sans logique - Apollo x Oc

003

NOTHING BEATS SPARTA
⏝⏝ ❁ཻུ۪۪⸙͎ ❁ཻུ۪۪⸙͎❛⏝⏝

Profikós was the embodiment of elegance as she walked into the small diner, it was painstakingly obvious to the trio who watched her that she wasn't mortal. She slide into the seat across from them, eyes not leaving Percy's sea green ones. Annabeth glanced to her quest mates, before turning her attention back to Profikós. "Lady Profikós, what do we owe the pleasure?" Profikós waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, I just had to see the infamous lightning theif for myself, y'know?" Her eyes never left Percy's figure as she spoke, despite the boy's obvious nervousness.

"I didn't—" Profikós laughed. "Didn't steal Zeus' lightning bolt? Of course, I don't listen and tell, Perseus. Your secrets safe with me." She winked, but despite her words there was no seriousness in her tone. Like this whole conversation was one huge joke. And the more Percy thought about it, it probably was a joke to a immortal being like herself. A waitress came over, raising a skeptical brow at the demi-gods. "Well?" She questioned accusingly. It was as if Profikós wasn't there, rendered invisible to the mortal.

"We, um, want to order dinner."  Percy stammered. "You kids have money to pay for it?" A silence fell over the table, Profikós waiting to see what would happen. Then a rumble shook the whole building; a motorcycle the size of a baby elephant had pulled up to the curb. All conversation in the diner stopped. Indigo eyes watched as the owner of the motorcycle walked into the diner, an unimpressed look plasted on Profikós' face.

Every mortal rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again, going back to their conversations. The waitress blinked, as if somebody had just pressed the rewind button on
her brain. She asked again, "You kids have money to pay for it?" The biker said, "It's on me." He slid into the booth, right next to Profikós who scooted away in disgust. He looked to the waitress and frowned. "Are you still here?" He pointed at her, and she stiffened. She turned as if she'd been spun around, then marched back toward the kitchen.

Profikós scoffed. "Always making a scene, as usual." She said, resting her chin in her palm as she side eyes the god next to her. Ares rolled his eyes, which was odd as he didn't have any. "Good to see you too, Tragodía." He mused, before his attention turned to Percy, a wicked grin plastered on his face. "So you're old Seaweed's kid, huh?" Profikós snorted. Wasn't it obvious? "What's it to you?" Percy questioned, anger laced in his tone. "Percy, this is—" Annabeth tried, but Ares raised his hand dismissively.

"S'okay," he said. "I don't mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who's the boss. You know who I am, little cousin?" Realization dawned on Percy. "You're Clarisse's dad," he said. "Ares, god of war." Ares grinned and took off his shades. "That's right, punk. I heard you broke Clarisse's spear." Profikós raised a brow but said nothing. "She was asking for it." Percy countered. "Probably," Ares shrugged, "That's cool. I don't fight my kids' fights, you know? What I'm here for—I heard you were in town. I got a little proposition for you." The waitress from earlier came back with trays of mortal food.

Profikós reached over and grabbed a cheeseburger from the tray, her long nails digging into the bun as she took a bite. Ares handed the waitress a few drachmas, to which she looked at confusingly. "But, these aren't..." Ares pulled out his huge knife and started cleaning his fingernails, eyeing the waitress from the corner of his eye sockets. "Problem, sweetheart?" Yhe waitress swallowed, then left with the gold. "You can't do that," Percy told Ares. "You can't just threaten people with a knife."

Ares just laughed at Percy's words. "Are you kidding? I love this country. Best place since Sparta. Don't you carry a weapon,
punk? You should. Dangerous world out there. Which brings me to my proposition. I need you to do me a favor." Profikós chewed her burger thoughtfully. "Nothing truly beats Sparta, I'm afraid." She quipped. Percy spared her a brief glance before speaking. "What favor could I do for a god?" He asked. "Something a god doesn't have time to do himself. It's nothing much. I left my shield at an abandoned water park here in town. I was going on a little ... date with my girlfriend. We were interrupted. I left my shield behind. I want you to fetch it for me."

Profikós almost burst out laughing, turning into a choking fit as she coughed of bits of her burger. Everyone knew of Ares and Aphrodite, and she found the acts of humiliation from Hephaestus to be quite amusing. "Why don't you go back and get it yourself?" Percy asked, ignoring Profikós' weird behavior. But Grover was sure to give the goddess a concerned look as he chewed on a can. "Why don't I turn you into a prairie dog and run you over with my Harley? Because I don't feel like it."

Profikós gasped in mock shock, "you wouldn't dare!" Ares smirked, "How's pig snout?" Profikós broke out laughing, bits of burger flying on the table's surface infront of her. Ares looked to Percy. "A god is giving you an opportunity to prove yourself, Percy Jackson. Will you prove yourself a coward?" He leaned forward. "Or maybe you only fight when there's a river to dive into, so your daddy can protect you." Percy looked as though he was ready to punch Ares, but even the goddess of tragic prophecy knew that wouldn't be a wise decision— though she would've loved to see it happen.

"We're not interested," Percy said. "We've already got a quest." Ares's lips quirked downwards. "I know all about your quest, punk. When that item  was first stolen, Zeus sent his best out looking for it: Apollo,
Athena, Artemis, and me, naturally. If I couldn't sniff out a weapon that powerful..." He licked his lips, "Well ... if I couldn't find it, you got no hope. Nevertheless, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your dad and I go way
back. After all, I'm the one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath."

"You told him Hades stole the bolt?" Percy gaped. "Sure. Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized immediately. In a way, you got me to thank for your little quest." Percy grumbled a, "Thanks." Ares expression twisted into a smug one. "Hey, I'm a generous guy. Just do my little job, and I'll help you on your way. I'll arrange a ride west for you and your friends." Percy looked repulsed at the idea of even saying thanks to the war god, accepting his help was not on the table.

"We're doing fine on our own." He frowned. "As if! No money. No transportation. No clue what you're up against. I don't wanna see my little hero fall so soon, Perseus." Profikós frowned, pointing a sauce covered finger at the demi-god. "Help me out, and maybe I'll tell you something you need to know. Something about your mom." Ares bargained. "My mom?" Asked Percy, making Ares grin. "That got your attention. The water park is a mile west on Delancy. You can't miss it. Look for the Tunnel of Love ride."

"What interrupted your date?" Questioned Percy. "Something scare you off?" Ares bared his teeth. "You're lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't disappoint me." And with that, Ares was gone. "Not good," Grover said. "Ares sought you out, Percy. This is not good." Profikós downed the last of her shake, letting out a loud groan as she stretched. "Don't worry about him, beauty queen and him are always cowards when it comes to their little...outings." She laughed.

Her eyes met Percy's. "I believe in you," she leaned forward, tilting Percy's chin up with the tip of her nail. "My little hero." Following in Ares' steps, she teleported away, not missing the stunned look that filled Percy's eyes.

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