are you mine[?]

.quinze.

Patroclus wanted to forget what he had promised Chiron. When he sent an aura to check for the other mortal king, she returned and said that the Amazons had finally destroyed his empire. Deserved.

So he wrote up a letter with his dip pen and told Chiron the news.

He sealed the yellowing paper inside an envelope and threw it to the window, thanking the spirit that took it to Chiron.

After that, he sat at his desk with his head in his hands, wishing that he didn't have to do anything involving quests.

Except the second he though that, Jason, Piper, and Leo were marched into his office by a few guards.

"Hi," Piper said. "Um... we're here?"

"Evidently," Patroclus sighed. "Come with me. And guards? You're dismissed. Go eat dinner with your brothers and sisters."

Patroclus beckoned the trio to follow him to the private dining room, hearing several stomachs rumbling.

Nico was twirling his pasta in a bored manner when the four arrived, and stood up in surprise, almost knocking his dinner to the floor. He steadied it at the last moment, inspecting the questers.

"It's only been two days," he said indignantly.

"They have tomorrow and the day after to complete their quest," Patroclus hummed. He trailed his fingers over Nico's lower back, gesturing for the others to find a seat. "Best to give them substantial meals and a good sleep before they go save the world."

"Is this a normal occurrence?" Jason asked.

"Very," he said. "Annabeth has passed through here many times. Nico came through when he was traversing the Labyrinth once. I wasn't here when he did, and he left immediately after, but, the point is, everyone passes through New Troy on quests. But you need to get to Aeolus's palace, correct?"

"How did you know that?" Piper demanded.

"We have our ways," Nico said drily.

Leo perked up. "Like what? Is it a magical mirror? Or do you have a book?"

"Hades," Patroclus blurted. "Hades tells us everything we need."

"Whoa," Leo said.

"Whoa indeed. But eat, then we'll show you a room and repack your bags for the morning. It's tradition for the prince or princess to pack the bags, but considering that I have no children," Patroclus spread his hands. "It's up to me and Nico."

Piper shrugged and dug in.

"Dude!" Jason said. "This is amazing!"

"Nico's mom's recipe," Patroclus agreed.

"Still not better than my mom's tortilla," Leo said.

"The cook would be mortified to hear that," Nico snickered.

"She can only serve the best," Patroclus agreed.

"I heard that she refused to plate two ravioli that were stuck together. She gave them to the guards and told the cook-in-training that those ravioli weren't to be played. Or any ravioli like that."

"Why?" Jason wondered.

"Only the best," Leo said. "Duh. They just said that."

Piper snickered into her carbonara. "It's great."

"We had it made vegetarian for tonight. We weren't sure when you'd come, so we've been eating vegetarian dinners lately," Patroclus said.

"For me?"

"Of course. We aren't going to make you eat something that you can't stomach."

Nico shrugged. "So he says."

Patroclus made a face at him and turned back to his food. There was silence as everyone ate as fast as they could. Desert was figs and chocolates served with care.

"It's not fig season," Piper said.

"It's like your strawberries. We have to get good money somewhere. We used to just trade within ourselves, but our economy was failing, so my great grandfather or something strayed to plant fig trees. Because of the magic here, we started to get amazing figs year round. It brought in enough money to boost our economy again, and here we are."

"That's cool," she mused. "Yeah, I understand."

The figs were devoured in seconds, and Patroclus savored the grainy sweetness of his perfect fruit.

"You'll find that he has a fig on his desk," Nico snarked.

"They're great!" Patroclus defended himself.

The questers laughed at the banter, then leaned back one-by-one.

"Everyone done?" Patroclus asked.

Nods went around, so he and Nico led them down the halls and to their room. It had a bunk bed and a twin, each with comforters corresponding to their godly parent. Piper had received the twin and it had a pink comforter with hearts and daggers scattered over it. Jason was on the bottom bunk with a sky blue comforter with thunderclouds on it, and Leo had a red hammer and Fire comforter.

"This looks like it for children," Piper pointed out.

"Easiest way to stop people from arguing over beds," Patroclus shrugged. "Of course, you can if you want, but it's better if you all shower and sleep as soon as you can. We'll send in new clothes for tomorrow morning. I'll also see what I can do about getting the satyr from the cage and finding a better holding cell for the storm spirits."

"See you later," Nico sighed.

Patroclus nodded to the demigods and closed the door.

}{}{}{

Phew. Pre written and ready for you to read!