Too similar to not be repelled, too similar to not be harmonious.
V. Fires dancing 3
Two years.
Akira gets an entire two years of undivided Leo attention, which includes some long-winded but very informative lessons on Greek Mythology, because ignorance is only bliss when your life isn't in constant danger. He even gets to learn how to work his way around machines, and how to cook, and about the dangers of humans, or mortals, as Leo calls them; all of which will come in handy when Leo eventually has to leave.
It's not all that surprising, really, because Leo's told Akira as much about his job as he feasibly could; which isn't much, all things considered, but after two years of surviving in the world of demis, Akira understands.
They've been through a lot, not just in terms of things attacking them, but also because Leo wants Akira to get an education, so they've had to deal with 'mortals' a lot more; Akira still doesn't know how Leo got him inscribed into the local public school, and he's afraid to ask. It's not so ridiculous, as sometimes Leo is down-right terrifying, but given his general treatment of Akira, it's a little bit silly.
The thing about getting Akira into a school is that he now has a new name, one that they picked by going into a gift-shop, and spinning one of those displays with keychains full of common names, and Leo snatching something while it spun. Thus he is now known in school as Keith, which Leo insisted was a good thing, because it meant he'd get used to the name easier if he was constantly being called by it.
And Akira had to get used to the name, it was important that he did; he somehow managed to ask Leo about it, half-expecting some normal reason, because they weren't technically supposed to be living by themselves as a pair of underage kids. Leo gave him a sharp look.
"Names have power"
He used the exact same tone he did when he shared about his own experience in the system, the same tone he used when explaining how to run properly; something urgent, and scarred, and painfully truthful. And he long since proven to be trust worthy, so Akira simply nodded solemnly and promised to keep his name safe.
Which means, he still refers to himself as Akira in thought, despite growing comfortable with being called Keith, because if he takes too much liking to it, Keith will become his name too, and it'd would all have been moot.
"Does that mean your name isn't Leo?"
Leo laughs at that, a chirping little sound that spreads over Akira like warmth, and transforms Leo from mysterious entity into barely-teenage boy.
"Leo's my given name, but my ladies have named me Κοράκι"
Akira's also been learning Ancient Greek, after pleading with Leo for the first week, with help from both the demigod, and every book on the language the public library possessed. They didn't have the kind of money to get Akira a teacher on a dead language; but thankfully, Leo said he'd have a solution to the issue by the time he came back from this job.
"Should be a quick run, really, I'm not actually supposed to partake in the current power struggle"
Akira frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Leo smiled softly, reaching out to ruffle his head; they've both been getting re-acquainted with physical contact, if only so they'd both stop jumping every time someone so much as bumped into them.
"Sometimes you gotta play background character to someone else's hero story chico"
Akira huffs.
"You know, if you're gonna keep calling me that I'd like to know what it means"
Leo laughs again, and again Akira feels warm all over.
"It means boy in Spanish"
Akira blinks.
"How many languages do you speak?"
Leo rolls his eyes, but he's clearly still amused.
"Just the three"
A sharp caw cuts the moment in half, and Leo nods like he's been talked to, before he gives Akira a tenser smile.
"Keep yourself safe Akira"
And before he can process the fact that this is only the second time Leo's used his name, the asshole stretches his arm for Code to land on and disappears into the shadows. And Akira is alone once more.
{+}
Sinking down to the Underworld is like coming home after a day working under direct sunlight on the most humid of summers, and finding your home to be cool and the sofa more comfortable than ever; and after two years living in the desert, Leo knows what he's talking about. Technically, cold is not good for Leo, ever burning flame that he is, but the Underworld's cold is different from the freezing one Leo's been told to be wary of; which makes sense given it's not a place meant for discomfort, not the castle, and not anything other than the punishment fields.
Most pointedly, sinking into the Underworld feels like coming home, because to Leo it is exactly that, even as he calls the shack in the desert by that name as way to maintain its blessing; this is Leo's home.
Code has him appearing in the throne room, as she did the last two times Leo's been called to fulfill his duty; bowing his head as the walls shape fully around him, and listening two voices discussing in a language he sometimes understands, one belonging to the Underworld's king. It takes him a few minutes to realize neither of the entities has realized he's there, which would be okay, if Leo could talk himself into lifting his head; Code, in tune with Leo in the most instinctual of ways, decides she's had enough of his indecision and crows very loudly, making the discussion stop.
"Koráki"
Leo lowers his head a little more.
"My lord"
Hades, kinder than any mythos will have him appear, uses his powers in such a way that Leo knows when to lift his head without words; so he does, and for a moment sees double. And then his heart trembles as eyes search futilely for what he normally so easily sees, fingers itching for his triangle necklace; his body has a mind of its own, dropping down on one knee in front of this soul he can't read, but one he knows.
A contradiction that brings him a memory, lifelines floating around a room, particularly a pair, and of that pair, the one that wasn't his.
Purple dark but glowing, dancing around copper, closer and closer but never colliding. And Leo feels irrefutably mortal, as he looks up at the boy he's been waiting to meet since he fell that first time; and his soul sighs 'finally'.
"My prince"
Is all he can do not to weep in relief, shaken to his bone marrow; the demigod looks conflicted, two parts flustered and one part elated.
"Hi?"
He's younger than he'd been expecting, possibly younger than Akira, and most definitely younger than Leo himself. He's also the single most beautiful boy Leo's ever laid eyes on, which is a rollercoaster of its own, one Leo pushes aside for later, because Hades is leveling him with an intrigued look; and far be it for Leo to seem unprofessional in front of his ruler.
"You wanted to learn how to shadow travel, Koráki can teach you"
The surprise and excitement that take over the boy's expression is nothing short of breathtaking, it feels precious, like something he won't get to witness often. He looks towards Hades, because he knows what is expected of him.
"My lord, I have work on the surface"
Hades give him an appraising sort of look, like he's been impressed by Leo's sense of duty, or like he's seen through Leo and is pleased he's still putting his orders before his wants.
"I'm sure he'll be of use"
Leo has a feeling like this is non-negotiable, so he simply nods and stands back up, offering his right arm to the demigod.
"I can certainly try and teach him, if he'd have me"
The demi looks from Hades to Leo in quick succession before taking the arm; Leo grins.
"Rule number one, whatever happens, don't let go"
He waits until the demigod nods, and then extends his left arm, calling for Code; his corvid partner is quick to land on the offered perch, and then the shadows take over.