Leyna: The Double Date

                                                                               The Double Date


         Leo was in so much trouble. He and Reyna were supposed to be on a double date with Frank and Hazel, and he’d totally forgotten until roughly three hours ago, and even the Argo II had trouble getting him all the way to Camp Jupiter that fast.

         He was hovering above the Little Tiber and was so desperate to get there in time, he jumped.

         Stupid idea, stupid idea, STUPID IDEA! That was the phrase that kept running through Leo’s head in free fall. He lit up his whole body Human-Torch style and while he didn’t fly, as Jason had once speculated; his fall did slow down enough to afford him a relatively soft landing in the river.

         Climbing out of the river Leo was glad he’d refined his fire starting skills to the point that he could now just make his skin really warm, which dried him and his clothes in time to arrive at the café only five minutes late.

         He found Frank and Hazel waiting at their usual table.

         Sitting down he said, “Hey guys.”

         The pair grinned and returned his greeting.

         “So, where’s Reyna?” Leo asked.

         “She wants to break up with you.” Frank said calmly.

         Leo jumped up nearly flipping the table over. “What!?” He screamed.

         “Frank,” came a familiar voice from behind Leo, “Did you really have to freak him out like that?”

         Leo spun and was face to face with Reyna.

         “I was just in the bathroom.” She said with a small grin.

         After Leo had calmed down, he put two and two together.

         “Zhang,” He said, “I am going to freaking kill you for that.”

         Reyna put a hand on his shoulder, which made his mind go a little fuzzy. “How about,” She said in her best diplomatic voice, “My boyfriend doesn’t kill my fellow praetor? Doesn’t that sound better?”

         It may as well have been Piper talking as far as Leo was concerned.

         “Fine,” Leo said, then he looked at Frank, “But I will get you back somehow.”

         Hazel moved a bit closer to her boyfriend, taking his arm in both of hers as she leaned in somewhat protectively.

         “Well,” Hazel said, “The evening is off to a great start isn’t it?”

         Past that incident the night did go pretty well. They all loved these get-togethers. How it brought their love lives and friendships into pretty much perfect harmony, mostly anyway.

         After dinner, they headed out into the young January night.

         The Coliseum was holding nighttime gladiatorial combat to see how it would do for ticket sales and they were going.

         When they took their seats in the stands it was like going back in time, torches provided the only lighting on the field and the combatants weapons flashed in the firelight, sending gold rays across their faces from time to time. The fights were strictly non-lethal but it still had a primal feeling to it.

         “Is this really what ancient Romans did for kicks?” Leo asked.

         “Pretty much.” Reyna said. “Why, you Greeks had a better form of entertainment?”

         “We had a lot of things back in the day; I just don’t know much about them.” Leo said, “Except for two. And they’re kinda universal.”

         Reyna looked over at him, “And what are those?”

         “Well,” Leo said in a fake know it all tone, “First, paying homage to Aphrodite.” At these words, he leaned in and they kissed for a while, lips together, tongues touching gently.

         “Would you two get a room?” Frank asked, clearly uncomfortable.

         They broke away, Reyna boasting a smile of uncommon size for her.

         “And the second,” Leo said, “Paying Homage to Nemesis.”

         At this, Frank’s pants burst into flame.

         The big guy yelped, cursed in Latin, and then transformed into a bird and flew for his life towards the Little Tiber.

         Hazel looked like she was ready to gut Leo.

         “Are you serious!?” She demanded, shooting up from her seat. The attention of the crowd was now on them rather than the fight, “You could’ve really hurt him!”

         “Uh, Hazel,” Leo said, “Look down.”

         Hazel was met with the sight of a fire burning in the shape of Frank’s legs, like a set of flaming sweatpants.

         “The fire-” Hazel began.

         “Never touched him.” Leo confirmed.

         “Reyna,” Hazel said, “I’m real sorry about this but…” She slapped Leo across the face and left.

         “Oooowwww.” Leo moaned.

         Reyna shook her head. “You really should have thought that through.”

         “Maybe,” Leo said.

         “Come on,” Reyna said, “We should go back to my place so you can suffer in private.”

         Leo perked up a bit as they got up. There was a wolf whistle from higher in the stands.

         “Whoever did that,” Reyna called without moving her eyes off Leo, “Will step forward at evening muster tomorrow for their punishment, or the whole Legion will jog in place for five minutes in full armor. Is that clear?” They left smiling and giggling before they got an answer.