Oh hey guys, long time no read. UM anyway

This is based on an AU in my head where Luke convinced Percy to join him, like right around before Thalia's tree poisoning. So basically, Luke brought Percy in by promising him family, and like,, giving him a cause and forming a brother typea bond and stuff. You get it

"Luke, I don't think this is going to work," Percy said, eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh, c'mon kiddo," Luke leaned back in his chair a little further, feet swung onto the table in front of him. "It's just a little fun. Show 'em we mean business."

Percy looked around unsure. No one else seemed to be phased at all. Maybe they were scared to oppose Luke. Or maybe they really didn't care. Maybe Percy was overreacting.

"Come on, Percy. We have to show them that we mean it. Right now, they think we're just some kids throwing a tantrum." Luke sat up a little straighter. He seemed so much taller when he was sitting right next to Percy, looking down at him.

"It just seems a little… dangerous? Won't it hurt the campers? I thought-." Percy's eyes locked onto the floor. "I thought you said we were just fighting against the Gods, not camp." He didn't want to hurt the camp. They were just kids, like him. Like Luke.

Luke scoffed. "The camp that answers to the Gods? Please." Luke's feet clicked onto the ground. He seemed to look right through Percy. Suddenly, it felt like there was no one else in the room. Percy shifted, lifting his gaze to meet Luke's, only for a moment. He didn't know why, but Percy felt his eyes sting with tears.

Luke glanced over, and softened his gaze. "They'll be fine, Perce. It's just to prove a point."

"Promise?" Percy looked into his eyes.

"I swear, kid." Like said, almost exasperatedly.

"But-" Percy started.

"Have I ever broken a promise to you, Percy?" Luke asked sharply. The air seemed to turn cold where they stood. Percy wanted to melt into the ocean under Luke's hardened stare. He didn't know if the ocean would still accept him. He turned his back on Poseidon, hadn't he? All he had was Luke, now.

"We- we've had plans like this before, and things-" Percy stumbled.

"No, I've always been honest with you, Percy. I'm the only one who's been 100% honest with you. Things have gone wrong before, and people got hurt. But this is a war, Percy. Things happen. It won't this time. I've never lied to you. I've never hidden anything from you, Percy."

"But Chiron said that if anything happened to the-" Percy's voice seemed to get smaller by the second.

"Chiron?" Luke interrupted as he stood. "Chiron? He's done nothing but lie to you, Percy. He lied to keep you under Gods' control, remember? He never even wanted to tell you about the prophecy." That wasn't true, was it? Had Chiron lied to him? Hadn't he just wanted Percy to be happy before his fate grabbed a hold of him? Wasn't he keeping him safe? Chiron had always seemed so strong to Percy. Elusive, and confusing at times, but he always seemed to have the answers. But it didn't matter. Percy had turned his back on that security when he chose Luke.

"I will never lie to you, Percy. I told you I'd do my best to keep you safe, and to do that, I hide nothing from you. You know that, right, Percy? That's why it's better for you, here. Better for us, here." Percy stared down into his sneakers once more. He blinked.

Luke put a hand under his chin, forcing him to look into his eyes. They always looked less gentle these days. "You know why we have to do this, Percy. We have to make them see. The campers will be fine. Who can you trust, if not me, Percy? The gods?" Luke laughed, but there was no mirth or humor in his voice.

Percy had heard Luke speak like this many times before. Lately, he seemed to have to tiptoe around any subject to avoid catching him at a bad time. It didn't scare him, not anymore. But it never got easier. He always felt like he had done something wrong. Like he had crossed some invisible line that everyone could see except him. He always tried to apologize, but it he knew it never fixed anything. More than ever, he wished for before. Before the first time he had set Luke off into a tangent. Before he was scared of Luke. Before the speeches, and the war planning and the fighting.

It hadn't always been like this, had it? Percy remembered when he first met Luke on his first real day at camp. He was so nice. He had explained things to Percy that were supposed to come naturally to him. Helped him understand the world he was being thrown into. Luke had called him his honorary brother and accepted him as family, even before he knew who his godly parent was. Percy remembered how Luke took him away from camp with gentle, comforting words. He had promised to keep him safe from the prophecy that was supposed to destroy him and the world. He had given Percy a cause. Promised it would be better. Luke took him in. Took a chance on him when Percy was all alone. Didn't Percy owe him trust? He breathed a slow, quiet huff. Imperceptible.

"Okay," Percy said, lying only a little. "I trust you, Luke." He didn't know why, but something inside him felt broken.