Apollo never knew he could blush as hard as he was blushing right this second. He couldn't even bring himself to move his eyes from where they were fixed, staring at his feet. Athena was the only one actually laughing by this point but he could feel the stifled sniggers and smirks directed at him from everyone else in the room. Why did it always have to be him?
"One more time, I need to hear that one more time" Athena managed to say between her laughter. So, Phoenix started to tell them all the mortifying story for the third time.
Apollo had been minding his own business, sitting on the couch in the office and briefly looking over some notes for his case later that day. He had woken up at a ridiculously early time so he could get to the office before everyone else and have some peace and quiet. But this meant that by the time someone else- this person being Phoenix- actually arrived, Apollo was already quite tired.
"You're here early" Phoenix commented. Apollo hummed in response and vaguely waved the pile of paper in his hands towards his boss before going back to reading them. Silence fell over the office once more as Apollo continued reading. After a few minutes, he could feel his eyes growing heavy and the words on the page were beginning to blur in his mind. Suddenly, a mug of coffee appeared in front of him and it took Apollo a moment to realise that Phoenix was offering it to him. He reached out and took it after a brief pause. Phoenix smiled softly before turning and walking back towards his desk. But before he could make it very far, Apollo said something he could have never predicted.
"Thanks dad" Apollo sleepily mumbled and Phoenix froze mid-step. At first, Apollo hadn't seemed to register what he had said and continued to drink his coffee as though nothing had happened. Phoenix smiled slightly and decided to let it slide, until a voice sounded from the doorway.
"Apollo, did you just call Nick 'dad'?" Maya asked while leaning against the door frame, her hand covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. Apollo promptly spat out his mouthful of coffee and began spluttering in an attempt to explain himself.
"Maya! I wasn't going to say anything" Phoenix sighed, a sheepish smile forming along his lips nonetheless. Apollo's cheeks were red from both embarrassment and breathlessness as he looked down at the floor, unable to say anything. So, of course, that exact moment just had to be when Trucy entered the office.
"Hey guys, how's everyone- wait, what's going on?" Trucy frowned when she noticed the look on Apollo's face and Maya's restrained laughter.
"Apollo called Nick 'dad'" Maya blurted out before Phoenix could stop her.
"What?!" Trucy laughed, turning to Apollo whose face had managed to go even redder.
"All I did was hand him a cup of coffee," Phoenix said in his defence as Trucy turned to look at him.
"I-I'm just tired, okay? I've been here since 6 am" Apollo mumbled, staring at the floor.
"What on earth made you get here so early?" Maya frowned. Apollo said nothing but pointed towards the case notes he had been reading just minutes before.
"I feel like I need to get this into my magic show somehow" Trucy mused and Apollo's head shot up to stare at her.
"No! You can't do that!" he said, frantically waving his hands at her.
"Why not? It's so funny!" Trucy giggled at both the situation and Apollo's part shocked, part fearful expression.
"What's funny?" Athena asked, appearing at the door.
"Oh, not you too" Apollo groaned, putting his head in his hands.
"Apollo called me 'dad'" Phoenix said, despite Apollo's clear embarrassment over the matter.
"What? Seriously?" Athena laughed, her eyes wide with shock. So, Phoenix and Maya told the story to Athena who doubled over with giggles. Apollo sighed to himself, knowing full well that none of them were going to let him live this down. Why couldn't someone else in this place experience crippling embarrassment for once?