War Games [Ransom & Athena PJO AU]

Ares kids are soooo thick-headed.

I know Ransom likes to think he’s the King of Camp, but actually, walking around carrying a sword and scaring the twelve-year-olds just makes you look like a douche. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out, but I thought I’d help and give him the heads up anyway. He’d all but growled in my face and made some thinly veiled threat about payback next week during Capture The Flag for my efforts.

That’s the last time I try to do a good deed for a neanderthal, I guess.

The cry comes from somewhere in the east, and I flinch slightly at the knowledge that at least two of my cabinmates have been taken out. A necessary sacrifice for the greater good, I tell myself reassuringly – let him think he has the upper hand as he comes charging through. And that’s exactly what happens, no less than five minutes later.

I hear him coming from a mile away. It’s not that he’s particularly loud, but he’s just so cocky and typically Ares-like that you can practically feel the air shift to accommodate his arrogance. From my vantage point – an alcove of palm fronds nestled between two particularly large boulders – I watch him stroll along the beach like he owns the whole damn ocean. I’d roll my eyes if it didn’t mean losing sight of him. He’s alone, of course; there was no chance of him sharing the glory of victory. Too bad. It would have made for a more interesting fight for me.

By now, the second-string soldiers of my own hand-picked team should be marching into enemy territory to grab the opposing flag. But that wasn’t my battle to overlook right now. I risk a glance over my shoulder, towards the place where our own flag is safely tucked away, before emerging from my hiding place.

“Of course you’d want to fight. You’re not smart enough to figure out where the flag’s hidden yourself, so you’ll try–” heavy emphasis on the word try, “–and take it by brute force instead. Am I right?”

I’m right.

The shield in my hand practically vibrates in anticipation, the tip of the previously concealed knife blade at the centre beginning to show. I hold myself back as a smile starts to form on my lips. “Fine then. Show me what you’ve got, bigshot.”