Percy tiredly got ready for bed in Cabin Eleven, and then decided to sneak off. He sat near the water, dipping his legs into it as he looked over the ocean and hummed a song.

“It’s curfew, Percy. If you’re caught out, you’ll get into trouble,” his new counselor, Luke he remembered, told him in amusement.

Percy looked over at him and just stared. Then he gave a small sad smile and shook his head.

“I’m dying, Luke. What does it matter?” and then Percy completely submerged himself into the waters, curling his legs and just floating there for hours, thinking about his life.

Luke inhaled sharply from the nonchalant confession and from the abrupt departure of the boy, who startled him from the submersion but after remembering this was potentially the Son of Poseidon he forced himself to calm down.

Instead, he settled himself down at Percy’s former seat and waited for him to come back, even as it felt like his whole world had just shift and turned on its axis.

Sometime later, Percy’s head popped up over the water and tilted to the side, staring at him curiously.

“You hungry?” Luke asked simply.

Percy smiled and nodded enthusiastically. He followed after Luke quietly, and the two of them ate an early breakfast.

“What are you dying of?” Luke stared at him intensely, but Percy was used to people becoming extreme towards him once they knew he wasn’t going to live long.

Percy shrugged, “Leukemia. I was eight when my doctor told me I had cancer. Eleven last year when he said I was going to die at sixteen. Sooner if it keeps worsening.”

“You don’t look bothered by death.”

“My mother’s dead, Luke. I’m going to die. I only tried to live for her. Without her?” Percy shrugged again. “I don’t have anything to live for. Nothing matters anymore.”

Luke shook his head, “You have plenty to live for. You’re only twelve, Percy. You’re young, you can live through this.”

Percy frowned and an irritated look crossed his face. That is, until Percy doubled over coughing, covering his mouth with his hand. Alarmed, Luke stood up and tried to come closer, but Percy held up his other hand to stop him. After a few more seconds of Luke hearing Percy cough painfully, Percy straightened up and stared at his hand. Luke stared at it too.

It was covered in blood.

Percy winced and tried to discretely wipe his hand on the hem of the back of his shirt.

“You look,” Luke swallowed and tried again. “You look pale. And you’re sweating a lot. Are you okay?”

Percy shook his head, “I-I got to go. I’ll see you later, Luke.”

The younger boy ran away and Luke reluctantly went back to their cabin to wake everyone up and gather them for breakfast.

Luke didn’t see Percy back at the cabin and he didn’t see him at all until that night. Percy had gone through dinner quietly, praying silently to any god and then had sat at his small space at the Hermes table, eating slowly. Luke watched him closely and went looking for him during the sing-along, only to find the younger boy wasn’t anywhere near. He left the sing-along and trekked to the cabin, and found his charge already sleeping, sweating as he tossed and turned in his sleeping bag but still shivering.

Quietly, Luke took his blanket and put it over the younger boy and periodically wiped at Percy’s brow as he got ready for bed. Hesitantly, he slid into his own bed and tried to go to sleep, instead lying on his side as he stared over at Percy.

Luke had a hard time going to sleep that night.

Early in the morning, he got up before everyone else because he couldn’t sleep anymore. Or he thought he did. Looking over to Percy’s sleeping bag, the boy was missing and the area was already tidy. He heard the Hermes cabin’s showers working and he silently walked to the bathroom, seeing Percy in one of the stalls, hands shaking as he tried to wash his hair.

Frowning, Luke walked right up into Percy’s personal space and began rubbing the shampoo more into Percy’s hair for him, uncaring of the water splashing and drenching all over him.

“I can wash my own hair,” Percy whined, almost pouting.

How adorable.

Luke’s lips twitched upward, but he just shook his head.

“I bet you can,” he murmured. “But right now, let me baby you.”

Percy stayed quiet, but let him do as he wanted.

“Wanna have breakfast again?” he asked.

Percy shrugged, “I’m…not really hungry.”

“You should eat. I don’t think you ate a lot last night.”

Percy grumbled, “I don’t have a big appetite sometimes. Comes with the leukemia.”

Luke paused, but then continued as if he hadn’t ‘stumbled’.

“Maybe if you eat something you like, it’ll help. What do you like to eat, Percy?”

The younger hesitated before answering, “I like strawberries. Chocolate strawberries.”

Luke lightly dunked his head into the water under the showerhead.

“Chocolate strawberries it is.”

Directing Percy to wait for him after he took his own shower, he then told Percy to go wait at the strawberry fields for him. He went ahead and melted some chocolate, going to the fields after and seeing Percy reluctantly waiting by a tree and scuffing his shoes on the dirt.

“Are we going to get in trouble?” Percy looked at him with wide eyes.

“No, don’t worry about it. I got chocolate,” Luke held up the bowl full of chocolate he’d managed to make.

Percy’s face lit up and Luke put down the bowl near the tree, and the two of them began gathering some strawberries using their shirts.

“Don’t you have to round up the rest of Cabin Eleven?” Percy asked him, starting to dip the strawberries into the melted chocolate. “Mm, it’s still warm…”

Luke watched in amusement, but remembered the question.

“They can live without me for one day,” the blond decided.

“I have a bucket list,” Percy admitted after a moment of silence. “There isn’t much, but most of it has to do with Greek things. ‘Cause I like Greek history and stuff, and I guess I know why now, huh?”

Luke snickered at the kid, but nodded.

“What’s on the list?” he asked in curiosity.

Percy turned red, “Well…most of it has to do with visiting places that were in the Greek myths. Mostly to do with the main Olympian gods.”

“I’ll take you to all of those places,” Luke declared, and inwardly he wondered why he was letting himself get attached to Percy and why was he bothering so much. “My dad’s the god of traveling and all the on-road stuff. I’ll take you anywhere. I promise. We can even go this school year. You can skip school.”

“Really?” Percy looked guarded, but hopeful at the same time.

“Really. I know where they all are, and I can take you.”

Percy beamed happily at him and Luke felt himself involuntarily smile.

“Thanks, Luke! And for not…pitying me…” Percy ended in a whisper, looking down.

Luke stared at the downed boy.

“I don’t like pity either,” he echoed quietly.

They shared another smile and continued snacking on the strawberries together. Luke began humming a song, and Percy’s eyes lit up.

“I love that song!”

Luke gave him a lazy smile, leaning back against the tree and cushioning his head with his crossed arms.

“As soon as you’re born they make you feel small,
By giving you no time instead of it all,
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.

“They hurt you at home and they hit you at school,
They hate you if you’re clever and they despise a fool,
Till you’re so fucking crazy you can’t follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.

“When they’ve tortured and scared you for twenty odd years,
Then they expect you to pick a career,
When you can’t really function you’re so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.

“Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV,
And you think you’re so clever and classless and free,
But you’re still fucking peasants as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be,
A working class hero is something to be.

“There’s room at the top they are telling you still,
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be.
A working class hero is something to be.

“If you want to be a hero well just follow me,
If you want to be a hero well just follow me,” Luke finished singing, ruffling his charge’s hair lightly.

“I’d follow you, Luke. You’d make me a hero, wouldn’t you?” Percy murmured, falling into an easy sleep.

Luke gave him a sad smile, “Yeah. I would. This song’s somethin’, ain’t it? Just…fits in the whole grand scheme. Us and the gods…”

He trailed off and stared up at the sky, eyes darkening as his lips curled. He brushed one hand idly through Percy’s hair.

“Why am I complaining about my dad? At least I’m not dying a little bit every single day,” Luke closed his eyes.

~*~*~

Luke and Percy stayed close through the week, and Luke put things aside quite a lot of times just for the younger boy. If one of the Aphrodite girls wanted his attention and he was with Percy, he would brush her off and focus on him. Or if he was with one of them, Luke would immediately leave her and tend to Percy instead. Not even his half-brothers and sisters in the Hermes cabin got as much attention from him as Percy did. And they all knew whose son he really was (matter of time until he was claimed…), and that Luke was paying more attention to a boy that was not even a real brother.

It seemed nothing and no one had become more important than Percy to him.

And despite what some of the girls and whatnot were spreading rumors about, Luke was not interested in Percy in that way. Truth was, this was the first time Luke had ever felt so close and needed by anyone, and he felt a responsibility and a genuine like for Percy. It was the first time he’s ever…cared about someone so much and he didn’t want Percy to die. Or to think like that.

And then the Capture the Flag happened, and Percy was claimed. Poseidon had finally acknowledged his son in the most dramatic way possible, as all gods tend to want to do. But no one noticed Percy shivering and looking pale and sickly afterwards, no one but Luke. And when Percy was ushered into his new Cabin Three, Luke gathered the boy’s stuff and snuck out after curfew, heading straight for Percy’s new cabin.

He hesitantly walked in, feeling the welcoming air of the place turn slightly chilly and a little more distant. But it didn’t outright refuse him from the place and Luke cautiously snuck in, depositing Percy’s stuff down somewhere and sneaking right up to Percy’s bed.

He was still shivering.

“Percy…Percy…Percy!” he hissed out.

Percy wearily opened his eyes, lips looking blue.

“L-Luke,” Percy stuttered. “I-I feel s-so cold.”

Luke frowned and looked around. He grabbed a bunch of blankets from the other beds and tucked them around Percy. Finding a small face towel, he folded it and wet it with warm water, placing it over Percy’s forehead after moving the boy to lie on his back. Hesitantly, he slid in beside Percy and held the other boy, starting to hum an old song his mother used to sing to him.

“Am I dying yet?” Percy murmured deliriously.

“No,” Luke said fiercely. “You’re still alive. And you’re going to stay alive.”

“It’s lonely here…I’m all alone. Can I come back with you to Cabin Eleven?” Percy asked in a child-like voice.

“It’s your cabin, Percy. You have to stay here,” Luke reluctantly said. “But it’s okay. I’ll be the one to break the rules. I’ll stay whenever you want, okay?”

Percy had already gone to sleep.

For the next few days, Percy had become even more withdrawn and at times even sullen. Then there came the day where Mr. D wanted to talk to him, and Grover had asked Luke where he was.

“He’s probably in his cabin,” Luke blinked. “Why?”

Grover was obviously nervous, “Mr. D wants to see him…”

Luke frowned, “I’ll get him.”

Grover looked surprise, but conceded and Luke went to Cabin Three and went inside without even knocking. Percy was lying on his bed, looking asleep but Luke knew better from the uneven breathing.

“Are you feeling sick?” he asked quietly, watching Percy huddle under his blanket.

Percy groaned and turned to be on his other side.

“I don’t feel so good,” Percy muttered.

Luke came closer and touched his hand against Percy’s forehead, feeling it clammy.

“Mr. D wants to see you, Percy,” Luke hesitantly told him.

“I’m just so tired, Luke,” Percy sighed and when he closed his eyes, he had gone straight to sleep.

Luke exhaled slowly and then stood up. He walked out of the cabin and headed straight for the Big House.

“Where is he? I don’t have all day,” Dionysus sneered.

Chiron looked worried, with Grover echoing him by his side.

Luke frowned even more and stared back defiantly.

“He’s not coming. He’s not feeling well. If it’s important, then you’ll just have to come to him,” Luke glared.

Dionysus’ nostrils flared, “You little brat! If he thinks that just because his father is Barnacle-Beard and he can do whatever he wants, he has another thing coming. Why I ought to turn him into a rat!”

Luke growled, “He didn’t say that, I did. He’s sick. He can’t come here.”

“Well he better damn well drag himself here! I don’t care if the brat is feeling achy and feverish with some flu crap! He better get himself down here or else!” Dionysus roared.

“No!” Luke yelled, surprising everyone including himself. “I don’t get it! You’re a god! Can’t you tell he’s dying?”

It became quiet really fast.

“Young man, you best explain yourself,” Chiron interrupted.

Luke looked at them all in disbelief, his voice cracking as he accused, “You were with him for how long, Grover, Chiron. Didn’t you know he had leukemia? He’s dying. Where is his meds? Isn’t he supposed to be taking something? He looks like he’s getting worse everyday. And he’s been coughing up blood.”

Grover looked horrified, but Chiron grimaced.

“I was not aware of Percy’s condition. Thank you for making us all aware.”

Dionysus was just studying Luke. Suddenly, the wine god grabbed a bottle of something from somewhere and abruptly began stomping out of the room, heading for Cabin Three. The three behind him chased after him and entered the cabin just after.

Percy looked even worse than before.

Luke pushed passed everyone and kneeled by Percy.

“Percy, can you hear me?” he murmured. “Open your eyes, please.”

The youngest there painfully pried his eyes open and stared at them with glazed eyes.

“Luke, I’m tired,” Percy whimpered. “There’s too much light.”

The cabin was practically dark.

“Percy, look at me,” Luke quietly demanded. “This is your leukemia talking. Come on. Move.”

Percy whimpered some more before dragging himself up to stare at everyone blankly, keeping the blanket wrapped around him tightly.

“Luke,” Percy moaned. “I’m so tired,” he repeated. “I don’t think I have to wait until I’m sixteen…”

“Stop that!” Luke hissed. “I told you, that’s your leukemia talking. Didn’t you tell me that it was going to make you have mood swings and be depressed? That’s what it’s doing right now.”

Percy breathed harshly, nodding and beginning to lean heavily on Luke.

Luke had actually forgotten about the others.

“Percy, Mr. D is here. Remember, I said he wanted to see you?”

Percy coughed bleakly, “I don’t remember.”

“It was earlier,” Luke gently prodded.

“My head hurts.” 

Luke winced, “Can you focus at all right now?”

“I’m trying. W-where’s Mr. D?” Percy mumbled.

“Right there,” Luke said, moving behind Percy and moving the younger boy to face the god. “Can you see him?”

Percy squinted, “Sort of…why is he blurry?”

It was a little alarming, considering Dionysus was just a foot away and in plain view. But it became even more alarming when Percy started having a coughing fit, and he doubled over the bed, specks of blood landing on the sheets.

“He’s not feeling well,” Luke hissed. “Can’t you come back later?”

“No, no, it’s alright,” Percy insisted. “Just tell me where he is.”

“You can’t even see!” Luke yelled at him. “This can be handled later.”

“No, really. I’m okay. I can handle it,” Percy said weakly.

“Right, okay…” Luke reluctantly responded. “You’re a hero. You’re strong. You can…do at least this.”

“M’not a hero,” Percy mumbled. “I’m too weak to be one. Heroes are supposed to be strong, but I can’t even get out of bed.”

“Don’t say that. You are a hero. Not all heroes have to be physically strong. You have your head on your shoulders; you’re smart and kind. Okay? So don’t say stuff like that.”

“Then I’m an abnormal hero?” Percy asked derisively.

“Shut it, brat. You’re not a typical hero, not that being a hero is such a good thing anyway so maybe that’s a good thing,” Dionysus scowled. He swept closer and put his hand on the boy’s forehead. “You’re burning up. Take this and go to sleep. I have to go to an emergency meeting being held in Olympus, so Chiron will tell you what you have to do when you wake up.”

“Okay, Mr. D,” Percy said tiredly, taking the bottle Dionysus had brought without complaint and drinking it. He lay back down and easily went back to sleep.

The wine god nodded to Chiron and Grover. “Prepare the girl to come and get ready, Grover.”

Dionysus turned to Luke, waving his hand and making a six-pack of the bottles appear.

“As no doubt the stubborn brat will accept, when he goes on his Quest, tell him to take these when he’s at his absolute worse. It is all that I have in stock, but I’ll make sure to bring more from Olympus. It cannot cure his illness, but it will slow his symptoms down and make him feel better for a while.”

Luke nodded, but went back to frowning.

“Aren’t I coming with him? It’ll be easier for me to make sure he takes them if I come with him.”

“It has been decided quite some time ago that Annabeth and Grover will be the ones to accompany him,” Chiron interrupted softly.

Luke scoffed, “They wouldn’t know how to handle him and he wouldn’t want them to know. I’m coming.”

“No, you are not. And that is final,” Dionysus’ eyes flashed warningly before vanishing.

Chiron nodded and swept out as well, Grover uncertainly following but looking back in worry.

Luke waited before he began packing Percy’s bag, stuffing just clothes and the bottles in a bag. He made sure Riptide was on Percy before he hesitantly moved back to Cabin Eleven and stuffed a bag full of his own clothes and things he thought he might need. He looked at Backbiter and winced, but steeled himself and brought it along. He hadn’t wanted to reveal his new sword so soon, but things changed.

Luke Castellan broke rules, and this time was no different.

He shouldered both of their bags and carried Percy, easily slipping out of camp and finding civilization within an hour.

No one was going with Percy on this Quest but him.