Hey, everyone. Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy! Sorry it took a while xx
Disclaimer: Not mine.
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The sun was beating down on the training field. They had gathered quite an audience during their little competition. Bets had been placed; the audience had divided into factions of supporters. The Hephaestus cabin had dragged out their massive, steam powered drinks machine.
The Aphrodite girls had split in two – Team Jason and Team Percy. Clarisse and the Ares crew backed Frank; they roared in support every time he changed shape. And when he beat Leo by turning into a dragon to counter a fire attack, their cries could have woken the dead.
Even Chiron came to watch as they battled. It was just little one on one sparring at first, everyone was warming up and playing around. Though Percy felt bad when he took down Piper and Hazel after a sneaky double attack. Soon, it started getting more serious. Leo was eliminated by Frank, Frank in turn by Hazel. It was sweet, he didn't try nearly as hard to beat her as he had Leo. Hazel then obliterated Piper. Though that dagger of hers was lethal, as Hazel came away bleeding from multiple cuts.
Then Leo and Hazel took the makeshift arena – Leo blasted her with fire only to be snuffed out by a mound of jewels. Frank and Piper faced off – she charmspoke him out of his shift every time he tried to change so they ended up going hand to hand. It was riveting, Jason chanted for Piper while Hazel backed Frank. Eventually, the son of Mars won out. But it gave them their next battle of Jason and Hazel.
It was quite the spectacle. Jason hit her with lightning that she effortlessly deflected by summoning a sword of pure Stygian Iron. Percy cheered as the blast blew back and hit Jason, but his heart broke at the crushing reminder of Nico.
Hazel beat out the boy wonder, much to his chagrin and Frank swept her up in a loving kiss. Percy had to avert his eyes.
Leo then offered up an opportunity – a pairs round. Frank and Hazel versus Jason and Piper. Even Calypso came on down to pair with Leo. Percy laughed as chaos ensued in the three-way six-person peacock fight.
Jewels flew, Frank became animal after animal, Piper's charmspeak had the audience in stitches as Leo became convinced that he was a chicken. Lightning cracked and thunder rumbled despite the blue sky. Towers of fire erupted. Blazing cannonballs shot with abandon. And it seemed that every piece of jewellery Leo had made for Calypso doubled as a deadly weapon. She took down Frank by strangling him with a wrap-around bracelet until he subsided from a mountain lion to a man. Leo finished him off once he remembered that, he too, was actually a man.
The day wore on as more people took to the arena. Clarisse battled Frank in a show that would have made Ares a proud mama hen. Will took the stage against both Stoll brothers. His arrows were more than a match for their hijinks. Percy watched on, getting lost in the adrenalin and laughter.
But then his name was called.
Leo grinned up at him as the arena fell quiet. Everyone knew Percy was back by now but apart from training with Clarisse and the newbies, he hadn't fought in front of anyone for real.
People began to chant his name as he jumped from the rock he was perched on and took to the arena. The Aphrodite girls giggled and blushed as he stretched himself out and drew Riptide from his pocket.
The legend surrounding his weapon silenced the hubbub. He stood beside Leo, amongst the discarded jewels, fallen weapons and scorch marks.
"Percy Jackson, against... let's see. Who shall I pick?" Leo teased.
The audience started yelling names and Percy couldn't help but grin as some of the challengers looked slightly nervous.
"Okay, I think we all need a bit of entertainment at the expense of the Big Three. Jason Grace, please enter the arena!"
The crowd cheered and chanted as Jason rolled his eyes. Piper kissed him on the cheek before he stepped back into the space. Immediately, campers began to place their bets.
Percy grinned as Jason took up a stance opposite him. The boy was sweating, ruffled hair and his shirt long since discarded. If Percy wasn't consumed, heart, body, and soul by his dark angel, he would have been tempted to take Jason back to his cabin.
The blond guy smiled as Percy planted his feet and Leo began to countdown. Instead of yelling 'Go!', the Hephaestus cabin launched a cannon.
Jason had been training. Before, Percy could easily beat him hand to hand. But now, Percy was actually having to work.
Riptide clashed with Jason's spear, metallic screams filling the air. They darted and dodged and flew around each other, their weapons burning with intense heat. Percy was sweating within minutes.
Up, down, spin, twist, duck. Left, right, parry. Jason had become a master of combat. He swept Percy's legs and he dropped. But not before he gripped Jason's wrist and yanked him to the burned grass. Jason yelled as they fell, and Percy growled as he kicked the spear from the blond boy's reach.
He pinned Jason to the ground, a foot on one of his hands, his knees either side of Jason's chest. One of Percy's hands held both of Jason's above his head. His other hand held Riptide to Jason's throat.
The audience was chanting Percy's name. Piper was laughing at Jason on the ground. He rolled his cerulean eyes and Percy grinned down at him.
"Yield?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Jason huffed. Then he slowly smiled and bucked up against Percy. Percy's mind flew to the night on the ship. To Jason's unique metallic taste, to the electricity between them. It had been fun, though cut short by Leo securing the ship due to the storm they had created.
Jason used Percy's momentary lapse to extract himself with a quick manoeuvre. Percy faltered as Jason's arms were suddenly around his neck.
"Yield?" He said, grinning widely.
Piper cheered loudly and Jason sent her a wink. The Team Jason groupies began to call his name louder than the Percy fans. Percy snarled, annoyed that Jason had gotten the upper hand. But then, he got an idea.
He had dropped Riptide when Jason moved so he reached out, pretending to try grabbing for it. Jason laughed and Percy let him, biting his lip to hide his own smile.
Just over the ridge of the field, the river bubbled, creeping its way over the bank to obey its master.
Jason realised what was happening too late. His eyes flew wide as Percy launched from his grasp and spun around, his hands outstretched.
The water roared as it crashed through the treeline before surging in colossal waves either side of Percy, rearing up before crashing down over Jason. Percy was a vision, surrounded by the tall, angry waves. The water bent to his will and encircled the arena, it glowed behind him as everyone stared.
Long ago, Zeus had offered for Percy to become a God after defeating Kronos. Percy had declined. But when he drew on his powers and the sheen of his ocean blessing emanated around him, the water obeying his every command, no one doubted for a second that Percy didn't need to become a God. He already was one.
Jason fell to his knees, gasping, as the water drew away from him. His shook out his hair and stared up at Percy, his chest heaving.
Percy allowed the water to subside. It slipped back into the riverbed in calm waves. He breathed hard, his whole body thrumming with power. He held Jason's gaze, and the boy ducked his head, yielding.
The arena erupted and Leo declared Percy the winner of the round. As everyone cheered and chanted and laughed at the spectacle, no one noticed the warping shadows at the edge of the trees.
"Well, who wants to follow that?!" Leo yelled, "If the Son of Zeus can't defeat him, who can?"
The arena bellowed and Percy grinned. He had retrieved Riptide and had it resting against his shoulder, waiting.
It had felt so good to unleash his power. He finally had a moment of relief. That was until a voice came from the shadows.
"I'll give it a go."
A chill crept into the air. The shadows grew, creeping over the green grass until it was nothing but black. Everyone turned towards the voice and the chatter immediately commenced.
Percy froze.
After a week of frustration and longing and confusion, Nico was back.
He lost his breath. His heart began to pound. Riptide fell limp by his side. Nico was walking into the ring, shrugging off his jacket. His knife was hanging from his belt. His hair was longer, hanging in his eyes. His rings glinted in the sun.
"Okay! This just got exciting. Sorry, Jason. Son of Hades, come on down!" Leo announced.
Percy took a very deep breath. Jason got up and walked towards Percy, concern in his eyes.
"You okay?" He asked when he reached Percy's side.
"Yup," Percy replied.
Jason clapped his shoulder and headed over to Piper, who began drying him off with his shirt.
Percy turned towards Leo, waiting. He couldn't look at the boy across from him.
"Okay, boys. Whoever takes this, wins the day. That's how epic I know this is about to get!"
Leo yelled and the audience cried out with him. It seemed everyone wanted a Poseidon/Hades showdown. To be fair, Percy and Nico had never fought each other. Not really. Nico's power had been displayed to all at the camp during the Battle of the Labyrinth, but it had been years since then. His powers had only grown.
Percy nodded to Leo. The boy grinned and looked at Nico, who nodded in return.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you might want to take several very large steps back. Here we go!"
The cannon went off again and Percy closed his eyes, steadying his trembling body.
He opened his eyes and looked at the boy in front of him. He wasn't moving. He just stared at Percy, x-raying his soul. Percy rolled his eyes over his lithe form. He wore ripped jeans and a black tank top. Percy could see the tone in his arms and the graceful curve of his neck and shoulders.
He longed to reach out and touch that smooth skin. To pull the neckline of that vest to bite at that slim but defined chest.
Percy wanted to hold him close and whisper in his ear and share every intimate detail of just how much he missed him. But in the same breath, he was angry.
His eyes narrowed when he finally looked at Nico's face. He looked tired. He was holding Percy's gaze. His dark eyes searing with heat. Percy licked his lips and lifted Riptide in both hands, taking up a fighting stance.
Nico lifted his chin and raised his eyebrows. Slowly, he drew his midnight knife from its holster and planted his feet. Percy steadied his breath and held Nico's gaze, waiting.
Quick as a flash, smooth as a panther, Nico pounced.
He was on Percy in seconds, his blade slicing through the air. Percy blocked and the screech of metal on metal deafened everyone in the arena. Nico was skilled. Very skilled. More than Jason. He was quick, precise. Percy had to fight for every second.
He was sweating, trying to calculate Nico's moves, his weaknesses. But he didn't appear to have any. Riptide was working harder than it had in years.
They danced around each other, moving together as if their fight had been choreographed by the Gods. Everyone cheered when slices were blocked, and stabs were dodged. Everyone gasped when Nico's knife came dangerously close to Percy's face. Everyone screamed when Percy retaliated, and Riptide took a hungry slice across Nico's forearm.
Percy heard him hiss and he nearly faltered again. But Nico looked up at him with fire in his eyes. Percy watched the blood begin to run and gulped.
Nico grinned a savage smile and Percy thought he was done for.
Nico pressed on with the fight, revitalised by the injury. Percy swung and parried and threw every move he knew at the boy as Nico advanced on him. They weren't playing anymore. Nico wanted blood.
Then Percy missed a block and Nico's devil blade slashed across his chest. His shirt split and began to blossom with red. Nico's eyes dipped to the slice in Percy's skin and he licked his lips.
To the onlookers, it seemed he was just hungry for the fight, baiting Percy, readying himself to finish the battle.
But Percy knew better.
He knew Nico was hungry. He knew what Nico craved. Because he was craving it just as much.
He wanted Nico. His body was yearning for the fight to be over so he could get hold of the boy once again.
He pulled back and snarled, tearing his shirt over his head. The audience cried. Percy had almost forgotten they were there. He shook out his hair and took up Riptide once more.
Nico was panting, his eyes on Percy's chest. He held up his knife and surged towards Percy.
Clashes of blades and growls of exertion filled the air. Every frustration Percy had been holding onto flooded out.
The shadows around them grew, darkness fell. The river crashed in waves through the trees. Rain began to fall.
Their weapons were on the ground, Percy didn't know who disarmed who or when, but they were suddenly fighting hand to hand. Punches flew and skin met skin. As they fought, the world around them a blur of heat, their powers grew within them, colliding in a mess of water and shadows.
The crowd was chanting, getting drenched in the rain. The ground was flooding with the river water. Percy couldn't see past Nico; it was as if the darkest of nights had fallen in seconds.
Nico slammed a palm against Percy's chest, and he stumbled backwards. Nico threw himself bodily, crashing into Percy. They fell to the ground, slipping in the water, getting soaked and cold in the darkness.
Except the chill quickly vanished as Nico fell on top of Percy, trapping him against the ground. The boy was panting. Percy could hear his ragged breaths. He felt the heat of his body radiating. His hands were cold, holding Percy's hands above his head, encasing them in the freezing water.
Percy strained to get free, but Nico had a strength unlike anything Percy had known. And truth be told, he didn't want to get free.
Nico looked down at him. His eyes were blown, and his lips parted. In the glow of the dimmed light reflecting the water, he saw a pink flush on Nico's cheeks.
Percy groaned under his breath. He let out a slow breath, holding Nico's eyes with his own.
Percy was acutely aware that the darkness was slipping away, retreating. Soon enough, the arena came back in view, and he realised the audience could see them again.
Nico blinked as if waking himself from a dream.
His grip on Percy loosened and Percy's lip curled into a half smile. He twisted his hips and Nico fell sideways. The crowd cheered as Percy scrambled to his feet and dove for Riptide. Nico grabbed his knife, and they met in a final furious blur.
The fight ended when Percy spun Nico around and trapped him against his body, Riptide held across his throat. Percy dug the blade in, and Nico let out a noise for Percy's ears only. Percy grinned, thinking he had won.
But the crowd gasped and hollered as Nico managed to get his wrist free. His gripped his knife hard, the tip digging into Percy's stomach. As he gasped his breaths, he could feel the cold iron threatening to slice into his flesh.
They were at an impasse.
"Well. I think we should call a draw; I don't know about you guys, but I think I had a mild heart attack there. It's probably best to leave it before we have to explain to Poseidon and Hades why both of their sons are dead. Good job, gents! I don't think anyone will be challenging either of you ever again. Percy Jackson and Nico Di Angelo, ladies and gentlemen!"
Leo announced their draw and the crowd descended into a frenzy. Laughter and re-enactments ensued; campers flocked into the arena as the competition came to an end.
Their friends hugged Nico in greetings while Percy backed away, trying to get his head on straight.
"Hey, we couldn't see some of it but that was pretty intense. Are you ok?"
Jason was at his side again, passing him a piece of Ambrosia. Percy took it gratefully and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm fine," he said.
Jason sighed but smiled and handed Percy a spare shirt. They headed over to their friends, grinning at the way Chiron rolled his eyes at Percy. The green-eyed boy shrugged, and the centaur laughed, leaving the campers to the rest of their afternoon.
The boys reached their friends and Leo immediately took to regaling them with 'An Ode to The Sea and The Shadows', an epic poem about the fight, entirely improvised and never to be repeated.
Percy rolled his eyes and looked away, staring towards the river.
"Hey," a low voice said.
Percy turned and there he was again. The master of reappearances.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed it, guys :) I'll get the next one up soon xx