𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐢━━Nico di Angelo

59

Hazel collapsed, tears flowing down her cheeks. Ajax didn't blame her, he wanted to break down crying too.

After the tunnel collapsed, she wept. She couldn't move the debris that separated them from the others. If the earth shifted any more, the entire complex might collapse on their heads. Still, she pounded her fists against the stones and yelled curses that made Ajax look civilized.

Leo looked at her with wide eyes. Helplessly, he looked at Ajax.

"Sorry." She wiped her face.

"Hey, you know..." Leo shrugged. "I've attacked a few rocks in my day."

She swallowed with difficulty. "Frank is...he's—"

Ajax understood the feeling. His stomach filled with anxiety. It was a miracle he wasn't having a panic attack.

"Listen," Leo said. "Frank Zhang has moves. He's probably gonna turn into a kangaroo and do some marsupial jujitsu on their ugly faces."

He helped her to her feet. Despite the panic simmering inside him, Ajax knew Leo was right. Frank and the others weren't helpless. They would find a way to survive. The best thing they could do was carry on.

Hazel studied Leo, Ajax followed her gaze. His hair had grown out longer and shaggier, and his face was leaner, so he looked less like an imp and more like one of those willowy elves in the fairy tales. The biggest difference was his eyes. They constantly drifted, as if Leo was trying to spot something over the horizon.

Ajax could say objectively, Leo was attractive. But gods, his mind kept going back to Nico. He wanted Nico- no one else. He couldn't help comparing the two in his mind.

Nico was taller, while Leo was the same height as Ajax. Nico's skin was paler, compared to Leo's dark tone. Nico's laugh sounded nothing like Leo's. Nico's fingers were long and nimble, his hands made gestures when he spoke, that made it very clear he was italian. Leo's fingers itched with pent up energy to do.. Something.

Nico was ethereal, unreal and ghostly. Ajax shook himself from his thoughts.

"Leo, I'm sorry," Hazel said.

He raised an eyebrow. "Okay. For what?"

"For..." She gestured around her helplessly. "Everything. For thinking you were Sammy, for leading you on. I mean, I didn't mean to, but if I did—"

Ajax had the feeling this was a personal conversation.

"Hey." He squeezed her hand. "Machines are designed to work."

"Uh, what?"

"I figure the universe is basically like a machine. I don't know who made it, if it was the Fates, or the gods, or capital-G God, or whatever. But it chugs along the way it's supposed to most of the time. Sure, little pieces break and stuff goes haywire once in a while, but mostly...things happen for a reason. Like you and me meeting."

"Leo Valdez," Hazel marveled, "you're a philosopher."

Ajax stayed perfectly still, not wanting to ruin their moment. He listened though, it made sense, what Leo said. Some things happen for a reason.

Ajax liked the idea of that. The fact that him and Nico were destined to meet.

Destined to meet and destined to hate each other?

No, they kissed, right? They were almost there..

Almost.

Ajax wondered if that's all they were destined to be- Almost.

"Nah," Leo said. "I'm just a mechanic. But I figure my bisabuelo Sammy knew what was what. He let you go, Hazel. My job is to tell you that it's okay. You and Frank—you're good together. We're all going to get through this. I hope you guys get a chance to be happy. Besides, Zhang couldn't tie his shoes without your help."