Oh Ithaca, vivo!

by Art_Deco_Hitchhiker

Summary:

When the Doors of Death are opened, Luke Castellan gets a second chance at living. Strangely enough, he is stuck by the side of Percy Jackson, who does not remember anything.

A Son of Neptune AU.

Notes:

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Riverrun

He tries to remember when the other guy joined him. When Luke started walking next to him, in his strangely perfect white clothes. Something is off about him and it is not the strange scar on his face.

It is the way other people walk right through him. Like they do not even see him. 

Luke does not seem to mind. 

He just seems happy to be out with him, no matter what monsters are chasing them. Luke does not share much about where he came from, but Percy knows that he must have traveled a lot. In any city they cross, Luke knows a place to seek shelter. 

He is a demigod too, that much is certain. 

Luke will frown when he has to think about the gods. Whenever Percy wonders aloud at the Roman gods that the she-wolf Lupa told him about, Luke will scowl and change the subject. 

But he steals with an ease that is inhuman. His fingers are like little ghosts diving into peoples’ pockets. He gets the good food from supermarkets. Percy is pretty sure that you are not meant to leave shops with bags full, if you are only paying for a bag of chips. 

Still, he gets hungry all the same and when your stomach talks, there is no need in wondering how Luke gets their food. No need to wonder how he never gets caught. 

It is in the evenings when Luke will talk. How he quested with others, how he fought the dragon that scarred his face, how he misses home. His stories feel very similar to Percy’s memory. Full of gaps and missing parts. 

Missing names too. 

He recalls asking his companion whether he knows someone named Annabeth. Luke denied this, but Percy does not believe him. 

Something in the eyes that tells him otherwise. A sadness of regret in Luke’s blue eyes. 

Luke changed the subject and they spoke about the monsters that keep coming back. Unkillable. Just like Percy’s skin. 

Another thing Luke claims he knows nothing about. 

But he keeps rubbing a part of his arm in a way that tells Percy he is lying. 

Not for the first time he wonders how old Luke is. He feels older, at least a couple of years, but at the same time he seems ageless in his pristine white clothes. He is handsome, even with the strange scar on his face. He is great with his sword and he always seems to know what Percy plans to do in a fight. Ever since the start of their friendship, Percy has wondered whether they trained together before.

Despite all the lying and elusive answers, Percy is glad for his presence. Not just when facing the monsters, the stupid snakeladies that keep following them, but for everything else. It is nice to have someone to talk to and Luke is definitely nice. 

He feels familiar. Like an old friend he has known for years. 

Someone he can trust.  

As they reach San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge rises over the bay, Luke makes an expression like he smells something foul. Before Percy can ask him what is going on, the gorgons attack them again.  

They attack Percy first, like they always do. It is as though they cannot even see Luke. Until he starts placing his sword where Percy is guiding them. They work well together, but still the monsters do not die. 

Luke follows his lead as Percy gets dizzy from all the concepts the gorgons are flinging at his head. Mark of Achilles. Tartarus. Medusa?

He sees his chance to kill Euryale and takes Stheno’s sample plate to sled down the hill. It is a stupid, rash idea, but for some reason he really needs to go to the tunnel. 

Luke will follow. Somehow. He always does. Sometimes it is like his friend has wings on his feet. 

Percy regrets most of his decisions as he lands roughly on the side of the road. However, he has managed to arrive right where he should be as he sees the two guards between the tunnels. 

Then the old lady, June, tries to convince him to carry her. Offering him a choice. 

Luke appears next to him, clothes white as ever. He glares at the old lady, but she ignores him. 

Percy hesitates. It would be nice to have his memory back. To see Annabeth again. 

“It’s not the right camp,” Luke says. 

The gorgons shriek above them and Percy makes his choice. 

The cars do not hit them, but that is about all he can say. The old lady gets heavier, the further he gets. The guards jump into action and Percy enters the maintenance tunnel. 

When he sees the valley, he blinks a couple of times. He cannot believe what he is seeing. Rome. The shimmering river bends peacefully through the green. 

Then the girl Hazel reappears right behind them, looking worse for wear. Losing the Mark of Achilles for this smelly, old hippie. A strange feeling when he carries her through the cold water. When he turns around, Luke is standing like a statue on the bank of the river. 

Looking straight at him. 

Frank’s screams as the gorgons claw him. Luke does not move to help him. Strange. Percy takes the water in his arms like an old friend. A tugging sensation in his gut. The water swirling and smashing, coming alive in its bed. Then rinsing away every trace of the gorgons. 

Luke waves at him. A farewell. 

As Percy finds himself and his newly vulnerable skin surrounded by June and these heavily armored kids, his only friend turns around and leaves. 

Just when Percy wants to scream his name, Luke disappears, fading in the fog and dew beyond the river. 

Like he never existed in the first place. Maybe he was just some figment of Percy's imagination. Not merely an amnesiac, but also going insane. 

Great.

Percy does not have time to wonder as the people surrounding him and the no-longer-stinking-old-lady goddess Juno distract him. The girl Hazel peels off some of the stickers that Stheno stuck on her and sends him a questioning glance, nodding to the riverbank. To where Luke was standing. 

He shrugs and then this surly girl Reyna lies to him, claiming she has never met him before.  

He is tired of people pretending not to know him. 

—

Luke does not know why or how he knows that he cannot cross the Roman river, but it is not possible. At least Percy drowned the gorgons in said river. One thing less to worry about. He sighs as he walks back through the tunnel. 

He will miss Percy. 

Mount Tamalpais stands rising in the distance. His scars sting at the sight of her. Remembering hurts. There is a part of him that envies Percy, wandering blankly through life, no memories of any mountains. He holds his left armpit and tries to forget the burning pain. 

Of course, because Percy is Percy, he is once more swept up in another plot of the gods. Romans. He shakes his head. All those days he spent here on Mount Othrys and not a clue of all these other demigods right there underneath his nose. 

He wonders whether the Titans knew, but thinking about his old allies and masters makes him angry. What a fucking waste. All those demigods dead and for what? 

Just so they can start it all over again. Gaea . Mother of bitches. 

He walks through streets that are strangely familiar. He only knows why when he is standing in front of a townhouse, in a row of townhouses. Light spring colors. The house of Annabeth’s father. 

He feels frozen at the sight of it as he remembers his pathetic attempt to convince Annabeth to run away again. She will never forgive him. 

Or maybe she did. 

Isles of the Blessed. He was delusional until the end. Standing in line for the judges, waiting for his turn. 

Nerve wracking. 

Hermes always guided the dead in the myths, but Luke was not surprised to travel alone. His father absent as always. He looks at the sky and wonders whether his prayers would reach anyone. He shakes the thought out of his head. Better not draw any attention to himself. After all, he died. Giving a golden coin to Charon and sailing over that all too familiar river Styx. 

Maybe he should have plunged into the Lethe and forgotten it all. 

He walks on, over the streets with people who do not even see him. He is a ghost to all but Percy. He does not know how he wandered in the opposite direction. 

Leaving the Underworld is all a blur to him. Finding Percy too, like being pulled by a magnet. 

He does not feel dead. He can touch objects. He was able to shake Percy awake. He can eat. Not like Tantalus. 

An ice cream stand. 

It is a nice hot, but breezy June day. He could go for ice cream. 

He mingles with the mortals and suddenly he feels quite mortal himself. The two girls behind him giggle in his direction and they can clearly see him. Staring at him in a way that makes him wish for invisibility again. His turn. Meeting the twinkling eyes of the ice cream man. Tall and tan and young and handsome, smiling broadly at him with straight, white teeth. Like pearls. Strangely reminded of Apollo. 

For some reason, he finds himself pointing at the flavor that looks disgustingly blue. Unicorn puke or something. The guy writes his phone number on the napkin he gives him. 

Winks. Oh. Not Apollo, just a flirting mortal. Otherwise he would get a haiku about ice cream on a sunny day. 

Luke nods politely and takes his cone. 

As he sits once more and struggles to keep up with the rapid melting of the sweet substance in the bright sun, he thinks of Percy. 

Firstly as a young demigod, stumbling into the Hermes cabin with a Minotaur horn, then later as a worthy adversary. 

Always doing the gods’ bidding. 

Luke pities him. So loyal to his own friends. Loyal even to the gods who misuse him. 

Like Hera. 

Hateful bitch. 

He reflects on his own secrecy. It was selfish to hide his own knowledge, but after death and failure, it seems hard to defend his own deplorable actions. Trying to poison a young Percy with a pit scorpion... Of course, he could have told Percy a sanitized version of it all. But that would not leave much of his story behind. 

Looking at Mount Othrys, he feels a tear making its way over his face and mingling with the sweet flavor of the ice cream. It is too late to regret, but he can still try to make amends. 

There is one thing he can be sure of. When - and he knows they will - the gods send a quest, Percy will take part. He always does. 

Luke looks out over the water. The ocean appears calm, small waves in the color of Percy’s eyes. 

He will find him again. To protect him from the endless cruelty of gods and monsters. 

To help his friend. 

Paying his debts.

Chapter 2: Sweet Thalassa

Summary:

The quest begins.

Notes:

Enjoy!

Percy feels like he fell through the looking glass. Even though he has reached a demigod camp, nearly everything about it feels wrong. Like someone moved all his memories two inches to the left and then scrambled them. 

Not all of it is bad, but it is certainly strange. The idea that demigods live long enough to have children of their own, is baffling. 

He wonders what Luke would make of it. In his stories, the scarred demigod often implied that he had lost people. And now Percy lost him. 

Meeting Nico di Angelo is strange. Another person who pretends not to know him. Still, something about him is so familiar that Percy almost asks him about Luke. 

It is the eyes. The same tired expression in the eyes. 

Also as a demigod of Pluto, the god of the dead, Nico might know something about Luke’s strange ghostly deposition. However, before Percy can bring it up, he is not very subtly pushed in Frank’s direction, so the Pluto siblings can have a conversation that is clearly not meant for their ears. 

Frank smiles at him, but he seems nervous. “Come, I’ll show you the baths.” 

—

Of course Percy gets placed with the least popular cohort. He does not remember going to any schools, but somehow fitting in with the losers feels very familiar. Still he is grateful for Hazel’s support, even though the whole process seems so oddly formal and weird. 

She can be killed if he fucks up. Not a very calming idea, as somehow Percy knows that messing things up is a special talent of his. 

It can be very effective in battle as he discovered with Luke, but these uptight legionnaires will no doubt see it differently. However, as he speaks to Hazel and Frank he relaxes somewhat. At least he is not the only misfit. 

And the food is great. 

He is excited for the War Games, even as Frank assures him they are going to lose. It will be fun to fight for a game, not life and death. He has the strange feeling like he has done that before. 

Games in armor. 

Frank confirms his idea as he checks his armor, but all Percy can do is shrug. It is strange what his body seems to remember. 

As Frank explains his plan, Percy once more feels like a memory is pressing at the forefront of his mind. Fighting on someone else’s plan is something he has done before. 

Strategy. 

His head hurts. 

He tries not to think about memories and instead focuses on following Hazel and Frank through the tunnels. Again he feels his stomach tug as he wills the water canons to explode. Like he is one with them. The falling water sprays his face and he feels wide awake. 

He feels alive. 

As he crosses the walls after Frank and Hazel, blood soars in his ears. The legionnaires he encounters are awfully unprepared against his swiping attacks. 

Just as the battle appears to be over, they find the poor girl Gwen, speared like a pig. 

Not dying. Coming back. 

An idea rises in his head, but it is gone before he can understand it. 

Then Ares- no Mars shows up. 

Asshole. 

And Frank’s dad apparently. 

Not only does poor Frank get a spear for his birthday, but he also gets a quest. He looks like he is about to faint. Go to Alaska, free Thanatos or die. And Percy is joining him. 

Somewhere in his head he hears Luke’s voice. The gods always have a stupid fucking quest for us. They use us demigods for their dirty work. Bitches. A part of him agrees. 

—

After a restless night of dreams and a senate meeting that almost put him to sleep again, he is underway with Hazel and Frank. 

Their quest has begun. 

To free Thanatos, death’s border police. 

In his pocket, Reyna’s ring burns. Go to Seattle. To find her sister who may or may not be inclined to kill him, because he blew up a spa four years ago. He wonders what kind of person he was to do that. 

A youthful delinquent? 

Were Annabeth and he in some sort of gang?

He would say that the Romans with their tattoos seem a lot more gang-like. 

He honestly expected a little better from them than public transport. In Oakland, they take their transfer and claim a four-seater to themselves. 

“Is this seat taken?” A familiar voice. Luke’s smiling face. The scar crinkles when he smiles. 

“Luke!” Quick Percy moves his backpack out of the way so his friend can sit. He has changed from the all-white attire into a white shirt, jeans and loafers. 

He looks like an H&M model. The only thing that makes him stand out as a demigod is the leather holder for his sword. And the scar, of course. 

“Where did you go?”

Luke laughs. “Long story.” He motions to Frank and Hazel. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Frank Zhang, son of Mars, Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto.” Percy pauses. “Luke-”

“Castellan, son of May Castellan,” Luke interrupts quickly. 

“Luke, these Romans, they have a whole city full of demigods! It’s incredible.”

Luke smiles, but Percy can see it is not genuine. His smile strikes him as a bit pained. “That’s great. What are you guys up to?”

“We have to free Thanatos,” Frank says. 

“He is in Alaska,” Hazel supplies. 

“Mind if I join you?” Luke is quick to say. 

Frank hesitates. “I’m a great traveler, right, Percy?” 

Luke smiles again and Percy nods. “Yeah, Luke traveled with me for a big part to New Rome.”

“How did you two meet?” Hazel asks. 

“Monster fight, right, Percy?” Luke smiles at him and Percy agrees, even though the truth is that he cannot really remember. 

He trusts Luke. He does not want to lose him again. 

“Sure, you can join. If you want to.”

“My pleasure.” Luke shakes their hands and smiles brighter. 

They reach the Alameda docks and Percy finally feels like he belongs as he inhales the salty air of the ocean. 

“So what are we sailing in? Pleasure cruise?” Luke asks. 

Frank shakes his head and points to a sorry-looking vessel. “I don’t think so…”

Hazel looks a little green. “This is a piece of junk.”

“It floats. Percy?” Luke looks at him expectantly. 

Percy starts to untie the knots holding the tarp together, half expecting the rope to fall to dust beneath his fingers. He jumps into the boat and starts removing the garbage and the rust. 

“Alright, hop in.”

Luke steps in and the boat barely wavers. His steps are light as a thief’s. He holds out a hand to help Hazel and Frank aboard. 

As they are seated, Percy moves his hands and before they know it, they speed towards the Golden Gate Bridge. 

—

An old homeless guy sitting on one of the docks flips them off. Nereus , Luke is pretty sure. 

“Did you see that?” The girl, Hazel, asks.

Percy blushes in the sunset. He looks wonderful. “Yeah, I’ve been here before…”

Shit. Fuck. Luke tries to maintain a neutral expression, but his heart is racing. 

“I think I was looking for my girlfriend.”

“Annabeth,” Frank says, “You mean on your way to Camp Jupiter?”

“No, before that.” Percy scans the coastline intensely like he is expecting to see something else he might recognize. 

Something from one of the worst winters of Luke’s life. Well… his last life. He tries not to shiver at the memory of the weight of the sky. Tricking Annabeth like that… The thought makes him as queasy as poor Hazel. 

And then Thalia…throwing him on the cliffs like that. Maybe he deserved it. The second time he almost lost his life on that cursed mountain. 

Then he sees it. So does Percy. 

“That looks familiar,” Percy says and his seagreen eyes darken as he looks at Mount Othrys. 

Frank says something about a big battle, but Luke does not listen to him. He is too busy trying not to keep his gag reflex under control.  

“-hand-to-hand combat with a Titan, if you can imagine.”

“I can imagine,” Percy mutters and Luke starts retching. “Are you alright Luke?”

Just as Luke is about to answer, his stomach gives up and he throws up bile. 

“Seasickness,” he chokes out. As he drinks some of the water Frank offers, Luke tries to recompose himself. “This vessel is a bit much for me.”

Then he sees Hazel. “Is she alright?”

They shake her, but she is asleep like a rock. Her eyes flutter restlessly like she is having a nightmare. Finally, they agree to go ashore somewhere in the hopes that she might wake up. 

She does and she explains that she has blackouts. Luke and Percy go down to the boat to fetch her some water. 

“Are you starting to remember anything then?” Luke tries to ask tentatively. 

Percy shakes his head. “Flashes of a familiar feeling, but no actual memories to understand why. Like when I met this guy in New Rome. His name was Nico di Angelo. He felt familiar.”

Percy stares at him intently. “Do you know him, Luke? Like you knew me?”

Before Luke can respond, they get dragged down into the grass. They scream, they struggle, but they cannot actually manage to free themselves. Eventually Luke manages to get a hold on his sword and starts slashing at the grass to free Percy and Frank. 

“So do you know him, Luke?” Percy shouts.

“Not well, but yes. They called him the Ghost King,” Luke yells back. 

“Uh, guys, shall we beat the grass first?” Frank shoots his arrows. 

Thankfully, Percy agrees to let the matter rest and as he threatens with his lighter, Luke cannot resist smiling. So stupid, but so Percy, since it works and the karpoi let them go. 

Then Frank spots the army. The sight makes Luke instantly nauseous again as he sees rows and rows of monsters. The only thing missing for a completely recognizable tableau are some demigods. 

Percy’s surprise at the presence of centaurs and cyclops means that his memory is not entirely gone. He looks pained and as Frank suggests returning to the boat, Luke agrees. 

Their plan is thwarted by the appearance of Polybotes. The counter for Poseidon. Luke tries to forget why he knows that. Who taught him that. 

Thankfully, he is soon distracted by the blinding light of the rainbow, encasing the entire hill in light. 

Iris . 

One of the cyclops mentions orange and purple. The monsters know what the demigods do not. 

It is not hard to figure out. These Roman kids in their purple shirts and the all too familiar Greek demigods in orange. And Luke in white with grass stains, fitting in nowhere. 

There are two camps. The gods have been hiding it from them. 

Just as he is about to get angry, Polybotes smells Percy. Fuck. Luke glances at him, his friend does not look too well. This memory void is taking its toll. 

Luke has not tried to manipulate the Mist yet in this life, but it is not likely to work against the whole army. He counts their blessings as the lady cyclops argues with Polybotes and the army moves away.  

He gently lays an arm around Percy’s shoulders, but it does not do much to lessen his shivering. 

They head towards the goddess’s convenience store and Luke hopes that she will not recognize him. Then the fire breathing snake attacks them. A basilisk. 

Luke helps Percy to the porch and as two more basilisks join to surround them, they decide to enter. The stone fountains make his heart twinge as he thinks of his mother, alone in her big house in Connecticut. 

The memory is only strengthened when they meet Iris herself. Luke can almost smell the burnt cookies. However, he is able to keep himself in hand by concentrating on aiding Percy. 

Iris is clearly aware of the Greek-Roman situation, but Luke is not about to fight with her. Even if she says that she abhors violence, he does not trust her. She is the messenger of the gods. If anyone knows about his past, it is her. However, she does not seem very interested in him, as she separates Frank instead. 

He goes with Percy and Hazel to a different room. Fleecy seems a lot nicer, although Luke eyes her mixture of powders with concern. 

Percy looks at the brew that is pressed in his hand with apprehension and slight disgust. “Thank you?”

“You’re welcome!” Fleecy beams at him. 

Both Luke and Hazel stare at Percy as he takes his first sip. To his credit, he does not spit it out, but still he shudders like a leaf. However, it does appear to take the paleness out of his face. 

“Are you feeling better?” Luke asks him. 

Percy nods and stares at Luke with some apprehension. Then he turns to Fleecy. “Can I send a message?”

“Of course!” With a wave of her hand, Fleecy creates a rainbow. 

Hurt is written all over Percy’s face when he fails to get a connection. 

Hazel sends a message to Reyna, but Luke declines. 

There is no one he wants to send a message to. 

Notes:

I'm a little obsessed with this little story, so I hope you enjoy it!

Also starting to realize I might have high-balled my first chapter estimate, so slight adjustments are in order.

Leave a Kudo and a Comment!

Ciao cacao

Chapter 3: Veritassed

Summary:

The truth comes out.

Notes:

Enjoy!

They are in the boat again. After Percy secures a ride from a whale, they convince him to take a nap. 

As usual, his dreams are a mess. A vision of the old Titan stronghold at Mount Tamalpais, but he cannot see the Roman legion. Instead he sees Annabeth fighting a Titan in armor alongside some girls. Their faces are blurry, but then he sees one of the girls fight Luke. She pushes him off the mountain. Events flow through one another as he sees a girl become the stars. 

He falls into another dream about the dragon ship, before Gaea’s sleeping voice starts again and he jolts awake. 

Portland. 

Luke smiles at him and makes a joke about him drooling in his sleep. Percy stares at him as he tries to remember his dream. Luke raises an eyebrow. “Is everything all right, Percy?”

“I-I think so. Have you ever been on Mount Tamalpais?”

Luke averts his eyes. He looks guilty. “It’s a long story.”

“You can tell us later,” Hazel interrupts. “We need to find Phineas.”

As they walk through rainy Portland, Percy shares the Gaea portion of his dreams. He burns to ask Luke about the other part, but his friend seems reluctant to talk about it. 

Then they find Phineas. To call the man unpleasant would be an understatement. But he does show his gift of prophecy as he turns to Hazel. “You should be dead.” He points at Frank. “And your life depends on a burned stick. And you-” he laughs as his unseeing eyes face Luke. “Son of Hermes, you should be burning in the Fields of Punishment!” 

Luke recoils and both Hazel and Frank appear in shock too. Percy feels rage against this old man and his stupid taunts. He is a mean bully. He hates bullies. 

Phineas proceeds to explain his deal with Gaea and his obvious abuse of the harpies. When Hazel admonishes him for his behavior, he yells at her that it is all her fault for making Alcyoneus. The panic in her eyes shows Percy that this rash accusation may be true. 

As they walk away from the man with the orders to capture the red harpy, the atmosphere is terse. 

“I should have been sent to the Field of Punishment,” Hazel breaks the silence. 

Frank protests, but Luke just glances at her. Then he turns to Percy who is already staring at him. “You were right. I was at Mount Othrys -Mount Tam- I don’t know what you saw in your dream, but…”

Luke sighs. “It was probably bad. Percy-”

Percy looks at his friend. Luke’s expression is one of profound regret. “We can talk about it later. Let’s talk to this harpy first.”

—

As Percy sits down to gamble for his life with Phineas, Luke feels frozen in a way that has nothing to do with Portland’s weather. Suddenly all he can think of is how badly he needs Percy to stay alive. He is no longer a bearer of Achilles’ curse, but he wonders what would be his lifeline now. 

Who would pull him out of the Styx? 

Identical vials. Disastrous consequences. Or Percy dies or he will remember and loathe him. A gamble against Gaea. Luke trembles as Percy uncorks his vial. 

They drink and Percy doubles over. No. 

No, no, no. How could Luke have been so stupid as to agree to this plan? 

Then the old man startles and hunches over, screaming about the unfairness of it all. 

Percy sits up straight. His seagreen eyes clear as ever. 

With fear in his voice, Luke dares to ask. “Did it work? Do you remember?”

“No headache anymore, but don’t worry. I don’t remember anything more about you.” Percy sounds slightly frustrated as he says it.

“It will probably come back to you soon, but I’ll already tell you.”

He looks Percy straight in the eyes. “I owe you that much.”

—

They sit beside each other in the boat, while Frank, Hazel and Ella settle on a different bench. 

“I think I should start with the end.” Luke swallows under the piercing gaze of his maybe soon-to-be-former friend. “I killed myself in the Throne-room of the gods on Mount Olympus. On your birthday. This last August eighteenth.”

Hazel gasps and Frank gapes, while Percy just keeps staring. “Why? Why would you-?”

Luke sighs. “The gods. I hated them. Still do. My father-” He shakes his head. “All of them were…neglectful.”

“I-I came to camp- not yours obviously, when I was about fourteen. My mother- she…she was not right in the head. She kept having strange episodes.”

He closes his eyes and he can still see the green glow. He opens them again. “She thought I was going to die. She- she would grab me and tell me that I was going to die. I left home young. I was nine.”

He sighs again. “I wandered for years. Children of Hermes are usually not that powerful, but monsters kept finding me. My father did nothing for all those years, while I was alone out thieving to survive.”

He pauses. “Do you remember the hiding places I knew?”

Percy nods. 

“I made them all those years ago. I traveled far and wide, always going from place to place.”

He stares at the bottom of the boat. “Just before coming to camp, I met Thalia, daughter of Zeus -your Jupiter. A runaway like me.”

He looks at the passing water. “She- she was an incredible monster fighter. Could master lightning straight from the skies. But the monsters kept coming after us… Even more, because she was so powerful.”

He turns to Percy once more. “You wondered if I knew Annabeth. I did. Met her when she was a little girl. Seven years old. She, um, she saved me and Thalia from a cyclops, shortly after we met her. She fought with a hammer.”

Luke sighs. “We were her heroes.”

He thinks about the first time they met and he wants to cry. He hurt her so much and for what? Just so he could die in front of her. 

“What happened then?” Percy asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

“We went to camp in a horrible storm, monsters everywhere after us. Thalia- she made a final stand for us. And as a great bout of thanks, her father turned her into a pine tree.”

Luke scowls. “I saw that tree every day for the next five years.”

He looks at Hazel. “I’m guessing Nico found you and brought you back. I know Phineas said something about a patron, but I honestly don’t know how I got out of there. Just… Suddenly, I was walking beside Percy. At first the mortals couldn’t see me, but it’s like the longer I’m here, the more solid I become.”

She nods. “I saw you on the riverbank. You looked like a ghost then. You’re right that Nico found me. I- I was in the Fields of Aspodel.”

She tells her story, mostly to Frank, but with glances their way too. The way her mother got overtaken by Gaea and her final trip to Alaska. Alcyoneus . Her death in the Bay. 

As Frank comments on her bravery and Percy wonders why she did not get Elysium, Hazel slips away again. This time Frank goes too. 

They know now that there is nothing they can do but wait. 

“How come you don’t get flashbacks like that?” Percy asks him. 

Luke shrugs. “I don’t know.”

“You haven't finished your story yet.” Percy looks at him expectantly. 

Luke sighs. “I got a quest from my dad some years later. Steal an apple from the Garden of the Hesperides. Like Heracles- or Hercules. I failed.”

He points at his face. “I was the only one to return and only barely. The dragon nearly ripped me apart. I- I was so angry.”

He stares at his feet. “First angry at myself, then I got angry with my father and the rest of them. The gods.

He shakes his head. “What Hazel said, that her mother started to listen to a voice, that’s sort of what happened to me too. I got dreams. I started listening to K-Kronos… Saturn…”

He turns to Percy. “He made me believe that it could all be different. I did horrible things because I believed that.”

He glances at Hazel’s unconscious form. “She was a hero. I- I got too many demigods killed to be a hero. My friends. And yours…”

He grabs Percy’s hand and traces his finger over a small scar. “This is my fault.” His voice feels thick. 

“You thought I was your friend. Instead… I betrayed you. This is the bite of a pit scorpion. If- if you had been anyone else, you would have been dead.”

Percy does not respond, but squeezes his hand in return. “It’s easy to say that I’m sorry after it all failed so miserably, but I am. I regret all the sorrow I brought you. Sorrow you don’t even remember.”

Percy looks at him and smiles softly. “You’re right I don’t remember all of that. But, Luke, why did you help me these past months?”

“You were so lost. I… I thought that maybe helping you was the reason that I was brought back.”

Percy hums. “Maybe…”

His eyes focus on something in the distance. “We’re almost in Seattle. Do you know anything about the Amazons?”

Luke shudders. “They’re… not very friendly. They don’t like men. Hazel should talk to them.”

“Will they recognize you?” Despite all that Luke told him, Percy sounds concerned. 

“They might, I would rather not risk ruining your chances. Don’t worry, I’m good at hiding.”

Notes:

Hey hey, very happy to read some enthusiastic comments!

Tomorrow probably no update as I'll be busy.

I'm so obsessed by this story and inspiration is at my side. This story might actually become a bit longer, extending past the end of HoO. I also updated the tags a bit.

I will already put it out there that I am a Percabeth shipper too, so while this is not the primary pairing, it might be in there in a bit (still figuring that out).

I will also explore some parallels between Nico and Percy, and Percy and Luke.

Chapter 4: Amazonia

Summary:

They steal a horse.

Notes:

Enjoy!

Ella flies away and then Luke takes his leave too, as the Pax sinks beneath the water. So much for the Roman navy. 

“Where is he going?” Frank wonders.  

 

“He, um, thinks that his presence would hurt our chances with the Amazons. Apparently, they are not very friendly.” Somehow Percy thinks that is an understatement, but he hopes that he is wrong. “He suggested that Hazel should talk to them. They don’t like men.”

They wander through Seattle, until Hazel points out the Amazon building. Something starts to prick in Percy’s brain. Amazons running the Amazon company reminds him of something else, but before he can find the right words, the front desk girl has a sword at his throat. 

They have found the Amazons alright. 

He silently curses Reyna and her sister. This was clearly a bad idea. 

They are disarmed and taken underground through halls full of conveyor belts and robotic arms and the like. Percy would have expected something less high-tech, but he bites his tongue as he sees the men dressed in orange jumpsuits. 

He does not want to find out what they did to deserve that. 

As they are taken further into the massive operation, they see the animals. Both mortal and mythical, in great cages. Kindness International: Humane Zoo Transport. A talking zebra. Strange sudden thoughts through his mind. 

The young woman sitting on the throne is clearly Queen Hylla. She has the same hard expression and dark hair as Reyna. The labyrinth markings on her belt remind him of something. Triangles . A blue-lighting delta. Annabeth bent over maps with a frown on her face. 

 

Then Hazel stops to look at a horse that she seems to recognize. Arion. Percy almost blushes at the extremely colorful tirade of words that the horse unleashes. Like a New York cab driver. He has a good cab whistle, works on cabs and pegasi. He does not know how he knows that. 

Then Queen Hylla sees him and in that very moment a clear vision of her holding a clipboard at a spa comes to the forefront of his mind. Then a second image of guinea pigs turning into pirates. 

The memories wash over him like waves. Suddenly, he remembers Circe and her magic. 

The ship that he stole. Edward Teach and his crew. 

Thankfully, showing her Reyna’s ring seems to stop her from killing him on sight. Then she grabs his leather necklace and Percy winces. Those beads. A labyrinth. The necklace is important. 

The Amazons start arguing and compared to Otrera, Queen Hylla suddenly seems like the reasonable one. Harshly, Percy and Frank get dragged to a row of suspended cages. 

Riptide is not back in his pocket yet. 

The three guards look at them apathetically. Clearly this task is not a favored one. Percy closes his eyes and tries to remember the Sea of Monsters. The satyr, Grover, in a wedding dress. An old steamship and a mean-looking girl shouting at him. 

A flash comes across his mind, slow and sunny like a movie scene. Luke smiling at him and handing him a toothbrush. Stolen from the camp store. Percy feels a trace of his own, old emotions. Warmth. No one had ever been that nice before. 

—

Luke slides past rows of boxes. He really should have stayed away, but after seeing how Percy and the others got grabbed, he decided to come to their rescue. He scans the boxes for anything that might aid him. He takes some hairpins out of a hair accessory set. They are bright pink, but it will do. 

It seems that the Amazons are not up to their usual standards as it was easy enough for him to slip inside. He stalks past the Throneroom and overhears what the Amazon Queen says to Hazel. 

If Arion can be freed… Then they can go. 

The horse rams the side of its cage and the whole thing shakes. 

He hopes that Hazel can free the others, while he takes care of the locks on the cage. He carefully scans his surroundings. 

No one. 

He takes out the stolen hairpins and wrings them into shape. He listens intently as he presses them inside. Click. 

Four more. 

Click. 

Click. 

It has been a while since he forced a lock and his hands are cramping.

Click. 

Click.  

Now there is the electronic lock. Tricky. Luke was never a hacker like some of his siblings. He sighs. Footsteps on metal coming closer. He does not have time. Fuck.  

He hears yelling and metal swords whooshing through the air. He has no choice. 

“Hey dad? I- I could really use your help right now. I know that I have been… a bad son, but I would really appreciate some help…”

Nothing. 

What was he expecting? 

Then the others storm in. “Luke?” 

“What are you doing here?”

“Freeing your horse.” Luke says it more confidently than he feels. 

A credit card falls on his head. Hermes Express . 

He swipes the card and the cage opens. Luke rolls away to avoid getting trampled by the horse. 

Thanks dad.  

It is not the first time Luke encounters a mythical horse, but the speed of this one is astonishing. As they ride to the doors, he remembers another chariot that was his once. A nice winged chariot, until it was stolen by some campers. Clarisse. But pulled by pegasi, that one was not nearly as fast as this one. The chariot rattles and for a brief moment Luke fears that they will cause the strangest traffic accident in warehouse history. 

Then they are in the open air and Ella joins them. Luke feels a surge of panic as Hazel steers them towards the docks, but rather than drown in water, Arion increases his speed until Seattle disappears out of sight. 

Percy laughs and Luke joins him. 

Frank shouts something, but with the rushing air, they cannot hear him. “We’re in Canada!” He repeats louder. 

Luke is surprised that he can tell with the speed of the landscape rushing past them. Islands and lakes are a blur below them. 

The horse moves onto dry land. A highway. He wonders whether they might get fined for crossing the speed limit. Then again, they are probably too fast for any cameras to capture them. Luke grins by himself as he considers the distortions the Mist might come up with.  

Frank looks panicked as the chariot finally breaks down under the strain. Thankfully, Hazel can manage to slow Arion down before it starts smoking. 

On unsteady feet, they salvage what they can from the wreckage. 

Percy stares at him intently, like he is trying to see right through Luke. 

“Um… Is it working then?” Luke asks him nervously. “Are your memories coming back?”

Percy hesitates, but nods eventually. “Slowly, but yes. It comes in flashes. When I saw Queen Hylla, I- I suddenly knew where I met her. On Circe’s Island with Annabeth… We were on some quest I think.”

He pauses. “I had a memory of you, too. You gave me a toothbrush. It- it was very nice of you.”

Luke smiles shortly, but guilt rushes through him. The things that happened after. The flying shoes. The newspaper cut outs. The hell hound in the forest. 

And of course: the scorpion.

“I was not a good friend to you. I plan on doing better.”

Percy smiles at him. “I think you’ve been doing well so far.”

Luke blushes.

Notes:

I'm back!

Let me know if you liked it.

Chapter 5: Cannibalians

Summary:

They visit Frank's grandma.

Notes:

Enjoy, this is a long one!

Percy’s first thought upon seeing the monsters is tie dye gym shorts and dodge-ball. “Canadians!”

Frank sends him a confused glare and Percy hurries to amend his words. Annabeth told him that after his school exploded. He thinks. It is all a bit hazy. 

Luke nods. “They are very much like hooligans. Laistrygonians. Those cannonballs are explosive.”

Frank’s poor grandma is surrounded. 

“We need a distraction.” Frank points his spear point at the earth and Percy draws his sword as the skeleton appears. Despite what Frank might say, he does not look very friendly. Next to him, Luke tenses too. 

Scenes flash through his brain. Bianca di Angelo killing one of them. Luke and Atlas watering teeth like they are plants. “A spartus.”

Luke sends him a guilty glance. Before Percy can say something, the skeleton charges towards the campfire. In a matter of seconds, the monsters are thoroughly stamped into dust. 

They head towards the house, but in the distance the smoke of the other campfires is visible. 

As they pass through the door, the air smells old and dusty. Frank frowns as they pass through messy rooms. No one seems to have been home in days. 

Upstairs, in Frank’s room the pictures of his mom are gathering dust. Percy wonders about his own mother. He remembers her having a sweet smell. 

Like candy. 

He cannot even remember her name. 

Then Frank opens the door to his grandmother’s room. Percy catches just a glimpse, before he sends them away. An old lady lying in her bed, almost corpse-like. 

Frank says Mars is inside, but Percy cannot see him. 

He follows Ella and Luke up to the roof. In the darkness, the campfires continue glowing. 

“We’re trapped,” says Luke. “We need to figure something out or risk becoming dinner.”

“Any ideas?”

Luke scoffs. “We’ll need a miracle.”

“Maybe Mars will help us?”

Luke looks at him and scoffs. “He is a god. The gods don’t help us.” Then he pauses and his expression turns a little confused, like he remembered a strange riddle, before he shakes his head and scowls again. “We will have to deal with this ourselves.”

“How?”

Luke shrugs. “Maybe the old lady has some weapons stocked up somewhere.”

“You think?”

“With Are- Mars as a father I would be surprised if this house was clean.”

“I fought him once… Ares,” Percy remembers. 

Luke looks at him. “You won.”

“I fought you too.” Percy tries to order the blurs in his brain. “You beat me.”

“I was your first teacher.” Luke smiles, but he seems pained. “I knew your moves.”

They sit in silence as the sun rises.

—

Luke was right. The attic is well-stocked with different weapons of many eras. From guns to daggers, Frank’s grandma is prepared. He lifts a Roman gladius lying between a Greek -yet to be strung- bow and a katana. 

Interesting family.  

An explosion sounds from outside. 

He grabs a Greek sword. Its weight in his hand reminds him of Backbiter. This one is just celestial bronze though. He heads to the roof again. 

If he dies again, at least he will die among friends. 

Percy has managed to get his hands on a garden hose and proceeds to blast away the incoming cannonballs. 

Then Frank appears on the roof and informs them of their possible escape route. His voice is rough as he mentions his grandmother and Luke knows that the old lady  will die. 

“Can you drive?” Frank asks him. 

Luke nods. Years ago, one of his brothers had taught him, after they had hot-wired one of Camp Half Blood’s strawberry vans. 

“I can use the sprinkler system as a distraction.” Percy’s sea green eyes twinkle. 

Below them, the ogres start chanting Frank’s name louder. 

As the son of Mars sends them to the car, Luke has to drag Percy with him. Frank seems different today, more confident somehow. Luke trusts that he has a plan. 

They get into the Cadillac, harpy and all. For a moment, Luke fears that the car might not start as he swats away the cobwebs from the steering wheel. The sound of explosions outside intensifies as he turns the key. 

Gearshift. It has been years since Luke drove in the campus vans, but with the soft memory of his brother’s voice, he readies himself for a bumpy ride. 

Just as the garage door slowly opens, Frank throws himself into the backseat. He is panting. Luke floors it, and smashes through the wooden door.

It is like driving through a fountain as Percy explodes the sprinkling system. The car shakes as Luke hits one of the monsters head on. 

It disintegrates into dust. Luke shifts the stick and accelerates as Frank shouts directions. 

The gates of the airport come into sight. Luke brakes and skids and finally stops a few yards away from a small private jet. 

As they climb out, the smell of burnt rubber hangs in the air. 

Ella begins to scream and protest as she sees the airplane. Fuck. Luke glances at the road. A dust cloud approaches rapidly. They do not have much time before the Laistrygonians will reach them. 

Then Percy mentions a friend and tells Ella to hide. 

They run towards the plane. 

Another fucking prophecy. 

Wisdom’s daughter walks alone, the Mark of Athena burns through Rome. 

Luke sends Percy an inquisitive stare, but Percy ignores him as he grips the armrests tightly. 

Right, flying. 

Frank stares out of the window, before putting his head in his hands and crying.

He proceeds to tell them what Mars told him about Gaea and the prophecy of seven.

Luke feels slightly pleased as Percy scowls along with him upon hearing Juno’s plan. His influence is rubbing off on him.

Seven demigods to save them all. 

Like they did not have enough trouble with the last prophecy. The hero’s soul, cursed blade shall reap.  He shivers. 

“You’re a son of Poseidon, aren’t you?” Hazel asks Percy. “You are Greek demigods.” 

Luke does not respond, but just looks at his friend as he toys with the beads on his necklace. “I started to remember in Portland, after the gorgon’s blood. It’s been coming back to me slowly since then. There’s another camp- Camp Half-Blood.” 

He glances at Luke. “Right?”

Luke nods, but he can no longer meet Percy’s knowing eyes. 

His heart races as the others start to discuss the implications of the two camps. Not even a war would be enough for him to be forgiven by the Greek demigods. 

He stares at the clouds and sighs. He does not want to fight anymore. It is all he has done since he was nine. 

It is enough. 

Then Percy mentions contacting a friend and as Luke hums questioningly, Percy smiles at him. “I’m gonna talk to Tyson.”

He closes his eyes and despite the ruckus from the plane, seems to fall asleep instantly.

“You could have told us earlier. About the Greek camp,” Hazel tells him. 

Luke hesitates with his response. “I- Yes, I could have. I was not really part of camp though. Not for a long time.”

Hazel stares at him and Luke shifts under her golden eyes. “I worked with the Titans. I convinced campers to join me.”

He smiles drily. “Percy led the good guys. Me? I led an army of monsters to defeat the gods…”

He sighs. “They would never want me back there, no matter how Greek I am.”

“What are you going to do after? After we…” Frank trails off. 

“After we free Thanatos?” Luke raises his eyebrow. “I don’t know… Die?”

He regrets his words immediately as Hazel stares down at her lap and Frank appears like he might start crying again. 

“Sorry.” He looks at Hazel. “We’re not the same. You- you deserve your second chance and the gods are fucking-” Hazel blushes at his cursing. “-stupid if they can’t see that.”

He looks at the sword callouses on his hands. “I don’t. I actually deserve punishment.”

He cuts them off as they start protesting. “I know what I did. Nothing can change that. Now I’m getting some sleep and you should too. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.” 

Notes:

Hope you liked this part.

Chapter 6: Beyond Goddities

Summary:

They reach Alaska.

Notes:

Enjoy!

Percy’s relief to be on solid ground once more, decreases as he meets Luke’s eyes. His old enemy exudes guilt. 

In the end Luke was a hero. That is the truth of it. But as Percy considers his first camp friend, he realizes that Luke does not see any of his past actions in a positive light. 

He never got to see the changes that came when the gods started acknowledging their kids. Annabeth’s new cabin designs. 

Percy asked that favor for Luke and Ethan and all the others. Maybe Luke would feel less guilty if Percy took him to Camp Half Blood and showed him. 

He puts the thought out of his head. If the prophecies are right, they have a long summer ahead of them. 

If they manage to free Thanatos. 

If… that does not mean that Luke dies again. 

The idea makes something in his chest ache and he turns to listen to Hazel as a distraction. Despite her bad memories of the place, she talks about the landscape in admiration. 

Percy understands it. Alaska is awe-inspiring. He stares at the blue giants who go through their day, stepping over the mortals who do not seem to see them. 

“Hyperboreans,” He is amazed to remember that name. “Northern giants. I fought some when… Kronos invaded Manhattan.”

In the corner of his eye, he can see Luke wince. He wants to say something, but it feels strange to do so in front of Hazel and Frank. It is also hard to think of something that correctly conveys his own jumbled feelings of grief for what could have been.

He wonders what Annabeth would tell Luke. He wonders when he will see her again. 

They eat breakfast. He notices Luke does not appear to be hungry, pushing his food around on his plate. He looks up and their eyes meet. 

Luke looks scared. 

Then Hazel starts outlining the next leg of their journey and as Luke listens to her, his expression changes to one of resolve. 

Luke buys their train tickets with multiple wallets from some unsuspecting mortals.  

When Percy sees the payphone, he cannot resist. 

Sally Jackson. 

He calls home and a small part of him is happy to reach voice mail. Gives him some time to think. 

There are so many things to say. About the other camp, about Gaea, about Luke. He does not tell her anything that matters. 

He winces as he hears himself say something about a quest. 

She will be worried. 

He hangs up. 

He has been missing for months. She is worried. 

Train whistle. He sprints and gets in just before the doors close. Luke observes him with concern. 

“Just…made a call,” he mumbles as the train sets in motion. 

The nature outside is a distraction. 

Further North than he has ever been, it is easy to see why this would be the land beyond the gods. 

He also spends a lot of time looking at Luke Castellan. Brow furrowed in concentration, the son of Hermes stares out of the window. He smiles at the sight of the Hyperborean giants, before catching himself and frowning again. His scar crinkles and Percy wonders how old Luke should be now. 

He seems ethereal. Ageless like a minor god.

They once were seven years apart. Somehow it feels like less now. Like Kronos took some years away when he occupied Luke’s body. 

Just as he sags deeper into the comfortable train chair, the monsters attack. It was naive to think that they would be able to make it this easy to Seward. 

The cold air and the beast’s sharp talons gripping his shoulders shake him bright awake. Frank shoots the monster before it can fly off with Percy. 

He lands next to Luke in the snow, who helps him up with one hand, while fighting with his sword in the other. 

It is chaos. The trainwreck is surrounded by confused and scared mortals. Whatever the Mist is showing cannot be good. Frank’s Spartus is the only thing standing between the mortals and the Gryphons. 

Percy stumbles over a metallic nest and as the Gryphons close in, he dangles Riptide over an egg. 

A moment later, he curses Annabeth’s absence as there is no doubt she would have come up with a better plan than to hide beneath a Hyperborean’s ass. 

The giant’s cold breath does the trick though and with a twinge he remembers the Battle Manhattan. 

Luke trudges beside him. “Percy…”

Percy smiles at him and with a tone that one might use to calm a panicked pegasus, he says, “It’s alright, Luke. You did the right thing in the end and… now you’re helping me- us.”

“The right thing?” Luke sounds bitter. 

“You stopped him, Luke. I- I saw the Fates cut your string when I was twelve. You- you were going to do the right thing all along.”

As the northern light and the stars ripple in the night sky, Percy searches for Zoe Nightshade. 

“There.” Luke points. 

There she is, the huntress running through the sky.

“I- I always would imagine that it was Thalia… After she joined the hunt. Have her still a little close to me that way.” Luke sighs. “It felt so unjust that I lived without her for so many years, just to lose her again. I really did think she would see it my way, you know?”

Percy nods. “I know. I- I thought you were dead after our fight against Atlas.”

“Nearly was. It was painful.”

They walk further in silence through the untamed wilderness around them, until they pass the village. Without further ado, in silent agreement, they sit on the picnic table. 

Percy tries to comfort Frank a little bit, but it is difficult. Their quest is daunting. 

As he mentions that Frank is the nicest child of the war god he has ever met, Luke snickers before apologizing. 

Clarisse. They think as one. 

Honestly, through the years, his relationship with the daughter of Ares has improved greatly. He remembers helping her with her father’s chariot. The way she slew the drakon. 

Luke walks next to him. Percy cherishes the body warmth that drifts his way. 

“You know, Luke, after all these years, I am starting to understand you more and more,” he admits. 

Luke hums. “What? Becoming Kronos?”

“No.” Percy shakes his head. “Critiquing the gods. The way they use us for their dirty work.”

“It is the way things are.” He sighs. “As much as it pains me to admit it, the gods are our best bet. The Titans were worse.” He points at the ground. “She will be even worse than them.”

—

In the morning they manage to get a ride to Seward. 

The sight of a cruise ship in the harbor makes Percy shudder and Luke feels another wave of guilt as he remembers everything that happened on the Princess Andromeda. 

Then Percy gets swallowed by the ground. 

Luke has horrible fears as he pulls on Frank’s bow, until both Hazel and Percy get coughed back up by the earth. 

He rubs Percy’s back as his friend tries to get the mud off his face. His lips are blue as Luke wipes away the soil. 

Hazel chokes out her story of Gaea and a captured Nico, which only rattles them more. 

The Earth is more powerful and omnipresent than any of the Titans were and that idea fills Luke with fear as he follows Hazel and the others to a rundown building. 

She does not hesitate to climb through a window. When they find her, she is standing in front of a wall full of old photos and drawings. 

Frank and Percy comfort her, but Luke does not know what to say. Suddenly his own circumstances seem less important. 

This girl spent seventy years in the Fields of Aspodel and now she was going back to the place she died. 

If she is brave enough to do that, Luke should be brave enough to apologize.

Notes:

Next four chapters have been written.

Might give you a double update today...

Chapter 7: Frozen Umbrae

Summary:

They meet Death.

Notes:

hihihi

The sight of a frozen Camp Jupiter is eerie. Percy uncaps Riptide and feels only a little safer with his sword in his hands. 

They are walking into a trap. 

No one stops them at the gates. 

Luke and Hazel stumble as they are faced with a black robed figure in chains. 

They approach and the moment Death moves, the camp comes alive. 

Not alive with actual soldiers, but Percy has fought enough dead figures to know that they are in trouble as the shades close in on them. 

Luke unsheathes his sword and steps to his side. 

Then Death’s cloak falls. 

He is an incredibly handsome man, but Hazel is right. Something about him is unsettling and cold. 

Still Death is beautiful. 

Thanatos speaks to Hazel and argues against his own freedom in a way that makes Luke’s jaw tick. 

This god is an example of the worst god to encounter as a demigod. Useless and passive. 

Luke is tempted to walk away right then and there. Fuck it . This is the land beyond the gods, let him stay just chained up on this glacier. 

Of course his companions remain. Their choice is made. Luke sighs. He will have their backs, even if it is the last thing he does. 

And when everything is said and done, he will beg Death to trade his life for Hazel. Maybe he can save her. 

Wonders what punishment might await him. Maybe eternally stuck in his mother’s house as her eyes glow green. Perhaps always battling the dragon Ladon, torn up over and over again. Maybe losing Percy over and over. 

He shakes his head. Not now. He will have eternity to find out. 

Then the shimmering giant appears. Alcyoneus. Luke feels his hand tremble at the sight of him. 

Of course giants are meant to be big, but still… The prospect of fighting one is a daunting one. Especially one made of precious metals. He is terrifying, but Luke has to admire Hazel’s handiwork. 

After heckling Hazel, the giant turns to them.  “My, my, I’ve been waiting to meet the famous Percy Jackson.” The giant grins. His silver teeth make his mouth look like a car grille. 

“I’ve followed your progress, son of Neptune,” Alcyoneus says. “Your fight with Kronos? Well done. Gaea hates you above all others…”

Luke tries to stop shaking as the giant laughs. The memory of being trapped in his own body almost makes him sick. He tries to recall what Percy said about doing the right thing at last, but he cannot shake the guilt and deep regret for his loyalty to the Titan of time. 

The giant continues to talk to Percy. “I’m sorry I can’t kill you right away, but my brother Polybotes wishes to keep you as a pet. He thinks it will be amusing when he destroys Neptune to have the god’s favorite son on a leash. After that, of course, Gaea has plans for you.” 

Of course she does.  

“Yeah, flattering.” Percy raises Riptide. “But actually I’m the son of Poseidon. I’m from Camp Half-Blood.” The ghosts stir and whisper. Some ready their weapons and Luke mirrors them. Alcyoneus raised his hand, gesturing for them to wait. 

“Greek, Roman, it doesn’t matter,” the giant says easily. “We will crush both camps underfoot. You see, the Titans didn’t think big enough. They planned to destroy the gods in their new home of America. We giants know better! To kill a weed, you must pull up its roots. Even now, while my forces destroy your little Roman camp, my brother Porphyrionis preparing for the real battle in the ancient lands!” 

Luke glances at his friends. They seem determined as Hazel outlines her plan and gives Frank his own life force. 

Maybe this will be enough to get himself upgraded to Aspodel. He shares a look with Percy as they flank Frank. 

The son of Poseidon smiles at him. He smiles back. 

Then the shades charge. They fight like one, stepping in each other's blind spots to form a blockade around Frank and Death. 

“Luke! The eagle!” Percy points in the distance and before Luke can respond his friend moves in a whirlwind through the ranks. Away from him. The ghosts scramble in confusion. Some of them completely forget to attack him and turn around to rush to the legion’s eagle. 

Frank turns around to watch Percy too as he grabs the eagle, but Luke shouts at him before he wastes his life force. 

Percy yells at the ghosts, but Luke can tell that the force of his storm is waning. His friend is tired. He runs forward to help him. 

But he is a mere son of Hermes. He does not have the power to wash away rows of ghostly soldiers with waves of water or to zap them with lightning. He just has his sword.

He charges anyway. 

It is Sisyphean. The ghosts that he slashes, flicker, but do not disappear. Percy yells in desperation as his whirlpool almost completely fades. 

Luke is sweating as he fights his way through to his friend. 

Percy stands on the edge of the glacier, surrounded by the legionnaires. Frank shouts that they can die now, but there are too many of them. 

Still Luke runs his sword through the ghostly forms and they fade before his eyes. Just before he lands the final blow, their forms resume some solidity and he can clearly see the fear on their faces. The fear of Death. They were demigods just like him. 

Frank looks at them, but then Hazel screams. “Go help her!” Percy yells, holding the golden eagle aloft. “We’ve got these guys!”

He smiles at Luke as it becomes increasingly clear that they are being overrun. Then Luke gets an idea. 

“Percy! Remember the Williamsburg Bridge?” He yells. “The ice!”

Percy nods and with a grunt he sinks Anaklysmos into the ice. The whole glacier shakes. 

Then a wave washes over them and all that remains of the icy camp and the legion sinks into the water. 

Luke kicks his way to the surface of the freezing water. His sword is lost to him. Percy and the ghosts are nowhere to be seen. Neither are Frank and Hazel with the giant.  

He needs to get out. 

Luke’s muscles ache as he finally makes it over the edge of the severely damaged glacier. His hands are bleeding. His clothes are stiffening in the freezing air. He glances back to the water. No Percy in sight. Fuck. He does not know whether he is shivering or crying. 

And Death is watching him. 

Notes:

hihihihi

I hope you liked it!

Chapter 8: Exile

Summary:

Luke makes a deal with Death.

Notes:

Enjoy!

“Luke Castellan.” Thanatos’ voice washes over him like the cold glacier winds. The god is holding a black tablet in his hand. “I’ve returned to make a deal with you.”

“Oh, thanks?” Luke shivers. 

“Your father has always helped me. Guiding the spirits to the Underworld, fast internet between the Styx and Elysium…” Thanatos stares at him with his golden eyes. “You slipped through like your brother Houdini did. Maybe it is another plot of Hera’s to have you here… I don’t know. Fact is you took the curse of Achilles and you died. You should not be here.”

Luke winces. 

“You never even went before the judges. They might give you Elysium now, you know?” Thanatos smiles. “Or maybe not. Do you know Alcyoneus’ curse?”

“He dies if he leaves his birthland. Alaska.” Luke blows in his hands to warm them up. 

“Right. Here is my choice for you. Either you stay here, in Alaska, or you die. Consider it my gratitude for aiding in my freedom.”

Luke suddenly feels like he is on fire. He is sweating in his frozen clothes. “So I would have to live in exile for the rest of my life?” 

“Yes.” Death smiles at him. “But you would have a rest of your life. I rarely make deals, Luke, you should accept before I change my mind.”

Luke sighs. 

“Percy would still be able to visit you here,” Thanatos says with the kind of knowing look that makes Luke want to sink into the ice. “You would be beyond the gods here. No more quests.”

“I- I accept.”

Thanatos nods and dissipates into a black cloud. 

Before Luke can reflect on what he just agreed to, he hears someone climb on the ice behind him. Percy is holding the golden eagle and his eyes are dark green from anger.

“Percy!” He hugs him. “You’re alive.”

“Luke! You’re freezing.” Percy waves his hand and the warm feeling in Luke’s stomach seems to travel to the outside until he is completely dry. 

“Where are the others?” 

“I don’t know. Well, I don’t know where Frank and Hazel went, but Thanatos…” Luke sighs. “He came back.”

“And?” Percy sounds worried. 

“He allows me to live… on one condition. I have to stay in Alaska. Like Alcyoneus."

“Oh.” 

“Yeah. I cannot help you to defend the Roman camp. Or Gaea for that matter…”

Percy sighs and gives him a small smile. “It’s alright, Luke. I’m glad you’re not dying.”

Luke looks at him. “I hate that you’ll have to go through another fucking prophecy. While I’ll be stuck here, worrying about you.”

“Hey, hey,” Percy grabs Luke’s hand. “It’s okay. I’ll survive. I always do.” 

“Percy… I- I care about you. I always liked you, even when you were messing up all my plans to destroy the gods. But these last few months, I… I have come to realize how much you mean to me. Even when you remember every bad thing I have ever done, I hope you will still think of me as a friend.”

Luke feels tears prick in his eyes. 

“I’ll miss you, Luke.” Percy opens his arms and they hug again. “I know you might not believe me, but I forgive you for what I remember and I will forgive for what I will remember. I’ll be back to visit you, since… since you're my friend. I promise.”

They are still holding one another when Frank and Hazel return. 

As they load the legion’s imperial gold onto the chariot, Luke feels a knot in his stomach. 

His friends will leave him behind and then he will be alone. 

Alone with his thoughts. 

“Luke is staying in Alaska.” Percy . He sounds pained. 

Hazel and Frank both hug him and he wishes them well. He means it. He hopes they survive whatever Gaea has planned for them. 

They drop him off on the mainland and he stares after them until Arion disappears beyond the horizon. 

As they are truly gone, he sits down in the snow and cries. 

What is a second chance at living worth, when he is all alone? 

Maybe if Percy comes back… Like he promised. 

He starts walking through the wilderness. His traveling instincts tell him that there is a road ahead of him. 

He has a second chance at life. No demigod stuff up in here, except some monsters. He should be fine with the Hyperborean giants. He vaguely recalls that it was difficult to convince them to join Kronos in battle. 

From what he has seen they are very peaceful in their homeland. 

He reaches the road. Somehow he knows that it will lead him to Seward. 

Strange the ways that Hermes works sometimes. Always the small things. Travel and thievery. 

His feet are hurting. 

He made his choice to live, but now he needs to figure out what he wants to do in life. 

He never graduated from any school. Chiron never thought that SATs should be part of the camp curriculum. Not even for year-rounders. The only things he knows how to do well are swordfighting and stealing. 

Not great skills to put on your mortal CV. 

A car passes him without stopping. 

Mortals.

Always so selfish. 

Luke sighs. He has not spent a lot of time in the mortal world. Even growing up with his mother, things were never normal. Then as he left, his version of the mortal world was crowded with monsters. Mythical and mortal alike. After Camp Half Blood, his life was all about the strange mixture of the mortal world and the Titans’ army. And the Underworld…

Now he needs to find his way as a mortal. There is no other way, he cannot leave Alaska to seek out help from gods or demigods alike. 

Not like the gods are responding anyway. Well, not really. He takes out the Hermes Express credit card and studies it. Traces the caduceus with his finger.  

Maybe it will work on mortal supplies. Like some food. 

He wonders whether Percy has reached New Rome yet. If his memory has been repaired yet. If he hates him. 

He tries to remember the feeling of his arms around him. Not a lot of warmth to keep him in this cold. 

As he finally reaches Seward, he heads into the first restaurant he sees. If the credit card does not work, he will just bend the Mist and fade away. 

A smiling waitress leads him to a table. 

Luke scans the menu and nearly jumps at the prices. Gods, what inflation. Well… It’s his first meal as a normal mortal, so he deserves a treat. With some wine. 

However, the moment he takes a sip of his wine, he has to think of Mr. D. and he nearly chokes. 

“Sorry, um, excuse me? Can I have some water?” 

The food is good though. It is a shame that there is no fire where he can offer some. 

To Hermes. 

Or to Hestia. 

Maybe Aphrodite? 

Maybe not. It’s better not to remind her that he exists. After all that happened with Silena…

He is better off without the goddess of Love.  

He hands his friendly waitress the credit card and she swipes it without issue. 

“Um, is there like a hotel nearby?” 

There is. 

Immediately, upon entering the room, Luke collapses on the bed. 

He will figure out life tomorrow. 

Notes:

Don't hate me?

Chapter 9: Eros

Summary:

Percy is a little confused.

Notes:

Enjoy!

Percy still has not told Annabeth about Luke. He made Frank and Hazel promise not to bring him up. He feels guilty about keeping such a secret from her. But between all the possession and conflicts with monsters and Romans alike, there was never a suitable time to drop the news on her. 

Hey, Wise girl, remember your childhood friend who you had a weird love-hate relationship with, even after he became Kronos? Um, yeah, he came back from the dead and we are sort of friends now. 

That just did not seem right. On the other hand, keeping a secret from one of his best friends is wearing on him. Of all the demigods on the Argo II, he has known her by far the longest. He trusts her without any hesitation. Still, the idea of bringing up Luke Castellan makes him nervous. 

Annabeth gets jealous. He knows that from what happened with Rachel. But Luke is not a girl… He feels like he is about to get a terrible headache. His SPQR tattoo itches. 

He wonders how Luke is doing. 

He wishes that Grover was here. The only other person who might somewhat understand his weird twofold feelings about Luke. The empathy link has been quite silent since he got his memories back and he is worried that it has perhaps been damaged. 

During this quest, faced with Frank and Jason with their considerable powers, Percy has been feeling like he is not enough. Like the moment of choice for his fatal flaw is approaching, because he is not enough. To save your friends, you would sacrifice the world. 

Thanks, Athena. 

The moment where his powers will fail him. 

At least Luke is safe now. And far away where Percy might never see him again. 

He considers his fellow quest mates. Besides Annabeth, he really likes Frank and Hazel. No bonding like trauma bonding. The other three and the angry satyr Coach Hedge are more of a question mark. Jason is nice enough, but similar to whenever Percy runs into Thalia Grace, there is a strong urge to compete and beat him. No wonder the eidolons tried to make them kill one another. 

Piper is perhaps one of the most powerful children of Aphrodite he has ever met. Her charmspeak is as impressive as it is unsettling. She does painfully remind him of Silena Beauregard at times, despite them being nothing alike in terms of appearance. Still Percy gets the impression that Piper does not completely trust him. Cannot entirely blame her after he tried to kill Jason.

Then there is Leo. He really despised him at first for disrupting their meeting at New Rome so spectacularly. 

Now after some time on the ship, he does recognize certain chaotic aspects of himself in the son of Hephaistos. The ability to mess up is a central one. A part of him feels a relief in Leo’s chaos, so different from the rigidity of the Romans. So very Greek. 

And the ship. Maybe unlike any other ship ever built, but still a ship that enables Percy to safely soar through the air. A compromise with Zeus like the pegasi. 

It is impossible to stay mad at someone who built something like the Argo II. 

Even if Percy sometimes might want to. 

—

Even though he has a bone to pick with the son of Hades after lying to him in New Rome, the image of Nico in a jar is highly unsettling. He is still mumbling his name, when Annabeth wakes him up. 

For a date. 

Granted it is to the stables, which is not as glamorous as the time they went to Paris, but Annabeth is right. They have barely had a moment alone. 

They sit on the glass like they are having a strange midnight picnic and watch the world go past down below. For a moment Percy thinks about how Thalia would hate this place and suppresses a grin. 

“You know why I like it here? It’s not just the view. What does this place remind you of?” 

Percy looks around: the cages and stables, the smell of hay, and of course Annabeth sitting close to him, her face ghostly and beautiful in the soft amber light. “That zoo truck,” Percy says. “The one we took to Las Vegas.” 

Her smile tells him that is the right answer. 

“That was so long ago,” Percy says. “We were in bad shape, struggling to get across the country to find that stupid lightning bolt, trapped in a truck with a bunch of mistreated animals. How can you be nostalgic for that?” 

“Because, Seaweed Brain, it’s the first time we really talked, you and me. I told you about my family, and…” She takes out her camp necklace, strung with her dad’s college ring and a colorful clay bead for each year at Camp Half-Blood. Now there was something else on the leather cord: a red coral pendant Percy had given her when they had started dating. “And,” Annabeth continues, “it reminds me of how long we’ve known each other. We were twelve, Percy. Can you believe that?” 

“No,” he admits. “So…you knew you liked me from that moment?”

She smirks. “I hated you at first. You annoyed me. Then I tolerated you for a few years. Then- okay, fine.” 

She leans over and kisses him: a good, proper kiss without anyone watching—no Romans anywhere, no screaming satyr chaperones. She pulls away and Percy wants to close the distance again.  

“I missed you, Percy.” 

Percy wants to tell her the same thing, but it seems too small a comment. While on the Roman side, he kept himself alive almost solely by thinking of Annabeth. When he thought Luke left him completely. I missed you does not really cover that. 

Instead he hears himself saying, “Annabeth… I didn’t tell you all about Camp Jupiter. There- there was a fourth person on our quest… The Romans didn’t know. You know him.”

He looks her in her eyes. Her forehead is frowned in worry. “Who is it?”

“Okay, you know how there were issues with people and monsters staying dead when Thanatos was imprisoned? Like Hazel.” 

Annabeth’s eyes narrow. “Who is it, Seaweed Brain?”

“It’s Luke, Annabeth.”

“Luke?” He halts her before her disbelief can shift to sadness or anger.

“I know, Wise Girl. But he- he helped me. To go to Camp Jupiter, and then later on the quest. He- he even apologized for everything when I started to remember. He was certain that Thanatos would send him back to the Underworld, but he still helped us.” 

She is silent and her eyes are stormy. “I thought he did rebirth.”

“No, he didn’t even get past the judges. At least that’s what he said.”

“Where is he now, Percy? If anyone from Camp Half Blood meets him…” Annabeth bites her lip. 

“He- he’s in Alaska. Um, Thanatos made a deal with him. He can live as long as he stays there.”

“And you’re sure you can trust him?”

Percy nods. “He could have taken advantage when I didn’t remember, but he didn’t do any of that. I- I promised I would visit when our quest is over. You know if we survive…”

“I would like to meet him too… If-” She frowns. “Have you tried contacting your father?”

Then she starts talking about the solo quest Athena gave her. The terrifying prophecy that he first heard at the Canadian airport. 

Wisdom’s daughter walks alone. 

Eventually, Annabeth manages a faint smile. “Some romantic evening, huh? No more bad things until the morning.” 

She kisses him again. 

“We’ll figure everything out. I’ve got you back. For now, that’s all that matters.” 

“Right,” Percy says. “No more talk about Gaea rising, Nico being held hostage, the world ending, the giants, Luke-” 

“Shut up, Seaweed Brain,” she orders. “Just hold me for a while.”

He is all too glad to comply, but then he remembers the hug he shared with Luke. His stomach feels strangely full of knots. 

Then he feels guilty for thinking about Luke, while he is holding Annabeth. He blinks and takes in her soft arms, long hair and smiling scarless face. All thoughts of Luke fade as she kisses him again. 

Before Percy knows it, the drone of the ship’s engine, the dim light, and the comfortable feeling of being with Annabeth makes his eyes heavy, and he drifts to sleep.

Notes:

So in this story I will not aim to break up Percabeth directly, but I do plan on giving Percy some confusing thoughts.

I will be putting the slow in slow burn, but bear with me. I'm almost done writing and I will be posting twice a day probably...

Goodnight wherever you are!

Chapter 10: Anaklysmos

Summary:

Percy picks a fight.

Notes:

Enjoy!!!

Percy feels like he knows less than ever. Memory back or not, to hear Jason and Annabeth discuss this golden statue fills him with frustration. Of course golden boy superman knows what she is talking about, while he has to sit here as his girlfriend is outlining that she definitely has to embark on a horribly dangerous quest on her own. The only thing he can do is ask questions that his friends cannot even really answer. 

It is times like these that he longs for Luke. It is selfish, but he misses someone who was just there for him. Someone who knows all about monsters and myths and somehow never made him feel stupid while he was explaining it. 

He misses him. 

He tries to comfort Annabeth, but he still feels like his words fall short and that she may not have told him all that is waiting for her . Spiders. Gods, he remembers the way she reacted to the mechanical spiders on their first quest. Spiders would be horrible, but she already has made up her mind. He feels a voice that sounds suspiciously like Luke’s creep into his head.

Why can Athena not fix her own bullshit?

— 

He stares at the form of Hercules on the island and thinks about his last birthday. He could have been a god. Usually, he would avoid a god if he can, but as he feels Anaklysmos in his pocket, he knows that he should go. For Zoe. 

Annabeth would have seen through him immediately, but she has been distant along their trip over the Atlantic. Studying the map she found in Charleston, crouched over her Dedalus laptop, worrying about her impossible quest.

So without anyone objecting, he joins Jason and Piper, and tries not to think about their incident in Kansas. 

Initially, he does not speak, just observes. Hercules seems bitter. He looks like any regular guy who you might encounter at the gym, but there is a sadness behind the eyes that Percy recognizes. 

Then Hera comes up and the sheen of friendliness disappears completely from Hercules’ square jawed face. 

“Sorry, you two- um, three. I don’t care how worthy your quest is. I don’t do anything that Hera wants. Ever.” 

“I’m sorry,” Percy feels his voice turn cold. “I don’t believe we have been properly introduced yet.”

“Percy Jackson, is it not? Son of Poseidon and all that.” Hercules towers over him. “I know who you are.”

“Then surely you recall our mutual friend? Zoe Nightshade? She helped you with the apples.” Piper and Jason give him a nervous glance. 

Hercules looks stone-faced. “Can’t say I do.”

Percy uncaps his pen. “She gave you this.”

Realization dawns in the god’s eyes. “Oh yes, I know what happened there,” Percy proceeds. “Now, I know you’ve been saddled with a shit job after a shit life for all of eternity -and I know it was a shit life, because I’m a demigod too. And Hera? I’ll be the first to say that she’s a bitch. We didn’t have a choice in coming here. No choice in listening to you and your grievances. But you do have a choice. You can be like all the other selfish godly pricks, I’m sure you’ve met your fair share, or you can be a chill dude and not another fucking problem for us!”

“You’ve got a big mouth, son of Poseidon. Perhaps I should smite you.” 

“Perhaps. Or-” Percy twirls Riptide in his hand. “We could settle this the old fashioned way. If you’re not a coward.”

“A fight?”

“More excitement than you have gotten in a long time. I win, you let us go through, you win, you can give us whatever stupid quest you come up with.”

Hercules laughs and sends Jason and Piper away to get some guy’s horn, while Percy has to stay with him. “I’m not stupid, you know. I heard about the little offer you got from my father," the god tells him. 

“Immortality?”

The god nods. “You refused. Why?”

Percy hesitates slightly before speaking. “I didn’t want to say goodbye to my friends. Most gods I met didn’t seem particularly happy either. I mean, Hermes…”

He trails off thinking about Luke’s father. 

“You don’t seem very happy either.” He glances at Hercules. “You were the guy in all the stories and yet… you’re just here on this island. Zoe had more of a life than you ever will. Demigods becoming immortal… It never truly works out I think. Even Mr. D. is miserable.”

“I’m not miserable.” Hercules stares at him. “Demigods still do my quests. I’m not forgotten, just ask your friend Luke.”

“Don’t say his name!” Sudden rage fills him. To have his friend mocked by this arrogant asshole. 

“Or what? You’re going to fight me? Very Achilles of you, very Greek to defend your little boyfriend.” Hercules grins and fury rises in front of Percy’s eyes. He hates bullies. 

Riptide shines in the sun and he does not hesitate to charge. 

Swatting the god’s crotch with the flat of his blade, then striking the face. A matching scar to Luke’s. Drawing ichor on the celestial bronze. Evading the god’s angry blows. 

Strength is all Hercules has. 

Percy traps him between the water of the ocean and the sharp of his blade. The fighting is easy, he feels strangely weightless and at some point he even jumps over Hercules entirely. 

You will bring me great pleasure, young hero. 

A deep voice in his ear.

He ignores it as he  strikes Hercules again and again. The god summons the skin of the Nemean lion, but arrows pin it to the rock behind him. Percy cannot see where they came from, but he is not about to let the chance to attack slip through his fingers. 

The god shouts in frustration, “Curse you, Eros!”

Piper and Jason return and without further ado they get permission to cross from a god who is trapped under Percy’s blade. 

—

Riding back a wave to the ship, Percy glances back at Hercules. The god shouts and curses fade away as the distance between them increases. 

Then the wave throws him onto the deck, just as Piper and Jason land. 

“What was that, Percy?” Piper asks him in an accusatory manner. 

“What happened?” Annabeth interjects. 

Percy stares at his pen. “Hercules is a dick is all.”

“Listen, I don’t disagree, but that was escalating! If you just had let Piper do the talking…” Jason tries to reason, but Percy does not care anymore. 

“That dirtbag should …” Percy sighs. “I’m tired of being used by stupid gods with stupid big egos. I should have cut him into strips.”

“You’re glowing,” Annabeth observes. “Someone gave you their blessing.”

Percy glances at his arms. He does not feel particularly blessed. He feels conflicted and angry. He wonders what blessing would make him feel this way. 

“What happened when we left you?”

Percy shrugs. “He just asked me about immortality, I called him miserable and then…” he insulted Luke. 

And Percy got furious. 

“Then what?” Jason asks him. 

Percy shakes his head. “He pushed my buttons is all.” By saying Luke’s name . 

He can feel the blessing wear off and he wonders which god thought that was worth blessing. 

Maybe it was Hera.

Of course, she hates Hercules. 

It had nothing to do with Luke. 

Notes:

I'm almost done writing and I'm very pleased with how many of you are reading along.

Love and appreciate all of you.

Next chapter we'll be checking up on Luke :)

Chapter 11: Nausicaa

Summary:

Luke makes a friend.

Notes:

Enjoy!

Seward is tiny. 

Too small to steal. 

Even with the sparse adventurous tourists visiting, Luke knows he is beginning to stand out. 

He needs to leave. 

So he hitches a ride to Anchorage. 

The biggest city in the whole state, but still tiny compared to New York or any of the other great cities he spent his childhood in. He hopes Percy will be able to find him here. 

It is warmer than Seward. He wanders through its streets and sits in its parks. 

A girl is picnicking some yards away from him. She is reading a blue-covered book, but keeps sneaking glances at him. He can tell, despite the sunglasses she wears. For a moment he wonders whether she might be a monster. She is very pale from her skin to her hair and he tries to remember whether any monsters fit that description. 

He has no weapons anymore. 

As he walks away, her quick footsteps follow him. 

“Hey, you! Wait!”

Luke stops. “I don’t have any change.”

“What? No! I’m not begging,” she laughs. “I just wanted to talk to you. You, um, seem like an interesting person.” She blushes, which is very obvious on her pale skin. “I’m sorry, you must think me strange for talking to you like this. I’ll leave you alone.”

“No, it’s alright. I just, um, don’t have very great experiences with strangers.” Luke is mostly convinced that this mortal girl is not a monster. 

“Oh… I’m sorry for ambushing you the way I did. My name is Nausicaa- don’t laugh- I know. My parents are a bit strange like that. What’s yours?”

“I’m Luke. Nausicaa is a Greek name, no?”

She beams at him. “It is! Do you like Greek mythology too?”

Luke hesitates. “Sometimes.”

She nods in understanding. “Some of these stories are quite tragic. Like Orpheus and Eurydice… Or Achilles and Patroclus.”

She does not understand, but the ease in her voice does convince him that she is not a monster. “Yeah.”

“So, Luke, what brings you to Anchorage? I thought you couldn’t be a college student, since the uni is closed. I study there, you know, but all my friends have just left for the summer break,” she rambles. 

Her rambling calms him down. This is just a mortal girl. She knows about Greek myths, but she has no clue that the very stories she likes are just as real as he is. Something about her demeanor is comforting to him. 

“I- I’m trying to figure out my future,” he tells her truthfully. 

She laughs again. “Aren’t we all?” She links one of her pale arms in his. “So are you going to study here?”

Luke sighs. “I don’t know if I can. I’m dyslexic and I- I kind of had a weird time growing up, so I never graduated school.”

She smiles at him. “I know just the person you should meet! My dad does some community projects with people who never finished school.”

“Um, Nausicaa,” Luke awkwardly loosens his arm. “You should know that while I’m grateful that you want to help me, I’m… kind of pining after someone else.”

“Oh, no stress, dude!” She grabs his arm again. “I am more for the girlies lately, anyway. But you should definitely tell me all about this mystery person. I love hearing juicy information about people I don’t know.”

They walk out of the park and after crossing a road lined with camper vans, they reach a free-standing house and Nausicaa climbs the steps to the porch. “Come on! Looks like my father isn’t home yet, but we can have some ice cream while we wait!”

The interior of the house is lined with furs and wooden furniture. Luke looks at the framed family pictures on the mantelpiece, while Nausicaa is getting their ice cream. 

She looks nothing like her parents or the two boys that Luke presumes to be her brothers. Her father seems to be at least partly indigenous and her mother has dark hair too. 

She hands him a bowl of ice cream. Rocky Road. “Yeah, I really won the genetic lottery, huh?”

Luke gives her a questioning glance. 

“I have albinism. No pigment in the skin.” Her glasses have lost their darkening now that they are inside. Her eyes have a red glow to them. 

“Oh.”

She laughs. “Thank fuck I live in Alaska, because I burn quite quickly.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve never met someone like you before.” A nice mortal with red eyes. 

“Most people haven’t. Sometimes they stare at me. That’s always a bit… weird. But anyway, Luke, how did you end up in Alaska?” 

He finds himself scrambling for an answer that would fit the mortal world. “I was traveling with some friends and… I decided that it, um…. would be nice to stay.”

She tilts her head to the side and raises her white blond eyebrows. “That is… a very not convincing lie, Luke.”

She folds her hands underneath her chin. “If my parents get home, you should have a better story. Take a page out of Odysseus’ book, start flattering me after you’ve been stranded after a long seafaring journey. Compare me to a goddess and such.”

Luke is dumbfounded by the girl sitting across from him. “There are no goddesses who look like you.”

There is mirth dancing in her red-tinged eyes. “Are you calling me ugly, Luke?”

As he apologizes, she laughs loudly. “I’m fucking with you. Now, tell me how you really got here.”

“I was in Seward. But that was a bit small, so I came here instead. Hitched a ride.”

Nausicaa hums. “I will tell you what happened to me this morning. You should know that usually I tend to leave strangers at the park. Now this is quite a strange story, but I’m sure you will believe me, Luke, as I can tell you are no stranger to strange stories. Oh! Do you want anything to drink? I swear, I’m a horrible host.”

“No, I’m fine, just tell me what happened to you.” Luke admonishes himself for sitting down so far from the door. Maybe he could use the ice cream bowl as a weapon if things go south. 

“Okay, so, since everyone left for their home state or like their family cabin I have been very bored. I’ve been trying to read books, you know. Summer reading. So every morning I cross the road and sit in Baxter Bog Park and I pretend that I am actually reading, but in the meantime I’m mainly zoning out or eavesdropping on tourists, you know how it is. Well, maybe you don’t, if you’re dyslexic. Anyway I was just chilling and then this postal service looking dude walks up to me. He was kinda hot, in a very dad, very Pedro-Pascal-looking way, you know? That’s kinda why I didn’t run away like immediately, because what the fuck is a mail guy doing in a park?”

She pauses to eat a bite of ice cream. “But then he just goes like hey, Nausicaa, right? I have a delivery for you, well and I’m like okay handsome stranger danger, but also… I’m kinda curious. So then he says his name is Hermes and then I say oh, like the god and then he fully ignores that and he tells me that I have to help his son.” She counts on her fingers. “Blond, tall, handsome, looking a bit lost and with a scar on his face. That’s you, buddy!”

Luke is speechless as he stares at this mortal girl. Who met his father. What the fuck, dad.  

“What? Cat got your tongue?” She smiles, but then she starts looking a bit worried. “You do believe me right? Because after he said that he just sort of disappeared in thin air… Until I saw you, I thought I had hallucinated the whole thing! Like a dream!” 

Luke tries to calm himself down by taking deep breaths and answers, “Okay, okay, yeah, um, I believe you. That sounds like it has to be right.”

“So, Luke, is he your father?” She starts laughing uncontrollably for a couple of minutes and Luke’s fingers tighten around the ice cream bowl. Then she sits back up. “Not a Star Wars fan, huh?” 

She shakes her head. “Sorry, I just feel like I’m going insane. So you’re a son of Hermes?”

“I am.” Luke stares at the grooves in the table. 

“That’s awesome! Luke, you’re the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. I’ll help you do whatever.” She pauses, “Well, maybe not whatever, but anything I can. What is it you need my help with?”

“Everything.”

Nausicaa hums. “Everything is a lot. Maybe first a shower? Or a bath? No offense, but your hair looks like you can use one. I have this really cool bath bomb that you can use. I mean I can never bring myself to use bath bombs, because they are too pretty, so you simply have to.”

In a seemingly never ending stream of words, Nausicaa herds him into the bathroom. She gives him a clean towel -the softest she told him - and a clean change of clothes. “Oh, what food do you like? Do you eat reindeer meat? You should, it’s a delicacy! I will text my mom that you’re joining us for dinner.”

Even long after he has closed the door and turned on the water, he hears her voice. 

Thanks, dad. 

Notes:

Very pleased to announced that I have finished writing: yay!

Also some notes on the character of Nausicaa:
-She is inspired by a princess who washes, feeds and clothes Odysseus in the Odyssey.
-In the Odyssey, Homer describes her as pale or white armed, so that is where I got the idea of making her someone with albinism.
-Luke mistaking her for a monster is not just a sign that he needs therapy, but also a reference to the stigma that albino people still face in certain parts of the world.
-Other details I added based on my brief research of albinism are bad eye sight and red eyes (you see the blood vessels, because of the lack of pigment).
-In the Odyssey, she gets warned that Odysseus is coming in a dream by Athena, but that did not really seem like Hermes' style to me. Let's not talk about how that would work with the gods having issues.
-Nausicaa is a princess of a kingdom that is kind of considered on the edge of the known world, so Alaska makes sense.

If you are or you know someone with albinism, please do correct me if I got anything wrong.

Chapter 12: Arachne's Web

Summary:

Percy has a realization (or a crisis).

Notes:

Enjoy!

Not for the first time as Percy inhales the poisonous air in Tartarus, he thinks of his very first quest.

How Luke’s cursed gift almost brought him here. 

Those are the kind of memories that make him angry for feeling torn about his own future. 

Annabeth, ghostlike beside him, with whom he is going through hell right now. They might have a future together in New Rome if they survive. College, children, getting old. All those things that demigods rarely achieve. 

And then there is the image of Luke, waiting in his stately prison, waiting for him to come back. He already has enough people who he forgot to return to. Like Bob the Titan. 

Like Calypso. 

He has to keep his promise to return. 

It is just difficult to rhyme that idea with his feelings for Annabeth. He would follow her to the end of the world, above and below. 

—

After Tartarus, it has all been a blur. 

To be back after all of that in Camp Half Blood feels like a dream. 

The only thing that aids him is to see that he lives in reality is the Romans mingling with the Greek demigods. 

He smiles, because everyone does, but it feels like he is putting on a mask. Maybe this time the gods have finally broken him. 

This time it is just a celebration among the demigods. No gratitude and praise for them from those who are barely their parents like after the last war. No gifts and promises they will not keep anyway. 

He does not mind it. The last time they almost put his life to the vote again anyway. 

He has bled enough for them. 

As Annabeth tells him that she wants to spend their senior year together in New York, before heading off to New Rome together, he feels happy. 

Truly. 

Like he can float away right then and there. 

Then Nico comes up to them. 

He does not look to be in great shape, but he is at camp and Percy is glad to see him. He should not be alone after Tartarus. 

“I’m staying too, here at Camp Half-Blood,” Nico says. 

 “Awesome!” Percy is genuinely happy for him. He just hopes the fates will take a holiday before bestowing a new prophecy upon his friends. 

‘So,’ Nico says, ‘since we’re going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp, I think I should clear the air.’ 

It sounds serious and Percy can tell the younger demigod is nervous to tell him. “What do you mean?”

“For a long time,” Nico says, “I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.”

The words echo in his head. He cannot believe what he is hearing. He stares at Nico. Might even drool a bit in just plain confusion. He glances at Annabeth and she is smiling. Okay, he heard it correctly, but what… It feels like he is about to get a headache again like he did when he still was missing his memory. “You-” 

“Yeah,” Nico says like he just did not drop a proverbial bomb on him. “You’re a great person. But I’m over that. I’m happy for you guys.”

Percy feels like someone zapped lightning through his brain. “You … so you mean-”

“Right.” 

Random memories shoot through his brain. Luke with his toothbrush. Nico with his Mythomagic cards and his relentless questions before Bianca… He’s hot- He’s the Sun God- Very Greek to defend your little boyfriend…   

Percy sees that Annabeth’s grey eyes are sparkling and that she is smiling at Nico. 

Meanwhile he is surely freaking Nico out, well, he is freaking himself out for sure. He feels a bit dizzy. 

“Wait,” Percy pauses, but he cannot find the right words. “So you mean-” 

“Right,” Nico says again. “But it’s cool. We’re cool. I mean, I see now … you’re cute, but you’re not my type.” 

He is cute? 

“I’m not your type … Wait. So-” 

“See you around, Percy,” Nico interrupts. “Annabeth.” She raises her hand for a high five.

Percy watches the son of Hades walk back to Will Solace. He feels like someone just doused him with freezing water. 

Only then he would have felt good. Now he feels like he is about to faint. 

It is like Nico’s words unleashed a dam in his mind. Dam dam. Fuck.

“-earth to Seaweed Brain?” Annabeth gives him a look of concern. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I just feel dizzy.”

“You look a little pale. Maybe you should get some rest.”

Percy nods and heads to his cabin. 

He stares at the repaired salt water fountain in the corner. Fleecy. He has no drachma. 

In a daze he heads outside. 

—

He runs into Jason. The son of Jupiter gives him a stare that tells him he looks off. Maybe Annabeth told him? 

“Are you okay, Percy?” He looks worried. He is nothing like Thalia. He does look a little like Luke. 

The thought makes him want to throw up. It is unfair to him, to Luke, to Annabeth. 

“Nico, um… told me. That he told you. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Percy feels the sweat bead on his forehead and he is pretty sure that Jason does not believe him. “Since when are you close with Nico?”

“Split. Um… we met Eros in Split. He made Nico confess that… that he liked you. He was cruel about it.”

“Jason, can we go into your cabin?” Percy wants to ensure that no one can listen in. 

“Um, sure bro. I have to warn you, the statue is very present.” 

At least Cabin 1 is somewhat neutral territory. With regards to memories anyways, the statue makes it impossible to forget which god this cabin belongs to. Jason guides them into a corner where the statue’s eyes do not reach. It is where he set up the bed. Or Thalia did. 

There are pictures on the wall. The sight of a young Luke smiling alongside young Annabeth and Thalia makes him freeze. 

“What’s going on, Percy?”

“I- I don’t know, Jason. I think I’m finally losing it. Can you tell me about Eros?” Percy tries to remove the desperation from his voice, but fails. 

“I don’t know how much I can tell you. I mean it was pretty personal. You should probably ask Nico.”

Percy sighs. “I don’t think I can. Tell me about Eros. His powers and what he looked like. Please, Jason, it is important.”

“Well, he was Roman, so Cupid. He was invisible. He struck us out of nowhere. He called Thanatos his counterpart, but he said Death was kinder.”

Percy shudders. “Continue.”

“I managed to strike him, but I had to fight based on the sound of his voice. He kept taunting Nico.”

“Until he confessed,” Percy guesses. “That he liked me.”

“Yeah… Facing Love, that’s how you conquer it. After that he became visible. He- he was nothing like mortals depict Cupid. He was hard to look at. Very handsome.”

“Did he have a bow?”

“Oh yes, and arrows that inflicted mental pain.”

Percy lays his head in his hands. Then he sighs. “Remember our meeting with Hercules?”

Jason nods. There is a worry in his eyes that makes Percy feel guilty.

“I think Eros blessed me there. I heard a voice… Hercules cursed Eros after I had beaten him.” Percy stares at Luke’s scarless face in the picture. “I think I know why now.”

He walks to the door. “Thanks, Jason. Goodnight.”

Notes:

I woke up in the middle of the night and I had an idea for a new pjo fic. However, then I fell asleep again and now all I remember is that it was a good idea.

Very frustrating.

That being said, feel free to leave any ideas for new fics in the comments.

Chapter 13: Ithaca

Summary:

Annabeth talks about love

Notes:

Enjoy!

Today is his first day of school. Of college, really. It is the first time in ages that Luke will sit in a classroom with normal, mortal students. 

For a while Nausicaa and Luke were stressed about the intricacies of having him admitted without any sort of qualifications, not to mention the cost of going to college, but then Luke received a letter that he was accepted with a full scholarship. 

He remembers that her eyes shone as she told him that Hermes was great. 

He has not told her otherwise yet. 

It is hard to argue that he is not, without telling her about his own failures. About the scars.

He will be studying Liberal Arts and Sciences, which Nausicaa described as a bit of everything until you figure out what you like. Just what Luke needs. 

Turns out that she was not exaggerating in the slightest when she told him that her parents were a little special. Neither of them batted an eye when Nausicaa informed them that Luke would be staying in their house indefinitely. 

They are nice. Nicer than he expected mortal parents to be. 

For a moment he even suspected them to be demigods. 

If Nausicaa would ever meet a goddess, it should be Hestia as her hospitality is out of bounds. 

This family almost makes him forget about his exile, but there are days that he misses the strangest things. Even some in Camp Half Blood. He will find himself humming old campfire songs in the shower or thinking of places that have long been lost to him like his bunk in Cabin 11. 

But most of all he misses the people. Percy has not sent him any sign these past weeks and here in Anchorage, it is the first time in his life that Luke is not plagued by dreams. While it is a relief to sleep so peacefully, it also means that he is completely in the dark about what is happening with the demigod camps and Gaea. 

He has not told Nausicaa a lot about his past. She thinks highly of him and he would hate to shatter her idea of him. She is his only friend in Anchorage. 

Instead, he has told her a little bit about Percy, which thus far has placated her curiosity. The only trade-off is that now she uses her new knowledge about the son of Poseidon to tease him relentlessly whenever she gets the chance. 

He still has not called. 

Luke hopes that the quest is going alright. The earth still seems to be behaving normally, but the uncertainty is slowly driving him mad. 

“Okay, Luke, you need to be ready for your classes. They always do these same introduction rounds on the first day: name, where you’re from and a fun fact, sometimes something else like your favorite color or something. Point is, you need to be ready to give a normal answer.” The habit of Nausicaa to turn to face him, while she is driving, always makes him nervous. She is driving him to campus for the very simple reason that he does not possess a driver’s license. 

“Okay, so I’m Luke, I’m from Connecticut and…” His mind blanks. 

“It’s hard, huh?”

“I like swordfighting?”

“A little funky, but true! Maybe it will also be enough to stop people from asking questions about the scar.” 

“Yeah… Maybe.” Luke stares out of the window and prays that he will safely make it through the day.

—

Being back home in New York is strange. 

Some of it feels like he never left, like his room that seemed frozen in time. 

His mother of course has been overjoyed to have him back and he gave her and Paul a careful retelling of his recent adventures, trying to make it all seem less dangerous.

Percy has no clue how Chiron and his mother managed it, but he will be able to resume his school like nothing happened. 

He still has not told Annabeth about his new Luke-related discoveries. 

Neither has he sent an Iris Message to him, even though he knows he should. He feels paralyzed and scared. 

Everything should be fine now, but instead he is locked in a prison of his own making. 

Annabeth knows something is up, but she believes that he is still in turmoil over Tartarus. While he does get frequent nightmares about the pit, it is not the reason why he lies awake at night.

Now he is sitting alongside Annabeth in the public library close to his house. 

She is studying, he is trying. 

He keeps zoning out. After he stares at the same page for ten minutes, she drags him outside. 

“What’s going on, Seaweed Brain?” She sounds a little desperate. “Just tell me, please. Help me understand.”

Percy puts his face into his hands and sighs. “Wise Girl…” He sits down, resting his back against the building. Annabeth sits next to him. 

It is easier this way, somehow. Not looking her in the eye. 

“I’ve come to realize something.” He sighs and grabs her hand. “I don’t really know how to tell you. It was difficult for me to comprehend too. The more so, because I like you so much, Wise Girl. I- I want to have a future with you. College in New Rome. We- we went through… Tartarus together and I can’t imagine what my life would be without you. But…”

“But what, Percy?” Annabeth’s voice sounds brittle. Like she can start crying any moment. 

“It’s hard for me to explain. I started realizing when Nico told me that he liked me. It was as if someone had turned the lights on.” He pauses. “While we were over there… in the ancient lands, I couldn’t stop thinking about Luke. I was worried about him, I thought. Then after Nico, I spoke to Jason about Eros, about Cupid. And then I knew.”

He meets her grey eyes. “I like Luke, Wise Girl. Not like I love you… It’s different. But it is something I can’t stop thinking about. It is the reason I have been strange. It is like Thanatos said: Death is kinder . I- I feel like I’m split in two. There is the reasonable part of me that knows that you’re the one and then there is Luke…”

Annabeth squeezes his hand and then wipes away a tear from her cheek. She stares into the distance and she has a strange look on her face. Shattered, but resilient, already picking up the sharp shards of the mirror that he dropped. 

She turns to him after a while. “Thanks for telling me, Seaweed Brain.”

She pauses, like she is unsure where to start. “Have you ever heard anything about Plato?”

He stares at her. “The Greek Philosophy dude?”

She smiles. "Exactly." Her voice turns to a tone that tells him she is going to get into some nerdy details. “Plato had ideas about love. He argued that there were many different types of love, aside from earthly or sexual love. Nowadays, it is what the idea of platonic love is based on.”

“So which type of love is ours?” 

“That can be hard to define. There is Eros , the type of love that we think of most commonly as romantic love or passionate love. That could be us, but it could also be Philia, the love of friendship, a mutual concern for one another. There is also Pragma , a type of love that is based on reason and long-term interests. This can also apply to us and our mutual future interest to go to New Rome for example.”

“I’m not sure if I completely understand all of that… But, you’re not mad? About Luke?”

Annabeth sighs. “No, I’m not mad. At some point I might have agreed with you on Luke… I don’t know what kind of love you feel for him, but it is something that clearly affects you deeply. Is it the first time you have been attracted to a guy, Percy?”

Percy considers. “I think so, but it is like I told you. Nico kind of opened my eyes about it. Suddenly, the way I kept thinking about Luke made sense.”  

Annabeth nods. “You promised him you would visit, right?”

“Yeah, but I have been so… scared that I haven't even called him yet…” He glances at her. “I expected you would be more jealous.”

She hums. “Yes, but then just now... I thought for a moment that you were breaking up with me. And the thought of losing you…” She sighs and clasps his hand again. “I cannot lose you, Seaweed Brain. And I won’t. Not to Hera, not to Gaea, not to Eros. You came back to me before and I trust you love me enough to come back to me again.”

Percy kisses her. “Or you’ll come and judo-flip me to my senses?”

She laughs, before returning to seriousness. “You should call him. Tell him we’re alive and that you will visit soon.”

“Will you come with me?”

She smiles. “While I would like to see him again, I think this first time you should meet him alone.”

“Are you sure?”

She hesitantly smiles. “Yes- as long as you tell me… Don’t shut me out again… Please?”

He looks at her and thinks that he never loved her more. The way she knows what to say to calm him is simply wonderful. He does not know which types of love he feels for her, but they rush deeply through his chest. 

“And what if he likes me too, Wise Girl?”

Her smile wavers slightly. “Then… you tell me too.”

“I’ll come back to you.”

She laughs nervously and he can tell she is still a little on edge. “I’m not sharing you for six months of summer or winter… But I can miss you some days here and there.”

—

Luke flops on his bed. Nausicaa is still out to some committee meeting, but he is exhausted. College makes him tired. He is still not used to being around so many people. So many normal mortals.

Today they talked about Plato and Socrates in Introduction to Western Philosophy . The readings were dense, but then Luke found the original texts in Ancient Greek. Reading about their funny little speeches on love. The round people with four arms and four legs. 

Soulmates. 

Not anything Chiron ever taught. But then the old centaur believed more in teaching the myths for practical applications. 

He sighs. He needs to stop living in his past. 

He sits up and stares out of the window into the garden. The grass is still green, but it will be winter soon enough. Nausicaa’s favorite season. No sunburn. She laughed so much when he told her that Apollo loved haikus. 

The air shimmers and then Percy’s face appears in the faint mist of a rainbow. Luke startles, but cannot suppress the overwhelming joy he feels. 

Percy survived.  

Notes:

So I am not sure whether Annabeth is out of character or not, but I could not bear to break them up.

I hope you appreciate the compromise.

Last chapter and the epilogue will be posted tomorrow.

Chapter 14: Oikos

Summary:

Percy goes to Alaska

Notes:

Enjoy!

Percy stumbles from the shadows. He gives Mrs. O’Leary a couple of jumbo sized dog treats. She devours them enthusiastically and slobbers him from head to toe in gratitude. 

Great. So much for brushing his hair. 

He is standing in some sort of forest, but he can already see a path. He hopes that they actually landed in Anchorage and not some other place. Shadow traveling can be unpredictable like that. 

He crosses to the path and Mrs. O’Leary bounds after him, leaving carnage in her path. They encounter a couple of people walking their dogs and once more he is impressed at the strength of the Mist as he gets some nods and friendly greetings. 

“Cute poodle," some lady tells him and he suppresses a laugh. 

As he walks to the edge of the park, he thinks about Annabeth. A couple of days ago he said goodbye to her as she was leaving for Boston. 

Something about a cousin that her father needed help with. 

Annabeth had seemed grateful enough for the distraction. 

He told his mother he was visiting a friend, but he did not mention who or that he was going all the way to Alaska. Just that he would be gone for a couple of days. 

She was not very pleased with that announcement, but she did not argue with him. Somehow she understood it was important. She did make him promise to send her an Iris Message every day. 

He looks at the street signs and compares them to the map he printed out. 

It takes him a couple of tries, but eventually he ends up in front of the right house. The girl’s house. He tries to recall her name, but all he ends up with is Nausea, which cannot be right. 

He climbs the steps to the front door and rings. Once. Then he rings again, just to be sure. 

As his finger moves to the doorbell for a third time, the door gets thrown open. 

“You must be Percy Jackson!” The palest girl he has ever seen opens the door and throws her white arms around him. “Where is your dog? Luke said that you would come here with a dog!”

She looks past him, but she does not seem to see Mrs. O’Leary. She laughs. “Sorry, I don’t see her! My eyesight is a little bad, you know? Is that a car? I’m sorry I really need new glasses.”

“No, um, that is my dog. She’s a little hard to see for mortals.”

“Wow! She’s huge! Will she fit through the door?” 

Percy considers. “Maybe she will fit in the garage?”

Nausicaa hums. “We can herd her around the house to the garden for now. Does she like reindeer meat?”

Mrs. O’Leary barks and she laughs even louder. “I’ll be right back!”

They guide his hell-hound to the back of the house. Nausicaa fills a children’s blow-up bath with water and piles meat beside it. As a reward, she gets slobbered by Mrs. O’Leary. 

They sit on the sundeck. 

“Where’s Luke?” He asks her. 

“Oh, I sent him to get us some things from the store, because he wouldn’t stop fidgeting. He’ll be back soon enough.” She smiles at him. “Now, Percy, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself?”

“Um… What would you like to know?” 

“Oh, everything really. But, let’s start with how you met Luke.” She folds her hands underneath her chin and leans forward. Her red-tinged eyes aimed at his face. 

“I don’t know what Luke told you, but um… we met years ago at… summer camp.”

“The demigod summer camp? Yes. Luke told me about this place.”

“Well, yes and it was my first time there, but Luke had been there for years, so he helped me. He taught me swordfighting.”

“Really?”

“He didn’t tell you that? Luke was the best swordfighter in three hundred years.” Percy pauses as he wonders whether Luke told this girl any of the Titan stuff. Probably not. 

“Yeah… And then we lost touch for a while, until we met again a couple of months ago and Luke came on our quest to Alaska," he tells her and he feels a little guilty for lying.

“What quest?” She asks. “I’m sorry, Luke mostly told me about what the gods are really like and stuff. Is it true Apollo loves haikus?”

“Unfortunately, yes. And um, the quest was to free Thanatos- you know, Death.”

“Wow. But why did you leave Luke here? Why did you not take him back with you?” Her eyes narrow as her voice turns a tad accusatory. 

Percy shifts awkwardly and breathes in relief as Luke’s voice calls from inside. “Nausicaa?”

“Oh, Percy!” Luke looks good. Well, he was always handsome, but Percy is pretty sure he has never seen him this relaxed. He seems happy and Percy reflects his pearly smile. “You should tell us all about your adventures! Um… If you want to, that is.”

Luke sits next to him. If Percy would stick out his hand, he would be able to touch him. He wants to. 

Eros. 

The nerves soar through his stomach. Luke smiles at him and his scar wrinkles. 

Percy starts talking. He shows the tattoo the Romans gave him, he describes the mess that occurred at New Rome with the eidolon possession. He goes through the various altercations with monsters and some dreams that he had. 

It is a jumbled mess. He is aware that he rushes through parts and skips others. He goes back to add details several times, but Luke keeps smiling and nods to encourage him. 

He adds some extra information for Nausicaa, but then as he reaches his interaction with Hercules, he slows down. He tells her about Zoe Nightshade and he shows her the pen. Then he jumbles through the fight, voice cracking as he recalls his anger. 

“Someone blessed you?” Luke asks. 

“What does that mean? To be blessed?” Nausicaa leans even closer. 

Percy tells her about the blessing he witnessed from Ares, during the Battle of Manhattan. “But every blessing is different. This was not Ares. He hates me. I… I still don’t know who this blessing was,” he lies. 

Then he tells them about Annabeth’s solo quest to the Athena Parthenos. His voice gets small as he describes how they fell into Tartarus. He blurs over the more painful and gruesome details as he tells them of their way to the doors of Death. 

Nausicaa stares at him with an expression between shock and admiration. Luke looks distraught as he describes the similarity to the elevator to Olympus and grabs his hand. “I- I’m so very happy you’re sitting next to me, Percy.”

“Me too.” He smiles at Luke. “You’ve no idea.”

Then he tells them about the fight against the giants. His fucking nosebleed. Getting slapped back to Camp Half Blood. Leo’s sacrifice and their victory. 

By the end of it, Percy feels almost as exhausted as he did after the actual battle. 

Nausicaa smiles at him. “That was an incredible story. You are truly like the mythical heroes. Thanks for sharing.” She stands up. “I’m sure the two of you have things to discuss. I’ll cook us some dinner in the meantime.”

“We can help,” Luke suggests, but she gives him a pointed stare in response. 

"Stay. I'll manage."

The door closes behind her. 

“She is taking all of it very well for a mortal,” Percy remarks. 

“She met Hermes. He talked to her. Then I showed up and I think she was pretty convinced after that. I don’t know why, but she is special.”

“Not clearsighted, though?”

“No, but there is something there. He picked her for a reason.” Luke turns to him. “Did you- did you tell Annabeth about me?”

“I did. She- um… she wants to meet you, but she thought that this first time I should go alone.”

Luke sags in relief. “I thought that she might be upset with me.”

“No, she’s always been one to believe the best in you. Even when I thought that Kronos had taken you over completely.” Percy sighs. It is time to face the truth. To tell Luke the truth. 

It feels surreal to sit next to him in this suburban garden in the late afternoon sun. 

Percy feels his heart racing.

“Luke?”

“Hmm?”

“Nico told me that he had a crush on me.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I was pretty surprised. Then- then I spoke to Jason.”

“Thalia’s little brother.”

“Yes. He met Eros- or Cupid with Nico. I got into a fight with Hercules, because he insulted- he mocked you. The blessing that- that was Eros. I think. And only when Nico talked to me, I- I started to think. To realize…” He glances at Luke’s face. “That maybe, there was a reason that I kept thinking about you.”

“Oh?” 

Percy blushes. “I talked to Annabeth about you. About- about how I care about you- How- how I keep thinking-”

Luke grabs his hand. “Percy. Calm down. I like you. Have for a while. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that you like me too.”

“You do?”

Luke nods and smiles at him. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yeah.” 

His lips are soft and the prickle of the other’s stubble on his cheek is strange, but it feels like coming home. 

They break apart and Luke smiles at him. 

“I’m glad you came back.”

"Me too."

Through the window, Nausicaa takes a picture as they kiss again. 

She will frame it and place it on the mantelpiece. 

Chapter 15: Hermes

It is the first boring summer in recent memory. The boat rushes underneath them, past Fire Island. Nausicaa is smearing sunscreen on her arms and telling them some story that has no beginning and no end. Annabeth’s blond hair is waving wildly in the wind and her grey eyes smile at them. 

Luke is stretched out in the sun like a lazy cat. He is shirtless and for the first time he does not feel uncomfortable showing the scars that Ladon scratched into his chest. 

Exile suits him a lot better than death ever did. 

Percy waves his hand and a faint mist splatters Luke. 

Summer feels endless. 

And when it does end, they will be back next year. 

They have fought and sacrificed, now are the golden years. 

On the shore a certain god of thieves packs away his binoculars, while his snakes complain softly in vibration mode. 

He has lived for millennia and he will see suffering for thousand more, but this will be a memory for him to keep and cherish in a bottle. 

The sight of three demigods and one of his favorite mortals shooting past Fire Island in a little boat, soaked in sun. 

He looks up and Apollo winks at him from a fashionable bright-red convertible. 

Annoying brother,

In the land beyond the gods, 

Time to go back home.  

Notes:

Thanks for sticking along to the very end.
Hope you appreciate my haiku.

This was my first fic in this fandom and I believe a special thanks is owed to the user robindrake93 whose wonderful works got me into this ship in the first place.

Should you have any ideas for future fics, then I can only ask you to leave them in the comments.

Love