When morning dawned, Luke woke with the feeling of having burning lead for bones. He found that he could only open one eye and that a heavy weight was pressing down on the whole left side of his face. He recognized the infirmary and not long after his brain processed that thought a sharp spike of pain seared through his mind. His vision darkened and a cold, bitter laugh echoed in his head.
Everyone's talking about you – puny little demigods feeling pity for the sorry wreck that you are. You're a failure, don't you know? A failure and a fool. Those gods never cared for you – in fact they gave you a quest out of pity, a task that had already been done before. There wasn't anything to gain even if you did succeed – which you didn't.
Luke bristled, resentment taking root in his heart as he found the voice's accusations irrefutable. He had failed his quest, he had failed camp, and he still dared to return empty-handed.
The cold voice gave a harsh laugh, a deafening taunt ringing in his ears.
Have you even seen yourself? You're nothing but a broken little puppet that's going into the trash pile because the gods have gotten tired of playing… Besides, they've got a whole chest of other toys to amuse themselves with.
Luke gritted his teeth. A freezing sensation cloaked him and he could feel every broken bone, every strained ligament, every torn muscle screaming in agony.
Wouldn't it have been better if you died? You could've saved face if you died in battle but no – they had to bring you back and parade what a big letdown you are to everyone else. They gave you a little taste of glory and then they took it all back and laughed in your face about it. The gods don't care, Luke Castellan, they need to be punished. They need to be taught a lesson, they need to be destroyed.
He clenched his fist, the urge growing in him to destroy – to destroy things, destroy monsters, destroy everyone and everything, to destroy the gods. "The gods… destroyed…" Luke found the words leaving his mouth. "I will destroy–"
"Luke?" a small voice, groggy with sleep interjected.
The coldness left him as suddenly as it came, taken over by the warmth of the morning sunlight. A head topped with an unruly mop of dark hair rose from his chest, sea green eyes glassy and bright settled on his face. "…Percy?"
"I'm – I'm just…" Percy's eyes started to water. He bit down on his plush lower lip. "You're awake."
Luke raised his hand, ignoring the ache and placing his palm on the boy's cheek. "You stayed here with me all night?"
Percy's hands wrapped around Luke's forearm, his cheek nuzzling against the cupped palm. "I did. I prayed to the gods for you to return, I offered my whole plate for them to keep you safe–"
"The gods don't give a damn, Percy," Luke hissed, barely controlling the wave of bitterness that came over him.
The younger half-blood looked taken aback. "But–"
"They expected my failure and had me live just so I could wallow in it." Ice blue fire burned in Luke's eyes, hatred lacing every word that left him. "Do you know what the other campers are thinking right now?"
Percy shook his head.
"They're pitying me," Luke said lowly. "They decided on feeling sorry for me because they can't laugh at me in the face for messing up my quest. I'm a joke to the whole camp! The best swordsman in three hundred years not even able to get one freaking apple."
"I don't care about the stupid quest," Percy said after a beat of silence. "What matters is that you didn't leave me. You didn't break your promise."
Luke stared. Sea green eyes held nothing but affection directed at him, only him. Percy. Beautiful, sweet, innocent Percy – how long will it take before the gods decide to mess with him, too? How badly will they treat him? Luke decided he wasn't going to risk it. Not ever.
Just then there was a knock on the door and in came Chiron with Argus holding a tray by his side.
"Ah, both of you are awake, good, good." Chiron trotted in, beaming at the two demigods. "How are you feeling Luke?"
The bed-ridden half-blood felt anger bubble inside him at the sight of the centaur – the very same creature that opened the doors to Camp for him and Percy. He wanted to just get up and start throwing punches but he couldn't – because he was fucking injured.
A high and cold cackle resounded in his ears. Good boy, but now is not the time. You will not get your chance on revenge if you act rashly. Bid your time, demigod, and trust in Kronos.
"Luke?" Percy's hands squeezed his own.
Icy blue eyes found their focus. Luke schooled his expression into one of neutrality. "I'm fine."
Chiron looked at him curiously for a moment, as though he'd found something off. But in the end he didn't address his suspicion, opting instead to deliver the tray of nectar and ambrosia. "Percy, I trust you'd be able to help Luke with his breakfast?"
"Yes, sir." Percy nodded and Argus set the tray of nourishments on the bedside table near him.
"Very well, the rest of the camp will start proper breakfast in thirty minutes time," Chiron reminded the young demigod. The immortals then left, Chiron casting one last concerned look at the pair of half-bloods before he shut the infirmary doors.
Percy busied himself in assisting Luke into a sitting position. He stole pillows from the next bed to cushion Luke's back, much to the child of Hermes' amusement. Percy was all smiles as he resumed his position on the bed, sitting beside Luke and holding up a bowl of caramel-colored pudding and a silver spoon.
Luke smirked. "Are you my personal nurse or something?"
A devious grin crept onto Percy's lips, one that can only be learned through years of living with the children of Hermes. "I suppose Argus wouldn't mind spoon-feeding you, should I call him back?"
"I don't wanna bother the guy so I guess I'll have to make do with you," Luke sighed dramatically, opening his mouth as Percy scooped up ambrosia.
Percy only smiled as Luke's lips sealed over the spoon, leaving no trace of pudding once he pulled the silverware back. "So what did it taste like?" Percy asked, scooping up another bite.
Blue eyes lingered on the younger one's lips and, as he realized this, Luke feigned a cough - staring at the wall when he gave his reply. "Um, cotton candy."
"Oh." Percy raised the spoon to Luke's lips and didn't ask any more questions until his 'patient' finished the meal.
Luke drained the last drop of nectar (which tasted like blueberry pie for some reason) and Percy set down the empty glass on the bedside table.
Percy was swinging his legs off the edge of the bed, his green eyes narrowed in thought until he finally faced Luke. He hadn't even opened his mouth when the older demigod denied him.
"No, you are not skipping any camp activities, Percy," Luke said, making the dark-haired camper pout at him. "I'm going to be fine; the worst that could happen is that I'll sleep the afternoon off."
"But Luuuuuke," Percy whined – he whined, for heaven's sake, and Luke didn't know whether to slap him playfully or kiss the ever-living – wait. He did not just think about kissing Percy.
Luke stared suspiciously at the empty dinnerware, was it possible that something was slipped into his food? Or maybe there was a concussion in his brain making him think up illogical things. Either way, he decided that the word ki – no, the K-word was blacklisted from his vocabulary.
"I'm serious, Percy." Luke tried acting stern. "I'm going to get out of these bandages soon and I don't plan on easing up on training you, got it?"
The morning bell suddenly rang, announcing the start of breakfast to the whole camp.
Percy still looked unsure and Luke reached over, affectionately ruffling the boy's dark hair. "Go on, Perce…"
"I'll come back during free period," Percy promised, going up on his knees and putting his arms around Luke. The older demigod could only sigh at his resolve, wrapping his good arm around the small waist and hugging back.
"Fine."
The door closed behind Percy and Luke laid still, eyes staring up at the ceiling.
There was a voice in his head. It called itself Kronos. And it spoke the truth.
xxx
He got out of the infirmary by dinnertime. Everyone tried to offer him sympathy but most of them got stuck staring at the four-inch scar that went down his left cheek and the sling that held up his broken arm. Annabeth actually froze and took a minute to collect herself before she muttered a quick 'Welcome back' to him. He ignored the pitying glances sent his way, he took the herbal salve from Astrid with half-meant gratitude, and he saw how Vincent had to stop Clarisse from making a snide remark. The Hermes kids all got up at his arrival, surrounding him in a big group hug. Luke took his seat beside Percy as the dryads came forward with the food. Luke shoved his food offering into the fire without saying a word, schooling his expression but Percy thought he saw a flash of anger in those blue eyes.
After dinner, their Hermes Cabin schedule called for unarmed combat. Their venue was the arena which they had to share with the Aphrodite kids who were supposed to be wrestling but spent the entire period gossiping and doing each other's hair instead. Robin Alvarez, the current head counselor, and Silena Beauregard took it upon themselves to sit by Luke as he was forced to sit out his cabin's activity.
"You know there's a rumor about you floating around," Robin said casually, his tone making it apparent that he wasn't trying to stir up a fight. "Something about purposely failing..."
Luke cocked a brow at his fellow counselor. "Really? They think I'd willingly get my arm broken just to make a statement or something?"
Robin shrugged, putting on a headband to push back his curly brown hair.
"We don't believe it, honestly," fourteen-year-old Silena raised earnest eyes to Luke. "I still think you're very brave – facing a hundred-headed dragon isn't a task many would take up."
"Thanks, Silena," Luke said.
"Besides, that scar makes you look real macho," Robin smirked, wiggling his eyebrows, and the three of them dissolved into laughter.
Percy looked up at the stands at the sound of Luke's laughter and saw that the blond was with Robin and Silena from the Aphrodite Cabin. Percy found himself frowning. Luke insisted that he was fine being up there by himself and had sent Percy down to join practice. What were those Aphrodite kids doing in their part of the arena anyway?
"Percy, you're next," Cyan called once the previous two combatants had decided on a winner.
Percy stepped up to the showground, seeing that he was paired up with a guy three years older. It didn't matter, he was the youngest kid at camp – well, okay, Annabeth from Athena was ten too, but the point is, he's been here longer than most of the kids. Meaning he'd had more training.
His opponent was a kid claimed by Hebe, a minor goddess who had no cabin of her own so the guy was lumped in with their lot.
Percy stole a glance at Luke, finding the older demigod's eyes finally on him. Luke always watched his fights, if not, then he was the one Percy was sparring with. Luke always had a comment to make on how he could improve his fighting style and Percy always wanted to impress him. The match was an easy win.
He made a beeline to Luke after his victory.
"How did you do that?" Silena asked as he took the empty seat beside Luke.
"Well, I did learn from the best." Percy grinned, eyes trained on the Hermes Cabin counselor.
"Protégé of the prodigy." Robin nodded as though he'd just made a deeply philosophical statement.
Time came for the nightly sing-along and the two cabins headed off to the amphitheater together. Robin led the way with Aphrodite's children while Luke followed with the Hermes campers. As they were passing the lake, Percy pulled on the hem of Luke's T-shirt. The counselor stopped and kneeled as Percy made to whisper in his ear, "There's something I need to show you."
Luke raised a brow.
"In private," Percy whispered again.
Luke stood up, finding that the rest of the Hermes campers were waiting for him. "You guys go on ahead. Percy and I will catch up."
Shrugs and murmurs of acknowledgement were the demigods' response and once Percy was certain they were out of earshot, he took Luke's hand and dragged him to the lakeside. The dark waters reflected the moon and the stars but they weren't there to sightsee. Luke wordlessly allowed himself to be pulled along, he trusted Percy would have a reason for having them fall behind.
"I don't know how to explain this," Percy said as they reached the shoreline.
"Explain what, Percy?"
"This." The younger demigod stepped into the lake and then reached for Luke's broken arm. His brows knitted in concentration and he felt the tell-tale tug in his gut. Slowly, a stream of water snaked up his pants and shirt, somehow keeping the fabrics dry though it did leave a cool sensation. The water travelled down Percy's arms, using his hand as a bridge to get to Luke's.
Luke could only stare in amazement. The water coated his whole arm, seeping through his skin until he felt a chill in his bones. If he was to describe it, Luke would say that it felt like a menthol salve – definitely cool at first but then it warmed everything that it touched. Only this time the warmth felt like it was mending the gaps, filling in the spaces and strengthening the very fibers that bound his broken appendage together.
When he felt that everything was back in working condition, Percy withdrew his hands and the water dropped to the ground. He swayed, feeling lightheaded, and he would have joined the splats of water on the rocks if Luke hadn't caught him in his arms.
Luke pulled Percy out of the water, finding the dark-haired boy to be completely dry. He carried Percy over to a large rock formation where he could sit down, setting the ten-year-old on his lap. "You okay, Percy?" Luke asked, keeping an arm around the boy's waist as he pulled off the arm sling that hung from his neck.
Percy had his chin to his chest as he waited for the dizzy feeling to leave him. "I just need a minute," he mumbled, going along as Luke pulled him close and began rubbing soothing circles on his back. When he finally raised his head, Percy reached out his hand for Luke's once-broken arm. "Does it still hurt?" he asked, palms and fingers moving from wrist to elbow as though he was trying to feel the bones within.
"No, actually," Luke replied. "It's all healed – Percy how did you do that?"
Sea green eyes reflected the moonlight as they stared up at him. "The other night, during Capture the Flag, we made allegiance with Ares and you know that new kid right? Clarisse? Well she's a hulking numbskull. She charged ahead without waiting for Vincent's orders – she went past my post and I tried to stop her but she pushed me off and I fell down to the creek. I cut my arm on a jagged rock." Percy stretched out his right arm, using his left hand to draw a line down his shoulder to an inch above his elbow.
"And what did she do?" Luke asked with a hint of menace.
"She didn't wait to see where I'd fallen, she went ahead," Percy said. "But that's not the important part. So I fell near the creek right? And suddenly this water-lady – a naiad, I mean, she rose from the creek and told me to go into the water. She said it would heal me. So I did and the water surrounded my arm like it did to yours and the wound slowly disappeared – like it was never there in the first place."
"You can heal with water," Luke mused. "And you only learned of this recently?"
Percy nodded.
"Do you know why? I mean, what triggered these powers?" Luke absently ran one hand down Percy's right shoulder where the alleged wound should have been.
"I don't know." Percy shook his head sadly. "And Luke there's one more thing…"
"Go on."
"Remember how I always complained about the buzzing noise in my ears when we're at the stables?"
"Yes."
Percy looked down and started twiddling his thumbs. "Yesterday when you still hadn't come back, we had stable cleaning duty and I tripped on something – spilling the water on the floor. Then someone – something spoke. The voice was more of a neigh and – and it told me to watch where I was going. It didn't sound like anyone from the Hermes cabin and when I looked around this palomino was staring at me. Like, really staring. And then the other horses were looking at me, craning their necks over their enclosures and I could hear them speak."
"You speak horse?" Luke tried to make a joke but Percy puffed out his cheeks at him, frowning.
"They called me 'Lord' for heaven's sake!" The green-eyed demigod shivered, uncomfortable at the fact. "Luke, I don't understand what's happening… Is – is something wrong with me?"
"There's nothing wrong with you, Perce," Luke appeased, brushing back dark bangs from the boy's face. "It's – well, you could say it's your demigod abilities growing… Like how the Apollo kids heal through music or how the Hephaestus kids forge their own weapons."
"Well, yeah, except that those kids know where their powers are coming from…" Percy snuggled closer, resting his head on Luke's shoulders. "I'm unclaimed."
Luke didn't want to say it but from what Percy had revealed, he already had a pretty close idea of who the boy's father was. But if Percy's dad was who he thought it was then things were going to get real messy. Everyone knew of the Great Prophecy – the one forbidding the Big Three Gods from siring any children; if Percy was the son of Poseidon, which was the main direction his new powers were pointing at, it would bring a whole new level of complications to the young half-blood. Percy didn't need that right now.
"There are a lot of reasons why demigods remain unclaimed, Percy," Luke said quietly, wrapping his arms around the boy. "It's always the parent's fault so don't think that it's because something's wrong with you, okay?"
Percy nodded, his dark hair brushing against Luke's jaw.
"Oh, and Percy?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for healing my arm."
"It's nothing… just… don't tell anyone…"
"Of course… but you know what this means right?"
"What?"
"You need to master those new skills."
"You'll help me, won't you?" Percy pulled back to stare Luke in the eyes.
"Are you expecting someone else?" Luke grinned, the scar on his cheek gleaming white.
"Nope," Percy smiled back. "Only you."
