Bandits and Sheriffs

After dinner Annabeth sneaks out. Just like every night she dismisses herself to her room and closes the door. When she's sure they aren't missing her, which they rarely ever seem to do anyway, she changes into her sheriff clothing and hops out the window onto the tree, climbing down and taking a pegasus to the mayor's estate. She does a special sequence of knocks on the back door and Jason appears to let her in.
"How mad was Octavian?" Annabeth asks always feeling a little guilty that Jason receives the bulk of the punishment since Jason has to let her to go back to her dad's house. She prefers to keep her sheriff life a secret from her Father. He would never approve and she doesn’t want to deal with any more resistance than she already puts up with. She's supposed to be a "lady," but her talents are wasted on such a mundane and uninteresting, unchallenging, lifestyle. She could care less about current fashions, hair care and giggling behind her fan with a gaggle of silly girls who's only ambition is to marry rich. She's made for something better than that.
"Let's just say we're in charge of mucking the stables for a couple weeks, and leave it at that." Jason answers with a resigned sigh, and ushers Annabeth inside.
Annabeth grimaces, "Well you know, I'd like to see Octavian try and stop those bandits," He’d probably just shoot them point blank She thinks, and looks at the desk strewn with paper ."These the inventory logs?" she asks
"Yeah. And I'd pay to see you say that to his face." Jason chuckles, and shuffles the papers into some semblance of order.
Annabeth smiles at the idea and gives her attention back to the papers. "Good," she says "I just have a feeling that if we knew what they were taking...we could get them in the same car, because that's kind of their game they take us separately and then that darned Kidd." Annabeth rubs the part of her head that is still sore from the hit. "But if we get them together in one well lit car...there's our advantage" she says, shuffling through inventory logs.
"It's a good plan." Jason says, "But I can't see much of a pattern. It’s always something expensive and random crates broken into.... I guess that means they are searching for something... but I don't know what. There are always so many crates..." Jason rubs his temples. "and I feel like I've been staring at these papers for forever."
"There's gotta be something" Annabeth says she starts circling similarities working almost mechanically, like an automaton. "Bullets" Annabeth mumbles, "Food...not a particular type... Why did they steal pickles of all things? Bullets." she flips to the beginning again "1 case of medicine,...medicine....medicine...." her eyes widen and she flips through a couple more pages before she looks up at Jason in realization "Jason..."
Having been falling asleep in his chair, Jason jerks awake at his name. "Uh?? Um what? Did u find something?"
"Medicine," Annabeth says softly, "for the mist sickness, they've been stealing' it almost consistently and in increasing amounts every time, so either there's more girls they're stealing for or the ones they already are...."
"Are getting worse." Jason finishes and runs a hand through his hair, a frown crossing his face. "That's….unfortunate. No wonder the expensive possessions they took were so random. Tea sets and ball gowns to taxidermy and violins…" he gives Annabeth an admiring look that turns troubled. "So… what do we do?"
"Well I don't feel right...you know using the medicine as a trap..." she says and starts gathering up the papers."We should probably just keep this to-" Annabeth gets cut off by the mansion-side door opening. Octavian walks in the room and eyes the papers.
"Find anything?" his mouth smiles but his eyes don't, and it makes Annabeth's insides cringe, she looks to Jason.
"Sir." Jason stands from his seated position, and glances at Annabeth, "Annabeth has only recently joined me, but... I haven't found anything." he hopes Octavian is just in a bad mood and hasn't heard their private conversation.
Octavian eyes them sensing their deceit. "Nothing at all?" he asks, the calm in his voice deeply unsettling. "Is there any particular reason that you requested inventory logs then?" he says looking at the papers as Annabeth subconsciously holds them closer to her chest.
"We were searching for a pattern, sir." Jason replies, and hopes Annabeth will come up with some sort of lie or excuse that he cannot. But maybe, he thinks, Octavian will understand and be lenient? Even in his head it sounds like a question.
"And there's no pattern then," Octavian looks to Annabeth.
"No," Annabeth says, "They're just greedy bandits stealin' whatever they feel like."
"Can I see the records." Octavian's face remains impassive, and he holds out his hand, making it obvious that Annabeth doesn’t really have a choice in the matter. Annabeth's eyes widen remembering she's circled all the medicine disparities.
"Well I doubt you'll see anything we haven't... we've been working for quite some time-"
"Sherriff Grace said that you had just gotten here." Octavian interrupts impatiently, eyes narrowing, and a sneer forming on his lips.
"Yes well I meant he's been working and his work and my work combine to our work so really-"
"Let me. See the papers." Octavian demands and before Annabeth can come up with another excuse, he snatches them from her hands and shuffles through them.
"Medicine?" he raises a surprised eyebrow. "Why... that's absolutely despicable."
"Despicable, sir?" Jason asks nervously this time, his reaction the exact opposite of what he'd hoped for, and he winces as he sees Annabeth hand bloom with blood from several paper cuts in the junction of her thumb and pointer finger.
"Well their obviously stealing the medicine so they can resell it at twice the price to desperate people. It's absolutely despicable," Octavian asserts.
"I don't think that's what they're stealing it for...I think there are woman on the outskirts who can't afford it and they're stealing it for them." Annabeth says, sure that she's right.
Octavian laughs, "Oh you poor naive sheriffs," he says, "What a grand fiction that would be...unfortunately we live in the real world...set a trap" he commands. "I want these bandits caught and executed" he turns to leave.
"But sir I really think it's the truth!" Annabeth says, "You see Riverson told me-"
Octavian turns abruptly to face Annabeth who is slightly startled Jason almost instinctively tackles Octavian, but holds back.
"Riverson told you?!...tell me Sheriff Chase, are we in the business of taking bandits at their word now?" his eyes are wide and intimidating.
"N-no but-" Annabeth fumbles with her words.
Octavian laughs again. "Sherriff Chase, I hired you for your head not your heart. So be sure you use it." He puts a hand on her shoulder. "Set the trap," he says humorlessly, "Or whatever medicine they steal..." he leans in closer "Will be taken from your treatment." He whispers and leaves the room, door slamming behind him leaving Annabeth paralyzed where she stands.
"Sometimes..." Jason grits his teeth, still tensed, "I really hate that man… Are you alright? I have some crème for the paper cuts if you want." He opens a drawer and takes out a container or clear goop, and glares at the closed door.
"Yeah" Annabeth says and sits on the chair. "You don't think they're reselling the medicine right?"
"I don't know. Kidd isn't very talkative. Usually all I get out of him is: 'oh it's you again.' or 'looking handsome as usual, Grace.' or 'no time to talk, sheriff' and then I'm either fighting him or he's got me incapacitated somehow." Jason shrugs. "I mean...they are bandits... maybe they are and Octavian is right. But I'd think...with medicine available as long as you're ready to pay for it...that any selling they'd do with it would be for less. Not more."
Annabeth nods holding out her hand. "Riverson's different," she says fighting off a smile as she imagines those dangerous, green eyes. "The way he talks, you'd think he was good...troubled...but good...but I guess we better take that order to the train station then."
"So basically nothing's any different than usual." Jason jokes, unscrewing the cap and handing Annabeth the salve for her cuts. "And I mean... it's not like Kidd's ever really hurt either of us badly. I mean... we're still alive aren't we?" Though he does glance at Annabeth's head, knowing she probably has a rather big lump there from earlier.
Annabeth nods again as she considers Jason's point, the bandits could've harmed them easily...and now they were setting a trap that would have them executed… it didn't feel Just. She remembers what Riverson told her and maybe he was right. Maybe she should reconsider her definition of "good people"....
* * * * * *
"Leo! My favorite engineer! Let's talk trains," Percy calls and pulls his "favorite engineer" into a ticket booth for a little privacy. Nico follows, reluctantly noting that once again Percy is his usual oblivious self and it's as if nothing significant had happened the night before.
"Alright, Alright," Leo says, "You got something for me?"
"Naw, we just wanted to have a drink with you, Leo. Which is why we're pushin' you into a ticket booth." Percy says with a grin, and Nico shuts the door.
"Obviously." Nico says, rolling his eyes. Leo raises an eyebrow.
"Nico, pay the man so we can get our info," Percy says.
Nico grunts, and pulls out a small wad of cash. "Here. Now talk, Valdez; you greedy, intelligent, bastard." He gives him a small grin to show he's not serious about the insults, and watches fondly as Leo preens for being called intelligent.
"We all gotta make a livin'," Leo winks, "Alright so, I received the order this morning, your loot will be in the 4th freight car, Its red and there are two guard cars around it so…you know...don't die"
"Wait, only one car this time?" Nico frowns, "Why only one car?"
"I don't know," Leo says, "they ordered the expensive stuff and the meds be in the same car this time maybe it was a cargo space issue…also they put some new tools in there so if you could?" Leo hints.
"Yeah we'll get you your tools Leo" Percy smiles shaking his head.
"Much obliged" Leo says exiting the booth. He whips out his pocket watch and checks it. "Should pass your canyon 'round 2:18 if I'm not mistaken," he says, "so make sure you set your cl-" Leo freezes staring down the way and a grin starts to form on his lips.
"You finally run outta oil, you automaton," Percy claps his shoulder looking in his line of sight to see a pretty red headed lady, dressed in a purple dress with a matching parasol, observing the train.
"Excuse me won't you," Leo says to Percy and Nico and he strides over.
"She's a fine machine ain't she?" Leo asks slicking his hair back proudly as if he’d built the thing single handedly.
The pretty red head turns to face Leo with a smile that practically blinds the poor man. "Oh yes, she really is. That's some state of the art machinery." She pauses, "Do you... work on the train?"
"I do... as a matter of fact," he preens confidently. "Name's Leo Valdez and yours my lady?" Leo says in attempt to be a gentleman.
"Charmed." she says, flippantly, "I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare, but you can call me Rachel. Anyway, I'm having a bit of a dilemma, do you think you could help me, Sir Leo Valdez?" she winks playfully.
“I'm at your service” Leo preens at the title he’s been given, hoping he can actually help her with her problem so he doesn't lose it.
"Wonderful! You see my baggage is... delicate, and I'd really like to see it be put away myself." she motions to the suitcase beside her. "Would you mind terribly? I'll even put it there myself." She looks at Leo with hopeful eyes.
"Well sure," Leo says he looks back to Percy and Nico and winks, "Right this way," he says leading her to the fourth freight car, and checking the time quickly as he sees Percy and Nico head off. "Actually, you- ah, might want to put it in a different storage car, this one’s, um... full," he says.
"Full? I'm sure there's room for it. It's not that big after all." Her bag is medium sized, up to her knees. "And I wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone who has to look after such things." She smiles sweetly, and rather forcefully, opens the door without asking or waiting for Leo to open it for her. She looks around, "There, see? Plenty of room."
Leo hadn't expected her to do that and he fumbles with incoherent syllables before he says, "Um...well if you insist." He smiles nervously hoping that maybe Nico and Percy won't take that bag or anything in it.
Rachel hums a tune as she walks into the car, looking for a place to secure her bag, eventually squeezing it into a space between two wooden boxes that are strapped to the floor. "There." she says, patting the bag. She looks up to Leo who lingers in the doorway, "Thank you, Mr. Valdez, you were a great help." She pecks him on the cheek as she sashays out and away, waving behind her.
"Y-your melcome wa'am… I mean…w- welcome ma'am. B-bye" Leo responds face flushed as he mentally berates himself for reacting like such a dunce. Still, it's not every day a pretty girl gives him a kiss... Leo sways and watches her leave then closes the door and returns to work.
* * * * * *
"Two fifteen," Percy reads off of the face of his watch, the train whistling in the distance. He steadies Blackjack. "So we're gonna wanna go at least three back from the car, and tread lightly on the one before it" he says and hands Nico a sack.
"Not a problem for me, Riverson... but you might wanna tie some cloth around your boots, if you know what I mean." He winces at himself for calling Percy by his bandit name. He shouldn't be resentful, he knows Percy never remembers anything after the point where he's drunk enough to propose. This isn't the first, nor will it be the last time, but he can't help feeling a little hurt.
"Well I was just gonn' take 'em off but that works too" Percy says, "Thanks partner." He smiles and then leans forward to scan for the oncoming train. He checks his watch to see that Leo's calculation was right on the money. "Ready?" Percy asks.
Nico sighs, "You always ask that…when have I ever said I'm not, Percy. And if I wasn't ready, what exactly would change about this upcoming scenario?"
"Well I meant ready at right this second because we don't want miss it when the-" Percy starts as the train engine zooms past, "and go!" Percy orders, his voice a little flustered, before taking off to follow the train. They ride alongside it and Percy can see the red freight car a little ways down. "You see the open car Shadow?" he calls.
Nico groans, "There is no open car, Riverson!" he calls, "We're gonna have to drop down on top!"
Percy heaves an exasperated sigh. "Time to meet the sky Blackjack," he says giving a pat to the side of the horse’s neck. Blackjack extends his wings and catches an updraft that has them hovering alongside the train. Percy reaches out to grab Nico's hand. "Let's go then partner!" he calls.
Nico give Mrs. O'Leary a pat and takes Percy's hand quickly, trusting Percy completely, even if he’s peeved.
Blackjack lifts them both up to the top of the train. Nico dangling from Percy's grip just above one of the box cars. "You good?" Percy asks, "Should I let go?"
Nico lets his grip loosen and nods, dropping to the metal of the box car and crouching against the wind, grateful for the bandana around the lower half of his face. He waits for Percy, gloved fingers in a seam of rivets.
Percy lands a little behind Nico on the same car and gestures a thank you up to Blackjack. Percy scans for the red cargo car which is about 3 cars down. "Alright, then" he pats Nico's shoulder before he adjusts his shell pattern bandana. "Let's go."
They get a running start and jump the cars until they get to the guard car behind the cargo car. "All right," Percy scans the metallic top of the car. "It's gonn' be hard to tread lightly on that...hey wait a sec," he says in realization, and takes out his water pouch. He squeezes water out and uses it to form a bridge across the gap between the two cars, and taps it with his foot to test it and then walks across. He gestures Nico to follow him, making Nico huff out a laugh at Percy's ingenuity. After a moment's hesitation, he follows suit, half expecting for the makeshift water bridge to give out beneath his weight and his body to plummet down onto the metal connector or the tracks beyond that.
He makes it, heart beating wildly. "Seems like you're good for more than just washing dishes." Nico says, once he's crossed, his eyes doing the smirking for him. "Why can't you always be this helpful?" he punches Percy's shoulder lightly.
Percy puts a finger up to his lips and points to the car beneath them although his eyes show that he’s smiling at Nico's playfulness. Percy moves the water bridge and has them cover his feet.
The water forms blobs underneath his feet. He taps his foot to make sure his footsteps don't make too much noise. He looks back proudly at Nico and then uses the water to skate across the car soundlessly. Then he sends the water back to Nico, having it cover Nico's feet the same way.
Nico follows Percy at a slower pace, thinking how it would be fine for him to creep across the top of the car by himself. He doesn't need the water shoes, but there's too much wind to tell Percy no.
When Nico gets to the end of the car, Percy makes the bridge for them again and Nico can tell that Percy smirks as he sees there's an entrance to the cargo car on the top, "It's like they want us to steal from them," he says and opens the hatch.
"Let me assure you, they don't." Nico says and follows Percy in, feeling slightly uncomfortable once he's in and sees just how little shadow there is in the cargo hold. All the crates are up against the walls and lights line the walls. "Let's get the loot and scram." Nico says, wiping his hands on his pants, rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension from them.
Percy opens a crate along the side and sees a beautiful collection of leather bound books. Percy shows it to Nico. "Gift for the weddin'," he says and puts it in the bag. "Hey you think that bag over there might have a nice dress for her?" Percy suggests as he pries open another crate that has the medicine in it.
"Guess I'll check." Nico says, eyeing the doors, warily. Having Chase n' Grace in the same place probably won't end well, but he focuses on the task at hand, finding a lovely yellow dress with rhinestones scattered across the belt. It's perfect for Hazel, and Nico smiles softly behind his bandanna, failing to notice the scuff of boots against wood." He folds and bags it, turning around to commend Percy for his intuition and comes face to face with the barrel of two pistols, and two very pretty girls winking at him, one holding a finger to her lips with a smirk.
"Partner." Nico says, anyway, reaching for shadows that aren't there.
"Yeah?" Percy says not looking back as he reaches for the medicine.Cold metal presses into the back of Percy's neck.
"It's a little too late for that sort of warning, Kidd." a feminine voice says behind Percy, "But I suppose it's better late than never. Same goes for looting, don't cha think?"
Percy's hands stops short of the medicine box as he hears the voice behind him. "You know when are you gonna learn that-" Percy starts slowly standing up and turning around, "what the-?" he exclaims as he realizes the woman behind him is not a Sherriff, let alone Annabeth. He looks her up and down, eyeing the gun warily. "Well, well, hello there little lady" he says in his "charming" voice that usually makes Nico want to face palm.
This time is no different from the others, and Nico contemplates suffocating himself with the dress in his bag but grits his teeth. "Why did the Kidd part have to stick?" he mutters to himself, scowling.
All Percy sees is a flurry of red hair, as the woman drives her fist into his stomach. "You call me that again, and you're gonna be hurting a whole lot more." She says, green eyes flashing, and taps her gun underneath Percy's chin. "My name is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, and don't you dare forget it, Shelly." She grins.
Percy slumps against the wall "Shelly?" he coughs, holding his stomach.
“Oceans have shells.” Rachel shrugs at the same moment as Nico shakes his head.
"Shoulda' done listened to my sister Riverson," he says, “She warned you, you were gonna get punched for that.”
Percy glares over to his partner. "Fine then, Rachel," he grunts toward the girl. "We can be civil about this..." he puts his hands up and casts a look over to Nico, seeing that he is not in or near any sort of shade. "Obviously we're both here to rob the train...there must be some sort of arrangement we can get to...ladies" he says with a wink.
Rachel rolls her eyes but notes the lack of descriptor, and doesn’t punch Percy in the gut again. "Well you see the thing is, I'm not very partial to sharing after I worked so hard to get here. Lemme tell you, security is tighter than I imagined it would be for a train." Rachel nods sagely. "But… maybe I could be convinced." She smirks up at Percy.
"You worked so hard?" Percy says, "This is your first train robbery ain't it darlin'?" and suddenly he remembers where he's seen her before, the pretty, rich girl that distracted Leo on the platform. "Wait- you, you're that girl!" he says. "What exactly are you doin' robbin' a train when you have enough money be ridin' it?"
"Hey! I do not! With how much you steal, I'm guessin' you could ride it too!" she huffs and glares, "And that was me scoping the compartment. We don't all have informants we get ta just pay for everything."
An exasperated grunt leaves Percy's mouth. "If I looked like you did in a dress I wouldn’t be payin’ him nuthin’ neither darlin’,… but me and my partner have an entire village to support , kids to go to school... elderly...and those affected by the sickness." He looks down at the medicine "I ain’t exactly keen on sharin' neither, especially with a bunch a ladies who decided to play bandit..." Nico almost winces as he sees Rachel's reaction sure that she's going to hit him again as her fists clench.
"But!" Percy continues, "There are more important things to desperate men" he casts sad eyes to Nico, who is comforted by the knowledge that Percy understands their priorities, and would rather steal the medicine than get them killed by bandit ladies. "Tell us what to do, as long as we get a cut and enough medicine...its fine...anything..."
Percy says the words but Rachel feels they are not as humbling as they should be, and she is not going to let him get away with that "playing bandit" comment. She does understand the need for medicine however, noting Percy's sad eyes for his partner, and glances in the trunk. There's enough, she thinks, for her group only; but she's never been one to let those in need walk away empty handed, and if she has to go without, She's fine with that. Rachel runs some scenarios through her head, still outraged at Percy's declaration. After all, isn't playing anything. "Fine." She says, "I have a proposition for you." The smirk spreads slowly across her face. "I want you and your… partner." She stresses, "to gimmie an' my girls a nice little somethin’." Rachel leans into Percy's personal space. "Now I want it to be passionate and romantic, and everything a damsel dreams about for her first real kiss. None of this peckish school crush nonsense. Shouldn't be too much to ask, is it Skulls n' Shells?"
Percy takes down his bandana with a grin. "Odd… but it seems like a win-win to me” he says and leans in to give Rachel a kiss.
"Not so fast, Shelly." Rachel puts the barrel of her gun to Percy's lips to stop him. "I never said you had to kiss me. I want you to kiss....him." she points at Nico. "So hop to it, lover boy."
"Mmmforry" Percy says mouth still muffled by the barrel of the gun and eyebrows furrowed in confusion "cou' you refeat tha' darlin'?"
"I never said it was me you'd be kissin'..." Rachel's smirk gains attack power and she presses the gun to her lips like she's shushing him. "Bring the Kidd, Silena, Lucy." She instructs and hears them shuffle forward, Nico groaning with disapproval over his name. The name stupid Percy got him stuck with. He honestly prefers Skulls.
Percy glares at Rachel as the girls enthusiastically shuffle Nico over and pull down his mask. "Ooh he's cute," Silena says, "This is gonn' be nice." She and Lucy giggle.
"Well that's..." Percy swallows looking awkwardly at Nico's lips, "Odder...than the other request....is there any-"
Rachel tugs on Percy's bandanna and revels in his distress. "Any what Riverson?" she asks, eyeing his features with appreciation. Nico wasn't the only cute one.
"Anything other than this you might consider" Percy says through a closed teeth smile.
"Oh Shelly."Rachel risks disapprovingly. "I live in an abandoned train station, and even I know you mustn't say such hurtful things about your partner." she looks mock sadly at Nico, "He might think you don't love him." she grins, "And no, this is my... Only offer. So get smoochin'." Rachel leans back against a crate, twirling the pistol on one finger as Silena moves to procure the medicine. "You'll get your medicine after the pact is fulfilled. Promise, Riverson."
"We're just partners not....ugh" He sighs and looks to Nico awkwardly shuffling his feet, "Sorry partner" he shrugs and starts to lean forward painfully slowly.
Nico's expression takes on a mildly annoyed look, and he sighs. "It's not like this is the first time." he says, still smarting from the empty promises from Percy's mouth the night before, "No need to act like you're going to your death bed." Nico pulls Percy's face down the rest of the way, his lips covering Percy's easily, which makes Rachel and her fellow bandits raise some eyebrows.
"Not his partner." Rachel scoffs, "Skulls' statement says otherwise." she giggles and watches with undisguised glee.
Percy's eyes widen in surprise as Nico's lips touch his own. Nico's hands making their way into Percy's hair and pulling him closer. Percy can't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity and comfort as they kiss. In the unexpectedly heated moment neither Percy nor Nico register the car doors opening on both sides allowing a flood of guards to enter and surround them.
"I don't know what's stranger," Jason says, "The fact that there are random girl bandits in here, or... Those two."
Behind him, one of the sheriffs holds out his hand, and another one drops some drachma into it with a curse. Jason rolls his eyes, now wasn’t the time to be collecting one bets.
Percy quickly lifts up both of their bandanas and steps away from Nico "Chase n' Grace! Come to join the party have you?" Percy says clearing his throat like nothing happened.
Nico takes special measure pointing Annabeth's gun at her own face, though he'll never admit it, a frown marring his face where no one can see, cursing Rachel for holding them for so long.
"Ooo, Chase n' Grace! That's a pair made in heaven. Just like Skulls n Shells! Such alliteration is surely fate," is Rachel's input, back still to the crate and pistols up pointed to both sides. "Wonder if they're partners too." She winks at Percy, notably not pointing a gun at either of them, considering them allies now that a larger more immediate threat is at hand.
Percy rolls his eyes at the assertion that Chase n' Grace are an item... Not that that wouldn't make sense but... Percy shakes his head. The guards out number them but Percy keeps his gun at the ready.
"Put down your weapons and this doesn't have to get ugly," Annabeth demands as the guards corner the five bandits.
"Oh I don't think I can do that Chase, you see I got some real expensive stuff to steal," Percy winks at her, "It's just business."
"Save it Riverson." Annabeth says, eyeing Rachel warily. "Aren't you...the leader of that group that rob carriages?" she asks, and Jason grunts from beside her, eyes glued to Nico, who he's finally cornered after all the humiliation.
"Why are carriage robbers on a train?" Jason asks.
"Got bored?" Rachel says with a shrug. "Carriages are just too easy, and fat oldmen aren't as fun to torture as you'd think. Especially when they call you names, that not even I, a terrible, wily bandit would repeat."
Annabeth rolls her eyes, of course. They were all adrenaline junkies. All of them. Even she was guilty of it. "Doesn't matter anyway. It just means we get more for our buck." her tone is a little resigned, her feelings of guilt and uncertainty tugging at her conscious. She's always right, damn it, and Octavian has to be wrong.
"Yeah it's a pretty good trap Sheriff Chase," One of the guards laughs, "I bet the girl bandits were lookin' for the medicine too."
Percy's eyes widen and he lowers his gun down in shock. "You-?" He glares at Annabeth whose stance weakens but before Percy can finish his sentence a rock breaks through the large window.
The mixed group of bandits and sheriffs look up in surprise as Spirituals invade the already crowded boxcar. The leader of the group is the beautiful girl with caramel braids Nico met in the forest ealier. Her elegant face is marred with anger. She points and arrow straight at Jason's eye. "Staff! You took, where is?!" She says something in spiritual to her gang and they incapacitate the guards with swift magical jabs.
"Not a good day to be wearing a badge" Percy whispers to Nico, who's distracted by the woman. "So she's your type, eh?" Percy teases with a wink, making Nico's eyebrows do the scrunchy thing that means he's scowling.
"No, that's not- She's just familiar is all." He says, remembering his fall in the forest, and wonders where her green eyed companion is.
The woman points her arrow at Annabeth. "Tell me!" She demands.
Annabeth put her hands up in the universal gesture for nonaggression. "Staff? We don't have a staff." she says calmly, worrying about her fellow Sheriffs who are being magically disabled left and right. Only Jason stands solidly beside her, watching her back, even though he probably feels just as threatened.
"Piper" one of the spirituals calls to her gesturing at the bandits.
"Leave them, it's fine," she says in spiritual, recognizing Nico as he holds her gaze for a few seconds and nods. She turns back to face Jason giving an exasperated sigh, and putting her arrow away, slings her bow around her like a sash. Her posture changes immediately, becoming less aggressive. She puts her hand on the back of Jason's neck and lightly wills him closer. "Please...return our staff" she says in English, her eyes flashing with a thousand brilliant colors. "Please?...." She breathes into Jason's ear.
Jason's hands do an awkward flailing motion as his cheeks grow pink. "There's no staff here." he croaks, "I don't know what you're talking about. We didn't take anything."
Nico nudges Percy in the ribs, "Time to go partner. While we still can."
Percy seems to be somewhat entranced by the beautiful spiritual as well but he nods and slowly leans over to pick up his bag.
Piper grabs at Jason's hair and studies it.
"Ow what th-" Jason exclaims as his head is forced down. Piper groans. "Not him" she says to the others and lets Jason go with a shove. She says something in spiritual. Which must've been something along the lines of "tie them up" because that was what the other spirituals do, before leaving out of the same window they came in from.
Percy smirks down at the sheriffs who are tied to each other and sitting on the floor. "Serves you right" he spits, in the coldest voice Nico has ever heard Percy use on Sheriff Chase. "We did what you asked," he continues in his serious voice but this time directed at Rachel. "So we splitin' this," he points to the medicine. Nico notes the tone, it's not a request, it's a demand.
"Oh of course Shelley! I am a woman of my word, and you delivered on your promise. I don't cheat. I've got a code, ya know?" she winks over at the sheriffs assembled on the floor.
Percy reaches for the medicine.
"Don't-" Annabeth starts and Percy aims his gun at her and cocks it.
"You got somethin' to say?" He practically growls.
Annabeth gasps and momentarily loses her ability to speak as Percy's eyes flash at her. Even though Annabeth knew him to be a bandit... An outlaw... He never looked it… until now.
While Annabeth collects herself, Jason shifts their weight so Percy is aiming mostly at him and not her.
"I'm just saying," Annabeth says after a moment, "That...it's not real medicine." She frowns, "don't take it...it's worthless."
Nico frowns at it and uncorks a vial, smelling the contents. "Its whiskey," he says, recorking it and tossing it to Percy. "And don't shoot 'er. We've got bigger problems and we don't need murder on our bounty." Nico bags the case, if only for the alcohol, and stands next to Percy, putting a hand on his shoulder, and glaring at Chase n' Grace and their entire entourage. "Common, we can search the cases for some."
Rachel, meanwhile, kicks a crate with a huff, worrying about Clarisse back at camp. They need the medicine now, or Clarisse won't survive the month.
Percy puts his gun in his holster and turns to search the crates.
"It's in the safe in the car behind us," Annabeth says, defeated.
Percy turns to look at her, his eyes narrowed with suspicion . Annabeth looks directly at him, "I'm sorry" she says sincerely her gray eyes full of remorse. Percy wants to kick himself for believing her, so he turns to Nico with a what-do-you-think-partner? look.
"They're all tied up!" Silena says, "What have we got to lose by believing her? We need that medicine. Now what's the combination, Sherriff?!"
Nico nods at Percy, signaling his agreement, "We've got nothing to lose by listening." He grips Percy's shoulder tightly, knowing he shouldn't be taking so much vindictive joy from Percy's obvious reluctance to trust Sheriff Chase again.
Jason pats Annabeth's hand. "The combination is 8-17-12" she says to the bandits and then grips Jason's hand for comfort, knowing that the medicine they steal comes out of her share.
Percy looks at their hands. "Yeah thanks," he grunts, "Let's go, Shadow."

Notes

co-written with thomas-life on Tumblr.
Disclaimer: We do not own any of these characters they belong to Rick Riordan, Hayley Riordan, and Disney Hyperion