The Truth Behind The Myths

Underdogs

Percy POV

I don't know why my heart was pounding so hard in my chest.

I had done well throughout those tests.

I had bested the competition, even when one of them could change shape at his own desire.

I had fought fantastically, as I always did.

So why was I so terrified that they would turn me away?

Mentally I've been alive for almost 80 years!

Being judged by a bunch of teenagers shouldn't seem scary.

I scanned the stadium, seeing weapons glinting in the sunlight from various places.

Scratch that. 

These teenagers could definitely be scary.

"Centurions, line up in front of Jack." The woman praetor ordered. There was some shuffling, then the ten centurions, two for each cohort, lined up in front of me.

My legs were shaking at the knees and I glared down at them for a moment to try and get them to stop.

You've faced Nazis! It's just a single choice. I reminded myself furiously.

So was letting go on that train, but look where that got you. A small voice piped up in the back of my head.

That's different.

Is it really?

That was life or death. Bucky had fallen already and if he survived he would need someone to take care of him.

You left Annabeth.

Shut up! I wouldn't have been able to get back in the train anyway.

You could have at least tried.

Didn't I just tell you to shut up?

"Timber."

I looked up, starting slightly. Frank was watching me, eyebrow raised.

"Sorry, having a pros and cons discussion with myself. Did someone say something?"

"Praetor Reyna asked which cohort you would like to choose. They are all willing to accept you."

So that was the woman's name. 

I scanned the centurions. Dakota shot me a small smile. His co-centurion was the girl from the border, Hazel, I think her name was.

Most of the other centurions were simply waiting for my answer.

I knew right away that the Second Cohort wasn't for me. The centurions looked haughty, like they felt they were better than the cohorts beneath them.

The two centurions for the First Cohort seemed alright, but I didn't want to work with teens who felt they were the best. Why join the best when I could join the underdogs and help them kick the best in the behind?

I considered the Third Cohort. They seemed nice enough, and they had skilled members, but something told me I wouldn't fit in as well there. Both centurions were girls and had the familiar hand grips that archers always had. 

Yeah, archery and I didn't seem like such a good idea. Guns, I could handle. Bows, not so much.

"I'm flattered you all think so highly of me." I started, smiling widely and winking at a few of the centurions. "But I really gotta go with the Fifth Cohort."

Chaos.

"What?!" 

"Why them?"

"Are you crazy?"

"He must have hit his head, there's no way-"

"Enough!" Reyna roared. The arena went silent as all eyes turned to her.

"He has made his decision. If he wishes to work with the Fifth Cohort, that is what he wants. Centurion, take your new probatio to your barracks."

"Yes, Praetor." Dakota saluted. "C'mon kid."

We walked through the streets again. Dakota stopped outside a plain building.

"Okay, kid. Why'd you pick us?"

"Why not?" I asked, shrugging.

"We aren't exactly the best Cohort. We've been considered the scum of the Legion for a while, Jason-you don't know him- only helped lift our status so much. You've got a lot of skill, why not put it to use in the First Cohort? They would have taken you happily."

"Everybody loves an underdog." I pointed out. "I want to see the looks on the other cohorts faces when we kick all their butts for the first time."

Dakota shook his head. "Keep dreaming, kid. It won't ever happen."

I rolled my eyes. "I have a name, Centurion. And yes it will. We just need to-"

"If you say believe I'm making you sleep on the floor." Dakota threatened, but I could hear some humor in his voice.

"I was going to say train, but whatever rocks your socks."

"Did...did you really just say that?" Dakota asked after a moment of surprise.

"Yeah, why? I can use something else if you don't like that one. Whatever razzles your berry, whatever flips your pancake, whatever melts your butter, whatever teeters your totter, wh-"

"You're crazy, kid." Dakota laughed. "But I get the point. Ready to meet your new roommates?"

"Totally!" I replied, then mentally added that to the list of phrases that I would never say as Percy. 

Dakota held the door open for me to walk through.

"Hey everyone, here's your new roommate and fellow Fifth-er." He called in the door.

The group was sitting up, looking at me.

"Does no one own a camera here? I understand the need to stare, but really!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up dramatically.

That shook most of them out of their stupor. "There's a cot over there." Hazel pointed down the rows a little bit.

"Thanks, Hazel, right?"

"Yeah. And you're Jack?"

"Yep." I smiled. "Jack Timber, at your service."

[A/N sorry I'm so horrible at updating regularly!]