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It was warm outside, when Luke arrived back. If he hadn't stepped foot into the mortal world again right on top of the hill before the valley, he would have taken a moment to enjoy the heat on his skin after so long. He didn't know how long it had been, since he felt the sun.
But, it had been impossible to not weep at the sight before him, and so he didn't marvel at the sun. There were new cabins, the old one had been expanded or a second one built right next to the first, and there were so many campers wandering around, more than he had ever seen before.
That's how she had found him, sitting with his back against The Tree, not even able to walk down the hill he'd just sat down against it, his knees buckling, crying at the sight of all these kids.
The little girl took one look at him, she couldn't have been more than six and she had a bead on her leather cord necklace. She ran off as soon as she saw that he was sobbing, and he watched her run right into the Big House. A few seconds later Percy was out the door, dashing down the stairs like she had told him fire, probably expecting something, someone, else when told 'there's someone crying at The Tree'.
Luke pulled one leg up, resting his arms across it while letting the other sprawl out in front of him. He didn't think there was anything he could do to stop the tears, but he did manage to get his breathing even by the time Percy noticed who was sitting on top of the hill.
Percy paused, stopped walking towards him almost mid-step, and just looked. Luke tore his gaze away, felt like he couldn't even look at Percy without his breath stuttering in his chest, but looking at camp almost made hims start sobbing again. He took a deep breath, and then looked back to Percy, who had started walking towards him again, with less urgency now, his gate casual.
He was older, that was for sure, but Luke couldn't place his age, his cheeks finally losing the baby-fat the kept him so young, his jaw sharper, more scars along his arms then he had remembered; and how he had tried to remember, had tried to see if Annabeth and Percy where in better shape every time they crossed paths, if anyone had known how concerned he'd been for those two the whole time, he would have kicked Luke to the curb.
Percy had grown his hair longer, it's waves where fully curls now, hanging in a choppy mess around his eyes, and down the back of his neck, like he had buzzed it all off and then just not bothered cutting it for months. He was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves cut off, it was bleach dyed and had CHB in small letters in the center. He was wearing dark wash jeans with holes in the knees, and combat boots. He looked so much like Thalia, and yet so different.
He didn't even pause when he got to Luke, just dropped down on the side where Luke had left his leg sprawled out, and threw an arm over his shoulders. Luke was surprised, but leaned into him. It had been so long since anyone touched him, it was grounding after so long. Percy rubbed his arm a couple times, and then he took a deep breath, and Luke braced himself,
"I did what I could, about your request." Percy said, leaning back against the tree further, and even though Luke stayed leaned forward Percy kept his arm over his shoulder.
Luke laughed, it came out horrible, more like a sob he had been trying to keep in. He reached up and grabbed Percy's wrist, giving it a gentle squeeze,
"You did great."
He hadn't even seen all the changes made yet, he knew there would be more, and he knew Percy did amazing, he could feel it.
They sat there in silence for way too long, Luke waiting and waiting for Percy to ask him how he was there, alive, but it never came. They just sat there, watching the campers, and Luke took note of how the little girl from before had sat in one of the chairs on the porch.
It took awhile for anyone else to notice them. Luke tracked someone walking to the Big House, asking the girl something, and then starting to walk their way. It took him too long to recognize Travis, and he wondered how many of them he would recognize on sight, or if he wouldn't know anyone first thing anymore.
It took Travis until almost the same place Percy paused to recognize him.
Luke scrubbed his face with the back of his hand, and stood up, shaking Percy off him. Percy grunted, but then he stood and started down the hill, paused and turned back too him.
"Are you here to stay, or are you heading out?"
Luke smiled, it was tight and unsure, shrugged at him,
"I wasn't planning on going anywhere else."
He tried to imply that he wasn't on a revenge bender. Implied he was here to help. With the way Percy smiled, he hoped it came across that way. Travis folded his arms, and said in a tone that wasn't outright hatred, but still annoyed,
"We broke your glasses, dickhead."
Luke laughed harder than he can ever remember laughing, he doubled over, holding his sides from how hard he was shaking with it. When he could stand up straight, Travis was standing there with his mouth open, but he scowled when their eyes met, turned and walked off without another word.
His eyes flickered to Percy, who was watching Travis go with a thoughtful look.
"Percy," he said, getting the others attention. Percy almost jumped, his shoulders jerking, and then he looked back over at him. Luke took a deep breath.
"I'm here to help, whatever it is you need. It's," he trailed off, he ran his hand back through his hair, settling it at the curve of his neck, "it's what my deal was. No rebirths, just helping you out."
Percy titled his head in thought, though his smile remained on his face, ticking up the corner of his mouth like he was amused by something.
"Did my dear uncle tell you that I took over camp?" Percy finally said, turning and walking down the hill.
Luke processed what Percy said, before he walked down the hill to catch up with him.
"No," he said when fell into step with Percy, his voice was gentler than he expected, because of course it couldn't be simple, "He did not tell me that."
Percy chuckled, a slight manic edge to it at the end, his voice heavy with sarcasm,
"Yeah, it's going great."
Luke had arrived right as afternoon lessons were supposed to start.
He was shocked that they were having real lessons, not just sword fighting or rock climbing or archery, or the bare bones improvised 'classes'. No, it seemed like some of the older campers were adults with actual degrees, and were teachers at camp now for the year rounders.
He watched from the porch of the Big House, his arms crossed as he leaned on the railing, as Percy and his staff helped kids find where they were supposed to be. As soon as the groups where split up, Percy's shoulders dropped and he turned back towards the house. He looked a little startled, and then he relaxed. It seems like in the chaos of helping a kid figure out where the rest of their group was, he forgot Luke was there. Or maybe he just wasn't expecting him to be where Percy had last seen him.
Luke watched Percy walk towards him, up the steps and past him, and then he followed when Percy motioned for him to follow him inside, although he was speaking,
"They are having class outside since it's so nice today instead of the school house."
Luke just hummed under his breath, he felt dizzy just from hearing the words 'school house' but he didn't know at that moment how to respond, so he kept silent.
Percy took him upstairs and pointed down one of the halls with bedrooms in it, he knew it was usually for staff. Luke tried not to stare at the tattoo on Percy's arm as he pointed.
"Pick one. All the rest of my staff chose to sleep in their cabins still, so. You got first dibs."
Percy leaned against the wall as he said this. Luke took a step forward, but then turned back to him,
"Which ones yours? Or do you sleep in your cabin as well?"
Percy huffed like it was amusing, and then shrugged, his voice full of mirth that Luke understood when it came to running the place,
"My office has a couch if I need it."
Luke raised a brow, but he didn't argue, just walked down the hall and took the one he knew was the biggest. Both his brows lifted up when he found it fully furnished like something right out of the 70s still. Metal bed frame, patchwork quilt over the queen bed. There was a chest at the end of it, wooden and worn. There was a chair in the corner, book shelves against the wall. There was a door he knew led to the bathroom, one of two rooms up here with a private bathroom.
Some things hadn't changed. He was torn between feeling nostalgic and claustrophobic.
He turned back down the hall, and caught Percy watching him. Percy just smiled though. Luke point inside and said,
"This one fine with you boss?"
Percy rolled his eyes, but nodded. He then rolled his head, forward and then back to lean on the door frame like he was tired,
"I'll get you the card, and you can order whatever you want in the computer room."
Luke blinked hard, and then walked out of the door way, turning to face him, his arms crossing, voice full of disbelief,
"Computer room?"
Percy blinked hard his head coming back up from the wall, laughing loudly as he nodded.
Percy showed him to the computer room on the ground floor. There where six desktops inside, and several chairs spread around the room, at least two for each computer. The interior had the same decor as the rest of the place, dated and comfortable at the same time. There were glass beaded curtains over the window and doorway.
Percy handed him a folder, and left the room,
"It'll tell you everything you need to know, I have to go teach teenagers how to hold swords in an hour, you know how it is," he said as the beads swished behind him. Luke listened to the front door open and shut before he moved again.
He sat in one of the chairs and marveled at the computer. They where newer then he had ever seen.
He turned back to the folder Percy had handed him, lists of things anyone with nothing might need and the websites that sold it all when he opened it. He stood up, ignoring it for the moment and walking to look along the walls, his legs sore from how still he had been, and he wasn't used to it, he'd been in line for so long, never being judged always being sent to the back of the line. He shook his head to try and clear it.
He paused at a calendar. He didn't know what day it was, but the month it was on was April, 20xx.
He blinked in disbelief a few times. It had been over ten and a half years since he killed himself.
He stood there staring at it for so long he heard the door open again, but he didn't move, frozen to the spot. He heard a sigh behind him, and then a hand was on his shoulder.
"Luke," Percy said, pulling him from the calendar finally, he looked over his shoulder. Percy's face was carefully blank. Luke swallowed, suddenly noticing how his body had to do things like eat and drink again.
"What day is it?" His voice rasped, and Percy took a step towards a mini fridge in the corner Luke had ignored, but he took the water handed to him, and sat back in the chair he vacated earlier, opening the water and drinking it down in a way that he knew would upset his stomach in 15 minutes but he couldn't bring himself to care.
"It's the 4th," Percy said, pointing to the corner of the screen, which had the date right there.
Luke nodded then, finally clicking on what he assumed was the internet icon to order stuff. Percy rolled a chair closer, taking the folder and opening it up, sorting through the lists.
He would have felt defensive of Percy helping him order stuff, if it wasn't for how sincere he was about it. They sat there, Luke not speaking, as Percy read off things he might need.
"Your 3 years older then me now," Luke finally said, as he put the last of what he thought he needed into the cart.
Percy hummed, and sat the pamphlet down. Luke sighed, rubbed his hand over his face and then pushed it back into his hair, twisting his fingers in it and tugging.
"I mean," he said, his voice a little thick, "I think I'm younger then Travis and Conner now too."
Percy huffed, leaning forward he took the keyboard and mouse and started adding more things to the cart, doubling all the clothing he picked, more bedding.
"By six years, and you're never gonna hear the end of it."
Luke shrugged, finally dropping his hand from his hair. He didn't bother protesting whatever Percy added to the cart, just watched everything go up.
"If they ever talk to me again."
Percy sighed, going through the motions of checking out, but leaving it at the last click to let Luke do it himself.
"Give them a reason too," he said, his voice deep with emotion, pushing away from him, but Luke could feel his presence near him still.
Luke just nodded his head once, but he doubted he could do anything that would make his brothers, siblings in general, talk to him again.
The website Percy had left up was one where he could order anything. He took his time, but eventually he put his two unnecessary purchases into the cart, and Percy didn't protest when he put a journal and a fountain pen with ink refills into the cart before he went through the process of checking out.
Percy clapped him on the shoulder, and then asked him to follow him back upstairs.
Percy had given him some clothes, stuff that would fit but came from the camp store, and he suddenly couldn't wait for that package of his new stuff to get there; the black CHB shirt with orange text and jeans with small embroidery in Greek on the back pocket. At least the pack of briefs handed to him were plain gray, along with the socks and shoes, instead of the burnt orange that had sometimes haunted his nightmares.
After being handed the clothes, Percy told him to take a shower, or at least change.
"I know it's not what you'd pick, but…"
Luke shrugged, honestly he just wanted out of the clothes he woke up in the underworld in, slacks and a loose shirt he hadn't picked out. At least it hadn't been the chiton he had died in.
"I think after ten years in the underworld, these can be burned." He said, and Percy nodded like he agreed,
"I'll leave you then."
Luke couldn't bring his eyes off Percy's back as he walked out of his room. He really didn't know what he had done to earn Percy's trust like this, but he wouldn't do anything to make him regret it.
The shower was nice, the hot water felt amazing, but the sensation was overwhelming at first. It felt like it had been a century but also just a day since his last one. It had been a decade, over it if you counted how he hadn't been in control of his body for the last year of his life, and it physically hurt to think about it, a phantom ache in his limbs, so he didn't think about it. He concentrated so hard on scrubbing his body he was sure his skin was pink and irritated in some places by the time he stepped out, trying to scrub the feeling and smell of the underworld away. Though the smell hadn't lingered when he stepped into the sun.
He didn't look in the mirror until after he had his briefs on, the idea making his stomach roll in protest for a reason he couldn't let himself think of after his almost mental break down in the shower. He looked exactly as he remembered, every scar in it's proper place, his hair the same length, and he pushed his fingers back through it to make sure it didn't dry too flat. He pulled his new clothes on, wondering how he could still look the same when his body had been through so much. Surely he should have new scars, but he looked under his arm and even it was smooth, unblemished by sacrifice, and it disturbed him so much that he wondered if anyone would care if he gave himself one that would look similar enough to it. He shook his head before grabbing fistfuls of his hair and tugging. He did this for a few minutes, letting his hands unclench, he took a deep breath and dropped his hands to the edge of the counter. He would not be doing that.
His face was aching as his scar started drying and pulling he'd been standing there for so long. He took another deep breath as he stood up straight to open the cabinet, unsurprised as his hand immediately found a tube of cream meant exactly for scars like his. Most people who stayed in these rooms were long term staff, or resting from a quest when the infirmary was no longer necessary.
He had been a camper who needed this very room, once upon a time.
It wasn't the same tube he'd used over 15 years ago, thankfully. He even had to take the little foil seal off the top.
He rubbed the cream in until looking at himself made him sick. Looking at his face that long had caused him to finally notice the only difference he could find on himself; flecks of gold in his eyes.
He put the cream back in the cabinet and tried not to slam it shut as he left the bathroom.
He didn't remember falling asleep in the chair in his new room, but he woke up to the horn blowing for dinner. He sat up with a soft inhale, the sound startling him more then he would care to admit. He looked out the window and noticed how low the sun was. The light was casting a rainbow across the floor from the glass sun catcher hung from the window frame.
He stood up swiftly, shoving his feet into his new shoes, and he tried not to stomp as he made his way down the stairs. Percy was standing at the bottom of them, looking exhausted. He still grinned just slightly when Luke caught his eye, so Luke nodded to him.
His smile dropped as he spoke, though his voice remained even,
"I told the seniors and staff your here."
Luke paused, one foot hovering at the bottom of the stairs, but he just nodded again, not meeting his eye, even as Percy shifted.
"Technically, I made you the head manager, after me."
Luke whipped his head around to look at him, shock running through his veins, as he took in Percy's casual stance like it didn't cross his mind to be concerned about it,
"Why-"
"It means you answer only to me," Percy said with a shrug, cutting him off, "And it means that you can do whatever you want. I don't know how you want to help, and this way you can just do it without needing to ask."
Luke just stared at him, his fingers twitching, he gave an exasperated huff before speaking,
"I don't know why you trust me."
Percy just rolled his eyes, walking out the door and Luke followed, settling into pace with him as they made their way towards the Pavilion. It took a moment for Percy to speak again,
"I don't know if I trust you," he paused for a moment, picking his words carefully, "I just don't see why you would lie. You made a deal I can easily check."
Luke just shook his head, wanting to ask why Percy didn't check, but he was distracted; eyes too busy realizing how many tables there actually were. Triple the amount he had known before, and all of them around the pavilion instead of in it, giant umbrellas to block the sun, though most of them were shut as the kids soaked up the rare April sun.
Not every single one was full, but it still made him dizzy. Percy gripped his arm as they neared it, making them pause,
"You don't have to give offerings to them anymore, by the way. It's not expected."
It was all he said before letting go and they continued to walk.
"They were okay with that?" He asked, disbelief dripping of his voice.
Percy just shrugged, "I told them to suck it up, I wasn't gonna ask a kid who was just on the street to put half their plate in a fucking fire a second time."
Luke let out a slight laugh through his nose, shaking his head, his respect for Percy through the roof as they walked into the mass of tables. He couldn't believe how much Percy had done. He didn't understand why Hades had sent him here.
"Besides," Percy said, his voice light, as they neared the staff table, "gods don't actually need it, and they could just come eat with us."
When they got to the staff table, Percy sat at the end of one of the benches, and while most of the people there greeted both of them nicely, all of them were side-eyeing Luke as well. His staff was bigger than he expected, the table packed with at least fifteen people at his estaminet, his eyes flickering over them, trying to recognize anyone, as he took a seat on the opposite side of the table as Percy, and a tiny bit down from him. He didn't want to seem like he was attached at the hip to him, and he didn't want to feel like it either.
He thought he knew a few faces, but for the most part they were older and he didn't know them, or didn't recognize them. He was glad, but he felt a little put off about it. Older demigods were always part of the goal, but not knowing them was-
He cut the thought off, looking around the area as he put some food on his plate. He watched as it seemed like about half the kids got up and put food in the fire, but he was shocked to see how many of the older campers didn't get up. He was mildly proud of them, in an odd way, and he turned back to his food. None of Percy's staff got up to give offerings.
They ate in silence at the staff table. He had a feeling it was because he was there. He hoped they got used to him being around at least.
He had just finished, too quickly but it had been eleven years since his last meal, when someone sat so close to him he was glad he had swallowed his lat bite or else he would have choked.
"You're late," Percy said, and Luke's eyes shot to him before flickering back down to the person who sat next to him.
The first thing he noticed was her bright red curls, which where half up and half down, a flipped ponytail at the back of her head was keeping most of her hair out of her face. She was looking up him, her eyes a dark shade of green. She was smiling at him, and then she held out a hand.
"We were never really introduced, but I'm Rachael." Her voice was bright, but he could tell she was nervous. Percy sighed, but didn't say anything. Luke took her hand, his mouth pressed into a line,
"Luke, but I feel like you knew that."
Her grin turned sharp as she released him,
"Yeah I do, I think I should probably apologize now."
Percy huffed, amused at her, and Luke ignored him, his brow furrowed, confusion so thick he could only say,
"For what, exactly?"
Her grin turned mischievous, her eyes crinkling with it, and he couldn't help how endeared he felt by her,
"Well, I did hit you in the face that one time."
Percy was trying to hold in a laugh now, and Luke looked back at him finally. He had his head in his hand, his shoulders shaking as he leaned against the table. Luke turned back to Rachael.
"I don't remember you, so it might not have been me." He said a little awkwardly, and then,
"And if you're alive after hitting Kronos in the face, you've got skill."
Percy stopped trying to hide his laughter, Luke smiled at the sound slightly, and Rachael's eyes went wide, her smile went wider,
"I chuckled a hair brush at him and nailed him between the eyes."
Luke laughed, and she scooted impossibly closer to him. Percy was smiling fondly at them when Luke turned back to him. He picked up his cup and asked into it,
"When did you get in Rachael?"
Rachael hummed, pulling a bag closer to herself, which Luke hadn't noticed,
"A couple hours ago," she said as she pulled out a sketchbook.
"Everybody was whispering but no one wanted to tell me what was going on, but," She trailed off as she opened her sketchbook up to the back pages, a portrait of him smiling and looking to the side greeted him. The sight had him drawing in a harsh breath between his teeth. She ignored him, turned the book around to show Percy,
"I figured it out when I couldn't stop sketching Luke the last few days."
She put the book back into her bag. Percy was looking thoughtful again, but Luke tore his eyes away to look back at Rachael.
"You're the Oracle," he said, way too softly. She nodded, and her hair tickled his arm, but he didn't do anything to stop her.
She smiled back up at him, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"I have a really good feeling about you." She said it just as softly as him, like they were exchanging secrets. He felt like his chest was going to explode.
"I'm here to help," he whispered, finally looking away at the rest of the table. The staff was silent, holding their breath almost, a few of them side eyeing them, but he saw a couple of them visibly relax at Rachael's words. She must have been a good Oracle, her word vouching for him to mean so much.
She took a plate from the middle, and conversations finally started up around them. He wasn't exactly included, but he didn't expect to be.
Someone handed Percy a report at some point, and Luke watched him read for a few minutes. Finally Percy stood, and someone handed him a megaphone. He held it for a moment, and then sighed as he stood.
He looked at Luke, and sighed again,
"I'm announcing it to the camp that your here, if they don't already know," he rolled his eyes, "just so your prepared."
Luke nodded to him. He knew it was coming, he couldn't be a secret and the campers would feel betrayed by their leader keeping them out of the loop.
Rachael hummed, and then bumped her shoulder into him, drawing his attention back to her,
"Shouldn't he stand next to you? As your right hand man?" she said it like it was obvious, but no one told her he was manager yet. Percy just shrugged,
"Up to Luke."
He was shaking his head before he thought about it. But if he was be Percy's second, he was gonna do it right. He stood with a sigh, and walked to the end of the table to meet Percy. Percy didn't look surprised, but he said gently,
"It's up to you."
Luke nodded, "I'm sure Percy."
The walk up there was more daunting then he expected, but soon the where both standing on pavilion, looking out at the sea of demigods. Luke took a step back, standing on Percy's left.
Percy took a deep breath, but then held up his megaphone which Luke noticed had 'disrespect your surroundings' carved into the side of it which made the corner his mouth tick up.
"Ok campers!" Percy's voice rang out through the field and everyone turned to them.
"I hope everyone's been having a great day today," quite a few people cheered, and Luke noticed the girl who found him first finally, he had been subtly looking for her all night. She was sitting at one of the tables with Travis and Conner, and what he assumed were the Hermes kids. He didn't know if she was with them or not, with how mixed the groups seemed to be now.
"First, I'd like to congratulate the Nemesis kids for breaking their own record on the spelling challenge." A group of kids cheered at their table, and everyone clapped for them. Luke smiled, genuine.
"And everyone got Helpful Points today!" Percy then said, opening the folder and holding it up to read, there was cheering and laughter, and for some reason it seemed like quite a few of the older campers whistled? Percy just sighed, but cheered up as he spoke,
"You guys are making great progress on getting to 200k, keep it up and you'll definitely win the bet by the end of the summer."
He paused for a moment, and then he rolled his shoulders, bracing himself,
"A couple announcements. The rock climbing wall is still broken, and probably won't be fixed this week," There were a few sounds of disappointment from the crowd.
"And lastly, I have haired a head manager, everyone this is Luke Castellan, he's second in charge now."
Percy motioned to him, and he waved. He wasn't looking to rock the boat and was grateful Percy didn't make him actually introduce himself to the camp.
"Some of you know him. The rest of you are gonna hear some things about him. He's here to help, and if there's any problem with that, you will take it up with me. That's all, who's ready for marshmallows."
He was too exhausted to stay up for the camp fire, his energy completely gone after Percy's announcements, which he complained about as he walked back to Big House, although he was not complaining about Percy walking him back even though he thought it should have pissed him off, it would have pissed him off ten years ago.
"I've been dead, you think I wouldn't be able to sleep," He said, rolling his shoulders as he turned to watch the campers as they started to head down to the fire pit from the first step of the porch.
"You haven't slept in over ten years-" Percy started, but Luke cut him off without thinking,
"Eleven," he said. Percy titled his head, and then looked at him, but Luke didn't turn to him, just tracked him from the corner of his vision.
"Over eleven years. I know from being around the recently revived that your gonna be tired for at least a week."
Luke turned to him then, surprise evident on his face that Percy had experience with this sort of thing before him from the grin sent his way.
"At least you're not passing out at the worst times like Hazel did," Percy said, his smile gentle.
Luke took a deep breath, wondering who Hazel is, and then shrugged, getting his expression under control again,
"Well, at least I know why you weren't completely flipping out earlier."
Percy chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.
"I have to catch up to the hooligans," He said, taking a step back down the path away from the Big House, but angling back to him as he said, "goodnight Luke."
Luke nodded to him, "goodnight Percy."
He watched him walk off, watched him throw an arm around one the Ares teens, who crossed their arms but didn't try to throw him off, just fell into step with him. He watched until he saw the distant flames flicker higher, and then he turned and went inside.
The house was quieter then he expected. There were no sounds of other people, but there was a soft sound of wind chimes coming from the kitchen, the windows were open because of the warm day. He took a deep breath, staring at the floor boards as he got lost in thought.
He never wanted to come back to this house, this valley, this camp. He didn't hate it, like so many people thought. Like 'his' army had thought and voiced it so often. It had never been about the camp. Now that the anger was gone, and it had left him far too late for him to turn back, even though he had tried; he had just wanted the gods, their parents to listen to the pain their kids were in. He didn't hate camp, he hated how they had been treated. But this place still held so many emotions for him, it hurt to be here.
Percy had succeeded in getting the gods to listen. It seemed like they were being treated better. It seemed, like from how Percy spoke a couple times, that they even visited. And not just to deliver quests that could end in their doom.
He rubbed over his eyes, and forced his feet to move.
He took the stairs slowly, ran his hand along the wooden paneling, reminiscing about good times on these stairs, sitting on them with siblings and cousins in name only, and eavesdropping on Chiron, who he hadn't thought about until this moment. He wondered where he was. He didn't think he wanted to see him. He didn't know where Mr.D was either and he really didn't want to see him yet. In fact, none of the old staff were here, that he had seen.
He stood at the end of the hall, taking it in. There were pictures dating back to the 60s on these walls, and he was surprised by how much space was still left, blank before he got to the room before his own. He was more surprised that they had left the ones with him in them up. He ignored those, couldn't stand to see them, continuing on like they weren't even there.
In the newest one, Percy kneeled in the middle of a large group of half-bloods, his arms outstretched and a grin on his face. Luke smiled, touched the corner of it. There had to be at least double the amount of kids he had seen today. They were all cheering, and he couldn't help the soft laugh coming out under his breath as he saw Travis and Conner holding up that little girl, both of them giving her bunny ears.
He took a step back and walked into his room. There where sleep cloths on the chest at the end of his bed, but he only took the shirt. He didn't wonder how they got there, knowing the house was more alive then they ever would willingly acknowledge. His room faced the strawberry fields, so he didn't bother shutting the curtains as he kicked his shoes and jeans off. He hadn't bothered with socks earlier. He switched out his shirts, throwing the one he wore to dinner over the back of the chair, and folding his jeans over the arm of it. He'd need them tomorrow and the longer he kept those clean, the less CHB merch would end up in his closet. Gods forbid he ended up with a rainbow style one to shove into the back of his closet.
He opened the window, folded the quilt down to the end of the bed, and was almost sleep before he could even get the sheet up to his chest.