Disclaimer: Even if I wanted them, the characters aren't mine.
While on the run, Luke Castellan would always do his best to pick a single flower and give it to his dearest friend. And when little Annabeth came, he would pick two.
This day wasn't any different. Walking towards the fully grown pine tree on the border of camp, he held a single white flower he found in the woods.
"Hey Thalia," he greeted, unsure if she can hear him, "It's been a day since we've arrived and let's just say I'm not adjusting well without you."
Whenever they got separated while on the run, they always made sure to tell each other a detailed story about what happened. Just like back then, he told her how his day went; except, this conversation was too one sided. He told her how he was claimed last night. He told her about the camp. He told her about everything.
He missed her. And after running out of things to say, he couldn't take it anymore. He had to let it out.
"I should've stayed with you." He whispered, touching the trunk of the tree as if he was touching her, "We've always been a team. We should've stuck to that."
His mind was replaying memories of the day before. Cringing at the ones he didn't want to remember. He felt guilty. Maybe if he stayed and fought, she might have survived. Maybe she'd still be here.
Biting his lower lip, he thought to himself, 'No. There's no use pondering about what could have been.' But even as he argued with himself, he couldn't help but feel guilty.
He stood there in silence for awhile; letting the stray tears he would never shed in public fall. After spending so many days with Thalia, it would be hard to spend the rest without her. As if it wasn't bad enough that he watched her die.
Kneeling down to place a flower beside the tree, he whispered, "We promised to be a family and I intend to keep that. I couldn't save you but I could protect Annabeth. I promise I will."
And with a final glance, he walked away; holding another flower he would deliver to the little girl he promised to protect.