When We Were 'Us'

Percy Jackson, Pitching Master- Percy POV/Hazel POV

It was Challenge Day.

Ever since the war against Gaia, the two camps had instated a day every month where the two camps would come together and just have structured fights all day. One on one duels amongst the more talented campers, team fights, free for all brawls, it was a lot of fun. The night ended with the praetors versus Annabeth and I, because the camp had apparently determined that the two of us were their stationed equals.

This month we were at Camp Jupiter, and an hour before the fights were scheduled to start, the Big Three and their sisters appeared at the camp border. Moving almost four hundred kids all the way across the country wasn't easy, even for a god.

"Everyone hold hands please, or link up in any way you can!" Demeter called, waving her hands about like a frazzled teacher trying to control her class.

We quickly hooked ourselves together. I grabbed Annabeth's hand and she took Luke's with her other hand. I felt her tighten her grip on my hand, and could see her do the same thing with Luke. He chuckled and squeezed back.

"Huddle close!" Poseidon called. The 6 children of Kronos quickly spread out around us, making a circle.

"Close your eyes!"

I squeezed my eyes shut and felt a wave of power and heat roll over us.

"Welcome, Camp Half-Blood." I opened my eyes to see Reyna and Frank standing in front of us. I let go of Annabeth's hand and the shoulder of the young boy who'd been on the other side of me to step forward and offer my hand.

"Praetors."

Frank pushed my hand aside and pulled me into a hug. I laughed and hugged him back.

Reyna smiled as we pulled apart and nodded to me. "If it's alright with you, I'd like to speak with you and Annabeth before the fights."

"Of course. Wise Girl?"

She looked over at us, pausing in pointing out something to Luke.

"Reyna wants to talk to us."

"Alright. I'll show Luke around afterward."

"Actually," I said quickly, glancing at another familiar face that was approaching. "Maybe Hazel could show him around?"

Annabeth raised an eyebrow for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Hazel, this is Luke Castellan. Luke, this is Hazel Levesque."

"She's one of the seven you were telling me about, correct?" Luke said slowly.

Hazel smiled. "I am."

"How old are you?" He asked curiously.

"I just turned fifteen in April." Hazel said. I tilted my head curiously, remembering her birthday was in December, then I realized Nico must have brought her back to life in April. Come to think of it, we'd never celebrated her birthday (at her insistence).

"What of it?" Frank spoke up, jumping to his girlfriend's defense.

Luke held his hands up quickly. "I was just curious, I swear. I didn't mean anything by it."

"It's alright." Hazel smiled a little. "So I'm showing you around?"

Luke nodded. "Seems so. Where would you like to start?"

"This way." Hazel began to walk away, and Luke yelped in surprise when his chair began to move without him doing anything. She stopped quickly and turned. "Oh, sorry! I figured your arms would be tired, but if you'd like to wheel yourself-"

"It doesn't tire you out?"

She shook her head, smiling. "Hardly. I've lifted literal tons before, turning a couple little wheels isn't hard."

He smiled slowly. "Then by all means, Miss Levesque, feel free."

Hazel nodded and the wheels of Luke's chair began to turn again. They walked off, Hazel pointing things out and talking animatedly while Luke nodded and looked around.

-----------------------

I wasn't sure why Percy had asked me to show this man around camp, but he was nice, so I didn't mind.

"It's been a long time since I was in California." Luke commented as we walked. Well, as I walked.

"You've been here before?"

"Well not here exactly," he chuckled and I waved him off, smiling.

"You know what I meant."

Luke grew serious and nodded. "Yes, I did. The last time I was here I could still walk. Could still fight."

"Did you fight with a sword?"

He nodded. "I was the best swordsman of the century. Until Percy came along."

I nodded. "He's quite talented."

"I haven't seen him fight in a long time. The last time I did.... I was not myself. I couldn't see what was happening."

I frowned in confusion. "How is that possible?"

Luke sighed. "I made bad decisions. I was impulsive and angry and given an offer that I couldn't refuse at the time. I killed a lot of good people, and had even more killed through my orders, and helped let loose one of the most dangerous beings in all creation."

Now I realized why his name sounded familiar.

"You helped Kronos rise."

"I'm not proud of it." Luke sighed, looking away. "I hated the gods and I hated myself. Only my lack of strength kept me from actually hosting him. Judge me how you want, Miss Levesque, I deserve it."

I paused for a moment. "I'm not judging you."

He looked up at me. "You're not?"

"People make bad choices. I nearly caused Gaia's rise many years before the war. Intentionally, knowing what I was doing."

He stared at me. "You did?"

I nodded and explained the whole thing, being from the 20s, my mother's strangeness as Gaia possessed her, what I did. It was strangely easy to talk about, despite the fact that I'd only really told the Seven, Reyna, and Nico what had happened.

Luke was silent for a moment when I finished, before chuckling and shaking his head. "He never ceases to amaze me."

"What?"

"Percy. I assume he's heard that story?"

I nodded.

"That's why he asked you to show me around. We've had similar pasts, in some ways."

"That's.... very true." I realized.

Luke shook his head again. "Just when I think I know what's going on in that head, he throws a curveball.... anyways, what were you saying about that statue before?"