𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 | pjo

two

capture the flag

the next day dawned bright and sunny. lyla adjusted her breastplate, annoyed by how much the metal weighed her down. oh well, better that than getting stabbed, right?

"the first team to retrieve the opposing flag and return it across the river shall be declared the victor," chiron explained. "as always, there will be no maiming and no killing." cue the disappointed sighs and shuffling from ares. "i trust these rules will be respected. any magical items you may possess, you are permitted to use. every camper who is uninjured must play, and prisoners may be disarmed but may not be bound or gagged."

there was a tense silence, the air thick with anticipation. 

"let the games begin!" cheers erupted from demigods all around her as the conch shell blew. 

lyla turned and found herself face to face with annabeth and luke. "so, there are 20 minutes left, do you all know what you're doing?" annabeth's tone had taken on a newfound intensity—she loved capture the flag. or more accurately, she loved winning capture the flag. 

"yes ma'am," luke nodded, heading away. 

"hey," annabeth called to him. "today feel like a winning kind of day to you?" she asked. 

damn it, poor annabeth, her crush on luke was so painfully obvious. 

"i'll see you on the other side," luke promised, continuing to walk. "company! move out!" 

percy was about to walk away with the other campers, but lyla tugged at his elbow, effectively pulling him back. "not you, sunshine, you're with me," she quipped. 

"that is so great, you know." 

lyla, annabeth, and percy started to walk along the path threading through the woods, with percy struggling to keep up, then just falling flat on his face. 

annabeth sighed, an exasperated expression on her face. "lyla, would you mind if i leave you here? please?" 

lyla nodded. "sure, sure. whatever's best for you," she responded amiably. "good luck, chase." 

"you too!" with a final nod and smile, annabeth disappeared with her yankees cap. 

she offered her hand to percy, who took it gratefully, but the two of them immediately snatched their hands back as a small electric shock sparked between them. 

"ow, the hell?!" 

"i didn't do it!" 

"whatever!" lyla exclaimed. "we'll try again." 

this time, he was actually able to get on his feet. "hey, where did annabeth go?" he asked. 

"she's gone to do what she does best. trust her, don't worry too much." 

percy nearly stumbled as he jogged to keep up with her. "lyla, listen—i really need this to go well today. i just need—" he paused as she turned around. "i just need my father to see this go well, so if you're expecting me to know how to do stuff i've never done and don't know how to do and i end up falling flat on my face, i really can't have that right now, okay?" he explained. "just—please." 

lyla's eyes softened. "okay," she said lightly. "stand still for a second, would you?" his armour wasn't on properly, and that had been nagging at her ever since. she stepped closer, readjusted the straps a little, her fingers lingering ever so slightly.