Man Down

Chp 7: Perseus Jackson

Bar Brawl

Percy's eyes widened as his aquamarine green eyes fixed on the electric blue eyes of the man beneath him. His breathing was uneven as his lungs fought to take in enough air to function. He wasn't sure if that was because of his tumble, or because of his close proximity to a handsome young man. He schooled his expression to remain impassive while he racked his mind for who this man could be, but inside he was burning with embarrassment. 

He came to a realization as to who this boy was at the same time he appeared to come to one as well. Percy inhaled sharply and jerked away from him, and narrowed his eyes at the young man, while the object of his scrutiny happened to be doing almost the same thing. 

"You!" they both exclaimed at once, before scowling at each other. Jason spoke first, breaking the silence that had befallen the tavern once his hood had fallen off, exposing his blond hair and blue eyes. 

"You!" he repeated, eyes narrowed. He almost pointed an accusatory finger at him but didn't dare. "You're Perseus Jackson! The pirate" he hissed the last sentence like it was a criminal offence. Which, to be frank, it was. The pirate in question bristled at the fact that he hadn't even used his full title. 

"That's Captain Perseus Jackson: the Pirate King, to you, Jason Grace" he spat at the royal, purposefully not using his full title either. Two could play that game. Those in the onlooking crowd who had not worked out his identity from his blue eyes and blond hair alone gasped in surprise and shock. A Prince of Tempus, in a dockside bar? Scandalous.

Percy sneered at him before Jason sharply looked up and using a hand gesture to bring two of his accomplices forward, and they picked Jason up before attempting to bind him. No one in the pub attempted to stop them. 

Until two servant boys: one extremely drunk, the other sober and glaring daggers at the two pirates attempting to bind and gag his friend. He lunged forward, attempting to knock one, or both, of the kidnappers off balance. He missed and went flying past them as they swung out of the way. The drunkard, however, managed to throw a good punch at the blond-haired, grey-eyed captor before he was attacked in turn by the very woman who had out drunk him at the betting table. Piper Mclean.

A full out brawl ensued. Percy scrambled to his feet and went to assist Annabeth with the struggling Jason while Frank, Leo, Piper and the rest of the pirate crew squabbled in the background. Soon everyone in the bar was in on the action: hitting at anyone unlucky enough to come across their path of clumsy violence. Jason struggled and squirmed while they tried to tie him up, and only went still when a flying stool hit him square on the temple. Annabeth and Percy made quick work of gagging him and Percy picked him up, slinging his captive over his shoulder.

"BACK TO SHIP!" he called at his crew, who drew a hasty retreat. But not before knocking out the two servant boys and bringing them along as well. Well, they knocked Frank out, Leo passed out from too much alcohol.