Man Down

Chp 8: Jason Grace

Dedicated to lilzdark

Interrogation

Jason awoke to the gentle rocking of a boat on the open ocean. He sat still for a moment, calmed by the motion before memories came flooding back to him. He jerked his head up and found himself gagged and tied to a chair. He struggled around and jerked away from his confinement, but all in vain. Whoever had tied him up was experienced and didn't want him getting out. He would have sworn, but he couldn't speak. However, he continued to writhe around, desperately trying to escape. 

Until he felt the point of a sword press against his chest and a hushed, husky voice breathed into his ear. "I'd stop fighting this situation if I were you, Prince Jason" Instantly Jason froze. He cried out - something rude - but whatever he said was muffled by the gag. Percy sneered at the young royal and kicked the chair away from him. Jason tipped back and exclaimed in alarm as he fell backwards. 

A brief fleeting panic crossed Percy's eyes and he reached forward to grab Jason by his shoulder. Their faces met, and their noses almost touched. For a single, infinitesimal moment, Jason could have sworn that Percy's sea-green eyes were scared. Scared for what exactly? That his precious ransom might have been hurt? Or was there a deeper meaning? Either way, the emotion fled his eyes as quickly as it arrived, and Jason was left quiet and pondering. 

"Now" Percy began as if nothing had occurred between the two. "I'm going to un-gag you, but only if you stay quite. Deal?" Jason glowered at the young pirate and jerked his head in what he hoped could be recognised as a "never" kind of head shake. Percy obviously didn't get the message and untied the cloth that muted Jason. The first thing that came from his mouth was:

"What do you want from me, pirate skum" his voice was laced with hatred and his electric blue eyes seemed to crackle in suppressed rage. Percy, instead of punishing the man, chuckled and pulled away. He fiddled with his sword hilt and refused to answer him. "I said" Jason spat again "what do you intend to do with me?" his eyes watched Percy's every movement as if at any moment he would lung out and strike at him. 

Percy tutted. "Jason, Jason, Jason. I've heard many things about you. Some merely gossip, but your servant friends also seem to enjoy singing your praises. Especially that Latino dwarf. What's his name again?" he asked rhetorically, still examining his sword with such vigour as to be called religious. "Leonardo? No, shorter. Leon? Ah, yes. Leo." he stopped playing with his weapon and lent closer to Jason again, though still far enough to keep all of him in his line of sight. "He proved quite useful. It's funny how much information you can get out of someone when they're angry and drunk. Good thing my crew aren't the same. No one will get anything out of them, sober or otherwise" he lent back again and rested on a nearby desk. It was of dark, exotic wood, and facing one of the larger windows in the Captain's quarters. Percy paused for a moment, studying Jason's facial expressions. Nothing. He shrugged and continued. 

"There's no point in hiding anything between us, so I'm going to get right to the point with you. Why was a royal like you in a dockside bar known for brawls?"

Jason scowled at the Pirate King. "As if I'd tell you" he replied with a sneer. Percy growled, a low sound in the back of his throat.

"I'm going to ask one. More. Time." He said savagely, punctuating the last three words with a step towards the bound captive. "What were you doing in that tavern?"

Jason looked him straight in the face and glared at him, not saying anything. Percy looked at the young prince before coming ever so close to him.

"Jason... I just want to know" his mouth was next to Jason's right ear, and his hot breath blew into it. Jason looked ahead, un-emotionless. 

"And I'm not going to tell you" he said, sitting back more comfortably in his chair. Percy pulled away, nodding as if this was a reasonable answer, before he grabbed him roughly by the hair and looked him in the eyes with his deep oceanic ones.

"I-" Percy started with a sneer, but he was cut off. Someone had entered the captain's quarters. Percy's snapped around, about to berate whoever had interrupted him, but again, he was stopped before he could start.

"Jason Jupiter Grace, WHAT are you doing on my pirate ship?!" Came a voice that was oh-so familiar to the prince.

"Thalia?..."