Unspooling the threads

The choice

Whatever else happens.

There's not much time for explanations or presentations, but Leo needed to get in contact with him in order to retrieve an important tidbit of memory he needed in order to save the world. Akira is just glad to see he's ok, and happy at the promise that Leo will call again whenever he can; it won't be frequent, because they are on a mission and such, but he will.

He parts with a 'shoot for the stars chico', which given the most definitely knew Akira would be taken in by Shiro, and clearly knew what the Garrison was, probably is a very literal suggestion. Mostly, it works to get rid of what little doubt Akira had about joining the program Shiro's been trying to push his way; so when he brings it up that night Akira agrees, and of course is asked about the apparent change of heart.

"Leo managed to contact me, and helped me make my mind up"

Adam, who's been listening this whole time, grins brightly.

"Did he now?"

Akira nods excitedly.

"He said he can't contact me very often, but he'll try to whenever possible"

Shiro, who looks a little like he's weary, decides to make the question.

"What does he do again?"

Akira, who didn't spend two years under Leo's careful tutelage without picking a few quirks, puts on his best serious-business face.

"That's above your paygrade soldier"

Shiro actually takes a step back, like Akira pushed him or something, meanwhile Adam is losing it; Leo would be so proud.

Nico feels a little lightheaded, as he's received warmly into the Argo II, solely because its captain thinks highly of him; a captain, who now remembers Nico properly, remembers everything properly. Leo, and Nico is now the only person to still call him that, as everyone's been made acutely aware how powerful names can be, has taken the lead in referring to everyone by nicknames and surnames only, with an ease that betrays his upbringing.

He's also taken to being captain like a duck to water, managing to push even Percy and Jason into position with a few sharp words and mostly empty threats. And with Nico not even putting a fight against his leadership, he's got all children of the big three under his thumb; which Nico finds a lot more amusing than he'll ever admit.

Most importantly, Piper and Jason are unaffected by him because Leo talked so much about him apparently, Frank doesn't have it in him to be mean without good reason, and Hazel is Nico's sister; so only Anabeth and Percy are bothered, and honestly, it's mostly Percy. And that would've hurt a lot more than it does now, back when Nico fell for him; and he still is, somewhat, even as he no longer feels as much.

A soft weight settles on his head, and a hushed sort of caw sounds above, and Nico knows Code has chosen to join him in the crow's nest. He supposes she comes here for the same reasons he does, Underworld beings that they both are, because large concentrations of living beings can be overwhelming, no matter how nice they are.

Besides, from up here he can easily see Leo, radiant and fierce like the fire they now share; Nico's yet to tell anyone about it, his newfound immunity, or how he understands most of what Leo's saying when he rambles about machines. Mainly, it's because he knew it would happen, this mismatch of their abilities passing onto the other, saw it crystal clear in Leo when they first met; and because he knows it wasn't meant to, that something tipped the scale and this is how the world compensated.