Percy stood in front the full length mirror in his room, frowning at his reflection. When Reyna had asked him to dress for the occasion, he hadn't been expecting this. He was wearing a silky purple button down dress shirt adorned with a crisp, thin black tie. On top of that was a fine black blazer with a handkerchief in the front pocket. A handkerchief. And as if that wasn't enough, Reyna had also given him a toga to put on, because that's what Romans wear to formal occasions. She also had given him a purple cape to strap to the toga, because that's what Roman praetors wear to formal occasions. Honestly, Percy felt as if he was a Roman-mafia wannabe.

And it was nearly ninety degrees outside.

A Roman-mafia wannabe about to get a heat stroke, Percy corrected. Uncomfortable, he tugged on his tie, loosening it up. Percy gave himself one last glance before heading to the principia to meet up with Reyna. The walk wasn't far, just a couple buildings down, but as Percy approached the looming building, he started breaking out in sweat, and not just because of the heat - although there was that too. No, Percy was nervous, the last time he had actually faced a crowd of Romans was when he was fleeing New Rome, spurred by accusations of betrayal and attacks to his old friends. Percy tugged on his tie some more and unbuttoned his collar.

As Percy entered the large doorway to the principia, he walked down the hall to Reyna's office again, pausing in front of the door to smooth down his toga. Suddenly, the left clasp of his cape came undone and Percy cursed, frantically fiddling with the metal. A moment of so later, he finally attached it and breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Hey Reyna, I'm ready-"

Clink.

"Perseus…" Reyna raised an eyebrow, getting up gracefully towards the son of Poseidon. Percy looked down, the glint of the gold clasp resting next to the rubber on his sneakers. The room was deathly quiet as Percy's cape, now unbalanced, slid down his left shoulder. It remained attached for another second before giving up and falling to the floor with a whoosh. Percy looked up at Reyna, then at the purple fabric.

"My bad."

"Well are you going to fix that?"

"I...yeah," Percy quickly reached down and scooped the items up, and hurriedly reattached them to each other. His hands shook ever so slightly in his frazzled state. "Yeah, there, all better." Percy went to stick his hands into his pockets but found none, so he just dropped them awkwardly at his side.

With a defeated sigh, Reyna pushed her dark hair behind her ear, leaned up, and started undoing Percy's cape once more. Her slim fingers expertly redid the meddlesome cape as Percy watched on, confused at their close proximity. After she was finished, Reyna stood back, gave him a once over, and nodded.

"Good enough."

"What was that Reyna?"

The daughter of Bellona rolled her eyes and slid out the door, "Your cape was crooked." Percy quickly followed after the girl, majorly confused and experiencing a severe case of deja vu.

"Wait, what? Reyna, c'mon! Where are we even going?"

"Well, praetor," Reyna said, turning her dark eyes to him and pausing her steps. They had reached the principia's main doors. "We can't have you looking like a slob when you address Roman warriors that don't like you all that much to begin with."

"But you said-"

"Yeah, I lied"

"But-"

"No buts, Perseus," she demanded, "Now, tighten your tie and let's go."

"Ohmygods," Percy groaned, "You're like my mother."

"If that's the case, then I feel sorry for her," Reyna remarked, then as an afterthought, "I would say no offense, but...no."

"Gee, thanks a lot, partner."

"Anyday Perseus."


The Field of Mars was now occupied by every young soldier New Rome had to offer. Little boys in t-shirts stood next to twenty-something legionnaires in full battle gear. The cohorts were grouped together in the front while the older adults looked on from the rear. It was impressive to Percy that the people had organized so quickly, but next to him, Reyna shook her head.

"What is it, Reyna?"

"Look at those lines - if they can even be called that - and the groups are just a chaotic mess!" Reyna griped, a frown on her face. Percy sent her a curious glance.

"Why, praetor!" he said, mockingly scandalized, "are you...complaining about your troops?"

"Hell yes I am," she grumbled.

Percy let out a small chuckle, amusement twinkling in his eyes. However, as Percy spotted a familiar uptight bob of blonde hair, his amusement quickly disappeared. Octavian stood in the middle of a group of really, really built guys wearing training armor. Octavian himself however, was wearing only casual clothing, with a toga thrown on in what seemed to be a hurry. It hung off his small frame and as usual, the boy was wearing a strap of stuffed animals. The only thing missing was his ever-present dagger. The scene unnerved Percy. It was well known that Octavian did more damage with his words than he ever did with his dagger. And if he ever needed the dagger...well, cue really buff dudes standing next to the augur.

Percy gestured at the group, and Reyna's eyes darkened. "Hey, he's not gonna try anything, right?"

"Most likely not," Reyna replied, eying the crowd, "not an upfront attack, despite how he's making it seem. Too risky."

"That's not what I meant."

"Well in that case, then yes, Octavian is going to try something.

Percy swallowed, "Reassuring."

As the crowd began to settle their curious murmurs, Reyna put a hand on his lower back, forcing him to stand tall. Percy hid his surprise and held up his head. Then, Reyna gave a rare, small smile and left his side to make her way to the front. It wasn't until she was halfway up did the crowd - rather slowly - part for their praetor. Percy watched as the daughter of Bellona examined the Romans, a frown adorning her features, loose strands of hair blowing every which way in the slight breeze. Percy quirked his lips.

"Romans!" she commanded, "I have called you all here for a grand decision!" For a moment, she paused to take in the confused looks on the faces of the people. "It is an era of peace and prosperity in New Rome; and because we are allowed such fortunes after these last couple of years, I believe it is time we appoint a new, permanent leader for our New, permanent Rome!" As the people cheered for Reyna's obvious emotional appeal, Percy's eyebrows furrowed. What was this "permanent" Reyna was speaking about? Percy did not sign up for "permanent".

Just as he was about to voice his opinion, Reyna spoke once more. "And after much thought, after much debate, and after much adversities…" Reyna paused then, taking a deep breath. Percy twitched, not prepared for whatever Reyna had planned. "After all that, I, and the legion of Rome, announce that New Rome's newest praetor be...Percy Jackson!" She locked eyes with him, and somewhere from in the back, a horn played a triumphant, congratulatory track. For a brief second, Percy, and the rest of the people, stood in silence.

"What?! That traitor of a graecus?"

"Praetor?"

"What absurdities are you spewing?!" came the outraged cry of a certain blonde augur. Percy immediately found his eye, a mistake. The blonde pointed an accusatory finger at him. "We trusted you with leadership once, if I'm not mistaken, and I never am. And look how well I that turned out!" Octavian's face was twisted into a dramatic grimace, as if Percy was the slime on his shoe. Apparently, many others thought so as well, as they too turned and scowled at him, shooting him dirty looks. Where was Frank the grizzly bear when you needed him?

"I, for one, think he did pretty well," bellowed a voice from the crowd, "After all, he did help save the world." Percy turned to see a pair of Kool-Aid stained lips. Dakota grinned at him. "Thanks for that, by the way. Welcome back." Percy dumbly nodded his thanks.

"Oh what do you know? You're a drunk on an everlasting sugar high!"

"Am not. At least no higher than the horse you're riding on, legacy."

Octavian's pale face flushed red. In New Rome, lineage was everything, Percy recalled. Even a demigod of Bacchus outranked a legacy of Apollo. But then again, Percy didn't really see the appeal of being a demigod nowadays. Not that his opinion mattered much at the moment though.

Percy managed to drown out the crowd's protests, looking up towards Reyna, whose eyes has narrowed as she observed the lot. He gulped; it wasn't a friendly look. Catching his gaze, Reyna motioned him forward with her index finger. Me? Percy mouthed in question. Reyna gave a roll of her eyes, acceptable because there weren't any eyes watching her. Her expression seemed to be saying: No, the little ten year old at your feet. Yes you, you nimwit!

"Excuse me Octavian," Percy said, interrupting him mid-rant, "I have somewhere I need to be."

"Oh, running away now, are we," he sneered, "Well so much for a fearless leader tha-"

Percy pushed him aside slightly with the back of his hand, and brushed past the augur. "Thanks for allowing me to pass, Octavian. You're a real pal."

"Wait, where? Get back here, I haven't finished talking!"

With a smile, Percy said, "I know, I know. I'm a great conversationalist, but we'll continue this later, alright? Thanks, buddy." And with that, Percy easily strode up to the impromptu podium where Reyna stood, a relaxed smirk on his face.

And the smirk remained on his face as Reyna shot down any accusations from the crowd. It remained on his face as Octavian yelled himself hoarse with diatribe. It remained until the citizens came to a grudging acceptance of Percy's praetorship. But the moment the son of the sea's back turned, the smirk fell, and a weary grimace took its place. The acceptance didn't just apply to the Romans. And, Percy thought, he wasn't all that enthusiastic about the situation either.