"It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived."
-To Kill a Mockingbird
His eyes goggled at it. Jason? A Nazi?! His eyes shot toward Nico desperately, curious now if this was true or not. He could be a spy like us, Leo thought to himself hopefully, he could be a good guy. But he knew his best friend like the birthmark on the back of his neck – Jason's pride was too strong to pretend to be somebody he wasn't.
"I was alerted that you were busy at roll call," Jason's voice pierced, a queer ring hanging at the ends of his words choppily. He must be American or British, Leo decided as his eyes continued to linger at his English derived name. At first he forgot the words were advised at him, until Nico's thin fingers pricked him tightly at the hem of his waist. Leo jumped onto his toes.
"Er, yes, sir. My apologizes for holding you up," he worded carefully. Jason's eyes still rested on him heavily, as if he knew that he wasn't supposed to be here.
"Grace," the man said suddenly, holding out his hand, "Jason Grace." Leo stuttered for a moment, before barely touching his hand.
"Valdez," he replied simply. Jason showed him a slight upward curve of the lips, and for a brief second Leo saw his best friend again. Maybe in a Nazi, jew-killing body…but still his best friend.
"I would have been delighted to have seen you this morning and talked to you officially," Jason continued stiffly, "Sadly, I do not have the time now to speak. I must be going soon." Jason took a lengthy glance at the elegant woman next to him, whose eyes fell to the table cloth on her lap. For some odd reason, chills shivered down Leo's spine, and in his peripheral vision Nico tensed.
"But I do have a certain invitation for you," Jason told Nico, as he placed his rough hand over Belinda's, "To meet our leader." At first Nico lingered emotionlessly, until the words went inside his head. Hitler?
"Uhhh…."
"It's his birthday party tonight, and he wanted to meet his most well-known officials," Jason informed them, taking glances at both Leo and Nico. When Nico nodded, Leo did the same, but he could feel his insides peeling. He didn't exactly like people with ugly mustaches.
"We must be going," Nico said quickly, his eyes lingering on Leo tightly, "Thank you General Grace and…my lady." He nodded toward both of them, and Leo mimicked the words under his breath.
"I'll see you later," the general called, as Nico and Leo drifted into the cafeteria crowd.
(insertthreedashes)
"What's the plan?" Leo barked as soon as they entered an empty hall. Nico's black eyes danced toward him.
"What do you mean?" He asked, a slight curiosity hanging in his tone. Leo rolled his eyes.
"You know what I mean, man. Being secret, awesome attractive – well, at least I am – secret agents, and we are going to a banquet with our greatest enemy?" Leo asked. "Come on Nicholas, we have to have a plan." Nico stopped suddenly, forcing Leo to stumble on his toes.
"You've changed," Nico said plainly. "What's up with you?" Leo's eyebrows rose.
"What do you mean?"
"You know the orders," Nico stated stonily, "You know them like the back of your hand and you follow them like a religion. You know that we go into these situations empty-handed. We never know if we are there for action, or just another situation we are put into to prove to them we are Nazis. We don't have plans." Leo bit his lip gingerly, for the first time trying to think of the right words.
"Nothing man," Leo stated simply, "I was just trying to…talk." It didn't convince Nico though.
"Look, if you are thinking of chickening out of this ordeal, you better realize-"
"No!" Leo said harshly. "I mean, I wouldn't ever back out. We are here for a higher purpose." Nico nodded at him approvingly, but Leo still saw the suspicious in his eyes. Well, theres goes his only friend.
(three dashes here)
I have a bedroom, Leo thought, a freaking bedroom. As soon as Leo and Nico's conversation was over, Nico had pulled him by the ear and told him to go to his bedroom and wash up for that weird banquet, because "god knows how quick you'll screw it up". Thank the gods that last names were painted on the doors, or else Leo would have been a complete goner. But even still, when he opened the door he expected a couple cots filled with three smelly old guys and a pet rat. But instead, when Leo opened the door he found a single room, kind of like the size of the cabins they had on the Argo, with a fairly decent bed, a couple drawers, a full dresser, and a bathroom. He raised his eyebrows, partially impressed.
"Well, at least I don't – holy tacos!" When he spun away from the bed he had knocked into the mirror. Thankfully, the mirror hadn't broken, or else Leo wouldn't have been able to see himself.
He was good looking. More than good looking. He was perfect! He looked like his ideal self. He, like Nico, looked like he was living in his early twenties. His body had finally grown in – decent size muscles, lean (not scrawny) body, a handsome face, and a good height. His black curls bounced onto the top of his forehead in a charming fashion, instead of in a tangly mess. His teeth were perfectly straight and his eyes were nice and round. Calypso would approve, he thought to himself.
"Dang, Valdez," he muttered to himself in the mirror, "You're looking fine." He laughed to himself. He went to his bed, which was messy as usual, looking at all his trinkets he didn't bother putting away. But then he noticed the wrench. Large, wanky, and shining off a dirty silver. His eyes widened. It was his baby. He caressed it into his hands lovingly, before putting it into his uniform pocket, but then a thought occurred to him. If his baby was here…the rest of his tool belt must be here too. Quickly, he ran his hand through his drawers frantically, but then his smile disappeared.
"My tool belt," he said aloud, "it's not here. Why isn't it here?" He raveled in it more.
"Where is my dang -" When he spun around, ready to charge toward the bathroom, his eyes locked hold of a figure that had suddenly entered his room. A girl. In his room. He yelped, knocking his knee against the drawer. The girl, probably only fifteen, dropped the dirty clothes she was holding. Leo looked at the bathroom and then back at the rags that she wore. She was a maid who was cleaning his bathroom. Or a slave, a voice mimicked in the back of his head.
"Oh gods! I'm sorry for scaring you!" Leo exclaimed. The girl didn't look scared. She looked terrified. Her face flushed, her mouth open as if she wanted to scream but she was silent. She scrambled the clothes quickly.
"No, wait!" Leo said, and she froze jerkily. He could hear her fast-paced breathing from the other side of the room.
"Sorry for scaring you," Leo said, inching toward her, and she immediately threw herself against the wall, as far away from him as she could get. She was shaking her head.
"Wait!" Leo said, throwing his hands up innocently. "I just wanted to know your name. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise!" Her breathing stopped pacing. Slowly, she backed away the wall, but she didn't go any closer to him. He walked toward her carefully, and then slowly picked up the clothes. A burning pit stirred in his stomach. What was wrong with the girl? Leo swallowed.
"What's your name?" Leo asked in a soft voice. "My name is, well….People call me Leonardo but my name is really Leo. But nobody knows that so don't tell them. But you can keep a secret right? You look like you're good at secrets."
The girl, whose skin was dark but her hair was long and silky, just merely stared at him. Her hair was shoved into a messy pony tail. Her skin was filled with cuts and bruises. She was beautiful. Tragically beautiful. The rags she wore had a number, but the number was so faded he couldn't read it.
"Are you mute?" Leo asked instantly, putting the dirty clothes onto the dresser. "Cause I mean, me and my mom had this morse code thing. Though all I know is 'I love you' and 'I want to make a talking cow', which I don't think either phrases would help this conversation." He laughed slightly, rosiness flooding his cheeks. Slowly, as she stared at him cautiously, she shook her head. He frowned, a hot iron burning through his chest. Even in the forties a girldidn't want to be around him…
Sighing, he turned his started to move toward the door but then he heard a soft, almost inaudible voice whisper hesitantly, "You have never talked to me before." Her words were curious, but also terrified. He turned his body toward her, his eyebrows burrowing down.
"Why not?" He asked, blinking. At first she merely shook her head, but he knew she had words to say.
"I'm a minority," she said finally, "I'm not allowed to speak to you. I am not allowed to speak to anyone or else…" She choked suddenly, as if the idea was terrible she couldn't even think about it.
"You can tell me," he told her softly. He saw the tears rise into her eyes as she finally looked at him fully.
"Or else I'll go to a concentration camp," she said under her voice, "It was this or that." Leo's lips parted. He hadn't even thought of it really. Sure, he acknowledged his part in the war and what Nazis did, but he didn't ever really face the realism in the fact that he was there. In the 1940's. Sending people to their deaths.
"I…I'm sorry," He said to her honestly, "I didn't know that." She looked at him awkwardly, like he was dumb, but he could see the seven-foot thick wall slowly fade. She smiled slightly.
"It's okay," she said to him softly, "The Universe will come into balance soon. I know it." His eyes seemed to faze out for a moment. Would it really? Because for as long as he could remember, nothing was good. Not really.
"Hopefully," he whispered. They held a tight gaze for a moment, as if trying to break a thick wall between them, but it was no use. The girl didn't trust him, and he felt like a traitor. There was no winning in this game.
"I hope we talk again," Leo said, heading toward the door. The girl didn't say goodbye, but a slight smile spread across her lips.
The banquet was gorgeous. Large chandeliers haloed over the tables, the silverware looked so clean it resembled crystal, and everything was perfectly aligned. The banquet hall was huge – probably the size of a large theatre, filled with perfectly round tables that were laid out precisely. In a way, it messed with his ADD. He liked messes, he wanted to break the pattern, but he appreciated the beauty. Staring at it, he even ran into an officer of some sort. The man was twice his size, probably had a good ten years on him, and looked deathly by the sight of all of his glittering badges. But Leo was too in awe to notice, so Nico steered him away, hissing threats in his ears. It took nearly fifteen minutes to get to their table because men and women were constantly stopping them.
"Hello, Soldier Valdez," many men said to him with shiny badges and soft smiles, as they shook his hand repeatedly. Young beautiful women, who dressed in silky dresses curtsied in front of him, winked flirtatiously, and insisted on knowing how his day was. All he could think about though as the young gorgeous women stared at him in awe and clearly showed interest was how they were all linked to another man. It was like everybody has a date except for him.
"I wish I had these women," Leo accidentally said aloud as they found a round table with their names on it. Nico's eyes looked at him harshly.
"No you don't," Nico snapped, "You don't know who these girls are? I thought you caught on ages ago." Leo tempted to say yes, but then he shook his head. Nico let out an exaggerated sigh.
"They are called escorts," Nico said, clearly annoyed, "Kinda like high-end prostitutes, except they are gorgeous. They are mainly accustomed for only big events in public. It makes the men look good – trustworthy. Of course, most people are too blind to see the girls are bought." Leo's eyes furrowed.
"So they literally…buy them? Like, with money?" Leo imagined the beautiful dark-haired girl he had seen earlier sitting with Jason, imaging someone trading money and taking her away like a jar of jelly. But Nico shrugged.
"No, not typically," Nico answered, his eyes growing darker, "They are usually promised unconditional safety and so-called high living. But usually, there are some…requests for the after party." Leo nearly gagged. Nico was grimacing as well.
"it is absolutely-"
"Die Engel! Valdez!" A large voice bellowed. Both of Nico and Leo's heads turned. Jason lingered over them like a deathly shadow, flashing a charming smile.
"I see you are sitting with us," Jason said, winking at them. "What a coincidence!" When the girl, Belinda, came in view Leo couldn't help but notice the hellish fury that flooded Nico's eyes. She was wearing a blood red dress dazzled with crystals. Her hair, now in deep curls, was tied in a tight pony tails except for a few select curls that bounced onto her shoulder flirtatiously.
"I don't think I have introduced you to my love, officially," Jason said, giving Belinda a long stare but her eyes were plastered to the ground. As Belinda moved forward, looked them both in the eyes, and gave each a warm smile, all Leo could think about was how he treated her. Was it true? Was she an escort as well? He couldn't swallow thinking that Jason was actually buying this girl.
Nico didn't smile at all. He nodded, adverting his eyes to his plate. Leo frowned at him, wondering why Nico wouldn't at least try being nice to her. He thought if Nico liked her, then he would at least try talking to her.
"Sit down, Belinda," he instructed to her as he slid a chair open for her and pushed her in. She slipped in obediently and Jason sat down.
"Are you guys excited for the banquet?" He asked. Nico finally lifted his eyes and reflected a thin, but almost cold, smile.
"Yes, sir," Nico lied, "I am eager to see what our leader says." And at that moment cheers started to erupt from table to table. Leo's eyes shot toward the stage. A square man was strutting across it confidently, waving occasionally. Leo sulked into his seat in boredom. It was going to be a boring ride. But then he head Nico speak under his breath.
"Hitler." Leo nearly jumped. He stared in front of him harder, analyzing the guy. They were too far away though.
"Yes, yes," Jason's voice interrupted annoyingly, "I'm saddened we didn't get appropriate seats. But we still get to hear his beautiful words." Leo's nostrils snarled. Beautiful words.
He looked at both Nico and Jason. These were who his friends were? A leader of the Nazi's, cherishing Hitler's standings and Nico…too afraid to stand up for a girl in pain? He felt an anger burst inside him as he watched Hitler give his precious speech, remembering that he had to get his friends together was the only way to solve this quest. It would be impossible, he thought to himself, his friends were all enemies. There was no possible way he could ever get the box. But what if he didn't need them to get the box? Or even get the box in general? What if he just…killed Hitler? He could go back home. See his friends again. Get Calypso back. He couldn't handle it anymore.
"I need to go to the restroom," he blurted suddenly. Nico's eyes widened, fuming. Jason looked distraught, and Belinda blushed.
"Hitler's speech is about to start," Jason snarled. Leo tried his best to pull a smile.
"Wouldn't want to pee during his inspiring speech," Leo sneered sarcastically so inaudible the only person who could have possibly heard was Nico. Before anybody could object, he swerved on his heel and kept walking toward where they came from until he was fully in the dark and there was no way Nico and Jason could see him. He walked alongside the back walls. How was he going to do this? He had no gun! But suddenly he felt the bulge in his front pocket. His wrench.
"Where is it," He urged, squeezing his fists together as tight as he could, "Come on, future me. Tell me where to go!" But then he saw the words on a dark door. "Backstage". His eyes widened.
"That must be it!" He followed the sign quickly, and walked in as silently as he could.
Rapidly, he ducked in. He pushed the door open subtly, as quiet as possible, but it wouldn't have mattered because people backstage were running around frantically. Nobody even noticed him walk in casually. They all buzzed around anxiously, screaming at the people around them to hurry up because "Hitler was waiting". Before anybody could notice him, he ducked behind a statue, which somebody must've pointed out was hideous, and stared alongside the stage.
Now how should he do this? He wondered. He had good aim. Surely he could whisk it all the way over there hard enough to hit his head if he didn't at the best angle. He knew from experience that even a heavy object was better than a gun. Guns were dangerous, harder to aim. But one hit with this beauty could definitely kill somebody.
He grew closer to the stage, hiding in the darkness of the curtains. They were so thick that he could wrap the loose parts around him and nobody would notice.
If I just hit the top railing with the lights, he thought to himself smartly, then it'll reflect and it would definitely hit him in the end.
He felt his wanky wrench squeeze in his hand. No, he didn't have a solid plan, it was crazy and stupid and weird, but if he just killed…or even got him in a coma. Who cares about the stupid box? Hitler would be dead. Plus, he was here. It must be fate. Nothing makes sense when it comes to fate. It's always a little bit crazy.
"One," he instructed to himself. He imagined Jason, his friend Jason, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Two," he told himself, as a visible image of Calypso hovered under his eyelids. Sappy, but the hopeful part of him wondered if he would be shot toward Calypso's island as a reward.
"thr-"
"Where is she?" A man hissed. His eyes shot to his left toward the voice. His mouth parted slightly. He remembered that man, he realized as he analyzed his uniform. The man badges glimmered. Leo took a deep breath, trying to push the ADD part of him from his mind.
"thre-"
But again the man interrupted, pulling Leo from his thoughts. "The girl was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago."
"General Hitler wanted her to come individually so he can conduct a speech first," a lady replied harshly.
"She has about thirty seconds to show up before I-" But then his voice stopped, his eyes lingering into the dark entrance. Leo looked back as well, and he choked.
A thin woman, not a day older than himself, walked through the entrance. She was draped into a long dark grey dress that tickled the floor, forcing her dark grey eyes to lighten. Blonde curls bounced onto her bare shoulders. But that wasn't why he was so surprised – it was the determined look on her face that made him stutter. The way she held herself, how she rose her head up high, the way her back straightened when she walked. He knew this girl.
"Madam," the cold guy said, with a warm tone, "How are you today?" But she didn't bother to answer.
"My name is Anna, Victor," she snipped, "And I heard your threats. Please, I dare you." His face drained and for a moment his eyes went out for a thousand miles.
"My apologizes Anna-"
"Please," She said earnestly, "Escort me, would you?" He let out his arm and she wrapped her fingers around it elegantly. But all Leo could think as she strutted across the wide stage was that he knew her. Oh, he knew her well. Her name was Annabeth Chase. And that was when he saw the gun pointing straight at her.
It was far – practically near the front entrances that the guests went through. He didn't have time to gape about how Annabeth was dating Hitler, or that he had to get the box or else everything would be ruined. That was why they wanted Nico and me here, Leo realized, this wasn't just a regular banquet. The minute that gunshot would be heard, Hitler's bodyguards would tackle him to the ground and leave Annabeth to be hit. They were going to kill Annabeth.
Suddenly, he felt himself running toward the stage, right on Annabeth's toes. He was half way onto the stage, only a few feet from Hitler (with, disgusting enough, Annabeth holding his hand supportingly) when he screamed, "GUN!" Suddenly chaos happened. The bullet was shot immediately, probably still hoping to get him. People started screaming and running. Hitler's body guards were a good fifteen feet away, too far to do anything. Annabeth stumbled back. Quickly, Leo tackled her, taking down Hitler at the same time.
People darted away, while Hitler's eyes locked on his appreciatively. Appreciatively. He wasn't aiming for Hitler, he thought, only Annabeth. He…he…
"Leonardo!" A voice yelped. He looked in front of him. Nico was darting toward him, with worry clouding his eyes.
"Leonardo, are you okay?" Nico asked immediately, ignoring both Hitler and Annabeth, though they were only three feet away. Aggressively, Nico yanked him by the collar and shook him. "I ASKED IF YOU'RE OKAY? Are you shot? Are you dying? Because you can't die on me…You're my best…" He looked at him deeply, his words cutting off. He saw the redness form over Nico's cheeks, and his eyes stared away loathingly. He was Nico's best friend. Leo's mouth parted a bit.
"I'm fine," Leo managed to say. Nico's eyes hardened instantly. He nodded at him, forming their own morse code, and at once they bounced to their feet and ran. They ran till they got to the car that brought them to the banquet and didn't say a word until they arrived at camp.
(three dashes)
"Shit. Shit. Leonardo," Nico gaped, so numb that he couldn't even shower his anger," You just saved Hitler's life. We were trying to kill him and you-you-" Nico said later, as they both stood in Leo's room. Leo lingered awkwardly as Nico paced around him like he was a piece of meat. He was quiet as Nico continued to sneer at him – emphasizing the terrible things he did.
"Annabeth Chase," Leo muttered numbly, "She's dating Hitler. If I kill her..." Nico gripped Leo and shoved him toward the wall. Pain skimmered down Leo's spine and a groan of pain escaped from Leo's mouth.
"What the heck is your problem?" Nico suddenly shouted, addressing him personally for the first since he started lecturing him.
"What are you talking about?" Leo asked, his voice choking as Nico's fingers carved around Leo's throat.
"I'm talking about you, Leonardo." Nico explained as his eyes skimmed down Leo's body in disgust, "There's something different about you. Something that changed. You look around this place like you've never been here. You look at me as if you haven't known me for your whole goddamned life. And mostly, we can both be murdered by the agency right now because they are questioning our loyalty because you decided to save Hitler's life, and you don't even give a damn." He swallowed.
"My name is Leo," Leo corrected, breathless, "Not Leonardo." Nico rolled his eyes.
"So now you're changing your name too?" Nico asked. Leo shook his head. "Well, alright, fine, Leo, you're a freaking dumba-"
"I know you don't believe me," Leo said slowly, "But Nico – Nicholas, I mean – I have something to say." Nico squinted and moved so close to Leo that Leo could nearly feel his lips on his.
"Amuse me," Nico hissed.
"I'm from the future," Leo blurted.
At first, Nico stared at him. His breath stopped and Leo started to see him inch backward.
"I am from about seventy years from now in the United States," Leo continued fast, "I don't know how, and I don't why, but I came here." At first, Leo thought Nico believed him. His face was turning whiter than it normally was, his eyes growing large and a thousand times blacker. He looked like he was going to puke.
Nico shoved his face in his palms.
"I know, it's hard to accept, but-"
"They poisoned you, ruined your mind," Nico croaked emptily, "The agency…they're after us." Leo inched toward him.
"What? No!" Leo yelped. "it's not that. I'm telling the truth, I'm not insane!"
"They poisoned you. They are trying to kill us," Nico said again hollowly, "I wonder where they put it. In our water, in our food, what was it? But they know. They know who we are."
"Stop," Leo said, "Just listen to me, alright? I know you. In the future, in your next life, your name is Nico di Angelo." Nico's eyes peeked through his fingers.
"You're a…" Leo choked for a moment, "demigod. We are all demigods. Me, you, Jason-"
"Jason?!" Nico barked, half-amused and half-sickened, "You mean the Jason that just bought his girlfriend? Leo, open your eyes! Come back to me. Something is wrong – you gotta snap out of it!"
"Please, Nicholas, listen to me," Leo begged suddenly, "I came here to find a box. I'll leave you – you'll get the real Leonardo back. I just need the box." Fear flickered in Nico's eyes.
"What are you-" But then the knock at the door interrupted them. Both of their eyes shot toward the door.
"Come in," Nico barked. Slowly, the door opened, revealing a soldier.
"General Grace needs to see you," The soldier said, "Both of you." Nico's eyes hit Leo's harshly. Fury mixed with fear filled them.
"You did this," Nico said to him coolly.
*threedasheshere*
The room was dim. Only a single light – a small candle – flickered on Jason's desk. Nico hovered next to Leo, grinding his teeth angrily. Jason didn't look at him, but yet persisted on writing a letter. Leo tried getting Nico's attention, trying to at least lock eyes so that he would listen, but Nico was far gone.
"Do you know why you are here, boys?" The man asked. Nico shook his head.
"No, sir," Nico replied.
"No, I do not," Leo said. Jason stopped writing and put his pen down.
"I'm sorry for calling you at such a late hour," Jason said, "I just wanted to talk about tonight." Nico's eyes flashed. Leo's heart stopped beating. What was happening? Did Jason figure something out?
"Sir, I'm not sure-"
"Don't be modest die Engel," Jason said, scooting out his chair, "Your friend here, Valdez, he did something amazing tonight. Extraordinary. A true hero." Nico forced his eyes to the ground, so angry that he couldn't even meet eyes. Leo couldn't breathe.
"And because of this, I am promoting you." The words hung in the air for a moment, no words to be said. Promoted? To what? But Nico's eyes flashed up at him.
"Excuse me, sir?" He asked. Jason paced from behind his desk with his hands tied around his back.
"Tomorrow morning I'm going to be transferred to Bergen-Belsen, a newly created concentration on the other side of Germany. Anna and I were going to be the leaders of the camp and we were going to get a new set of soldiers when we get there to help us."
"But?" Nico asked, stepping closer to his desk.
"I would be honored to have you two assist me," Jason said, "You will be legends for eternity for assisting me in Bergen-Belsen. See boys, it's not about the pay. It's not even about the ladies. It's about the legend. It's what your great grand-children will tell their great-grand children about your play in War World II. How we helped contain those minorities. You, Valdez," Jason nodded at him, "I heard you can construct anything. And you, die Engel, I heard you're a natural born leader. You guys will fit perfectly."
Leo's eyes were large, but Nico's fists were shaking.
"What do you say?" Jason said, obviously oblivious to their reactions. "Yes?" Leo could feel his lungs tightening. He wanted him to murder. He wanted him to kill.
"Yes," Nico answered under his breath, and Leo could hear the pain in his voice, "We'll go."
AN: Second chapter! It may not be perfect, but hey, it's a fanfiction! If you want more, review! Thanks for reading btw!
