When I Look At You
"Percy?" Luke was confused when the son of Poseidon came barreling into the Hermes cabin. He'd been in the middle of sharpening Backbiter when the door slammed open. The rest of his siblings stopped what they were doing and stared as Percy ran in with tears falling from his eyes, dropping straight into Luke's lap and startling the boy into dropping his sword.
"What happened?" Luke asked, giving his siblings a look.
They got the message and left them alone. They knew better than to mess with Percy when he was vulnerable, since they'd not only face Luke's wrath but also Annabeth's. Combined, the two were a terrifying force.
"What's so wrong with me?" Percy asked him, looking at his hands while trying to stop the tears from falling. "Why can't anybody love me?"
Luke frowned, gently cupping Percy's face to make the boy look at him. After a moment of hesitation, he nervously met Luke's eyes with his own red and puffy ones.
"Perce, there's nothing wrong with you. You're perfect like you are right now, completely and totally you."
Luke was angry. He thought it was another camper that was giving Percy crap for being the prophecy child again, and he was ready to beat whoever it was down to a pulp. As if Percy asked to have the fate of the world in his hands, he's only thirteen for fucks sake. He's been through enough without everyone else giving him shit for it.
"Then why did he cheat on me?" Percy broke down again, and it hit Luke. He wasn't talking about some camper.
Percy had been going on about some mortal boyfriend he had for the past few months. Luke had been jealous, of course, but at least Percy had been happy. Now, he wanted to gut this mortal and stick his remains in the pits of Tartarus for hurting Percy.
"Because he's a moron who can't appreciate how beautiful you are." Luke replied, hugging the boy to his chest.
And Percy felt warmth spread through him, thankful he had Luke.
The two stayed like that for a long time, Luke's glare keeping the rest of the Hermes' kids from interrupting the moment whenever they tried to enter the cabin again. When Annabeth came to check on Percy, she kept quiet as the two boys embraced, Luke mouthing 'I'm going to kill the mortal' when he saw her. Annabeth agreed silently, leaving with a small smile on her face and a plan already in mind.
Once Percy calmed down, he smiled up at Luke. He knew he'd almost lost the blonde to Kronos' army, but he was so happy he hadn't. He couldn't even imagine what it would be like if he and Luke were on opposing sides. He frowned at the thought. Whatever held Luke back, he was grateful for it.
"Luke?" the son of Poseidon asked tentatively. Luke hummed back in acknowledgement, his thumb absentmindedly rubbing circles on Percy's arm. After a pause, he finished his thought. "Thank you for staying."
Luke knew what he meant and he smiled. Looking at Percy, he saw every reason he'd stayed. Regardless of how much he resented his father, the god had brought him here, to Camp Half-Blood. Here, where Luke had people he could rely on, like Annabeth and Grover and Percy. Here, where Luke had formed a home and a family.
Kronos could choose from the rest of the angry demigods who wanted revenge. Luke wasn't going to give this up for anything.
"I always will." was his reply, pressing a gentle kiss to Percy's forehead. He was so going to kill Percy's ex boyfriend.
