So I updated my other story, 'Bits and Pieces' today, and felt as though I owed an update to you readers of this story. So after much indecision about which pairing I should go with, I settled on this. Enjoy!
Summary: Maybe there's more to why she has to remain an eternal maiden. Rachel/Apollo.
She's painting serenely. The only sound in her cave is of her paint brush's gentle strokes on the canvas. She realizes she'll be alone often. That was part of the job. She also realizes she'll always be single. She'll never have someone to stare at her adoringly like the way she catches Percy watching Annabeth.
That was also part of the job. She wonders if she should've thought about this a little more. She was an excited teenager. The deal sounded a lot cooler back then. Eternally a maiden, in exchange for a lifetime of prophecy telling at the coolest camp in the entire world.
She isn't expecting company. She tries not to be bitter, but hardly anyone visits her unless they're sent to ask for a prophecy. She's just a mortal; a mortal who spews green mist and reveals people's fate. Not your typical company.
Which is why she drops her paintbrush in surprise when a voice whispers, "Hello there, Oracle!"
She turns around, brushing back hair from her face. "Hello, Lord Apollo." She replies respectfully. He groans and takes two long strides toward her.
"No need for formalities, babe." He smirks, reaching out to ruffle her hair. She ducks away, rolling her eyes. "What should I call you then?" she asks, smiling. It doesn't reach her eyes.
He notices something's bothering her. He knows her well enough… almost too well. Something's bothering her, and he has to know what it is.
He sits on the edge of her bed, and if she finds the fact that a god, and an attractive one at that, is sitting on her bed disconcerting, it doesn't show. She stands awkwardly by her canvas, trying not to meet his eyes as he watches her intently.
She knows he can tell that she isn't feeling one hundred percent, and quickly tries to distract him, "Hey, so what did you come here for anyway?" she asks, nonchalantly bending down to pick up her paintbrush.
"Alright, what is it?" He asks, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. "Nothing." She mumbles, "What makes you think something's up?"
"Does someone's ass need kicking?" Apollo asks, deadly calm. She shakes her head vigorously, and Apollo can't help but chuckle at how her red curls look flying madly around her face.
He walks up to her, and looks her in the eyes, "Something the matter, Rachel?" She doesn't respond, and he puts his hands on her shoulders. He also can't help but notice the tingle that runs through him just then.
"Do I really have to remain a virgin for eternity?" She asks, looking away. He swallows, looking past her face, "Yes. Why?"
She steps back, "So I'll be like, forever alone?" she asks. He grins, trying for humour, "No! You'll have me!" he exclaims, pointing at himself. She's tempted to roll her eyes and mutter, "dork."
"I'm serious." She mutters. He glares, "So am I."
"Why? What difference does it make?" She spits. "The spirit can't pass through you if you aren't pure." He deadpans.
"Really? Is that it? You're a god! Aren't you supposed to be able to do anything?" She hisses. His glare intensifies, "Are you seeing someone?" He growls. Again, she shakes her head violently.
"No!" She grumbles, angry at him for thinking she would completely disregard what she's been told about dating.
"You know why else you can't have sex?" He says, his face stoic, "Because you see what the hell happens to the guy you lose your virginity to." He says, back to his deadly calm, though his eyebrows knit together in frustration.
She walks to where he's standing. "Apollo—"
Without thinking, he reaches out to caress her face, "Just—don't ask me about that again. Okay?" He whispers, before closing both her eyelids gently with his fingers and vanishing in a flash of light.
Hmm? I wonder why Apollo's acting that way. You decide.