DISCLAIMER I do not Own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Everything in this story bar the Plot, and a few Characters belongs to Rick Riordan.
Also, Feel free to review your thoughts on anything, I'd like to hear what I've done well as this is pretty much my first ever Fanfic. Additionally, criticisms both expected and welcomed, I'd also love to hear what I'm NOT doing well etc.
AUTHORS NOTE; This is a pretty slow chapter, and there will be one like this every now and then. But the more Action ones will be coming also.
Chapter 4 -
"Starts after sundown I think. But late is always most fashionable."
Her face stretched into a grin. The slightest dimples lined her reddened lips.
They weren't natural, but she looked just as good without lip powder.
A smirk arched from the corner of his mouth, creasing a scar that laced his lip.
"Annabeth caring about fashion? That's something we don't see every day is it?"
Her light grin turned to a giggle, and she held her mouth behind tanned, but gentle hands.
He turned from her seated figure, lounging on his bed, and walked towards a set of legate's armor, resting clammy palms on its plated metal pauldrons.
It was beautiful, a true work of art.
He loved this gift from his father, he truly did.
But their wasn't a scratch or blemish on its reflective surface. A symbol of his lack of military experience.
"Oh Luke! Don't tell me you're wearing that silly armor again, it's a party not a parade."
Luke turned back to face the blonde curls behind him.
Smiling again, he crouched and began to strap his sandals.
"I look good in it." He simply stated.
There was a moment of near silence, before Luke heard an almost inaudible "you do".
Without looking up, He smirked again.
"Well, if Annabeth wants to be fashionably late, fashionable we shall be!"
A loud knocking chorused through the room.
Luke sighed, before making an exasperated expression to Annabeth.
"Coming Nerus."
No response was heard, so Luke walked to the enormous engraved wooden doors, sparing no glance at the intricate carvings of Roman soldiers fending off Barbarian hordes, and pushed them apart.
Despite their enormity, no sound was made as they swung on enormous iron hinges.
Luke whispered to Nerus as Annabeth lay back on the soft surface of Luke's bed, and began to doze.
Some time passed before Luke finished his conversation with Nerus, as Annabeth was deep in daydream by the time he addressed her.
"Annabeth, I said you should go home and get your costume organized, I'll meet you in the Atrium at sundown, and we can walk to the Praetorium."
Before waiting for a response, he turned and began fastening a leather chest piece to go under his Metal plates.
The Ball was enormous. The wealthy from all over Rome came, at least one member of each house present, to ensure their appearance of elitism was maintained.
Many were Demigods, as having one of Divine nature in your house stapled you as one of Rome's rich and powerful.
Most were only a quarter blooded, as Wealthy politicians and merchants often married their Demigod children off in trade, however there were some as high as Three Quarter blooded present, noticeable by their Gem encrusted rings.
Luke and Annabeth made their way through throngs of inebriated party goers, all unrecognizable behind their masquerade masks.
Laying eyes on a sole unmasked boy with a golden crew cut and electric blue eyes, the pair made their way towards him.
"Jason! Very formal as usual. Glad you're having fun!" Luke grinned behind his mask, chuckling at his friend's attire. Like Luke he wore military garb, although unlike Luke's decorative plates, Jason wore extremely weathered leather.
"Not staying long." He shrugged "Just wanted to find Thalia and tell her something. I'm on patrol in the morning."
Luke's grin faded.
"I thought you'd want to have a drink with us! School starts back soon."
Jason simply stared at Luke with a bored expression.
"Again, I'm on patrol in the morning. You know the thing everyone else in the Legion has to do?"
Luke laughed, leaning his head back as he did.
"Yeah yeah, go on soldier boy. When you see Thalia tell her to come find us." Jason simply nodded and grabbed Luke's forearm in the classic Roman way, before disappearing into the crowd.
Luke turned toward Annabeth.
"You know Annie, you really do look so nice tonight."
His eyes gazed into Stormy grey orbs, and he noticed her cheeks redden.
Annabeth opened her mouth to respond, but an enormous hand landing on Luke's shoulder interrupted.
"Luke my boy! You've just about grown twice as big since I saw you last!" a gargantuan man with a very un-Roman grizzly beard and long black hair grinned at him.
Next to him stood Luke's Stepfather, Morus Tyrannus.
General Tyrannus simply stood to the side, a slight frown gracing his face, as he looked Luke's attire up and down.
"Atlas! It's been years hasn't it! Don't suppose Calypso is here? we've all been missing her at the Academy."
Atlas continued grinning, but Luke noticed it falter for the briefest moment.
"Unfortunately Calypso isn't seen as welcome at pro doctrina essentia anymore. The priests say it isn't good for us godly folk to be with mortals too long. Will upset their view of us, won't be revered and all that."
Luke frowned.
"That's ridiculous, You're a titan! should be an honor to house Calypso.
Tyrannus' frown deepened, before a scratchy, but deep voice growled "Refer to your superiors by title Luke, were you promoted several times in the past week for you to wear those plates and ignore protocol?"
Luke turned to his Stepfather.
The man had short dark blonde hair in a similar style to Jason. His bare arms were heavily tanned, and just as heavily muscled. The letters SPQR were branded onto his right forearm, an eagle above it, and a Pilum under it, a symbol of his Father, Mars.
"Although no doubt deserving, no father, I have not been promoted. But Mercury himself bequeathed these plates to me."
Pleased with his response, Luke smiled at his Stepfather, but the grin never reached his eyes.
Tyrannus stared at his Stepson blankly for a few moments, before his eyes softened, and an upset and disappointed look replaced it.
Turning to Annabeth, His expression warmed.
"Ah my little Graecus. How are you Annabeth?" Tyrannus bowed slightly, and a smile graced Annabeth's lips
"I'm well General, enjoying tonight's festivities!"
He smiled in return, and they continued mild conversation for a short while, until both large men continued to circle the room, mingling with other Roman high-ups.
As Luke and Annabeth made their way around the party, greeting friends where they found them, and sternly pacing past the many women who would glare at Annabeth with sly eyes and whisper 'Graecus' as she passed.
Annabeth didn't mind when Luke's Stepfather called her Graecus, but these old tarts were spiteful and rude in her opinion.
The pair finally rested by a long white table, filled with cheese and wine.
As they began joking with one another, a girl of similar age to Luke approached.
"Conspiring with the enemy still Luke? Im both Disgusted and Disappointed. Young Roman man like you should be engaged to a beautiful Roman Woman, not this Graecus"
The dark haired girl sauntered over, glaring at Annabeth as she did so.
"Am I conspiring with the enemy? I wasn't aware we'd been talking already Minerva."
The girl went red with anger, and began to open her mouth in response, but a young man with brown curly hair cut her off.
"Disgracing your namesake again I see Minerva. You always were better at opening your legs than your lips." The short man danced around Minerva, hopping from foot to foot with a mischievous grin, tilting his head from side to side.
Minerva, astounded at his intrusion, opened and closed her mouth in silence, unable to respond through her shock.
Finally gaining some semblance of composure, her shock was replaced by fury.
"You disgusting little shit. I should get my father to throw you in the Colosseum!"
The man simply grinned, before retorting.
"I'd like to see him try. Looks too interested in the inside of his wineglass to care about a child like you."
"I'm no child! I'm engaged to be wed!"
Again the man laughed.
"Then I wish your husband good luck in the coming years. Must be a hard thought knowing your son has a dozen potential fathers."
Minerva, finally too furious to even respond, simply stormed away.
Several youthful Demigods glared at the curly haired man before turning to chase Minerva. The oldest of the group sidled up to her side, whispering in her ear.
She halted, and turned to face the courageous young man, slapping his grasp from her arm, before red cheeks snarled some silent curse at the boy. He stood amongst the crowds of intoxicated party goers, unaware and uncaring of his shattered presence, staring as the woman strode away, a posse of hopeful young men trailing her every step.
Luke turned from the amusing spectacle, and smirked at the young man.
"Never thought I'd be pleased with your insults Wit."
The man turned away from the retreating figure of Minerva.
"That's because your ridiculous outfits are usually the target of said insults dear Luke." A grin marred his face, before he turned to Annabeth.
"Ah, and Annabeth, the only brain amongst all this brawn who rivals my wisdom, yet dwarfs my beauty. May your lady Athena continue to curse my existence placing such a brilliant mind amidst imbeciles." He bowed slightly, and Luke turned to face Annabeth in astonishment.
Annabeth herself had extremely red cheeks, and was staring at the patterned tiles on the floor.
Turning back to Wit, Luke found empty air.
"How did he...?"
Searching the Crowds, Luke saw no sign of the dark curly brown hair.