Heroes of Olympus Series. Annabeth Chase X Male Reader Story

Arguing in a Flower Crown

He sounded pretty worried. They stopped at the center of camp, where two wide stone-paved roads met at a T. A street sign labeled the road to the main gates as via praetoria. The other road, cutting across the middle of camp, was labeled via principalis.

Under those markers were hand-painted signs like berkeley 5 miles; NEW ROME 1 MLE; OLD ROME 7280 MLES; HADES 2310 MLES (pointing straight down); RENO 208 MLES, AND CERTAIN DEATH: YOU ARE HERE!

For certain death, the place looked pretty clean and orderly. The buildings were freshly whitewashed, laid out in neat grids like the camp had been designed by a fussy math teacher.

The barracks had shady porches, where campers lounged in hammocks or played cards and drank sodas. Each dorm had a different collection of banners out front displaying Roman numerals and various animals—eagle, bear, wolf, horse, and something that looked like a hamster.

Along the Via Praetoria, rows of shops advertised food, armor, weapons, coffee, gladiator equipment, and toga rentals. A chariot dealership had a big advertisement out front: CAESAR XLS WANTILOCK BRAKES, NO DENARII DOWN!

At one corner of the crossroads stood the most impressive building—a two-story wedge of white marble with a columned portico like an old-fashioned bank. Roman guards stood out front. Over the doorway hung a big purple banner with the gold letters SPQR embroidered inside a laurel wreath.

"Your headquarters?" Percy asked. Reyna faced him, her eyes still cold and hostile. "It's called the principia." She scanned the mob of curious campers who had followed them from the river. "Everyone back to your duties. I'll give you an update at evening muster. Remember, we have war games after dinner."

The thought of dinner made Percy's stomach rumble. The scent of barbecue from the dining hall made his mouth water. The bakery down the street smelled pretty wonderful too, but he doubted Reyna would let him get an order to go.

The crowd dispersed reluctantly. Some muttered comments about Percy's chances. "He's dead," said one. "Would be those two who found him," said another. "The curse was there too, ran right into my ballista, and I just cleaned it for tonight."

"Yeah, figures the curse would bring another curse" muttered another, laughing. "Let him join the Fifth Cohort. Greeks and geeks." Several kids laughed at that, but Reyna scowled at them, and they cleared off.

"Hazel," Reyna said. "Come with us. I want your report on what happened at the gates." "Me too?" Frank said. "Percy saved my life. We've got to let him—" Reyna gave Frank such a harsh look, he stepped back.

"I'd remind you, Frank Zhang," she said, "you are on probatio yourself. You've caused enough trouble this week." Frank's ears turned red. He fiddled with a little tablet on a cord around his neck.

Percy hadn't paid much attention to it, but it looked like a name tag made out of lead. "Go to the armory," Reyna told him. "Check our inventory. I'll call you if I need you." "But (Y/N) said go to the infirmary and he's—'" Frank caught himself. "Yes, Reyna." He hurried off.

Reyna waved Hazel and Percy toward the headquarters. "Now, Percy Jackson, let's see if we can improve your memory."

(Y/N)'s POV

That was close, too close. As excited as (Y/N) was to have found Percy, because it now meant that not only did Zoe owe him infinite free meals and shotgun every time she drove, but it also meant Sally would stop worrying. He had to be careful.

(Y/N) had been here for a few weeks now, and if Hera had decided now was the time to get Percy in the mix, it must have meant something, after all, she had predicted everything so far. Though that would all be a moot point soon.