"If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, then he isn't fit to live."

Maya

P.J. didn't walk through camp, he seamed to strut. Head high and with purpose. His long strides carried them at a brisk pace. His eyes continued to sweep in and out of every ally as if he were expecting an attack.

Maya herself easily matched his pace and pointed out points of interests like a tour guide. While she was ready for any question that might be presented to her she received none. P.J. remained as silent as a mute.

"It's hot today." She said cautiously attempting to make conversation.

P.J. glanced up at the cloudless sky, directly toward the sun and quietly shook his head.

"It's warm." he stated as his only response. Maya pressed forward.

"So I'm Maya. I'm a daughter of Ceres, you'd call her Demeter..." She trailed off as he swung his eyes to meet hers. They were as unnerving as they were beautiful so it was hard to not trail off.

"I know." There wasn't any teasing or bad intention in his words, it was simply stating a fact.

Maya decided that was not the best start. After all Frank had already said all this in introductions. Gritting her teeth she pointed toward the 4th Cohorts barracks. As the 2 of them silently finished the walk to the building Maya pulled the door open and gestured for him to go in.

Instead of walking in he stopped and made the same gesture, inviting Maya inside first. Not wanting to be impolite Maya waved him in again. Only for the same thing to happen. Suppressing a frown she decided to just go in, no sense in wasting time.

Walking through the barracks she lead them to a small side room. Since the introduction of this program the 4th Cohort decided to build a place for the camper and the babysitter to sleep in. Giving them a clear divide between the legionaries and the campers. Maya thought it was ridiculous but she would just grit her teeth and go with it. It was a program meant to bring the camps together but they decided to draw lines keeping them divided.

"We'll be sleeping in here." Maya said opening the door revealing 2 beds and 2 equipment chests and a single desk.

Maya walked in. Had she known she was going to be sleeping in here she would have asked someone to help her move her equipment chest, and since she wasn't about to ask there guest to do it because those things weighed a ton, she had to slide it across the floor to the side room.

"You can unpack if you want. I have to get my chest and move some stuff." Maya said and without another word she left the room, making a beeline toward her bunk. She began to picture everything in her chest. A full set of armor, her gladius, several sets of cloths and everything else a legionnaire needs... yeah it was a ton. Walking up to the chest she bent down making sure it was still locked.

Satisfied she walked around it for a moment before bending down, setting her feet and giving the chest a shove. The chest slid across the ground with an ugly screech. She was rewarded with the chest moving about 10 inches.

Setting her feet again she shoved a second and third time each one moving the chest a few inches. The chest was heavy but manageable. She definably could get it in the room in the few minutes it would take for him to unpack his things.

Setting her feet once again she took 2 deep breaths before...

"Would you like me to help?" P.J.s deep voice once again seemed to speak directly into her ear. She whipped her head around and he was standing there. The strangest part being that Maya had not seen him leave the side room, or heard him standing behind him.

Maya debated quietly for a second. She had trouble asking him for help and she felt it was dishonorable to the legion, on the other hand if they carry the chest it will take less time and she could help him put his stuff in the chest in a way that was up to legion standards. She quietly weighed the pros, and cons.

Apparently he wasn't waiting for an answer. As he stepped by her he bent down and with one hand seized the iron bound handle on the side. In one swift incredible show of strength he hauled the box up and over, setting it on his shoulder. He didn't look to struggle at all with the chest despite the weight and shape. Using only one hand to balance the chest he began to march toward the door.

As he turned to the door Mayas eyes raised in mild disbelief. Although she could clearly see he was a big guy she failed to realize just how strong he was. The chest easily weighed about 200 lbs. and would have been incredibly awkward to handle. His casual show of strength slightly rattled her, but that wasn't the only thing. He was quiet. A guy like that was stereotypically big and strong, but it was the manner in which he kept appearing behind her that she didn't like.

In a hurry she scrambled up from her sitting position and briskly walked to the side room. P.J was casually setting down her chest, taking care to be gentle. With that taken care of he pushed the spare chest to the side of the room.

"Thank you."

Steven slightly glanced her way, giving a small nod and a slight smile before replied. "Don't mention it."

He seemed to be very good at shutting down conversations. Maya mused quietly to herself. She watched as he began to unpack his things. A couple neatly folded shirts, a few pairs of jeans, a spare set of boots, a couple pairs of socks and under ware. All neatly folded and gently placed in his chest. Once the bag was empty he folded that neatly as well and stashed it in his chest.

His second bag was much more interesting. The first thing he pulled out was a large square of cloth. Tan with intricate black lines running through it.

"What is that?" Maya questioned.

Steven gazed lovingly at the cloth, and said nothing. It was as if he couldn't hear her. Though after a few moments he spoke.

"It is a Shemagh, a traditional desert scarf." His thumb traced the edge of the cloth seemingly lost in thought. After a moment he folded the cloth into a triangle before setting it in the chest.

Mayas curiosity was peaked at that. "Where are you from?"

Maya watched as P.J. began to pull a small medical bag from the bag. He swiftly unzipped it and inspected its contents. "I'm originally from Wisconsin, but I spent most of my younger days in Northern Africa and the Middle East."

"That sounds fun. Why did you move?" Maya asked. A smile gracing her lips as she seemed to find something he was willing to talk about.

P.J pulled out a small bag adorned with patches. One was a simple black and grey patch that said "Praise the sun" another was a tan and dark brown patch that said "EOD". He remained silent as he unzipped it and opened the bag. Inside sat several cubes of clay like substance in bags, 2 small spools of wire, several small mechanical machines and 2 small glass vials with a glowing green liquid in them. Greek fire.

Maya had heard about the stuff, how it burned and couldn't be put out by anything except sand or urine. How it melted through imperial gold like butter and ate away at everything. Seeing the vials now she felt a sense of uneasiness.

"I moved because I had to." P.J. said as he zipped up the bag again. He glanced over to her and quietly shook his head.

As if he had read her mind he spoke. "The bags enchanted so that only I can open it. Its also enchanted so nothing inside will break."

That did little to calm Maya down, but she let it pass. The thought of the Greek fire detonating in camp terrified her. Not only because of the danger to her friends, but also because of the trouble she would get in if it happened. Her back began to ache at the thought.

P.J. continued unpacking. Rope, a small entrenching shovel, a canteen, a tarp all came out of his secondary bag. When he was done he once again folded up the bag and placed it into his chest. After closing the lid he began to rise to his feet, prompting Maya to do the same.

As Maya rose to her feet she began to think of activities they could do. She had to spend a week with him and also keep it entertaining. Despite that she knew Camp Jupiter had a lot of tasks that she was responsible for doing. Boring tasks. Very boring tasks. Not something people would consider entertaining.

A few options sprang to mind. She could give a tour of the camp and city, not something she felt comfortable doing after seeing a bag full of explosives. She could take him to the Field of Mars... maybe they could spar a bit. She had her doubts about that as well. Thankfully her choice was made for her.

"Well, Well, Well Miss Wheet. Training the temporary legionnaire I see." The sarcasm laced words rang out as a purple lar shimmered to life in front of the Pair of demigods. Tall, stoic, short black goatee, and a purple toga. There was no mistaking him.

Shit. Mayas alarm bells were screaming at her to run and take P.J. Letus was a 4th Cohort lar who was usually a fairly relaxed spirit. That being said he hated Greeks. Having been from the early stages of the Roman empire he spent his entire life fighting the remnants of Greece. He had a special hate that burned even before the Greeks had blown up half of New Rome last summer. Now he made it his own personal mission to make sure Greek demigods knew they weren't wanted.

P.J. for his own part seemed unfazed by the spirit, calmly giving him a once over look.

"Miss Wheet I'm disappointed, Inviting an enemy of the Empire into our home. Not to mention one with clear intention of sabotage." Letus drawled. Each word attempting to cut her like a dagger.

"Letus, P.J. is a guest he will be treated..." Maya began only to be cut off by Letus.

"He is Graecus. Kill him, take his lands. He is a trickster, a nascence. Be a true Roman." The lars voice rose with every line.

"Do not base your assumption of me on my parents." P.J. spoke in a cool controlled manner. Letting no emotion into his words.

Letus froze as if he just had mud thrown on him. His eyes blazed with a new found fury as he rounded on the Greek demigod. His hand rose to P.J.s chest and pointed dangerously at him. When he spoke it came out as little more then an angry hiss.

"You will never speak to me again Graecus scum. I will have your head, and the heads of every filthy Greek until the world is returned to its proper state. The Legion will rise again to its full glory and destroy you scum."

Maya had to give P.J. the credit he was due. He didn't show any emotion. His face was a blank slate. There was no lashing out, no anger, not even a deep breath. Instead P.J. lifted his right hand, extended his pointer finger, and gently pushed the lars finger away from his chest.

Maya choked on air. Lars couldn't be touched. She had seen it happen one other time, with the Ambassador of Pluto. Other then that it was simply unheard of.

When P.J. spoke it was as if he was having a conversation. Not an ounce of anything related to emotion. "Let me be very clear Letus. I will not be judged by my ancestors. I will not be tried for the choices they made. I will not have you have you raise your voice to me until the time a raised voice is needed. Is this clear?"

Maya watched Letus stumble back through her, clearly as shocked as she was. As she turned to see him she saw nothing but fear in his eyes. He seemed to stumble over his toga and fall down flat on his back. Despite that he still scrambled backward.

"You..." It was like Letus couldn't even finish his own sentence.

With fear in his eyes he vanished. Phasing out of existence faster then Maya thought was possible.

As Maya turned back to P.J. He looked unshaken, unfazed.

"My apologies for that Maya. I'm sorry for what he said to you." With that he turned and walked out of the room, conversation clearly over.

Maya realized something she should have realized much earlier at that moment. P.J. was the son of Thanatos. Thanatos was the God of Death.

She was going to be bunking with him for a week.