Author's notes: Again I wrote this a while back and if you stalk my LJ, you might have seen. I'm trying to be productive and write new stuff, but it isn't working out too well. So have some pre-series Thalia/Luke fic instead!
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Blood Oath
"Don't be such a girl," Thalia said, holding out the knife for him. "It won't kill you, and it doesn't hurt much at all."
Luke glanced at the weapon warily. "This is stupid. Why do you want to do this?"
"Because," she replied, bouncing the knife up and down impatiently, "that's what real friends do. And we're friends, aren't we?"
"You know we are."
"So why are you hesitating?" Thalia continued, reaching for the magic words, the ones that always got Luke to do what she wanted. "I've already sliced my hand and if you don't do it, I'll just look like an idiot who cut herself on her knife and you'll just look like a silly old coward — "
Luke sighed in exasperation and snatched the knife out of her hand. He opened his left palm and pressed the knife tip against the skin. His blue eyes met hers and she nodded reassuringly. Quick as lightning, he drew the knife across his palm and hissed in pain as bright red blood bubbled up from the wound.
"Now what, oh fearless one?" Luke asked, grimacing as he handed the knife back to her.
"Hold your hand up and spread your fingers," Thalia said, scooting closer to him. She reached out with her own bleeding hand, threaded her fingers with his and then pressed their palms together. Thalia could feel the heat of his blood, his essence mingling with hers, and her breath caught as she felt the slight thrum of his heartbeat through his palm. Despite everything they'd been through in the last few months, this was the most intimate moment they had ever shared.
"There," she said breathlessly. "Now you've got some of my blood and I've got some of yours, and that's the strongest sort of friendship you can have."
"Cool," Luke said, but he made no move to pull his hand away. He had a funny look on his face, one that Thalia had never seen before, and she couldn't help the blush that spread to her cheeks when they locked eyes a moment later.
"So," she said, clearing her throat. "Are you going to let go of my hand any time soon? This is kinda embarrassing."
"Don't be such a girl," Luke shot back, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Holding hands won't kill you."