Chapter 10

A little less than a year had passed since Bianca had joined the legion. In that year Jason, and Percy were extremely busy making sure that the fifth cohort would never be treated like a joke again. From the day the Daughter of Pluto arrived the two boys had taken her under their wing, and attempted to repay the girl for saving their lives on top of the Empire State Building. Jason had proven to be an extremely competent Sword Instructor, while Percy worked with the girl on her powers constantly. Of course the nature of their powers were vastly different, but he showed her the ways in which Triton had shown him, and the girl took techniques like a fish to water or in her case a shadow to the dark.

It did not take long to discover that Bianca was going to shape out to be a powerful demigod. Her control over the dead, and the Earth itself was impressive for one so young, while her swordplay was flourishing under Gwen and Jason's command. The children of the Eldest Gods had become practically inseparable over the year, and with the arrival of the annual gladiator challenge the trio had been training day and night attempting to get ready to bring home the gauntlet to the fifth cohort barracks.

Last year Jason had been defeated in the final four. Though technically the son of Jupiter had received third place since Percy was forced to drop. Michael Kahale, the son of Venus and Primus Pilus, had defeated Jason last year, and the boys were determined not to allow such a defeat to occur again. This year was going to be different. Percy was now fourteen, and would be turning fifteen later that Summer while Jason would be turning fourteen himself in a few weeks, but Bianca wouldn't be fourteen until later in the year. Needless to say the teenagers were feeling that their bodies were finally catching up with their abilities, and it was time to prove to the Legion that they were among the most Elite fighters in camp even without their powers. That being said with powers the three were unquestionably among the most powerful in the demigod world, and they had proven it time and time again in war games. Since Bianca had joined the fifth cohort they had yet to lose an exercise. Of course Percy and Jason had already been on a small streak when she joined them, but now they were unconquerable.

When Bianca had arrived she spoke to Jason and Percy about her brief time in the Underworld, and the time she had gotten with her father. Since Pluto was not an Olympian he bent the rules more than most when it came to interacting with his kids, and he gave her a head start training crash course before sending her off to Lupa like Neptune had originally intended. This had explained why the girl had been later to arrive than expected, but to everyone over the year it was all but forgotten.

Percy and Bianca were sparring on the banks of the Tiber with Triton watching carefully, "Don't overextend yourself Di Angelo my brother is going to lop one of your arms off on accident."

Bianca gave the slightest nod of her head at the words of the young Immortal as she went for multiple rapid fire attacks. Her strikes were becoming wilder and stronger, but also less coordinated. She went for two quick strikes to Percy's head, but her stamina got the best of her as he forced his hips forward as she attempted to strike down, and he disarmed her easily.

Huffing in frustration the girl threw her hand forward and a small black shadow of power came from the ground throwing Percy off his feet backwards making him hit the ground hard. He groaned in pain as Triton laughed, "Well now brother it seems you have upset our cousin!"

Percy stared at the sky bitterly, "We agreed on no powers."

Bianca merely shrugged as she held riptide at his throat, "Yes, but then I lost so I thought I would continuously enhance your training and give you a different look. All for training purposes of course, I am sure you understand?"

This caused the young immortal to laugh even more, "She has a point Perseus. Never expect anyone to fight by the rules even in a silly competition."

"I think she just wanted to injure me before the competition tomorrow." Percy grumbled.

"Lord Triton Percy is mumbling again." Bianca said cheerily.

"Perseus!" Triton snapped.

The youngest son of Neptune looked at the oldest daughter of Pluto with betrayal and spoke morosely, "Yes brother?"

The young immortal stared at his brother as if he was trying to detect attitude or sarcasm, but shook it off, "I fully expect good news from you tomorrow Peresus. I think our father and Lord Jupiter have a little wager on the tournament tomorrow, and we would be most disappointed if you lost."

Percy's head whipped towards his brother, "Wager?"

"Would you fight any differently if there was one?" Triton asked mockingly.

"No...I'm just curious."

"Perhaps I will tell you more when the tournament is over." Triton said with a wicked smirk, "As for you Ms. Di Angelo I expect you to be finishing towards the top of this bracket as well. My brother has spent a lot of time training you, and even went as far to invite you into some of our training, it would be wise to demonstrate your ability to regurgitate the knowledge the heirs of the sea have passed on to you."

Bianca gave a bow to the immortal with a smile, "Of course Lord Triton. I will not disappoint."

With that the girl gave Percy a grin, and the boy shook off the bitterness he felt at her underhanded tactics from earlier and returned the grin.

Triton then began walking off towards the River, "I will see you both tomorrow evening. Wish Centurion Grace luck for me, but not too much. After all, my own protege will be facing him by the end of the day if all goes well."

With that Triton took one step into the water, and a cool ocean breeze passed through the area making the man dissolve into nothing.

Bianca sighed as she turned to face her best friend, "Thanks for the last minute invite to training. I needed this last little brush up before tomorrow."

"You're welcome. I think my brother enjoys working with a different pupil on occasion. I think he is running out of things he can teach me with a weapon. I know he has been itching to move onto more advanced elemental aspects of our training that we only just touched the surface on, but his inner warrior loves the challenge of teaching an extra person some of his best tricks." Percy explained.

Taking a seat on the bank the two stared out at the sunset. They had been given a day to rest from legion tactics, and training to prepare for the challenge that would occur the next day. Gwen had wanted everyone to have a full day of rest, but a day off wasn't really in Percy's vocabulary. Thankfully a Senate meeting had been called and had certainly given him the opportunity to duck out of the beautiful blonde's microscope as well, which was not something he would normally want, however he would take the cards he was dealt without complaint this time.

Bianca and Percy had sat there in amiable silence for a while when Jason finally joined them, "Did you guys have a good last minute training? Gwen was suspicious of you two disappearing so you better be ready to deny all involvement."

Bianca grinned, "I think Percy is hoping she interrogates him extensively."

The two teenagers shared a laugh at Percy's frown, and he waved his hand causing a short water spout to come out and splash Bianca in the face. This caused Jason to roar with laughter, and Bianca looked like she was going to hit Percy when he raised his hands in surrender, "Now we are even for the little shadow trick you used on me earlier."

"Dry me off now Fish Breath" Bianca said grumpily.

This caused the boy to chuckle, and place a hand on her shoulder making the water fall off her easily and evaporate into the air. The girl gave him a dirty look making Jason and Percy chuckle a little more, and another voice came from behind them, "Isn't this cute. The two outcasts of Rome finding home with each other. The children of Venus will be thrilled."

Kyle Logan, the Centurion from Cohort two, was standing tall and proud with several of his friends from his cohort. Jason stood to face the group, "I will let Michael know you think the children of Venus are so easily amused by things that don't concern them."

Michael Kahale was one of the best fighters in the legion. He won the gladiator challenge last year over Larry Bard, and everyone respected the First File greatly, even Kyle looked nervous just at the mention of his name, "Primus Pilus is the most powerful child of Venus ever to hold a place in the legion he is the exception to the fashion squad that belongs mostly to your little rag tag group of rejects not the rule Grace."

Percy sighed, rising to his feet, "Centurion Logan, why are you here?"

The eighteen year old son of Hercules was always an annoyance, and even more so since Percy had defeated him in the gladiator challenge last year, "I just wanted to let you know Jackson that tomorrow I plan on redeeming myself from that ridiculous party trick you used to beat me with last year. If I have to crush your little friend there with you it'll only be a bonus, nothing personal. Besides that I wanted my newest member of the second cohort to understand just who the undesirables were, and who she ought to stay away from."

The girl on Kyle's left eyed the trio with slight contempt. She was a latina girl that looked around Percy's age. She had glossy midnight black hair that was done in a single braid, and black eyes that were cold as ice. Bianca had tensed next to Percy at the words of the Centurion. The children of Hercules had been particularly rude to her since her induction into the legion, and more than once were rougher than necessary against her in training. Percy had tried to take it to the praetors at one point, but they assured Percy that they were watching to make sure there was no foul play.

Jason sighed, "Percy, Bianca, I didn't get a chance to fill you in on the Senate meeting, this is Reyna Ramirez Arellano, a daughter of Bellona. She was inducted into the second cohort today on probatio. She had an interesting story to tell...but maybe that is for another day. Reyna meet Percy Jackson the son of Neptune, and Bianca Di Angelo the Daughter of Pluto."

Percy stepped forward to offer his hand, but Kyle stepped in to meet him before Reyna could make a decision to accept, "Stay away from my cohort Jackson. Olympus knows we don't need any of your bad luck."

Bianca laughed, "Bad luck? We have won the last dozen War Games, and Percy led a successful quest on behalf of Olympus to avert World War Three. What part of him is bad luck?"

Percy felt a swell of affection for the girl standing up for him, but said nothing as Kyle looked irritated, "Neptune has always been bad luck here in Camp. One of his brothers destroyed our last camp."

Jason rolled his eyes, "That was a long time ago. Percy also has a lot better control of his natural powers than anyone in camp. Even Dylan respects his control."

It was true that Percy and the son of Trivia had always had an interesting friendship. Every now and then the elemental trainer at camp would meet with Percy in the arena, and they would beat each other to a pulp and walk off smiling each time. The relationship befuddled the other cohorts, but Percy and Dylan were one of the main reasons the fifth and the fourth cohort stuck together so well.

The new girl watched the conversation like a tennis match, but remained completely silent in the meantime. The son of Neptune hoped her silence was a measure of intelligence. He hoped the girl was analysing the situation instead of just believing what the son of Hercules was saying. Percy finally spoke for himself, "Tomorrow in the gladiator challenge I am going to remember every insult you have flung at my friends and I over the last year. Then I am going to defeat every member of the second cohort that comes in front of me, and if you get the misfortune of facing me tomorrow son of Hercules, I will remind you what the fury of the sea can contain."

The boy growled, going for the sword on his belt, "Are you threatening me, Optio Jackson?."

Percy stared defiantly, but thunder rumbled in the sky and Jason barked out, "Enough. Centurion remove yourself from this situation at once or I will take this straight to the Praetors. You have antagonized Optio Jackson enough this evening."

Bianca growled out, "Only an idiot would challenge Percy near a water source too. The same idiot that would have a water cannon turned on him too probably."

This made the son of Hercules turn red in anger, and Jason glared at Bianca to back down, but she merely shrugged. Kyle and his stooges however all seemed to realize the river behind the fifth cohort members was stirring violently, and her point had been received. Kyle spat on the ground, "Tomorrow Jackson. I am going to crush you, your centurion, and your little girlfriend."

Other members spat at them as they departed, but Percy noted this new girl did not. Jason sighed as they were alone once again, "Whoever gets him tomorrow better hit him so hard that my brother feels it all the way in Greece."

Percy stared at one of the many who had been so disrespectful to his fathers legacy, and merely said, "I intend too."

The group wrapped up their training session for the evening, and made their way back to the barracks. With the day off the legion was given to prepare for the contest tomorrow the barracks were much more full than normal for a regular weekday evening. When Jason entered many stood at attention, but Jason rolled his eyes telling them at ease. The son of Jupiter had tried to insist to his fellow cohort members that in the barracks there was no need to salute him, but most could tell it embarrassed him, and took pleasure in teasing their favored officer.

The three crossed the common area to a quiet corner office that said Centurion on the front door, and they spilled in happily going to their comfort zone. It was Percy's opinion that it was the best privilege Jason had been given as Centurion was his own office, which he usually used for their hangout area. Of course Bianca, and Percy never used his office while he wasn't there, but they had the open invitation and the fifth all knew the closeness of the three cousins.

Jason grabbed a coke from the fridge and handed one to each of his friends, and he toasted them, "To a fifth victory tomorrow in the Gladiator Challenge."

Bianca and Percy raised their toast while the daughter of Pluto chimed, "To knocking that bastard son of Hercules on his ass tomorrow."

This made Jason and Percy chuckle as they all took seats around the desk that had a picture of Jason and Percy from years ago as kids. Bianca loved to coo over the image to embarrass the boys, but it was one of the few pictures the two had taken together in nearly seven years of friendship. The wall behind him had a minotaur horn hung on the wall from their quest, and an officer Sword that Jason was given as an honorary gift upon his ascension to Centurion.

The three chatted over the normal life in the legion, and were enjoying their drinks when Bobby, the son of Vulcan popped his head, "Centurion, Optio, Gwen sent me to check on you three. I think she thought I might find you at the Tiber."

Percy feigned ignorance, "The Tiber? Legionnaire I resent Centurion Gwen's accusation. Bianca and I have been hanging out around town all day. No training here. Scouts honor."

The boy grinned, "So the rumor that you threatened Kyle Logan isn't true?"

Percy opened his mouth carefully, and then closed it quickly, while Bianca asked, "Who told you that?"

The boy shrugged, "It's been all over camp. It seemed like a likely story. Bianca and Percy were training on the Tiber. Centurion Logan was hurling insults at them, and Optio Jackson said he was going to wipe the floor with him in the challenge tomorrow!"

The young man ended that last part with much more excitement than necessary causing Jason to snort into his coke making liquid shoot out his nose. Bianca however placed her head in her hand, "We are in so much trouble…"

Percy looked like he was going to start denying everything when a sweet voice entered the office, "Optio Jackson, Legionnaire Di Angelo! Front and center."

Bianca and Percy both paled, and Jason smirked at the two, "Busted."

Walking out to the gathered cohort Gwen had her arms crossed looking at the two like a teacher would at her naughty students, "So I heard an interesting rumor. Though I am assuming there is no validity to it since I ordered everyone to take a day off."

Percy immediately stood up, "Now Centurion Brown I think this is all some sort of misunderstanding. My dear cousin and I were hanging out on the beach with our weapons messing around. There was hardly any training involved."

Gwen glared at Percy who just gave her his best winning smile, but asked, "There were reports of Lord Triton on the beach today. I didn't realize the immortal heir to Atlantis showed up to hang out on the beach with weapons."

Percy swore internally, but kept the smile plastered, "Centurion I can ex-"

"Don't bother Jackson! I will forgive your insubordination this once, but if you don't win your side of the bracket so help me Mars I will have you running suicides until you can't breathe." Gwen said firmly.

The sweet daughter of Ceres was gone, and in her place was a Centurion of the Twelfth Legion everyone respected. Percy immediately stood at attention to the girl, "Of course Centurion. It is my highest priority to please you ma'am."

Some of the other legionnaires snickered at his words, while she turned her glare to the rest of them making silence follow instantly. She huffed, "Get some rest Jackson. That's an order."

With a final salute Percy winked at his cousins, as he made his way towards his barracks to call it a night thankful that Centurion Gwen had always had a soft spot for him.

(A/N) Next up the Gladiator Combat rematch! Stay tuned for next Friday's update. Please review, and if you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments, and I will address them below.

Side Note:

I saw there were some questions as to Bianca's origins. Her origins will be a lot like Jason and Thalia however also a little different. Nico is 100% Greek, and when they were placed into the Lotus Casino by the Furies most of everything she encountered had come from the Greek side of mythology. However as soon as she began spending any amount of time with Jason and Percy her natural Roman side flared to life, and she will no longer be thinking of Gods in their Greek aspects. Any other questions, please let me know!

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