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.
