“why don’t they ever suspect Luke why don’t they realize it’s Luke why are they so quick to suspect Clarisse and not a Hermes kid”
guys, Luke is the perfect child. Thats the whole point! He gave his offerings he said his prayers he went on his quest he proved his loyalty to Chiron, to the gods, to his dad. And he did it all with a smile. They have no reason to suspect luke! Luke is the best of them!
Ares could’ve come to that meeting waving a big sign that said “LUKES THE LIGHTNING THIEF” and they still wouldn’t have believed him.
Because they also don’t want it to be Luke.
They love Luke. Luke takes care of them Luke protects them Luke is everything they want in an older brother. It doesn’t matter how blaringly obvious the writers get about who the real thief is. They will ignore every sign, every red flag, every warning, until Percy is dying of poison deep in the forest and Luke is gone.
THIS.
He was the best of them until he wasn't but the thing is his bitterness wasn't without a reason. In the books, Luke is the only one who stood up with Percy when the camp turned their back on him. He was there and he cared and you didn't even think it was him until the Iris Message and even then you as a reader didn't even consider it and thought it was paranoia. Hindsight is 20/20 but you never have hindsight until the problem is a full-blown war.
What I mean to say is - the quiet ones are the ones with the secrets. And Luke is the son of a liar and a thief. Luke's betrayal wouldn't have been a betrayal if he hadn't been a friend first.
