NO MORE SHAME / NO MORE FEAR / NO MORE DREAD

"If you wanted something star-themed. You could have chosen Star."

Which is why when you want something ghost-themed, you choose Spirit.

"Why would your mom do that."

he also thought he wasn’t cut out for it at all. 

he didn’t know whether to commend luke for doing the difficult thing or beg him to step aside because of how difficult he made things—mostly for him, adam.

' uh-hmm, '    he said just as loudly. his voice cracked from the sudden pitch.    ' i—nope—i don’t think you do. '

then quietly again:    ' i told you. '    he was frowning, but only barely. his expression hardened and softened in sequence, as if it couldn’t decide between which feeling was proper and which one was real. he ended up looking confused.    ' i know who my parents are, okay? i know what i need to do. i’m not … like you. i’m not waiting around for— '

this sounded unnecessarily cruel. he shook his head, lowered the sword, and started over.    ' we make our own chances. okay? i mean—right? it’s not over for us once we leave this place. '

Camp Half-Blood and Annabeth are all he has. After what happened in his childhood home, after Grover couldn't save Thalia, after Luke couldn't save Thalia—

—enough.

It's been six months since Luke returned from his quest to the Garden of Hesperides. Nectar, ambrosia, and his own godly healing factor mean the scar isn't as jarring to people who see him or painful for him as it was when he stumbled back to camp.

He's still getting used to the effect on his eyesight, though—the effect on his depth perception, the constant paranoia that he's got too many blind spots to defend properly.

Luke tries to cut Adam off.

"If you know who your parents are, why are you here?"

Why don't they want him? He's functionally the same as any other reject kid in the Hermes cabin. Not literally, of course—

I'm not like you. I'm not waiting around for—

—which Adam seems to know good and well. Does he think he's betterx than Luke?

He's crazy.

When Adam lets his guard down, sword no longer poised, no longer emulating a stance Luke had taught him months and months and months ago, Luke lunges forward. This time, instead of swinging his sword-carrying arm, he shoves Adam's chest with his palm.