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[Since breakfast, Minato has had some ideas. And some problems have formed in his original ideas. And generally, he's just been thinking. And avoiding the goddamn lava wall. But mostly thinking. He's come to at least a few conclusions.]

I was wondering if anyone in Cabin 6 could help me with something. I want to know some of the old stories of the gods. If we're going to meet them, we should know more than just their names. [And they should know if the gods have ever been defeated and if anyone has ever survived the gods deciding it was time for them to be killed just because they were kids of the powerful ones.]

[Another moment.]

Does anyone else know how to control the darkness? [That makes it seem like he's evil oh my god. He should've found a better way to say it.] It could be useful, after all.

[He's just trying to figure out what cards he might have in his hands if it does end up that the gods decide to murder them.]

[A message just to SEES members (yes, Ryoji counts) and Hades kids]

We should get to know Manhattan. If things go wrong.

[No offense to Zeus and Poseidon kids, but these are the people he feels he has a moral obligation to keep not dead.

Minato has never been one for depending on deities to get things done. And he's not entirely comfortable with the idea that he has a dad who hasn't even bothered to do more than cause a blackout to greet him. But he is praying with all of his everything to his father right now that things don't go wrong. Yes, he knows the irony of praying to the God of the Underworld that he and his friends don't die.]

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You didn't need to run...

[A-Aigis calm down. He takes a quiet breath, lets it out again, and sinks down on the dock, his back to the water. He motions for her to sit, too.]

Chiron said Zeus, Poseidon and Hades' kids are... dangerous.

[She looks sheepish. Sure she didn't need to, but she couldn't help herself. "Things going wrong" has essentially been their life motto for the past year, so she's a little anxious to see what this is about.

Regardless, she obeys, though she's not sure what he means by dangerous. Like, building-destroying dangerous, or Ryoji-level dangerous?]

Did he give reasons why?

We're powerful. We argue. We start wars. [He shakes his head. He doesn't plan to start any wars, but he has already had his disagreements with Cabin 1's campers.]

We weren't supposed to be here.

[Instant frown, along with an instant defense.] But you do not start wars.

[Just bring gods to their knees and save humanity.]

You don't do anything like that! Maybe some of their children do, but...

[She shakes her head, like she's trying to clear her thoughts. But she's adamant about this; this won't do at all.] It's not fair to judge you based on others' actions.

[He does, however, contribute to actions that nearly ended the world.]

We have to stay calm. They want us to prove we're not dangerous. If we fight them about it, they'll only have proof we are.

[He knows how unfair it is, he knows how unfair it is to bring him and Shinji back to life only to threaten to kill them again, how unfair it is to not even give Ken a chance, how unfair it is to judge Akihiko because of his determination to fight.

He knows, but he also knows they have to, no matter what, prove they won't start a war. So they have to stay calm and search for a peaceful resolution.

And make a backup plan in the meantime.]

[But they all have. If Minato's guilty, then all of SEES is guilty. There's no doubt in her mind about that.]

I... I understand, but...

["It's unfair" is on the tip of her tongue yet again. She wants to protest, to prove that they aren't dangerous and don't deserve this. Fighting the gods might not be an option like he said, but they just can't lie down and accept their fate like dying dogs.]

...Is it possible to substitute children of those gods with others?

[Yes, she will be willing to die in your place.]

No. I wouldn't let them.

[He's firm when he says it. There is no way in hell he's letting anyone else die in his place. And then his tone softens again. He doesn't want to worry her, and he wants to scold her even less. He knows she's upset and how could he blame her.]

I'll make sure no one dies this time.

...

[It's like he read her mind, and she drops her gaze, ashamed and slightly irritated. But they still can't put all their faith in that the gods will see reason on the basis of good behaviour.

She'd just rather take his place. And maybe Shinjiro's too.]

...I know you can, and I trust you. Just...

[She'd rather have the security in knowing that they for sure won't die.]

[Minato lifts a hand to her cheek when she drops her gaze. It's a little forward, but maybe she needs it. A reminder that they're both solid and here and maybe of the things they--the things that SEES as a whole--have done.

They don't need to be afraid, don't need to worry. But he's the one who left them behind. He knew it was going to hurt them. Of course he knew, but knowing and seeing the way it's affected his friend are two different things.]

I won't go alone this time. [He won't leave them behind, not so long as he can stay alive and keep the world running.]

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