung came from their godly fathers. Jeongguk listens with such rapt attention that Jimin ruffles his hair affectionately.
“I guess we’re kinda step-brothers,” Jimin says, laughing. Jeongguk scrunches his nose while Yoongi straight-up gags at his words.
Jimin laughs even harder at their reactions, falling against Taehyung who easily holds him up, used to him losing control of his body whenever he laughs too hard.
By the time they get back to the camp bonfire, someone has already put away Jimin’s writing utensils (Jimin thinks it was definitely one of the Athena kids). They four find an empty table to sit at. Jimin keeps an eye out for the head counsellor of the Hephaestus cabin, Ahn Hyojin. She is usually early but for some reason, she’s not yet there. They wait, Taehyung and Yoongi keep Jeongguk swept up in conversation while Jimin keeps an eye out for Hyojin.
Once he spots her, he slips out of his seat to go greet her and bring her to their table.
“Guys! Attention here please,” Jimin claps his hands once he gets back. Once everyone’s eyes turn to him, he turns to Hyojin.
“Hyojin-ah, our Jeonggukie is in your cabin, he’s been claimed already,” Yoongi says, not aware that Jeongguk is sporting a hammer above his head right then but once he sees Hyojin’s eyes travel over him to Jeongguk and fixate over his head, he turns to look. And yes, there it is!
“Ah, there we go. Anyways, Hyojin, we’re gonna leave Jeongguk in your care,” Yoongi smiles at her who returns it with a respectful nod.
“But that said, we’re gonna steal him after sunrise every day unless you have cabin specific activities,” Taehyung jumps in before anyone else gets a word in.
“Yeah, I was gonna say that too, I’m right next door so I’ll come bright and early,” Jimin says, smiling at Jeongguk who sends him a warm smile back.
“Then, I’ll be in your care, Hyojin noona,” Jeongguk says, nodding at her. She smiles sweetly and walks around the table to ruffle his hair.
“It’s great to have you onboard, Jeongguk. I look forward to getting to know you,” she says.
“But I suppose you’re all having dinner together. Have fun, don’t go overboard. See you,” she directs the farewell to Jeongguk who nods, relieved knowing his cabin’s head counsellor was such a homely person.
“She’s not usually this warm, I suppose you’re a charmer,” Jeongguk hears Yoongi say which makes him turn to him. Yoongi’s not looking at him but there’s a smile tugging at his face. The image makes Jeongguk’s insides warm pleasantly and he looks ahead to make eye contact with Taehyung instead.
Taehyung has the audacity to wink at him which warms his cheeks further. Jimin smiles, his parentage giving him an idea of what’s really unfolding. Jeongguk averts his eyes from all of them, looking down at his hands. It’s not till Yoongi leads them to get food and finally to the bonfire when he finally looks at Yoongi again.
He’s mesmerised by the fire reflecting off Yoongi’s pale skin, giving it a golden glow. He also offers some of his food to the gods, praying for good fortune, even if he’s never prayed before. Somehow it’s easier when he thinks of them as a large family he doesn’t quite know yet.
His first day ends with a satiated appetite, a few good friends, a great head counsellor/cabin-mate and a great mentor. He’s pretty satisfied with where he’s at. He can already tell that he’s going to enjoy staying at Camp Half-Blood.