location: hephaestus cabin who? @tiredanvilandmace
training had gone well today. lev won a spar he thought almost even, so when he returned home to the poseidon cabin to throw some lunch for nico & him together, one could say he was content. he wasn't happy per se, but … yeah, content. the frown on his face, the brows that usually curled in on themselves were in an almost relaxed position, the sandwiches lev had made some of the best he ever did - if you asked him. sandwiches stuffed into his bag, he sent nico a quick text to let him know to get some coffee cooking, because lev had about an hour and a half for lunch with nico. depending on how …thorough nico wanted lunch to be… lev had planned some extra time.
after san fransisco, he was determined to distance himself from his schedule, but he .. couldn't. not like this, not yet. his mental stability a thin thread that might tear at any second, he relied too much on the routine to keep the urges in check. but.. he was more gentle when it came to sticking to it & called off a few sessions to make room for nico. or others. he was headed for the workshop, didn't bother checking his phone for a response, because why on earth would nico not be reading messages? surely, work could wait a few minutes while he brewed some coffee.
inside, he found… no nico in the kitchen. maybe the coffee was fast? maybe he'd expected lev & so he had brought the coffee downstairs to work while he waited for lev. yeah, that'd be it. heading towards nico's workplace, lev … held. voices? he heard laughter. what? he didn't recognize those voices. when he came in… to find the other poseidon child all but sprawled across one of the work tables & someone else entirely lounged comfortably in kit's bean bag, he …. stood in the doorway & glared stared. what the fuck was going on and why was mister piece of shit show off water-bender here …. grinning at his ..fiancé?
…..they knew each other?