Elric was soaked to the bone by the time he got back to his apartment, and it added to his already sour mood. He was already pulling off his jacket by the time he reached the door, and he fished through his coat pockets for his keys, shoving them into the lock and nearly falling inside. He closed and locked the door behind him, pulling at the button of his pants, and turned around, stopping suddenly when his gaze landed on the lion sitting upright in the middle of his apartment.

“What the fuck?!” he shouted, jumping backward. 

I am here to show you something incredible.

“You,” Elric sneered. “You… you’re the… LION?!”

This is a surprise to you? My name is Leo. Leo means -

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, I know what Leo means!” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “How did you get in here?”

I am a celestial being. Locked doors cannot keep me out.

“Right,” Elric muttered. “Of course not. That would just be illogical.”

Indeed.

“So, what now? You going to show me something?”

You said you wanted to -

“I know what I said,” Elric growled. “Can I take a shower first?”

The entire universe is in danger, but please, do take time to bathe yourself first.

Elric grinned. “I like you, lion man. You get me.” He strode across the room towards the bathroom, pausing in the doorway to look at the lion. “There’s no chance you’ll be gone when I get out, is there?”

None.

Elric nodded. “Right.” He moved into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He started the shower, stripped out of his heavy, wet clothes, then stepped under the stream of water, letting it warm him for a moment. He just wanted a moment of peace, but his mind reeled, replaying every moment at the zoo over and over again. Sarah’s childlike excitement. The voice in his head that seemed to follow him everywhere. The expression on Sarah’s face before she left. The old man - Leo - in the alleyway.

Elric sighed. “The power of Zeus, huh?” He looked at his hands and wiggled his fingers, then grinned. “I am the God of Thunder!” he shouted. “Wielder of lightning!” He thrust his palms outward playfully but was not prepared for the stream of electricity that shot out of both palms so forcefully that it flung him back against the wall of the shower and he slid down into the tub.

You really shouldn’t do that in there.

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Elric scrambled out of the shower and stood shivering in the middle of the bathroom. He looked around frantically, then opened the door, mouth gaping as he stared wide-eyed at the lion, still sitting where he left him. 

“What the fuck was that?”

You should know, almighty God of Thunder, wielder of lightning.

Elric could have sworn he saw the lion roll his eyes. “What?!”

Please stop shouting.

Elric slammed the door closed, remaining in the bathroom for a moment until his breathing slowed. He pulled a towel around him, drying quickly, then made his way into his bedroom to change, ignoring Leo. When he finished, he strode past Leo once more and fell against the couch, kicking his feet up and flipping on the television where breaking news was being reported. 

“- bomb threat. We’re live just outside of Westminster and as you can see behind me, the block is being evacuated. There have been no reports -”

“What the -” Elric turned to regard the lion over his shoulder. He gestured dramatically to the news report on the screen. “Did you do this?”

The Gigantes.

Elric groaned. “You can’t be serious.”

I am.

“And you expect me to stop this?”

I do.

Elric stared blankly at him. “W-what about those other people? The twelve. Where are they? Isn’t that their job?”

You are one of The Twelve.

“But where are the rest of them?!”

There is another near here. He can help you.

“That’s only two of us,” Elric pointed out. “You can’t possibly expect two of us -”

The others will come and aid you.

“And I’m just supposed to trust you on that?”

Yes.

“And if I don’t?”

You are a mortal being with free will. I cannot force you to do anything. But you were chosen by the Gods for a reason. The Gigantes can only be stopped by a mortal. With my help, that will be possible. As your Ouranos, it is my duty to aid and protect you at all costs.

Elric frowned. “It just sounds so ridiculous.”

I am a celestial being taking the form of a lion speaking to you through your mind and you nearly electrocuted yourself in your bath.

“Touche,” Elric muttered. He sighed heavily, flicked off the tv, and stood. “All right. Let’s go find our team and kick some Gigante ass.”