Happy New Year
8 hours until midnight
“What do you mean you won’t make it?!” Rachel cried in exasperation for the fourth time.
“I mean exactly that. I need to organize the movements of the Romans during the holidays and go through all of the approval requests for the army. We-”
“Can’t allow a novice to get hurt because they decided to go for a solo adventure on New Year’s.” Rachel cut her off, “but can’t you like hurry it up and get on a flight tomorrow for the party?”
“I’m sorry Rachel, but I just don’t think I can make it. The holidays get hectic, I don’t want my soldiers to get hurt or worse.” Rachel knew it was a losing argument, but she had selfishly wanted Reyna to come to her party anyway. It was their first New Year’s as a couple and she couldn’t even kiss her girlfriend!
“It’s ok, I understand.” Rachel sighed with resignation and unintentionally gave Reyna the biggest guilt trip in her life.
“I want to be there, but I just don’t think it’s going to happen.” Reyna ran her hands through her hair. Her black locks were down, as it usually is when she’s at home, Rachel got lost in its shimmer.
Funnily enough, Reyna was looking at Rachel’s hair and the way her bright orange hair was a curly mess in the most beautiful way. Reyna remembered the first time they kissed, it was because she got paint in her hair when she was messing with Rachel’s brushes (something she now knows is a cardinal sin). She was wiping it out with a wet towel when she realized that she was leaning very far into Rachel. Reyna could smell the acrylic paint in her hair, but also seeping from Rachel’s faded CHB shirt; art was Rachel’s world after all. Reyna tried to pull her hand back, but Rachel had grabbed it and pulled Reyna impossibly closer, with a whispered ‘its ok’, their lips met. Reyna’s head spun and her heart raced faster than it usually did in Rachel’s presence.
From then on the Roman praetor volunteered to be the one to go speak with the Greek oracle and maybe made a few trips that weren’t strictly for the cause of the Roman army. Likewise, Rachel made frequent trips to San Francisco on “diplomatic” trips, sometimes to genuinely absorb the aura of Camp Jupiter to get a better direction in her prophecies, but also to go on late night coffee breaks with Reyna.
A knock from Reyna’s end startled them both out of their shared remembrance.
“Hey, Reyna, the last batch of requests are in.” Frank announced from the other side of the door. It was their shared office really, but they both respected each other to knock whenever the inner door was shut.
“Just a moment.” She called behind her. Reyna turned back to Rachel, wincing slightly at the fact that she would have to stop the message with Rachel. “I’m sorry again, love you?”
“Love you too.” Rachel grumbled, even though she was adorably angry, Rachel still blew Reyna a kiss.
“Happy New Year.” Reyna responded, but Rachel had already cut the connection. With a shake of her head she called Frank in.
