A/N:

1.) This is my first Luke/Percy (or Percy Jackson in general) story in a while. However, I do love the pairing. And I have a lot of time on my hands at the moment, so what better way to spend it?

2.) This is an AU story, obviously.

3.) All sign language will be in italics.

I am not actually deaf or hard of hearing. But I am interested in deaf/HoH culture and the language. If I describe a sign and it doesn't seem right to you, you can tell me. Sign language does change regionally and nationally, though. So it could just be that.

Luke is in desperate need of some coffee.

He hasn't slept in almost 48 hours and, surprisingly, it's not making him feel very good. In fact, he feels like utter shit. And when he looks in the closest mirror, he realizes that he looks even worse. There are bags under his eyes and he's paler than usual. His hair is a mess because he's been running his hands through it. To be frank, he looks like utter shit times a thousand. And he has a date tonight.

The couch protests when he lifts himself off of it. Or maybe it's his joints doing all the protesting. They crack and creak like he's an old man.

Papers scatter and he jerks the laptop cord out of his laptop with his shin. In his hazy, coffee deprived state, he doesn't really notice. He's pretty sure if a tornado came through he wouldn't be able to gather the wits or the energy to do anything about it. He would just lay down on his kitchen floor and let the damn thing have him. It couldn't be half as bad as writing a thirty page paper on the finer points of the Seven Years War.

That's what you get, he thinks wryly, for wanting a degree in history.

"Yeah, yeah." He mutters to himself and jabs the elevator button. After a few minutes of humming and buzzing, the doors open and Luke steps inside. There's only one other person in the elevator with him and they remain on opposite sides of the car. When the doors open on the lobby level, he lets the girl off first. She smiles at him vaguely and pushes a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. There's a pencil stuck in her ponytail holder.

The closest coffee shop of a place called Chiron's Coffee. There's a decently sized line zigzagging through the small shop and by the time Luke makes it to the counter he's stumbling over his own feet.

"What would you like?" The girl at the counter asks.

"Coffee." Luke says dumbly, "Black. Large. As big as possible. I don't care if you put it in a bucket."

She doesn't even crack a smile, just calls his order to the guy working the machines and turns back to him.

"That will be $2.75."

He digs around in his pockets and comes up with the appropriate amount.

"Coming right up." She doesn't even look up as she gestures to the side, "You can wait over there."

Luke moves away from the counter and watches as the next few people place their orders. He begins tapping his foot. How long does it take to make a coffee? Is there machine broken? What if they ran out of coffee?

"Large, black coffee."

Luke all but lunges at the proffered cup.

"Enjoy."

Luke is already heading out the door. He takes a sip of the coffee and almost spits it out when it touches his tongue. It's fucking boiling!

He can feel the heat through the cup and the sleeve they put around it. The realization that he will have to wait a good ten minutes to drink his coffee almost makes him cry. He was so damn close!

The coffee shop is only a block away from his apartment building, so it takes him little to no time to arrive back at his apartment. The lobby is blissfully warm after the late October chill outside and he eyes his coffee miserably. Maybe it isn't as hot…

He takes another sip of his coffee and feels his eyes water. Yeah, it's still pretty damn hot. No, it would not be a good idea to take another sip.

He does anyway.

At this point, his vision is so clouded with tears he can hardly see where he's going. So the fact that he manages to run into someone isn't all that surprising. The fact that he manages to keep his coffee upright and completely within its container, well, that is very surprising. But he definitely isn't complaining.

It's only as his vision clears that he remembers the person he ran into, who is currently sprawled on the floor.

"Shit, sorry." He says and reaches out a hand, hauling the guy up and checking for any visible injuries.

"Are you all right?"

The guy is watching him intently, his eyes on Luke's mouth. He nods and grins at Luke, holding out a hand which Luke shakes.

"I'm Luke." Because even in his sleep deprived state, he knows what a handshake means. The guy smiles and holds up a finger. As Luke waits, he pulls out a cell phone and begins typing. After a moment, he holds the screen out towards Luke.

Percy.

"Nice to meet you, Percy. Or, nice to dump you on the floor, I guess." He trails off at Percy's insistent tapping on the key pad of his phone.

No problem. At least you didn't spill your coffee. You look like you need it.

Luke laughs, "You wouldn't believe how much I need it. Two days straight of non-stop revision. I feel like dropping out."

Percy laughs and it's infectious. Luke is laughing with him before he can stop himself. When he does stop laughing, he quirks a brow, "So, is texting always your preferred method of communication?"

Percy grins and begins typing furiously.

I usually sign.

"So you're deaf?" Luke thinks back to when he learned the alphabet in elementary school. He can barely remember how to spell his name.

No. I'm blind.

Luke rolls his eyes, "Funny guy, I see. What's your major?"

Art. Painting.

"God, not another one." Luke feigns disgust, "You people are everywhere."

Percy shrugs.

We're planning on taking over the world.

"Yes, because a world full of artists would function perfectly."

Better than it is now.

"Until someone clogs the toilet." Luke says drily and Percy laughs again. And again, Luke can't help but join him. There's something about Percy that he just likes. He wonders if he's new to the apartment or just visiting someone. Will he be able to see him again?

Now who's the funny guy?

"Still you." Luke deadpans, "I have to get going though. There's a paper calling my name. Maybe I'll see you around though?"

Percy grins at him.

Hopefully without running into me.

"Right."

There's an awkward pause where neither of them is sure what to do, then Percy waves goodbye and heads into the lobby. Luke watches him disappear in a crowd of people passing by the building on the sidewalk outside. He realizes he could have asked Percy for his number, it's not like the kid was particularly shy. But maybe he'll get another chance.

The elevator is inhabited by the same blonde girl as before. She nods to Luke and he smiles at her vaguely, drinking some of his coffee and sighing in relief when it turns out to be the perfect temperature.

Back in his apartment he downs the rest of the coffee in less than three minutes and tosses the cup on the floor. It's time to get some serious work done. All the time before now, he thinks, has been child's play. But now he's going to really, really work. He might even finish the whole damn paper tonight. He's had coffee. He's practically invincible. He can do anything.

Anything…

He pauses in his inner, paper oriented monologue.

If his possibilities are endless, why doesn't he do something practical? The paper can wait. Why not do something useful?

"Like learn the sign language alphabet." He supplies and his inner voice agrees. The sign language alphabet could be very useful. And not just because of Percy.

Right?