Worth the Struggle

Chapter 2

The taxi ride to camp was just awkward. Luke kept trying to make conversation like we were friends or something, but I couldn't talk to him. The only things I wanted to talk about were the things he was running away from. Eventually, he stopped talking. The silence was just as strange and awkward. The taxi driver looked uncomfortable too. It was an awkward ride for everyone involved. I felt guilty for leaving him high and dry like that, but I wasn't comfortable around him anymore. He'd tried to kill me too many times.

Chiron was waiting at the top of Camp Half-Blood, with Annabeth by his side. The text I'd sent must have got them in a panic. I'm on my way to camp, news on Luke. Be ready for visitors. He must have thought I meant monsters following me. Oops. I should work on my wording. Luke didn't look any happier with our welcome committee. He asked what the text said and I told him.

"You need to work on your wording."

I paid the driver and got out of the back. Annabeth waved, clearly looking relieved until Luke came out the other side of the taxi. Her eyes widened, and Chiron looked confused as well, but they both held onto their weapons tighter. Luke came to stand beside me, tense and defensive. He sarcastically asked if I were still sure they'd accept him, but now I wasn't so sure. But they need to see a united front if they'd believe I wanted to defend him. I did the only thing I could think to do. I reached over and took hold of his hand, linking our fingers.

"What are you doing?" He flushed.

I sighed and explained the united front. I thought he would have argued, but he just held my hand tighter. I walked us up the hillside, an edgy smile on my face. I didn't want to argue before the Big House. I hoped they didn't either. Chiron insisted this was a conversation Mr D needed to be a part of and he started galloping slowly down the hill. Annabeth tried to question me. I shook my head at her and pulled Luke along with me. Multiple times I caught him eyeing our hands, and I didn't really know what to think about it, but I doubted it was anything bad.

"You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, I think so," he smiled, looking back to our laced fingers. "Feel like I could do anything right now."

Mr D was at the table playing pinochle. As he was every time I saw him. It was the cabin councillors also around the table that startled me. He looked up and analysed Luke with a look. The poor guy was tense but was trying to be respectful by looking down. This would be easier if he remained that respectful the whole way through. Though it wouldn't be easy, not with the way Mr D talks to heroes.

"Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise, a traitor returning." Mr D frowned, "I can bearly believe you'd be stupid enough to return. Though I can imagine it was Johnson's idea."

"Jackson, sir. And yes, it was my idea." I explained, "I thought if he was turning away from Kronos he should join us again. He was the best swordfighter, so he could train others. And this would be a great place to keep an eye on him."

Mr D raised an eyebrow. He offered a problem with my plan, in that putting Kronos' main guy around our campers was giving a source to recruit for the other side. Luke tried to defend himself, but as he stepped forward I saw hands go towards weapons and put a hand on his shoulder. I told them about it promise on the River Styx about running from Kronos, so he was without a side, and it would be unstrategic to not use him. Annabeth agreed with me, on the proviso that Luke was truly on our side. Unlike he's been in the past. He promised her he was and promised the camp counsellors as well.

"Well, I agree that he has uses, but leaving him unattended would not be wise," Chiron spoke, stroking his beard. "I believe Percy should watch him since he's vouching for him. With your permission Mr D, we can move him into Cabin three."

Mr D shrugged, but he shook off the responsibility for it. The cabin was Poseidan's and Luke was a son of Hermes, so they were the gods to ask. Chiron past me some drachma from his saddle bag, and instructed me to use the water feature in my cabin to call them. I didn't think it would work, but things were going well. Luke hadn't released my hand, so he moved as I did. But Mr D insisted Luke remain in his line of sight until I'd called Olympus, where Hestia would call the gods I needed. He didn't look comfortable, even as Annabeth gripped his shoulder. So I ran.

I prayed to Iris and offered a drachma to call Olympus, and Hestia was beside her hearth as Chiron had said she'd be. After seeing Artemus appear as a twelve-year-old girl, I wasn't too surprised by the childlike youth of her form. I guessed it was a maiden thing. I respectfully asked her if there was any way she could connect me to Hermes. Her young face smiled at me, and she spoke to her flames. I was preparing for Hermes to walk through the fire, but nothing happened. Hestia turned back to my image with her gentle smile.

"I have notified Hermes, he'll be but a moment, young hero."

One hand glided over the connection and cut it off. I would have gotten angry if I hadn't heard the wind behind me. Hermes was dressed for a run again, and I could hear Martha and George hissing in his pocket. He asked why I'd called to him, and I explained Mr D's persistence to have his permission for Luke to stay in Cabin Three. Then I remembered he might not know about Luke, so I explained the rest of the situation. He looked relieved and thanked me for helping his son when I may not have wanted to.

"Luke has my permission to stay in this cabin," Hermes smiled. He pulled out his phone and started asking someone on the other end the same question. "Your father also gives Luke permission to use this cabin. Hurry back and tell Dionysis, before he conveniently forgets asking you to do so."

I thanked him on behalf of myself and Luke, promising him I'd work on Luke's opinion of him. He remarked how he didn't know how successful I'd be with that, but that he would appreciate my effort. His form started to change. I turned to the door to protect myself from the sight of his divine form and ran back to the Big House.

Luke was leaning awkwardly against a wall, and everyone was staring at him expectantly until I came in. I told him they both given permission and he nodded. He was relaxing as I came closer, I could only guess he'd been very tense and uncomfortable without me here. Clarisse stood up, slamming her hands on the table and glaring across at Luke.

"So, now your little bodyguard's back, you gonna answer the fucking question?" She growled, "what is Kronos up to now?"

I looked at Luke, but his eyes were glued to the floor. When he met my gaze neither of us wavered. I was trying to convey to him that he had to tell them something, he was supposed to be helping us. He sighed and looked. Then he turned to the table and started the story.