Chapter 21

Percy was in the barracks preparing for his date with Gwen for the evening. He took extra care to make sure his hair was styled, and his outfit wasn't his usual purple camp shirt and jeans. Tonight he wore khaki shorts, and a collared shirt that hugged his body well, and he borrowed some cologne from Jason who had been gifted the bottle by some fangirl from the third cohort. Usually Percy would've teased his cousin about such a thing, but knew he was at Jason's Mercy for once so ignored it.

He spent the remainder of his evening in his office with Jason chatting about the Praetorian Guard, and what kind of missions they could get sent on. Both were hoping for action soon, but neither talked about the fact that scouts had now been sent out three days ago, and none had returned. That wasn't a good sign for locating Titan headquarters.

The two were finally getting the opportunity to share the cokes in celebration of their successful quests, and Percy's appointment to Centurion, "Should've known you wouldn't do things the traditional way. A year ago you nearly refused to be my Optio, now look at you Centurion Jackson, Captain of the Praetorian Guard. You get to give Primus Pilus orders, your father is getting a new temple, and you are taking Gwen out on a date tonight. You must be feeling pretty good about yourself."

Percy grinned at his best friend, "On top of the world my brother. I only had to nearly kill myself to defeat the Trojan Sea Monster, get electroctured half to death by a Spartan King, and prevent World War Three among the gods. All in a day's work."

Jason raised his coke to him, "But it all worked out. We continue to defy the odds, and come out on top. The sons of the Eldest Olympians, and the best fighters of our generation. We will lead Rome to war, and win. Become immortalized in the minds of men, women, and children."

Shaking his head at the son of Jupiter he merely smiled, "We used to have such simple ambitions. Build my father a temple, sail the Mare Nostrum, and split a few heads along the way to make a name for ourselves. Oh how things have changed."

The two said nothing further as they sipped on their drinks. Bianca arrived at Percy's office shortly after silence fell between the two with a pale expression on her face, "We all need to talk."

Percy looked at the girl in alarm, "Is everything okay?"

At her silence Jason stood up putting an arm around the girl, "Bianca, talk to us what's going on?"

Percy noticed immediately the girl had a new weapon on her belt. A short pure black sword that radiated sometype of power, "B, where did you get that sword?"

She took a seat and Jason and Percy watched her in concern as she started to speak, "I was communing with the dead in my fathers temple. It is something I do fairly often to try and gather intelligence for our side, but this time was different. I managed to summon my father, but only he wasn't…"

Jason and Percy exchanged nervous looks, before Jason said, "You summoned Lord Hades didn't you?"

She nodded her head, "Not on purpose at all. I was merely trying to establish a connection with my brother, but he appeared. He isn't much like my father. He held a stonier demeanor, and seemed more sinister with his intentions."

Percy stared at her hard, "Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head, "No…" A pause, "He told me I would be reunited with my brother sooner than we thought…" A longer pause, "He gave me this sword as a gift. Stygian Iron. Said that the son of Neptune would need the sword of the sea for a job assigned to him by Olympus. He told me that for now I should wield this blade, and eventually study the style of dimachaerus when riptide is returned to me."

Jason and Percy looked shocked by this. Jason blew air out of his mouth hard, "A Roman Gladiator that fights with two swords. They came in the later part of the Empire when Christianity took over. Many saw them as insidious."

Bianca looked surprised at this knowledge, "Why?"

Percy explained, "A Gladiator that fights with two swords clearly has no interest in defense or leaving his opponent to Mercy. These Gladiators were ruthless killers, and devastators on the battlefield. Clearly Hades wants you to be a real force to be reckoned with."

"But what about Nico? How could we come across him? You don't think he or some of the Greek Demigods will be our mission do you?" Bianca asked on the verge of a panic."

Jason and Percy froze at the thought. Olympus had made it clear that Greeks were supposed to be a part of their cease fire, but what if they had changed their minds? Or what if Nico had fallen to Luke's people. Kronos' influence was clearly heavy in the Greek Camp. Percy sighed, "We won't kill your brother Bianca. We will do everything we can to take him to our side. That is a worse case scenario. Maybe we are meant to join forces with the Greeks at some point in the war, and that's what your father meant."

She stared at him with something akin to hope, and then nodded her head, "I hope you are right Percy...I am so ready to retire."

This made Percy and Jason both laugh while Jason put an arm on her shoulder, "Oh Bianca you only have one year of service down. I am afraid you have a long way to go."

This made her grunt in displeasure, but that made the boys laugh more. They were interrupted by a knock on the door when Dakota came into Percy's office, "Centurion Jackson, Centurion Gwen is ready for you. She said to meet her in front of the barracks."

Dakota was a few years older than Percy, and he was grinning madly at Percy with his kool-aid stained lips. Dakota joined the legion two years after Percy, but he was a good soldier, and with some more grooming he'd be a good leader. He might've been on Percy's Guard if he needed a few more, but dismissed the thought as he stood to his feet, "My friends I have a date with destiny."

He didn't see Bianca and Jason roll their eyes as he strolled out of his office with a huge grin on his face. When he made it to the front of the barracks he first saw Gwen and stopped in his tracks observing her from the side. She was wearing a black loosely fit blouse with a pink pencil skirt with short sandal heels that matched her blouse. She looked stunning to Percy, and he had to wonder how he was looking at a daughter of Ceres, and not a daughter of Venus. She turned to face him, and smiled at his look, "Hey Percy, you look nice."

Trying to get his brain to restart and function he managed a smile as he approached her. It took a moment but finally found his words, "You look beautiful Gwen. Shall we?"

He offered his arm to her, and she accepted it easily and they began a walk down the Praetoria where other couples, and friends were heading into New Rome for the night. They were greeted quietly by some along the way, but no one seemed interested in disrupting their date which Percy was grateful for. They had decided earlier on a restaurant behind the coliseum that was run by a legacy of Bacchus. It was a nicer place, but nothing so fancy they would feel underdressed or over doing their first date. Percy pulled out the chair for Gwen allowing her to take a seat, and she gave him a smile, "Never took you for such a gentleman Percy."

Chuckling the boy sat down saying, "Well I have had plenty of time to think about how I would treat you if I ever got the chance."

She smiled sweetly at him, and the waiter came by taking their orders. They both ordered casual meals, and the man gave them a big smile and walked off. Gwen spoke easily to her longtime friend, "Are you excited about the Guard?"

Percy sighed, but held his smile, "Yes and no. Yes, because it will be an honor to lead this team of officers, and incredible fighters, but at the same time no because it means we are marching into the dangers of war. In war you have to be prepared to lose people, and I'm not ready to lose any of you."

She put a hand on his resting one that laid on the table, "You never will be. It's the curse of the leader to be responsible for his people. We all trust you to lead us to battle, and safety. Don't let fear hinder your decisions. Luckily you have good people to advise you as well, and we will all do our best."

"It does mean a lot that no one refused the invitation. They could have easily sighted their reasoning as not wanting to be commanded by me. I respect everyone that accepted above all else, because clearly they have the best interest of our home in mind." Percy admitted.

"So Percy...I know you have always strived to rebuild the honor of your father here in New Rome, but now that you have done that, what's your endgame?" Gwen curiously asked not removing her hand from his.

Percy had thought a lot on this over the past day or so, and the answer wasn't simple, "It's really hard to say honestly. I don't know where this war against the rising threat will go. I think some of it will depend on where Jason is as well. If he is Praetor then that could affect my decision, and of course I may serve my father for sometime if Atlantis needs help. I am actually still waiting to hear from Triton on that. Mark and I received some disturbing news from the South Wind when we were on Aeolia, and apparently my father is preparing for his own war, and if I can help there then I will."

She gave him a sad smile, "Seems war is determined to have its part in your life."

He gave her a rugged grin, "It's what I was born for. Not just to participate, but to win. No one will be able to say I didn't earn my retirement."

This made the girl laugh at his words, and confidence, "You're going to need my clinic sooner than I thought if you keep walking onto the battlefield with that confidence."

He returned her laugh saying, "I mean after all I did defeat the Trojan Sea Monster. Maybe Rome will declare me imperator at the end of the war."

She rolled her eyes, but when she met him she laughed again. Dinner was served shortly after, and the conversation took more of a gossip angle where Gwen informed Percy on things she had heard from the other cohorts. It was a lot of who was dating who, and of course the rumors she had heard about them, "You know they are saying you are the victim to my seduction?"

Percy rolled his eyes at this, "If only I was so lucky!"

"Apparently I have been waiting for this moment for six years. Just patiently waiting for you to be old enough to make my move."

Percy snorted into his drink, making him set it down quickly, "Romans, the greatest warriors, and gossipers on the planet." She giggled at his words, while Percy asked, "Do these rumors bother you?"

She shrugged her shoulders at this, "No. I have been in the legion for just under ten years now myself. I have seen the most popular people in New Rome get crucified for things that are absolutely ridiculous. I mean look at your own popularity. Years of the whispers, and murmurs about you being cursed, and now you are a hero. I refuse to let idle gossip affect my life."

"I guess I will just have to give you an opportunity to save my life so they can see you are a hero to the hero." Percy said jokingly.

Shaking her head at the boy with a smile she said, "I don't think you will have to give me an opportunity. You are pretty good at getting yourself into trouble without my help."

"That is a fact!"

With dinner winding down Percy tried to pick up the tab, but the son of Baccus comped them for their first date, and came out to tell them he was excited to hear the stories of the Praetorian Guard. The two tried to refuse the free meal, but he was insistent. They left a large tip for their waiter, and made their way to the movies.

The night was everything Percy had hoped for and more, and when they were walking back down to the principia hand in hand it felt like a dream come true. It couldn't have ended better when she gave Percy the opportunity to kiss her, and he took it with a silent prayer of thanks to Venus for finally answering his hopes and dreams.

(A/N) Brace yourselves. War is coming.

Due to this chapter being MUCH shorter than I remember I will bring you an update next Friday. See you next week!