Chapter Text
Luke was supposed to be dead. But then he woke up. He woke up in his old cabin at 19 years old. He was taken from his thoughts when Annabeth walked up to the door, "Hey, Luke! Got a new camper here for you, Percy Jackson."
Luke took a second to react. He was back to when Percy first arrived at camp. He looked at Annabeth, it had been so long since she had looked at him with so much trust. Like she couldn't fathom him ever hurting her. Things were going to be different this time. He welcomed Percy in, "Welcome to Cabin 11. The Hermes cabin. Since Hermes is the god of traveller's, the unclaimed kids and his kids both stay in his cabin, so it's a bit crowded. Unfortunately we don't have enough beds so your going to be on the floor for the time being."
Percy frowned and sat his stuff down at an empty sleeping bag.
"I would keep an eye on all your stuff, Hermes is also the god of thieves. But if someone takes something they'll usually give it back if you ask."
"Good to know."
Luke sat with Percy. He nudged him a little in an attempt to cheer him up, "Hey, capture the flag is tonight. It's a lot of fun, you'll be on my team with Annabeth."
Dinner came and Luke stuck by Percy. He needed a friendly face around, and Luke missed the short time he was that person for him. Looking at Percy's face he couldn't believe he had ever wanted to hurt him. He was just a kid. A kid who had just lost his mom and had his whole life upended. Towards the end of dinner Luke explained offerings.
"We put the best of our meals in the fire as offerings for the gods. They like the smell or something. Usually you would leave offerings for your godly parent, but since your unclaimed you should leave an offering for Hermes, since he's letting you stay in his cabin."
Percy nodded and put his food in the fire. After dinner they gathered for capture the flag. Annabeth was in charge now. Annabeth made the plan. Everyone knew their job. Finally she got to Percy, "Percy, since your new You go ahead with Luke. He'll show you the ropes."
Percy nodded. Luke's smile faltered. This wasn't supposed to happen. Things were already changing. But how much could a small thing like that change things.
The game had ended and they had won. Throughout the game Luke had shown Percy techniques and taught him how to fight. But Percy hadn't been claimed. No sign of Poseidon. Percy was still sleeping on the floor of Hermes cabin. The next day Luke got called to the big house, where he was given a quest. A quest to retrieve Zeus's master bolt. The bolt that he had previously stolen. He had been given Percy's quest. Now he was presented with a choice. Who was he going to take with him? Annabeth was the obvious choice. But he surprised everyone with his 2nd choice.
"Percy."
Chiron furrowed his brows, "Percy? Percy Jackson?"
Clarisse scoffed, "Your going to pick the unclaimed newbie."
"Yes. I think Percy has a lot of potential, with some guidance and a chance to prove himself, I think he could do great things."
Chiron nodded, "I am inclined to agree. I can see he holds great power. But also poses a great danger as well. I considered giving him something I've been holding on to."
"Anaklusmos. Riptide. You should give it to him. He needs a weapon."
He Percy and Annabeth headed out on their quest that day. Annabeth was happy to finally get a quest, but wasn't exactly a fan of Percy being there, "Why did you choose the newbie? He's not even claimed."
"Because Annie, I think Percy has a lot of potential. This is a good way to gain experience and get some real training. It's one thing to practice at camp, it's a completely different thing to fight monsters out here. Now come on, were almost at our bus stop."
They got on the bus together and Luke sat next to Percy.
"Hey, how are you feeling about all of this? I know its a lot."
Percy sighed and leaned his head on the window, "I'm being expected to leave offerings, and do their bidding, when my dad won't even acknowledge me as his son."
Percy took a breath, "Do you get dreams?"
"All the time. Their pretty normal for demigods. Sometimes their nightmares, sometimes prophetic, often times both."
"Are they ever messages?"
"Sometimes the gods send messages through your dreams. But their often metaphorical and hard to decipher. Have you been getting dreams like that?"
"No, it's just... nevermind."
Luke nodded, something was off with Percy. Luke hadn't had any dreams about Kronos lately, likely realizing his change in allegiance. He worried for Percy, with the way he was speaking... who knows what could happen. He looked out the window and saw the 3 fates. They were unraveling a blue string and re spinning it with gold. Luke's breath caught in his throat at the implications of that. The bus shook and suddenly stopped. Claws ripped open the roof, "Shit! Percy, Annabeth! We gotta go!"
They ran out of the bus. Percy's eyes widened, "Furies?! Again!?"
Luke drew his sword, "What do you mean again?"
He slashed at claws swooping down. Percy uncapped Riptide, "One of them tried to kill me at school."
He swung Riptide in an arch fending one off, "I killed her."
The three of them stood back to back in defense. Each slashing at their attacks. Annabeth got knicked by a talon and Percy slashed at the Fury until she was dust.
"Nice work Percy, we've got one more."
The other fury screamed in anger and swooped down. Luke slashed her with his sword, exploding her in a cloud of golden dust. Luke turned to Annabeth, "You okay?"
She held her arm, "I'm fine, nothing a little Ambrosia won't fix."
They continued on foot. Luke checked a map, "Alright, looks like we are in New Jersey somewhere."
Annabeth groaned, "Were lost."
Percy complained as they walked, "Isn't your dad the god of traveller's? Can't we call him for help or something? Or at least ask him to tell us where we even are. We don't even know which direction West is."
Luke sighed, "No, the gods are distant at best. We can't rely on their help, especially not on a quest."
Percy groaned in frustration, "So your telling me were running their errands for them and they won't even help us? Not even when failure means war? You realize how insane that sounds?"
"I know it sucks, but that's just how it is... Do you smell something."
Annabeth's eyes lit up, "Food."
They followed the smell to 'Auntie Em's Garden Emporium."
A woman wearing a veil met them at the door. Luke greeted her, "Hello ma'am, we got lost camping and we were hoping we could have something to eat."
The woman spoke sweetly, "Of course children. Come inside."
Luke couldn't help the uneasiness he felt. But they needed food first and foremost. They sat in a booth and 3 plates of cheeseburgers and greasy fries were placed in front of them. They all chowed down. After they finished their food the woman approached them again, "Perseus would you come to the other room with me? I'd like to speak with you."
Luke caught Annabeth looking out the window at all the statues.
"Those statues are incredibly detailed."
Luke looked out at them, "Yeah..."
"But I wonder why she chose to make all of them look terrified like that. Every single one of them looks horrified..."
Luke narrowed his eyes, "Yeah your right."
Annabeth inspected the statues more, then something clicked in her brain.
"Luke, we need to go get Percy. Now."
"Why... Oh. Aunty Em, statues..."
"Medusa."
They scrambled out of the booth to the other room. Luke didn't hear what she had been saying but it didn't matter, he cut off her head before she could do anything else. Percy yelled, "What the hell are you doing!?"
Annabeth yelled back, "That was Medusa! She was going to turn all of us to stone!"
Luke picked her head up by the snakes, looking away as he did so.
"Alright, what do we do about the head?"
Percy picked up a box and snatched the head from Luke. He shoved the head inside and taped up the box with packing tape.
"Give me a sharpie."
Luke handed him a marker and he began to write. Fuming as he did so. Luke read what Percy wrote.
The Gods
Mount Olympus
600th Floor,
Empire State Building
New York, NY
Try ignoring me now
- Percy Jackson
"Percy you cant-"
"Try and stop me. They want to act like I don't exist that's fine. But that doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy for them."
Annabeth pleaded with him, "Percy, the gods will think your impertinent."
"I am impertinent."
They raided the building for food and money and went on their way. Percy gaurded the box close to him until they were able to send it in the mail.
"How will I know they'll receive it?"
"Trust me, they will."
They got train tickets headed west, they were approaching st. Louis when the train made a stop at the arch. Annabeth gawked at it. She kept making eyes at him, "Fine. We can go see the arch."
"Yes! Thank you so much Luke!"
Luke smiled a little, "Hey no problem, anything for family right."
They left the train and Luke watched as Annabeth ran off to get a closer look. He and Percy followed behind. Luke looked at Percy, he didn't look too hot. He had bags under his eyes and a dark look in his eyes.
"Hey Percy, you doing okay?"
Percy shoved his hands in his pockets, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just, have a lot on my mind. A lot to think about."
"Choices to make?"
"Yeah."
"I understand. I've made a lot of difficult choices, done a lot of things I regret. But now I'm making up for it. Or trying to at least."
"What if I make the wrong choice?"
"You might. But you might do something amazing. You won't know until it happens. Whatever you end up doing, I know you'll do what's right in the end."
They caught up to Annabeth at the elevator. There was only room for one more person. Percy turned to them, "I'll take this one, you guys take the next one."
Percy smiled at them as the door closed. Luke couldn't help the feeling of foreboding. Annabeth dragged him around rambling about the architecture and history. It wasn't long before they heard an explosion. The both stopped and looked at eachother before running outside. Just in time to see Percy jump from a hole in the top of the arch, towards the river. They watched anxiously as he fell, "He's never going to make it."
"Even if he does he'll be dead on impact."
Somehow Percy made it. Annabeth thought he would be dead, but Luke knew better. He dragged her to the docks where they waited. It was about 15 minutes before an exhausted, sopping wet Percy climbed over the railing. He stumbled into Luke's arms and mumbled, "Hey guys."
Luke held Percy, Annabeth started pressing him, "Percy what happened?"
"Echidna... Chimera... Poison."
Annabeths eyes widened, "Oh my god! How are you not dead? After that fall!"
"Got a gift."
He opened his hand, and he was holding 3 pearls. Luke studied Percy, "From your dad?"
Percy scoffed, "Still won't claim me."
They continued on, Luke supported Percy until he got his bearings. Luke saw the flashing lights of police cars, "Come on, we don't want to have to deal with cops too."
They slipped away and hit the road. A man on a motorcycle stopped by them.
"You kids are never going to make it at this pace."
Luke made eye contact, "Lord Ares."
"There's a diner just down the road."
Annabeth tugged on Luke's arm, "What are you doing?"
"Just trust me."
They got to the diner and sat across from Ares at a booth.
"I can get you a ride up to Vegas. But I need a favor from you first. I was having a... meeting with Aphrodite when we had to abruptly leave. I left my shield behind and I need some demigods to retrieve it for me. It's at Waterland, in the Tunnel of Love ride."
Percy rolled his eyes, "Great. Another errand for the gods."
Before Percy could say anything else Luke spoke, "Deal. Percy and Annabeth will get the shield, I'll stay behind."
"You heard him. Now scram kiddos, and try not to die."
Percy and Annabeth promptly left on their mini quest. Percy folded his hands and leaned in, "In the meantime, we need to talk."
"I held up my end of the bargain."
"Deals off. I changed my mind. Now you give me the helm, and the bolt you've been keeping nice for me, and I don't turn you in as a traitor to Olympus."
Ares sneered, "What changed your mind?"
"Call it a change of heart. Don't worry, you'll get your war eventually. War is inevitable after all."
"You got me there kid. Fine."
Ares handed over a backpack with supplies, the helm and the bolt. After a while Percy and Annabeth arrived back soaking wet, and with the shield. Percy was fuming, "It was a trap! You sent us right into a trap for your own amusement?"
Ares smirked, "Technically, it was Hephaestus's trap. But you held up your end of the deal. He led them to the back of a truck labeled 'Kindness International'.
Percy didn't look impressed, "Your kidding."
"You want to go on foot?"
They got in the back of the truck with the animals. Percy laid away from Annabeth and him in the corner. Luke moved closer to him, "Hey Percy, what's going on with you?"
"Just tired."
"Alright, but you let me know if you need anything."
The ride to Vegas was long but calm. Luke saw Percy sleeping fitfully. He knew what was happening but he couldn't do anything to prevent it. He saw the fates. He knew what would happen. He remembered the original plan he had been told. If not him, it was going to be Percy. And there was nothing he could do about it. They arrived in Vegas and needed somewhere to sleep. They decided on the Lotus Casino, but after talking to a kid and his sister from the 1930s he realized it was a trap and dragged Percy and Annabeth out of there. They ended up losing a few days.
Finally they got to the enterance of the Underworld. Charon looked at them boredly, "No livings beyond this point."
Luke looked at Annabeth and Percy, "Uh, were not living. We are all dead. We died together."
He prompted either of them to continue. Percy spoke, "We drowned. In a bathtub"
Annabeth finished, "It was a really big bathtub "
Luke dropped a handful of drachmas on the desk. Charon's eyes widened.
"Fine. Right this way."
They rode on the boat on the Styx towards Hades palace. They were let off and Luke gave Charon even more drachmas.
"Thanks for the ride."
They headed off towards Hades palace. Luke saw Percy eye the Tartarus pit wearily. Luke understood the feeling. He put a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on."
They entered the Palace and Hades waited on his throne for them. Percy spoke before anyone could say anything, "I want my mother."
Hades smiled, "Bold for a child who is unclaimed."
"Me being unclaimed has nothing to do with me and everything to do with my father's cowardice."
"Feisty one there. Risky move, insulting a god."
"Doing anything about it would force him to recognize me as his."
"Smart one too. I like you Persues. Here's the deal, my helm was stolen. I simply took your mother in retaliation. I get my helm back, you get your mother."
"Are you fucking kidding me? Another errand! Why don't you do something yourself for once!?"
Luke stopped Percy by the shoulder.
"Percy, No."
Luke opened the bag pulling out Hades helm and kneeling before him.
"On our journey I acquired your helm. It's right here Lord Hades. Now if you please, return Percy's mother."
Hades took the Helm and snapped his fingers.
"Sally Jackson is home safe."
Luke bowed, "Thank you Lord Hades. Now we'll be on our way."
"The Underworld is far easier to get into than it is to simply leave."
Luke smiled, "Not to worry, we have our own way out. Percy?"
Percy gave Annabeth and Luke each pearls that they crushed under their feet. They ended up at Plumb Beach, they hailed a taxi and in about half an hour they arrived at the Empire State Building. They went in, returned the bolt and got out. They then got a taxi back to camp. The rest of the Summer went normally, but Luke could feel Percy pulling away from everyone. The evening of the last day of camp Percy was nowhere to be found. Despite knowing what was likely in store, Luke ventured out to the forest to find him. He found Percy sitting alone on a log.
"Hey Percy."
"You shouldn't of come here."
"I know. But I didn't want you to spend the last day of camp alone."
Luke sat next to Percy. Percy shifted, "I keep having these dreams. It's dark, and this voice is speaking to me. Telling me things."
"What are they telling you?"
"Nothing that isn't true. That I've been cast aside like so many other Demigods, I deserve better, we all deserve better. That things can be better."
"Percy I know what he's saying sounds good, but it won't work. Even if it did, is it really worth destroying everything?"
"They don't deserve to be in a position of power. They keep just using us and then tossing us aside like we're disposable. Like we're nothing."
"I know. I understand your anger towards them. But Percy, this isn't the way to do it."
"You don't understand! I've been pushed around my whole life. By Gabe, by bullies, and now by the gods. Why shouldn't they be brought down a peg. My father won't even acknowledge me as his kid! After everything I've done. That whole quest and he still refuses to even admit I'm his kid! You shouldn't have to earn a parents acknowledgment."
By now Percy was standing.
"Percy, you don't want to do this."
Percy uncapped Riptide, "You don't know what I want! You don't know me!"
Luke stood up and unsheathed his sword. The two started circling, "Don't do this Percy, you still have a chance to turn back. Put your sword down and we can talk about this."
Percy swung his sword slashing Luke's side, "No."
Percy slashed him again and ran away leaving Luke and the camp. Luke watched helplessly as he disappeared in the distance. He heard a group of campers coming towards the clearing. Lee Fletcher called out, "I found him! No sign of Percy."
Soon he was surrounded by campers. Michael started patching him up. Annabeth scolded him, "Luke what happened? How did this happen?"
"We were sparring and I got nicked. I don't know where he's run off to. But big things are coming. Things have been set in motion. Things we can't prevent. Regardless of how much we try."
As Luke was led back to camp he turned his head looking into the distance where Percy ran. He didn't envy the position Percy was in. The position he used to be in. He just hoped Percy's story wouldn't end like his.