I have no idea how swim meets work and have no idea what a normal season looks like so bear with me thanks

7:40 am, Saturday, October 28th, 2011

Markus South walked into Goode High, the team behind him confident they would win this year.

Markus went to a school only a ten-minute walk away from Goode High School, called Kings School. The school was massive, with students in fourth grade, to students in their senior year of High School.

This was the first time in years the team had been to finals, and to say they were ecstatic was an understatement. They had gotten a new coach, extra funding, and had fought tooth and nail for this spot.

Compare that to Goode High, who had been to finals the past five years, and won almost every year. If they won, this would be history. They had to win.

"Heard rumours Percy Jackson's back." One of his teammates, Greg whispered.

Markus hoped he wasn't here. He had never met the dude or seen him swim, but he'd heard that this dude was practically a fish. In other words, he was fast as hell.

For some odd reason, Percy Jackson hadn't been there when the two teams had their first meet, late in September of that year. When the judges had pressed the coach and team for an answer, they all glanced at a moody blonde watching from the sidelines and told them they didn't know, they'd just been told he'd be out for a bit.

The judges hadn't pressed and the meet continued. Kings School had, beating all the odds, won.

They'd won against Goode once what more was one guy gonna do. No man, not even Percy Jackson and the mythos of his swimming skills that passed around the school who swam against him, could make or break a meet.

Right?

They walked into the gym, and Markus heard Greg swear when he saw the people already on the bench.

There were only four or five people, and Markus recognised all of them but one from previous meets. But sitting at the end of the bench, sat a bit away with headphones on and a zip-up jacket was someone Markus didn't.

His hair was black, and his tanned skin suggested hours spent in the sun. His swimsuit was already on, the same black as the rest of his team.

Markus glanced at his friend, confused. "That's Percy Jackson," Greg hissed, having swum the year before and recognising the captain of Goode Highs swim team.

Markus paled as they walked to the locker room. Once behind closed doors, the team erupted.

"He's back?" Someone cried.

"What the fuck?" Someone else added on.

The team continued to grumble as they got into their suits, and then their coach barged in face red.

"Can't believe I wasn't told!" He grumbled, bringing attention to him.

"What do we do coach?" Someone cried, "We all know Jackson's good and none of us have ever swum against him!"

The Coach's eyes narrowed, "You swim your best. Knock some of that arrogance of their shoulders that their captains back. Give em' hell boys." The team cheered, but there was some hesitancy.

Markus and Greg walked out to their benches. They would start warm-ups in ten, and the meet would start in thirty. They had time to relax, having arrived early.

Markus watched Percy Jackson.

He stood up, and Markus realised how tall he was as he walked over to his team and spoke to them.

His jacket was white, with his name across his shoulders, and an intricate drawing of a trident on the back. It didn't match the jackets his teammates were wearing, so he assumed it wasn't the team jacket.

At some point, Jackson shrugged it off, the heat seemingly getting to him. Markus had to stare.

Even from this distance, Markus could see the white scars that stood out against the deep tan, and his stomach twisted. Not only were there scars, but Markus could also see once he turned, the multiple burn marks on his back.

Parts of his torso had some faded bruises around his ribs, and he seemed to be rubbing his arm nervously.

What. The. Fuck.

As they passed, they could hear him give a short laugh. "I'm not that good, Ethan. Plus I'm still healing, I'll be slower today."

That reassured Markus. Surely they were to win now!

10:00 am, Saturday, October 28th, 2011

They'd lost.

Markus couldn't believe it.

They had lost.

The second Percy Jackson had hit the water, Markus knew it was all over.

He and Percy weren't in even one event together, so Markus had ample opportunities to watch Percy Jackson has he outpaced everyone in a matter of moments.

After Jackson's final event, something curious had happened. His team had helped him out of the water, and already uncommon occurrence. He seemed to sag as he left the water, and for the first time, Markus noticed the dark circles that sat heavy under his eyes.

He looked exhausted and gaunt all of a sudden, and he held his arm up, grinning tiredly as he walked back to the bench, his teammates clapping him on the back.

Markus suddenly felt strange. Percy Jackson looked like he hadn't slept properly in weeks, now that he looked at him. He was guided over to the bench, where he sat down and sagged, muttering something by the looks of it.

A blonde girl rushed over, and the Goode High swim team allowed her to pass by, and she sat at his side, nervously fussing. She brushed his hair back, checking something on his hairline.

She then fished from her bag a black object Markus couldn't identify. Jackson grabbed it, before slipping it around the arm he had been holding. A brace.

Markus felt humbled. He had heard Jackson say he was injured, but it suddenly seemed worse than he had been letting on. Markus had been jealous of his talent, but now he felt more impressed.

Jackson's face was pinched as he rubbed his side. The girl took notice and pressed something into his hand, which was swallowed seconds later. He seemed to relax, and Markus turned away.

-

Percy Jackson: yeah I'm injured prob won't be good
Also Percy Jackson: immediately outswims everyone

And for anyone who read Out in the Open, Markus's school is the same school Nico was at in that fic. The only difference; Nico di Angelo is not there. Wanted to put in a fun reference.