A/N. REVIEWS

"Great update! Excited to see where their adventure goes!" -PhantomFuryJP

Thanks! I'm excited to deliver it!

"Great chapter!" Suahtloh

Thanks man!

Alright, onto this late ass chapter.

Chapter Seven

Did you know that ships are kind of slow? Did you also know that the sea was absolutely fucking massive? Yeah, Zoë didn't. Or maybe she knew it but didn't internalize it. Either way, she knew it now, because they were on the sea for forever.

Life at sea also sucked. The constant rocking of the ocean made her seasick, the only food being whatever preserved shit the previous pirates had on board. If she had to piss or shit, she had to do it over the side of the ship and risk falling into the ocean.

The only other person on board was Percy. He largely left her alone, tending to whatever the ship needed. He never slept, as far as she knew. He had let her use the captain's quarters as her room, more as a courtesy than anything. She was torn on how to feel about him. He looked a lot like Orion, and that brought up unwanted memories, but he acted so differently from him. Could she look past what the monster that he looked like did?

The first thing he did when they got out to the open sea was give her clothes. A pair of baggy pants and a loose-fitting shirt.

"Here. Put these on." He had said.

"Why?"

"Because it's easier to move in. Better when you're on a ship."

Zoë had put the clothes on and instantly loved them. He was right about it being easier to move in. The fabric felt like it was covering her, rather than constraining her, like her usual wardrobe.

After that, there was barely any interaction. She spent most of her time at the prow of the ship gazing out at the sea.

The sea was beautiful. The sun's rays glittered on the water. Sometimes she would see schools of fish swim by the sides of the ship. She even saw a whale breach the surface once.

Today, Percy was in the crow's nest with a spyglass in his hands. He was up there for a while. The ship continued to rock as always, and yet he stood up there, unshaken. Zoë noticed that he always seemed in tune with the ship. Like he had an unspoken bond with it, despite only sailing it since their escape from Othrys.

Finally, Percy yelled. "LAND HO!"

He climbed down from the crow's nest. He reached the deck, jumping from the ropes to the deck, landing on his feet. "We're about thirty minutes out. I was only able to see the tips of the trees from up there and through the spyglass."

Zoë nodded. "This friend of yours, is he a pirate?"

Percy shook his head. "No. He's a mechanic. But he'll be a pirate soon enough."

"You make it sound like this is a cult." Zoë joked.

"Well, it does make you a criminal, might as well be."

Percy's face was dark.

There was a pause.

"And now I'm a part of it." Zoë said quietly.

Percy shook his head. "If anything, they'll think I kidnapped you. Will probably send out an armada to kill me and bring you home safely." Percy paused. "Shit."

"What?"

"I should have seen this coming." Percy said.

"Seen what?"

"They are going to be hunting for my head on a stick. Because I have you with me."

LINE BREAK

Orion never visited the library. Why would he? He was the Fleet Admiral of the British Navy, he had responsibilities far above reading. But now he needed the knowledge of the library's books.

He was trying to figure out who the pirate who took Zoë was. He knew that the trident tattoo was important. But was it a brand, or a symbol of identity? So he turned to the books.

But there was nothing. The only things the library had were the journals of now hung pirates. What good would those do him? Besides, it was disgusting that these journals were even still intact. They should have been burned when its owner was hung.

Reluctantly, Orion picked out one of the journals. He sat down at a table and opened it up. He scanned each page as he flipped through, skimming over the lines. He didn't want to know about what vile shit the pirate had done.

He flipped through till the end. Nothing. He got up and put the journal back before grabbing another one. He opened it right there and flipped through it. He skimmed a page and noticed the word 'trident'. He read the page in detail. A predatory smile stretched across his face. "Percy Jackson, hmm?"

LINE BREAK

"Come in, come in." Leo said.

Leo was a shorter man. He looked like a Latino elf, with his darker skin and pointy ears. He wore a pair of jeans and a baggy white shirt with black stains. He was taking them through a cave.

Percy followed Leo, with Zoë following closely behind. The mechanic led them through the tunnel, before it emptied them into a large chamber. A large body of water was in the middle of the cavern, leading out of the cave and into the open ocean. Above the water hung a large trireme ship. It was about two hundred feet long from end to end. It had one mast, made of black canvas. The ship was made of wood. The figurehead was the only thing made of a different material–metal. A dragon's head.

Percy whistled lowly.

"She's a beaut, ain't she?" Leo said.

"Yeah, no kidding." Percy said. "What's her name?"

"The Argo."

"Like… the Greek myths?"

"Yeah."

"Pretty sure that's copying."

Leo sighed. "Fine, how about…" He paused and rubbed his chin. His sooty hand rubbed black soot on his chin. "The Argo II?"

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes."

Percy sighed. "Fine."

Leo smiled. "Anyways, she's almost done. A couple of finishing touches here and there, and we should be good in a couple of days."

"Alright. I guess we'll be staying in camp then?"

"Yeah. Go work out arrangements with Chiron."

"Alright man." Percy turned to leave but paused. "Oh, and Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"I uh, lost my sword. Could you, uh…"

"Make you a new one?" Leo finished.

Percy smiled sheepishly. "Yeah." He said, scratching his head.

"Yeah, no problem."

"Thanks." Percy said, before turning to walk out of the cavern. Zoë followed behind him.

They were almost out when Percy spoke up. "You don't seem like the quiet type."

"What?" Zoë asked.

"I said, 'You don't seem like the quiet type'."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because we've talked a couple of times, and you don't talk like a quiet person."

Zoë was silent. Ironic.

"Ever since we left Othrys, you've barely spoken."

"Because you knew me so well before then." Zoë remarked.

Percy held up his hands. "Fine. Whatever. But I can tell something's wrong."

They exited the cave, emerging back in the forest. The sun was higher than before, now directly overhead. Though they could only see the sun through the spaces in between the leaves.

"So, what is this place?" Zoë asked. "Cause it certainly isn't any colony from England."

"It's a camp. Established by the outlaws of those colonies. Criminals from all over have settled down here. Some are here because their parents had them here, while the others are criminals. This land isn't claimed by anyone, so no laws apply here."

"What is Leo?"

"His mom stole a loaf of bread. She came down here."

"So, do you come here often?"

"Not really."

They emerged from the woods, walking into the area with the wooden cabins. On a hill in the distance sat a large house, painted baby blue.

It took a while, but they eventually got to the big house. An older man sat on a chair. He had crinkles around his eyes and a bushy beard. A blanket covered his legs. He had brown curly hair and a certain kindness in his eyes. He smiled at seeing Percy.

"Percy, m'boy!"

Percy couldn't help but smile. "Hi, Chiron."

"Who's your friend?" The old man asked.

Percy gestured to Zoë. "Zoë Nightshade. She's from Othrys, the daughter of the governor."

"Percy, you didn't steal her, did you?"

"No!" Percy exclaimed. "She came with me willingly."

"I did." Zoë said.

"She practically begged me to let her come with me."

Zoë's mouth opened wide. "I did not!"

"You totally did!" Percy said, turning to her.

"No, I didn't!"

"Children!" Chiron interrupted. If he didn't, then that little back and forth would have gone on for centuries.

They stopped.

"So, why are you here? Hiding out?"

"You know that's not like me, Chiron. Leo's building me a ship, and he needs a little more time."

"So, you need lodging?"

"Indeed."

"Well, almost all of our rooms are taken up. You alright with sharing?"

Percy and Zoë looked at each other. Percy shrugged, while Zoë didn't exactly look thrilled.

Chiron noticed and hummed to himself. "Well, it's all we have. Unless one of you want to sleep in the woods. You must know that there are wild animals in there, and I don't even know what kinds."

"Can't be that dangerous. Leo set up shop in there."

"There was already a shop in there. Leo just took it over."

"We'll take the room." Zoë said, sighing.

"Great. A key with your room number will be on the desk."

Percy and Zoë went inside. As Chiron said, a key laid on the desk. Attached to the key was the number 371. Two floors up.

They walked up the stairs. Room 371 was the very last room in the corridor. Percy unlocked the door.

They walked into the room and paused. No one said anything. They just binked rapidly, in disbelief.

There was only one bed.

A/N. Yes, that overused trope. I don't care, I love it, and you can pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Anyways, this is gonna be used for some development of Percy and Zoë's relationship. With a couple of days to kill, we're gonna see them spend some time together, and alone. Hopefully. If I don't fuck up.

And, yes, if you were wondering, the big treasure is still part of the story. I haven't forgotten it.

Thoughts?