I skipped a little because mostly it was gathering information, but since you ought to know, Leo met Luke, and had an entire run down about the werewolves in Brooklyn vs the Greek werewolves, it was just 'oh the things we call werewolves are very different', and 'you know, wolfish-humanoid, immune to anything other than silver, the works'.
3. Planting seeds, part 1
Luke was doing his research driven by the urgency of the request, but he was also researching the person who asked him. There was something to the tension in young Leo Valdez that had little to do with Luke's nature as a werewolf, and everything to do with the fact that he was wearing his police uniform.
For all the carefulness the boy had showed him, it was very easy to find information on him, a permanent run-away, marked as orphaned even though there were plenty of living family members, and when he dug deeper, the mention of a fire taking the boy's mother away.
He remembers copper colored skin looking lighter under the light of a steady candle-like flame in the index finger of a scared and blistered hand; working hands, immune to fire, sharp eyes, careful actions. How long had he been running for? How long did he plan to run still?
He closes all files regarding Leo Valdez, and goes back to his main research; the boy had said the satyr was a hunch, one he wanted to knock down as soon as possible, because the presence of one meant the creature he had fought was after a child.
There was of course the possibility that something bigger was starting in Brooklyn, Leo had made a mention of something called mist, which apparently hid monsters from mortal eyes; used those exact words, and for that moment it seemed almost logical of him.
He had seemed detached, though clearly worried over the situation, like he was hoping for the worst but was more than ready for it, like there was no way around it; like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and no one had bothered to offer to lessen the load.
Luke wasn't the only one searching, a couple wolves were helping as well, aided by a very specific scent; Leo had mentioned that monsters used scent to hunt demigods, so he'd learned to do the reverse. In the process, he learned to distinguish the scents of other demigods as well as the creatures that were friendly to them, so he gave Luke a very detailed description of the scent that he passed to those who had decided to help.
He wondered what had pushed him to that, to using the methods of what he considered his enemy; and why wasn't he searching? Why was he hiding?
A sound from his computer pulls him out of his thoughts, and when he clicks to see what it is, he finds a match he only vaguely remembers trying for; connecting Leo Valdez with someone he knew very well.
- …. ./… ..- … .-.- . -. … .
Simon Lewis was not expecting to see Magnus Bane near his temporary house, much less with someone on tow, much less for that person to be someone Simon had never met before. So maybe there's a moment where he blinks in absolute confusion, while also making a once-over of the stranger, who looks about as confused as Simon; so at least there's that.
the stranger has to be 16 years old tops, with curly brown hair, copper skin, and kind of seelie-like features, minus the marks; also he's a little scrawny, but Simon isn't all convinced he's human.
"Hey Salmon, this is Leo Valdez, he needs a place to lay low for a bit, you need a place to be; I have a solution"
Simon is even more confused now.
"I uh, don't have anything to offer"
The stranger, Leo if Magnus is to be believed, buts in then.
"Actually, I'm repaying Luke by getting you away from wolf territory"
That makes a little more sense, so Simon nods and steps fully aside to let them through, he can't go outside on account of the sun.
"So what's your actual name?"
Simon blinks and then sighs, because of course Magnus had used any S starting name but his actual name.
"I'm Simon Lewis"
Maybe Leo smiles and nods, clearly amused by the entire name ordeal; Simon doesn't blame him for it, not really.
"Cool, I'm actually Leo Valdez, and I guess we'll be roommates for a bit"
Simon blinks once, twice, and then, like the idiot he is, says
"I'm a vampire"
Leo chuckles airily.
"Trust me, I know"
Simon blinks again, and Leo laughs.
"You smell like Hades dude, you're either a vampire or a zombie, and you're a little too handsome to be a zombie"
He does honest to god finger guns at Simon, which is, such a modern thing, and he's talking about scents, but he's not a wolf, because Simon is particularly aware of the sound of wolf blood, but he's also not a human, and-
"What are you?"
Leo rubs the nape of his neck with his hand, a sheepish sort of smile.
"That's gonna be a long story, why don't we talk while you pack?"