ššššš ( @furysburn ) said, " You were supposed to protect him ! "
šš'š ššššš Ā been Ā good Ā at Ā protecting Ā people. Ā for Ā a Ā little Ā while, Ā he Ā can Ā almost Ā pass Ā as Ā though Ā heās Ā decent Ā at Ā it. Ā for Ā a Ā little Ā while, Ā he Ā can Ā keep Ā people Ā safe. Ā the Ā longer Ā they Ā are Ā within Ā his Ā care, Ā however, Ā the Ā more Ā damned Ā they Ā are Ā in Ā the Ā long Ā haul. Ā a Ā monster Ā will Ā appear Ā from Ā nowhere, Ā a Ā great Ā threat Ā will Ā breach Ā their Ā defenses Ā && Ā whisk Ā them Ā away Ā while Ā his Ā back Ā is Ā turned, Ā a Ā titan Ā may Ā very Ā well Ā claw Ā their Ā way Ā out Ā from Ā tartarus Ā ( Ā much Ā like Ā he Ā himself Ā did Ā ) Ā && Ā bring Ā themselves Ā back Ā for Ā the Ā sole Ā purpose Ā of Ā ripping Ā his Ā heart Ā out Ā again.Ā Ā Ā those Ā who Ā stay Ā close Ā to Ā him Ā are Ā not Ā long Ā for Ā the Ā world; Ā they Ā will Ā die, Ā oft Ā times Ā by Ā his Ā own Ā hands Ā or Ā by Ā way Ā of Ā his Ā mistakes. Ā verso Ā knows Ā this. Ā he Ā knew Ā this Ā when Ā he Ā decided Ā to Ā aid Ā camp Ā jupiter Ā in Ā some Ā quest Ā or Ā other Ā involving Ā another Ā demigod. Ā maybe Ā his Ā half-brother. Ā maybe Ā one Ā of Ā her Ā siblings. Ā the Ā details Ā of Ā it Ā are Ā blissfully Ā murky Ā now, Ā obscured Ā by Ā the Ā red Ā āround Ā his Ā hands Ā && Ā the Ā fog Ā of Ā rage Ā over Ā his Ā better Ā judgment.Ā Ā Ā some Ā slim Ā part Ā of Ā him Ā whispers Ā that Ā kronos Ā was Ā right. Ā ( always Ā was. Ā )more Ā hurt Ā demigods. Ā the Ā hell Ā am Ā i Ā even Ā good Ā for Ā if Ā i Ā cant Ā keep Ā a Ā few Ā kids Ā safe on Ā a Ā road-trip? Ā he Ā wishes Ā mount Ā othrys Ā would Ā have Ā collapsed Ā a Ā little Ā bit Ā faster.Ā Ā Ā ā Ā && Ā i Ā did, Ā ā Ā snaps Ā zeusā Ā son Ā to Ā the Ā daughter Ā of Ā bellona. Ā ā Ā heās Ā alive, Ā isnāt Ā he Ā ?? Ā ā Ā he Ā jerks Ā his Ā chin Ā to Ā the Ā door Ā of Ā her Ā office, Ā gestures Ā to Ā the Ā camp Ā beyond Ā it. Ā the Ā dogtags Ā āround Ā his Ā neck Ā clink Ā against Ā one Ā another Ā like Ā angry Ā wind-chimes. Ā ā Ā maybe Ā not Ā in Ā the Ā best Ā shape, Ā sure, Ā && Ā i Ā take Ā fault Ā for Ā that, Ā but Ā he Ā was Ā protected. Ā heās Ā still Ā breathing. Ā heāll Ā keep Ā breathing. Ā āĀ Ā Ā thereās Ā an Ā ache Ā as Ā he Ā lowers Ā his Ā arm, Ā shoving Ā his Ā hand Ā back Ā into Ā his Ā pockets. Ā the Ā patchwork Ā first-aid Ā he Ā applied Ā to Ā himself, Ā beyond Ā the Ā gates Ā of Ā camp Ā jupiter Ā && Ā hidden Ā āneath Ā his Ā undershirt, Ā is Ā starting Ā to Ā give. Ā everything Ā went Ā to Ā making Ā sure Ā the Ā younger Ā demigod Ā got Ā back Ā in Ā one Ā piece; Ā damn Ā his Ā own Ā heart, Ā damn Ā his Ā own Ā body, Ā it Ā will Ā work Ā for Ā as Ā long Ā as Ā he Ā needs Ā it Ā to. Ā a Ā little Ā bit Ā of Ā bloodloss Ā && Ā potential Ā infection Ā means Ā nothing. Ā there Ā are Ā still Ā monsters Ā to Ā kill. Ā still Ā things Ā in Ā the Ā dark Ā that Ā need Ā to Ā go Ā back Ā down Ā to Ā his Ā almost-grave Ā almost-home.Ā Ā Ā ā Ā respectfully, Ā the Ā next Ā time Ā you Ā want Ā someone Ā to Ā come Ā back Ā completely Ā untouched, Ā maybe Ā you Ā should Ā consider Ā doing Ā it Ā yourself, Ā praetor, or asking mother dearest to handle it. Ā āĀ Ā Ā
