I had the realization that I was finally gonna have my boys together, and kind of stopped functioning, as one does.

8. Collision

Leo was exhausted, mentally exhausted that was, because Simon had been kind enough to make sure he got his sleep; which was the only reason Leo was even humoring this distant relative of his, a distant relative that was a vampire, fun.

Like, Leo really had nothing against vampires, not after cohabitating with Simon for this long; but knowing the only sort of family that wants anything to do with him is a nosferatu is kind of a whole thing. He'd very much like to deal with the information in his own time, though he supposes keeping contact with Raphael wouldn't be terrible considering the guy won't rat him out to the family, since he understands how dangerous the world of monsters can be.

Simon, for all his faults, makes an amazing cup of coffee, and has told Raphael enough that neither stops Leo from messing with the newest machine Magnus' had him fix; he's three away from paying for the warlock's kindness in giving him a place to lay low. Deals, everything in Leo's life can easily be summarized into fights with monsters and deals with powerful beings; he lacks the prophecies most common of his blood, but then again he's been away from any sort of oracle for…

How long has it been again? And how much longer will he be able to survive for in a world that's out for his blood?

Demigods are not mortal, but they're not immortal either, not human, not god; something different, with their very breaths numbered. The child in this city would have a better chance than Leo, if only because whichever camp they ended up staying at would not send them back out alone; Leo doesn't usually have the luxury of backup.

So he lets out a long sigh, drowning the rest of his coffee, and looks at the two vampires with him on the room.

"Let's help get a kid somewhere safe"

... . .-. . / .- . / ..-. ..- -.-. -.- .. -. -. / -. -

Night had fallen a lot quicker than Nico expected, distracted as he was with following the copper string, heart pounding in his ears. The sting moved quickly, away from where it had been and towards where the red one was; and Nico ran after.

People, cars, people, cars, right, left, cross the street, another, another, an-

A loud growl echoes through, and Nico sees them, small and shaking, holding what looked like a pipe, standing in front of a crumpled body; he had just enough time to make sure the Satyr was alive before the creature appeared in his field of view. Though creature was a bit unfair, considering Nico knew well the name of the gorgon in front of him; Stheno, the most vicious of the three.

He turned his ring and accommodated his hands around it as it transformed into a sword, dark energy coiling around his feet like spikes; but before he could make a move, the gorgon was moving harshly away as a red-hot hammer hit the ground, and Nico's breath stopped.

Time had changed him, he looked taller, a little rougher around the edges, but like he fit better in his own skin; the sparks from the hammer hitting the floor danced around him harmlessly. Nico watched his lips move, probably to taunt the monster away from the terrified demi, and watched the gorgon hiss and jump at him; he doesn't remember sinking into the shadows, just watching one moment, and parrying the gorgon's claws with his sword the next, protecting Leo.

"Maybe don't goad the venomous γοργών"

He hears a broken chuckle at his back, and then Leo pushes the gorgon away with a wave of heat that curls around Nico not unlike a gentle breeze.

"You know me, never was one for playing it safely"

Nico lets out a laugh at that, not because it's funny, but because it's so entirely Leo that if he hadn't he would've cried.

"Did the god of war piss of the big head of mythological snakes?"

Nico has to dodge the next attack and uses the opportunity to shoot Leo a very confused look, the Latino makes a face.

"I had to fight an άμφίσβαινα during my first day here"

He lands a blow with his hammer but the scales stop it from fully destroying the gorgon.

"I fought a κεράστης on my way here"

Leo grins at him, like he'd been expecting that, Nico uses a shadow to make the gorgon stumble in her next move so he can meet that expression properly.

"But how did you know it was a child of Άρης?"

Leo makes a 'wait' motion with his hand and lands another hit to the ground, sending another wave of heat the gorgon's way.

"I can smell it on them"

Nico has the very sudden realization that he's been using his powers non-stop all day, as the edges around his vision start blurring.

"Remind me to ask you later"

He uses the last of his strength to give Leo a clean hit, and as the gorgon turns to dust, the world around Nico tilts; and then there's darkness.

... - - . - -. . / .-. .- -. / ... .. - ... . .-.. ..-. /.-. .- -. -. . -..

Magnus arches an eyebrow when he sees Leo easily lift both the satyr and the unconscious boy into the beds he's laid for them, the other kid watches as this happens, still shaking slightly. He was surprised when they first appeared, he knew Leo had consistently used the word child, but had not been expecting someone barely older than Madzie, looking like they just had gone through war.

Leo finished making sure neither body would fall and turned to them with a soft sort of expression, one that made him look much older than he was.

"Thanks again for taking them, I don't have any ambrosia or nectar with me"

Magnus nods at him, and watches in awe as he bends down to the child's level with a very serious look.

"I think you have some questions I can answer"