home is where the heart is
home is where the heart is
pairing: son of hermes!luke castellan × daughter of aphrodite! reader pov: percy jackson warnings: aphrodite cabin propaganda, secondhand embarrassment, luke castellan being domesticated against his will (it is very much his will) 4+1 times percy is sent to retrieve luke castellan from the aphrodite cabin ( he’s always there, because she’s always there) + the one time percy realizes some heroes don’t just fight wars—they choose love.
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percy jackson learns very quickly that if camp half-blood needs luke castellan, there is a ninety percent chance he’s in the aphrodite cabin.
not visiting.
residing.
and percy, unfortunately, keeps being the one sent to get him.
i.
the first time percy enters the aphrodite cabin, he thinks he’s died.
there are mirrors everywhere. soft lighting. the air smells like roses and something warm and sweet that makes his brain feel fuzzy.
he barely gets two steps in before luke appears from behind a curtain.
shirtless.
“whoa,” luke says. “did i miss a meeting where we decided this was normal?”
percy stares directly at the wall. “chiron needs you.”
“yeah?” luke glances back. “dove, you hear that?”
“mm,” comes a voice from somewhere impossibly soft. “tell him five minutes.”
luke doesn’t argue.
percy leaves questioning reality.
ii.
the second time, percy is more prepared.
he knocks.
she opens the door, smiling politely like she’s welcoming someone into a palace instead of a place percy very much does not belong.
luke is inside, braiding flowers into a wreath.
for her.
“camp council,” percy says weakly.
luke looks up. “you know your interrupting something important?”
she laughs softly. “he’s dramatic. ignore him, percy.”
she reaches out, fixes the collar of luke’s shirt.
percy stares at the ceiling.
iii.
the third time is worse.
percy walks in to find luke lying on one of the couches with his head in her lap while she reads aloud.
reads.
luke’s eyes are closed. completely at peace.
“chiron—” percy starts.
luke opens one eye. “is it on fire?”
“no.”
“then it can wait.”
she strokes her fingers through luke’s curls. “go,” she tells percy gently. “we’ll come.”
they don't.
percy reports back that luke is “emotionally unavailable."
iv.
the fourth time percy doesn’t knock.
big mistake.
she is standing on her toes, arms looped around luke’s neck, whispering something into his ear that makes him laugh softly before kissing her temple.
percy freezes.
“oh my gods,” he says aloud.
she startles, then laughs. “percy.”
luke smirks. “you knock sometimes, you know.”
percy backs out so fast he trips over a chair.
v. (or: the one time percy lets them be)
the fifth time is intentional.
chiron sends him again. percy walks all the way to the aphrodite cabin, stops outside, and hears laughter inside.
soft. warm. safe.
he pictures luke—reckless, dangerous, brilliant luke—softened by her presence. grounded.
percy turns around.
when chiron asks where luke is, percy shrugs. “where he belongs.”
later that night, luke claps him on the shoulder. “thanks, man.”
she smiles at percy like she knows exactly what he did.
and percy realizes something important.
some heroes need swords.
some need love.
luke castellan has both.
