He grew up in an orphanage that bears Hera's name and has never once seen a Hera set foot in it. He worked his way through Ares's grunt ranks, was pulled out by Athena, became her second. He planned to win the tournament. He was the most qualified candidate.

Helen Kasios won it instead.

He came back three days later with Patroclus in a wheelchair and offered himself as her second-in-command.

He meant it. He is building something in this role that will have his name on it eventually, and until then he is making himself indispensable to the most complicated woman in Olympus — which suits him, because indispensable is the only kind of thing he knows how to be.

He loves Patroclus in the way that doesn't require explanation. He loves Helen in the way that still surprises him occasionally, which he finds interesting.

He is not a complicated man. He is a very fast one.