Sewers were never a fun place to wander, that rule applied to even those who treated water as their pet. Dimitri would have never ended up here, had it not been for the scream of a little girl near the back-roads of a pond the locals deemed "magical" in a small city in New Jersey. It had only been two days since he'd visited that pond. The only thing magical about it was how twisted it was that no one had stepped up to stop the pollution in it. Just the presence of such a filthy pool of water that was once natural had upset Dimitri.<br/><br/>The sewer system wasn't that much better. He took comfort knowing that this water was meant to be filthy, and that one day, it may be pure again. He glanced back at his company, two men older than him, a girl who looked like she was in her high-teens, and one little girl who surely wasn't a day passed nine years old. It was her scream that had captured Dimitri's assistance near the pond.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"Just a little bit further, and take the last right before you hit water, kid."</span>A voice cooed from behind him. Dimitri had known Alan for just two days, he gave off a real uneasy vibe, as though he was always ready to attack anything at any time. Still, Alan had originally taken to escorting Asya, the little girl, to a safer civilization.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"I wish you'd just tell me where we're goin', already."</span>Dimitri said with a weary sigh. His southern accent hadn't died down by even the slightest. The demigod was weary of the path he was walking. Everyone in his group had some relationship with water, but not knowing where he was going made him uneasy. He'd stayed with the group, however, to ensure Asya's safety. She was young, and very bright. Dimitri wouldn't allow her to wake up every morning and fend for herself. Wherever they let her go, Dimitri had promised himself he'd make sure they were equipped to take care of a curious child with supernatural links.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"You were the one who wanted in on this so badly. If you want to turn around, you're free to go."</span>The man replied, his voice had always had a controlled demeanor to it, even when they'd been attacked by serpents the day prior, Alan hadn't panicked in any form. It made Dimitri somewhat nervous to imagine what experience Alan had to remain calm during a situation like that. But Alan wouldn't budge on his history, other than his title of Frogman.<br/><br/>Dimitri only replied with an irritable sigh. He took the turn, and he could see daylight.<span style="color: #0040BF">"I see it!"</span>Dimitri said to the back of his party. In the dark, he could only faintly see their expressions with what dim lights they'd carried, but he could see the smiles among most of the members of his group. Using the sewers seemed to be the only safe way for their way to travel in and out of wherever they were going, it seemed like something big was going down wherever they were heading. It only made Dimitri more skeptical of allowing the young girl to stay here.<br/><br/>When the group finally reach the end of the tunnel, where water would normally be flowing out on a rainy day, they could see the view of a city. Everyone's expression only improved as they escaped the wretched stench of the sewers, but Dimitri's dampened. He turned back to his group. Alan, Asya, Patrice, and Hilary.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"You brought us to Boston."</span>Dimitri declared with a worried expression on his face.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">-----</div><br/><br/>Only a couple hours passed, and the group was already ready to split up, and likely keep it that way for good.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF"><span style="font-style: italic">"I want her to go to the Ocean Eleven."</span></span>Dimitri demanded, in a whispered argument to Alan, the man who had taken lead on their escort.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"Like hell she is, son. She's going to the Frogmen. I did not rescue her so that she could go and join up with a lot of disabled crabs!"</span>Alan argued back, loud and proud, uncaring that the entire group could hear them.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"Look, I at least know of the Ocean Eleven. These 'Frogmen' people, I ain't never even-"</span>Dimitri argued back, until he was cut off in the middle of speaking. The people of Boston were quite literally ignoring them as though they were the typical panhandler group.<br/><br/><span style="color: #808000">"Listen, if I could intrude for just a moment here, my captain here wants whats best for the little girl. With the Frogmen, she's going to learn everything she ever will need to in order to survive. She should come with us."</span>Patrice spoke with a much more soft tone than one would expect of his nature.<br/><br/>Dimitri had paused, second guessing himself. He'd hardly ever even seen any members of the Ocean Eleven, but their reputation was benevolent and healthy. He'd been invited to work with them once, but he couldn't bare to sign himself away. Especially if it meant having to pass that cafe every single day.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">"I want to go to the Ocean Eleven."</span>The voice of Asya declared, without any nervousness in the slightest, you'd think she had a career in child acting. Everyone's eyes narrowed, including Dimitri, and in the moment of everyone being stunned that she would interrupt the argument, she continued.<span style="color: #00BF40">"I don't want to be a frogman. I want to go to the Ocean Eleven. I want to contribute something, and learn. I know I'll have to learn how to fight. But I refuse to know how to <span style="font-style: italic">just</span> fight."</span>Asya said, her tone was matter-of-fact.<br/><br/>Dimitri turned his head back to Alan, his expression returned to Dimitri. It was not a happy one.<span style="color: #BF8000">"You got some balls on you, insulting our cause like that."</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"Hey, don't talk to her like that, she's just a little girl!"</span>Dimitri defended Asya, he was naturally driven to protect her. From the conversations they'd had, Dimitri could tell she had traits very often lost in the world. She was the first supernatural being he'd ever met with the nerve, smarts, and relentless nature.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"You got some balls too, kid. Most people know when they're in too deep. They know when to run."</span>Alan squared up to Dimitri, and although Dimitri wasn't feeling good about what was happening, he stood his ground. He'd made up his mind; Asya was worth putting himself in harms way.<span style="color: #BF8000">"Frogmen don't break their oaths, kid. Especially when you have me swearing on Styx that I'll make sure she's taken care of. Fine, we'll bring her to the Ocean Eleven. But you better believe that I'm going to make sure that band of door mats rewards us well for the service."</span><br/><br/>There was silence among the group for the moment, as Alan backed away from his display of dominance. Dimitri turned back to Asya.<span style="color: #0040BF">"Are you comfortable goin' further with them?"</span>Dimitri asked her, openly, and willing to let his group hear.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">"I am. If he takes me to the Ocean Eleven, he gets payed. If he keeps me, he gains nothing but someone who's a hassle to protect and feed. He'll make the right choice."</span>Asya spoke, her calculated version of the facts. It didn't feel good to hear in Dimitri's shoes; how calculating she was about the world.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF8000">"Kid. Say your goodbyes. But hey, you've proven something today. You have nerve. Come find us near the harbor. There's a guy wearing a red peacoat by the water at noon everyday. Say 'icepick' to him and he'll show you the way. You'd make a hell of a frogman if someone taught you the right way."</span>Alan said. He huddled his group back, leaving just Dimitri and Asya.<br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"Look, I only have time to tell you this once. And I'm startin' to think you know more about the world than I do. But Asya, no matter what happens, no matter how much you calculate, no matter how careful you are, no matter you think, you're goin' to get hurt. Asya, you can't avoid it. Please, I need you to remember that it's just part of livin' like one of us. You have such a bright head on those shoulder. Use it to do the right thing."</span><br/><br/>Asya's head tilted, as though she was calculating what to say. She paused for a moment.<span style="color: #00BF40">"Is that why you saved me? Because it was 'the right thing' to do?"</span>She asked. It was the first question he had heard he ask that involved a why, as though she was trying to understand but couldn't.<br/><br/>Dimitri smiled, and put a hand on her shoulder.<span style="color: #0040BF">"We'll see each other again, I promise."</span><br/><br/>Watching Asya go off wasn't easy, it broke Dimitri's heart to see another person he cared for walk away, but once again, it was the best choice for her to make. The demigod's eyes clamped shut, and his fingers clung to his eyelids to wipe the tears that were coming. Everything happening reminded him of what had happened a year and a half beforehand. One glance up yanked him out of his stance, however, something had caught his eye. The shape of a man, one he'd only come to know as his true father.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">-----</div><br/><br/>Dimitri chased after the shape. Though it always seemed to never be where it last was. This wasn't shocking to Dimitri, his father<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>a god after all. Building after building, block after block, Dimitri followed. No one else acknowledged the shape, as though only Dimitri could see it. After so many places passed, Dimitri could tell where the shadows were leading him. Dimitri could feel a weight on his chest, as he passed so many memories of Alannah. Small benches, trees, brick paths, all of them reminded him of times he had spent with her on them. The burden he could feel made him completely forget about the cold crisp in the air of Boston.<br/><br/>It wasn't long before Dimitri had reached where he knew his destination would be. The old cafe. Dimitri saw his father leaning on the wall, a coffee in his hand. Dimitri's expression hardened when he was his father. He blamed the god for so much that happened in his life. Dimitri didn't hesitate in his approach. "What do you want?!" Dimitri asked him outright.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"Sea salt swirl in my coffee, but sadly they don't serve such a thing here."</span>Dimitri's father, Nereus, replied with a smug voice and a shrug.<span style="color: #BFBFFF">"The barista there is very kind, I'll have you know-"</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"You are treadin' on ice so thin that not even a finch would risk landin' on it."</span>Dimitri warned.<br/><br/>Nereus replied with hysterical laughs, only worsening Dimitri's expression.<span style="color: #BFBFFF">"I have another job for you. But first, go in and buy one of these horrid bitter hot beverages."</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #0040BF">"No."</span>Dimitri stuttered out.<span style="color: #0040BF">"That ain't a good idea. Just- what do you want me to do this time?"</span>Dimitri asked. Defeat laced his voice. He already knew he was stuck in this.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBFFF">"I insist. Go on in, and grab a coffee. Sit down afterwards, and I'll join you. And we'll talk business."</span>Dimitri gave him a look of defiance, as the god dissolved into a puddle. Rain started coming down, though it wouldn't be nearly enough to melt the snow. The rain turned into a downpour, and fast. Dimitri knew it was a warning, but when his hand grabbed the handle, it just shook. After all of the monsters, turning this doorknob was still the scariest thing he'd faced.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">-----</div><br/><br/>After what felt like an eternity, Dimitri mustered up all of his nerve and opened up the door. He'd prayed that Alannah had the day off, looking at her was not going to be easy. Surely enough, it was the two people that showing his face to was a bad plan when he walked in. Dimitri approached the counter. To Dimitri's further dismay, there was no one else in the cafe.<br/><br/>There she was, the first person in the world he'd ever felt true love for. She still looked just as beautiful to the demigod, even with the time having passed. He couldn't see a single difference between her now and her nearly two years ago. Looking at her, there were hundreds of things he wanted to confess to her. He felt the weight on his chest become more and more heavy, until it felt like he was Atlas, holding the weight of the world up. He couldn't bring himself to say anything about what they once had, it would just be too painful.<br/><br/>In one split second, he'd made eye contact with her, and his eyes darted to the ground. He'd have felt angry towards his father, if this itself wasn't so cruel in the moment. Dimitri sighed. He looked up at Daniel. He wondered what Daniel might think of him now. Though he imagined it still wasn't any good.<span style="color: #0040BF">"I need... a coffee. Black."</span>Dimitri spoke out, in shame. He could imagine in the back of his head just how much his father was laughing at the comedy show now.