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Of all the strange things that happened to Percy Jackson since turning twelve, the strangest was definitely finding out he's a demigod. Or so Percy thought right up until he entered Cabin Eleven and saw his babysitter, Luke Castellan.
"Hi Percy," Luke said. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."
As Percy stared at Luke it occurred to him that all this time, all these years of Luke babysitting him, Luke knew. He knew that Percy was a demigod. Percy didn't know how to process the feelings bubbling up within him. He thought that they were going to tear him apart.
"You can set your sleeping bag on that piece of floor over there," Luke was saying, gesturing to an empty bit of floor.
There were already other kids with sleeping bags on the floor and it took Percy a moment to realize that they were there because Cabin Eleven didn't have enough bunk beds. Percy didn't even want to look at Luke but he dragged his eyes up to meet Luke's. "You're going to make me sleep on the floor?" he asked. His voice was much calmer than he felt.
"Unfortunately we're limited on space," Luke said apologetically.
"Mom would be furious," Percy said calmly. Simply stating a fact. The tide was rising within him.
Luke wore the politely apologetic expression like a mask and for a split second it slipped, showing fury underneath it. But only for a second.
Percy resisted the urge to take a step backward only because this was Luke and Luke never hurt him; not once in all the five years that Luke's been babysitting Percy.
"I understand," Luke said and Percy believed him.
Percy slept on the floor of Cabin Eleven for a week before Poseidon claimed him. This was the only time that he was not by Luke's side.
The day after Poseidon claimed Percy, Luke began giving Percy private sword fighting lessons. He took Percy into the woods far away from the rest of Camp.
"Why so far?"
"It's better that no one knows your strengths or weaknesses," Luke replied. He stopped at a clearing by the stream, blocked in on one side by large boulders.
After what happened with Clarisse and Annabeth, Percy understood exactly why Luke wanted privacy. He didn't really mind getting away from the rest of the campers. They were treating him like a freak now that Poseidon claimed him and it annoyed Percy. He was the same person today as he was yesterday. Who cares about his dad?
They trained until lunchtime. Luke was a brutal instructor, not going easy on Percy at all. By the time lunchtime arrived, Percy was covered in small cuts and bruises. But he was also doing better than when they'd started.
Luke produced a picnic basket so they ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies by the stream. "You haven't asked yet," Luke said.
Percy washed down his sandwich with a cup of blue Coca-Cola. It was one of the magic cups from the dining pavilion that filled with whatever he wanted. And Percy was stalling. He knew what Luke was talking about. "There isn't really a question, is there?"
Luke put a hand on Percy's shoulder. "I thought you'd be mad at me for not telling you."
Percy may not have known about the gods and Luke being a son of Hermes, but he did know that sometimes Luke spoke with shadows on his tongue. He mulled over Luke's words, thought about what Luke might have known. "Not telling me what?"
"That you're a demigod," Luke said easily. As an afterthought, "That I'm a demigod."
Percy bit his tongue. He tipped his head back and to the side, looking at Luke.
Luke leaned toward Percy, biting his tongue, waiting to say more. Wanting to confess.
"What else did you know, Luke?" Percy asked.
It spilled easily from Luke's lips, "I knew who your dad was."
This whole time. Percy's wanted to know for his whole life and Luke knew that. And he's known this whole time, he could have told Percy the entire time.
Percy felt something open inside him - a big and horrible chasm - and he wondered if this was what heartbreak felt like. He didn't know what to say except, "Why didn't you tell me?" Which was exactly what Luke wanted him to ask and that made Percy angry. He shouldn't have to ask; Luke shouldn't keep things from him and then make him ask.
Luke took Percy's chin in his hand, physically turned Percy's face so that they were looking each other in the eyes. Luke's irises were a pale blue, the color of ice. Most people found him unsettling to look at, but Percy liked Luke because he always kept the scary monsters away. Now Percy knew why; it was because Luke's unusual eyes marked him as a demigod and Luke was clearly a powerful one. "I didn't want you to come here. I didn't want you involved with the gods at all. I'm sorry you were dragged into this."
Percy struggled to understand. Sure, he didn't really like this new world he'd stumbled into and it had taken everything from him - including Luke - but apparently Luke was never really his to be begin with. And he didn't even want Percy here.
Suddenly Luke looked upset. He wrapped his arms around Percy in a tight hug. "Don't make that face. It isn't that I don't want you around. It's not safe here. Can't you feel it?" He sounded more desperate with each word, begging Percy to believe him.
Slowly, Percy hugged Luke back. He wanted to believe.
Belief came at such a high price and was such a heavy burden. Percy looked at Luke and felt crushed by the weight of his former belief. He wanted to say, 'I believed in you.' But Percy kept them inside because he was afraid that the words wouldn't matter to Luke.
There was keeping things from Percy because Luke wanted to keep Percy safe…and there was lying…and there was leaving. Percy had watched Luke leave hundreds of times but it was never like this.
Luke ran through a portal of darkness, carrying that strange new sword who's blade was red with Percy's blood. He'd weighed his options, the debated playing clearly out on his face, and Luke decided to cut his losses. Percy wasn't worth it, worth staying for, wasn't worth fighting, wasn't worth keeping. And Luke left. Gone just like that.
Percy witnessed it with his own eyes and he still couldn't believe that Luke would just fucking abandon him like that. It honestly made Percy more angry than the whole being brainwashed by Kronos thing. Percy could kind of understand that, in a way, sort of. But he and Luke were supposed to be close, were supposed to be able to trust each other. Luke asked Percy to go with him and then he just left! Not that Percy was going to go, but how could Luke just leave him?! How could he?! How could he?! How could Luke talk about their future together and then leave Percy alone?!
It wasn't fair…and it hurt…
"Percy!" Mom called in the tone of voice that meant she required his presence.
Percy rolled out of bed and left his room. He wasn't surprised to see that Mom was all dolled up. She told him she was going out for the night. He was surprised to see Luke standing beside her. "Absolutely not," Percy hissed. He balled his hands into fists.
"Percy, Luke always watches you when I go out," Mom said, frowning at him.
"I'm almost thirteen, Mom! I don't need a babysitter!" Percy snapped. His voice was low, almost a snarl. He couldn't help it; couldn't keep the anger out of his voice. This was unjust. Percy's whole life was unjust. He suddenly wanted to cry.
Mom raised an eyebrow. She didn't look convinced. Her eyes went to Luke. "Take good care of him, Luke."
"Will do, Ms. Jackson," Luke said.
"Be good," Mom said to Percy. Then she grabbed her coat and purse and left.
Percy looked after her and tried not to get angry. It wasn't her fault, not really. Because Percy hadn't told Mom about Luke being a demigod or about the last day of summer. He didn't tell Mom that Luke…might be on the wrong side of things. Was definitely on the wrong side of things.
Alone with Luke for the first time since finding out he was a demigod, Percy faced Luke. There was no Annabeth between them, to stop Luke from carrying out his plans or to stop a fight from breaking out. As he stared at Luke, Percy felt a wave of apathy roll over him and knew that there would be no fighting. He just didn't care enough to bother.
Percy embraced the apathy, happy to let it blanket his feelings like numbing snow. He turned from Luke and walked back to his bedroom, not really bothering to close the door all the way. As a son of Hermes, Luke would be able to unlock it if he wanted to so there was no point…and Luke's never let a lock stop him before Percy knew his parentage so there was no reason to think he'd stop now.
"Where are you going?" Luke asked, following Percy into his room.
"Away from you," Percy answered bluntly. He flopped down on his bed. Part of the not caring was being tired. It didn't make sense but Percy was ready for a nap. "You can't possibly think I want to hang out with you."
Luke shot Percy a filthy look. "I actually don't care what you want. Get dressed, we're going out."
Percy didn't move. Was he being kidnapped? Should he care about this?
Luke looked scary and uncompromising as he glared down at Percy. "You're going to get cold if you only wear your PJs," Luke said, and he didn't sound quite as harsh as Percy first imagined.
"Where are we going?" Percy asked suspiciously. He still wasn't sure he wanted to go anywhere with Luke.
Luke looked wounded by the question, as though Percy were the one who betrayed him. "Someplace you'll like. It's a surprise."
"Not sure I want any more surprises from you, Luke," Percy replied.
Luke swallowed. He looked at Percy like he was a puppy Percy just kicked. His pale eyes filled with tears.
Oh for fucks sake. That was so unfair. Percy got up and pulled his long winter coat on over his pajamas. He buttoned it all the way down and wrapped his scarf around his neck. Then he put on his long socks and went out into the main room to pull on his tall winter boots. Between the long coat and the tall boots, most of Percy's legs were covered and hopefully warm enough for whatever they were doing.
Luke didn't fight about Percy's outfit. He took a blanket down from the closet in the hallway, tucking it under his arm before heading outside.
They locked the apartment and walked down to Luke's car. The car was a classic model but Percy didn't know breeds of car well enough to say what kind it was beyond old and expensive. Percy understood coming into money because that's what happened to him and his mom when Mom sold Gabe's statue, but Luke had clearly come into an amount much greater than the price Gabe fetched. Leaving Camp Half-Blood must have been better for Luke than Percy could have ever imagined. They were really holding Luke back.
Percy slid into the passenger seat. The front and back seats were both bench seats, which meant they stretched from door to door as one continuous seat. Percy suspected that Luke chose this car largely for the seating, although he couldn't say why he had that suspicion. He stayed by the passenger side door, painfully aware that he was not out of reach of Luke should Luke choose to reach out.
Luke turned the radio on to a station that played 80s rock. Compared to what rock music was today, Percy would call the classics more pop-y than rock, but he bit his tongue before the familiar debate could leave his lips. He was angry at Luke and wasn't going to let Luke break down his walls with 80s music of all things.
So they drove with the voices of Eddie Money begging, "take me home tonight" and Cher singing about how she'd turn back time.
They drove out of the city.
Percy was more convinced than ever that he was in fact being kidnapped. Not that he and Luke never went places while Luke was babysitting Percy. In fact, that was the whole point: get Percy out of the house and away from Gabe while Mom was at work. Which…was weird if Mom was using Smelly Gabe to hide Percy's demigod scent. "Does Mom know you're a demigod?"
Percy turned to face Luke. As he drove under streetlights Luke was illuminated in gold. It was only for a few seconds before the shadows extinguished the light. Light dark, light dark. They were driving so fast that the slide into darkness felt physical. The streetlights were out on this section of road.
"Of course she does, Percy."
Neither of them told me, Percy thought and thought he audibly heard something crack.
Luke didn't seem to have heard it. He said, "Demigods have piss poor sight. We're easily fooled by the Mist, we can't look at our parents, we can't even identify each other based on sight. We make up for it with keen noses and demigod scents. You'll usually be able to identify the parent of a demigod, even if you don't know the individual. You can identify the gods and monsters by scent too."
Percy unfortunately knew this, even though no one really laid it out in those terms. "Mom can't smell demigods."
"No, but she has Clear Sight. Sally can literally see the divinity shining on our skin," Luke said. They drove out of the darkness and into the light.
"We glow?" Percy asked, rolling up his coat sleeve to look at his arm. He didn't look particularly glowy but he never had.
"Yes. Most living things can't see it, though."
"What living things can see it?"
"The gods, mortals with clear sight, some monsters, some demigods," Luke answered.
So Luke couldn't have hidden it from Mom if he'd wanted to. Somehow that made Percy feel just a tiny bit better about the situation. Although the whole thing still sucked and Percy was still so done with Luke.
Then the conversation was over because they'd reached their destination: a drive-in move theater.
Percy didn't know these kinds of places still existed. Wasn't this the kind of place you took your date to? Looking around, the only people Percy saw were couples. They were all different ages - from teens to elders - but they were all obviously couples. What was Luke thinking?
Luke paid for their tickets and was told what station to turn the radio to so they could hear the movie. After he parked, Luke asked, "You want snacks, baby?"
"Course I do," Percy replied, unbuckling his seat belt and getting out of the car. His legs felt a little like jello from his nerves. Was this supposed to be a date? They weren't kids anymore and Luke had confessed his feelings for Percy while asking him to run away last summer… But Percy shot him down and Luke left! How could they be on a date? Maybe Luke was trying again?
Luke walked next to Percy without touching him all the way to the concession stand. Normally he would have his arm around Percy's shoulders and his face close to Percy's face, even though it meant Luke would have to bend down. The way Luke refrained from touching Percy was so painfully obvious that it made Percy's skin prickle.
Percy glanced around and saw that the other couples were watching them, judgment in their eyes for the couple who wasn't touchy feely with each other. His face went hot with a blush, even though it wasn't like that with him and Luke.
They ordered cokes, popcorn, and candy, then carried it all back to the car.
Luke fiddled with the radio to set it to the right station.
Percy took the blanket Luke got earlier and wrapped himself up in it. He leaned against the door and looked out the windshield at the big screen. There was probably a reason people didn't normally go to these. Percy glanced over at the car next to them, where the middle-aged couple was making out in their backseat. And apparently a reason people went to them.
Was Luke expecting to do that with Percy? He was going to be pretty disappointed if he was. Percy had standards. He snuck a peek at Luke, eyes lingering on Luke's bulging biceps and perfectly shaped lips. Moral standards, Percy had moral standards. And no, it's not like Percy's never noticed that Luke was attractive before this very moment or like it was just Luke's biceps and mouth that Percy found hot; Percy thought Luke was the most attractive person he's ever seen in his life - including the few gods he's met - Percy just didn't act on his attraction.
Because Luke was a jackass who kept secrets from Percy and then left him all alone.
Percy decided he was just going to ignore Luke for the entire movie and actually watch the movie. They weren't even on a date so Percy was expected to watch the movie.
It was an older movie called The Outsiders.
Percy's never heard of it. Hopefully it was good but if it wasn't then maybe he'd get lucky and fall asleep. There was something appealing about falling asleep and wasting Luke's money. Luke clearly brought Percy here hoping that they'd have a good time together now that Luke had moved up in the world - enough to afford a fancy old fashioned car and expensive snacks from the concession stand and actual movie tickets instead of sneaking into the theater from a side door - and it would upset Luke if Percy wasted all of that.
The movie was good. Unfortunately there was one thing Percy didn't count on and that was the movie also being really fucking stressful and sad. Percy tried really hard to focus on the movie but the stupid movie was making him sad. Which wasn't helping his mentals.
Every time Percy's thoughts turned inward, he thought about how when the movie was over, Luke would take him home and leave him there and then they'd be back to fighting on opposite sides of a war and everything would be terrible. It felt like Percy's heart was going to be ripped out of his chest. He couldn't take it, he really couldn't. Percy's throat went tight with emotion.
Then Luke was beside Percy, pressed against him shoulder to hip. "Hey, the movie's not that sad, is it?" he asked.
Percy tried to lean away but there was no where to go, he was between Luke and the door. "I-it's the saddest movie I've ever seen."
Luke brushed his knuckles against Percy's cheek, disrupting the tears that slid down Percy's face. "Why's that?" he asked.
"Because it'll end and you'll leave me again," Percy whispered. Oh, this movie was fucking with him more than he thought if Percy was saying that out loud. Why would he ever say that out loud? Did they spike his drink at the concession stand? It tasted like normal Coke but maybe the people running the drive-in were monsters and -
"You can come with me," Luke said coaxingly. Of course he would ask. This was what he really wanted, even when he was the one who left Percy behind.
Percy shook his head. "I don't want to." He struggled to think of a way to make Luke understand. The gods were bad, but so was Kronos. "We're small and scary, right?"
Luke nodded, looking uncertain now that Percy shot him down again.
"Well, the gods are big and scary, and Grandpa is right there with them. He's just as big and scary as the rest of them. And…" Percy hesitated, not wanting to give Luke another weapon. But it needed to be said. "And I don't like how he talks to you. It's like how Gabe talked to me."
They were both intimately familiar with how Gabe talked to Percy.
Luke went as still as a statue, looking like he could have been carved from marble. His knuckles still rested against Percy's cheek; wanting to touch Percy for as long as Percy allowed it…even when he expected to be leaving again.
Luke was so unfair Percy could choke on it.
Luke didn't say anything for a long time and Percy let him have time to think. The end of the movie was still a ways off, so they had time, and Luke had begun to very gently rub his knuckles against Percy's cheek.
It felt so nice that Percy cried some more, tears silently streaming down his face. Stupid sad movie. Stupid drive-in theater where Luke and Percy were in their own little world and could have this private little meltdown without witnesses. Percy's feelings were sharp and confusing but so beautiful and precious like the glass in a shifting kaleidoscope. He told himself he wouldn't let Luke convince him to join Kronos no matter what.
"I can't go back to Camp Half-Blood," Luke finally said.
Percy knew that.
The gods wouldn't allow it even if Luke wanted to return and it didn't look like Luke wanted to return to his old haunt. To be quite honest, Percy wasn't sure that the gods would accept Luke back in any capacity. They weren't exactly the forgiving types and Luke had wronged the most unforgiving one of them all: Zeus.
Percy also knew that Luke was saying that he couldn't make himself go back even if the gods welcomed him with open arms. Camp Half-Blood wasn't a paradise or anything, but Luke's hatred reached depths Percy simply didn't understand. Percy tried not to think about how one day he might understand why Luke felt the way he did about Camp Half-Blood.
"So you burned that bridge," Percy mumbled.
Luke snorted.
"There are other bridges."
"Are there?"
No, not really. If Luke left Kronos, he would have the anger of both the gods and the titans raining down on him. The only reason the gods didn't kill Luke now was because he had Kronos' protection… Well, that and they were pretending like Kronos didn't currently exist. As far as Percy knew, there was no one else who could protect Luke. Who was even strong enough to take on a god? Oh…wait… Well, Mom always said that if you wanted something done you needed to do it yourself… "Yeah, you asshole, there's me. Stay with me. Live with me."
Luke normally had a great poker face but he didn't even bother to hide his surprise. He looked stunned by Percy's offer, like the idea had never even crossed his mind. "Uh…" Luke said stupidly. "They won't like that."
"I don't care," Percy replied petulantly.
Luke smiled, a faint, fond smile. "What are you going to do in the summer? Camp Half-Blood will smell me on you if we live together."
Percy didn't think about that, but it made sense. If Smelly Gabe's scent stayed on Percy for months after the fact, and Percy had as little contact with him as possible, then it stood to reason that someone was going to notice Luke's scent on Percy because if Luke came to live with Percy then Percy had no intentions of doing the same as little contact as possible thing with Luke. He put his hand over Luke's and said, "No they won't, because I won't go to Camp Half-Blood next summer."
To his surprise, Luke frowned. "Percy, they won't let you just walk away. You're too valuable a weapon."
For a few seconds it didn't make sense. Luke wanted to take Percy away from Camp Half-Blood just last summer…ah, but he was taking Percy away to Kronos, someone who would protect Percy from the gods. This was not the case now. Percy flashed Luke his most blood-thirsty grin. "Let them come."
The soft, fond smile that Luke gave Percy again just made Percy absolutely melt. "I don't think it's going to be that easy, baby," he said gently. Before Percy could get really upset, Luke continued, "But I've been really fucking miserable since we split up and I don't see anything getting better if we keep going how we have been."
Percy was so hopeful he wasn't sure that he even heard right. "You're staying?"
"I'm staying," Luke confirmed.
"With me?" Percy asked.
"With you," Luke answered.
"You're going to live with me?" Percy double-checked.
Now Luke hesitated. "Sally might not like it."
"Mom likes you. I don't think she'd mind," Percy said uncertainly. He felt like Luke was right for some reason but he couldn't put his finger on why, exactly. Maybe it was the fact they had a two-bedroom apartment and Luke would have to share with Percy. Percy felt a thrill run through him. It would be nice to share a bedroom with Luke again…but just the two of them this time instead of with twenty other people.
Luke shifted his fingers so that they were between Percy's. "Is she going to like this?" he asked.
No further elaboration was needed.
"Um…" The answer to that question was a big NO. Mom was willing to overlook a lot of Gabe's unsavory behavior in the name of Percy's survival but getting cozy - or frisky - with his boyfriend - uh-oh when did Percy start thinking of Luke in those terms - was not something Mom was going to overlook. "Do you want to get a place together? Our own place? I've had jobs before so I can get a part time job to help pay for it."
"I don't have any money, " Luke said. It didn't surprise Percy that Luke was spending someone else's money. "I've been stealing everything."
"Can you steal a house?" Percy asked.
Luke grinned. "Course I can, baby." He sounded so cocky and sure of himself. The movie wasn't over but Percy let himself be pulled into Luke's arms. "Where do you wanna live?"
"Someplace safe," Percy said. Then, because he wasn't sure that was what Luke meant he added, "New York." Percy rested his head against Luke's chest.
Luke hummed an acknowledgement. "How many bedrooms you want in this thing?"
"We only need one. The rest are just…bonus rooms." Percy heard Luke's heart beat a little faster.
Luke laughed. "Bonus rooms, huh? Alright. Works for me." He was quiet for a moment, shifted on the seat. In a voice devoid of laughter, Luke asked, "I take it this means there's an us?" He had both arms around Percy now, holding him tight.
Percy didn't mind being held or being asked. He missed Luke and being in Luke's arms felt like finally being able to catch his breath after barely breathing for so long. "Yeah. This means there's an us," Percy confirmed. He realized that maybe it was going to be alright and Percy slipped his hand into Luke's.
Luke brought Percy's hand to his lips and kissed Percy's knuckles. "Still mad at me?" he asked quietly.
Percy tugged Luke's shirt down and kissed Luke's collarbone. "Depends on if you're still here tomorrow."
"I will be," Luke promised.
And he was.