The History department is holding some sort of "Travel to the Past" fundraiser for a trip to Europe. The tickets are five dollars and Percy is desperate to go. When do you ever get the chance to travel to the past for five dollars? Practically never! Unfortunately, Grover refuses to even consider going. Not even when Percy tells him that they don't have to dress up or anything.

History isn't my thing.

Percy frowns at him.

It could be!

Grover shrugs but doesn't change his mind. And Annabeth claims to be too busy with schoolwork. Percy tries to convince her that taking a break is the best thing for her, that even geniuses need to rest their minds, but she merely gives him a look and continues figuring equations in her head. Percy slams the door on his way out and sulks for an entire day.

How is he supposed to go to this thing alone?

Sure, he's pretty self-sufficient. His mom and living in New York made sure of that. But it would be more fun with friends and a lot easier on him. Reading lips is exhausting.

No one will go with him though, no matter how often he begs them. On the day of the event, he takes his five dollars and heads to the History department alone. It's a decent walk from his dorm room and he spends the entirety of it texting Grover sad face emojiis. Eventually, Grover stops responding. He moves on to Annabeth and she sends him a strongly worded text about how he's "not a four year old" and can "handle himself perfectly well" which doesn't make him feel any better. What's the fun in handling himself well?

He pockets his phone and sighs.

However, he feels much better when he reaches the History building. More specifically, the inside of the History building. Because standing inside the door with a stack of paper programs and a powdered wig is Luke. Luke who smiles when he sees Percy and bows. The gesture has Percy laughing and pulling his phone out, typing quickly.

They say girls love a well dressed man.

Luke grimaces down at his outfit. It's very ruffled and a powder blue that looks good on Luke, but is a generally awful color.

"It's better than being inside." He gestures to the door, "They have to dress up and stay in character."

Is it worth five dollars?

Luke reads the message and shrugs, "Depends on how much you like being told things you already know. And no, I don't know it all just because I'm a History major. They have a Benjamin Franklin in there who tells you he invented electricity."

I learned that in the third grade.

"I know." Luke grins at him and Percy feels his heart stop. Damn, does Luke have to be so attractive? It would be so much easier if he was just average. Maybe Percy could seem a little bit cooler.

"I learned something for you." Luke looks around for a place to put the programs, then shrugs and hands them to Percy. Slowly and clumsily, he signs the alphabet. Percy doesn't think he'll ever breathe again. Luke learned that for him? Luke was thinking about him? He wants to tell Luke that he was thinking about him too, but that would be weird.

Instead, he smiles widely and types on his phone.

That was good! You learned it for me?

Luke looks embarrassed, "Well, yeah. I mean, I figured it was useful anyway."

You shouldn't have.

Luke takes his programs back while Percy sticks his tongue out. Luke rolls his eyes and says something about pulling it out. The threat has Percy laughing again and Luke soon follows. Percy likes laughing with Luke. He likes being around Luke. He likes Luke.

Damn, he likes Luke.

"You going in?" Luke indicates the building and Percy shrugs.

Not if it sucks.

"It doesn't suck." Luke says quickly, "It just isn't very good."

Percy stays still for a moment, thinking about what to do next. There are a lot of options, but he knows what he wants to do the most. He wants to stay out here with Luke and keep talking. He wants to talk to Luke for forever.

Maybe I'll just sit out here with you.

He turns to screen towards Luke nervously and bites his lip while the other male reads it. He doesn't have to worry though, because Luke's face lights up as soon as he's done and he nods vigorously.

"That would be great! This place is completely dead. No one really gives a damn about the History department."

This was a fund raiser?

"Yeah, for a Europe trip. Looks like it won't be much help though."

Are you going? Or do you dress like this for fun?

"Very funny, Perce."

Percy sucks in a breath at the nickname and hopes Luke didn't notice. If he did, he's nice enough not to mention it. But fuck, how can he blame Percy when he's the one that goes around giving people nicknames? Attractive people shouldn't be allowed to do that.

"I've been to Europe a few times before. I don't really feel like going again."

Percy blinks at him.

A few times?

"Yeah, like four." Luke shrugs and leans against the side of the building, "You ever been?"

Percy is momentarily ashamed of himself and his background. His mom had to save every penny she could just to get him into college. No way they could afford to go to Europe.

No. I've never been out of the country.

"It's not for everyone." Luke says easily and Percy lets out a breath, "I know some people who are terrified to leave America. They think every country is full of terrorists."

You mean that isn't true?

"Ha ha." Luke deadpans, "Seriously, though. Some of the people my family knows. They're so narrow minded. They believe everything they hear." He frowns and Percy wonders if he should feel special for getting to know this. Or does Luke tell this to everyone?

Luke appears to be contemplating his last statement. They sit in silence (or...non-motion) for a long time. Percy begins to fidget and his mind wanders to Grover and how Luke knows so many narrow minded people. The natural conclusion would be that Luke's family has a lot of money. As far as Percy knows, people with a lot of money are pretty close minded. Except for Luke.

"How's your family?" Luke changes the subject abruptly and Percy is left scrambling to gather his wits.

I live with my mom. My dad left when I was little. My mom is amazing and beautiful and does everything for me. She's the strongest person I know. I don't really know my dad's family. My mom's family is okay. They all live pretty far away tho.

Luke reads for a while. When he's finished, he simply nods and goes back to contemplating.

They're still standing quietly when the doors open and people begin heading down the steps and out onto the sidewalk. The majority of them are dressed normally, but some are in costume. Luke swears and glances at his watch.

"I have to talk to Rogers." He says and begins to turn away, only to pause and turn back. Hurriedly, he pulls out a pen and scribbles something on one of the programs. When he hands it to Percy, he winks.

And then he's gone. But this time, Percy has his phone number.