Unspooling the threads

Inevitability

That which connects us today will tear us apart tomorrow.

Leo knows that he cannot keep Nico here, as much as he wants to spend as much time with him as they're allowed to; so he sends him off with a tip about the Styx and pomegranates, though he does explain that he can't be sure when either will come into play. To his credit, Nico simply accepts this and moves on, and so they say their goodbyes.

And while it's in Leo's fate to be thrown into Nico's path again eventually, letting him go now that he knows him is still hard. But he was able to focus when he longed to meet him, he can do it again now that he simply longs period; Akira, gods bless him, makes this a little easier.

He drags Leo to a junkyard, and shows him a bunch of hover boards, some of which float up when Akira interacts with them; and Leo is hit with a revelation. It's a little weird how it works.

Demigods, in general, do have an innate ability to see the future, but that is generally restricted to prophetic dreams; Leo, however, gets flashes of it whenever the right trigger happens. He sees Akira, eyes bright and mouth pulled into a grin as he tries putting weight on the hover boards that work, and a shape forms in his mind.

There's no telling with these sort of things, so he simply says he's had an idea, and starts the process of taking everything he'll need back to the shack. Akira, who's become attuned to him in these two years, is curious and eager to help; so they make quick work of it.

Leo will have to get some treats for Code later, after he gets her to take a rest, Underworld creature or not, she still needs to sleep. So Leo puts her into her little nest and promises to stay in their 'backyard' before setting off to work; after so much time without building anything, it's ridiculously easy to get absorbed.

Time's never been his forte, much less after spending so long in the Underworld, and when he's this focused on something, he tends to forget himself. Having someone else there helps a little with this, Akira's been trained enough by now that he can drag Leo to bed at nightfall without getting burnt; which is an accomplishment in its own right.

"What are you building anyway?"

Akira asks partly because he's truly curious, but mostly because he's worried, and not used to Leo pulling away like this; but that's not a good thing, not when their time together is running out, not when Leo isn't sure he'll be able to see the boy again once he's done with the job.

"A piece of your future"

It's a testament to Leo's prowess as a teacher that Akira doesn't press after that, or ever brings the topic again. Leo is free to indulge himself in what he's best at for a while longer, until he isn't.

He feels the stranger before he sees them, a soul so marked by tragedy that their mere presence had a similar effect as nails on a chalkboard; Leo's not proud to say he tackled them to the ground, but well, instincts are instincts. Granted, he's understandably upset once he gets a good look at the poor soul who's under him; turning his anger towards Akira, who's just standing there.

"You brought a mortal here?"

This seems to break whatever spell Akira's under, because he pales considerably.

"I didn't know he was following me"

Leo huffs, but gets off the body still beneath his own, noting only then that their lines are connected; kind of like a sibling bond but not really. At least there'll be someone to look out for Akira once Leo's gone from the picture.

"Well talk about this later"

He finally faces the stranger properly.

"Who are you, and why are you in our home?"

As it turns out, the stranger is a man named Takashi Shirogane, who works not only as a pilot for the Galaxy Garrison, but also as a spokesperson; which is how he found himself giving a demonstration to Akira's class. And something must have happened during that demonstration because Akira wound up stealing the poor man's car.

What Leo doesn't expect, but happens regardless, is that they're both invited to Shirogane's home, and the man tries to coax both into joining the space military. Which gives Leo the first opportunity to confuse the hell out of someone in what feels like ages; so he takes it with both hands.

"How did you get this place anyway?"

Leo gives his best amused smile.

"I'm afraid that's above your paygrade soldier"

The way Shirogane's face morphs is an entire treat, but Leo will not give himself away; he accommodates himself, opting for an amicable tone.

"You're a smart man, I'm sure you can figure it out"

Akira choses that moment to enter the room.

"What are you talking about?"

Leo smiles at him.

"Your hidden talents"

Akira gets flustered for a second before he looks away.

"It was just instinct"

Time slips from Leo's grasp again, he finishes his project, a motorcycle that can float, a hover-bike, watches Akira settle further into his role as Keith, and gets Code more used to being distanced from him.

Just in time to slip away himself, no goodbyes, and no traces. He lets it happen, not realizing the difference in the pull.