𝑥𝑣𝑖𝑖

                                    

                                          
"I'm tired, Barnacle Boy," Ash said wearily. "I just did crash courses for Hephaestus and Ares."
"Then we'll be evenly matched," Percy countered. She couldn't really argue with that one.
The girl sighed, straightening up to flip the hilt of her sword in her hands, weighing it and her options. "Fine. But five minutes and I'm out."
Percy smirked and charged forward. Ash parried easily and stepped out of the way, letting him freight train by, fumbling with his sword. She couldn't help the slow grin spreading across her lips; it'd been a while since they sparred. She raised her hand and beckoned with two fingers. It's on.
	The sound of their swords crashing against one another rang throughout the empty arena as the pair duelled at lightning speed. Percy swung for her head and she gracefully ducked under it, harshly tapping the back of his calf with the butt of her sword before leaping backwards to meet his next attack. He pressed, slashing up and across, and she was forced to back up further in order to block. They exchanged a few more blows, neither really gaining the upper hand until Percy disarmed her with that same move Luke had demonstrated in his first sword lesson. Reaper clattered to the ground, and Ash flipped back as Percy went for the throat. She pulled one of her knives and threw; Percy deflected it easily off his blade but it gave her enough time to retrieve her sword.
"Cheater," Percy laughed, and swore he heard Ash mutter "all's fair in love and war" before renewing her attacks. This time he was put on defense, Ash using her height to her advantage by striking at his legs. At one point, he caught her sword low to the ground and brought it up in a close cross between them, where Percy looked into Ash's eyes to see them glimmering with unshed tears. He pushed off and faltered for a second, allowing her to disarm him with the same exact move she'd used against Cecil that same exact summer day years ago.
Percy panted, looking up at Ash from where he lay on his back in the dirt. She didn't even bother checking him with her sword, already holding out a hand to help instead. He allowed her to pull him up but not to step away afterwards, gripping her forearm firmly but gently.
"Ash..." he trailed off. Percy didn't know how to say that he didn't want to make her cry, never again, for any reason, but his brain wasn't working. "I'm sorry," he finally decided on, bringing her into his embrace.
She hesitated, but eventually hugged back, burying her head right into that familiar place nestled between his collarbone and neck. "No, I'm sorry, I'm being stupid," she sniffed. "It's just been a hard couple weeks."
He shook his head, knowing she could feel it against her soft, sweet-smelling hair. "I–" Percy started but his mouth went dry, and Ash didn't say anything more, so the two just stood there holding each other for a while, neither quite willing to let go, but neither quite willing to say the things that needed to be said.
₪₪₪
Another Daedalus dream, with a guest appearance from Luke too this time. Yuck. At least it woke her up in the morning early enough to catch an Iris-message from Eurytion saying that Nico was gone again, yum! She used the remaining extra time for something happier: visiting Beckendorf to make sure he had enough biscuits and toys for Mrs. O'Leary, as well as personally ensuring the hound was properly showered in love before she left.
There wasn't much conversation in the car as Argus drove them into Manhattan. All of them looked like they hadn't slept a wink.
"Bad dreams?" Percy voiced at last.
Annabeth, who had slid a little too quickly into the passenger seat (knowing Ash liked shotgun, rude), said nothing. Ash shook her head. "Some. And an Iris-message from Eurytion."