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Athene shook his head “To be honest I haven’t got a clue. From conversations I’ve had with one of their members – Remarque – I don’t think it’s all of them,” he bit hip before adding “We have a meeting – senshi and knights together. It was organised by Polaris who leads the team I’m a part off as a way for us to share information with each other” not that much information had ended up been shared due to all the bickering that had also gone on.

“But the Negaverse and Dark Mirror senshi gate crashed it and I saw members of the Dark Mirror court specifically going after the Pages.” The tone of Athene’s voice suggested that they hadn’t been going over to have a chat. He frowned slightly “Maybe one of the Knights who have been around could tell you more. You could try Camelot if you encounter him – I think he’s been around for a while and he’s friendly too.”

Athene shook his head “I’m not sure of Camelot’s patrol route and the last few times I’ve encountered him have been during run-ins with youma. I got the sense that he patrols a fair deal though, so hopefully you’ll run into him sooner rather than later.”

He looked thoughtful for a moment and then added “I’m not sure how much you know about auras, but his aura’s really strong – it’d be stronger than mine or even one of your Squires” Athene knew that not all new senshis or knights were lucking enough to get the ‘sensing auras 101’ talk – he certainly hadn’t.

“There are quite a few out there stronger than me” Athene admitted ruefully as he absently fiddled with his braid. “I'm trying to get stronger though.” His rueful expression turned into a smile.

“And you’re welcome. I honestly don’t mind sharing what information I know. I know what it’s like having to muddle through things on your own.” Having spent a fair deal of his time as a base senshi muddling through things on his own he wouldn't wish the experience on anyone.

“By the way if you ever want a patrol partner, then I don’t mind patrolling with others either” for a moment he’d hesitated about making the offer, worried that he’d come across as being too forward. “I’m not particularly wedded to patrolling alone.”

Athene could sympathise with the whole reacting badly thing – he hadn’t exactly embraced senshidom himself. In fact for a while after summer camp the dark-haired teen had tried to forget the whole thing. Not that his attempts to bury his head in the sand had actually worked.

He gave rueful smile “It’s definitely nicer patrolling with company,” he said with a nod. “And the whole being able to watch for each other’s backs element is always good too.” Taking a sip of the by now lukewarm mocha, Athene mentally noted that it didn’t really taste as good cold. “I don’t actually have a fixed patrol route, but I usually pick up a hot drink from the diner near the hospital so my patrols tend to start from around there.”

“I guess it feels like a bit of both at times” Athene said after thinking on it a little. “On the one hand I’m stronger when I power up” the idea of him as Arian being able to building jump and swing a parking meter like an oversized bat was pretty laughable.

“And there’s the whole thing about magic being real” talking cats weren’t exactly run of the mill after all, neither was being able to use magic. “But it can be horrible too” and the dark-haired senshi wasn’t just talking about the youma, after all seeing someone’s soul crystal (starseed) yanked out was horrible too. “But I’ve met some really nice people too, people I probably wouldn’t have met if I hadn’t had a talking cat give me an over-sized magic pen and explain that I had this alternative identity.”

“That makes sense” Athene said nodding “Everyone seemed so much better at this than I was when I first started out doing this and then there was me and it felt like I was just stumbling along. But then you get better.”

He gave a rueful smile. “Not to say that I’m actually brilliant at being a senshi now” because he wasn’t. “But I’m a lot better than when I started” at least he thought he was. “I guess that it’s the same way for most of us” after all they couldn’t all start out perfect.

Fiddling with his braid, Athene absently listened to the soft ‘click-click’ of the beads braided in as they were pushed together as he added “It’s like you say – one step at a time – but I’m sure that you’ll be a good Knight.” His quiet voice was sincere.

“I’m glad I could help a little.” Athene had found his own introduction to the world of having a powered alter-ego pretty overwhelming and the mostly having to bumble around on his own hadn’t helped. Somehow, by trial and error, he had managed to pick things up here and there – heck with ********* help he had even managed to upgrade a rank – but at times it had felt like much more error than trial and it wasn’t something that the dark-haired senshi would wish on any fellow senshi or knight.

The hug took him by surprise. Maybe it shouldn’t have – despite the fact that Athene probably could have counted the amount of touchy-feely people he’d come into contact with on two hands prior to his move to Destiny City, the dark-haired senshi had run into a few touchy-feely people both powered and unpowered since then.

However despite Gigi, who the dark-haired senshi considered a god friend and Sutai who was one of his fellow Shepherds, Athene was still awkward about the whole thing, evidenced by the awkward and totally self-conscious if gentle pat on the arm that he gave Aventine in response.

“I’m glad I ran into you too.” And despite his awkwardness over the hug Athene’s voice was sincere. Okay so they hadn’t literally run into each other, which probably wouldn’t have been much fun, however Aventine came across as an okay person and Athene had been enjoying their conversation.

It was relatively late though and Athene was aware that he should probably be thinking of starting to head back home. Tomorrow was a school day and it was probably a good idea for him to get home before Saffy got back from her late shift considering that his cousin had no idea about this aspect of his nocturnal activities and he wanted to keep it that way.

“I should probably be heading home soon myself” Athene admitted, the lateness of the evening not lost on him. “I’ll definitely look out for you when I’m out on patrol” he smiled “And thank you – please keep safe too and I hope you have a pleasant evening yourself.”

After a quick wave farewell to the Venus Page, Athene let his feet set a path for home. With the warmth of the Summer evenings little more than a memory, the dark-haired senshi was grateful more than ever for the pants that his upgrade had gifted him with – so much better than the shorts and t-shirt ensemble that he’d been stuck with last year.

It had been a quiet patrol, but Aventine had been welcome company – definitely a friendly face that he wouldn’t mind seeing again.