𝐑𝐄𝐘𝐍𝐀 ( @furysburn ) said, " You were supposed to protect him ! "
𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 been good at protecting people. for a little while, he can almost pass as though he’s decent at it. for a little while, he can keep people safe. the longer they are within his care, however, the more damned they are in the long haul. a monster will appear from nowhere, a great threat will breach their defenses && whisk them away while his back is turned, a titan may very well claw their way out from tartarus ( much like he himself did ) && bring themselves back for the sole purpose of ripping his heart out again. those who stay close to him are not long for the world; they will die, oft times by his own hands or by way of his mistakes. verso knows this. he knew this when he decided to aid camp jupiter in some quest or other involving another demigod. maybe his half-brother. maybe one of her siblings. the details of it are blissfully murky now, obscured by the red ‘round his hands && the fog of rage over his better judgment. some slim part of him whispers that kronos was right. ( always was. )more hurt demigods. the hell am i even good for if i cant keep a few kids safe on a road-trip? he wishes mount othrys would have collapsed a little bit faster. ❝ && i did, ❞ snaps zeus’ son to the daughter of bellona. ❝ he’s alive, isn’t he ?? ❞ he jerks his chin to the door of her office, gestures to the camp beyond it. the dogtags ‘round his neck clink against one another like angry wind-chimes. ❝ maybe not in the best shape, sure, && i take fault for that, but he was protected. he’s still breathing. he’ll keep breathing. ❞ there’s an ache as he lowers his arm, shoving his hand back into his pockets. the patchwork first-aid he applied to himself, beyond the gates of camp jupiter && hidden ‘neath his undershirt, is starting to give. everything went to making sure the younger demigod got back in one piece; damn his own heart, damn his own body, it will work for as long as he needs it to. a little bit of bloodloss && potential infection means nothing. there are still monsters to kill. still things in the dark that need to go back down to his almost-grave almost-home. ❝ respectfully, the next time you want someone to come back completely untouched, maybe you should consider doing it yourself, praetor, or asking mother dearest to handle it. ❞
