If I were to tell you all my creativity went into this particular one-shot, would you believe me?
1. Consequence of action.
The first is a dove, and Leo thinks maybe this is his step-mom's way of extending an olive branch, of letting him prove that he's not beyond saving; their name is Ollie, they have an accent he doesn't recognize, their skin looks as though it's been washed out, and they impossibly pinkish-red eyes. Albinism, Leo learns with them, looks very different on what's supposed to be black skin and features.
Out of all, Ollie is the one he spends the most time with, considering his first idea was getting as far from Camp as possible before sleep knocked him out; and they didn't make it any easy to journey back. But he'd adored them regardless, for the time the two spent together; a week later he lost all contact with both camps, and thus fully took on the title of rogue.
{-}
The second is a sapling, green life sprouting beneath his small feet as he walked by him, his godly mother kind enough not to threaten Leo, but rather strike a deal with him; one of many he'd have to handle through his new life. The boy's name was Michael, he had a calm sort of attitude, a quiet disposition, and plants swaying to his will.
His relationship with Michael is a little awkward, a lot stunted due to their differences, but he adores him too while it lasts; three days after he leaves Michael close to camp, Leo stumbles into a cornfield and manages to get himself a few cobs.
{+}
Leo doesn't like talking about the third and fourth, a symphony of two, because twins generate twins, and genetics can easily trump even the otherworldly; it's why he looks so much like his great grandfather, he supposes. They both seem to glimmer under the sunlight, undisturbed as Leo made sure to get them away from prying eyes so he can give them a proper sendoff; drachmas settled gently in their eyes, a makeshift pyre.
For the first time since he 'revived' he thinks about obsidian encased in terribly sad eyes, about eerily fair skin turned blue under them, barely pinkish lips pulled into something weaker than a snarl. He makes a quick player for safe passing of souls, voice even as he pushes the memory away; he never gets to learn their names.
{-}
The ten after that are untouchable, in the sense that Leo can't get involved even if he wants, with each one added he fades from the 'gods' to 'deities', to using symbols and signs and synonyms, never names, not if he wants to stay alive. He forges deals, and alliances, and connections he dares not take lightly; learns how to properly pronounce words he'll never say.
He grows cautious, but he also grows in other ways, sharpening his senses, learning from the enemy and adapting it to himself. And he learns to use his fire again, step by step.
{+}
He likes thinking about Brie even less than he does the twins, because he actually got her half-way to safety; and she was his sister. To say her death devastates him is putting it lightly, to say he abandoned all sense of mercy during her last moments would be a lot more accurate; he thinks that day will haunt him forever, no matter what.
Sending her off is hard, but not doing it would've been worse, he wants her to pass on properly, not waiting in line for the ferry, or getting trapped in the river of lament; he knows better than to wish for a specific judgement of her soul though. He makes two prayers before lighting the pyre, one quick to his father apologizing, the other one longer, methodical; the one to accompany a funeral.
{-}
Next comes the little thief, Kim, nearly too quick on her feet for Leo to really follow; he's spent enough time on the street that she doesn't immediately run off after the explanation, though saving her from a very angry drakon probably helped too. She's a good change of pace he thinks, however much Leo suffers her; and he does, because Kim seems set on driving him fully insane.
Leo adores her, because of course he does, he always does.
{+}
After Kim comes DJ, who Leo doesn't think was ever actually awake through their very short adventure together. And it is really an adventure, because Leo never had such vivid dreams outside of the prophetic ones he's still saddled to; nightmares he can't get rid of or deal with.
He reminds Leo that laughter is something that exists outside of keeping a front; that their days are counted anyways so why not enjoy every opportunity for joy and amusement.
{-}
After DJ comes Asher, and he's different from the twins, and yet oh so terribly similar; he's a bit of a flip script, but only because Leo had been testing his humanity. He hadn't been planning to die, which is something he has to explain very carefully to Asher, just see if his blood was still red.
He's technically not Leo's business, but he's close enough to it that Leo helps him regardless; besides he owed the boy for the medical treatment. He'd never planned on visiting the Wolf House again, but if Lupa recognizes him, she does nothing about it.
{+}
Then come Josh and Crystal, who just so happened to be in the same area as the next power hungry monster; fully unrelated to each other, magic and victory respectively. Leo had actually dreamt about them before their actual meeting, and they'd dreamt about him; so convincing them of trusting him was a little easier than usual.
They a little older than he's used, nearing the 13 year-mark; and it's a wonder that he got them out of the situation alive and only slightly afraid; but he only gets two days with them. That doesn't stop him from becoming fond, it never does, and he curses at this particular trait of his; it's why he's in this position in the first place, because his heart gets the better of him.
{-}
Twenty half-bloods, twenty lives; 17 cases of doubt and hope and something else, something Leo is afraid to name; something powerful and old, as is always the case. He doesn't pay attention to the time, to the brushes with death, to a hundred and one things he pushes away in order to survive.
He learns to become detached, just enough that the end isn't quite as terrifying as it used to; just a simple fact of life, a statistic he beat out of sheer luck and with more than a little divine intervention.
And then there's Brooklyn, and the world of Nephilim and downworlders, and his deal with Magnus, and sharing living space with Simon, and finding Nash, and Nico finding him. Brooklyn leaves a print on him like no other city, the most certain thing he's had in actual years; and as it fades in the distance Leo acknowledges that he'll miss it.
It's perhaps the most human he's ever felt, rushing through the air in Festus' back, Nico a cold but sure pressure against him. It feels very much like the start of something, like the start of everything.