Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Note: This is my first PercyJackson fanfiction, so please be kind! This is meant to be a series of moments in the series, mostly scenes in between the scenes in the book. Kind of like a behind the scenes.
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Note: This happens after the battle at the end of Son of Neptune but the day of the ceremony where Percy becomes an official Camp Jupiter camper and a day or two before the arrival of ArgoII.
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Chapter 1: New Robes
The sun rose on the camp's battered grounds, evidence of the war that had transpired only days before. Roman style buildings rose out of ground, some burnt and broken, others slightly blackened from fire. It was unusually quiet and peaceful as the residents of this modern Rome rested after the celebrations that had raged into the night the day before. Even the demigods and legacies were not up as usual as they slept their exhaustion away.
Inside the Fifth Cohort slept the heroes who had made the victory from two nights ago possible. One in particular, was the black haired boy slumbering away on his cot. He slept on his back, his shaggy unruly hair partially falling over his eyelids. His eyelids were hiding the brilliant sea green eyes that served to show his heritage as a son of Poseidon, Neptune for the Romans.
He lay peacefully, smiling his typical silly grin in his sleep.
He was for the moment, at peace.
But not for long.
There was a quick firm knock on the door to the room.
The boy didn't stir from his slumber.
After a moment's silence, an impatient sigh was heard from the other side of the door. The door was pushed open and in entered a beautiful dark haired girl. She strode in royal purple robes. The girl stopped in front of the black haired boy's bed and took a glance at his sleeping form. She then turned to look over at the small table beside the bed. Standing on the table was a folded faded orange t-shirt and a leather strap with four beads strung on the string. Beside the shirt was a pile of purple robes thrown hastily on the table. The girl frowned at this lackadaisical treatment of the camp leader's robes and placed her hands on her hips as she turned back at the sleeping boy.
"Praetor Percy," she called out sternly.
When he didn't respond she called again, this time more forcefully, "Percy, wake up! Praetors aren't supposed to sleep in!"
Despite her rather noisy orders, the boy named Percy didn't even flicker an eyelid.
Finally, giving up, she reached out to his shoulder and shook him roughly.
After a few violent tugs, the boy opened his eyes, revealing his sea green eyes. He raked a hand through his hair and yawned. He then turned his head and lifted it to see the girl in the purple and gold robes glaring down at him with her arms crossed.
He swung his legs around the bed and sat facing her on the bed. He then raised his face to hers and gave her a sheepish grin.
"Eh, good morning, Reyna," Percy greeted.
She sighed as she lowered her arms and stated, "As Praetor, you should have been awake and ready by now."
He scratched his head and inquired, "For what?"
"For the ceremony today! And the senate meeting in a couple days! Where you'll have to make a case for welcoming the Greeks instead of shooting them down like Octavian is suggesting!" Reyna snapped.
Percy tensed at the mention of Octavian and his eyes became more serious. He muttered quiet, "Right, we need to keep Octavian from having them skewered."
Reyna didn't need to add anymore to her explanation; Percy knew the importance of this day.
"Okay, sorry. So what do I need to do to be ready?" he asked as he stood up and gave her a determined expression on his face.
Reyna reached over for the set of robes on the table, then reached her arms out to Percy with the robes in her arms, declaring, "First things first, you need to put these on. Then I'll give a rundown of today's meeting and your responsibilities…"
But Percy wasn't listening. He had already grabbed the cloth and was holding it up peering at the folds of the robes. He was trying with little success to find out how the toga was supposed to be worn. He stuck his head through a gaping hole and faced her, the robe in between them, "How are you supposed to get this dress on?"
His co-Praetor frowned, "It's a toga, Percy."
He frowned as he looked at the second piece, the cape. He began to hold the two pieces up to his face and studied them, trying to figure out the secret of this contraption.
Reyna watched his struggled at finding where the toga was supposed to be slipped on with growing impatience and annoyance. She let out an exasperated sigh before turning to the cot on the other side of the room, "Centurion Zhang, kindly assist your new Praetor with his robes."
Frank Zhang, who had been sleeping quietly, woke up with a start. He jumped off the bed and stood in battle position as if ready for a fight. Seeing Percy's struggle with the robes and Reyna's impatient glare at the son of Neptune, he quickly approached his friend and offered to help.
Percy sighed and responded, "Thanks, Frank."
Frank smiled as he took the robes and began to fix them and find where Percy would slip his head through.
From behind Reyna, a voice boom, "Brother need help to dress?"
Percy grimaced, "Guess so, big guy. But don't tell Annabeth, I'd never live this down."
"Aw, that was the first thing I was going to tell her!" Frank teased.
Percy shot him a glare as Tyson, his younger brother, stomped in and stopped beside Reyna.
Frank finally managed to find the correct way to slip on the robes. He held the robes for Percy as Percy reached to remove his shirt. Just as he was about to pull the shirt off, he gave Reyna a look to leave before he changed. Reyna merely rolled his eyes, "Come on Jackson, hurry up and dress."
Percy frowned and removed his shirt but quickly covered his bare torso with the Camp Jupiter purple t-shirts. Frank handed him the robes and Percy slipped them over his head and over his shorts. Frank and Tyson helped to straighten up the robes as Reyna observed the process. Frank then brought over the cape and gently connected the cape to Percy's robes. After finishing with his work Frank stood back to admire their new Praetor.
Percy Jackson truly looked every bit the part of a Roman leader, maybe even an emperor.
Unfortunately, he ruined that image as he attempted to take a step forward. His feet caught onto the bottom of the toga and he nearly fell face first onto the floor when a strong arm saved him from his fall. Percy looked up to see a grinning Tyson holding him by his back and pulling Percy up to a standing position.
"Thanks, Tyson. These robes need getting used to, though," he remarked.
Before Reyna could speak, there was a knock on the door. Percy called out, "Come in."
A curly haired girl stepped in. She smiled widely at Tyson and Percy, and gave Frank a quick peck on the cheek. She then turned to greet Reyna before the female Praetor began her thorough observation over Percy's new look.
"Good, but something has to be done with that messy mop you call your hair," Reyna noted as she looked Percy up and down.
Percy's hands flew up to his hair and he gave her a bewildered look, "Not the hair!"
Reyna didn't respond but merely ordered, "Comb."
Hazel gave Percy an apologetic expression before procuring a comb and handing it over to the outstretched arm of her Praetor.
Reyna then began to advance on Percy as if advancing on a soldier in a battle. She held the comb up as he began to back away from her. This resulted in him slipping again but luckily he fell onto his bed.
He then looked up pleadingly to Reyna, "Come on, you my hair can't be tame. Leave it alone. It looks great, Annabeth loved it."
The dark haired girl standing in front of him responded, "As the new Praetor of Camp Jupiter, the campers expect a well-dressed and well-disciplined leader. That means keeping your hair from looking so unruly!"
"Sorry," Percy stated quickly and he raised his arms in surrender.
Reyna sighed and then handed the comb to Percy, who attempted for a good ten minutes to fix his hair. But for some reason, he just could not flatten his hair or make it less messy than it was in the beginning. In fact, for all his efforts, Percy just seemed to be making his hair even worse.
The others watched his struggle with his hair, Reyna with impatience, the others with amusement.
Finally, Reyna gave up and said exasperatedly, "Oh, just leave the hair alone. We have a very long day ahead of us today."
She said this as she turned to walk out of door. Percy merely returned the comb back to Hazel and attempted to stumble after his co-Praetor.
"It is going to be one long day today," he muttered to himself as he followed Reyna out of the Fifth Cohort to ready for the ceremony for that night and for the senate bloodbath Octavian would no doubt instigate at the senate meeting coming up in two days.
But for now his first responsibility as Praetor was to make sure he doesn't fall every time he takes a step in his toga.
Unfortunately, he managed to fall down right in front of the Fifth Cohort, and again at the training grounds, and etc.
There really was no hope for Percy Jackson sometimes.
…
First Chapter!
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