Welcome to the Show

Percy is a famous escape artist working in a traveling circus, Drew is a talented aerial silks dancer. Both risk their lives onstage everyday, but the real dangers are outside the big top tent.

Drew Tanaka x Percy Jackson

Percy

Drew was glorious, a whirlwind of red and gold moving up and down the silks in constant motion. Twirling and spinning, the light of the tent catching on the gold embroidery of her bodysuit.

I watched from the side of the ring admiring her talent and beauty, undoubtedly with a dumb look on my face. As the next act I didn't have much to do except wait and watch the show. She looked radiant and I gasped along with the crowd as she maneuvered the silks and dropped more than ten feet. Gods, she was spectacular. I watched as she dropped to the ground in a graceful curtsy and, I'm sure I imagined it, but it almost looked like she glanced over towards me as the rigmaster stepped forwards. But it was unlikely, Drew had made her feelings towards me quite clear. Even if she sometimes did things that made me wonder if she really hated me so much, her clipped words, quick dismissals, and one straight up rejection left no doubts in my mind that Drew felt nothing for me. Still, for some reason I couldn't get her out of my head.

Despite my desperate pining I did have a show to put on, gods knows Annabeth would have my head if I messed up my act. "Alright seaweed brain," Annabeth called checking her watch, "time for you to head out." I smiled, giving her a two fingered salute as I walked out into the ring.

Drew's silks had been pulled up and now the only thing in the ring was a large tank of water. I climbed the stairs to the platform in front of the tank while Dionysus announced my act. "And now ladies and gentlemen, the act you've all been waiting for… the great escape artist, Perseus Jackson!" The crowd roared as I stepped out onto the platform and their screams grew as my assistant, Grover, stepped up, chains and padlocks in hand. I winked at the crowd as I held my hands together for Grover to padlock, then had him wrap the chains around my body. Dionysus, ever the showman, even called down a few lucky audience members to help with the knots and make sure I was thoroughly locked in place. When everyone had finished, Grover and the audience members bowed as I shuffled forwards the end of the platform. Then, with a light push from Grover, I fell in.

Now was when the real show started. Since I was the star act the audience was expecting a good show, and I was excited to deliver. As I began to sink, my mental countdown started. The knots were well done, this audience member clearly knew his stuff and I was beginning to panic. My lungs wanted air and I hadn't even begun undoing the chains yet. I trashed about in the water, but then, just as I had begun to think this might be my last show I grasped the padlock in my hand and managed to angle my picks into it. My wrists and arms started to burn but I held them in place as my picks worked their magic, tuning out the roars of the crowds until I heard the tell-tale click as the lock clicked open. I quickly maneuvered my arms out of the chains and got to work on the knots around my knees and ankles. A few air bubbles escaped my lungs and frow the way they were burning I could tell I was running out of time. A few seconds later I had made quick work of the last few knots and was swimming my way to the surface. I burst through the surface of the water gasping for breath. As time had gone on the audience had gotten quieter and quieter, to the point where the tent was almost completely silent as they waited on the edge of their seats until I finally rocketed to the surface. The second I took in my first breath the crowd exploded into cheers and I quickly pulled myself up onto the platform, stood up and bowed. I waved to the crowd, making sure to get all sides of the big tent. When I glanced to the performer's entrance to the ring almost all the cast members were there. Not Drew though. I felt my smile getting faker as I continued bowing and waving to the crowd. The whole tent was watching me, but the one person I wanted to see me wasn't there.

Hey babes,

Hope you liked this chapter. I'm not totally sure how long this is going to be but I can tell you that there are going to be multiple POVs, Drew is up next so get excited! I'm going to try to update once a week but, um, that probably won't happen (sorry). I've a bunch of other stories planned but I'm only working on a few at a time so we'll see how that goes. Please, please message me, I literally have no life so I'll definitely get back to you. If you have any pairings you want to see in this story or any other just let me know! I really like writing rare pair stories so if you have any unconventional ships please hmu I'd love to hear them.

Xoxo