Of Greeks And Romans (Leo Valdez x Reader)

V

You

By the time it was evening muster, I was already changed into the purple camp Jupiter shirt and was waiting patiently with some guards. Hopefully, one of the cohorts would take me in, and at this point, I didn't really care if it was the fifth cohort or not.

I watched as Aubrey took her place in the first cohort. She met my gaze before looking away sharply and whispering something to the other legionnaires. Already, the camp seemed to be in a quiet stir as to who I was. It almost felt like a tingle on the back of my neck having all those eyes on me. Yet, whenever I made eye contact with anyone, they seemed to look away. I already knew they were watching me when they thought I didn't notice.

The first four cohorts were lined up in neat rows in front of their barracks. It was like they were preparing to go to war, and honestly it made me a little nervous. My heart raced a little at the thought, but I willed myself to look calm and not like a lost puppy. I wiggled my fingers at my side just to release some of that nervous energy.

The fifth cohort stood in front of the principia. I already knew it was because their barracks were hidden near the stables. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind if I was in the fifth cohort. After all, all of the greatest heroes were from there. Jason, Hazel, Frank, and Percy.

Just thinking about Jason made me think back to the adventure we had when I first arrived here. A part of me wished we had become better friends. Perhaps if I had stayed around camp halfblood, we would have. Still, I admired the connection I made with Jason, Leo and Piper.

The campers were dressed for war. Their polished chain mail and greaves gleamed over purple T-shirts and jeans. Sword-and-skull designs decorated their helmets. Even their leather combat boots looked ferocious with their iron cleats, great for marching through mud or stomping on faces.

In front of the legionnaires, like a line of giant dominoes, stood their red and gold shields, each the size of a refrigerator door. Every legionnaire carried a harpoonlike spear called a pilum, a gladius, a dagger, and about a hundred pounds of other equipment. It looked exhausting to wear even just looking at it. For sure, you'd be getting a full body work out.

I looked up and noticed that Octavian was looking at me. His armour was freshly cleaned, and he looked a little too smug in his plumed centurion helmet with metals decorating his chest. He seemed to be sizing me up. Perhaps even a bit more than he had earlier considering the recent news he was sure to have heard from his cohort.

I ignored him and instead looked to where Reyna was exiting the principia. She was also in battle armour, but she had a vibrant purple cloak that set her apart from everyone else. It made her look royal. She was riding on a warm brown Pegasus, that trotted effortlessly beneath her. Her two dogs, Aurum and Argentum, walked beside her. The dogs still creeped me out a little. 

I watched as the lares also got into place. Their purple auras flickered, and i couldn't help but smile in amusement as one of them stood halfway in another person. The legionnaire shivered before barking at the lare. It took a few moments before all of the centurions got them sorted out.

Octavian shouted, "Colors!"

The standard-bearers stepped forward. They wore lion-skincapes and held poles decorated with each cohort's emblems. The last standard that was presented was just a long pole. There was nothing on top of it, and the bearer didn't look too happy to present it. The legion seemed to be full of rippling tension whenever they looked at the bearer, and I knew it had to be the legion's eagle. The one that would be recovered by Percy this summer.

Reyna brought her pegasus to a halt.

"Romans!" she announced. "As many of you have heard, we have a newcomer. A demigod by the name of Y/n L/n." I breathed out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she didn't mention the incident in the baths.