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Camp Half-Blood
Year: 2003
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Rin Nakamura was not a morning person. 

She had never been a morning person, and yet she dragged her protesting muscles out of bed every morning just before sunrise to act as chaperone. 

Even now she yawned, the crisp morning air nipping at her skin as she pulled her crimson cardigan around herself tighter. The sky above her unfolded with a delicate dance of light and shadow, as she stood just at the edge of camp half-blood's boundaries, and the first tendrils of dawn gently embraced the landscape, casting a soft golden hue upon the world, 

Her gaze wandered across the clearing, settling on the figure of one Luke Castellan as he kneeled in front of the pine tree a few paces away. Thalia's tree, as Rin had come to learn it was called, stood tall, its branches reaching toward the sky in silent reverence, and every time she saw it, Rin found herself thinking of the infamous girl. 

Luke's presence was a familiar one, his silhouette a constant in the morning ritual that had become a part of their shared existence. It's not like he needed the chaperoning, but Rin liked to be there anyway. After all, it was only fair, as he often accompanied her too, to the little grave that lay just beyond the border. He insisted that it was for her safety, but even he had to know by now that she was more than capable enough to protect herself. 

It was just their way of things. 

Comrades in arms. Comrades in grief. 

There were always subtle shifts in his demeanour too when he returned. Subtle yet unmistakable for someone who had known him so long. An intensity in his gaze, a restless energy that seemed to simmer just beneath the surface. It was as if the mere sight of the tree ignited something within him, a fire that burned with a fervent passion.

It both scared and intrigued her, but if Rin was one thing, it was curious. 

Curiosity killed the cat.

That's what her father used to say, often to dissuade her from her hazardous undertakings, but it never did her any good. 

But satisfaction brought it back, her stepmother countered every time and so Rin, much to her detriment, was left to let her curious nature fester. 

"Earth to Rin?"

Rin blinked, her thoughts momentarily disrupted by Luke's sudden intrusion. Then she blinked again, focusing on his face as if reeling herself back from the depths of her own musings. His fingers snapped in front of her, and she recoiled slightly, a scowl forming on her features.

"How many times have I told you not to do that?" she sighed, her eyes rolling in mock exasperation. There was a hint of amusement in her voice, a playful banter that danced between them like fireflies.

"Ah, but where's the fun in that?" Luke chuckled, his voice tinged with mischief as he nudged her playfully with his elbow. "Besides, someone has to make sure you don't wander off into the forest while you're lost in your head."

The brunette boy's lips curled into an easy smile, the tension in his shoulders hadn't entirely melted away as he fell into step beside her, but his smile was infectious, a beacon of warmth that bathed the world in its golden glow that rivalled even that of the son's. It was one of his many talents, this effortless masking, and Rin couldn't help but marvel at the ease with which he wielded it. It was in moments like these when she could see how his father was the God of trickery. She would never dare say it to his face of course, as he would only deny it vehemently, saying that he was anything but his father's son. 

"And you believe yourself to be up to the task?" Rin's lips twitched, fighting hard against her restraint. 

"I've kept you out of trouble for so long haven't I?"

He moved to throw his arms around her should before pulling away at the last moment, settling for a flick to the Rin's forehead instead, knowing her distaste for physical contact.  

"And besides, how many times have I told you that you don't need to babysit me out here?" he continued. 

"I'm not babysitting. I'm just enjoying the view."

Luke's smirk widened into a full-fledged grin, his eyes gleaming with self-assured mischief. "Admiring the view, huh?" he quipped, his voice laced with playful sarcasm.

"Don't flatter yourself," Rin shot back, her scowl returning. "Who would want to look at you when the sunrise is right there."

"Oh, you wound me. Am I not worthy of the attention of the lofty Rin Nakamura?" he feigned offence, clutching his chest in mock indignation, his voice dripping with melodrama. "And besides, what's with your obsession with the sun? Surely it had nothing to do with whatshisface...son of Apollo?" 

A snort burst out of Rin, the first sign of emotion Luke had seen on her face all morning, and he relished in it, even if it was at his expense. 

"You're making fun of Cyrus again. Leave him alone, he's my friend."

"Better than me?"

"Definitely. He doesn't make me get up at six in the morning."

"I told you that you don't need to come."

But I'm glad you did. 

As they walked, the air was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot. They didn't always need words to convey what they meant to say, but Luke was grateful for her presence nonetheless. He reached into his pocket then and pulled out a snack bar, deftly splitting it in half, to offer her the top portion, his gesture accompanied by a knowing look.

Rin raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity flickering in her eyes as she accepted her share of the snack. 

"You like raisins," Luke said by way of explanation, nodding towards his own half, which was also speckled with the dried fruit.

"But you don't," she pointed out. 

He only shrugged in response. 

Rolling her eyes, Rin savoured her portion, making a mental note to ignore the way Luke's eyes seemed to catch the morning light, copper against honey. She also ignored the wrinkle in his brow as he swallowed his raisin bar without chewing. Why he would subject himself to such a thing if he disliked them so much always escaped her, but to each their own she supposed.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

Luke grinned, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he shrugged nonchalantly. "I knew you would be hungry, and I wouldn't be a very good friend if I let you suffer through the next three hours before breakfast on an empty stomach, now would I?"

The dark-haired girl beside him finally graced him with a smile, and for Luke, it was better than seeing the sun after days of rain.  

When they finally arrived at their destination, the U-shaped clearing of cabins lay bathed in the soft, hazy light of the early morning sun, its tranquillity undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the day. Only a handful of campers were awake, their movements slow and deliberate as they went about their morning routines.

Luke glanced sideways at Rin as they made their way towards the Hermes cabin, a sense of peace settling over him like a warm embrace. He was surprised when she didn't follow him towards their shared abode, instead veering off towards the Apollo cabin with purposeful strides.

"Hey, where are you off to?"

Rin glanced over her shoulder, offering him a small smile, "I'll catch up with you later."

"Yeah I know you will, but where are you going?"

"Cyrus said he found a good read. Something I'd enjoy." 

Luke's playful smile dropped. 

"A good read hmm? You sure you're not a child of Athena?"

An incredulous laugh burst out of Rin, and her hands flew to her lips to suppress it. 

"Definitely not. I don't think my avid consumption of printed webcomics and fanzines is very daughter of wisdom of me."

They often joked about it, the truth of her godly parent, almost making a game of it. A game where they both pretended that the rage that simmered under her skin didn't exist and she took each of Luke's guesses with amused contemplation. A game where they pretended she hadn't sworn vengeance against a goddess she had never even met. 

"Why do you have to go now?" Luke questioned, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Can't you go at a more reasonable hour? For all you know, he's probably not even awake."

Rin arched an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Cyrus is an early bird. I know he's awake," she replied confidently, her tone unwavering.

Luke's stubbornness flared, and he pressed on, his annoyance evident. "And how do you know that?" he demanded, his voice tinged with skepticism.

Rin simply laughed, a melodious sound that danced through the quiet morning air. She pointed towards the steps of the Apollo cabin, where a boy with blond curls stood, a stack of comic books in his hands as he waved enthusiastically at them.

Luke's irritation was palpable as he watched the blond boy's friendly gesture, a flicker of something unknown stirring within him. "Fine, go on then," he muttered, his tone curt. "I'll see you later."

He couldn't help but add, "And don't let the Athena cabin know you're borrowing reading material from the Apollo kids of all people. They wouldn't be happy to hear they've been usurped."

Rin snorted, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I'll make sure to tell Annabeth you said that," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement.

As she approached Cyrus, he grinned at her, his eyes twinkling with excitement as he dumped his armload of comic books into her waiting arms.

"Hey, Rin! Wait till you see what I managed to get my hands on this time!" he exclaimed, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

"No, but I'm sure you'll enlighten me soon enough."

The son of Apollo nodded eagerly, as he launched into a rapid-fire explanation of the latest issue he had acquired.

"You won't believe what happened in this issue! So, there's this epic showdown between the hero and the villain, right? And just when you think the hero's down for the count, BAM! Plot twist! Turns out, he had a secret power all along that nobody knew about! Can you imagine?"

"Spoilers Cyrus," Rin chided gently, but she allowed him to continue, listening intently. She didn't mind it, not even when he accidentally let slip something important. She enjoyed the story enough to want to read it anyway and if brought him joy to share his thoughts, she was happy to oblige. 

"And then, just when you think they're finally going to defeat the villain once and for all, they drop this bombshell of a cliffhanger! I mean, talk about leaving you on the edge of your seat! I've been dying to discuss it with someone, and I knew you'd appreciate it, Rin!"

Cyrus's enthusiasm was infectious, his passion for the story evident in every word he spoke. He gestured animatedly with his hands, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he barely paused for breath. 

"And don't even get me started on the artwork," he continued, his voice rising with excitement. "The illustrations in this issue are next-level! I swear, I could spend hours just staring at the intricate details. It's like each panel tells its own story, you know? Then, can you believe it, there's this huge reveal at the end! I won't spoil it for you, but trust me, it's epic!"

He paused for a moment, as if realizing that he had been rambling, and offered Rin an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I tend to get carried away," he said sheepishly, his voice dropping, finally realizing how his voice carried in the quiet solitude of the hour. "But I hope you enjoy this latest stash! Let me know when you're done, and I'll get you the next issues."

Rin nodded, gratitude shining in her eyes as she thanked Cyrus for his generosity. Then she shifted the stack of comic books into one arm, freeing up her other to dig into the pocket of her cardigan. With a careful maneuver, she retrieved a beaded keychain that formed the likeness of one of his favourite comic book characters. 

"Hey, I have something for you." 

Cyrus's eyes lit up with recognition as he accepted the gift, turning it over in his hands with an amused expression. "Not again! Rin, you don't have to get me something every time," he protested, a laugh bubbling up in his throat. "You know I'm just happy to share my comics with you."

"I know, but I must," she insisted, her tone serious. "It's all about balance, you see."

And while she meant it to be a joke, part of it wasn't. Perhaps it was because she never liked to owe anyone anything, or perhaps it really was about balance. Giving when she took. Everything came at a price. Even amongst friends. It was a self-imposed rule, applicable only to herself. It's not like she'd demand things from her friends, but it never felt right taking anything unless she had something to give in return. 

"Balance?" Cyrus repeated, clearly puzzled.

Rin nodded solemnly, her expression deadpan. "Yes, balance," she replied, her voice dripping with mock gravity. "You give me comics, I give you keychains. It's only fair."

Cyrus chuckled, slipping the keychain onto his belt loop with a grateful smile. "Well, thank you, Rin. I'll add it to my collection of random trinkets from you. At this rate, there won't be any space left in the Apollo cabin!"

"And if you keep giving me comics, then there probably won't be any space left in my bunk either. Luke's gonna throw me out at this rate. I'm not even a real Hermes kid."

Another joke thinly veiled in equal parts resentment and truth. 

Nonetheless, Cyrus couldn't help but laugh at her words, shaking his head, "You're ridiculous, you know that?" he chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he grinned.

"You're calling me ridiculous?"

"See, on me, it's an endearing quality!"

"Sure it is. In fact, I think a certain someone from the Aphrodite cabin finds it very endearing indeed."

Rin enjoyed the way her friend's ears turned a deep crimson as he cleared his throat and avoided her gaze. 

"Wh-who?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out!" she quipped, sending him a wink before turning away, throwing a final word of thanks over her shoulder, entirely ignoring his shouts of protests. 

Turning back towards the Hermes cabin, she found her arms teetering under the weight of the stack of comics, a small smile tugging at her lips. As she glanced towards the cabin, she noticed that Luke was still watching her from the doorway, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He seemed to be in conversation with his half-brother Chris, but his attention was clearly elsewhere.

Rin hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to approach them or not. She didn't want to interrupt their conversation, especially if it was something important, so with a shrug, she turned on her heel and began to head in the opposite direction, anticipating the thought of diving into her newfound reading material.

As she disappeared from view, Luke's gaze lingered on her retreating figure, a mixture of emotions swirling in his eyes, already waiting for the next time he'd get to see her again. 

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A/N: Hiiii, so I was rlly in my Luke brainrot these past few days so here's the next chapter. Sry for the short chapter, they'll get longer as more stuff starts happening. Also I've aged Chris Rodriguez up a bit since I couldn't find his exact age online and I thought it be nice to give Luke an og friend lol. 

Abit of housekeeping: Act 1 covers Luke's first quest to the Garden of Hesperides where he gets his scar, so we wont see a lot of the og PJO characters until Act 2 when percy shows up. And even then, it'll be less about percy and co. and more about Titan Army side of things. And finally, how do we feel about the writing style. I was rereading the PJO books and Rick has a rlly fun first POV writing style which I absolutely love but cannot for the life of me emulate and I feel like if I try to write first person it'll turn out kinda bleh, so thoughts?? Hope yall r alright with the POV we have rn (third person omniscient). 

As usual, don't be a ghost reader, comments really motivate me to continue writing so share your thoughts plz and thank u ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡