𝐈𝐅 𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐍'𝐓 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑 ― p. jackson ⁴ [ COMPLETED UNTIL SEPTEMBER ]

treize

★ 。＼｜／。★

𝗜𝗙 𝗜 𝗖𝗔𝗡'𝗧 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖎𝖟𝖊:
DON'T FIGHT IT,
EMBRACE IT

★ 。／｜＼。★

BELLE HAD WATCHED Percy fight against many monsters, and had heard the stories of what came before her (what Percy liked to call pre-Belle). Yet now, as he fought against the God of old age, and was losing, she had never been more terrified. (Except for when they were both in Tartarus, but that was really incomparable.)

She watched, concern etched on her features, at how Percy tried to force himself upright, but failed. Percy then twisted sideways and used his own weight to sling Geras off of his back. Belle clenched Sunflower's keychain tightly as Percy crawled away while gasping for air. He barely had time to stand up before Geras slammed into his side, wrapping an arm around Percy's neck and bringing him into a headlock.

Geras cackled at him. "Oh, no. You can't run from Old Age."

"Technically not true!" Grover shouted. "Exercises like running can add years to your life!"

Geras snarled at him. "Quiet, satyr. No interference!"

"It's not interference," Annabeth insisted. "It's commentary! Every wrestling match has commentary."

Percy tried to shuffle away now that Geras was distracted. However, Geras merely held him tighter. Percy used all of his body weight and leaned back, trying to pull him off-balance, but Geras didn't budge.

"Going somewhere?" Geras asked.

With his free hand, he punched Percy right in the ribs. Percy cried out in pain, something that always managed to make Belle absolutely sick to her stomach.

"Flag on the play!" Grover yelled. "Ten-yard penalty!"

"No body blows!" Annabeth agreed.

Belle cleared her throat, trying to mask her worry. "Do some actual wrestling!"

"Shut up!" Geras complained.

While his attention was elsewhere, Percy twisted himself out of the headlock. He then wrapped his arms around Geras' chest and squeezed as hard as he would. However, as much as he tugged and pushed, Geras didn't move.

Geras laughed. "Having fun?"

Percy didn't answer. Belle watched, waiting anxiously. It was only a little while, maybe over some thinking, that Percy moved. And by moved . . . well, Belle meant that he didn't move at all. Percy let out a primal scream, and halfway across Washington Square Park, a single manhole cover shot into the air. A tame-looking geyser sprayed over the tops of the trees before fizzling out.