I want each and every one of you to understand I had the conversation about Delta having a pattern even before I decided to give the Labyrinth of the Minotaur a name. Before I wrote even the first sentence of Book 1.
Shit's ancient.
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It takes a lot of discussion, but eventually they come to the conclusion that the best way for Reyna to go back with the Athena Parthenos on tow is for him to shadow travel with both. At some point Coach Hedge also gets added into the group for more personal reasons, but it's probably for the best.
As they're preparing for the departure, he's tugged aside by Leo, who links their arms together and presses himself to his right.
"Can I distract you for a beat or two?" he asks
Instinctively, he leans into the warmth nodding as he does. Leo tells him about the night before they met, about realizing, only when he saw him, that the dreams he'd been having were more than just that.
"Is that why you were so nice to me back then?" he questions.
Leo scoffs, pushing into him.
"Nah, you just looked like you could use a friend" he soothes.
Then, shifting just so they're actually facing each other, Leo gives him a disarming sort of smile.
"And I had a feeling you'd be special"
And gods, he's always had a sort of longing for Leo back then, but now that he actually knows him, he's going to miss him so fucking much. So, he does the only thing that makes sense.
He shifts the rest of the way, until he can drag Leo close and hold him, tight, and warm, and real. And Leo chuckles, but hugs him back just as tightly.
The actual departure is pretty light-hearted all things considered.
They tie up the Athena Parthenos, make a plan of action, stock up on what supplies they can easily carry, and say their goodbyes.
Part of the plan is to use the labyrinth, to keep advancing even while he recovers from shadow travel. This idea comes, unsurprisingly, from Leo, the only person to have ever traversed the halls by choice.
When he explains it, Leo offers them a clock, the face is covered in black roman numerals, crystal slightly blurry, and the strap looks old and well-loved.
"I used this to figure out Delta's pattern, every twenty minutes a new pathway opens"
Thinking about the labyrinth brings more bad memories than good, but he trusts Leo more than most, so he asks.
"There's a pattern to it?"
Leo, not seeming to notice the incredulous tone in his voice, nods distractedly.
"Delta's man-made, there's limits to what they can do" He says
Like it's the most obvious thing ever, and it strikes him that it really is. He's sure that Annabeth, who's been probably suffering through Dedalus' laptop, is just as taken aback by this revelation as he is.
He takes the watch carefully, strapping it to his left wrist so it won't slip, and nods to himself.
"Twenty minutes before a new path" he repeats
Leo grins at him, bright and pleased.
YOU ARE READING
Book 2: Oaths and Victories.
FanfictionSequel to "Book 1: The four tainted minds" What if Leo never fell, what if the promise was the one made on Tartarus edge? Or the one made after? What if "dying breath" wasn't as literal as they thought? Cover made with Night Cafe.
