Updates will be a lot slower until summer starts due to end of year exams and all.

Percy scoffed disbelievingly, turning his head slightly as he looked at his Captain's face overhead. Unbelievable. Annabeth Chase flashed him a winning smile, "Concede defeat?"

He looked at her once and then at the crowd that had formed to watch the spectacle. Glancing back at the other marine, he stared pointedly, enough to make her cheeks deepen in a red hue. "What?" she demanded uncomfortably.

He made a sidelong glance at either side of his head, gesturing to her hands, "I do believe that I can't move since you've pinned me to the ground."

"Oh," Annabeth did her best to hide the embarrassment as she got up, occupying herself by dusting off her pants. Percy smirked a little as he stood up within inches of her, "I am a man of my word, Captain Chase. I do hope you keep that in mind."

He proceeded to pick up his boxing gloves lying on the mat beside him from where he had carelessly thrown them before their match. Percy walked in direction of the locker rooms, tossing a towel over his shoulder, only turning back once to flash her an almost condescending grin.

The look left Annabeth weak in the knees. She was puzzled by the man, admiring him some strange sense. No, she didn't like him. His personality was much too arrogant for that, but he frightened her. Simply put, there was something unnerving about the way the man behaved. Just who was he?

Shaking her head to clear out the thoughts, Annabeth cleared her throat, "What are you looking at? Get back to your drills!" The crowd dispersed as quietly as it had emerged, allowing Annabeth to follow in the direction of the changing rooms.

Annabeth wasn't ashamed being in the men's locker room, having been there on multiple occasions. The case often resulted in new marines being more embarrassed than she was. She didn't hear the sound of the shower running, so she assumed that Percy was elsewhere in the changing rooms.

As she walked down the hallway leading to various lockers, she stepped lightly, making sure the footsteps didn't leave a resounding sound as she approached. She would look in furtively at every door, hoping to see whether or not the man was there.

Annabeth had reached the end of the hallway, her efforts futile in search of the enigmatic man. Just as she turned to leave, she heard a quiet chuckle: Percy Jackson.

She almost let out a yelp but restrained herself, realizing how suspicious she must have looked right now, walking around the men's locker room.

"Can I help you?" he asked her amicably. "I couldn't help but hear the loud thumping sound of someone's footsteps."

"What are you doing here?" she asked him, the words so quiet that she could barely hear them herself. Annabeth felt like a mouse trapped as she looked for another exit, but no, Percy Jackson had timed it perfectly, cornering her with no other exit than the one in which he was standing in front of. His imposing, rather intimidating body obstructed her only way to leave the building.

Percy, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself, "I could ask you the same thing, Captain Chase. This is the men's room, or so I was told. I don't believe this is co-ed."

Annabeth felt her temper rising quickly. He had no right to question her, him being only a private while she was his commanding officer. In fact, she had no need to come up with a justification. She was the one meant to be posing the questions here for an interrogation, not him.

"Well?" he asked, the smirk still playing on his lips. "Cat got your tongue? I didn't expect that my commanding officer could be so— what's the word— so sly."

"Jackson, there is no need to justify my actions to you. And if I recall, you refused to answer a few simple questions earlier."

Percy stepped closer till there was only a half of foot of breathing space separating them, "M'am, if you recall, I said I was a man of my word. The deal was that I would answer your questions, and here I am."

"Then why did you try to dodge them before?"

"M'am," he began, the twinkle in his eye dying, "In case you haven't taken notice, I tend to be an introvert. I generally don't go around answering questions about my life for the sake of someone else. I value my fourth amendment right as does any other man. But, I will uphold my part of the deal."

Annabeth was at loss, temporarily forgetting what she had planned to say, "Where were you?"

He raised his eyebrows in question, "When?"

"Dinner. All new recruits are expected to be present by no later than 6:45 PM sharp. And if I am remembering correctly, you were not at the training facility."

"Captain, you seem to keep a careful record of what I have been doing."

"I tend to keep tabs on those who need discipline."

Percy leaned closer till she could feel his haggard breathing, "I need to be disciplined?"

Annabeth writhed a little in her enclosed corner space, "Sit down." She gestured towards a nearby bench in one of the adjacent rooms. Not only would this put some distance in between them, there would be a chance to leave quickly if the need arose.

"I despise upstarts. From what I can tell, you are not a stickler for rules as recruits are expected to be."

"But that's why we're here, right?" he asked, his face angled up slightly in genuine curiosity. "To train?"

"You were in the Navy I believe."

"I was," he confirmed.

"Then you should know the rules by now."

"I don't mean to break rules, but I only do things that I know will benefit me."

"You are here to serve your country! Not do what you see fit. If that is your attitude, Private Jackson, I will have to ask you to leave."

Percy put his arms up in surrender, leaning back slowly, "Calm down Captain. I'm not saying that I won't follow orders. I merely said that dinner is not necessity when I can better spend my hours."

"May I ask what you would rather do?"

The twinkle returned to his eye, "Ah, but there are some things that should be kept a secret. I'm sure you have some of your own." He winked at her once. Annabeth shuddered at the thought, wondering what made him imply that. Did he know something about her?

As she was about to retort, she heard the sound of someone's phone ringing. Annabeth's eyes widened as he slipped his hand into his pocket, drawing out the phone, "Jackson! Phones are confiscated. How the hell did you get that in here?"

Percy ignored her, his eyes fixated at the caller id in front of him. Standing up abruptly, he muttered in sudden anger, "Shit." He walked away before Annabeth could get in another word. Annabeth looked on gravely, wondering what could have irritated the normally composed man so much. She didn't know what was going on, but the ominous feeling surrounding her suggested that something horrid was approaching quickly.

Any guesses as to who the caller was? Anyway, make sure to fave, follow, and review. I'll do my best to update, but as I said, exams will take up most of my time.

~TJ