Alright, we are on chapter two. Let's get this started. Fair warning, one of the reasons why I gave up on the Og story was that the chapter stopped making sense to me and did not want to be written. So here we go at attempt two. Also to everyone telling me to update and that they love the story, thank you.
TW: Mentions of PTSD, trauma, violent outbursts.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN PJO, HOO, OR TOA IN ANY SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION.
Percy POV
It is August 18.
The anniversary of the second Titanomachy.
The anniversary of his death.
My 18th birthday. Sitting in Central Park, I just stared at the tree that held Hyperion, the Titan of Light. As I stared, I tried to feel something. Something that was rage or pain. Nowadays that is hard. While I was in Tartarus, I slowly lost touch with my emotions so that Annabeth and I could survive. Very few people know what I have done to survive since I was that naive twelve-year-old. It was worse during the battle with Gaea after Leo almost died. We were awarded and celebrated. I wore a smile on my face but felt nothing in my soul. Annabeth knew this. Every time she hugged me, I could smell her fear, feel her hesitation, taste her disgust. As time went on and I finished High school, my soul rebuilt slowly but surely. My smiles might not reach my eyes, and I may not laugh as much, but hey, it's better than being empty. Until I and Annabeth broke up yesterday on the beach.
"Hey Percy, can we talk?" Annabeth asks me, gray eyes flashing nervously. My heart softened at the sight of her. I smile softly.
"Sure. what's up." I ask as I pull her in closer. I felt her tense in my arms for a moment. I pulled back to see a flash of fear on her face. "Is something wrong.?"
Annabeth stood up and stepped back. I stand to my feet as well. She couldn't even look at me, as she said.
"I think it would be best if we broke up. We need to take time for ourselves."
I felt my heart stop in my chest as I stared at her. I hoped she would turn to me and say she was kidding. I hoped it was a lie but the longer I stared. The longer I stood there, I realized that wasn't going to happen. So I did the only thing I could do at the moment.
"Ok,'' I whispered. Annabeth whipped around to stare at me in shock. "Ok. If that is what you want. I know things haven't been the same since…that place," I swallowed my panic at the thought of Tartarus. "But I promised myself that I would respect your choice no matter what. That I would always make sure that you are happy and safe. If this is what you want then ok."
The daughter of Athena stood silent. Eyes wide in shock, hurt, awe, and relief. She walked over to me calmly. I expected to get slapped or punched, but she gently cupped my face and kissed me one last time before going to pack to head home. I stood there for a moment and let my tears fall. The water lashed out in tune with my pain as my anchor broke and I began drifting into nothing.
After our break up, I simply headed home. I didn't say anything to anyone. Not to Grover, Chiron, or Thalia. I simply went to my cabin, packed my things, and left. I made it home to my mom when I finally broke. After telling her what happened, she hugged me as I cried. Now I'm simply sitting here wondering what to do. I barely managed to graduate high school, I had no clue what I wanted with my life and lived in danger of my enemies coming to kill me. I watch the people walk around me, my chest aching at the sight of happy couples. I sighed as my gaze turned back to the tree. I remember him every year on this day. All the others refused to speak his name. Hell, even Hermes, his father rarely spoke about him.
Son Of Hermes. The Lightning Thief. Host of the Titan of Time.
Luke Castellan.
No one bothered to mourn the manipulative bastard except for me. Luke, throughout the years, never lied to me or kept secrets from me, unlike everyone else. Every time we faced off, any question I asked, he answered with complete honesty. Hell, he would have told me the prophecy himself if I had asked him. He gave me more of a fighting chance than the entire camp of people who were supposed to be on my side but turned on me multiple times without a second thought. I brought it up with Chiron once.
"Mister Jackson, I do not understand why you still care for Castellan." the centaur walked in on me mourning Luke after the giant war. I almost ignored him but it was a bad day.
"I don't care if you understand or not. I want to be alone." I muttered as I stood in front of his hidden grave. My anger shivered when Chiron sighed like I was an annoying child who would stop asking questions. "If you don't like it you can leave.
"Percy my boy," The centaur's voice was disapproving. "I understand how you feel. You are upset like young Castellan-"
"Upset? No, it has been a long time since I was upset." The snarl left my lips before I could stop it. "I'm annoyed, angry, and fucking tired. I should have to explain why my old friend's death hurts me. I should have to argue with someone when I wanna stay by his grave. And if you understood how we feel, why didn't you say something?" The centaur looked at me shocked. I wasn't done. "Was it easier for you to ignore it? Like when the camp turned on me after I was claimed even though I was attacked by the Aress cabin and a fucking hellhound at 12? Or when Thalia attacked me after capturing the flag at 14? I defended myself by I was still abandoned and shunned by everyone. Where were you then? Nowhere. Yet Luke was. Everyone turned on me but he stayed. Even after he left camp, even after he betrayed me, he still cared more than you did, he even helped me more than you did." The ice in my voice grew. I could sense the water nearby reacting to my rage. "I was at camp for two years before Thalia came back. Not once did you think to properly explain shit to me. You just threw me out there and I had to figure it out for myself. Why a monster wanted to kill me or who they were and why they did what they did. Even where Olympus itself was. You never taught me how to use the mist. But when Thalia came back, you taught her everything in a single fucking summer. And when she left for the hunt, you still didn't help me. You don't understand a damn thing. So stop pretending you do." Though cold and emotionless, my voice never raised in volume. He didn't deserve that much effort. Chiron didn't say anything before walking away. Leaving me alone with the grave of a traitor.
So yeah I miss him. I wanted him back in my life.
Funny how the Fates work.
Just as I had that thought, I went to walk home and saw someone stealing from other people's watches, wallets, and other items. Probably a demigod trying to survive for the night so I followed them. I was careful to make sure they couldn't hear or see me. It took a while but I ended up in front of an abandoned warehouse. I walked in and found said demigod asleep on the floor with their items close by. As I approached the demigod I could tell that it was a guy. He must have sensed me getting closer because his body shifted toward me. My body froze once I saw his face.
There is no way. There's just no fucking way.
Sandy blonde hair had grown into messy locks, falling into his eyes, tan skin now pale probably due to the lack of sunlight, closed eyes that I was convinced were ice blue, and a scar going down his left eye end at his mouth.
Luke Castellan.
"What the fuck…" I whispered under my breath. That was the wrong thing to do. As soon as those words left my mouth, his eyes shot open (I was right they were still the same ice blue that I remember) and he attacked. Two wars, Tartarus, and training improved my instincts to a supernatural degree, even for demigod standards. Despite being in shock, Luke, who should be fucking dead, swung a right hook at my face, I leaned back. I blocked the jab and brought my knee up to stop his kick. I grabbed his left arm as he tried to hit me in the jaw, using every force in my body I flipped him over my shoulder and onto the floor. The air in his body was forced out in a sharp exhale as he hit the ground. I quickly grabbed his wrists and straddled his waist. His struggles increased. I gotta give him credit where credit is due. For a dead man, he can fight. "Luke it's me, Percy!"
That shout froze him immediately. The haze in his eyes cleared slowly and gave way to shock and disbelief. I stared back as I climbed off him, allowing him to sit up. The only noise filling the warehouse was our heaving breathing. I went to speak, but he beat me to it.
"I knew I couldn't run forever. I'm back in the underworld, aren't I?" he whispered. I tensed at the emotionless statement. But he continued. "So what is the punishment for today? Am I getting beat again? Ripped to shreds by another pack of hellhounds, thrown into the river Styx?" I didn't know how to respond so I stayed silent. Then he whispered. "Would you like to get on my knees for you, like the others made me do? If you're going to rape me, please give me something for the pain. Just this once I don't want to feel it. Please."
Silence filled the air as I struggled to identify the emotion that came with Luke's pleas. I had no clue what to do or say. The man just asked if I was going to torture him, if I was going to rape him. What do you say to that? It took me a while to get myself together.
"Luke, you are alive. I don't know how and I don't know why but you are alive." I gently spoke. All I got in response was a scoff. Inching carefully to the traumatized demigod, I held up my hand that held the scar from the pit scorpion. "I swear on the river Styx that right now, You are alive." The sky rumbled. That made his eyes widen, and within seconds, Luke lunged for me, hands pressed against my neck looking for a pulse. A heavy sigh left his lips when he felt my heart pounding, sending my pulse racing underneath his fingers. His eyes searched my face before meeting my eyes.
"Percy?" I nodded. "How?" The whimper made something in me ache but I swallowed my responses as he continued. "When I escaped, I knew the gods would catch me at some point but why am I…?" A thousand questions on his tongue, not a single one left his lips though.
"I don't know, man," I sighed in awe and confusion at the fact that my old enemy/friend was here in front of me and alive. "Shit, I didn't even know you were alive. I don't think anyone does."
My mind began whirling with the implications. How long has he been alive? Where has he been? What has he been doing this entire time? Who else knows? Luke seemed just as terrified as me.
"Listen, if you are willing, I can take you somewhere safe. It won't be camp half-blood but I swear no one will know you are there. Does that sound ok?" I hope the offer sounded good despite how much my voice shook. He stared at me for a few minutes before nodding. I was startled at his complacency but I'm willing to bet it was from shock. I watch as he grabs his items and places them in a large duffel bag. As well as an old celestial bronze sword. I stayed silent as I led him out of the warehouse. Before I could take a step further, Luke's hand shot out and grabbed my wrist.
"Please don't leave me." He pleaded, gripping my wrist tighter. I gently pulled his hand off my wrist just to hold it as we headed to my mom's place. My finger interlaced with his. An odd feeling curled into my soul as my palm pressed against his warm skin.
"I'm not going anywhere, Luke."
This satisfied him and I pulled him along to the only safe place I had in mind.
I have no excuse as to why this update took so long but I am going to update at least once a month if not twice a month. I might write a one-shot series just to get some of these ideas out of my head to focus on this one. See you all next time.