𝕱𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖑𝖞 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 - a Leo Valdez slowburn

Chapter one

Chapter one. 

[An introduction to the twenty-first Nome]

"At one point growing up

you begin to think that you aren't worth of the life you have

simply because you don't have stories to tell. 

Once you finish growing up 

you realize just how many stories you've told."

The twenty-first Nome was... chaotic, to say the least. 

Leah, Lin and Aiden slept in three of the many guest rooms. Unfortunately for everyone in the building, Lin didn't get a good night sleep, which caused a very cranky Lin at four in the morning. 

"Why are you even awake?" Lin whisper-shouted at Leah, who sat outside their room with two cups of coffee in her hands. She handed one to Lin, smiling drily. 

"I don't sleep," she answered easily, getting up and straightening her back. "How are you even alive?" Lin whispered worriedly. "Actually, you know what? I'm sure some sleep god cursed you or something." They poked Leah's shoulder. "Which room's Aiden's?"

They started walking down the hall. "It's up that way," Leah said, gesturing the way they were walking away from. "Why did we go this way then?" "Because you started walking: I just followed you. Besides, the stairs are that way." They turned around in the hallway, now pacing towards Aiden's room. 

Once they arrived, Leah questioned, "Shouldn't we leave him be? They haven't gotten that much sleep." Lin waved her worry away. "Nah. No one can sleep on that thing unless they're trained to. Besides, I don't see you being worried about me." "That's because Aiden needs his sleep. You really, really don't." Lin nodded. "Yeah, that's fair."

Leah opened the door to find Aiden awake, sitting up in his bed and looking at the wall absentmindedly. "Do they have pillows?" he asked the two as they walked in. "That's a good question, which we do not have the answer to," Leah announced. She gave him the mug that was still in her hand. "Coffee?" 

"Yes, thank you," Aiden said as had a sip. "Why are you awake, Lin?" They narrowed their eyes. "You're not gonna ask why Leah is?" He shrugged. "She's always awake. It's not really a question anymore, but an expectation." 

Leah took his hand and pulled him off his bed. "Come on, we're going to the kitchen." Lin looked at her. "We are?" Aiden nodded. "We are." 

A dark figure expected them in the kitchen. "Who is that?" Aiden whisper-shouted. Leah shushed him, narrowing her eyes at the figure. She thought she recognized them...

The figure raised a hand and waved it, walking towards the trio who had now put up their hands defensively, their weapons in their hands. 

"You're not from this pantheon," Lin spoke up, scowling. The person - deity, actually - tilted their head and nodded. Leah sighed. "Oh don't tell me you're from Manhattan."

"Well I'm sorry to let you down, Leah, but I am." The person laughed, snapping their fingers. Leah gasped angrily. "You." "My cousin," Apollo exclaimed, "how nice it is to see you again!"

"Is that..?" "Shut up, Lin," Leah hissed. She turned back to the deity. "Why are you in Brooklyn?" "A little more respect for the sun god, please?" Apollo quipped. "And besides, don't think you're hiding that monstrosity well. Zeus, those eyebags will haunt you forever. Have you been sleeping?"