Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Apollo is tired. Not in the way of needing sleep but in the way he feels like he wants to be put on hold. The sheets under his fingers are soft and smooth. His mind flashes to his birth. Zeus stands right at his mother's side. One of the few times he was there. He claims he did it on accident, but Apollo saw Zeus before he fully came into his godlihood and then saw nothing. Apollo wanted to believe for a long time that his father didn't mean to but sometimes his father has enough venom when talking to him he believes it was intentional. Artemis tries to make him feel like he belongs, but he can't leave Olympus or communicate with anyone outside the gods. He's tired of pretending everything is normal. That he doesn't exist. His uncles and siblings will hang out with him but they're often on Earth or doing their duties. Apollo isn't allowed to do anything. On his mother's part it's protection but on his father's it seems spiteful. He rolls onto his side and hugs his knees to his chest. He's tired of living on Olympus.

"Apollo?" Aphrodite calls.

"Come in," he says.

The door opens. "There will be a lot of people here today, so our father has requested you stay in your room."

Apollo hums.

"How are you?" she asks.

He shakes his head.

"I'm sorry. Perhaps we can convince father to allow you to get more responsibility," she says.

He scoffs.

"Apollo, come on, I've never seen you this shut down. It's been almost a decade," she says.

He sits up. "Perhaps it's the constant living in a room or the blindness or the insults but I feel like I should be allowed a few decades of depression. Go to your meeting or whatever," he says.

Aphrodite hesitates. Apollo throws a pillow her direction. She slips out and closes the door. He flops onto his side again. He listens to the footsteps throughout Olympus and the murmurs of his family members talking. He sighs. Aphrodite isn't the worst of them, he feels a bit bad about being harsh. The door opens again.

"Hello, nephew," Hades says.

Apollo rolls his eyes. He knows Hades can't see it but it's for personal satisfaction. "What are you doing?"

"I'm checking on my nephew," he says.

Apollo adjusts his mask and sits up. "Was it Aph or Artie?"

"What?" he asks.

Apollo raises an eyebrow. "Who sent you here?"

Hades steps further into the room and closes the door. "No one. I am rarely allowed in Olympus and thought I would come see you."

Apollo tilts his head.

"Aphrodite did catch me on the way in and told me you were down but I was already on my way here."

Apollo scoffs. "Okay. I'm fine. Go to your meeting," he says.

Hades steps around discarded canvases and papers. He sits on the bed across from Apollo.

"I doubt that. You look like crap and your room is worse than usual," he says.

Apollo shrugs.

"I have a proposal," he says.

"I don't want to be Persephone's replacement in her absence," he says.

Hades flicks his arm. "I want to convince my brother to send you to Earth."

Apollo turns to him. "Why?"

"Because I think you might do something drastic. This is the first time I've seen you in almost forty years," he says.

"I've been in this room for thousands of years. Why would I snap now?" he asks.

"You've been here for thousands of years but this is the first time I've seen you lay in bed without any sounds. I'm worried. Your father may not worry about it, but I've met people who have done something crazy when they're depressed," he says.

Apollo shrugs.

"If not Earth I can bring you down to the underworld. We can find something for you to do."

Apollo crawls to Hades. He brings his hands to his uncle's face.

"What are you doing?"

"Say it again," he whispers.

Hades raises an eyebrow.

"Convincing my father to send me to Earth or welcoming me to the underworld," he says.

Hades says, "I will convince your father to send you to Earth or the underworld."

"What do you want in return?"

"Your happiness."

Apollo chokes. He stumbles back. Hades is telling the truth. He thought so but he's almost certain now.

"I don't understand."

Hades shuffles closer. "I've been worried but kept ignoring it but then last time I saw you it was bad. Persephone said no one sees you anymore. You're like one of my kids so I want to make you happy," he says.

Apollo sniffles. "That's ridiculous. Convince dad or not. Do whatever."

Hades ruffles his hair. "I'll try to get him to send you to Earth."

Hades walks toward the door avoiding Apollo's paintings and papers. Apollo smiles softly.

"Thank you," he whispers.

"Of course."

Apollo flops onto his bed. He gathers his art supplies, instruments, bow and arrows, and money. He gets them into something that can be carried. Hades is probably one of the few people who can get Zeus to consider sending Apollo somewhere away from Olympus. He makes sure he has the stiff he would need on Earth. He sits on his bed humming and kicking his feet. He shouldn't get too excited because there is a possibility that Hades won't be able to, but he needs something.

He listens to the gods talking in the other room about politics and kids and rules. None of it really applies to him. He doesn't have children and he's not involved with politics. He has rules but he's memorized them.

"I propose we send Apollo to Earth," Hades says.

Apollo leans forward.

"Why?" Zeus asks.

"He's been here for thousands of years. He has kept his existence a secret. I don't see him telling anyone on Earth and he's bored. You know bored gods cause problems," Hades says.

"Why would he cause problems now?" he asks.

"I'm not saying he will but he's in a bad place. If we leave him, he will snap eventually," Hades says.

Poseidon says, "I have to agree. He's been good for thousands of years, but it's bound to end."

"Why don't we just lock him up or something?" Ares suggests.

Apollo can almost hear Hades rolling his eyes. "Yes, because locking powerful beings up had ended well all the other times. We should try to pick him up not lock him up. There's just potential for more issues that way," he says.

"I agree," Aphrodite says.

Dionysus and Artemis mutter agreements.

Athena says, "I think it's best we see of something else happens with him before trying to 'pick him up'," she says.

Apollo feels his throat close.

"I agree with Athena," Hera says.

"We'll leave this issue for the moment," Zues says.

Apollo flops onto his bed. At least he momentarily had hope.

"We'll take a break," Zues says.

The gods scatter throughout Olympus. Apollo sighs. Hades, Artemis, and Aphrodite stand in a corner.

"Do you think he will really snap?" Artemis asks.

"I don't know. He's really down. I thought I could convince Zues to allow him some freedoms by proposing something big then whittling it down. He shut it down too quickly," Hades says.

Aphrodite claps gently. "We could find him someone to love," she says.

"How?" Artemis asks.

"I have to agree. He's locked in a room in Olympus," Poseidon says.

He stands with them.

"Then we accidentally leave the door unlocked and someone could wonder in," Aphrodite says.

"Aph, I love that you're trying but I don't think that would work. It's not like many people just enter Olympus," Artemis says.

Apollo's attention moves to a shuffling and something being moved in the meeting room. He knows where everyone is. Someone from the outside is taking something. Apollo listens until he can't hear the fluttering anymore. Someone with Hermes's flying shoes two things from the meeting room. The gods move back into the room. That must be why the person left. Zeus yells. Apollo jumps.

"Where is my bolt?"

So that's one thing. What is the other? The gods move around the room. Someone stomps out of the room toward his room. His door is ripped open.

"You took it," Zeus says. He crushes Apollo's paintings on the floor as he stomps through the room. He grabs him by his collar.

"Someone with Hermes's winged shoes took your bolt and something else," he says.

Zeus growls.

"I didn't take it," Hermes says.

Apollo shakes his head. "You were with Athena getting nectar," he says.

Zeus shakes him. "Where is it?"

"I don't know. I lost track of the fluttering when you all stomped back into the room."

Zeus shoves him against the wall. "You're lying."

"Why would I lie?"

"You want the bolt for yourself."

Apollo scoffs.

Zeus slams him against the wall again.

"First, I don't lie. Second, your bolt means nothing to me."

Zeus throws him across the room. Apollo slams into the far wall.

"Zeus, you're going to hurt him," Hades says.

Apollo tastes blood in his mouth. "Listen, father, I couldn't have taken it. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to get myself out of this room."

"You hired someone to," he says. Zues grabs him again.

"How? The only contact I have is with some of you."

Athena says, "He's right."

Zeus slams Apollo into the wall. "You will find my bolt and return it. There is one other possibility. Poseidon's son. What's his name?"

Apollo winces. "He knew that would eventually come back on Poseidon."

"No. He didn't take it," he says.

Zeus says, "He will return it or I will get it back from you myself, Poseidon. If it turns out Apollo is lying, I will send him to his grandfather."

Apollo scoffs.

Zeus throws Apollo back across the room. Blood and laughter bubble up from. Apollo's throat.

"Why are you laughing?" Hades asks.

Apollo clutches his stomach. "That was fun." He jumps up and grabs the chalice of nectar on his desk. He swallows it and grabs the bag he packed.

"What are you doing?" Hera asks.

"Well, I think I've been given a quest by my father. Retrieve the master bolt, grab uncle's helm, and make sure Poseidon's child doesn't die," he says.

Hades asks, "How did you know my helm was taken?"

"Well, the master bolt was the first thing the thief took, and I said two things were taken. Since Zeus turned to Poseidon and not you, I have to assume that something of yours was taken too. I also know Poseidon's child. Does he have a name?"

"Percy."

"Percy didn't do it because Zeus hasn't brought it up until now, so he hasn't been publicly claimed. That means he likely has very little to no understanding of our world. Has to be someone who knows about the bolt and helm and can fly with Hermes's shoes. It doesn't limit it much, but I think I can help with all this."

Apollo grabs his favorite paintbrush from the floor and leaves the room. He changes to a preteens body.

"Why that form?" Aphrodite asks.

"I think I'll be enrolling in school. Percy probably needs guidance. Or I'll go to that camp I've heard Dionysus talk about. I just need a starting point. I also can't do this as a god. I need to be a human. Plus, I bet I make a cute kid," he says.

"You do. Be careful," Artemis says.

Hades sighs. "You're too smart for your own good."

Apollo changes to human clothes. "Does this match?"

"Not even a little," Aphrodite says.

He changes again.

"I like it," Hades says.

"What is it?" Apollo asks.

"Black t-shirt with black jeans," he says.

Apollo shrugs. "I don't know what that means but if you say it looks good, I'll believe it. I always assumed you dressed well."

"Why?"

"You have the personality who dresses well."

He pushes the button for the elevator. "I'll see you all later."

Zeus says, "To make sure you don't mess this up I'm taking some of your power."

Apollo shrugs. Zeus takes his power. Apollo feels significantly weaker but still has a lot of power. The elevator dings.

"See you later, father," he says. At the bottom of the empire state building, he grabs the attention of a guy he can tell is nice.

"Hello, I need to find Yancy Academy."

"Oh, I don't know where that is, but I can look it up," the guy says.

Apollo smiles. "I would appreciate it."

"It seems pretty far, kid. Are you going to be okay?"

"Um, I'm not sure. My parents just dropped me off here and said it was close by."

"I can take you," he says.

Apollo wrinkles his nose. "I don't know if I can trust you."

"If it helps, I'm a teacher at a different school."

Apollo nods. "It does. Do you have kids of your own?"

"No. I want some, but I haven't found anyone," he says.

He helps Apollo put his bag into the car. Apollo sits in the front seat.

"What do you teach?"

"English," he says.

Apollo scrunches his nose. "English has never been my favorite subject."

"No?"

"No. It took a long time to learn how to speak it. One of my teachers suggested learning to read first but being blind hinders that process," he says.

The guy says, "I can see that for someone learning a new language. I'm surprised you don't have a cane."

"I don't want it. My sister used to suggest it, but I can get around without it," he says.

"Impressive. I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Paul."

"Apollo," he says.

"Interesting name. I don't think I've ever heard it."

Apollo laughs. "My parents have a long history of naming strangely."

"At least it's memorable. I'm surprised your parents left you in the middle of a large city."

"They have a tendency of underestimating how difficult it is to get around sometimes. I would be fine if I could read maps and stuff my I can't. I'm glad I met you."

"I'm also surprised you got into a stranger's car."

Apollo shrugs. "I would figure it out if you weren't good, but you are so it's fine."

"Seems dangerous. We should almost be there."

"Thank you, Mr. Paul."

"Of course."

He parks and helps Apollo get his bag. Now that Apollo is here, he isn't sure how he's supposed to get inside or stay. He doesn't know how school works now, but he would guess it's over complicated. Paul stays in his car in front of the school. He's waiting for me to go inside, Apollo realizes. He goes inside.

"Who are you?" a woman asks.

"A new student," he says.

"Come with me." She guides him to the office.

"This is Apollo?" another person asks.

Apollo nods. Poseidon must have done something that's how he knew to go to this school.

"Okay. We'll have a student guide you to a room. We have a field trip in a couple weeks. If you want to go don't cause problems. We know you're blind, but we expect you to learn anyway."

Apollo nods.

"Grover Underwood come to the office," comes from the speakers.

Apollo winces.

The door opens behind him. "Hello, Ms. Smith."

"This is Apollo Loxias he's a new student. He can't see. Give him a tour and show him to his room."

"Okay," the boy says.

Apollo smiles. "Hello. I guess we don't have to tell each other's names but I'm Apollo."

"Grover."

"Nice meet you. How is this school?"

"Um, fine," he says.

Apollo listens to the boy's movement. Oh, he's a satyr. "Sorry, are you uncomfortable around me?"

"No. No. I'm uncomfortable around everyone."

Apollo laughs. "Sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. You just said it with a lot of conviction."

Grover huffs. They continue to walk. Occasionally Grover will tell Apollo which room he's near. None of the rooms have braille.

"They don't seem accommodating here," he says.

Grover hesitates. "No, I suppose not."

"I guess you would get it," he says. He gestures to the crutches.

"Yeah. If you need help my friend Percy and I have the same classes as you and we can help," Grover says.

Apollo nods. "I would appreciate that. I think I'll be getting lost a lot here."

Grover stops. "This is your room. It's pretty close to mine and Percy's. You don't have a roommate so it should be comfortable."

"Thank you for showing me around," he says. He unlocks the door and goes in.

"Yeah. I'll bring Percy tomorrow when we go to class."

"Okay! Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Apollo closes the door. He doesn't mind Grover. Maybe school will be okay for however long he's here. He unpacks his bag. Aphrodite, Artemis, and Hades got him human clothes and labeled them. He organizes them by color. For the most part it's black but Aphrodite added yellows, reds, and pinks saying he needed more color. He didn't understand why. He puts his art and music supplies spread out on the floor. He keeps his bow and arrows put away. He doesn't think the staff would appreciate him having weapons. No one should be able to get to it in his bag. He adjusts it to hold books for classes. Persephone gave him the books before he left. He isn't sure if they're the right books or how she would know but he has them. He collapses on his bed and goes to sleep. He wakes up and gets dressed in a yellow shirt and black jeans with ripped knees. He puts black biker boots on and waits for a knock. It comes a few minutes later. He pouts at the painting he was working on. He opens the door.

"Hello," he says. Two people stand in front of him.

"Hello," Grover says.

The other boy, probably Percy says, "Hi."

Apollo sticks a hand out. "I'm Apollo Loxias."

"Percy Jackson." He takes Apollo's hand.

Apollo smiles.

"Um, do you like art?" Grover asks.

Apollo nods. "I do."

"You have paint on your cheek," Percy says.

Apollo goes to wipe it but realizes his hand is still in Percy's. He apologizes and takes his hand back. He wipes his face.

"Not quite," Grover says.

He wipes again.

"Nope," Percy says.

Apollo pouts.

Percy laughs and wipes his cheek. "There all good."

"Thank you, Percy."

"You're welcome," he says.

Apollo locks his door, and they walk down the halls.

"What's the first class? No one has actually told me. They handed me a piece of paper but that didn't help."

Percy takes the paper. "Oh, you have Latin with me and Grover."

"That's fun. I like Latin. I am not looking for English."

"Me either," Percy says.

"Get to class," someone yells.

"Who's that?"

"Mrs. Dodds."

"What does she teach?"

"Pre-Algebra."

Apollo wrinkles his nose. "She's gonna ruin math."

"Math is terrible already," Percy says.

Apollo shakes his head. "It's so fun. It has definitive answers and despite the use of letters it's usually easier to understand than any word I've seen."

"That's not a high bar," Percy says.

"You're right. Perhaps it's better to say it's easier to understand than any word I've felt," he says.

Percy laughs.

They go into the classroom and sit. Someone in a wheelchair comes in. Apollo focuses on the person and notices the chair is less of a chair and more of a compartment. A centaur?

"This is Mr. Brunner he's a great teacher," Percy whispers.

Apollo nods.

"We gained a new student. Apollo, please stand."

He stands from his seat. "Hello, I'm Apollo."

"I'm Mr. Brunner. According to your documents you're blind?"

He nods.

"Please, let me know if you need anything explained further."

"Okay. Thank you, Mr. Brunner," he says. He sits. His head starts aching. This either means he's going to have a vision or it's nothing. Hopefully it's nothing or it can wait until tonight. Mr. Brunner teaches his class. Apollo massages his head. He just got here and he's already getting visions.

"Does anyone know who the main gods are in Greece?"

Apollo's hand raises. He didn't mean to.

"Mr. Loxias."

"Hades, Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Ares, Artemis, Hermes, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Dionysus," he says.

Mr. Brunner says, "Correct. The king of the gods is Zeus."

Apollo leans back. If this is what the Latin class is he can relax. He knows the gods. He doodles.

"Poseidon's domain is the water. Hades's is the underworld."

Apollo smears the pencil's markings with his fingers. He draws as Mr. Brunner talks. The bell rings telling him to pack up.

"That's so good. Don't take this the wrong way, but how can you draw like this?"

Apollo stuffs his pencil in his bag. "What did I draw?"

"Mr. Brunner. It's like a photo."

Apollo shrugs. "My hands move and then pictures are formed. If I focus on it sometimes something cool comes out but when I just draw its usually better."

"Did you feel comfortable today?" Mr. Brunner asks.

Apollo nods.

"That's an impressive drawing."

Apollo shrugs. "Happens sometimes. You can keep it," he says.

Mr. Brunner takes it. Apollo's head throbs. He'd prefer not seeing a prophecy right now. He rubs his temple and Percy guide him out. They sit in English. The teacher drones on about grammar. Apollo tries to focus but his head is making him dizzy.

"Apollo?" Percy asks.

He sits up straighter.

"Next is pre-algebra. Are you okay?"

He nods. "Just a headache."

"Maybe you should go back to your room," Grover says.

Apollo shakes his head. "First day of school. Don't want to seem lazy."

"Are you sure?"

He nods. "Let's go to math."

They sit down in the math room. Mrs. Dodds shrill voice grates on Apollo's head.

"Mr. Loxias, just because you're new here and blind doesn't mean you can slack off."

He grits his teeth.

"Tell me the answer to the problem."

Apollo thinks back to what she said. He mutters under his breath. "It's x equals thirty-four," he says.

She writes on the board. The screech of the marker grinds his brain. He resists standing up and leaving. His mind drifts but he forces himself to pay attention. The class ends.

"It's lunch. Should we take you back to your room."

"No," he says.

Mr. Brunner wheels up next to them. "Mr. Loxias, you seem like you're in pain."

"Just hungry," he says.

They go to the cafeteria. It's loud. Percy volunteers to get Apollo's food. Apollo sits with his head in his hands massaging his head. Percy sets the food in front of him. Apollo eats. The headache eases slightly but is still thumping and humming.

"Only three classes left?" he asks.

"Yeah."

Apollo hums. They go to P.E. where Apollo walks against the wall. Then they're in history. The teacher is talking about Rome. He knows enough about Rome. Then he's in science. The teacher talking about chemical reactions. The final bell rings and Apollo wants to run to his room, but he thinks might be suspicious. Grover and Percy help him get into his room then leave. Apollo gives in to the need to paint the future his brain is forcing him to see.

A knock breaks him out of his haze. He opens the door.

"Dude, class starts soon," Grover says.

He gestures for the boys to come in. He must have painted all night.

"Let me take a quick shower then we can go."

He grabs a pink pair of pants and another yellow shirt. Aphrodite really likes him in yellow. He washes all the paint off, hopefully. He gets dressed and goes back out.

"These are incredible," Percy says.

Apollo hums. "What are they?"

"They're of a camp. There're a few people in them but not in a lot of detail. For the most part it looks like cabins in a lot of detail. These must have taken all night," Percy says.

"They did but it's fine. I actually feel refreshed instead of tired. That happens sometimes. I get a massive headache and then I paint. Once I'm done, I'm refreshed."

"I didn't see this one before. It looks like me, Grover, and a girl," Percy says.

"Oh, is it accurate?"

"Yeah. It's insanely accurate. Are you sure you're blind?"

A slap. "Dude."

"I'm pretty certain. If I could see life would be a lot easier."

"Sorry. It's just so good."

"It's fine. I'm glad it's good. Sometimes you should let me feel your face. It helps me imagine you better." Especially, since his senses other than sight are better than usual. He can 'see' a lot with a touch.

"Yeah," Percy says.

"We have to go to class," Grover says.

They go to their classes. A girl keeps bothering Grover and Percy. She eventually starts bothering Apollo too.

"Why do dress like a clown?" she asks.

Apollo raises an eyebrow. "I don't know what that means."

Percy taps his shoulder. "She's just being a jerk...I like your outfit. It's cute and bright. Not a lot of people wear clothes like that here."

Apollo smiles. "Thank you, Percy."

"Of course," he says.

Mr. Brunner calls the class to order. "We will be going to the museum in two weeks and to prepare I think we should discuss some stories about the Greek gods and heroes."

Apollo leans on Percy. Another class of Greece. Other places exist. Apollo draws on his paper and listens.

"Are you tired already? I thought you said you were refreshed," Percy whispers.

Apollo pouts. "I am refreshed but I just wanted to lean on you. Am I making you uncomfortable or making it hard to focus?"

Percy shakes his head. Apollo knows he does because of the movement of his body and clothing. "I don't mind," he says. He realizes that Apollo can't see his head shake.

Apollo scoots his chair slightly and puts more of his body weight on him. He continues to draw as Mr. Brunner talks.

The bell rings. Apollo sits up and Percy packs his things.

"That was comfy," Apollo says.

"I'm glad I could make you comfortable," Percy says.

Apollo sticks his tongue out. He packs his pencils.

"What's the drawing this time?" he asks.

Percy takes the paper. "It's of a bat or something. It's bigger but it seems batty."

Apollo hums.

Grover takes the paper from Percy. "Can I keep this?"

"Sure. It's not like I can refer back to it or appreciate it's beauty."

Grover shoves it in his bag.

"Hey! Just because I said you could have it doesn't mean you should destroy it right after getting it," Apollo says. His art is good, at least that's what his siblings and uncles tell him. The disrespect.

Grover shuffles. "Sorry. I just don't want to be late."

"Whatever," he says. He picks his bag up. They go to their next class. Mrs. Dodds have already decided to hate him. He feels her, probably, beady eyes on him as soon as he walks in the room. Even when she starts writing on the board, he feels her watching him. He shuffles closer to Percy to hopefully get that feeling off him. Percy holds his arm.

"She seems angrier today than usual," Percy says.

Apollo nods. He doesn't enjoy being watched. Most people don't pay attention to him, he wants to hide.

"Something you want to share with the class?" Mrs. Dodds asks.

Apollo moves further into Percy. He really, really does not enjoy the way she's talking. He feels his chest tightening. Percy pats the arm he's holding.

"Sorry, Mrs. Dodds, Apollo asked what you were writing to understand the lesson," Percy says.

She steps closer. Apollo squeezes his eyes shut and squishes Percy's arm. No one can see his fear, but Percy can feel it. He knows Percy can feel it, but he can't stop. Percy pats his arm.

"Keep it down," she says. She steps away.

Apollo releases the breath he was holding. He shudders against Percy's side. Percy continues to pat his arm. Apollo feels sick and exhausted. He doesn't understand why he couldn't stop himself from hiding behind Percy and holding his arm. More than anything he's embarrassed. He just cowered behind Percy who he told everyone he would protect and all because a woman talked angrily at him. He doesn't think anyone knows but Percy does. He still has his hand crushing Percy's wrist. Percy is still patting his hand. Apollo loosens his hold and leans on the wall rather than Percy. Both hands rest on his lap. The desk in front of him has a notebook but he can't convince himself to draw or pay attention.

The bell rings. Apollo doesn't know if he can eat.

"Are you okay?" Grover asks. Apollo doesn't move from leaning on the wall.

Percy taps Apollo's shoulder. "Come to the cafeteria. You don't need to eat, but I want to keep you with me."

He grunts. It's meant to be a decline, but Percy pulls him up and they escort him to the cafeteria. They grab him food and make sure he can eat if he wants guiding his hand to the utensils and helping him get some on his fork. He eats a little and feels slightly better. Except now that the nausea has lessened the embarrassment has tripled. He shoves the plate forward and puts his elbows on the table and his face in his hands.

"Still feeling sick?" Grover asks.

Apollo groans.

"You don't have to eat more," Percy says.

Apollo says, "I'm sorry, Percy."

"What? Why?" Percy asks.

He shakes his head.

Percy laughs. "Apollo, I don't mind if you lean on me or hold my arm. Honestly, it doesn't bother me," he says.

Apollo shakes his head.

"I don't get it," Percy says.

"I'm sorry, I freaked out," he mutters.

"Freaking out isn't a reason to apologize," he says. He touches Apollo's wrist. "Sometimes we freak out. I'm glad I got to help you."

He turns to where Percy is. "That's not what my father says," he says. He covers his mouth. He didn't mean to say that.

Percy pulls Apollo's hand away from his mouth. "You don't have to listen to your dad here," he says.

Apollo winces. He thinks he might. His father may be on Olympus, but he has massive power. If he gets too out of line, he might not just do something to Apollo but to Percy and Grover too. He doesn't want that. Apollo wants to be friends with them and maybe one day he can tell them the truth. He promised his father not to, but this feels like lying.

Chapter Text

Apollo avoids Percy and Grover for one evening. He tried for longer, but Percy is persistent. He knocked until just before they needed to be in class. Grover kept suggesting they leave him to make it on time, but Percy refused. Apollo would be upset if he messed up Percy's education. He isn't sure how well it was going anyway because Percy has ADHD and dyslexia. Like Apollo told Grover on the first day, this school is not accommodating. Many of the teachers get mad when Apollo asks them to say what they're writing. Since he can't avoid Percy, he'll pay him back by tutoring him. He spent a lot of time in Olympus studying. Since he made them wait Apollo decided to try to look more presentable than usual. He put on his black jeans, a pink shirt, and pink boots, and fixed his hair until it felt right. He opens the door. Percy and Grover tug him out.

"You look great," Grover says.

"Thank you, Grover," he says.

They arrive in the classroom right before the bell rings. Apollo sits between Percy and Grover which is new. The first week of school he sat beside Percy against the wall. They must think he needs emotional support or something. He grimaces.

"Do you dislike Zeus?" Mr. Brunner asks.

Apollo whips his head up.

"You grimaced at the mention of him," Mr. Brunner said.

"Um, that's actually not why I grimaced," he says. Mr. Brunner's marker makes contact with the board. "But don't you think we give him too much leniency. He wouldn't be considered a good person and he's a god. Someone millions of people have looked up to. He cheats on his wife and gets praised for it and he ignores his children. It's not even just that he's a bad person, he's a bad father and he's the father to some of the strongest beings on Earth. He treats them badly so how does he expect them to treat others. Also, he is aggressive, a bully, and narcissistic. To some degree all gods are, but Zeus is probably the worst of them."

Mr. Brunner is silent.

Apollo tugs on Percy's sleeve. "What is Mr. Brunner doing?"

"He's staring at you with wide eyes. So is Grover," he says.

"Oh. Um, I just mean if that fake piece of trash was real no one would like him," Apollo says.

Thunder echoes through the school and rain pounds the roof. Apollo has thought about he's father's reputation for a very long time. He couldn't say this on Olympus but here...

"Maybe we should steer away from this topic," Mr. Brunner says.

Apollo shrugs.

"I agree with Apollo, though, in all the stories told about him he treats everyone badly including his own kids. Which is weird because he was the same guy who beat his father for treating him and his brothers badly. Zeus hasn't eaten any of his kids in the stories, but he doesn't treat them well either," Percy says.

Apollo smiles.

Mr. Brunner says, "Right. Let's-"

Thunder shakes the building and lighting flashes through the windows then the school goes dark. The electricity no longer hums through the building and none of the appliances are making noise.

"Looks like classes will be canceled today," Mr. Brunner says.

Apollo grins. He knows his father is rather pompous so being bashed by two of the people he's already upset with is just making him crankier. The lights flicker back on. Apollo leans back in his chair.

"Maybe we should leave the topic of Zeus alone," Mr. Brunner says.

"You're right, Mr. Brunner. I think we should talk about the gods in general. Don't they all have children in the stories?" Apollo asks.

"Uh."

"What I never hear about is the gods actually doing anything for their kids. Like, I think the most they do is give some fierce weapons and gifts like that. Not nearly enough to pay child support. I mean parents nowadays are forced to pay for their kids even if they came to the world by accident, but the gods don't. Here are these all-powerful beings that can't even send money for the other parent to take care of the kids. They act like they did some great deed by giving these people kids but if they can't even help their kids survive then what's the point," he says.

"Well, Mr. Loxias, I think you might be too critical. In the stories, they often help their children on quests," Mr. Brunner says.

Apollo scoffs. "The quests are usually caused by the gods anyway. They can't take care of their own problems, can't pay child support, and they expect their kids to just love them anyway. Then they get away with it by saying they can't do more, or they'll cause problems. There is a simple solution," he says, "don't have kids."

"Mr. Loxias," Mr. Brunner says.

"I'm just starting a conversation about this because even if these stories are fake, it still gives the impression to those reading it that this kind of behavior is excused," he says.

"I kind of agree. Many kids don't have parents in their lives, and it's probably not directly connected to this, but these kinds of things do excuse the behavior," another kid says.

"I agree. We allow a lot of behaviors to be excused because they're 'gods' and they have ancient stories but maybe we should use them as more of a what not to do. Or stop telling their stories," Percy says.

Apollo turns to him and smiles.

The lightning and thunder shake the school and occasionally the lights flicker.

"Ugh, why are we still having conversations about these characters?" Nancy asks.

Apollo tries not to laugh. A large roll of thunder shakes the school. The windows shake in their sills.

"Guys, maybe we should back off. Mr. Brunner looks like he's about to pass out," Grover says.

Apollo shrugs. "Fine. I just wanted to get other people's take on why we still celebrate these so called, gods." He knows it's an attack on himself and his family members, but he stands by it. For the most part his family didn't like him anyway. What harm is there in sharing his opinion a bit?

"Well, they are still important beings to some groups, and they have a lot of power," Mr. Brunner says.

"I know they have a lot of power which is why they should act better," Apollo says. He knows he should stop, the lightning and thunder are getting worse, but he can't seem to keep from sharing his point of view. His previous fear of his father isn't gone but he knows that Zeus really wants that bolt and killing Apollo right now would cause problems. Although he might preemptively set Percy against the gods.

The bell rings.

"Okay, we will discuss other topics tomorrow," Mr. Brunner says.

"Wow, you were really passionate about that," Percy says.

Apollo shrugs.

"Seriously, I think you took like fifty years off Mr. Brunner's life," he says.

"Well, he certainly can't afford that," he says. Well, he can but whatever.

Percy laughs.

Grover starts following them soon after. Probably talking to Mr. Brunner. Apollo doodles in class and Percy tries to sit still beside him. Apollo decides to play some simple games to try to help Percy focus like tic-tac-toe, he's almost certain he's not playing the game right but tries.

"What should we do tonight?" Percy asks.

"I'm gonna tutor you," he says.

Percy groans. "Why?" he asks.

"Because you're smart but the dyslexia and ADHD are keeping you from being able to focus. Also, this school sucks," he says. He pulls Percy into his room. Grover follows.

"Torturer," Percy says.

"Stop whining. Some of this might come in handy," Apollo says.

"Math and English will never come in handy," Percy says.

Apollo scoffs. "Math is always useful. I won't teach you English. I'm not good at it," he says.

"You seem good to me," Percy says.

"Yeah, but that's a low bar," he says.

"Hey!"

"Anyway, we'll start with math. These problems are all different levels so we can get an idea where you are," he says.

"How did you get these?" Grover asks.

Apollo sits on his bed. "I printed them last night," he says.

"But we can't--"

"Well, I did," he says.

Grover shuffles in a corner.

Percy huffs and sits at his desk. "How will you check them?" he asks.

"I have an answer key so Grover or you can check them," he says.

He sighs and begins writing on the paper. Apollo pulls a braille book out. He leans back and runs his fingers over the bumps.

"Apollo?" Percy asks.

"Yeah?"

"Why do you wear that face covering?"

Apollo sits up. "My mother says that my eyes make people uncomfortable," he says.

"Ah. What about you?"

"Do my eyes make me uncomfortable?"

"Yeah, does having your eyes exposed make you uncomfortable?" he asks.

"A little. People tend to stare at me which makes me uncomfortable," he says. His siblings and parents did.

"Do you think I will ever see them?" Percy asks.

Apollo shrugs. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he says. His siblings tended to get weird after seeing them.

Percy sighs. "I doubt it's that bad, but I won't force you," he says.

Apollo nods. "Get back to work," he says.

Percy whines but goes back to writing.

Apollo leans back again and sets his book by his head. Hera is obsessed with perfection and Apollo's eyes are not perfect, so she covered them. He's been told the covers she made for him are beautiful, so they cover the imperfection well. Sometimes they made him uncomfortable, but Hera made clear the if he were to walk around Olympus at any time, he was to cover his face. He understood, gods are supposed to be perfect, pretty, above others, without flaw, and his eyes are a flaw. He is a flaw. So, no one knows about him outside his family. So, he covers his eyes to make his family more comfortable around him. So, he was banished and forced to swear not to tell anyone anything about being a god.

There were actually many stipulations to leaving. Zeus and Poseidon made him swear not to tell Percy about his quest or that he's a demigod. He can't tell anyone about his godlihood. And his powers are restricted. He didn't think it would matter but he wants to tell Percy. He wants to give a warning. He's not sure what it would change but being thrust into a whole new world can be terrifying. Apollo is terrified with everything he does here. He knew very little about Earth when he came here. He still knows very little. Percy will have a similar experience. It might explain a lot, but it also will not be the same as what he does know.

"'Pollo?" Percy asks.

"Hmm?"

"I finished with the ones I know how to do," he says.

Apollo goes to his desk and pulls out the answer key. They go over it and figure out where to start his tutoring. Apollo makes worksheets for next session.

"Do you want to do your homework alone or here?" Apollo asks.

"I don't want to cause you problems because I can't focus," Percy says.

"Well, how about you come over here to work on homework. I get distracted a lot too. We can keep each other on track. Or make Grover."

"Okay," he says.

"Next, we can work on English or history," Apollo says.

"I thought you said you wouldn't tutor me in English."

"I lied. Someone has to help you and I'm obviously better at it."

"Ugh. I guess History," Percy says.

Apollo sits on the floor with some of his papers. Percy sits in front of him.

"I know I bashed them in class, and I stand by what I said, but the gods are important in ancient Greece and their beliefs," he says. He may not be able to directly tell Percy, but he can try to prepare him.

"Where should we start?" Percy asks.

"Do you know Zeus?" he asks.

"He's the ruler of the gods and he sky, and he has a thing with lightning?"

Apollo nods. "Zeus is the father to many of the major gods except Poseidon and Hades. Family politics gets complicated, but his main role is a leader of the gods," he says.

"How did he get that role and not the other two?"

"It's stupid, honestly, they drew lots and Zeus won," he says.

Percy laughs. "That is stupid," he says.

"Yeah. The gods have a lot of ridiculous ways to resolve conflict. Next, we have Hades," he says.

"He is the god of the underworld," Percy says.

"Yup."

"He doesn't seem too bad in the stories," he says.

Apollo nods. "Probably one of the least aggravating."

"Doesn't he have something with Persephone? Like she goes down to the underworld sometimes."

Apollo nods. "You know quite a bit."

"Mr. Brunner is one of my favorite teachers, so I try to keep up with his studies," he says.

Apollo hums. They talk about the gods briefly.

"So, we'll start here tomorrow. Bring your homework and then we can go from there," Apollo says.

Percy packs his stuff and leaves. Grover stops in Apollo's doorway.

"Apollo?"

"What's up?"

"Thanks for helping Percy but, um, maybe you should be careful," Grover says.

Apollo hates cryptic people. His entire family has a tendency of being unnecessarily vague whenever they talk. He can't tell if Grover is threatening him. He's been threatened a lot by some siblings and some newly developed gods trying to determine their place, always higher than his, on Olympus. Every time Grover talks, he sounds like he's worried so he's not sure if that's it either. It might just be a general warning of speaking against the gods when they are obviously paying attention. Maybe he can tell he's getting closer to Percy. He doesn't know and it's annoying him.

"Why, Grover?"

He shifts in the doorway. "It's just dangerous," he says.

Which clarifies nothing. Grover leaves. Apollo is tired of people not speaking their minds. He knows he's doing the same to Percy, but he quite literally cannot say or write anything to tell him. He doesn't know how Chiron and Grover haven't given in already, especially, since they have been around him longer. Apollo is a little angry on Percy's behalf at himself and the other two. He can't believe he's going to thrust Percy into this world, but he will stand with him. Apollo has already researched a lot on the current world, mostly for entertainment, but he needs to do more if he'll be useful to Percy.

Chapter Text

Apollo loves art. He might not be able to see it or know exactly what is being portrayed but he loves it. His hands glide across the paper or canvas, and he knows something is taking form. It's one of the few things he's developed more than his siblings. Hera has told him that his art is beautiful. Granted she said, 'It's beautiful, Apollo. Especially, considering you cannot see.' The second part kind of ruined it and for a while, he didn't know if his mother was saying he was good at art for a blind person or if he was good at art and blind. It wasn't until Hades came into his room and picked up a piece of art.

"Wow, Apollo, it's really good. They all are," he said.

Apollo was reluctant to accept the praise, but he knew Hades was one of the least likely of his family to lie. To doubt the compliment is to doubt Hades and he prefers not to do that. He also just wanted to believe his art was good.

"Wow, 'Pollo, every time you draw something new, I get more impressed," Percy says.

Apollo smiles and turns away. This is the person he would trust every time they complimented him. Percy is down to earth and doesn't mention the blindness when talking to him.

"Thank you, Percy," he says.

Percy pats his arm and turns back to the front. Apollo has come to appreciate Percy's random comments on his art. Really, he just in general likes Percy talking to him because he always feels genuine. Apollo gets away with not paying attention because he can figure out where to direct his face but still draw. Percy does get in trouble because he moves and talks, and the teachers pick up on his distractions.

"Percy Jackson, pay attention," Mrs. Dodds says.

Apollo wishes they could see his eyes because he would be rolling them. Seriously, what do they think they are helping by telling someone who clearly has ADHD to pay attention? This school, that's supposed to help students in difficult situations, is sucking at helping anyone. He's kind of glad that Percy will meet people who understand him.

Apollo finds Percy's hand and plays with his fingers. When he can't focus it helps him, so, he's hoping to let Percy know he can do the same. Apollo will probably make something else for him to mess with in class later. Percy takes the opportunity and messes with Apollo's hand.

The bell rings and they leave.

"Thank you, 'Pollo," Percy says.

Grover walks beside them. "What for?" Grover asks.

"I was getting antsy, and he let me play with his hand to keep my hands a little busy," he says.

"Oh, that's nice," he says.

Apollo admittedly doesn't know how to take Grover. He's lying to Percy and not just about the whole mythical creature thing, that Apollo can understand. Maybe Apollo doesn't have much room to talk though, he's a god. He follows Percy to Mr. Brunner's class.

"We'll be going on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art," Mr. Brunner says.

Percy shifts beside him. Apollo keeps a mental note to ask Percy about that.

"We'll be there to look into Roman and Greek art and the gods," Mr. Brunner says.

Percy nudges Apollo's shoulder. Apollo chuckles.

"Something funny, Mr. Loxias?" Mr. Brunner asks.

Apollo shrugs. "I just can't wait to talk about the gods again," he says.

Mr. Brunner makes a strangled noise. "Right. It'll be interesting," he says.

Apollo assists Percy that night to get caught up with his studies some more.

"Are you excited to go to the museum?" Percy asks.

Apollo shrugs. "I'm not exactly good at deciphering art, for obvious reasons," he says.

Percy hums. "Things always go wrong when I go on field trips," he says.

Apollo realizes why pretty fast. The monsters get attracted to him because he has potent demigod blood. "I'll be with you tomorrow."

"Is that supposed to comfort me?" Percy asks. He sits on Apollo's bed.

Apollo sits up. "It's either a comfort or a confirmation, maybe both," he says.

Percy laughs. "I think it will be fun either way," he says.

Apollo hums.

Percy sighs. "Grover has been weird lately, well weirder. He's being dodgy," he says.

Apollo twists his blanket around his finger. "Percy, there's a lot I can't tell you," he says. His eyebrows furrow. "Like I cannot in the literal sense. A lot is about to change for you. I'll help you in every way I can, but I don't know if it will be enough."

Percy stays quiet for a moment. "I trust you. I think you've been the most honest with me recently. Mr. Brunner and Grover have been with me longer, but it always feels like they're talking around me. I don't know, I'm confused."

Apollo moves to his closet full of art supplies. He pulls out a sketchbook. "This is one of my oldest pieces, I've drawn it a million times. I don't know what it is, but I hope it helps," he says.

Percy makes a confused noise. "I don't get it," he says.

Apollo tilts his head. "Perc, I don't know what it is," he says.

Percy sits back on the bed and sets the sketchbook on his lap. "It's you and me in Mr. Nicoll's class," he says.

Apollo has been to that class multiple times. He's not sure what it means either. "Sorry, Percy, I thought since I drew it so much it would help," he says. "You can flip through more pages but none of them evoked much emotion for me."

Percy flips to the next page. "This one is of the same girl as the first picture," he says, "The blonde one."

Apollo scoots closer and rests his head on Percy's shoulder. "What is she doing?" he asks.

Percy shifts. "She's just the picture. She doesn't seem to be doing anything in particular," he says.

Apollo grunts.

Percy flips to the next page. "This one is of Grover but he's half-goat or something," he says.

Apollo tries not to get too excited. "And?"

"You have a weird imagination," Percy says.

Apollo frowns. "It doesn't look good?" he asks.

"It does. Accurate except the goat legs," he says. He flips the page. "Oh, this one is Mr. Brunner as half a horse."

Apollo wants to scream but apparently his agreement goes to everything to do with the gods.

"Why did you draw them like that?" Percy asks.

Apollo sits up. "I'm sorry, Perc, I can't say it. Like literally," he says.

Percy pauses and then closes the book. "I don't really get it, but I know you're trying," he says, "Okay. Tomorrow, we go to the museum so let's make the most of that. We'll figure everything else out later." He stands.

Apollo winces. "I'm sorry, Percy, truly," he says.

Percy pauses and stares at him. "I believe you," he says.

The next day they're piling into the bus to go to the museum. Apollo sits next to some kid he doesn't know. Grover and Percy sit across the aisle with Nancy sits nearby and bothers them. Percy starts getting upset but doesn't do anything because Grover talks him out of it.

Apollo wraps himself around Percy's arm as soon as they're off the bus. "You'll make sure I don't run into anything, right, Perc?"

Percy pats his shoulder. "Of course."

"Can you describe them? The art pieces," he says.

Percy's grip tightens. "I don't know if I'd have the right words," he says.

Apollo shrugs. "Sometimes all you need are words even if they aren't perfect," he says.

Percy sighs. "Yeah," he says.

They stop in front of one. Apollo feels the echoes in the room and listens to them to get the lay out and see parts of the art pieces.

"This one is of a guy, he has curly hair, he's fit, and he's made of marble," Percy says.

Mr. Brunner stops talking. "What was that, Percy?"

Percy looks up. "Um, Apollo wanted to know what the pieces looked like," he says.

Mr. Brunner nods.

"Don't speak over your teachers, Jackson," Mrs. Dodds says.

Apollo flinches. She was a lot closer than he thought.

"Sorry, won't happen again," Percy says.

Mr. Brunner gives them the run down on Hercules. "Does anyone know who his godly parent was?"

"Zeus," Apollo whispers. He never met him, but he heard the echoes of his adventures.

Percy hums. "I remember his story. He killed his family and then to redeem himself he had to go through a bunch of trials."

Apollo nods.

Mr. Brunner asks some questions to Percy. He finishes a story about Perseus. "Okay, we'll break for lunch," Mr. Brunner says. He stops Percy briefly. "You have a lot of potential Percy."

Percy opens his mouth but Mr. Brunner wheels away. "That was weird," he says, "I have terrible grades. He's probably mistaken."

Apollo shakes his head. "I agree. You're really amazing when people spend the time to help you," he says.

Percy turns to him. "Let's go eat," he says.

They file out to a fountain near the museum. Grover, Percy, and Apollo sit on the edge of the fountain and get their food out. Apollo leans back and feels the sunlight heat his face. Nancy comes over and starts trying to get a rise out of Percy. Apollo attempts to distract him.

"And what's this, some piece of trash, you keep to make your little boyfriend feel better?" Nancy asks.

Percy growls. "Give that back," he says.

Apollo reaches for his sleeve. "I can draw you a new one," he says.

Percy ignores him. Nancy throws it into the fountain. Percy jumps forward and then Nancy is in the fountain too. She trudges out of it.

"Jackson just pushed me into the fountain," Nancy says.

Mrs. Dodds turns to him. "Mr. Jackson, as expected of you. We'll discuss this without anyone else. Follow me," she says.

"He didn't push her," Apollo says. Technically he didn't but Percy's powers kind of pulled her. It isn't his fault.

Mrs. Dodds turns to him. "Stay out of this, Mr. Loxias," she says.

Apollo steps forward.

"Hey, it's all good," Percy says, "I'll see you in a minute."

Apollo sighs. He doesn't trust her. Something is off. He can't tell what. After a minute he stands.

"Apollo, where are you going?" Grover asks.

"Something isn't right," he says. He rushes toward the museum entrance.

"Mr. Loxias, where are you going?" Mr. Brunner asks.

Apollo pauses. "Mrs. Dodds took Percy. I want to find him," he says.

Mr. Brunner nods and follows him in. "Maybe you should wait outside," he says.

Apollo scoffs.

They rush through. He hears Percy and something flapping. They rush into the room. Mr. Brunner shouts to Percy.

Percy turns to them. Mr. Brunner tosses him a pen. Percy stares at it.

"Uncap the pen, Percy," Mr. Brunner says.

Apollo steps forward but the pen turns into a sword and then he slashes their pre-algebra teacher into dust.

"What just happened?" Percy asks.

Mr. Brunner disappears.

"I didn't mean to...kill her?"

Apollo steps further in. "It was self-defense," Apollo says. He sniffs the air. Hades. Why are Hades's monsters after him?

Percy caps the pen, and it shrinks down. "I don't get it," he says.

Apollo shrugs. "I'm not sure I do either," he says.

"Maybe Mr. Brunner will have answers," Percy says.

Apollo doubts that he'll provide insight since he disappeared and has been dodgy. Percy holds Apollo's arm until they're outside.

"Where's Mrs. Dodds?" Percy asks.

Mr. Brunner stays quiet for a moment. "Percy, no one here is named Mrs. Dodds," he says.

Percy goes to Grover. "Mr. Brunner is being strange. Do you know where Mrs. Dodds is?" Percy asks.

Grover turns to Percy. "Who?"

"Our pre-algebra teacher," he says.

Grover points. "Mrs. Kerr is our math teacher? Are you okay?" he asks.

Percy throws his hands up. "Why is everyone acting weird?" he asks.

Apollo grabs his hand. "Perc, people are going to think you're going crazy," he says.

Percy huffs and sits beside him. "I'm just confused," he says.

Apollo doesn't know how to explain this. "Maybe it's like collective consciousness. Like she never existed to them for some reason, but she did to us," he says.

Percy groans. "I still don't get it," he says.

Apollo pats his shoulder. "I know," he says.

Chapter Text

Percy's struggling. Apollo manages to get him to pay some attention to homework in their rooms but during class, Percy seems to be waiting for someone to mess up. To mention the missing teacher. Apollo tries different methods of telling Percy what's going on, but none of it works. He can't say it or write it. His artwork isn't enough for Percy to understand either.

Percy's also getting into trouble with Nancy. Her tricks work faster and more effectively than before. She throws something and he yells or throws back. Apollo attempts to distract him, but the rate of success is drastically lower.

"Mr. Jackson, stop messing around," Mr. Nicoll says, "What, are you too lazy to study?"

Apollo tries to interrupt but Percy beats him. "Oh, leave me alone, you old sot," Percy says.

Mr. Nicoll clenches a fist and directs Percy to the office. Apollo doesn't want to leave him alone, so he picks up his spelling test and shreds it into the trashcan.

"Guess you can discount another student, bastard," he says.

"You can follow him, Mr. Loxias." Mr. Nicoll says.

Apollo grabs their stuff and goes to the office.

"Your son is not invited back next semester," the principal says into the phone.

Apollo hears Percy's heartbeat increase. He knocks on the door. The principal glares but doesn't stop him from sitting with Percy.

"Okay?" Apollo whispers.

Percy nods but his head stays down. "Six schools in six years."

Apollo pats his arm. "They just weren't good enough. Don't blame yourself."

The principal hangs up. "Why are you here, Mr. Loxias?" he asks.

"I called Mr. Nicoll a bastard," he says.

Percy stifles a laugh in his arm.

The principal sighs. "So, you just wanted to follow your friend to the office," he says.

Apollo shakes his head and leans on his desk. "I told him the truth. I can tell you too."

"And what is that Mr. Loxias?" he asks.

Apollo grins. "You're terrible at your jobs. You discount students and never look for ways to help them to learn. You say you're a school that helps students who are tough, but you have nothing for students who have ADHD, Dyslexia, or are blind. You suck."

"Like you know any better," the principal says. His voice is strained, and he seems like he's barely resisting the urge to yell at him.

Percy stands. "He's helped me learn more than any school I've been sent to."

Apollo stands. "You're not good at your job. You don't even try. Maybe you're just too stupid to figure out how to be good at anything."

"I'll talk with your parents, young man, about your disrespect," the principal says.

Apollo scoffs. "Like you could get them on the phone."

"I expect you to keep following your friend and leave this school next semester," the principal says. He picks the phone up and dials the number from his sheets. The phone rings but no one answers. "Tell your parents when you go home. We will also call them again and send a letter."

Apollo shrugs and leaves.

Percy walks with him. "Did you really get expelled because of me?"

Apollo hums. "Kind of. I am unimpressed with their inability to do anything for their students."

Percy wraps an arm around his shoulders. "Since I won't be back, I can just focus on Mr. Brunner's test."

"I don't know that those two things are related," he says.

Percy laughs. "I'm going to ask Mr. Brunner for help. You want to come?"

Apollo shakes his head. "I think I'm going to my room to do some art. You should consider coming over to study for other subjects."

Percy shrugs. "I'll consider it. If I get any helpful information, I'll tell you."

"Just let me know if anything happens. I have a weird feeling," Apollo says. He doesn't quite know what the feeling is trying to tell him. He prefers his intense sessions of visions to vague feelings that something might happen.

"I doubt it. I'm just getting help with Latin," he says.

Apollo shrugs. He opens the door to his room. It's not like he can say, literally he cannot say, he's the god of funny feelings that should be followed.

Percy goes to his room. He leaves moments later with a notebook and pencil.

Apollo sits on the floor with a paper. His hands drift over the surface. His pencil glides along. He tries to channel the nagging he feels but isn't sure he's actually doing it or drawing something else. Seeing can be useful sometimes.

He doesn't know how long he's on the floor. After a while he hears Percy's footsteps and gets up to see how he's doing.

"What happened?" Apollo asks. Percy's heart is racing.

Percy grunts. "They were talking about me and how I should have been expelled. I don't get it," he says, "I thought they were my friends. They also talked about Mrs. Dodds and some kind of mist that makes people forget things."

Apollo frowns. "And?" Maybe he'll finally realize what's happening.

"I don't get it. It's kind of what you said though," he says. "Did you know this was a thing?"

Apollo shakes his head. "I was actually confused there too." To be fair he never saw anything anyways so he couldn't tell for sure what was changing. He's also a god so he can typically sense the supernatural, unless his senses are dulled by his tyrant father.

"They also mentioned something called Kindly Ones," Percy says.

Apollo winces. He does know about them, not much but he's heard mentions while eavesdropping. "What about them?"

"How I might be the only one to save everyone from them." He runs his hands through his hair. "I don't get it, Apollo."

"Why don't you ask Grover?" Apollo wants him to understand but can't think of another way to tell him what he needs to know. Grover might tell him if he believes he can save them.

He sighs. "I don't want to think about it anymore. Can I just stay here tonight?"

"Sure. There's a cot in the closet."

He pulls it out and some blankets. He lays down.

Apollo tries to get the two idiots to talk multiple times throughout the last few weeks of school. But for every step they take toward each other they take fifteen away. He's on the verge of losing his mind.

"Where are you going?" Percy asks. They're finding the buses they need to take to go home.

Apollo doesn't really know. He might be able to find that camp he's heard about for demigods. Can gods go into a demigod camp? Well, Dionysus is there so it should be fine.

"I'm not sure yet. My parents are...away," he says.

Percy shrugs. "Just come with me. My mom won't mind. I called her when your parents didn't answer your calls. She said it's fine, but my stepdad is terrible."

Apollo smiles. "Really? It's cool?"

"Yeah. Come on." Percy drags him to a bus and Grover is also in there.

Apollo sits across the aisle from them next to someone asleep. Hopefully they'll talk if Apollo isn't right there. Apollo pretends to also fall asleep.

"Percy," Grover says.

Apollo listens to Percy's reluctant sigh. "What?"

"There's a lot to tell you but I'll start with the fact I'm your protector," Grover says.

"My protector? I stood up for you against Nancy," he says.

Grover shakes his head. "Against something bigger and far worse than Nancy. There are things out there, like from the story books, Percy."

Percy doesn't seem impressed. "Like the Big Bad Wolf?"

"No, like from mythology," Grover says.

Percy sighs. "Okay."

The bus stops. Smoke drifts through the doors. "Get off," the bus driver says.

Everyone leaves the bus and waits for the driver to take care of the problem. Grover and Percy look across the road.

Apollo moves to them. He can feel them. He knows them pretty well. The three wise old women of fate. They haven't officially met but Apollo's powers center around them. He raises a hand and waves. They don't wave back but Apollo isn't surprised.

"Oh, no," Grover says.

Percy shuffles a little. "What? You don't like old ladies knitting. Actually, why are they knitting on the side of the road."

Grover trembles. "They aren't just some old ladies."

Apollo knows what the worry is.

"Percy, promise me you'll stay with me until you get home," Grover says.

Percy pauses. "Yeah. Alright. I'll stick with you until I get home."

"Good, good. Yeah," Grover says.

The bus driver calls for them to get back on. Percy pauses. Apollo hears it, the snip. So, someone's going to die.

"That was weird," Percy whispers.

"The women?" Apollo asks.

Percy shakes his head. "Grover," he says.

Apollo hums. Grover is being weird. It would be better if he just explained what is happening instead of going around in circles.

"Why did you get all worried about them?" Percy asks. The bus starts going again.

Grover shuffles. "They cut the string."

Percy grunts.

"It means that someone's life is going to end," Grover says. He pants.

"What? They were just some old ladies knitting," he says.

Grover sighs. "No, Percy. It isn't good. Them cutting the string means someone is going to die."

Apollo wants to add that it means someone is going to die but it won't necessarily be one of them. And that while the Fates don't lie it isn't always certain. There is never a future that has to happen. It's an ever-changing tangled mess of 'Could be's and 'might happen's. That seems to involve too much information because his voice doesn't work when he attempts to mention it.

Grover keeps trying to explain what's happening without ever saying what is really happening. Apollo tries not to yank the hair out of his head. He doesn't know what else Grover could be waiting for. They're running out of time and monsters are chasing them.

He sighs and brings a book out to read. He runs his fingers over the braille. It's not like he can help. He's been trying for weeks now and all he's gotten is weird looks, probably, and confusion. Apollo focuses his energy on understanding the book.

Chapter Text

Grover leaves when they get to the terminal to go to the bathroom. "I'll be right back."

Percy hums. Once he's out of the immediate area Percy grabs his bags and walks toward the doors.

Apollo follows him. "Didn't you say you'd wait for him?"

Percy scoffs. "He's driving me crazy. He keeps talking nonsense and not explaining anything."

Apollo doesn't fault him. Grover does sound crazy and he's not really helping anyone. "Alright."

"Really? You're not going to try to convince me to go back and wait?"

"If you don't want to, I won't make you," he says. He knows what it's like to be left in the dark and for people to talk to you but never really say anything. He won't make Percy change his mind.

"Thanks. Time to go home," Percy says.

Apollo wishes he knew what that was like. To be relieved to go somewhere. Like you finally have a place to belong and just be. "What's she like? Your mother?"

Percy's stride widens. "She's amazing. She's had it rough, but she always says my father and I were the best part. He left on an ocean voyage when I was young."

That's one way to say it.

"I don't remember him at all. She got married to a guy called Gabe. Smelly Gabe is a jerk all he does is gamble and boss my mom around. He doesn't understand what hygiene is, I'm pretty sure he's never taken a shower before," he says.

Apollo tries to think if there would be practical use for that. He hasn't been informed of a lot of what goes into the world. He was never supposed to make his way into it.

"She's a saint for putting up with him," Percy says.

Apollo nods. "It sounds like it. What's her name?"

"Sally."

Percy opens the door to his apartment. Apollo almost get sick from the smell that comes out. This is one of the moments he wishes his nose wasn't powerful. He can't even comprehend what Smelly Gabe, a very fitting name, says when they come in. Percy drags him to his room.

"Wow, he really is smelly," Apollo says.

Percy grunts. "Yeah. Sorry."

"No, I appreciate having a place to sleep. I wasn't expecting him to be so...pungent." Apollo tries to find something to wash his nose out.

Percy hands him a shirt. "It's freshly washed. My mom probably just did laundry for me."

Apollo holds it up to his nose. "Thanks. I have a strong nose."

"Is it because you're blind?" he asks. He sits on his bed.

Apollo shrugs. "Maybe." The shirt smells like laundry detergent and slightly like Percy, a distant ocean scent.

"He just makes me so mad," Percy says.

Apollo hums. "I wasn't paying too much attention to what he said when you came in but he doesn't seem fun."

Percy grunts.

Apollo hands him the shirt back. "Thanks. Sorry about that. It just was really bad."

"I would suggest sitting by the window, but I don't know how much better that would be," he says.

Apollo laughs. "Thanks."

The door opens and shuts downstairs. That must be Sally Jackson. She talks to Gabe for a moment and then comes upstairs.

"Percy?" She knocks.

"Come in," he says.

She pushes the door open and opens her arms. "How are you?"

"I got expelled," he says. He walks to her.

"I know," she says, "They just weren't good enough."

Percy sighs. "I guess." He steps back.

"Hello, sorry for not introducing myself," she says.

Apollo holds a hand out. "You must be Mrs. Jackson. I'm Apollo Loxias."

She takes his hand. "Sally is fine. Nice to meet you. Are you friends with Percy?"

"I am," he says.

"He's blind," Percy says.

Apollo pauses. "Indeed, I am. Since birth."

Sally pats his shoulder. "Do you live nearby?"

Apollo considers this question. "Kind of. But I'm not allowed at my house right now."

Her grip gets a little tighter on his shoulder. "Where are you staying this summer?"

Apollo shrugs. "I think there's a homeless shelter around here."

She scoffs. "You are not staying at some homeless shelter. Percy and I are going on a trip, you're invited to come along."

Apollo frowns. "I don't want to interrupt your family time."

"We don't mind," Sally says.

Percy hums.

"Sure. Where are you going?" Apollo asks.

"Montauk Beach," Sally says, "It's where I met Percy's father."

Apollo tries to keep himself from laughing. Of course, Poseidon met his kid's mom at a beach. She's probably planning on telling him something help what's happening.

"Are you sure I should join you?" Apollo asks. He feels like this is a family issue.

"Yes," Sally says.

Percy packs and Sally goes back downstairs.

"I just realized you don't have any luggage other than your art supplies," Percy says.

Apollo shrugs. "I have a few pieces of clothing."

"Percy, Apollo, are you ready?" Sally asks.

Percy grabs his bag and Apollo grabs his. They go downstairs.

"You better not mess up my car, you delinquent. Control your little friend too," Smelly Gabe says.

Apollo tilts his head. "Does that mean I'm not allowed to drive?"

Smelly Gabe growls. "You better not touch my car."

"How can he not? How else would he be in it?" Percy asks.

He steps toward them, but Sally comes in. "Let's go boys."

"Did you make me food for while I'm gone?"

Sally sighs. "Yes."

He grumbles but sits.

She guides them outside. Apollo feels a bit of a throb on his temple.

"Apollo?" Sally asks.

He gasps. "Sorry, what?"

"We're here. Are you okay?" she asks.

Apollo stumbles out of the car. His head throbs harder.

"He has chronic headaches," Percy says.

Apollo hums. He grabs his bag and follows Sally inside. He sits on the floor and pulls paper and pencils out.

"What is he doing?"

"I'm not sure. He says drawing helps," Percy says.

Sally hums. "Okay, Percy, I have to talk to you about something. About your father."

"What about him?" Percy asks.

"He wanted to send you to a camp. One that's made for you," Sally says.

Apollo briefly wonders if all of these people went to the same place to learn how to be this vague.

"I couldn't convince myself to do it though."

"A camp made for me? What does that me?"

Sally sighs. "It's somewhere that will help you."

"How?"

"They know what you're going through. And now I need to take you there," she says.

Percy pauses. "What?"

"I promise it's a good place. Your father wasn't a normal man," she says.

Percy turns to her. "What do you mean?"

"He's a god," she says.

"Like Jesus?" he asks.

She shakes her head. "Like the Greek gods," she says.

Apollo's pencil catches on an uneven floorboard. "There are a lot of them."

She turns to him. "Yes."

"They come down and look like humans. They have children with mortals and go back to their domains," Apollo says.

"Exactly," she says.

Percy gapes at them. "I'm a Greek god's kid?"

"A demigod. It's a loose term for anyone who has a portion of god blood and mortal blood," Apollo says.

"Who's my father then?" he asks.

Sally pauses. "It's-"

A knock interrupts them. Sally pulls the door open. "Grover."

"Is he here? I've been looking for him all day," he says.

"He's here. Why are you here?"

"The Kindly Ones found him a while ago," Grover says.

She sighs. "What happened?"

"It was at the museum trip," Grover says.

She turns to Percy.

Grover enters and closes the door.

"What happened at the museum?" she asks.

Percy retells the story to her.

She sighs. "We have to leave earlier than I thought."

Apollo grunts. "Wait. I'm almost done."

She sighs. "Alright. Only until we've packed into the car."

He drags his pencils across the papers. Both his hands draw.

"We have to go, Apollo," Grover says.

Apollo stands. "I'm finished."

"Whoa," Sally says.

"What is it?" Apollo asks.

"A statue and a garden of statues," Percy says.

He gathers his papers and stacks them in his bag. It's raining hard outside. Apollo hands his bag to Grover. "One sec."

"We don't have-"

Apollo walks away. "Really? You said I had time. We'll get your stuff back. Stop sending us so much crap to deal with. Hades, you better not send anything to us."

Lightening cracks across the sky.

"You would think you wouldn't be able to do that without your fancy little wand," he mutters.

Thunder rumbles. He runs back to the car.

"Why do you have hooves?" Percy asks.

"Why aren't you wearing pants?" Apollo asks.

Grover groans. "Just get in the car."

Apollo crawls in the back with Grover. Percy sits up front with Sally. She drives. Apollo's sick of their crap. They're acting like they truly believe the kid who didn't even know he was a demigod committed these crimes. Also, he would have given some indication at some point if he did. Apollo rests his head on the window.

Chapter Text

Apollo can hear something in the distance. They're being followed. The car is already going as fast as possible while still being safe. Sally drives like she's on the run really well. She probably knew this would happen and practiced. He wishes he could help more, but when he tries to give information, they hear nothing, and his powers are unreliable, except for his premonitions. Maybe his enhanced senses too but those aren't as strong as usual either. Those aren't just working but thriving. He senses everything but can't tell what any of it means or why. He should go back to Olympus. Being locked in his room was so much easier. Maybe he could sleep for another hundred years or more.

Apollo jumps from Percy's change in breath. "Why do you two know each other? And what are you?" Percy asks.

"Grover is your protector," Sally says.

"He's a satyr," Apollo says. He doesn't mean to say it, but he at least wants to give him some information. They also seem to understand him. Maybe they can understand him if they're close to, or already know, the information.

"That's right," Grover says, "But let's not talk about this anymore. The less you know, the less likely the monsters will notice you." He nibbles on a tin can.

"I don't think that matters much anymore," Apollo says. They're being chased by a monster after getting chased by Kindly Ones. They already think he knows something and knows where he is.

"We encountered the Fates," Grover says.

So, he's completely ignoring Apollo. That's not even what he was referring to and he's pretty sure the Fates wouldn't appreciate being called monsters.

Sally speeds up. Apollo misinterpreted the speed this vehicle could go. "You did?"

"On the bus," Grover says, "They cut the thread."

Sally focuses on the road but tenses.

"The old women?" Percy asks. He's probably so confused on all of this. Poor guy.

Grove opens his mouth to respond but doesn't get the chance. The creature finally caught up.

The car lurches and rolls into a ditch. Apollo's head cracks against the window. This makes his ears ring which does not help with the confusion. He smells blood from Grover. Each kind of blood has a slight tinge that tells him what they are, and he's gotten good enough he can sometimes tell specific beings too. He had a lot of free time.

Percy and Sally argue by a tree. She wants him to go to the camp, but he refuses. Apollo can't catch it all. His ears are still ringing, and his brain is probably more useless than it should be.

"We need to help them," Percy says.

Sally sighs. "Alright."

Wow, feel the love, Sally.

Sally tugs Grover out of the car and to a tree to lean on. Percy comes for Apollo. He pushes out of the car, but his clothes get caught on broken glass. He wrestles his shirt out of the grip of the pieces and stands.

"Good you can stand," Percy says. His hands still out but not on him.

Apollo slumps against a tree. Trees are nice he should thank the Dryads for letting them burrow them.

"Percy, go past that tree and get help. Someone there will assist you," Sally says. She rests her hands on his shoulders and tears line her eyes.

"I can't. What would happen to you all?" Percy asks. He swipes his hand toward Apollo leaning on a tree and Grover unconscious.

She sighs. "It's not somewhere I can go. You have to go tell them what happened."

"I'm not leaving you three here to get hurt more." He straightens his shoulders and steps closer to them.

Apollo grunts. "I can defend them until help arrives." He stands up. He's not sure how but he is sure he can do it. His father probably won't let him die here. Probably.

Percy scoffs. "You're barely able to stand." Demi-gods are too stubborn.

"Percy, trust me," he says. His throbs, his body is not listening well to his demands, and his hearing cuts out sometimes. He can, he will, defend them. He will make sure they make it out of this.

"No," he says. "I'm staying here with you." The creature moves closer. Apollo hears the footsteps near the road. Although he's pretty sure Zeus can hear its footsteps.

"It's here," Sally says. Her voice quivers but she stands tall.

Percy tenses. "It's a Mi-"

"Don't say it. Names have power," Sally says.

Apollo sighs. "She's right, Perc. Try not to use their real names."

He sighs. "Alright. What should we do?"

"Jump to the side if it charges. Bulls can't change direction easily," Sally says.

Apollo agrees. That's the best way to deal with a minotaur. If you're faster than it and move to the side, you should be fine.

The bull charges at Percy. Percy jumps to the side and the bull releases a huff. Apollo leans on the tree beside Grover. He really wants to get over there and help Percy but every time he tries to step his legs wobble beneath him. He should be thankful that Percy stayed.

The Minotaur turns to them. It aims for Percy's mother, but Apollo jumps in front of her. Finally, his legs listen. Its hand doesn't grab him which seemed like the objective for her. It swings and his body flies through the air. His head cracks against the large tree Sally said to get help past. He feels a faint energy from the tree, unlike almost anything else he's experienced. Also, he's not going to be able to survive this night if he keeps getting head injuries. His ears are now white noise, and his brain feels like ambrosia. He's going to charge his uncle for each time the Minotaur cracks his skull.

"No," Percy yells. He sprints toward Sally.

Right, Sally's still in danger. Apollo tries to focus on what's going on. He keeps slipping out of consciousness and hearing. He focuses his hearing to check on the group. There's one less heartbeat. Sally's not here anymore. He strains to find if there is a hint to what happened. There's no smell of her either. She's completely gone, not dead, gone. Probably to the underworld if the Minotaur was sent by Hades. Percy's heart beats like crazy. He tries to call out, but his voice won't work. He just garbles in the rainwater.

Percy yells and runs after the Minotaur. He fades out again. The creature disappears. Similar to Sally not dead because its physical presence is completely gone. Percy beat the Minotaur. Apollo tries to tell Percy that he did well, but all that come out are grumbles.

"Apollo, are you still awake?" Percy asks. He comes closer and brushes his face with his fingers.

His head drops instead of nodding like he hoped it would.

"Good. I've got Grover," he says. He wraps his arm around Apollo's shoulders.

Apollo tries to help but his body resists the movements. He leans on Percy more than on his own feet. Percy drags them across the ground. The protective border doesn't hesitate to let the three of them through.

Percy collapses with Grover on a porch.

Apollo tries to call for help. Instead, a soft sigh leaves his lips. He can't hear and he wants to vomit, but he's on his feet.

"You must be the one," a girl says.

Apollo tries to question her, only a soft huff leaves his lips. His hands go up to where his bow usually sits.

"Wow, you're still standing," she says.

He tries to move toward Grover and Percy to make sure they're okay but ends up falling onto them. He can still protect them like this.

"I guess your body just needed to catch up with your head," she says.

He grunts.

"Oh, you're awake," she says. She pokes at his arm.

He wraps his arms around the other two boys. He doesn't know who she is or where exactly they are. His senses can only reach the other two boys and gives up. Someone pulls his arms away from Percy and Grover, but they tighten. They're all alive and he won't be the reason that changes.

"Looks like he still has some consciousness left," the girl says.

"Or he's just naturally that way," someone says. A boy.

"He's pretty strong if this is him unconscious," she says.

Apollo huffs. He won't let these random people take them away. He's going to protect them even though he failed Sally. He can still keep these two safe. He tries to keep his brain present but everything fades out. His head rests against Percy's shoulder and his arms tighten around their backs.

Chapter Text

Apollo brings his hands to his eyes. The cover is in place against his forehead and cheeks. He sits up and listens for Percy and Grover. Percy's presence is close, two beds away, and asleep. Grover is further in the building and worried. He should probably talk to the Satyr about his heart. His senses are mostly back to normal, and his head feels less soupy.

He pushes himself off his bed and moves to the seat beside Percy's. He finds his hand and holds it to feel for anything wrong. Percy doesn't seem hurt, a bit exhausted, but not injured. He tries to let go but Percy tightens his grip. Apollo picks a piece of ambrosia off the bedside table and nibbles on it. He doesn't immediately fall ill, so he still has some of his godhood. Maybe he has the same status as a demigod.

"Neither of them had serious injuries," the girl says.

Apollo hums. "You've been checking on us." He could hear her before he fell asleep and sense her when she came in. He wasn't awake but he could tell when people were close.

She pauses. "Yeah. I'm Annabeth Chase."

"Apollo Loxias," he says. He doesn't turn to her or give hand to shake. He's already given away more than he probably should.

"Interesting name." She tilts her head different directions and moves her fingers.

"Thanks, I got it for my birthday," Apollo says.

She chuckles. "We thought only one was coming from this trip."

"Two for one deal at the local demigod shop." He takes a napkin off Percy's bedside table and folds it.

She hums. "Chiron didn't even realize you were one of us."

He snorts. "Chiron doesn't know everything." He should. He's probably giving too much credit to the centaur though.

"Do you know your godly parent?" She leans on a wall close to the door.

Apollo doesn't know how to answer that question. "I don't know who will claim me." Hermes should be okay with him for the moment, actually that's who he's closest with usually. Sometimes they fight though. Athena should be alright, but she's more of a critical thinker to his creativity. Poseidon's never liked him much and it would attract too much attention if Zeus did and he hates him. Hephaestus and Ares are too busy fighting among themselves to notice anything else. If Persephone has a cabin she might, and Dionysus could also decide to do it.

"You're weird." She leans on a doorframe and narrows her eyes at him.

He can't exactly argue that. He knows he's not what is expected no matter how much research he's done about the people of this time. "Thanks."

Percy shifts and groans.

"Perc, you okay?" Apollo stands and moves closer to his head.

He groans. "What happened? Where are we?"

"We were attacked by a Minotaur. You beat it but your mom was taken." He squeezes Percy's hand.

"Oh, right. Yeah. Where are we?" he asks.

Apollo turns to Grover's entry. "Where are we?" He does not have much information about hideaways for demi-gods of this century.

He brays and shuffles. "Camp Half-Blood."

"Half-Blood?" Percy asks.

"So, you know all those stories about the gods?" Grover fiddles with his hands.

Percy crushes his hand. "Yeah."

"They're all real. And the campers are all children of those gods." Grover's gaze bounces between them.

Percy sighs. "Right, mom mentioned something about that." His hand does not loosen.

"Chiron will explain more." Grover shuffles closer to the door.

Apollo sighs. "We'll talk to him in a bit. Percy's been through a lot." People are way too pushy to someone who just lost his mother.

Grover nods. "Of course. We'll go later." He does not move from his spot.

Percy doesn't acknowledge Grover again. He stares out one of the windows in the clinic. Apollo thinks it is a window, but it could be a door, it's tall and open.

Apollo keeps his hold on his hand. "Thanks, Grover." He knows he probably did not mean for all of this to happen, but he did know more that could have helped Percy. So, he's being a bit dismissive.

He brays again and leaves.

Annabeth glances between the door and Percy. She must come to a decision because she turns and leaves after him.

"I'll talk to him eventually," Percy says, "I just need a minute." He releases Apollo's hand and plays with the blanket.

Apollo finds his hand again and squeezes it. "Take all the time you need. Letting things go before you process them will only build resentment."

Percy laughs. "Thanks. Did you know about all of this?"

Apollo shrugs. "Some. I knew about demi-gods but not the camp. I don't know why the Minotaur came after us." Hades promised time and he doesn't typically break his promises.

Percy nods. "You told me though. At least you seemed to tell me everything you could. He said nothing. He let me think I was going crazy. So did Chiron."

Apollo groans. "I know. They were being so annoying."

Percy laughs.

Apollo hands him some ambrosia. "Have some. It'll help you feel better. Only a little bit though."

Percy nibbles on it. "What happens if I eat more?"

"It could make you sick. It's ambrosia. The gods eat it so demi-gods can too but only a little in comparison." Apollo wonders how much he can stomach. The girl saw him just after the fight and didn't say anything about gold so that might mean he doesn't have godly blood anymore.

Percy finishes the bit of ambrosia Apollo gave him and stands up. "I guess we should go see what they want." He bends his arm.

Apollo rests a hand on his arm. "Fine."

Percy guides him to the building they collapsed in front of. "This is where Annabeth pointed."

Apollo hums. He must have been awake longer that he thought. "Chiron, Grover, and someone else are inside."

Percy tilts his head. "How do you know?"

"I can hear them," he says. The heartbeats and the way they're moving give away the number of people.

"Oh, is your hearing good?" Percy asks.

Apollo nods. "My other four senses are better than other people's."

"That's cool," he says.

Apollo tugs him. "Let's stop procrastinating and go in."

"Alright," Percy says. He shifts on his feet and walks.

They walk into the building and find Chiron playing a game with Dionysus. Grover chomps on a can in a corner.

"Who are you?" Dionysus asks. He doesn't even look up from his game.

"I'm Percy Jackson." He grips Apollo's hand.

"Apollo Loxias." He taps Percy's hand with his other hand.

Dionysus pauses. He looks up. "Apollo, I wasn't expecting you."

He shrugs. "I was with Percy."

"Okay, Peter Johnson, welcome to Camp Half-Blood," he says.

"Who is he?" Percy whispers.

Apollo leans closer. "God of wine and all that. Dio-well, probably shouldn't call him by name."

"We call him, Mr. D," Grover says.

"Also, my name is Percy Jackson," he says.

Apollo pats his arm. Dio has a tendency to be annoying like that.

"Okay, Peter," D says.

Apollo huffs. Of course he wouldn't fix it.

"And, Apollo, I believe we need to have a conversation," he says.

"Only if you're offering a tour of the camp," he says.

"I don't do tours," he says.

Apollo shrugs. "Then I guess I should stick with the group."

Dio sighs. "Fine. I will do your tour."

Apollo smiles. "Okay." He releases Percy's arm and steps toward him. "Lead the way, Dio."

Chiron whisks Percy away and leaves them alone.

"Who is going to claim you?" Dio asks.

He shrugs. "I figured someone would eventually say something or I would stay with the campers without parents who claim them. There is probably a wait period, right?"

Dio sighs. "Apollo, I don't typically do this, but I wouldn't be against claiming you."

Apollo shrugs. "Can we wait a bit? I want it to be public, and I want to see what will happen if we wait. Things are weird right now."

Dio sighs. "You always did have a curious mind." He ruffles his hair.

Apollo shrugs. "Which cabin do I go to?"

"Hermes, he has all unclaimed children they think because he likes to get around." Dio scoffs. "Really it's because he's most accepting."

"Messenger of the gods? More like horn dog of the gods," Apollo says.

Dio scoffs. "How are you? You were in a coma last time I saw you."

Apollo shrugs. "I was bored. I was wondered where you ended up. Artemis caught me up with almost everything but didn't mention where you were."

Dio hums. "She would be the one to do it. How much of your power do you have?"

"All of my premonitions, less intensity in my senses, and I don't know the rest. I haven't had much of an urge to write music since I got here."

Dio squeezes his arm. "That's not like you at all. Still doing art?"

"Not for fun only for premonitions. And I know it's not like me. It's throwing me off too. I'm really hoping medicine and archery aren't all gone. I wouldn't be of much use," he says.

Dio pats his head. "We'll figure it out. Why are you here?"

"Zeus and Hades had their Helm and Lightning Bolt stolen and don't know who did it. They're thinking it could be Percy," he says.

Dio sighs. "Why is it always so complicated over there?"

He shrugs. "Now do you see why I slept for so long?"

He rubs his temple. "Well, I suppose I will show you around."

He rests his hand on Dio's arm. Dio leads him to different sections of camp and tells him what it is. The cabins, the woods for capture the flag, the eating area, where he lives, and the training grounds.

"This is for archery. We don't have a lot of campers use it. Do you want to try?" Dio asks.

Apollo concentrates on the targets. "Bow?"

Dio hands him one and some arrows. Apollo nocks an arrow and draws it back. He eases it back into position.

"Apollo?" Dio asks.

He draws it back again and pauses. He releases a breath and the arrow flies.

"Seems like it is still mostly there," Dio says.

Apollo releases the rest of the arrows and sighs. "It isn't as good as usual, but it works well enough."

"I wonder how much of it is godly power and how much is genuine skill," Dio says.

Apollo shrugs. "Is there a difference?"

"I'm not sure. Your archery isn't necessarily magical, but it is impressive, and you practiced a lot," he says.

Apollo sighs. "Either way, I am glad that I can still shoot an arrow, I don't need the trick shots."

Dio leads him back to the first building and lets him keep the bow and gives him a quiver with arrows.

"I have to stay in Hermes Cabin," Percy says.

Apollo puts his hand on his arm again. He doesn't necessarily need to, but it is nice to know for sure. "Me too."

Chiron clears his throat. "It's time to eat. Tomorrow we'll have a capture the flag game."

Apollo walks with Chiron, Percy, and Grover to get food. Percy makes his offering to the gods and sits. Apollo walks up to the fire and does not put anything in.

"I will give you offerings once you do what you say and stop being unreasonable," he whispers. The heat flares. He just turns and walks away.

Chiron announces to the whole camp that the capture the flag game will take place tomorrow and that they got two more demi-gods. Percy waves and Apollo gives a small nod.

"So, you're the new campers. I thought you would have been introduced to me sooner," a boy says.

Apollo turns to him. "That's probably my fault. I kept Percy in the infirmary longer to make sure he was okay."

Percy sticks out his hand. "I am okay. Apollo worries though."

The boy shakes it. "I'm Luke Castellan."

"Percy Jackson."

"Apollo Loxias." Something is weird about this guy. He can't tell what it is but it's making him uncomfortable.

"Weird name. I've never heard it," he says.

Apollo stuffs some chicken in his mouth. "My parents like to be unique."

"Parents?" Luke asks.

Apollo waves a hand. "In the vaguest of terms. My mother always said that my father only contributed my name and eyesight."

"Your father's blind?" Apollo asks.

He shakes his head. "He's the reason I'm blind."

"Whoa, that's probably hard to accept," Luke says.

Apollo shrugs. "I used to be angry at him, but I realized that I was lucky to see his true nature. A lot of people are hurt without realizing it, but my hurt is memorialized by my lack of sight. He won't change, and I won't expect him to."

"Wow. You're remarkably well adjusted about the whole thing," Luke says.

Apollo laughs. "I'm not sure that I am. I just like to seem that way. I've spent a while getting there."

Luke sits and laughs. "That's fair. Still, you seem to have adjusted."

Apollo shrugs. "I tried."

Luke leads them to the Hermes Cabin after dinner and gives them a tiny corner to cuddle into. Apollo drifts off after a short period. The camp doesn't seem dangerous, even if a lot of what protects it are the gods. He doesn't know how much they can trust them, but they aren't usually trying to kill their kids. Well, sometimes they do. Zeus tried to kill him twice. Okay, so the gods have a long history of killing each other's kids and occasionally their own.

Chapter Text

Apollo wakes up tired. He had to block multiple attempts to break into his dreams by family members. Take away his powers and his sleep, they really do hate him. Percy shakes him.

"Ew, go away," he says. He was already awake with the rising sun. He rises with it even without his godhood.

Percy laughs. "Sorry, the capture the flag game is starting soon."

He pushes himself up. "Fine. What exactly is that?"

"A game where there's two flags, one for each team and we try to capture each other's," Percy says.

They walk to the area all the kids are waiting. Apollo stands by Percy.

"I don't mean to be rude, but can you participate in these kinds of games?" Luke asks.

Apollo tilts his head. "Well, answer the man, Perc." He smiles.

Percy laughs. "I'm sure I can find a way."

Apollo nods. "Me too. I'll just take my lyre, some pencils, and a bow."

"I'm not sure how two of those will help," Luke says.

Apollo shrugs. "They're just always in my to-go bags." He pats his side bag.

Percy brushes Apollo's arm with his. Apollo rests his hand on it and walks beside him.

"Wow, Mr. D is here," Luke says. He gapes just behind Apollo's shoulder.

Apollo smiles and turns. "Dio."

The other god turns toward him. "Apollo."

He grins. "Luke is worried that I'll be incapable to play today."

Dio sighs. "These kids are bad at assessing threats."

"I thought that'd be your influence," he says.

Dio rolls his eyes.

Apollo grins. "He said my bow and my pencils would be useless today too."

"Hm, I'm sure those are the two things he said. How is Herm's gift to you?" he asks.

"Perfectly tuned but rarely used. I haven't had any inspiration since waking up," he says.

He pauses. "Since waking? I thought it was just since you came here."

He shrugs. He knows this isn't ideal but there isn't much more he can do. If he tries to force any kind of music or art, he'll just embarrass himself.

"Apollo, this could be bad," he says.

"I know. Something's been blocked since I woke up. I thought it would fade with time but then I was sent here, and everything has been out of wack anyway," he says.

"Out of wack?" Dio asks.

He shrugs.

"Okay, there isn't much we can do about it, especially while you're in this form, but once you get your status back, you'll have to report," he says.

"Report to who?" he asks. "That is my area of expertise. I help gods and mortals heal."

"I know. We'll talk with Asclepius," he says.

Apollo scoffs. "He's hardly a god of medicine. How could he be?"

Dio groans. "Apollo, he's the best we've got other than you. This could be serious."

He shrugs. "It's nothing. I'm the best, and only, god of medicine so if I say it's just mental block, it's just a mental block."

"Okay," he says, "Hurry back to your friends. The game will start soon."

And Apollo's missed all the rules. Percy grabs his arm and drags him over. "You're on my team. That girl from before is on the other team. Luke said we seemed close so we could stick together. I think he's just worried that you'll get hurt though."

Apollo turns toward him. "Hurt?"

"Oh, you were talking to Mr. D that entire time," he says, "It's like a mock battle with flags and maiming and everything is okay but no murder."

Apollo groans. "Fun."

"Don't worry, stick with me," he says.

Apollo sighs. "I guess that's fine."

Luke leads them to the flag. "Stay here. Protect the flag. The others and I will get there's." He leaves before either of them can say anything.

"Why does it feel like I'm constantly on the outside of an inside joke?" Percy asks.

Apollo lays on a log. "I guess, in a way, you are. You're rolling with it well, though."

"Great, thanks, Pollo," he says.

He sits up. "I think, they think, they're doing the best thing for you."

"They're not. I feel lost and confused and worried. Anyway, you said my mother was missing not dead. I think that too," he says.

Apollo sighs. "I wish I could tell you more, but I, apparently, can't. I know it's frustrating, but I will do my best to support you."

Percy smiles. "Somehow, I don't doubt that."

He kicks his legs and hums.

"You have a lyre, right?" Percy asks.

He nods.

"Will you play?" he asks.

Apollo laughs. "You want me to play my lyre while in the middle of a game simulating battle?"

He shrugs. "I guess. Anything is better than sitting in silence."

"I was just thinking how much I wish everyone else would appreciate that," he says.

Percy sits by him. "Who cares? It's boring."

He bites his cheek. "I would. Honestly, it's one of my favorite activities, but I don't have the inspiration. It was gift from someone, and it only makes good music if I am inspired."

"And usually you are?" Percy asks.

Apollo leans back. He doesn't know. Yes, he's usually inspired but maybe even before he took his long nap, he was unmotivated, unhappy with his life. "I'm not sure. It's been a while. Music is like a muscle, and I let it atrophy."

"Did you?" he asks.

Apollo tilts his head. "What do you mean?"

"Did you let it atrophy, I'm not entirely sure what that means, or did you lose interest because of the pressure? I know that prodigies have a lot of pressure on them. It's okay if you need a break."

"Oh," he says. He feels a little breathless because no one has ever said it's okay if he needs a break. He's a god. Maybe if Percy knew that he wouldn't say stuff like that.

"Sh," someone says.

Apollo taps Percy. "They're almost here."

Percy nods and stands.

The other kids move closer to them.

"Who?" Percy asks.

Apollo concentrates. "I think it's the girl from the infirmary."

"Okay," he says.

Apollo pulls his bow from beside the tree stump and concentrates. "There are a few others too."

Percy nods. "Fall back. You have a long-range weapon."

He steps back and falls into the bushes and climbs up a tree. He draws the string back and listens for the people getting closer. He releases one and a kid goes down. He's not injured, majorly, just a small fracture in his ribs from the impact of the arrow to his armor. Apollo then realizes he didn't get any armor. Even Percy did even though he's long since took the helmet off.

He draws another arrow back and releases against another infiltrator. It cracks against his helmet and falls. He falls to the ground and pretends to be down for the count. He's fine. That must be one of the rules. Chiron gallops through and advises the "downed" participants to proceed to the final battle. That must be infirmary girl and Percy's fight.

Apollo pulls out a paper and something to write with. He draws and draws and can't seem to break himself out of the trance. This must be important. He finishes and finds that Percy's down in the water. He stuffs the paper back and runs over to them. Then Percy's injuries heal. So, Poseidon's finally decided to claim him. He trudges over and punches someone trying to sneak in to take their flag.

"You're out, Marie," Chiron says.

Apollo steps closer and gasps ripple through the crowd.

"He really is the child of one of the big three," someone says.

Apollo pushes past and pauses in front of them. He can feel something but it's probably something visually based because he cannot tell what exactly this is.

"He has a trident over his head," Luke says.

Apollo gets closer and listens as Percy takes infirmary girl down. He gets strength from the water. Apollo pauses by Percy. "Congrats, Perc, your dad is Poseidon."

He sighs. "Not that it matters."

He shrugs. "I suppose. Now, I'll be all alone in the Hermes Cabin."

Percy laughs. "I'll be literally alone in Poseidon's."

He sighs. "Yeah." Then he feels a rush of energy.

Percy grimaces.

"Who is it?" he asks.

"Another kid of one of the big three?" Luke asks.

Apollo groans. "Which one?"

Dio groans. "Son of Zeus."

"Ah, man," he mutters.

"Wait, it's changing," Chiron says.

He groans. "Why? Why, must we do this?"

"He's also Hermes's?" Luke asks.

Apollo sighs. "Great, my fathers."

"It's going again?" infirmary girl asks.

Apollo sighs.

"Whose symbol is that?" someone whispers.

"Well, it's a bow, deer, and moon, I think that's Artemis," infirmary girl says.

Apollo sighs. "Great, my sister is my mom, actually, that's not the weirdest thing that has happened to them."

He feels another rush and just gives up. Of course they can't just be normal for once. Not one but four gods have now decided he's theirs.

"Is that the Helm of Darkness?" Luke asks.

"It looks like it," infirmary girl says.

"So, I have three fathers and a virgin mother?" he asks.

"It seems so," Dio says.

Apollo sighs. "I should have accepted your offer."

"I could always contribute," he says.

"Dio," he says.

Another rush and Apollo knows they're messing with him. He has never been this popular in his life.

"And Mr. D?" another camper says.

Apollo stands up straighter. "I have four fathers and a virgin mother. I feel way more important than ever before."

Dio laughs and walks away.

"Does that mean I can just hangout wherever I want?" he asks.

"This poses another problem," Chiron says.

Apollo groans. "Don't I know it? I mean, come on, I come down from Olympus to help them, and in return I get them making my life the most complicated it ever has been. Then, they don't keep their word and still decide I am their child. I should have taken a vacation. Ran away to Cambodia. I hear it's nice, but, no, I decide to actually do what they ask. Now, I'm stuck here as the child of five gods because they couldn't decide who they like for once in their lives. Gods, I really should have just taken another five-hundred-year nap."

"Wait, what?" Luke asks.

Apollo sighs. "Whatever. I'm being censored."

"Yeah, your voice just cut out except the parts about taking a nap and running to Cambodia," Percy says.

"Those were the most important parts," he says. He runs a hand through his hair. "I'll move into Zeus's. I need the room." He turns fully to Percy. "Can you come with me?"

Percy holds out his arm and walks. The other camps hesitate and eventually scatter. "What's up, Pollo?"

"I drew something while you were being attacked by infirmary girl," he says. He walks to Zeus's cabin and sits. He spreads out the paper. "I wanted to know what it was."

Percy sits beside him and hums. "It's of what happened. I have Poseidon's trident of my head, and you have Zeus's, Hermes's, Artemis's, and Hades's symbols over yours. For some reason, half of you is missing though."

"Missing?" Apollo asks. His premonitions are just as bad as anyone else's. He has them but they hint at more than what's actually in the picture sometimes.

"Yeah, it's blacked out while the other half is almost shining," he says.

Apollo frowns. "That's probably not good." Usually anything being blacked out is not a happy moment.

"So, do you know your parents?" Percy asks.

Apollo hums. "I know both of them. I didn't know if my actual parent would claim me, though."

"But they did?" Percy asks.

"Yeah. My father claimed me," he says.

Percy sighs. "Is it Mr. D? Is that why you keep whispering to him?"

Apollo scoffs. "It's not him. I can't tell you much, but I can promise my parent is not Dio."

"Alright," he says.

Apollo leans back and lays on the floor. "I think it's going to get hectic soon."

Percy lays beside him. "Get?"

Apollo snorts. "That's fair. I guess, more. I think it's going to get worse."

"Yeah, as long as I can get my mom back," he says.

Apollo smiles. "Yeah. As long as we can get Mrs. Jackson back."

Percy kicks his leg lightly. "You can call her Sally. She'd probably try to convince you to call her mom."

He hums. He misses his mother. She isolated herself after Zeus blinded him with his divinity. He tried to get close to her again, but she pushed him away. He wishes he had a mother that let him get closer to her and father that didn't hate him. He can't focus on that now, though. He has to help Percy find his mother. Maybe he can contact Hades.