Chapter Text
Percy was having an amazing day. He’d go as far as to say it had been outstanding! He got to do some shopping with Annabeth in New Rome. Annabeth bought some books from Ella and Percy finally got a new skate board. The couple had gone down to Camp Jupiter and done some sparring with Frank. It was awesome! Of course, nothing lasts forever. The Fates just couldn’t let him have anything good.
Percy took Annabeth’s bags and opened the door to their apartment building. The lobby was empty except for two people at the reception desk. A black haired kid who looked about Nico’s age and a lanky, kinda grimy blonde guy right next to him. The pair were clearly asking for someone at the front desk. Annabeth walked in beside Percy and dropped everything she was holding. She gasped and stared at the blonde guy. Now that Percy thought about it… the guy almost looked like-
“LUKE?!” Annabeth yelled. She looked like she was about to cry. Percy quickly moved to put an arm around her shoulders.
The blonde guy froze and dropped his head. The Nico-doppelganger turned around to reveal that he actually was the son of Hades. The kid looked like a deer in headlights. He moved quickly to stand in front of the blonde guy. The more Percy looked at the guy, the more he looked like Luke Castellan. The hair, height, build- it all matched up. Percy’s hand instinctively moved to Riptide.
Nico swallowed and finally decided to break this awful silence, “Hey guys.. long time no see?” He sounded nervous, like a little kid who’d been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to.
Neither of the senior half-bloods could find their voice. They just gaped at the sight before them. Who was this guy that Nico was protecting? Was it really Luke?
“Nico. Hey man.” Percy found his words, “Who’s that behind you, dude?” His fist closed around Anaklusmos.
Nico shook his head, “No one important. Just a quest for my dad. We’ll be leavin-”
The blonde interrupted, “Wait, di Angelo. I wanted to talk to them, anyway.” His voice sounded so… broken. It sounded exactly like Luke when they were on Olympus together. He sounded empty. The blonde finally turned around and Percy’s heart hit the sea floor. Sure as hell, Luke Castellan was standing right in front of Percy and Annabeth. After three years of being dead.
Annabeth clutched her stomach like she was going to be sick. She looked Luke up and down. She shrugged off Percy’s arm and stepped forward, “Luke Castellan- what-” Her voice broke, “What are you doing here?!” She surged forward but stopped herself, “Nico, step away from him. Now.”
Luke glanced down at the son of Hades in question, “Are these two one of the ‘friends’ you had to meet?” Nico nodded but didn’t respond. Luke turned toward Annabeth and Percy, “Di Angelo’s not here by choice. If you need to yell at anyone, yell at me, Beth-”
“Don’t you dare call me that!” Annabeth yelled, “What in Hades are you doing here?!” She reached for her dagger like she was about to jump him.
It seemed like that that was Luke’s breaking point. He broke into tears and stepped back, “You think I want to be back? I look back on what I did to camp and I feel sick. But the damn gods thought it’d just be amazing to bring back the man who made it his life mission to tear their very home down." His voice raised into a yell, "So I don’t know why I’m back, Annabeth but I sure as hell don’t want to be. I almost killed you and Percy.” He staggered forward, stopping after not even a full step, “I didn’t want to be forced on this quest with di Angelo. I’d much rather be rotting in the Fields of Punishment like I deserve.”
All three other half-bloods looked at him in silent shock. Percy couldn’t believe what he had heard. Did Luke seriously regret all that he did? Everything?! It sounded impossible. There was no way he felt sorry for years of trauma that all of Camp Half-Blood endured. Percy’s emotions must have been reflecting on his face because he accidentally made eye contact with Luke and the son of Hermes’ face dropped. Luke closed his eyes and made a break for the door.
Nico reacted first, “Luke, wait!” he called out, but Luke was already halfway across a courtyard. Annabeth dropped to her knees and cried. Percy could only stand still, in shock.