A/N Reunion Fics on are a dime a dozen, but I could never get a feel of what I would like to happen. This is just my idea of how the characters would react, while staying a little closer to the canon characters, but a lot more epic. I also made Percy more Roman. Please review, I would like to hear how this Reunion stacks up against the rest.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus. I don't even own a pen that can turn into a sword or a coin that alternates between being a sword and a spear.
JASON I
Jason frowned, leaning on the rail of the Argo II, watching the San Francisco landscape glide underneath them. Next to him was Annabeth, who was leaning on the rail and frowning. He knew she was smart, and had probably looked up every recorded text on Old Rome while the Argo II was being built. She must know that if they weren't killed on sight, that Percy would have had to gain a place of great standing in the 12th Legion, either as Praetor or in a position like Octavian.
Jason's memory had returned slowly over the last eight months, ever since Juno was released. The first thing he remembered was his not-quite-but-could-have-been girlfriend Reyna, but supposed it never would have worked out. Unlike the Greeks, who didn't bat an eye when Annabeth and Percy announced that they were dating, Romans had a strong respect for power. Romans in power had an image that they had to maintain or else they were politically outmaneuvered and dropped, since they couldn't be killed like Julius Caesar when Terminus came down to guard their borders. Reyna cared too much for New Rome and Camp Jupiter to let anything like that happen to her, as it surely would if it came to light that the two Praetors were romantically involved, as such a development would throw into question their ability to lead. Still, Jason wasn't sure about Piper, as there was no doubt that they were romantically involved, but she was Greek. A tough-as-nails Greek, but a Greek nonetheless. He hoped that Percy Jackson, whoever he was behind all of the rumours and legends, was politically savvy enough to keep Octavian in line. Octavian would jump at the chance of labeling him as a Greek, preaching to the 12th Legion that their Jason Grace had died when Juno had taken him, an unfortunate side effect of removing his memory and placing him in the company of Greeks.
Jason turned to Annabeth, "Are you alright?" That was another thing about Greeks, he never would have asked that question in a public place in Camp Jupiter, especially not right before an intense diplomatic meeting. Such a question would imply that the person being asked was soft, and not fit for duty. "I'm fine, Jason." Her voice didn't sound strained or tight, but exhausted, as if she had resigned herself to whatever lay in store. "I'm just preparing myself to meet Percy as a Roman." And there it was, the crux of the matter. Jason was no longer purely a Roman, just as Percy would no doubt be less Greek than he used to be. Juno's plan was daring, it might even work, but in the execution it complicated a whole lot of people's lives. It was because Romans and Greeks had such contrasting perspectives that there was such a clear, defining line between them. You were either a Child of Rome, or a Greek Hero, and that was usually most clear right before the two sides fought. It didn't help that they had centuries' worth of issues, along with the demigod superiority complex that usually escalated the conflict. He couldn't just expect to walk straight back into Camp Jupiter with open arms, nor could Percy drop rank and suddenly rush forward and embrace his long-lost life. Jason was one of two people in this exchange, and only the two of them could really imagine how difficult and complicated this meeting was going to be. They could only hope to make it through in one piece.
"Attention all Greek demigods, and that one Roman that we're escorting, this is your Supreme Commander speaking. We are nearing the Roman Camp ETA in five minutes, that is all." Leo's voice boomed over the warship's intercom. Jason rolled his eyes. Leo got the gravity of the situation, and he didn't abuse the intercom, but he just had to overstate everything, it seemed. Shaking his head, Jason turned out to the ocean, looking for the inlet that was Camp Jupiter's only connection to the sea. He saw the Cohorts mobilised, and the Amazon force, whose leader looked a lot like Reyna. His heart leapt when he saw the recovered Eagle Standard and the Fifth Cohort outfitted in all the Imperial Gold lost on the expedition to Alaska. Behind the Cohorts, he saw the Praetors. Reyna was easy to identify, standing next to her Pegasus Scipio, her eyes locked on to the warship and her stance ready for anything, ready to swing herself on to Scipio at a moment's notice. Next to her, also outfitted in Praetor's purple toga could only have been Percy Jackson. His face was unfamiliar, but he could almost feel the power radiating off him. He looked relaxed, Jason noted, but was also at the ready. Jason could only guess what he had to do to get the Roman's not to attack them at first sight, especially if the glare on Octavian's face was anything to go by. Octavian shouted a Latin Curse at Percy, in a last ditch attempt to seize power over the situation, when Percy shouted back in kind, which actually seemed to help him settle into being a Roman for the duration of the meeting. The two people flanking him, Hazel Levesque and a large boy with a baby face that he didn't recognise, shared a glance of concern. Percy sent them a wink, then looked up at the warship. He met Jason's eyes for a moment, and an understanding passed between them.
Jason could have cut through the tension in the air with an Imperial Gold butter knife, if the ancient Praetors of Rome had ever commissioned such a thing. It was palpable, as everyone knew what to expect, but no-one was going to take that chance. He glanced at Piper and Leo beside him, their faces were uncharacteristically serious. He supposed, for them, this was walking into enemy territory, like it was for him when he first arrived at Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth stood a ways off from them, her face closed of any emotion, looking at Percy. Jason had to admit, it was disconcerting how well those clothes fit him, and despite not having a military-grade haircut, he was clearly not a man to cross. He learnt how to be a Roman, if nothing else, from this little adventure. When he spoke, it was loud, but he didn't shout. It was warm, but also emotionless, and although he could emulate this tactic, Jason was awed despite himself. "Greeks. You profess to come in peace, we can accept that. We will escort you to the Senate House, deposit your weapons next to Terminus and we will convene there. Any attempts of hostility on your part will be met with force and Juno's plan ends here. It's only my word that stops the Legion from killing you where you stand, so any transgressions on your part end your life, followed by mine." Percy's eyes were clear, and every Greek was struck by the militaristic attitude presented, as his tone brooked no argument on the fact that he considered himself a part of the Legion. He had changed, Jason noted, as he was always talked about as being kindhearted and obtuse, but it looked like only Annabeth and him that found the slight softness in his eyes, the only indicator that he wasn't as good as his word.
Jason carefully watched the reactions of those around him as they were escorted in silence to the Senate House. He hadn't been welcomed or recognised at all, and he supposed that would wait until they reached their destination. Piper was keeping as close to him as possible, obviously unnerved by the open hostility given by demigods, having been absent in the Titan War. She looked like she didn't know whether to draw Helen's dagger and just start fighting or cower from these glares that reminded her of the bullies from school. She did decide to keep her mouth clamped shut in case she reacted badly and charm-spoke someone and it was seen as a sign of hostility. Leo was walking next to Jason, his over-excessive ADHD keeping his eyes darting around the Legion members around him. It was situations like this that he hated, they were why he used to run away, but flaming to create a distraction and running for it wasn't an option, but Jason did notice the tensing of his body and the complete lack of humour in his eyes. Annabeth resolutely kept her eyes on the back of Percy Jackson's head, moving mechanically, she seemed even more of a shell than before, but was too proud and too conscious of the situation to call out. Jason's sister Thalia lead a small contingent of Hunters, after Artemis said that they were there to 'balance' or something, then again, Jason had seen the Amazons reinforcing the outer ring, so that could be what the Huntress meant. Thalia looked like she had been slapped, staring in disbelief at Percy, Jason remembered countless times hearing that their personalities were extraordinarily similar, but couldn't tell if his sister was trying to equate the change, or was trying to imagine circumstances that would leave her like that. The twins Travis and Conner Stoll were at the back of the group, and Jason saw them nervously chewing their lips and trying to keep their bodies still and the suspicious movements down to a minimum. They too were glancing at Percy, who Jason was starting to think had made a smart decision to lead in a position where he didn't watch the Greek Demigod Contingent the whole way, as it might have put cracks in his act, and undermined what he had been building with the Romans. Even that butch girl Clarisse was staring at Percy with something dangerously close to concern on her face. It was interesting, Jason thought, as he didn't catch any of the Romans looking at him like that, but their military discipline was always unmatched.
When they arrived, weaponless, at the Senate House of New Rome, they were invited to sit and were kept under close watch, while their leaders were called forward. It was a lot like a court trial for transgressions in New Rome, and the tension hadn't lessened any. Percy stood, "Despite having a good idea, can your leaders rise and inform us of the reason for this non-hostile visit." It was a gentle rebuke, reminding both sides of the non-reasons that conflict had escalated in the past. Annabeth and Jason stood, and Jason spoke. "As you well know, Hera, also Juno, performed the exchange of leaders of Camp-Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter as a plan to ensure the success of the next Great Prophesy: Seven half-bloods shall answer the call. To storm or fire, the world must fall. An oath to keep with a final breath, And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death. The Greeks and Romans have been foes, and the gods have seen fit to take measures to help us cooperate. Percy, do you remember Camp Half-Blood?" Percy stood up, a smirk on his face. "Indeed I do, former Praetor Jason Grace. Friends, it is as I have said, that the time for the prophesy is now, can the Seven come forward?" Percy and Jason stood together, each beckoning their companions from their last quest. Frank, Hazel, Leo and Piper came forward uncertainly, and stood next to their respective partners. Octavian spoke up "And so we have six. I'm sure each of you has been confirmed in various ways, I -we don't have time to hear about that right now. However, you're in need of a seventh hero, may I offer my services as an Interpreter of Prophesies to join you and bring glory to Rome?" Jason almost rolled his eyes, Octavian's bid for Praetorship when he returned was obvious, but they couldn't just bring him along to kill him at the first possible instance and rid Camp Jupiter of its greatest problem. That's not what the quest was for.
Jason noticed that Percy once again smirked, it seemed he had dealing with Octavian down to an art form. "Well, Legacy of Apollo, I would consider your request, but if we were in need of an Oracle, then the resident Oracle at Camp Half-Blood would have come along. They have the spirit of the Oracle Delphi, who Lord Apollo has allowed to flow from host to host in order to provide new, relevant, whole prophesies from everything from great prophesies to individual quests. As the current host is not here, then we can assume that she is not necessary." Jason noticed that Percy failed to inform the Romans that Rachel was mortal. "However, it is not necessary to be in confusion as to who is the seventh hero is, for if we ask them, I'm sure they will come forward, as only one can take that title." In the resounding silence following that proclamation, Annabeth got up and joined the group. Clapping his hands together, Percy smiled and said "And there we go, number seven. Now, unless anyone has any questions, the Senate is adjourned. Be aware though, that neither Jason nor myself have rejected anyone up here." Reyna, who was sitting watching proceedings (Jason recalled that she had never been very politically savvy, preferring to be the Praetor that lead in the heat of battle) looked at the two most powerful demigods of the generation, and nodded once. "Alright Romans, you heard them, let's go! Also, could some of you show the Greeks around, and any of them going missing will be noticed, and you will be tried. On a related note, War games are moved to tomorrow night, and I think we will have everyone versus the Seven, hone their teamwork skills in a game of Siege."
While the Senate House emptied, the Seven left to Jason's house, which was just as he had left it. "So, since we'll be working together, we can't hold any secrets that could hurt each other." Jason was feeling better now that he was taking charge. He could see Percy straining to say something, so he set up some payback for what he had done to his friends. "Alright, so we'll share any relevant information. So it'll go me, Frank? Was that your name? Then... Leo, then Hazel, then Piper, then Annabeth, then Percy." Percy looked fit to murder Jason, but he pressed on "So my name is Jason Grace, Child of Rome and Son of Jupiter. I have power over air, and can fly. I can also use lightning. I'm strong enough to fight Titans and Giants, and have done so successfully, as I have fought Krios at Mt Othrys and the Giant Enceladus with my father's help. Enceladus is the Giant Anti-Athena. With my friends I freed Hera and fought Porphyrion, although he escaped. Frank, you next."
Frank looked uncomfortable at what he was being asked to do, but spoke anyway. "My name is Frank Zhang, Child of Rome and Son of Mars. I have his gift for tactics, and not much else, although I can use a bow. I am also the descendant of Periclymenus, who was the grandson of Neptune, and I have his gift of transformation into any animal. Because I have both Mars and Neptune in me, it was too much power for a mortal body, so I bear the curse of the Argonaut. My life," He was looking very uncomfortable at this time, "depends in this piece of firewood." He reached inside his armor and pulled out the stub. Leo backed away quickly, almost panicking as if he was about to spontaneously combust. Percy, still glaring at Jason, reached up and put his hand on Leo's shoulder, and flashed him a reassuring smile, which calmed him down a bit. Frank stared at them, confusion written on his face. "Anyway, I arrived at camp just over a month ago, went on a quest with Percy a week ago, and beat Alcyoneus, the Anti-Pluto with Hazel, though I suppose that Thanatos helped us there."
Jason watched in amusement at the discomfort everyone was in, although he only allowed himself this luxury as this was an activity that needed to be done. Leo took another step back from Frank as he launched into his story, while Jason noticed Hazel increased her grip on Frank's hand. "Um, hi, my name is Leo Valdez, I'm Greek, and Mexican, and I'm like the super awesome repair guy and Son of Hephaestus, so none of you Romans can call me Spock, alright? Hephaestus, not Vulcan. I went with the resident Roman and his girlfriend on our quest for Hera, hate her by the way." Annabeth, Frank, and Percy smiled "Um, anyway, I kind of have this rare, slightly unstable, totally awesome talent that right now means I should get far away from that guy." He pointed at Frank while taking another step back to prove his point. Hazel looked like she was trying not to laugh. "Um, I kind of have Hephaestus' gift for fire, I can sorta make it out of thin air." Frank paled and also took a step back. "I would show you my totally awesome display, but we want the big guy over there to keep living." The tension in the room was building as Frank and Leo tried to get away from each other."I don't suppose you all care at this point but I can also make epic machines and whip up awesome tofu burgers." The tension remained as Leo's already nervous voice trailed off. Jason watched as Percy, getting sick of this, took out his water canteen and emptied it into his hands, where he molded it into different shapes. He looked up and raised an eyebrow when he 'discovered' everyone was staring at him, and he made a motion for the introductions to continue.
Hazel, seeing what Percy was doing, stepped up and began her own introduction quickly, before everyone became tense again. "Hi, my name is Hazel Levesque, and I'm a Child of Rome and a Daughter of Pluto. I'm cursed with riches that always pop up from the ground in the form of large gems, precious metals, you get the idea. This stuff is cursed, so most people die or get grievously injured from touching it." She looked like she was going to withhold something, but she glanced at Frank, then Leo. "I'm also not from this time period, I was born in the 1940's and was forced into helping Gaea resurrect Alcyoneus back then, but I buried him and died." She spoke hurriedly, and Jason guessed that this wasn't easy to tell. "When the Doors of Death opened, Nico helped me return to life, and I went on the quest with Percy and Frank. With Frank I helped defeat Alcyoneus." She looked like she was about to finish when she seemed to have a thought. "Oh, Leo, did you have a grandfather called Sammy?" Leo nodded, confused. Hazel smiled sadly "He was my boyfriend back then, and I had to leave him to go to Alaska. I have Frank now," She flashed him a reassuring smile, as Frank was looking a little sick. "but you look and act remarkably like him, so it's going to be a little weird for me for a while."
Jason had to keep himself from laughing at the look on Leo's face as he realised that he was the source of serious complications of not one, but two of his fellow heroes. Jason put an arm around Piper's shoulders and gave her a reassuring clap on the back. She took her cue, "Hi, my name's Piper Mclean," Leo looked like he wanted to interrupt but Piper glared at him, although Frank and Percy seemed to recognise the name. "I'm a Daughter of Aphrodite, although it might as well be Venus compared to the airheads that call themselves my siblings at Camp." Jason watched her hand reflexively reach for her dagger, which wasn't there. "I went with Jason and Leo to save Hera, although I needed to free my father from Enceladus." She took a deep breath. "I have the ability to charm-speak people and minor gods into doing what I want, and I can speak fluent French. I can also see through most Witch enchantments, and am pretty handy with a dagger." Jason saw her face redden because she felt that she wasn't as strong or special as the other demigods, then she perked up and glared at Percy. "Oh yeah, and Percy! What is with all this military stuff? You say you remember, but what about your friends? Have you really changed that much from the Percy that everyone talks about?" Her voice became filled with charm-speak. "Tell me!" Percy looked up, met her eyes, and Jason saw that he hadn't been affected in the slightest, then he remembered the old counselor Drew. Jason wondered if it was because Percy had grown immune because of her trying to take him from Annabeth, or because from the outtake it was pointless trying to control the sea. His voice was hard "You don't know Rome. You may think you know Rome, but until you have been raised by Lupa and served in the Legion, you do not know Rome." Jason saw out the corner of his eye that Annabeth slumped slightly, and when everyone turned to look at her, she spoke like a computer, or someone dead.
"My name is Annabeth Chase, Hero of Olympus, and Daughter of Athena. I have been in no recent quests, nor have I battled any of Gaea's Giants. I spent my time looking for one that was lost, and one I fear may never be found. I was once the girlfriend of Percy Jackson, but for once I understand how impersonal and cold logic and plans are." Her speech rendered everyone silent. Jason sent a look at Percy and he spoke up, "My name is Perseus Jackson, Son of Neptune, although apparently it would me more appropriate to call him Poseidon. In my recent quest with Hazel and Frank, I lead the expedition to Alaska to free Thanatos. When we returned, I battled Polybotes, the Anti-Neptune, with Anaklusmos and Terminus' head. I do have one question though," Jason saw everyone gain confused expressions, while Percy glared at him. "Jason, can I drop the Roman act now?"