IV

Percy POV

I could have literally stood there in Annabeth's arms forever, until I realized what a scene I was creating. Everyone was staring at us. All this attention made me feel uncomfortable. I awkwardly let go of Annabeth. I couldn't tell who's face was redder. Annabeth seemed to have a sudden interest to the ground.

Just then Leo bursts out of the ship, a short guy with elf like features and curly brown hair, probably pushed by someone from inside, and runs straight into Jason. The run-in seemed to get Jason out of his trance. That gets everyone's attention and they all look away from me, which was kind of a relief.

Leo tips back and forth from the edge of the railing, waving his hands frantically. Gravity soon takes over and he falls to the ground, face first. Jason manages not to encounter the same embarrassing fate as Leo's face. There was an uncomfortable silence after that. The Greeks stared at the Romans and the Romans stared at the Greeks and Leo still lay on the ground, though nobody helped him up for everyone was to shocked to do anything. There were many nervous glances in the crowd and everybody began to whisper to each other.

"What do we do?"

"Now what?"

"I need more Kool-Aid!"

Of course who do you always count on for saying something stupid. Octavian finally gets his courage to speak up.

"Isn't it obvious! That graecus," pointing a bony finger at me and saying it like it was the worst insult he could think of, "has allowed this war ship full of armed soldiers right into the middle of our city limits! I've foreseen this through the stuffing!" He takes out some fluff from his pocket just to prove it. "Attack them! Atta—!"

Before Octavian could say anything else, Jason interrupts him who seems to have recovered from earlier.

"No! I have been with these Greeks for months now. I have gained their respect and they have gained mine. I was your... former praetor," he glanced over at my purple cape. "...And I'm telling you that the Greeks are not here to fight you, they are here to fight with us to defeat a common enemy... Gaea."

It was obvious the way he spoke and the way the crowd leaned forward with every word that he was the leader. I finally decided to step up, recovered from earlier. "I agree with Jason. If we do not work together, we have already lost. We must unite to fight Gaea, or the Gods have no chance."

"We Romans fight and conquer!" Jason speaks up again, "And we will defeat Gaea and her giants! We will have victory!" By this time, both the Romans and the Greeks were cheering.

The rest of the campers on board the Argo II began to pile out and I was glad to see a lot of familiar faces.