Chapter Two.

—-

Uproar. Chaos. Seven heroes yelling at each other.
Jay rubbed his temples. He knew this was going to happen. People were starting to stare at the scene unfolding and the owners of the pizza shop walked up to the table.
"Guys." Jay stood up and tried to calm his team.
"Why?" Atlanta glared at him "Why Archie and not myself, or Theresa? don't you think a girl can lead the team?"
"That's not it at all." But before he could explain, Odie interrupted

"I am way more qualified." He argued "I've read books, I know my strategies."
"Please." Jay begged "This was already a hard decision."
Archie was silent. He looked uncomfortable and dumbstruck.
"Look." Jay folded his arms, angry now. "This isn't open for debate. Ms. Hera expects better from all of us then to act like brats. It's only for a little while anyhow. You trust each other, now you need to learn to respect each other."
He stormed out of the diner. The remaining teens looked embarrassed. Herry was first to speak.
"I'm sorry guys." He lowered his eyes. "Jay knows what he's doing and Archie, you know i trust you. You'll make a great leader."
Atlanta smiled and punched Archie. Hard.
"Just don't mess up. Dork."

Archie didn't speak. He looked around at the expectant faces before him. Then he jumped up and followed Jay out the door.

The leader was halfway down the street but Archie was fast and in seconds he had caught up.
"Jay." He touched the other man's shoulder and they both stopped.
Archie took a breath.
"Why me?" He finally asked.
"Archie, do we really need to do this?" Jay frowned "I've made up my mind."
"I need to know." Archie persisted "If I am going to lead the team then i need to know why you think i'm cut out for it."

"You've tried to lead us before" Jay reasoned

"Yes," Archie looked away "And it ended badly. This is serious, this time it really counts."

"It is serious. But Archie, you're strong, you're fast. When it really matters, you're level headed. You always step forward, never looking back or running back. I think you have what it takes and I think the others just need a chance to see it."
Archie smiled at his friend. To have their leader trust and respect him enough to entrust him with the fate of all of them was huge. Archie was terrified but if Jay thought he was up to it then he had to be.
"Jay." Archie started. "This feeling, this responsibility for everyone. This is what you feel?"
"Every day." Jay nodded sadly. "It's a lot of pressure Archie. Sometimes I don't think I can do it."
Archie nodded, suddenly understanding their leader better than he ever had.
Neil, Odie, Herry, Atlanta and Theresa had filed out of the diner and Archie could see them down the street, lit up by a flickering streetlamp. Archie smiled at them, the only friends he'd ever had. He'd do whatever he could to protect them.

"I can't believe Jay chose you and not me." Atlanta cursed again. She was pacing back and forth in her room and Archie, sitting on the bed, glowered at her. She hadn't accepted it. He knew she hadn't. She had put on a show of support in front of everyone but as soon as they got back to the brownstone she had exploded.
"I mean," Atlanta was oblivious to him "I'm a girl, already that makes me more qualified to lead. I'm rational, fast, fearless."
She had burst into Archie's room as soon as he had shut the door and had started her ranting. He understood where she was coming from, she wanted a chance to prove herself, to not be seen as young and immature but finally he'd had enough.
"Once, just once can it be about me?" He snapped and stormed out.

Jay and Theresa stood in Persephone's Solarium. The room was brightly lit and filled with everything that could remind you of springtime. The smell of flowers willed the room yet there was still an uneasiness in the air. Jay fiddled with the strap on his backpack, mentally checking the plan. Again.
"I don't sense any danger." Theresa had been using her senses, checking and double checking that Jay would be safe. He smiled at her and reassured her for the tenth time that he would be ok. He appreciated that she was here with him now, listening as he checked off his lists and plans, sitting quietly as he paced nervously. He told her he would be fine but inside he was terrified.
"I just wish we knew how long you will be gone for." His best friend confessed, her eyes lowered.
"I know." Jay took her hand and squeezed it lightly "I guess it all depends on if Homer wants to teach me. And what he wants to teach me."
"You're so lucky. Meeting Homer is an amazing opportunity. As scared as I am, I know you can't pass up this chance, you are going to learn so much."
"Homer was one of the greatest minds to ever live." Jay resumed his pacing. "What if he doesn't think i'm worthy to learn from him?"
"Don't be ridiculous. You're our leader. You are smart, strong, brave, why wouldn't he want to teach you?"
Jay wished for the thousandth time that day that she was coming with him. He studied her face, wanting to bring it to mind if he ran into trouble, to imagine what she would say. Her face was stony and he knew that she had had as little sleep as he.
"What would I do without you?" He spoke softly.
She smiled at last and kissed him on the cheek, pulling away as the rest of the team and gods filed in to wish Jay a safe trip.
Persephone moved towards the wall and waved her hand. Immediately, the frozen forms of the seasons sprang to life and moved to the side.
"Best of luck, Jay." Hera nudged him forward.
Jay made eye contact with Archie in the crowd and the other boy gave him a stiff nod. Jay relaxed a touch. His team would be safe with his choice of leader.
"Come on, Cutie," Summer and the other seasons giggled "We haven't got all day."
He looked back at them one more time, giving a reassuring wave as the doors to the underworld closed behind him.

Taking a shaky breath, he suddenly realised how alone he was. The Underworld was not somewhere that he wanted to be with no one to call for help. Persephone and Hera, however, had insisted that it was perfectly safe but judging by his previous trips into the darkness, Jay wasn't so sure.
"The Souls of Asphodel are quite harmless and peaceful." He had been reassured on a regular basis "Many loyal heroes exist in the Elysian fields. Just Punishment and Tartarus."
That much was obvious. Jay was level headed and sensible. He knew better than to stray from the path. He was worried more about his team than his own well being however. He knew that they could take care of themselves but still his sense of responsibility for them made his chest hurt. They'd never been split up like this before. Everything they did was as a team. Would they still see him as a leader if he was gone too long?
He started to walk. His eyes had adjusted to the gloom of the passageway enough that he could see the rocky walls glistening with moisture. Patches of moss and vines let off a comforting smell and he took in Persephone's influence. He made no sound on the dirt floor, only his breathing echoed.

"Everything will be fine." He said to himself.
"Fine" The echo bounced off the walls and though it felt like someone was reassuring him, Jay felt completely alone.