𝐃𝐄𝐉𝐀 𝐕𝐔 • Percy Jackson.

II-05

HIS RING GLEAMED AS THE SWORD SHIMMERED INTO EXISTENCE. They stared at each other, waiting for the other to make a move, and as much as Amani loved staying idle, he had a problem of being impatient.

He ran up to him aiming a strike; golden sword raised high, its tip ready to silence through skin. Had he mentioned neither were wearing armor? There was a ringing sound, as the two swords clanged against each other. Percy was put into defense as Amani kept sending strikes after strikes leaving no change for Percy to change gears. "Are you sure you'd win?" Amani asks, a grin on his face. Though it soon fell as Percy bent down to dodge one of his strikes again before using the hilt of his sword to push down Amani's.

There was an opening for a second and Percy took it. Thrusting his sword towards Amani who parried it, the two kept going until Amani felt his breath go ragged. It wasn't long until Percy's sword tip was at his neck, "I told you I'd win." Percy said with a smirk, "you also said you'd do it quick enough so I wouldn't be tired, yet here we are." Amani said, sweat on his neck, and in between breaths. Though before Percy could say anything Amani leaned back and used his sword to push Percy's away before he swung his fist and slammed Percy's chest with a loud thud.

The sword fell to the dirt with a rattle and Percy laid on the ground, "you didn't say if physical combat was allowed." Amani smirked as Percy groaned. "That's unfair." Percy whined as he reached out for Amani to grab his hand. "It's called being clever." Amani said with a smile, but it dropped as he clasped his hand with Percy's and felt himself being dragged down.

"Hey–wait!"

His eyes widened as he fell right on top of Percy, his hands just barely preventing him from smashing right into his face. Percy started laughing and Amani scowled. "It's what you get!" Percy exclaimed in between fits of laughter and Amani rolled his eyes, but it didn't stop his own small smile from appearing. The two soon fell into a silence, "are you going to get off of me?" Percy meeked out, embarrassment in his voice, and Amani blinked before scrambling to get up. "Sorry dude." He muttered, "all good." Percy replied, awkwardly.

When the conch horn blew, signaling dinner, Amani walked off not daring to look at Percy or else he'd get second hand embarrassment from his own prior actions. So fucking embarrassing.

–

The following day they settled to work on Percy's chariot, it was then he found out Hermes Cabin had actually decided to participate. (The stolls weren't very happy that Amani was helping Percy.) "He found me first!" Amani had said with his hands raised up in defense. "Still!! You're part of Hermes, you can't go help the enemy." Connor whined, dragging Amani away, who only shrugged.

"Did you guys even try? What the fuck is this?"

Amani had asked when he stared at the poor attempt of a chariot. "Hey don't be so mean–plus we're working with what we got." Traver explained, grabbing a pile of nails. "And we don't have a workshop like Hephaestus." Another camper that Amani didn't bother knowing the name of said.

"We're going to lose so badly."

"Fuck off Manny."

"It's Amani!"

–

On the day of the actual race, it was hot and humid. (His hair did not love it.) Fog layed low on the ground like sauna steam. Millions of birds were roosting in the trees – fat grey-and-white pigeons, except they didn’t coo like regular pigeons. They made this annoying metallic screeching sound. He had a strange feeling about them.

The racetrack had been built in a grassy field between the archery range and the woods. Hephaestus’s cabin had used the bronze bulls, which were completely tame since they’d had their heads smashed in, to plough an oval track in a matter of minutes.