Chapter Text
Connor Stoll decided to take matters into his own hands.
He was a child of Hermes stealing a ghost should be easy, even for him. Though he forgot he needed someone of musical talent to open up the door Orpheus used to walk into the underworld then he was further unprepared because where in the Hades did Elysium start? The underworld was huge, how would he even find Lee Fletcher…
Nico Di Angelo decided to take pity on him.
He first asked Will for a recording of a few songs done by the Apollo cabin and met up with the pacing son of Hermes. It was interesting to see the boy who held an overwhelming well of confidence, in this light. It was also terrifying what love can turn people into sometimes Nico realized. He wondered if he or Will's ever looked the way Connor does now, in a nervous breaking point.
Nico stepped past the boy and allowed the music to play loud next to the sealed doors. Slowly, they opened to the familiar dark staircase and Nico turned to Connor, "Well Orpheus? We need to collect your Eurydice. I'll take to you Elysium and let you look. I'll speak to my dad, I'm sure Lee can come back if not well, you know how the story of Orpheus went. Don't make the same mistakes." He said before leading Connor down the stairs and to Elysium.
Lee Fletcher couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He probably would've had a heart attack if he wasn't already dead. There was no way Connor Stoll was dead. He always thought if anyone would cheat Thanatos, It would've been the Stoll brothers. And even then, those two would've died together in some brotherly sacrifice. He was Connor walk around and- was he trying to pickpocket the ghosts? Of course, he was. Lee walked over to him and crossed his arms standing behind the man who was trying to hide behind a shimmering bush.
"Babe."
Connor lept into the air like a cat then turned around quickly like he was going to explain himself before just stopping all movement. Lee was worried for about a second before Connor fell through him and onto the ground. "Well, at least you're not dead too," Lee said sighing in relief.
Connor stood back up looking at Lee. "I've come for the ultimate heist, I'm stealing a VIG, Very important ghost. That's you, we're going home."
Home. To the Apollo cabin. To Malcolm. To Mitchell. To Connor. But… "What about Michael?"
"He lives on in the leg Neeks keeps in his cabin. Speaking of Neeks, he should be here soon with news." Connor replied
Nico returned to tell Connor he'd have to take Lee up through the doors like Orpheus was to take Eurydice. The same rules had applied, Connor couldn’t look back to make sure Lee was following. The closer to the door the more Lee would become silenced. They had to rely on trust, on their love, to get through that door together. Nico would be waiting for them on the other side as he stayed with them until Connor knew where he was going and shadowed traveled to the surface.
Connor started to walk, at first, he could hear Lee’s footsteps following him. Then he hit the halfway mark because the footprints faded out. He wanted to look back, but he also knew Nico was on his side and wouldn’t let Hades play any tricks like taking Lee back. He did slow down to see if he could hear or feel anything, but he was met with cold silence. The underworld really sucked, how did Percy do it when he was twelve? So he just kept going, he refused to take any other choice. Eventually, the door was in sight but he didn’t speed up. He didn’t want to accidentally leave Lee behind in his rush to leave.
As Connor walked through the door two things happened. He accidentally looked directly into the sun, ow that hurt. Also, a warm body collided with his back and almost took him out. Keyword almost, because the moment he realized who it was he spun around and gathered the arrow boy in his arms. Hugging him like he wanted to since Nico dropped him off in Elysium. Lee returned the hug with his own shy grin on his face.
“Let’s go home.”
The home where they have two more waiting for them. He couldn't wait to see Malcolm and His awkward smile or Mitchell and his...well he's Aphrodite's kid what do you expect, his siblings who will be excited he’s back- Will’s head to dunk in a toilet. Lovingly of course.
Home.