When AJ decided to come out, this wasn't what he meant.

It had taken over a month to finally admit to himself that he was bisexual, but now was the moment of truth, telling his parents.

Normally, he wouldn't mind telling his father, he was a calm, collected artist who never raised his voice or was strict with him. At worse, they'd have a serious talk at the kitchen table and come to an understanding. What changed things was stepmother Janet. Janet was a god-fearing Catholic who made sure that AJ was strictly controlled. Janet didn't let him go out to a friend's house if she didn't know about it, Jane regulated the amount of TV and computer time he had, Janet had an opinion about every single political issue and made sure that AJ knew that she was right. Essentially, Janet was the one factor that AJ was worried about.

Luckily, Jane was out shopping at the closest farmer's market (to quote Janet, "No vegetables coated in poisonous chemicals on my table"), so AJ decided now would be the best time to tell his dad, that way he'd have him on his side when Janet found out. Maybe his dad would even help him plan out how to tell her.

AJ took a deep breath and crept across the backyard to his father's studio. Before Janet, his dad would set up his art in any of the room the house and spend hours paintbrush in hand, painting whatever came to mind, causing the house to smell of turpentine and acrylic. After Janet had moved in, her first order of business was to banish his father's art to the shed in the backyard where he stayed to this day.

Reaching the door, AJ was about to knock, but hesitated. Did he really want to go through with this? Maybe he could get through high school keeping this to himself. His dad and Janet never needed to know. If he just turned around and went back into the house…

"AJ?"
Looking up, he saw that his dad was at the door looking at him, "You need something?"

It was too late to back out now, "I…I was wondering if we could talk dad…"
He smiled and opened the door for him, "Come on in,"

Entering, AJs worries faded a bit. On every piece of empty wall hung one of his father's paintings, embracing him in comfort. Current the easel was empty, but a smell of fresh acrylic hung in the air.
Goldenrod…silver…and mahogany…he's working on that painting again… AJ's eyes shifted to a painting in the corner of the studio. According to his father, it was supposed to be AJ's birthmother, but his father never let him take a good look at the painting, claiming that he couldn't see it, claiming it'd taint his impression of her. Case in point, before he could a good look at it, his after stepped in the way.

"What did you need to talk about?" His father took a seat at his easel and crossed his legs. His voice was the color of chocolate and caramel mixed together, rich and comforting.
AJ took a deep breath, "Dad…I've realized in the last few months that I'm not like other boys."

AJ was expecting a multitude of emotions from his father, shock, disgust, shame, or anger, but fear wasn't one of them. Getting up, his father glanced out the window then locked the door to his studio. What about him being bi could scare his father like this?

Returning to AJ, his father placed his hand on his shoulder and his voiced changed to a more murky brown, "AJ, what I'm about to tell you, your mother must never find out about, understand?" AJ nodded, mostly out of confusion. He knew that Janet was anti-gay marriage, but what was his dad so riled up about? Some of his artist buddies appeared to play for the other team, so what was so different?

His father took a deep breath, "You're right, you aren't like the rest the boys in your class. You see…your mother, she was a goddess."

AJ stared at him blankly, he had come in to confess his sexuality, but instead he was learning his heritage?

Turning, his father pulled out the painting, the one that was never finished. Taking a closer look now, he saw a beautiful lady adorned in a dress that shimmered several dozen colors. Her face was soft and kind, yet radiated reliability and respect.

"This is your mother…or as bed as I can remember her." His dad explained, "I met her at a gallery one night, we hit it off, we talked about my work, and she let me paint her once. She said it was my best work ever and took it with her after you were born." He sighed, "These last few years I've been trying to remember what she looked like, but the memories of her are hazy…thus is why I never wanted you to see the painting. I was hoping you'd meet her first.

AJ noded, "Dad…that's nice and all, but that's not what I meant."
"What?"
"Dad…I'm bisexual."
AJ let that sink in for a second, but then his dad started to chuckle, "What's so funny?"
His dad looked at him, a playful smile on his lips, "I figured as much." AJ tilted his head, "Who do you think deletes your internet history before Janet gets the chance to go through it with a fine tooth comb?"
"Wait…you knew?" AJ was stunned. He had been building up the confidence for the last three months to tell his dad, only to find out that he knew?
His dad smiled, "Of course I knew. I knew you weren't just there for the drawing when I had models over."

Tyler blushed, his one of his dad's specialties was nude models. There'd be times that he'd have one of this models over for a session and AJ would sit in and draw as well. In addition, he had posed for his father on the occasion. It took a bit of coaxing to make his dad not put them up in an exhibition, instead stashing them under his bed.

AJ smiled, happy that he wasn't being berated or chastised, "So…how are we going to tell Janet? You know she won't stand for this."
His dad stood up, "About Janet…I've been getting the feeling that she's not all that she's cracked up to be…"

As she said that, a violent banging hit the window. Looking out side, AJ saw Janet's face in the window, but something didn't feel right. Her usual pale skin was looser on her face as bags hung under eyes. What drew his attention the most was the sharp teeth that now lined her mouth.

"AJ, come on out, lunch is ready." AJ didn't think it was natural for her to be licking her lips like that...

"I...I'm helping dad with a painting," he stuttered, "Maybe in an hour?"

Janet's eye suddenly flicked to a shade of dark yellow, "I'm sick of waiting! I've been waiting for three years now to corner you Demigod, and now is the time!" She bashed the window and part of the wall in, sending paint flying, including all over AJ's face, painting him like a Monet

The next few hours were a real blur for AJ. Janet suddenly vanished into dust, his dad handed him off to a short crossing guard who tossed him into a back seat of the car with another boy his age. The crossing guard mentioned something about 'secret tunnels under Disney'. After a bit of driving, he and the other boy (who smelled like green and Lucky Charms) were forced out of the car and into a cave that eventually turned into what looked like a facility. The crossing guard then led them up a flight of stairs and deposited them in a castle room and told them to sit as he started to text into his phone.

Eventually a girl (who sounded like tigerlily orange) joined them and the three of them were being herded into an elevator, back through the tunnels, back to the car and a several hour drive to New York

This is not how I thought coming out of the closest would be like...


Well that first part is done...

Riordan owns the ideas, OCs are mine