Wisdom of the Waters
Chapter 10
-Percy-
Chiron looked about to answer when he remembered something, "Wait a minute," he said holding up a hand for silence "is this that pen sword from the Museum?".
"I thought you had forgotten for a moment," Chiron said with a pleased nod "yes that is the same sword. Its name is Anaklusmos.".
"The Riptide," he whispered softly as he clicked the pen and traced the blade, feeling the wave designs etched into the bronze and felt the thrum of divine sea powers "the tide that takes one by surprise and, before you know it, you're swept out to sea.".
"You're turning into a walking armory," Clarisse said with a snort "I thought that was my job? Daughter of Ares and all.".
"I have to if I want to stay alive," he said with a snort as he pocketed the pen "I not only have to survive the 'father boyfriend interrogation' from Lou's old man but from freaking Ares…I need every damn advantage I can get to stay alive.".
"Should I get to work on building you a coffin?" Beckendorf asked with a grin as he scowled before summoning water from his gourd and making it cover his friend's mouth before freezing it.
Sighing Chiron pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation while Beckendorf struggled to break off the ice gag, "Was that really necessary Percy?" the ancient teacher asked him causing him to grin and nod happily, Clarisse and Lou laughing behind him. "Fine," Chiron sighed "you're going to give me no end of headaches…I can just feel it. Anyway, Argus will take you to the Bus Station in New York City but from there you're on your own.".
"Thanks Chiron," he said gratefully as he shook his teacher's hand, doing the same with Dionysus a moment later "this means a lot to me.". Saying one more goodbye to the rest of his friends he climbed into the back of the van along with Clarisse and Lou, his two girlfriends snuggled up into either side as Argus climbed into the driver's seat and winked at him with one of the eyes on the back of the man's neck.
The drive was an interesting experience as he stared out at every passerby, every McDonalds, every coffee shop. He knew one of the greatest secrets of the world and with that knowledge everything seemed different than it had before. "Strange isn't it?" Lou asked him when she noticed what he was doing, "Seeing the mortal world after learning of our own? Trying to figure out what your place in it really is?".
"I already know what my place is." He said with a grin as he wrapped his arms around their shoulders "My place is right here between the two of you.".
"Good answer." Clarisse said as she kissed his cheek softly "And we like you right where you are.". They would have continued but Argus rapped a fist against the dashboard to gain their attention before gesturing to the bus station they were parked next to.
"Thanks Argus," he said gratefully as they clambered out of the van, backpacks slung over their shoulders "have a safe drive back to camp.". Nodding the many eyed man pulled back out into traffic and drove back in the direction of the camp. While Clarisse bought their tickets he stood with Lou as they kept an eye out for the upcoming bus and simply enjoying the peace and quiet while it lasted.
Unfortunately the silence didn't last for long as a familiar and highly unwelcome voice called out "Well looky here, if it isn't Percy Jackson, the loser of Yancy Academy.".
Pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation he turned and glared at Nancy Bobofit who had brought over a few other idiots he recognized from Yancy, "What do you want Bobofit?" he asked irritably while Lou intertwined her fingers with his own, having heard about the girl when they hung out with Grover.
"What the?" one of the idiots asked dumbly, noticing his fingers laced with Lou's "Why the hell are you dating that loser babe?" the guy asked with a leer. Snarling he had to resist the urge to use his gloves on the fool as, while his celestial bronze weapons wouldn't work as the fool was completely mortal, spikes of ice could kill any living being.
"Hey Perce!" Clarisse called as she walked over, her eyes showing that she had heard what was going on and wanted to embarrass the fools "I got the tickets and our buss is supposed to arrive in about twenty minutes.".
"Thanks Claire." He said gratefully as he buried his free hand in her hair and pulled her into a kiss as she moaned loudly, likely to piss of the now gaping group while Lou giggled.
"Don't I get a kiss Percy?" Lou asked innocently while battering her eyelashes at him causing him to grin widely once he separated his lips from a flushed Clarisse.
"Of course Lou." He said happily as he gave her the same treatment.
"What the hell?!" Bobofit exclaimed in shock as she stared at him incredulously.
"Well Bobofit," he said with a grin "while you're still probably just a pickpocket who enjoys throwing peanut butter sandwiches at people I've actually been accepted to an exclusive academy which has some of the most highly qualified instructors in the world for both academics and physical pursuits. I actually met these two lovely ladies there and since they couldn't decide which of them would get to date me they decided to share me.".
"So this is that little brat you and Grover told me about?" Clarisse asked with a raised eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with amusement at what he had done to mess with Nancy's head as the camp did actually offer academic lessons for year rounder's or those who just wanted a few extra lessons and the credits could even be used to transfer into a mortal school if you want to.
"Yeah." he said as he wrapped an arm around each of their waists and pulled them against his chest where they nuzzled into him, the girls enjoying using psychological torment on his old tormentors just as much as he was.
"Why would you two babes want to be with that pathetic runt?" one of the brutes with Nancy asked with a leer, the thug clearly undressing Clarisse and Lou with his eyes.
At the question though both of his girlfriends fell over laughing as he had to hold them up but even he was snickering at the question, "Y-you actually think you're more of a man than Percy." Clarisse gasped out while laughing happily "He could kick your ass without even breaking a sweat.".
"You wanna bet?" Nancy asked as he saw greed in the Frizzy red-head's eyes "Mark against Prissy there, one on one, until one of them either surrenders or is knocked out.".
"Stakes?" Lou asked with an immaculately raised eyebrow as Clarisse grinned savagely.
"When I win you two become mine." 'Mark' said with a leer before Nancy could speak up.
"When Percy wins you lot have to give us all your cash." Clarisse countered with a scowl as Nancy nodded, the girl clearly confident in her friend's fighting skill. "Percy," Clarisse instructed as the Mark took of his jacket to get ready to fight, "break him.".
"Gladly." He growled as he got into a fighting stance and Clarisse and Lou backed up to give him room. For moment all was silent before Mark charged forward with a yell, the idiot clearly broadcasting his fighting style, or lack there of, and every attack that was intended. Rolling his eyes he sidestepped the clumsy blow and grabbed Mark's arm, bending it backwards as he pushed down, forcing his opponent to their knees with ease while bending the hand back as he began to apply pressure to the pressure point between Mark's thumb and pointer finger.
"You broadcasted every movement you made," he said calmly as Mark whimpered in pain from the pressure point he was applying "your form, if it can even be called that, was sloppy, your stance was poor, you truly are a pathetic fighter. No, you don't deserve to be called a fighter, you are naught but a simple brawler. A boy, trying to claim himself a man.".
"Way to go Percy!" Clarisse cheered as she and Lou walked over to him where he was still holding Mark in the painful pin, preventing his opponent from moving as tears began to form in the fool's eyes "But why are you explaining that to him?".
"Because he might one day become a somewhat decent fighter and those are far too few for my tastes." he said with a smile, noting the girl's wandering hands on him as well as the amusing reaction Mark was having to seeing the two girls that the fool had tried to 'win' groping the 'pathetic weakling Percy Jackson'. "My mindset is that if you don't have any good opponents…then make one. Now Mark, you had enough yet?".
"Just wait until I get out of this." The fool growled angrily causing him to sigh and use a different pressure point by squeezing the joint where the thumb met the hand right on the bone as Mark began to cry out, "Uncle, uncle!".
"Good boy." He said with a nod as he dropped the idiot who fell to the ground panting.
He never let his guard down though and, just as he predicted, Mark shot to his feet, screaming out "Take this you bastard!" with a fist cocked back ready to punch. In response he just laughed as Clarisse moved forward and kicked the running idiot in the balls, dropping Mark once again to the floor.
"I believe you owe us some money." Clarisse said with a smirk as the others gulped and hastily tossed their wallets before running, dragging a still moaning Mark with them. Laughing happily he scooped up the dropped items and then boarded the bus once it approached, climbing into the back with Clarisse and Lou as they were still trying not to laugh at what had just happened. Thirty minutes down the road though the bus stopped once again and he paled when he saw who climbed aboard. "Damn it all," he whispered wide eyed "it's the furies again.".