𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

10

A sea of hastily assembled demigods parted for Annabeth as she walked through the forum. Some looked tense, some nervous. Some were bandaged from their recent battle with the giants, but no one was armed. No one attacked.

Entire families had gathered to see the newcomers. Hadrian saw couples with babies, toddlers clinging to their parents' legs, even some elderly folks in a combination of Roman robes and modern clothes. Were all of them demigods? He suspected so, though he'd never seen a place like this. At Camp Half-Blood, most demigods were teens. If they survived long enough to graduate from high school, they either stayed on as counselors or left to start lives as best they could in the mortal world. Here, it was an entire multigenerational community.

He longed for a life like that- just him and Kira living without fear of fighting the next monster. If he wasn't constantly trying not to die, Hadrian thought he would have studied literature, mythology, history, lgbtq history. Maybe he would have grown up to open a book store or a record store or a café or... just something peaceful, really. 

His stomach turned when he realized Gaea winning would wipe all of this out, turn it all into a wasteland. He forced himself to focus elsewhere.

Some part of Hadrian's mind registered how beautiful the city was—the smells from the bakeries, the gurgling fountains, the flowers blooming in the gardens.

In front of Annabeth, the demigods made way for a girl in full Roman armor and a purple cape. Dark hair tumbled across her shoulders. Her eyes were as black as obsidian.

Reyna.

Jason had described her well. Even without that, anyone would have singled her out as the leader. Medals decorated her armor. She carried herself with such confidence the other demigods backed away and averted their gaze.

The two girls considered each other. Jason, Leo and Hadrian fanned out on either side. The Romans murmured Jason's name, staring at him in awe.

Then someone else appeared from the crowd, and Hadrian could practically feel the cartoon hearts around Annabeth.

Percy Jackson waded out from the crowd. His dark hair was swept to one side like he'd just come from a walk on the beach. His eyes had lit up when he saw the blonde, a sarcastic, trouble maker smile spread across his features.

He looked mostly the same. But a little more mature, more grown up. 

Hadrian bit back everything he wanted to say. If it wasn't for Percy Jackson, he wouldn't even be here. Kira would be alive. They could survive on their own, away from both of these camps. They could just live by themselves, no gods, no drama.

Hadrian was a little scared of being recognized as well. Hadrian had met him once, nearly two years ago, he doubted the son of Poseidon remembered that, but he still shifted uncomfortably.

Ugh, Hadrian could puke. Technically, being the son of Eros, he should feel good being the presence of two people who very clearly liked each other, but his nerves were too high strung for him to feel anything other than the anxiety in his stomach.

Hadrian half expected Annabeth to fly across the distance into Percy's arms and kiss him. But the two remained rooted to their places.

The praetor Reyna straightened. With apparent reluctance, she turned toward Jason.

"Jason Grace, my former colleague..." She spoke the word colleague like it was a dangerous thing. "I welcome you home. And these, your friends—"

The suddenly, Annabeth surged forward. Percy rushed towards her at the same them. The crowd tensed. Some reached for swords that weren't there.