Chemistry

"It'll pay off," Luke snapped. "They'll take the bait. Now, come, we've got to get to the admiralty suite and check on the casket."

Their voices receded down the corridor.

Yes, Luke was in the ship with them. The next day Y/N woke up to the ship's whistle and heard a voice on the intercom-some guy with an Australian accent who sounded way too happy, "Good morning, passengers! We'll be at sea all day today. Excellent weather for the poolside mambo party! Don't forget million-dollar bingo in the Kraken Lounge at one o'clock, and for our special guests, disemboweling practice on the Promenade!"

Once they were all dressed, they ventured out into the ship and were surprised to see other people. But all of their expressions were blank.

The weird thing was: a middle-aged couple was standing in the buffet line right behind a devil dog, patiently waiting their turn for the eggs. They didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

That was when they heard two voices talk. And following up the conversation, they heard the familiar voice of someone who betrayed the camp. It was crystal clear to them. They can't go to their quest without hearing what Luke was up to.

Things didn't go so smoothly, ofcourse, as expected. The monsters gathering in a room with Luke, stopped their discussion midway and they got busted. Y/N expected some brutal fight to come their way but that wasn't the case. Luke was dressed different and the conversation that took place...felt personal. It looked like Annabeth, Luke and Thalia had a history.

It was no place to overthink about things but the thoughts that came to her mind immediately watching Annabeth and Luke talk, made her feel about certain things differently. She observed their eyes and there was no doubt that Luke despised Percy but...still wanted Annabeth with him. Whether this was some kind of a weird love triangle or not, she wasn't sure. But what she was sure of was that both of them had common emotions. Both of them were filled with pain, anger and mostly, longing.

Y/N just wished Percy would be as oblivious in the situation as he was during the other times.

Feelings aside, she also was surprised to find logic in what Luke said. She for one, understood how it felt to have your parent ignore you while they're busy with other stuffs - some of which she was pretty sure to be not as important as claiming your own child. Well, she was still a bit mad with her papa.

But the thing is, she isn't so stupid to go on a war because her parent didn't claim her. She didn't want to judge Luke's feelings but destroying so many lives because of getting angry at your father felt plain stupid. She was sure why he was doing this though.

The Titan definitely exploited his insecurities and anger, and easily got a hold of him. It didn't matter how much of a dick Luke acted like, and how hard he tried to look emotionless. In the end, he was doing all of this because his feelings were hurt.

[ TIME SKIP ]

After escaping from the ship, sending an iris message to Chiron, almost dying because of a Monster Donut shop, they were able to get into another ship. Well, more like Clarisse came through like a knight in shining armour and pulled them in her ship.

"You are in so much trouble," Clarisse said.

They'd just finished a ship tour through dark rooms overcrowded with dead sailors. They'd seen the coal bunker, the boilers and engine, which huffed and groaned like it would explode any minute. Everywhere they went, dead Confederate sailors stared at them, their ghostly bearded faces shimmering over their skulls.

Finally, they were escorted to dinner. The CSS Birmingham captain's quarters were about the size of a walk-in closet, but still much bigger than any other room on board. The table was set with white linen and china. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, potato chips, and Dr Peppers were served by skeletal crewmen.

"Tantalus expelled you for eternity," Clarisse told them smugly. "Mr. D said if any of you show your face at camp again, he'll turn you into squirrels and run you over with his SUV."

Y/N chuckled, "Oh we didn't think of THAT."

"Did they give you this ship?" Percy asked.

"Course not. My father did."

"Ares?"

Clarisse sneered. "You think your daddy is the only one with sea power? The spirits on the losing side of every war owe a tribute to Ares. That's their curse for being defeated. I prayed to my father for a naval transport and here it is. These guys will do anything I tell them. Won't you, Captain?"

The captain stood behind her looking stiff and angry. His glowing green eyes fixed at them with a hungry stare. "If it means an end to this infernal war, ma'am, peace at last, we'll do anything. Destroy anyone."

Clarisse smiled. "Destroy anyone. I like that."

Tyson gulped.

"Clarisse," Annabeth said, "Luke might be after the Fleece, too. We saw him. He's got the coordinates and he's heading south. He has a cruise ship full of monsters-"

"Good! I'll blow him out of the water."

"You don't understand," Annabeth said. We have to combine forces. Let us help you-"

"No!" Clarisse pounded the table. "This is my quest, smart girl! Finally I get to be the hero, and you two will not steal my chance."

"Where are your cabin mates?" Percy asked. "You were allowed to take two friends with you, weren't you?"

"They didn't ... I let them stay behind. To protect the camp."

"You mean even the people in your own cabin wouldn't help you?"

"Shut up, Prissy! I don't need them! Or you!"

"Clarisse," Percy said, "Tantalus is using you. He doesn't care about the camp. He'd love to see it destroyed. He's setting you up to fail."

"No! I don't care what the Oracle-" She stopped herself.

Y/N smiled at her comment. Even Percy easily could make her say it. Just a little push, yeah she'll be mad, but her anger will come with the answers they were looking for.

"What?" Percy said. "What did the Oracle tell you?"

"Nothing." Clarisse's ears turned pink. "All you need to know is that I'm finishing this quest and you're not helping. On the other hand, I can't let you go..."

"So we're prisoners?" Annabeth asked.

"Guests. For now." Clarisse propped her feet up on the white linen tablecloth and opened another Dr Pepper. "Captain, take them below. Assign them hammocks on the berth deck. If they don't mind their manners, show them how we deal with enemy spies."

As they were on their way, Y/N walked beside Percy and said, "It's at the back of your mind, isn't it?"

"What is?" he asked.

"Grover and the Fleece is your main concern now, sure. But their conversation is still bothering you right?"

"...no. Weren't you mad at me?"

"Please, we almost died out there. I don't have the time to be mad about petty little fights," she cleared her throat, "Although, you better not repeat the mistake."

"Yeah okay."

"Oh and by the way, their conversation should bother you Percy. You are her boyfriend. It's normal to be...jealous of-"

"I wasn't jealous," he interrupted her in between, ears turning red.

"You totally were. Not knowing about a part of her life and experience with Luke bothers you."

"I was just uncomfortable. We are in a relationship, we just shouldn't have secrets. Why do you think we fight so much?"

"Cause there's still love for each other?" Y/N stared at him with an amused smile. He looked at her back and she turned to look at the front.

Percy stared at her smiling face. How was she still smiling like this? It brought a small smile to his face as well. He was glad about it though. Things were too serious and he needed someone to just...distract him for some time. Make him feel relaxed.

And she was good at it. He recalled her sleepy face early in the morning, all pouty and...cute. Annabeth would be mad if she heard him talk like that wouldn't she? To be honest though, somehow she was never mad when it came to the topic of Y/N. Y/N has just got some kind of a grip on her.

"You don't stare at people when they've angered you Percy," Y/N said, snapping him off his thoughts.

"I'm not angry."

"Yeah you totally are. Annabeth rubbed off on you, hasn't she? She stares at me when she's angry too."

"No just...thinking."

"About?"

Percy thought for a minute and spoke the first thing that came to his mind, "Are you and Harris close?"

"Uh yeah," she looked at him and saw the look in his eyes. It was strange. It was...curiosity? Was it? "I mean depends on what kind of close you are referring to," she said.

"What kind of close are you?" he asked. Percy was surprised hearing his own words. He was never the kind to speak without thinking first. But somehow this topic just...pulled him in. He wanted to know more.

"Um.." Y/N felt relieved when they arrived at the birth deck. The conversation was not so long but surely felt like one. "I'm going to sleep," she yawned and lied on her assigned hammock.

She didn't know why she was avoiding the topic in the first place. There should be no problem in telling him right? Some kind of embarrassment filled her chest. She was not yet ready to tell anyone when she wasn't sure herself. Ofcourse she could feel it.

The chemistry between Harris and herself.