Percy loves Apollo. Apollo loves Percy. Nothing more.
"You don't understand ? He's going to abandon you one day for sure, and you'll stay there, heartbroken ! Don't fall for him !"
Percy was only half listening to Annabeth's screams, watching the young demigods practice their sword play. He had heard these arguments a hundred times in a month. 'He will abandon you.' 'The gods love no one other than themselves.' 'You will end up heartbroken.' And these were only the most common.
Every day at least two or three of his friends came to his bungalow to warn him of the changing character of the gods. One day they love us, and the next day they are looking for ways to kill us.
He was absentmindedly playing with the pendant hanging from his bracelet, nodding his head occasionally at Annabeth, pretending to listen to her. A sun and a wave intertwine gently, tenderly, the same way Apollo came to hug him from behind after a long day.
Percy remembered perfectly the day Apollo gave him the bracelet. It was his eighteenth birthday, and they weren't dating yet. He had spent a great day with his friends, and had blown out his candles in privacy, with only his mother, his father (who had made a habit of visiting him from time to time under the pretext of teaching him his work at the Prince of the sea. His mother was not fooled, but let them discuss in peace, a little smile on the corner of her lips) Paul and Estelle, who were now two years old, and who was the cutest of the little sisters. They had eaten, sang, and watched a movie, then it was time to go to bed.
Apollo was already in his room, walking in a circle, and jumped when Percy opened the door. Percy, surprised to see someone in his room, quickly drew Riptide.
"Wow, it's just me !" Cried the god.
Once he recognized him, Percy put his sword away, before abruptly asking what he was doing at his home. Apollo blushed a very bright red, and took out a small package from his jacket pocket.
"They told me it was your birthday, and I wanted to give you something…"
He handed him the package, and started to twist his fingers. Since his little adventure as a human, Apollo had acquired some, let's say, human habits. Biting his lip, wiggling his fingers, shifting his weight back and forth ...
Percy grabbed the package, and opened it, his gaze surprised, watching the god still so sure of becoming a bundle of nerves in him, waiting for him to open the little box. Inside was a beautiful bracelet. The chain and the sun were gold, the latter encrusted with orange stones, and the wave of pure silver, also encrusted with blue stones.
Percy blushed, not daring to look up at the god.
"Wow, thank you, but you shouldn't… It must have cost so much…"
These words had the effect of making Apollo come out of his trance, and the god approached him with a big step, taking his breath away. hand.
"You deserve such a beautiful object. You have done so much for me, for us, that this trinket is the least of things to thank you for."
He smiled at him, dazzling the demigod a little, who in turn smiled. Apollo grabbed the bracelet, and placed it on his wrist. Percy raised his arm, and stared at the pendant in the light of the moon.
"That way, you'll think of me a little…"
On those words, Apollo disappeared from his room, before Percy can ask him what he means by that.
Since that day, Apollo often appeared unexpectedly, giving him other gifts, or simply coming to chat with him. If Percy wasn't in his room or bungalow when he came, he would always find a note with a poem (which he kept in a binder) and a gift when he returned.
It had taken them six more months before they admitted their feelings and officially dated, shocking anyone other than Sally, Poseidon, Artemis and Hermes. And for the past month, Percy had listened to the same old song.
"… hurt! Are you listening to me Percy ?!"
The young demigod snapped out of his reverie, realizing the tender smile he had on his lips as he thought back to that moment that had drawn them together. He turned to Annabeth. She had her hands on her hips, and cheeks flushed from talking too much. He sighed.
"Annabeth. I know exactly what I'm getting into. What you and the others didn't seem to understand is that we love each other, Apollo and I. Nothing will make me change my mind. So stop wasting your saliva, and instead of blaming me, behave like real friends, and be a little happy for me."
He left her there, and returned to his bungalow, closing the door with a sigh. Then he smiled when he saw the god who inhabited his heart lying in his bed, waiting for him.
"How long have you been here ?" he whispered as he approached him.
Apollo humed, nodding his head, and opened his arms. Percy placed himself between them, feeling himself finally protected from the outside world, and all its dangers. What others did not understand was the sense of security that the god gave him. He was always there when he needed him. He would come when his nightmares took over, saying nothing, just hugging him. He would come on the days when he was happy, celebrating with him any victory. He was just there.
"For about ten minutes. I thought Athena's daughter would never let you go."
Percy smiled, hugged the god a little tighter, and sighed with pleasure. He felt good like that.
"Don't call him that. She's worried about me, that's all."
"She has no reason to worry. I don't intend to give you the slightest reason to leave me. If you leave, then I will just fade. I cannot live without you."
Apollo's statements were always fiery, like him, and still made Percy blush. Apollo placed a kiss on the top of his head, happy as ever. These moments were his favorites. The ones where they didn't need to talk, just be with each other were enough.
But Apollo eventually got up, dragging Percy with him. He smirked at his confused look, then exasperated when he started to search his pockets. He took out a box of black velvet.
"Apollo, you don't need to give me so many presents. I know you love me, and you know I love you." Percy sighed, trying to hide his little smile, but failed.
Apollo's smile widened, and he put the small box in Percy's hand. The demigod, even if he would never admit it, even under torture, liked to be spoiled by the god. He liked to receive these gifts, liked to see the happy smile of Apollo when he wore this or that gift. He had to buy an entire box of jewelry since he had picked up on the craze, but he wouldn't change anything for the world. It felt good to have someone to take care of him for once, and he had no qualms about being pampered by the god.
He opened the box, to see a gold ring. Percy opened his mouth in shock and looked up at Apollo.
"It is not a proposal, only a token of love. This ring proves to the whole world that you belong to me, and this one- "He raised his right hand, where a similar ring, but of a magical ocean green, sat enthroned on his finger. A pattern of waves seemed to come to life in the light of the god."- prove that I belong to you."
"Apollo…"
Percy didn't waste a single second. He took the ring, which had an engraved sun, slipped it on his finger, and threw himself into the arms of his lover to kiss him senseless. Apollo whimpered a little, and Percy fired up at the sound.
He ended up pulling away from the god anyway, and Apollo got scared when he saw the tears flow from his lover's eyes. But the bright smile on his lips finally reassured him.
"I love you more than the ocean."
"And me more than the sky."
They smiled tenderly, their rings gleaming in the dim light, the promise of eternal love.