Chapter Text
The public library was the last place that Percy expected to smell the scents of hot candle wax and leather. Only an idiot would burn a candle in a library. And leather? There was no reason for that scent to be here at all. Therefore, the only conclusion Percy could come to was that his old friend was here. Although friend might be stretching it these days.
Percy followed his nose through the stacks, searching for the source of this scent. He found what he was looking for in the adult fiction section. Or rather, he found who he was looking for.
Luke Castellan stood in front of the bookshelf looking like something from a romance movie. He held an open book in his hands, his eyes focused solely on what he was reading. That is, until something prompted him to look up.
Maybe he smelled Percy's demigod scent - sweet candy and salty ocean water - the same way that Percy smelled Luke's. Maybe he felt the heat of Percy's gaze on him. Whatever the case was, Luke looked directly at Percy. A series of complicated emotions crossed his face and his shoulders went tense.
Percy understood the sentiment. They didn't exactly part on good terms this summer. In fact, they'd had a fight and both of them drew blood. Percy still had a scar on his chest from Luke's sword, Backbiter. Even though he'd known that Luke wasn't trying to kill him, even though Luke hurt Percy plenty while they were training, that was the first time Luke ever hurt Percy in anger. It felt different from the small cuts and bruises Percy received while they spared. The scar on his chest itched and Percy scratched it absently.
Luke dropped his gaze back to his book. Then he raised a hand and scratched at his chest, where Percy had undoubtedly left an identical scar on Luke. He didn't look at Percy again, although Luke's shoulders remained tense so he was clearly still aware of Percy's presence.
Percy didn't know what to do. He had Riptide on him, of course, because the sword was disguised as a pen in his pocket. But it didn't look like Luke was interested in attacking or even had his sword on him. If Percy attacked him now, in the public library full of the elderly and young parents with their young children, then all Percy would do was cause a scene. Innocent people might get hurt in a fight between the two of them.
Before Percy could decide what to do, a familiar voice called out, "Percy, are you ready to go?" It was Mom. And to be clear, she didn't yell it, she just raised her voice above a whisper because he'd wandered off and she couldn't see him. Mom wasn't rude.
But she was here, and that made her vulnerable. Percy couldn't risk starting a fight with Luke while Mom was here. So with one last look at Luke, Percy turned and walked away.
Mom was waiting by the checkout counter, a stack of books in her arms. She cocked her head when she saw Percy. "You didn't find anything?"
"The book I wanted was checked out," Percy lied. He felt terrible for lying to his mom but Percy didn't see any other choice. She couldn't know about Luke. "Can we come back next weekend?"
"Sure, honey," Mom said. She gave him a one-armed hug and together they left the library.
Percy felt like there were eyes watching him.