Bandits and Sheriffs

Frank adjusts the blanket around Hazel's shoulders."It's getting to be so late," she says, "They don't usually take this long..." She frowns into Frank’s chest.
"I'm sure they're fine." Franks says, letting none of his uncertainty reflect in his voice. "Nico has shadow travel, you know. Even if they got caught...he 'd still find a way back to you. You know that." He holds her close and buries his nose in her curls. "They'll be back. Both of them."
Hazel hears the door open and leaps out of Frank's arms, shuffling over to the doorway to see Nico there, her heart is instantly warmed and settled to see he's alright. "Nico!" She runs up to him and throws her arms around his shoulders.
Nico catches her and bumps into Percy behind him. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" he teases, but hugs her. "Where's Frank? Has he fed you yet?"
"Yes and we're probably gonna eat so much tonight," she giggles looking over at the spread of food on their table. "What took you so long?" She asks.
"Sheriffs were a bit more troublesome than usual but we took care of it" Percy says "ooh yum" he says reaching for a snack .
Hazel smacks his hand. "That's for tonight, Percy," she scolds.
"Ow, like brother like sister," he says, "that reminds me though." Percy rummages through the loot bag and pulls out the book collection, "Congratulations, soon to be Mrs. Zhang," he winks.
Hazel looks at the beautiful books hungrily. "Oh... Percy... Thank you!" She says and hugs him. She takes the books from him, her face alight with a happiness Nico thought he'd never see again.
"Alright you," she smiles to Percy, "You have my permission to take food, but not too much."
"It's why I do what I do, ma'am" he says tipping his hat before he scurries over to the table.
Hazel shakes her head and turns her bright, smiling face back to Nico.
Nico puts his hands on her shoulders, "I brought you your dress. If you'd like to wear it. As a gift."
Hazel's face grows even brighter remembering her request the day before, "of course!" She jumps Nico with another hug.
Frank comes out of the room. "I'm gonna go get everythin' ready, then." He smiles affectionately at Hazel. "I'll see you," he says softly.
"Bye" she replies, smiling so widely that Nico wonders whether her ears mind being pushed.
"I've gotta get ready!" she giggles and jumps around. Then she starts coughing into her blanket. "Ow," she frowns, "Oh I don't care!" She laughs, "I'm getting married today!"
"Did you take your medicine?!" Nico asks as he produces the yellow dress from the same bag as the books, and drapes it over his forearm. "Don't... Don't exert yourself so much, Hazel. You might be getting married but your still sick-"
Hazel jumps into another hug. " I know Nico," she kisses his nose, "Don't worry."
* * * * * *
Hazel smoothes out the dress, it's perfect in every way, she thinks, twirling and giggling with glee. It was her last day as a single woman, and she was marrying a wonderful man. "Oh. Mama, Bianca , I wish you could've seen me like this," she says and tears fill her eyes before she can stop them.
Nico knocks on her door. "Are you ready Hazel?"
Hazel hastily wipes the tears from her eyes. "Y-yes come in" she calls.
Nico enters and sees her in her dress. The yellow contrasting beautifully with her dark skin and the rhinestones matching the spark in her eyes, which, Nico notes has diminished some since he last saw her. "How do I look?" She asks with a sad smile.
"Radiant. If a little sad. Are you getting cold feet?" he asks, opening his arms to her from the door way.
Hazel runs to them, wrapping her own arms around Nico's waist. "I just miss mom and Bianca... That's all... But I'm so glad you're here," she sniffles.
"Yeah. Me too," He whispers and hesitates for a moment before he pulls back and reaches behind his head, releasing the claps of a golden chain from around his neck. "It used to be mom's... But I think she'd want you to have it now." Nico holds up the necklace, at the bottom rests a small round locket, nicked and a little misshapen from wear. Inside he’s placed picture of Bianca and Maria.
Hazel eyes well up. "Nico I-," she takes the locket as the tears begin to slide down her cheeks "I-"
"I know." Nico nods holding back tears of his own, I won’t be the only one walking down the aisle with you. "Now, come on, it's almost time. I'm glad the dress fits."
Hazel nods and wipes her tears with a handkerchief , "Yes, let's go."
* * * * * *
Frank is wearing some semblance of a suit and stands at the end of the aisle in the town square, where Percy usually distributes goods. It's decorated with cloth and flowers, and as Hazel nears the edge, all of the towns-people turn to look at her. She smiles nervously and clings to Nico's arm, frozen where she stands. "I love you Nico," she whispers to him.
"I love you too, Hazel." he kisses her forehead. "I'm happy you've found Frank… He'll make you happy. And if he's doesn't..." Nico mimes pulling a trigger. He pauses, looking at the crowd "I'm...walking you down, right? You never asked and I just assumed...but if you want to do it yourself I'll understand."
"No" she clings tighter "I just....I mean I know you'll always be here it's just...." She looks down the aisle, "It's gonna be different.... But you're right, it's a good different." she smiles and regains the ability to walk again.
Percy does a silly little drumming motion on Frank's back. Nico assumes it is for reassurance, imagining that Hazel stopping at the edge of the aisle gave him an even bigger heart attack than when Nico threatened to shoot him.
"I'll always be here." Nico says, "Until I die. Always. I promise." Nico takes her hand in his. "Shall we go, Mrs. Zhang? To a better, happier future?" he tilts his head toward Frank, eyes soft and reassuring in a way only Hazel and Percy know they can.
Hazel walks the rest of the way confidently and the ceremony ensues. Frank and Hazel exchange vows and even Leo who is sitting in the front has to wipe away a tear at the beauty of it. Nico's heart aches as his sister and friend share their first kiss as man and wife.
People clap as the ceremony closes, a romantic haze permeates the atmosphere, accented by the setting sun. Nico sees that Hazel is crying, tears of what he hopes is joy this time. She buries her face into Frank's chest, sobbing. Frank pats her head his face growing concerned; and Nico notices it ...she's not crying.... She's coughing. She pushes Frank away from her and falls to her knees, blood sprays out of her mouth and onto the floor.
If it weren't so horrifying, it could almost he poetic, red like the setting sun. And if Nico hadn't seen it happen three times before, he would have stood, paralyzed as the rest of them. But he has. Hazel is in his arms in an instant, her blood smearing down across his dress shirt, and staining the dirt. He picks her up, her head on his shoulder, uncaring that he'd ruining his best clothes, as she keeps coughing. "Get me medicine, Percy, now!" he yells, panic clouding his mind.
Percy has to take a moment to recover from the shock. Remembering how his mother coughed up blood the same way, how it means the sickness has progressed... He snaps out of it and sprints back to get the medicine. He returns, uncorking the vial as he runs and puts it to Hazel’s lips. She drinks it with the same grimace she always does, still coughing lightly into Nico's chest. "Ggngn," she moans ,"I've ruined my dress" she rasps dizzily “I’m sorry…”
"That's the least of my worries." Nico sobs drily into her hair, holding her like she's going to break apart in his arms. Frank hovers looking helpless and wretched, wishing Nico would let him hold his wife, though he doubts Hazel's brother has even thought about letting her go for an instant, the way he's shaking.
* * * * * *
When Nico finally does manage to let Hazel go, placing her on the bed, and letting Will Solace do his work, he looks half dead himself. His face a drained pale color, shoulders slumped, and eyes red around the rims. He exits the room and closes Hazel’s door.
"What.... What did he say?" Percy asks in barely a whisper.
Nico feels sick and blinks blearily until he can see Percy's face properly. "Oh...that...that the sickness progressed to the next stage. Of course." Nico sounds defeated. "Not like we... Didn't know that already, you and I." Nico leans against the door frame, like he can't bear to completely leave the room.
Percy's breath wavers, "I thought so..." He says and wipes his mouth nervously. "What...what do we....is there anything...?" He exhales deeply so his voice doesn’t crack.
"The advanced medicine." Nico whispers, "The ingredients are rare and expensive. Almost impossibly so. And the instructions are... In the capital. Under lock and key with the rest of the important documents. Or that's what Will said anyway."
"The medicine we have now isn’t going to work." Percy says, “Not well enough at least.”
"Should last her a few days...." Nico says to the floor, "but...well, you know how it is."
Percy runs his fingers through his hair in frustration, and grabs his holster. "Well let's go then," he says.
"Where? Percy, I can't just leave my sister! I can't."
"Fine, I'll go on my own," he says strapping his holster to his belt and tying his bandana around his neck. "I ain't gonna let her... I...I'm going!" He asserts, heading for the door.
Nico launches himself forward, tackling Percy to the floor. He knows exactly what Percy is thinking. "No! It suicide and you know it! We've... We've already had this conversation, Percy! And you promised... you promised me you wouldn't." Nico's shoulders shake as he holds back more tears tightening his hold on Percy's waist.
Percy grunts and shifts under Nico's grip. He gives Nico a look; one that Nico knows means, "better me than her". Percy's jaw tightens and he sighs. "You got a better idea, or are we just supposed to...wait?"
Nico's grip loosens once he sees Percy isn't going to run off and kill himself by storming the governor's mansion. His determination draws Nico out of his own self pity. "If we’re gonna get the instructions, were gonna do it together." he says, like do everything. "And were gonna be smart about it. Because if we're not, then all three of us pay the price."
"Fine then…let’s do it” Percy agrees.
* * * * * * *
Nico shadow travels them to the end of the estate. It's the fastest, and most inconspicuous way to approach it, and they both don't want to get caught before they begin.
Percy looks like he's about to be sick, slumped against a tree. "Whattya know?" He rasps "it ain't any better the second time."
"I've taken you more than twice." Nico frowns, "Granted mostly when you were drunk out of your mind... At least you didn't throw up on me this time." He looks up at the windows from their vantage point in the trees, frown still in place and growing deeper.
"You know, one of these days we're gonna hafta have a long talk about all the dumb shit I do when I'm drunk" Percy whispers.
"Shhhhh!" Nico hushes him and listens around. He looks up at the window again which is too high and far to jump to. He could shadow travel again, but it's harder to get into places he doesn't know, and there could be an unfriendly face waiting to meet him when he got there.
Precision is key, he thinks, so he doesn't risk it. He looks back to Percy. "See anything?" He whispers.
"No, but I sense a manmade lake" he says closing his eyes "there should be an unmanned entrance through that way, there's probably some sort of machine for the water knowing these folk, but I could probably use that water to undo any you know..." He fishes for the word.
"Obstacles?" Nico finishes.
"Yeah that," Percy nods.
Nico nods, apart from forgetting the last word it's a pretty good plan, he can't help but be impressed. Percy keeps them dry as they quietly wade into the lake and head towards the mansion. Nico follows Percy closely, as he navigates through the water. They head for a loud whirring noise muffled by the water. Percy's arms shake as he forces the water to stop the mechanism and peers into the metal shaft."I don’t think I can fit up there, partner" he says and looks Nico up and down. "But you might fit."
"Since that's not a jab at my height, I won't punch you." Nico says, eyeing the metal blades. "Imma have ta get wet, aren't I." He makes a face, and sighs. "Well I haven't thought of anything better. I might as well."
"Well I could gnn!" Percy grunts and shakes as the blades resist him. "Try ta keep you dry but, I'm pretty sure I should focus my energy here," He gestures to the blades. "Better wet than dead?"
"Definitely." Nico winces. " I don't want to be fish food. Thanks very much. I'll meet you in the tree line?"Percy grits his teeth, his hands still shaking, but nods. "Be careful" he manages.
Nico leaves the dryness of Percy's air bubble which immediately shrinks around Percy as soon as he leaves. The sudden pressure of water around him makes his chest constrict and he loses air, as he swims forward, through the blades as quickly as he can manage. Grateful he'd let Percy give him "swimming lessons," as Percy liked to call it, but were, in Nico's opinion, just an excuse to try and half drown him. He'd never had a very good relationship with water, in general, but today it seemed willing to be kind, though Nico figures it has more to do with Percy than with him. His air quickly runs out, and he has a moment of panic, thinking that the water vent is longer than he can make, until the tube suddenly turns up, and Nico desperately breaks for the surface, pushing off the metal bottom as hard as he can.
Percy strains to make a small opening through the water. "You good partner?!" he calls through gritted teeth
"Yeah. Never better." Nico coughs up water, and drags himself onto sweet solid land where he belongs, sopping wet, and very glad he'd left his boots in the woods with his guns.
Percy lets go of the blade and the whirring noise continues. The water's momentum continues, overshooting the siphon and drenching Nico with a final splash before it resumes its normal circulation. Nico shakes himself off with a grimace, imagining that if Percy had seen that happen he would've said, "Sorry partner," with that stupid grin he adopts whenever someone calls Nico "Kidd."
But contemplating Percy's stupidity would have to wait, as there were more important things to be concerned about. Nico surveys the small room he's landed in. There are a couple of crates lining the side of the room and stairs that led up to a big metal door. Nico shudders, wet as he is, the room is impossibly cold.
He heads up to the door only to find that it is locked from the other side with no handle. "What in the name of Elysium-?" he groans and kicks the door in frustration. He thinks he could shadow travel to the other side of the door, but again he doesn’t know what’s out there.
Nico gets colder by the minute, his breath visible and he shudders uncontrollably. He's determined not to leave empty handed so he opens one of the crates and sees small vials of medicine. Instead of their usual green they are purple, just as Will described the advanced medicine to be. Nico could cry at this first shred of luck he's finally been granted after a lifetime of misfortune.
Nico takes a whole section of the crate, unsure of when they'll have the opportunity again, once the theft has been discovered. He closes it carefully, with a sigh of relief, wrapping them in his shirt and vest for safety, and shivering, shadow travels to the forest, to find Percy and leave.
* * * * * * *
Annabeth wants to wipe the sweat off of her forehead but she’s afraid of what she might get on her face if she does. She moves the manure out of the stable and replaces the hay.
She shudders with disgust and looks down at her boots covered in horse apples. "The one night I- " she curses the ceiling "Jason?" she calls through the fabric of her shirt, which does almost nothing for the smell but it’s better to have it there than not. "My parents are actually expecting me to come home, I told them I would be out with a friend tonight instead of sneakin' out...what am I-...I can’t go home smellin' like this..."Jason's head appears from the ceiling where he'd been passing hay down to her, shirt similarly tied around his nose. They look like bandits, Annabeth thinks.
"We could ask to use the shower?" Jason asks, uncertainly. Though knowing Octavian, the chances of him saying yes are slim to none. This is their punishment for failure after all; he'd probably say they deserved to "smell like the stable muck they were."
"No, I don’t..." Annabeth starts, "Hey! that lake out back is relatively secluded right?"
"Oh..." Jason floats down from the upper floor, "Yeah, that would work. I'll keep watch for you." Jason nods reassuringly. "After all, it's partly my fault too. We're partners after all. and I agreed with your decision." He leans the pitchfork against the wall. "I think we're done here, we should try'n get u clean now. Maybe we can find some soap."
"No its fine, just need a quick wash up," she says taking off the giant gloves. "But I did leave my clothes in the other room," she undoes her ponytail. "D'you think you could go and get'em for me?"
"Sure. It's no problem." Jason's nose peaks out from his shirt and he winces. "You sure you don't want any soap?"
"Well if you can find it..." she says, "but I don’t want to take too much time."
* * * * * * *
Percy looks for the tree that they came from when he finds it he crouches in the bushes below it. He keeps an eye on the lake, and his ears peeled for any unwelcome sound from the mansion which might force him to interveen.
The crunch of gravel draws his attention, and he glimpses a flash of familiar blonde hair through the brush.
"Whoever thought bathing in a lake would seem so appealing." Annabeth says, watching the clear water lap at the shore. Then again, most anything would look good after dealing with horse shit all day. Annabeth cringes, the smell still fresh in her nostrils. The thought that she has a whole month of it to look forward makes her groan.
“Sheriff Chase?” Percy asks himself, even though it is unmistakably her. He glances at the house noting the lack of sound and then looks back at Annabeth who start to undress, squeaking as her toes hit the water. It's freezing cold.
"Aphrodite's tits!" she exclaims, a sound which covers up Nico's arrival.
"Really, Percy?" is whispered in his ear.
Percy flinches at the sound of Nico's voice. "What the?” He exclaims and coughs, "oh ahem, hey Nico, I was just keepin’ an eye out for things…you know surveying the surroundin’s and what not for…for informational purposes” he laughs nervously.
“Oh really? And what information were you gatherein’? Lady Sheriff’s cup size?” Nico whispers harshly.
“It could…be important” Percy says with feigned conviction.
Nico glares. "How exactly could Chase's naked skin be important? Please Percy, do tell." he whispers.
Percy shrugs with another nervous laugh, "Yeah, we should go," he says quickly and starts to get up.
"Eeep!" They hear, followed by a splash. Percy and Nico's head whip around instinctively to see Annabeth sitting in the lake.
"Sheriff Chase, whatever are you doing in there?" Octavian appears between the trees, eyes on Annabeth though they're filled with disinterest.
"N-nothing!" she blushes, "Sorry, sir."
Nico notices the water slowly climbing up her skin, better concealing her from Octavian's gaze and instantly knows why, the look on Percy's face confirming his assumption. He recognizes the man instantly as the right hand of Luke Castellan, and head of Sheriffs and holds still, wondering where Grace has gone to. There's no way he left his partner to bath without a lookout; and Chase 'n Grace are an inseparable pair. There's no way he's not around.
As if on cue, Jason appears from of the forest, having heard Annabeth's exclamation. "Annabe- oh, ah, sir!" Jason pauses mid stride and straightens, the crunching of his boots not enough to muffle the sound of rustling in the forest to Nico and Percy's ears.
Octavian turns to look at Jason his face unamused. "I told you both to leave after you'd cleaned the stables." He says.
"Yes well you see...um...that is...what at you doing out here sir?" Jason asks avoiding the question.
"I heard the mechanism stall, so I went to investigate..." Octavian says, "But the question really should be directed the other way considering I'm the one that lives here, should it not?"
Annabeth is so embarrassed that she can't even think straight but she is glad the water covers most of her. However the cold air causes her to sneeze. “ACHOO!”
Jason hears the rustle of leaves behind him. If he hadn't been investigating earlier he would have thought it was the wind, but he knows wind, it's a part of him, and it definitely wasn't that.
"Well I guess I'll just have to-" Octavian starts.
"Sir get down!" Jason calls and tackles Octavian to the floor.
"What in the-!" Octavian exclaims but his anger at Jason subsides when he sees an arrow embedded in the floor where he was standing.
"Spiritual scum!" He finishes looking out into the forest.
"Sir, get inside" Jason says drawing his gun as he walks towards the forest.
Piper curses under her breath, wishing that Annabeth’s sneeze hadn't startled her enough to make her move. When she sees Jason come closer she leaps onto his back, one hand pulling at his hair as the other holds a knife to his throat
"You!" She calls to Octavian "You took our staff! Give back or you'll see this man’s blood on ground!"
Octavian's lip twitches but he says nothing.
Nico feels his dislike of the Lead Sheriff grow. Surely a staff isn't worth Jason's life. He elbows Percy in the side, "Should we..." he starts to ask of they should help, and who's side they should be on, but the conversation continues on a tangent they'd rather not interrupt.
"That's what they wanted on the train, sir." Annabeth says, more worried more about Jason's neck then her own modesty. "Surely it's not worth-"
Octavian silences her with a glare. "Of course it's worth it." he snaps.
"Our staff cures the mist sickness and you stole! Women in my village still suffer and you took staff for a train!" Piper growls at Octavian pulling harder on Jason's hair.
"I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about," Octavian says calmly, "and if you do anything to Sheriff Grace your life is forfeit, treaty be damned," he spits.
"Treaty was damned when you stole our staff!" Piper says.
"This is your idea of diplomacy then," Octavian sneers.
"Return our staff, white haired demon!" She says through gritted teeth.
"There's somethin' that cures the mi-" Annabeth starts to say.
"Sheriff chase, do get some clothes on." Octavian says and as if on that command, more guards flock to the scene and Annabeth reflexively tries to sink deeper into the lake.
Piper looks around to see that she is horribly outnumbered and looks up at , shaking her head. She knows that with her small group, there is no chance for victory. She let's go of Jason slowly, eyeing the guards' guns warily.
"That's right" Octavian breathes, watching her with satisfaction.
Piper reads him well; he has no intention of letting her leave. "Every train, we will check. Every train!" She yells and pushes Jason into Octavian, and quickly grabbing Ethan's hand, who pulls her into the tree.
"Shoot them!" Octavian orders and shots follow her into the brush. Percy nudges Nico's shoulder pointing to the far trees where the spirituals have miraculously escaped to.
Nico nudges back, and nods toward their own escape route, asking if they should follow or risk being shot to see if any more information comes about.
Jason rubs his throat and quickly picks up the towel, running forward to shield Annabeth from the leers of his fellow Sheriffs. "You alright?" he whispers, eyes askance, avoiding Annabeth altogether.
She nods. "Octavian," she says and he winces from her lack of formality, "What were they talkin' about, a staff?"
"Never you mind that."
"But you said it was important-" A look in Octavian's eyes stops her short.
"All you need to know, Sheriff Chase, is that you and Sheriff Grace better be extra attentive on the spirit train with these delusional spirituals running around."
"Of course, sir." Jason, stands slightly in front of Annabeth. "We won't become distracted."
Octavian nods. " Good. Though due to the fact you both are on stable duty because of.. The other day's unfortunate outcome... well, I won't expect too much."
Percy looks to Nico. "Whattya think partner? A staff that heals the mist sickness...?" He whispers.
"It's not even a question, is it?" Nico whispers back. "The only one I have is: How?" Nico's eyes are steel as they look at Octavian. No one is going to stand in his way. Not when Hazel's life is on the line. "We should go."
* * * * * *
Percy kicks the door to the tavern open. He's always been the flashier one, and besides looking up, the occupants of the room show no surprise at Percy's forceful entrance. "Boys listen up cuz we got a plan!" Leo looks up from his drink along with a few others, faces expectant. "We're gonn' rob the Spirit Train!"
"Heyua what now?" Leo flails after a minute if silence, the others look just as lost as he feels. "You lost yer mind, Jackson? That's suicide!"
"A magical healing staff that cures the mist sickness, is gonn' be on the next spirit ride, we get it, no more lovely ladies dying from mist... You not want that Valdez? Cuz that sounds a lot like homicide to me." Percy keeps his tone light and smirks.
Leo sputters and makes a disgruntled choking noise. "Hey now, no making me out to be tha badguy! That's just not fair. " Leo sulks.
"We need you the most Leo" Percy says, "Big ol' complicated machine like the Spirit Train?...your our main guy" he winks.
"Okay. One, thank you. Two, don't wink at me, it makes me uncomfortable, and three, is your information reliable because as far as I know, I'm the only informant u have and I'm a little hurt your two- timin' me." The whole tavern laughs, and Nico smirks from his place in Percy's shadow.
Percy laughs too, but then turns serious. "We heard this from the lead sheriff himself," He says, "White haired bastard done stole it from spirituals and we...are gonna steal it back."
"After using it ourselves, of course." Nico interjects.
And Leo nods approvingly, "So... Spirit Train, huh? You sure we can handle that? I mean, granted we want this staff too, but we should at least have a possibility of actually getting it to put our lives on the line for it. I'm in, of course, regardless." He grins, "You know you can count on me for all your dangerous, suicidal needs." Percy raises an eyebrow."Though I'd rather not die if it's all the same to you" he adds.
"Hence planning," Nico says.
"Yeah..." Leo scratches his chin. "Though Spirit Train...we are gonna need a lot more man power than what we got." He gestures to the small group of seven present in the tavern "We don't have a ton of allies... But we definitely need more men."
Percy thinks and then smiles.
"What're you thinkin' Jackson?" Leo tries.
"….Not necessarily men," he laughs, "Come on."

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