The Heart Is A Muscle

"Cause the heart, the heart, the heart | The heart is a muscle | And I wanna make it strong" - Gang of Youths, 'The Heart Is A Muscle'

As always, these characters do not belong to me.

Chapter One

The noise was the first thing that hit Annabeth, followed closely by the smell. She wrinkled her nose as she delved deeper into the sweat, spilt ale, blood and piss that accosted her sense of smell, pushing through the crowd that had come to see blood sprayed all over the dirt. She never understood the attraction towards the underground fights held under bars and taverns, but she had been entrusted with a task and there was no way she was going to fail.

Luke had stressed the importance of the task she had been bestowed and she knew that he regarded her as the only one in his congregation able to complete it. This warmed her, even as she passed the sweaty and yelling crowd, ale splashing all over her coat and boots. She longed to return to Luke's side and bask in his praise, and, she hoped, other things. He hadn't expressed his feelings towards her, but she knew he held an affection to her, as she did to him. Maybe her success with this mission would finally have him admitting it to her, but first she had to find Luke's old friend Percy and convince him to help her.

Annabeth scowled as the crowd yelled at whatever was happening in the fighting pit and for the next minute, she struggled to get closer. She had insisted that she would be able to find this 'Crystal' he was searching for alone, but Luke negated her assurances with a few firm words. This Percy, whoever he was, had been rumoured to have gotten past the defences surrounding the item, extensive and perilous as they were, twice. Each time he had failed to retrieve the Crystal, eventually becoming a guardian to it, or so the rumours went, warning off any and all who would dare try to follow his steps.

Armed with very little knowledge of his whereabouts, Annabeth had set out with high confidence in tracking him down but it wasn't until three weeks after hard searching that she had received vague gestures and shrugs that he could have been 'in that town over yonder'. She could hardly believe he was that much of ghost, especially considering the description Luke had given her. That town over yonder turned fruitful and brought Annabeth to the fighting match under the local tavern.

The ale was almost as stale as the air Annabeth was struggling to breathe in, finally getting in a position where she had a near full view of the room. The crowd, mostly men jeering and encouraging the fighters in the centre while throwing their coins to the bookies, were a mixture from all classes. The rich with their clean-cut demeanour, attire, hair and boots, to the middle class, their clothes a little worn and dirty but still somewhat respectable to the gamblers barely hanging onto the clothes on their backs. Women also mingled amongst the men, their attention not so much on the outcome of the fight, but on the shirtless men, both in the dirt fighting pit and awaiting their turn on the outskirts if the giggles Annabeth had to endure standing next to were any indication.

From the chatter Annabeth had overheard and the subtle prodding for information, Percy was to be one of the fighters in the pit tonight. Ignoring the roar of approval from the crowd at the current fight, she couldn't help but dimly notice how chatty one of the fighters were. Cocky. Teasing. He would have to be careful he didn't get those taunts punched back into his mouth, but the crowd lapped it up, causing a roll from her eyes. She scanned the waiting fighters and those who had fought earlier and were either seeking medical treatment or basking in their victory with a few ales, matching their appearance to Luke's description of Percy. Broad shoulders. Tall. Black hair. Tanned or most likely to be. Green eyes. When none matched it, she could only deduce he was one of the fighters in the ring and it was then that the cocky fighter yelled out daringly.

"Oh come on! You can hit harder than that!"

So that was the Percy Luke had wanted her to find. She didn't like him. Not if he behaved the same out of a fighting ring as he did in. He laughed, acknowledging the cheers of the raucous crowd with a brief wave before skipping out of the range of his charging opponent. Grinning, even as blood ran from one of his nostrils, Percy met his opponent, blocking his strikes with the efficiency of an experienced fighter. He struck back when the opportunity rose, discombobulating him. It was clear Percy was only toying with him to prolong the fight for the crowd.

Showboating, Percy spread his arms, deliberately turning his back to the man, much to the delight of the crowd who craved his attention. He did a slow circle of the pit as the man tried to shake his fuzzy vision and it was then that his eyes met Annabeth's. He paused, his grin widening upon seeing her, as if he knew exactly who she was and who sent her. He cut a handsome figure, she grudgingly admitted and while his eyes held a mischievous glint that irked her, the colour was uniquely beautiful.

His opponent recovered and judging from the glare he gave Percy, was seriously pissed. Still basking in the noise of the crowd, Percy appeared oblivious to the trouble behind him, and as the opponent charged at his exposed back, Annabeth had expected Percy's cockiness to be beaten out of him. At the last second Percy sensed the danger, spinning out of his way. The man collided with the spectators, who threw him back towards Percy. Over toying, Percy executed a series of combos and blocks against his less-than-adept opponent. The man fell to the ground with a heavy thud, his groans washed out by the applauding crowd.

Percy didn't look back towards Annabeth. He acknowledged the crowd, making his way towards the bookie, who whispered something in his ear, a pouch of coins changing hands. From the way the bookie smiled as he entered the makeshift circle, he had profited a lot from Percy's performance. The fighter waved off the spare medic, though did grab a small scrap of towel and pressed it to his nose. A small boy rushed forward and handed Percy a bundle, which he was rewarded with coin. On his way out of the tavern, he grabbed a bottle and tossed a few coins on the bar, acknowledging the barkeeper with a wave before heading out into the night.

Annabeth kept her distance as she followed him down the street, but he was either oblivious or he didn't care. Percy walked casually, lifting his head to catch the night's breeze when it drifted down the dirt road. The bundle was slung over his bare shoulder, the bottle remaining untouched at his side. Percy led her to a run-down looking inn down a side street that didn't boast it's presence like the other inns in the town. Placing the bottle on the reception desk, he made his way up the stairs. Annabeth hastened to follow, reaching the top of the stairs as he entered the last door on the left of the corridor.

He had left the door ajar, no doubt for Annabeth to enter. She paused, her cautious nature coming to the forefront. She did not know this man and neither did Luke; not for years. He had anticipated she would follow him and was no doubt waiting for her. Could he had planned a trap as well? Annabeth had to assume Percy knew who had sent her so he would also know that she would have combat skill but being a man against a woman, regardless if the woman had the skillset Annabeth did, he would have the advantage.

Annabeth didn't have to talk to Percy. Luke had wanted him, yes, but it wasn't a guarantee that he would have agreed to Luke's request. She could just continue with her mission and when she succeeded it wouldn't matter. She turned to leave, but glanced back, noticing the warm light emitting from the gap. Annabeth wasn't a coward, so why was she so prepared to duck tail and flee on the off-chance this Percy was a predator? She had dealt with predators before and knew how to gain the upper hand in a fight. With a steady hand, and another resting on the knife at her hip that was hidden underneath her cloak, Annabeth softly pushed the door open, getting a full glance of the room before stepping in.

The room was simple and small, with an uncomfortable looking bed against one wall, a table and washbasin right next to it. A rickety looking chair sat against the opposite wall and a table sat in the centre. The table was obscured by Percy, wearing a dark, rich robe, his head bowed over the desk, his back to her. The grip on her knife tightened as she stepped further into the room, though careful to keep a safe distance from him.

"Tell Luke I said no," he said aloud. When she didn't reply straight away, Percy turned towards her, raising an eyebrow.

He hadn't bothered to put on a shirt or fasten the robe. Not that Annabeth was looking. He was barefoot with his pants sitting low on his hips; again, Annabeth wasn't looking but she did think he was rather cocky to meet a stranger in such a manner. His sword belt rested on the bed as did the bundle he had received back at the tavern. No trap, Annabeth realised, loosening her grip on her knife ever so slightly.

"To what?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

Percy snorted, moving around the table. He pulled out the stopper on a decanter on the table, sitting next to it was two glasses. "All of Luke's lackeys look the same and honey, you stand out more than the lot of them." He glanced up after he poured the two glasses, noting her expression with a snort. "You didn't think you were the only one he has sent to track me down?"

He walked over to her, offering her the second glass. When she refused with a glare in his direction, he shrugged, downing her drink in one. There was faint amusement on his face at her silent stubbornness, causing Annabeth to bristle in indignation.

"Do you have a name?" he asked as he walked back towards the table.

"Annabeth," she said.

"Percy." He introduced himself with a quick turn, dipping slightly in a bow.

Annabeth struggled to get a read on him. He was confident, and almost too laidback to be considered a threat but despite him appearing open and friendly, he guarded his true emotions carefully. As someone who also kept her cards close to her chest, she could see he did the same. He was smart and experienced, if the way he watched her said anything. Clearly still healthy and fit to be fighting with some regard, so why was he fighting in dirty taverns and staying in rundown inns?

"You were Luke's best friend?" she questioned with high scepticism in her voice.

His eyes dulled slightly. "That was a very long time ago," he stated towards his decanter but loud enough that Annabeth heard him. He turned back to face her, leaning against the table. "And something we both don't enjoy speaking about. So, why don't we just get to the part of the evening where you beg me to take you in this room and I, with heavy regret, decline your advances and you can go back to Luke and tell him I am never joining his little group ever again."

"How do people stand to be around you?" Annabeth asked, her arms folded over her chest. "You are repugnant."

"Repugnant," Percy repeated, contemplating the description against him. "Haven't been called that before. It's a bit of mood killer," he told her matter-of-factly before taking a deep drink.

"Luke didn't ask me to recruit you," she added. He scoffed in disbelief as he brought his glass to his lips. "He tasked me with retrieving the Crystal."

Percy froze. Slowly, he placed the glass on the table, his head tilting to watch the movement. Once he composed himself, those eyes, once alive with mischief, darkened with the recollection of memories Annabeth had brought up with that one word. He stood, moving forwards until he was a foot away from her. Stubbornly, she held her ground. His eyes drifted down her body, taking in everything. He scoffed again, shaking his head as he let out an explosive breath, walking back toward his glass.

"Well played Luke," he muttered to himself. "Well played." He toasted to the window. "He knew sending me someone like you would conflict my decision."

"Someone like me?" repeated Annabeth coldly.

He faced her again. "I have no doubt you are smart, resourceful, and adept at basic fighting skills, but your naivety is obvious."

"What are you going on about?" she demanded.

"What do you know about the Crystal?"

"It's a valuable object, rumoured to hold magical properties," replied Annabeth, cringing at those rumours. She believed in logic, not magic. "The one to wield it will become the most powerful person in the land."

Percy shook his head sadly. "Yes, a fool's dream," he said softly. "One I used to believe in and share. This mission he has given you is a death sentence," he told her seriously, his eyes boring into hers.

"No," she disagreed, shaking her head. "He trusts me, completely. He knows I will not fail him."

Percy wiped a hand over his face. "I thought the same thing once. Brothers for life, he said. This isn't … please reconsider." He was almost begging.

"So, you won't come and help me retrieve it?"

"I won't go back to that place," he said, bowing his head. He shuddered a little.

"Then I will go alone," she stated.

Percy's head snapped up. "Then you will certainly die. Flee. Find another man to love. Live your life. Don't do this. It's not …"

Annabeth was a little taken aback by his reaction. And by the way he astutely guessed her feelings for Luke. It made her a little unsteady that he could get that from her after only meeting minutes ago.

"It's not what? Safe for a woman?" Percy struggled to answer so she ploughed on, her anger driving her words. "Just because you failed, doesn't mean I will. I told Luke it was a waste of time tracking you down. Go back to beating up drunken fools for money like the honourless coward you are."

With the stinging words hanging in the air between them, Annabeth stormed from his room. It would be a few days until she was able to get his expression from her mind and even then, it haunted her dreams.

Writer's block is a funny thing. In becoming stuck on another story, this one popped into my head. I decided to run with this story while I could, and hopefully you, the reader, will enjoy the newest adventure with Percy and Annabeth. Author's note: the characters in this tale are in their twenties.