Chapter IV:
The car rocked gently in the breeze as they cruised down the empty road. In the backseat, Sophie snored softly, sprawled out with a book open on her chest and a stuffed hippocampus tucked under one arm.
"She's out cold," Natasha murmured, peering through the rearview mirror. "Didn't even make it thirty minutes."
Percy took a sip from his coke, keeping a hand on the wheel. "She takes after me. Cold-blooded sleeper. Nothing wakes her."
Natasha snorted.
Before Percy could say something else, a blip appeared on the road in front of them.
Not a car, nor a truck. Unless there was a motor vehicle that had scaled legs and sharp teeth, it was definitely a monster.
"Percy…"
"Yeah, I see it." Percy cursed. "Why do these things always wait until after we've eaten?"
"I was just starting to relax," Natasha was already sliding her knives from her boots. She rolled her shoulders. "We're doing this quick."
"Deal."
He pulled over onto the side of the road, flipping on the hazard lights. Probably not a necessary precaution. Not like there was anyone else driving to Montauk at this hour.
They got out of the car as quietly as possible, leaving the heat running and the radio on for background noise.
"Should I lock the car?" Percy asked.
Natasha shook her head. "Might need it for a quick escape."
"Good point."
The monster was closer to them now, the size of a school bus. Made of muscle, scales, and rot. It bellowed a bone-vibrating roar as it collapsed on all six of its limbs, its eyes locked onto them like a curse.
Percy ran toward it, Riptide flashing to life in his grip, while Natasha flanked right. The monster was fast—because of course it was. Its tail cracked the air like a whip, slamming into the asphalt as it lunged.
Percy ducked under a swinging claw and slashed Riptide across its's chest. The blade cut clean, spraying blood onto the pavement.
The monster screeched, but Natasha was already behind it, jamming her blade into the back of one of its leg. It buckled instantly, leaning to one side like a sinking ship.
"Okay, let's not drag this out," Percy said. "Sophie's gonna wake up thinking we hit a pothole."
Natasha rolled her eyes and casually stabbed it through the shoulder.
They moved like clockwork, Percy sweeping low, slicing through tendons and ligaments while Natasha danced up its side, planting her knives into the base of its skull.
The monster didn't even have time to scream before disappeared into a cloud of gold dust.
Natasha brushed herself off beside him. "Think that's it?"
"Gods, I hope so."
They jogged back to the car, allowing themselves a beat of silence to decompress. Percy slid into the driver's seat. Natasha closed her door and leaned back.
There was a slight rustling as Sophie stirred. Her hair was sticking in ten directions. "Did we stop?"
Percy and Natasha blinked. They turned in unison.
"Uh, yeah," Percy answered.
Natasha added, "Daddy just needed to use the potty."
"Oh. Okay." Sophie yawned. "Are we there yet?"
Natasha turned to Percy, still holding a blade in each hand, still as beautiful as the day he first saw her.
Percy smiled, "Almost."
Author's Note:
Thanks for reading guys! I think I've written all the little plotbunnies I had for Percy and Natasha :) I appreciate you all, and hope you take the time to check out my other stories!