Okay, so this chapter is more than a little random, and seems to have strayed from the tone I've been using, but insomnia, writer's block, and not enough caffeine really don't make for a very good combination. Hopefully, the next chapter will be back on track.

Thanks to AWESOMEJOB (guest) for the compliments, and no, I did not steal Rick Riordan's manuscript.

Smileyfaces! :)

Chapter XXI

Hazel

When Hazel bursts onto the deck, with Frank right behind her, there's really nothing for them to do. Percy, Annabeth, Jason, and Piper have got it under control.

They watch as the flock of gryphons that attacked the ship are driven back. Hazel leans back against the wall, keeping her sword drawn in case a monster should get too close.

"You know, this is kind of nice." She comments. Frank glances at her.

"What is?" He asks.

"Just sitting back and watching others do the fighting. It's like eating junk food while watching someone exercise. It makes you feel a little guilty, but pretty relaxed at the same time." She explains. Frank grins at her.

"Yeah, it is kind of nice. We should do it more often." He puts an arm around her shoulders.

Percy and Annabeth are doing most of the fighting, although not through any fault of Jason or Piper's. They're just freakishly fast. Annabeth is a devil with a sword, which Hazel finds a little curious since she's only ever seen her fight with a dagger. Percy's even better, which really shouldn't be possible. He slashes and hacks with Riptide, turning one monster into dust after another. Roseus jumps from the water behind him, swallowing five gryphons in one bite. It all makes for a pretty intimidating picture. Jason and Piper are basically just killing any monsters that get past Percy and Annabeth, of which there aren't many. Piper's getting pretty good with a sword herself.

Percy notices Frank and Hazel. He grins at them, while fending off a gryphon's talons and beak at the same time.

"Frank! Hazel! Nice of you to join us!" He calls. They both nod in response. "So, are you actually going to do something, or are you just going to stand there?"

Frank looks at Hazel, a smile in his eyes. "I think we'll just watch, thanks." He calls back. Percy shrugs, still grinning.

"Fine with me!" Then he has to roll to avoid getting decapitated by a gryphon that's snuck up behind him. He winces when his back makes contact with the deck.

"Percy!" Annabeth calls exasperatedly.

"Probably shouldn't have done that." Percy mutters, rubbing his back.

"You think?" Annabeth says sarcastically.

Hazel can't help but smile, watching them. They're so sweet together.

After Annabeth sends the last gryphon back to Tartarus, they all stand there, looking at the piles of monster dust all over the deck.

"Clean up time." Annabeth calls.

"I got it!" Percy yells, grinning a mischevious smile that makes Hazel think, Uh-oh. Before anyone can stop him, he summons a wave that washes all the dust from the deck-and completely soaks everyone.

"Percy!" Annabeth scolds. She's dripping wet from head to toe. Her eyes flash stormily, but it doesn't affect Percy at all. It just makes him smile wider.

"Aw, come on, Wise Girl. You know you love me." He says.

"Maybe. But that doesn't mean I have to like you." She grumbles, crossing her eyes. Percy rolls his eyes and grabs her hand. Just like that, she's dry.

"Okay, now that's just not fair. How come I can't dry someone with a touch? You have all the cool powers." Frank complains.

"Dude, don't complain. You can shape-shift." Percy tells him. Now it's Annabeth's turn to roll her eyes.

"At least make us dry too then." Frank says. Percy shakes his head, grinning.

"Nope. Girlfriend rights only." He answers.

"Alright, that's really not fair. We can't all date you, you know." Jason says, joining in the light banter.

"Hmmmm..." Percy taps his chin thoughtfully. Annabeth punches him. "Kidding, kidding." He fake yelps, raising his hands in surrender. Everyone laughs.

Percy leans on his sword. "So. That was fun. Who's up for round two?"

Hazel's confused. "What do you mean? There aren't any more monsters..." She trails off. She doesn't like the look Percy's giving her. At all.

"Who said anything about monsters?" He asks, widening his eyes innocently. Than he grins and raises Riptide, twirling it through the air. "Sparring, anyone?"

"You're on." Jason says, raising his own sword.

"Count me in." Frank adds, drawing his own weapon.

The girls all roll their eyes this time. "We'll watch." Annabeth tells them. Piper and Hazel nod in agreement. They all sit together by Festus, leaning back and relaxing.

The boys look at each other and shrug. Hazel smiles as she watches Frank and Jason start to circle Percy, sizing him up, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Throughout it all, Percy is completely relaxed, his muscles loose and fluid, even when Frank or Jason disappear behind his back, where he can't see them.

"I hope Percy doesn't hurt them too badly." Annabeth whispers. Hazel and Piper giggle. But even knowing that Percy's the best fighter on the Argo II, Hazel can't help but think that he'll have a harder time beating Frank and Jason than either he or Annabeth knows. Especially since he just got back from Tartarus a few days ago. Hazel can still see the effects of Tartarus in both Percy and Annabeth. Who knows, maybe Frank and Jason could actually beat him this time.

Hazel felt a little guilty for her thoughts. But if Frank and Jason beat Percy, it wouldn't necessarily mean that Percy wasn't as good; it could also mean that Frank and Jason were getting better. And they needed to.

Frank finally makes the first move, circling behind Percy and then turning into a lion. He creeps on silent paws towards Percy's back, but before he can do anything, Percy suddenly spins around and jumps over Frank's head, kicking off of his back. Frank roars indignantly, and turns back into a human to face Percy again.

But now Frank had lost his chance, because Jason is attacking. He feints towards Percy's left and then quickly thrusts at his right, but Percy anticipates the move and parries. For a few seconds, Percy only plays defense, blocking Jason's every move with Riptide. Then he goes on the attack.

Jason stumbles backwards from the force of Percy's blows. Hazel watches in amazement as Percy uses his sword to twist Jason's own out of his grip and into the air. When it comes back down, Percy catches it in his left hand. Percy points the tip of Riptide at Jason's undefended chest and does the same to Frank, who was starting to sneak up behind him again, with Jason's sword.

Hazel is silent in shock. If anything, Percy has gotten better since going through Tartarus. He just defeated two of the best demigod warriors in under three minutes.

Percy lowers the swords in his hands and smiles. He hands Jason back his sword and then leans on his own. "You guys are getting better. But you still need to learn how to fight as a team. Know exactly what the other is going to do at all times. Plan every move with each other before you make it."

"I don't really get it." Piper whispers to Hazel.

"If you want, Annabeth and I can give you a demonstration." Percy says, as if he'd heard Piper. He turns to his girlfriend. "Annabeth?"

She nods and springs to her feet, already drawing her sword. "So." She says, looking around. "Who wants to be on the other team?"

"How about all four of them?" Percy suggests. "That is, if they don't mind."

Hazel wasn't entirely sure this was a good idea. But she climbed to her feet and unsheathed her weapon. Piper did the same next to her.

Jason, Frank, Piper, and Hazel form a semicircle opposite of Annabeth and Percy. They don't look in the least bit worried.

The four look at each other warily. Then they attack all at once.

Percy grins. "Now you're talking!" He shouts as he ducks underneath Piper's sword and blocks Jason's.

Hazel and Frank go after Annabeth, intending to keep her and Percy separated. But Annabeth anticipates their plan and somehow maneuvers around them, fighting back to back with Percy.

Now Hazel gets to see what being a team really means.

Percy and Annabeth are hyper aware of each other. They seem to be able to sense exactly what the other is going to do before they do it, even though they can't see each other. They move as one, and they are so attuned to each other that it's as if they can read each other's minds. They move so quickly Hazel can't keep track of their swords, but every strike, every move, is perfect, timed exactly right, going exactly where it was intended. Occasionally, they'll switch places to take Hazel and the others by surprise, but never, not once, do they open themselves up for an attack.

It takes a little longer this time, maybe five minutes instead of three, but the end result is the same. Percy and Annabeth win. They disarm Piper, Jason, and Frank in quick succession, and then Annabeth's sword slips past Hazel's guard to rest against her throat.

"And that," Percy says, barely winded, "is how you fight as a team."

Review, guys! Please! Because hearing from people that have read my story and actually liked it is great. :)