Goddamn. I just vanished Off the face of the earth huh? My bad fam. Here you go.

Percy and Luke make their way to a safe offsite location and talk about things.

TW: Emotional breakdown

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, HOO, TOA

Percy Pov

I honestly wanna know what I did to piss off the Fates so much that they decide to make my life their sitcom. Seriously, I didn't know they existed until I was twelve! I wanted to scream but I held it back as I led Luke out of the warehouse. His body was still tense and I could hear his heart still pumping from our fight. Even if I didn't have heightened senses, anyone could have seen how tense he was, and for good reason.

Hypervigilance. He is on guard for even the slightest thing that may try to attack us. I squeezed his hand, quelling some of his panic, and walked back to the park. Being a son of Poseidon and a two-time war vet had its perks. My old man gave me two birthday presents. The first one was a blue Ford 150 pickup truck. Luke raises an eyebrow at me in question.

"Don't even start. It was a gift from my dad." his body tensed at the mention of the god but didn't hesitate to hop in. I started the truck and began driving. The silence between us was tense but I honestly didn't know what to say. Luckily for me, Luke decided to break the silence first.

"So what happened after I died?" I should have expected that.

"Not much. The survivors were rewarded. I was granted a chance at immortality, but I denied it so that I could date Annabeth and ask the Gods to pay more attention to their kids. Then we had calmness and peace for about six months until I was kidnapped by Hera. She put me to sleep for two to three months and dropped me off at some weird wolf house. Then I had to fight my way to a Roman camp," Luke's eyes went wide at that. Oh, he hadn't heard anything yet. "Afterward I traveled to Alaska with a couple of my friends and saved the camp from a monster invasion. Which then led to us going on another adventure and another war." That was the water-down version.

I kept my head turned towards the roads but I felt his eyes burn into the side of my head.

"I got a feeling that isn't even half of it. But I'm not going to push. I'm more irritated at the fact that the gods didn't change after the first time," Luke sighed. I shrugged my shoulders. We fell into a calm silence as I drove for the next hour to the hidden mahogany log cabin I had in the forest.

The second gift from my old man.

Luke stared at the large two-story log cabin before us as I killed the engine. It is quite pretty. Polished oak stacked neatly on top of each other, chimney a deep gray color, cobblestone pathway leading up to a set of steps. I hopped out of the car and so did he, grabbing his things before closing the door. He looked nervous. Like he expects someone to pop out and grab him. Or worse.

It set something off in my chest.

"Another gift from my old man," I announced as I killed the truck. "He got Hecate and Hermes to bless it so that no gods, goddesses, or monsters can find it except for the ones I allow." I hoped and made my way up the stone path, Luke stayed close to me. I opened the door and walked up the steps, heading straight for the guest room. I headed straight into the large bedroom. The walls were bare with a mahogany nightstand. By the looks of Luke's face, this was the most important thing right now. "The room across from us is a shower. I'll grab you a change of clothes while you shower. Soap is under the sink."

I left before he could respond and headed to my room. I sighed as I walked away.

What the fuck is my life?

Luke's Pov

I stared at the door after Percy left before making my way to the shower. I almost moaned at the sight of the gray marble, large standing shower, and deep tube. Grabbing the soap and a towel from under the sink, I turn on the shower. I waited as it slowly turned warmer by the minute. Tears almost fell from my eyes as the water hit my skin. I sigh in blissful joy as I carefully scrub off all the grime and dirt from my body and hair. As I washed myself I let my mind wander through the past few hours.

Percy Jackson. The same kid I tried to kill is the same one he sheltered me. But for how long? If Jackson is right the gods are bound to be looking for me. Thanatos is mostly searching for all the lost souls right now. What would happen once they find me? Worst-case scenario, I end up in the shield of punishment again. No, the worst would be if they let me live. Camp Halfblood would tear me to shreds.

I swallowed the panic in my chest and turned off the shower. Grabbed the towel on the rack, swallowing the moan as the softness touched my skin. When I made it back to the bedroom, the bed had a pair of black sweatpants and a long-sleeved dark gray shirt. I immediately slipped it on. I made my way out of the room and back down the stairs. I took the time to get a better look at the place. The walls were mostly bare save for some photos. I recognized Percy and Annabeth in some of them. Even Thalia, Grover, and the son of Hades. I had no clue who the others were. I made it to a large living room with a glass coffee table in the middle in front of a dark blue sectional couch. On the floor was a faux fur black rug. I carefully made my way over to it. I ran my thin finger over the soft fabric and almost sobbed at the sensation.

"It's a nice couch but I don't think it's worth crying over." my gaze immediately turns to the figure in the doorway of a kitchen.

Black raven hair fell to his shoulders in a messy wolf cut, body was lean and muscular like a swimmer. Tan skin coated with pale scars from his victories and battles over his life. Black torn jeans covered his long legs and slim waist. A short white covered his torso but still allowed me to see the SPQR tattoo on his strong arms.

Percy Jackson grew up over the years.

I didn't get a good look earlier but now that I'm seeing him for the first time in years, I feel self-conscious about my thin frame. Percy either didn't notice or didn't care because he walked over to me and would you look at that. He's taller than me.

"Come on, I made a couple of sandwiches," He carefully took my hand in his and led me to a rustic kitchen, keeping it in theme with the rest of the house. True enough on the table was a delicious-looking sandwich. He guided me to a chair and sat me down. "Eat. imma make some tea. Got a feeling we need it." I swallowed my pride and began eating. The urge to shove it in was strong but I managed to hold back. In the end, I could even finish it. Lack of proper food makes my stomach weak. It didn't take long for him to come back with a cup of tea. The scent of chamomile and peppermint rose into the air. "Drink." I obeyed. It tasted pretty good. We stayed in silence for a moment.

"What are you going to do with me?" I whispered. Percy's green eyes stared into mine. "I can't stay here forever." Percy raised an eyebrow at that.

"Technically you can. We are close to a town so food and supplies wouldn't be a true problem, but the hospital is a bit further away. We can discuss that later. I need to know what happened to you in the underworld."

I tensed up immediately. I looked away from him as I forced myself to be calm but a fog of hate, pain, and misery filled my mind. I didn't want to talk about it. I never told anyone what happened with Andrew, what I did to survive before I met Thalia or the abuse Kronos put me through. Camp Half-Blood doesn't care what you go through, the Gods do not care. The Titans do not care.

All they need and want is a soldier. A hero. A leader.

I used to be all of those before my death.

"Luke," Percy's voice filtered past my foggy haze. I looked at his face, eyes pleading and gently. Begging. He wants to know. This isn't a trick. "Please, tell me. I want to know."

I don't know why but that broke me. It all spilled from my lips. Playing into the hands of perverts and abusers for a few years for money and food before meeting Thalia. The trouble we worked past before meeting Halcyon Green and Annabeth. Thalia's death and how it affected me. How Andrew took care of me. When I began to listen to Kronos and how I became his servant. The more I talk, the more the floodgates open. My voice began breaking and I started crying. All the things I kept bottled up came out. I skipped past the things I did over those four years because he knew already but I did hesitate to tell him about the field of punishment.

"When my cell opened and I stepped out, the whole place was in chaos. I ran for the exit and kept going. I know I shouldn't have but I just couldn't take it anymore." I finished with a whimpering gasp. The tears keep falling. I couldn't look him in the face. What did he think of me? Was he going to call me a liar? A coward? A slut? Maybe he was disgusted with my mere presence. He didn't even want to be near someone so dirty, so weak.

Strong arms guided me out of my chair and into a firm chest. I froze for a second before melting into the embrace. My body shook as I hugged Percy back, tears soaking his shirt. We were silent for a long moment. Just standing there in his kitchen. I swallowed the last of my tears and pulled away to look at him. My heart was pounding as I saw the look in his eyes.

Rage, pain, possessiveness.

"I am so sorry that happened to you. I'm sorry the gods and everyone made you feel like you couldn't share this," he whispered calmly. His arms are still wrapped around my waist, hands on my lower back. "We need to get you to a hospital. You have been on the street for too long and have been hurt too many times. I just want you to get a check-up. Or we could talk to Chiron-"

Panic flared back up in my body. I stumble out of his arms.

"No," I stated firmly, shocking the younger demigod. "You can't make me. You can't tell anyone." The panic and fear came back swinging full force. I knew Percy meant well but I couldn't. I could let him tell Chiron. The centaur would tell the Gods who would come after me. Or he would send a camper after me. And I'd kill them in a heartbeat because I don't want to die. My hand knotted into my hair as my chest felt tight.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

"Luke!" I shrieked in fear when Percy grabbed my hands away from my head. Instinct took over and I immediately began struggling out of his grip. I failed. I clawed at his arms and kicked at him, but the son of Poseidon was as stubborn as always. He held me firmly before pinning me against the wall. I didn't stop fighting until my arms ached and my bones became weak. It just left me caged in his arms as I began sobbing.

"Please don't tell anyone. I'll do anything you want. I get you whatever you want. Just please. I swear on the river Styx." I begged. Percy tensed around me before slowly pulling away. His green eyes were filled with rage, sadness, and shock.

"Really?"

"Really." I promised. I wasn't ready for his response.

"Then I want you."

I'm back.