Henry's lost. Not "took a wrong turn in an Aztec tomb" lost. Not "wander around the jungle until someone finds you" lost. He's pretty sure he knows exactly where he is, physically, and Uncle Bryan gave him a handy map of the school, just in case, but Henry's lost in a mental sense. He can't focus with hundreds of voices speaking a strange language of letters and abbreviations all around him, and he feels a cavity inside of his chest where his parents and Dante and his freedom used to be. Henry feels like he might float away, above the sea of students and just keep going, until he burns up in the whatever-sphere.

But then there's Jasper at his side, gripping his arm to lead him through the crowds and conspiratorially whispering gossip about every classmate they pass in his ear. Keeping him grounded.

a/n: this was gonna be a plotty and slashy story regarding jasper's comment about not liking looking at himself naked from thor's slammer, but it turned into this. so, uh, review and let me know what you think?