Disclaimer: Nope I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the Lightning Thief or any related books, characters or themes. They rock. This is just a piece of fangirly-ness to show my appreciation and love.

AN: Takes place early in the first book. BEWARE some subtle PercyxLuke ahead, don't like don't read! You have been warned!

AN2: as with all my fanfics, OOC-ness will occur. I try to keep them as in-character as possible, but meh, it doesn't always pan-out! Enjoy :D

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Percy-Treatment

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He's been at this for the past hour. A crisp novel look of concentration gracing his handsome features.

It's not that Luke doesn't appreciate it, not at all, it's a nice break from the unfocused student he's used to teaching. He just wishes that Percy wouldn't use this as his point of focus. That the young man wouldn't use this as his locus.

"I used to do this for my mom all the time," Percy says, his smile faltering a bit when he's suddenly reminded that his mother is gone.

"Sorry…" Luke says, but doesn't really understand it. He's never really been attached to anyone… or anything, so the idea of feeling loss when someone has left you behind or died… it didn't really matter to him. He used to argue with himself about it, but the day he found out he was a demigod… the son of Hermes? Well… since then, that's who he's been using as his default scapegoat. Hermes isn't exactly responsible, loyal or tenacious, right? So why should he be?

Percy grins when he sneaks in a tickle to the arch in Luke's foot, the latter's only reaction was to say abruptly still and stoic, "Heheh, couldn't help it," Percy quickly says, feeling quite awkward at the backfire of his little scheme. He doesn't even notice Luke's beet-red complexion.

But, before long, Percy's back at massaging the cushions of Luke's feet, his heels, his ankles… But, what really fascinates Luke is how Percy's pressure and touch always flows and then ebbs away. Like a wave on the beach, gently lapping the sands. For a split second it crosses Luke's mind that everything the boy does has the same rhythm. Full interest, distraction. Pressure on, back off. Push and pull. He fights the same way, talks the same way, eats the same way –which is actually strange to see, swims the same way, walks the same… he probably kisses the same way too.

Luke quickly shakes his head to rid himself of the thought. He grimaces at the images of him and Percy floating through his mind and then feels Percy's hands come to a halt.

"You okay?" the young man asks, as damned innocently as always.

Luke smiles awkwardly, silently thanking Zeus for not granting mortals the ability to read minds. "Sure, I just …. I think I twisted my ankle or something, it feels pretty rotten," he quickly blurts the lie out.

The younger demigod quirks an eyebrow and gives him a lopsided smile, "Yeah?" he runs his hands over Luke's ankles, causing the latter to stiffen up, "I don't feel any inflammation or anything… which ankle did you hurt?"

For a split second the past few days of training flits through Luke's mind. If he's about to lie to someone who is damned near a podiatrist, he better have at least some legitimacy to his story. AH! This morning, sparring on the upper-decks with Cassie! The misstep on the right. Of course! "The right one… I had a slip while sparring on the decks with Cassie…."

Percy's shoulders involuntarily flinch at the name. He might be the damned Lord of the Bathroom, but he's still hounded by those Ares bullies every waking moment out in training.

"They're still giving you a hard time?" Luke asks, "Why don't you just beat them up?"

Percy intentionally pinches the arch of Luke's foot, causing him to wince, before carrying on with rubbing circles around Luke's outer ankle, "I'm not a jerk, that's why," he practically growls.

Push and Pull. A Hurricane or a Tsunami. He's definitely Poseidon's son. "Good to know," Luke muses and can't help but sigh contently when his heels get the 'Percy Treatment'.

"Thanks for helping me with my shield-work today," Percy finally starts chatting again, "I don't know why it took me so long to get a hang of it."

"I could go with… 'You reflect Poseidon… water… water is manipulation and fluid ease… so static blocking and feinting is not in your nature…. '" Luke mimics Brunner's deep voice before returning to normal, "But that's Camp Half-blood talking. We all have our own weaknesses and strengths, and it's not always about them, you know? We have our own personalities and characters, we inherited genes from both sides."

"Skinny or Bellbottom jeans?" Percy quips and Luke kicks out in frustration because of Percy's everlasting simplicity, missing Percy's leg by an inch.

Astounded, Luke stares at his foot for a minute.

"What?" Percy asks, slightly worried, but also kind of amused.

"What the-" Luke says, swings his legs of the bed with a spastic flail and attempts to stand.

"Wait- you shouldn't-!" Percy starts, but stops when Luke stands up fully, only to fall back down to the bunk bed.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Luke yells, fighting off a yawn halfway through his sentence.

"It's not my fault." Percy growls back, although a grin does paste itself back into place.

"My legs feel like jelly!" Luke snaps, testing each foot lightly against the ground. Nope. Numb. He yawns again, feeling the after-effects of the cossetting. For a half a second he considers the prudency of him bunking here for the night. But, the images flitting in front of his eyes had him setting his mind firmly on leaving. And quickly.

"Of course that was going to happen. What, you've never had a massage before?" Percy snaps back, slightly offended but still proud of his own handy-work.

"Well not with a guy!" Luke blurts out, instantly turning red afterwards. He narrows his eyes dangerously, gripping the bedside table to use as a support.

"I won't mind if you sleep here tonight," Percy innocently suggests, "It's a pretty big cabin for just one guy… and I know Hermes' cabin is pretty full at the moment…"

All sleep instantly eradicates itself from Luke's system. "No, thanks!" he almost shrieks, suddenly very aware of how close they were. Just how good the younger teen looked in his shorts and overlarge tee. How strong and well-defined his muscles had become from all this intense training. Just how innocent his looked every time he asked him a question. Just how kissable those pink lips were…

"Here, let me-" Percy all but dives under Luke's arm and helps him stand, he grins at Luke's glare, "Aww, you're going all weak kneed for me!" and laughs.

If only he knew how true that damned statement was.

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Thanks for reading!