Chapter Text
"Come on, let me introduce you to my other family."
In Hazel's point of view, Percy couldn't have sounded more eager or more excited. With good reason, Hazel supposed. He had been ripped from his life, his family, his beloved girlfriend. He was finally going to be able to see them again.
Percy's eyes visibly brightened as four demigods got off the giant warship. "Annabeth." Percy muttered.
Hazel looked at the four standing in front of the crowd. There was Jason, the not-Sammy, and two girls. One with brown hair, who was really pretty in a trying-not-to-be way. The other girl had blonde hair and intimidating gray eyes. Unlike the brunette, this girl's eyes were flitting all over the place, searching. Hazel knew this had to be Annabeth and she was searching for her Percy.
Reyna walked up. She and the Annabeth girl studied each other, but it was hard for Hazel to pay attention when her gaze kept cutting to Not-Sammy. How was this possible? Guiltily, Hazel took Frank's hand.
Meanwhile, Percy surged forward to push through the crowd, but she and Frank stayed back. Percy only stopped when he was at the edge of the crowd and Hazel had just enough of an angle to see him smile at the blonde. Hazel didn't think Annabeth could have looked more relieved. Neither moved. They seemed frozen.
Reyna tried to gain composure, but Jason's return, and the arrival of the warship, seemed to have thrown her. "Jason Grace, my former colleague," she said, practically spitting at the word 'colleague'. "I welcome you home. And these, your friends-"
It happened in an instant. Suddenly, both Percy and Annabeth were moving forward, as if there was a string pulling them together. Percy wrapped his arms around her and Annabeth put a hand on either side of his face and then they were kissing. In front of everyone. And it certainly didn't seem chaste. Hazel wanted to feel good for her friend, and she did, but she also felt a little uneasy. In her time, kissing that publicly wasn't exactly common. But Hazel found peace in knowing how much Percy cared about this girl, and how much it seemed that the feelings were absolutely reciprocated.
When they pulled away, Percy just stared at her. Faintly, Hazel heard him speak. "Gods, I never thought-"
Hazel wasn't quite sure what he was going to say, because something in that instant caused Annabeth to snap. She grabbed his wrist and flipped him over her shoulder. Hazel jumped back, her hand flying to her mouth as she gasped.
Other Romans grabbed for their swords or various weapons, unsure what to do when they realized they weren't there. "Hold!" Reyna shouted. "Stand down!"
Annabeth bent down and forcibly put her knee on Percy's chest, her face contorted with anger. She then pressed her arm against his throat. "If you ever leave me again," she warned, looking near tears, "I swear to all the gods-"
And yet, Percy didn't seem the least bit intimidated, just laughing with warm eyes up at the scary girl on top of him. All the anger drained from Annabeth's face. "Consider me warned. I missed you, too."
Annabeth glowed with such delight that Hazel worried they were going to kiss in front of them all again--and on the ground as well!--but instead Annabeth stood and helped Percy up as well.
In the awkward silence that followed, Jason cleared his throat. "So, yeah..." he said awkwardly. "It's good to be back." He turned to Reyna. "Praetor Reyna, this is Piper, daughter of Aphrodite, goddess of love." He gestured to the brunette who got off the boat.
Reyna nodded, politely, but curtly. Even Hazel could see there was something going on between Jason and the girl named Piper, who seemed a bit annoyed at something. Jason then turned his attention to not-Sammy. "And this is Leo." Leo/not-Sammy just grinned and flashed a peace sign. Reyna seemed taken aback by this. Jason grimaced. "He grows on you, I swear." Leo pretended to glare, but didn't look all that miffed.
Why couldn't she stop staring at Not-Sam--Leo?
"And this is Annabeth." Jason continued. "Uh, normally she doesn't judo-flip people." Even still, it was clear Annabeth was not one to make an enemy. Percy just looked at her like her tendency to judo flip people was one of his favorite traits of hers.
Reyna's eyes shown in a way that Hazel thought showed interest. "You sure you're not a Roman, Annabeth? Or an Amazon?"
Annabeth paused, as if not sure how to take that. She eventually held out her hand in greeting. "I only attack my boyfriend like that. Pleased to meet you."
Reyna took her hand, perhaps a little too firmly. "It seems we have a lot to discuss. Centurions!"
The Centurions came forward, which now included Frank. He squeezed her hand quick before dropping it, but nodded his head forward, beckoning her to follow. Hazel smiled. She'd always follow him. Besides, this was where things could get ugly and the two of them found their place next to Percy-- which brought her closer to Not-Sammy/Leo.
Briefly, Hazel felt Annabeth's eyes linger on her and Frank and for half a second she looked tense. Thankfully, that faded fast, though the way she glanced between Hazel and Not-Sammy/Leo made Hazel tense. Annabeth seemed incredibly perceptive which was a good trait to have in an ally, but made Hazel a bit uneasy when she still had a few secrets to keep.
Reyna was giving orders to the centurions, but Hazel didn't really pay attention, too caught up in trying not to stare at Not-Sammy/Leo, until she heard Octavian's voice.
"You're letting these intruders into the camp? Reyna, the security risks-"
"We're not taking them to the camp, Octavian." Reyna snapped, sending him a hard look. "We'll eat here, in the forum."
"Oh, much better. You want us to relax in the shadow of their warship." The Greeks seemed a combination of confused and thrown by Octavian's outburst. Annabeth especially. She was studying him as someone might study a map. Piper just narrowed her eyes. Leo/not-Sammy was just looking around while his fingers restlessly twitched, as if aching for something to do.
"These are our guests." Reyna snapped at him. "We will welcome them, and we will talk to them. As augur, you should burn an offering to thank the gods for bringing Jason back to us safely."
Smirking, Percy delightfully added, "Good idea. Go burn your bears, Octavian."
Reyna seemed to be trying to hold down a smile. "You have my orders. Go."
The centurions scattered. As he left, Octavian sent Percy a death glare, which Percy calmly met with a relaxed smile. It was only when Octavian's gaze turned to Annabeth that Percy tensed.
Percy put his hand in Annabeth's. "Don't worry about Octavian," he told her. "Most of the Romans are good people-like Frank and Hazel here," he said, looking in their direction, "and Reyna. We'll be fine."
Annabeth seemed pale for a moment. She shivered from a nonexistent cold. She glanced up at their warship. "We'll be fine." She agreed unconvincingly.
"Excellent." Reyna spoke. Reyna looked at Jason, and Hazel didn't understand her expression. "Let's talk, and we can have a proper reunion."