Halcyon [Leo Valdez x Reader]

The Mark of Athena

Being stuck with Leo was the second worst part of the day. It felt like an eternity that I had to just grin and bear it. Part of it was Hazel's fault. For a girl with super underground senses, she wasn't much good in Rome. She kept leading us around and around the city, getting dizzy, and doubling back, almost doubling our time together.

"Sorry," she said. "It's just...there's so much underground here, so many layers, it's overwhelming. Like standing in the middle of an orchestra and trying to concentrate on a single instrument. I'm going deaf."

As a result, we got a tour of Rome. Frank seemed happy to plod along like a big sheepdog (hmm, I wondered if he could turn into one of those, or even better: a horse that we could ride). But Leo started to get impatient. I could relate. My feet were sore, the day was sunny and hot, and the streets were choked with tourists.

The Forum was okay, but it was mostly ruins overgrown with bushes and trees. It took a lot of imagination to see it as the bustling center of Ancient Rome. I could only manage it because I'd seen New Rome in California.

We passed big churches, freestanding arches, clothing stores, and fast-food restaurants. One statue of some Ancient Roman dude seemed to be pointing to a nearby McDonald's.

On the wider streets, the car traffic was absolutely nuts—man, I thought people in LA drove crazy—but we spent most of our time weaving through small alleys, coming across fountains and little cafés where we were not allowed to rest.

"I never thought I'd get to see Rome," Hazel said. "When I was alive, I mean the first time, Mussolini was in charge. We were at war."

"Mussolini?" Leo frowned. "Wasn't he like BFFs with Hitler?"

Hazel stared at him like he was an alien. "BFFs?"

"Never mind."

"I'd love to see the Trevi Fountain," she said.

"There's a fountain on every block," Leo grumbled.

"Or the Spanish Steps," Hazel said.

"Why would you come to Italy to see Spanish steps?" Leo asked. "That's like going to China for Mexican food, isn't it?"

"You're hopeless," Hazel complained.

"So I've been told."

She turned to Frank and grabbed his hand, as if Leo had ceased to exist. "Come on. I think we should go this way."

Frank gave Leo a confused smile—like he couldn't decide whether to gloat or to thank Leo for being a doofus—but he cheerfully let Hazel drag him along.

I crossed my arms as I followed behind the two. Maybe it was just because of our breakup, but Leo's quips were getting on my nerves. If Hazel or Frank asked, I planned to just say it was the heat.

After walking forever, Hazel stopped in front of a church. At least, I assumed it was a church. The main section had a big domed roof. The entrance had a triangular roof, typical Roman columns, and an inscription across the top: M. AGRIPPA something or other.

"Latin for Get a grip?" Leo speculated.

"This is our best bet." Hazel sounded more certain than she had all day. "There should be a secret passage somewhere inside."

Tour groups milled around the steps. Guides held up colored placards with different numbers and lectured in dozens of languages like they were playing some kind of international bingo.

Leo listened to the Spanish tour guide for a few seconds, and then he reported to us, "This is the Pantheon. It was originally built by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to the gods. After it burned down, Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it, and it's been standing for two thousand years. It's one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world."