WHOOOOAH! Long wait, I know I know. A lot of things have been happening for me outside in the real world and I have had the first 500 words of this chapter written the day after I posted the last one but my laptop was screwing up and not loading saved files and god, it was a nightmare. But anyway I am back and writing.
Just want to thank everyone for reviewing/reading/following and favouriting. Really hope you all enjoy.
Main Pairing: Eventual Percy/Artemis
Pairings: Percy/Olympians
I in no way own PJatO or HoO
Enjoy.
When Percy was little he had accidently spilled one of Gabe Ugliano's beers. It had been sitting unattended on the coffee table in the living room, which probably isn't one of the smartest ideas in the world, especially when there was a curious three year old living in the apartment, who liked to inspect and play with every little thing he could get his pudgy hands on. That was the first day Percy realised that Gabe was not going to be the glowing and wonderful step father that he had hoped for. That was that day that Percy decided that nothing could be, in anyway, more terrifying then getting in between Smelly Gabe and his alcohol.
That was until he was practically thrust into the world of ugly monsters, psychotic gods and crazy demigods. A world where suddenly he was one of the important figures in not one but two prophecies , this of course was all in the span of months and all involved the fate of the world and present day society, because what's a prophecy without a bit of planetary destruction?
So really all in all, finding out you are a demigod is probably one of the most terrifying and yet scarily exhilarating things in the world.
One of the most frightening things about being half human half god is moments like these, when you wake up after a brutal knockout by a virginal goddess to find not just the Virginal goddess of the hunt standing in front of him but also her twin brother god of the sun, archery and plagues.
Both gods known to freak out when no one takes them and their orders seriously, situations like the one he currently finds himself in.
Through no blame of his own of course, really it wasn't like he woke up one morning and decided that this screwed up Nacho bowel would be his new path in life.
There is a sound in the background, his ears buzzing and pulsating from the blood flow as he tries to orientate himself.
The immortal twins look back at him quickly, Percy realises then that he was the one that had shouted and it wasn't a beached whale somewhere in the park the hunters were currently set up in. Silently he curses himself and his missed opportunity to do reconnaissance.
It takes him a few moments to realise that Apollo has spoken to him, or at least said something to him without expecting a reply, either way the sun god has addressed him and Percy has no idea what to do, Camp Half Blood doesn't really have a pamphlet on dealing with pissed off gods.
They do have a lot of Tragedies and Myths about this kind of situations though and it usually doesn't end up to well for the people in his shoes in the end.
"Wha-" Percy mutters trying to sit up straight. It is at this moment that he realises that he is chained to a pole, he jolts back a little before clumsily inspecting his bound wrist. He stares at the chain feeling as if he has woken up in the belly of Tartarus itself. "Chain." He frowns, his head already spinning from the slight movement.
"Genius this one." Apollo snorts nudging Artemis with his elbow.
Percy looks back up towards the gods but the movement throws him, he feels worse than he did moments ago. He slumps back down against the pole with a loud groan.
Artemis stays silent and continues to look down at the huddled mass that is the Son of Poseidon. "Apparently." she crosses her arms and throws her brother a sideways glance as he continues to inspect the demigod from afar.
Her stomach feels like fire and ice, her head feels like it is trapped in an early morning fog of annoyance and pride.
Apollo tilts his head to the side with a hand resting underneath his chin. Artemis realises that he is looking at Percy the same way that Hephaestus looks at one of his creations, like he is looking for a problem and a quick solution to fix it and perhaps make a well needed upgrade.
Artemis bites the side of her lip.
Percy seems to sigh in resignation before looking back up to the twins; Artemis sees the glazing of his eyes that makes him look as if he hasn't properly slept in weeks.
"Holy Hera!" Apollo exclaims, Percy jolts back a little in response, Artemis remain unmoving only giving her brother a cautious once over. He turns fully towards his twin and shakes his head distastefully as if he has just found out that Hera and Artemis have suddenly become the best of friends. "How hard did you hit him?" he questions, suddenly Artemis can see the serious side of her brother, the side that is less immature and sex and more scholarly and mature.
It really doesn't suit him, like seeing a hellhound the size of a teacup poodle. Unnatural.
Artemis shrugs and faces her brother leaving the confused demigod to himself. "Not very hard." she frowns thinking the moment over in her head, or well moments. She did try to not hit him very hard, however the multiple times she knocked him out probably took its toll on the young man and she won't deny that to herself, but her brother on the other hand…
Percy frowns and shakes his head. Pain shoots from one end of his brain down to the base of his skull as he tries to make sense of things and understand just what is happening. So far all he can come up with is that his head is sore and he is ravenous.
Apollo raises a brow and crouches down in front of Percy; he bends forward slightly without getting too close to the demigod. He can only imagine what the son of Poseidon may do to him if he accidently got to close while he is feeling like the bad end of a Cyclops. The young man was awfully reliant on his emotions rather than his brain after all.
For all Apollo knows Percy could try to send him to Tartarus itself. At this present moment he really wouldn't put it past the demigod.
"He looks like fell of Olympus and into the way of the Minotaur." Slightly irritated Apollo inches towards the demigod slowly, he can sense the fogginess of pain residing inside the demigod's skull, its nothing to major, but it is enough of a pain that has obviously left the man confused, lightheaded and slightly concussed.
Artemis scoffs and turns her back on the two, she smirks slightly pleased with herself before a wave of guilt crashes over her.
Percy is too busy trying to stop the world from moving to even notice the two gods talking about him. He does know they are there and that for some reason he shouldn't be anywhere near them but he can't exactly place why he has a feeling in his gut to escape and run as far away as he can.
His mind feels like a jigsaw puzzle with random pieces disappearing at random leaving an incomplete image.
A hand appears on his shoulder; his head shoots up towards the god.
He regrets the movement immediately as a splitting pain shoots up through his body; he groans loudly and attempts to lean back further into the uncomfortable pole. But another hand soon joins the first, this time on the opposite shoulder. It brings him forward and Percy almost whimpers with a mixture of annoyance and pleasure.
The god's hands feel amazing on him, like freshly baked double chocolate chip cookies pulled straight out of the oven with not enough time to cool leaving the chocolate inside gooey and delicious.
His stomach rumbles.
"Hounds of Hades." Apollo growls glaring at his sister with enough heat to power a solar station. "You could have done some real damage here."
Artemis spins on her heel and glares right back at the sun god. "I didn't mean to." she grunts with an affronted look on her face.
Apollo turns back towards the son of Poseidon, the grip he has on Percy tightens. "Whatever." he dismisses with a solid headshake. Percy watches the movement and suddenly feels as if he is about to hurl.
"I have to go." Percy says this time, his head directed towards the sun god but his eyes stray towards the tightening grip on his shoulder. "I have to go… somewhere." he frowns before turning back to the god in front of him. "Why do I have to go?"
Apollo smiles brightly and in Percy's current state he can't help but smile back and wonder how anyone's teeth could be that white and blinding. There is not enough toothpaste in the world to make his teeth that white. Frank's teeth would be pretty close to that shade of white though.
"Percy." Apollo says slowly, as if talking to a child and in some ways he is talking to a child. The oldest living mortal currently alive would still be a child to him. "I'm going to make the pain go away."
"In my head?" Percy asks slowly. He tilts his head to one angle and despite at how adorable the motion is Apollo doesn't flinch and remains high and steady in his respectable doctor mode. Percy blinks once from the pain that suddenly flares inside his mind.
His body feels as if it is slowly getting worse, his vision is starting to blur around the edges from the pain.
"Yes." Apollo sighs; he is starting to get irritated with everything that is happening today. "I will make it all go away."
Percy frowns and shuts his eyes; there is a stabbing feeling hits just behind his eyes. It's a feeling that he has rarely ever felt and when he has felt it, it was never this bad and painful. He wonders if this is how Annabeth feels when she gets one of her migraines after staring at blueprints for hours on end. He frowns slightly at the thought of his girlfriend but even that movement causes the pain to intensify. His stomach churns and for a moment he thinks he may throw up from the pain or sorrow, he isn't really sure why but either way he feels as if he is about to blow chunks.
Apollo releases one of his arms and rests a hand over the boy's stomach, he tries to smile kindly at him but instead it comes off as guilt. Percy shifts nervously under the movement and opens his eyes to look up at the god. The light in the room starts to burn his retinas.
"It hurts." he mutters eyes flicking down to his stomach. He pouts like an injured toddler.
He can't understand why the god hasn't just healed him already, the pain is proving too much and he can feel a darkness edging over his mind again. He just wants this pain to go away and then he can go back to fixing the broken puzzle that is currently his mind.
"Apollo." Artemis sighs moving forward a hand rests on his shoulder as she stares at her brother with sympathy. "Are you sure you can?"
Percy frowns into his chest, what does Artemis mean? Why wouldn't Apollo be able to heal him? He's one of the gods of medicine? Isn't that his job?
Apollo blinks slowly in reply. "Percy," The demigod looks up at him with glazed eyes and Apollo can feel his young muses' consciousness slowly slipping away again, He needs to do something and soon, otherwise Apollo himself will not be able to heal him .He grits his teeth in reply as a slow warmth starts to spread through him. "I need you to remain still and more importantly stay awake."
"Apollo," Artemis sighs out loud, she turns around and walks back a few steps before giving her brother an irritated look. "Shouldn't we just give him some ambrosia or nectar?"
"No it won't be enough, I need to do this." Apollo replies dropping his hand for a moment. Percy whimpers.
Artemis sighs. "You can't keep wasting your energy on things like this."
But Apollo wants to, it's not like Percy needs to be healed with his powers. It's that Apollo wants to heal him; he wants to gift Percy with this. He wants to have a part of him inside the demigod for even such a small amount of time. Ambrosia and Nectar don't heal as well as a god, especially the god of medicine and after all Percy has been through, even though in Apollos own opinion it is all Percy's fault, he doesn't deserved to be this hurt. Or maybe he does deserve some pain and Apollo is just a pansy who would rather love and protect the boy then hurt him or allow him to be hurt.
Apollo grits his teeth slightly and looks up towards his sister. "Leave." he growls pointing to the tent opening. He can't be bothered explaining his reasoning to his sister, he doubts she would even understand him or even care about his reasoning. She would simply laugh in response and mock him for all he knew, he would much rather save his face.
Artemis growls back at her and takes a step towards Apollo however despite his usual laid back appearance is as fast as Hermes on a busy day, he whirls towards his sister and glares down at her twelve year old form with a heated look that can only be described as pure fury.
"Leave before I do something I may regret."
With an irritated sigh and a roll of her eyes Artemis folds her arms tighter across her chest and shrugs her shoulders before turning towards the tent exit. "But I will be back soon."
"Wouldn't think otherwise." Apollo mutters after her quick departure, he turns back towards the son of Poseidon who is otherwise still absolutely out of it. He smiles tightly at the job in front of him.
"I think I should run?" Percy mutters to himself, his eyes lowered to his chest in contemplation. Apollo frowns and puts a hand underneath the man's chin, slowly he raises it until he is looking directly into the eyes of the younger man.
The movement feels so natural and wonderful that Apollo quite literally shivers at the indecent thoughts running through his mind.
I could take him away right now. The darker side whispers to him. Hide him from everyone else, no one could touch him. No one but me.
A twisted smile starts to form on his face, but he shakes it off quickly underneath the innocent gaze of the young man. He doesn't want to scare him, besides Apollo has sworn off chasing maidens and fair young men against their will, after all times have changed and the gods are sworn to go with the times.
Besides Apollo has a job to do and unfortunately that doesn't mean taking Percy away for himself.
"Why?" the god questions placing a solid hand on the boys forehead, the skin creases under his touch as the man frowns in response.
"I don't know." He mumbles to himself as images slowly start to form in his mind but before a clear enough picture can be placed the picture fades and he is suddenly left even more confused and irritated then before.
"Well" Apollo starts as a soft glow flows through his fingers and towards the demigods head, he had always found healing the mind to be much more difficult, that forte usually lay with Dionysus and with what the sun god was about to do, bringing in Dionysus was the last thing on his mind. "That is all about to change."
Percy frowns again as the warm glow seeps through his skull, piecing the puzzle pieces back together. Puzzle pieces that make his palm sweat and his body tremble, suddenly the comfort the sun god gives him feel tainted and dirty.
Outside the tent, the slow moving shadow of Artemis can be seen pacing back and forth like a father awaiting the birth of his child in one of those hospital dramas that seem to be all the rage recently. Hospital dramas that Apollo obsesses over on a frequent basis, Percy knows this because his children tend to share the same obsession.
One of Apollos hands snakes around Percy's wrist while the other is placed roughly against Percy's forehead just above his right eye. Percy attempts to flinch away but finds no escape against the pole he is situated against.
"Percy." Apollo grunts frustrated by the boy's movement. "Hold still. I'm trying to help." Light flows through his body enveloping every cell and pore, heat pools in his hand and Percy suddenly feels like someone has left a hair dryer on high and has aimed it straight at his forehead.
He sweats lightly at the contact, which in comparison to the way Apollo is sweating is nothing. The god looks as if someone has chained him on the sun and asked him to run a Marathon.
Outside the tent Artemis continues her pacing, the sound of crunching pine needles and the occasional clang of a wayward pebble hitting a shield can be heard with a disturbing clarity that has Percy close to flinching with every noise. Apollo however seems to ignore it and instead focuses all his concentration on the demigod.
"Poseidon…"
"Shut it." Apollo growls back, his teeth clench shut and a look that reminds Percy of someone sitting on the toilet after a spicy burrito eating competition.
The pacing outside begins to quicken as Percy catches a brief outline of a shadow getting closer and closer towards the entrance of the tent with each and every returning pace. He frowns slightly before looking back towards Apollo. The pain in his head recedes and vanishes almost immediately only leaving a small hint of pain that is otherwise unnoticeable.
"Woah!" Apollo cries propelling himself backwards he lands on his bum, his hands rest beside him. He looks dazed and sickly, Percy suddenly feels a little guilty, but not too much.
The tent opens and Artemis is by Apollo's side in almost an instant her slight petite hands on his back and shoulders as the once dazzling and handsome sun god looks more and more like a god of the underworld. "Let's never… do that again." he sighs leaning back into his sisters hands. Artemis raises her gaze towards Percy, she stares at him unblinkingly.
He sighs after a few moments before pushing his sister off him; Artemis stands back with her hands slightly raised. Her eyes drift from Apollo to Percy and then back to Apollo.
Oh gods. He thinks as the puzzle finally pieces back together in his mind. OH GODS! I'm so screwed.
If Percy wasn't so petrified he might just throw his hands into the air before slapping himself on the face repeatedly with the butt of his palm.
"Apollo?"
"Sister."
Artemis frowns and shakes her head before folding her arms over her chest, Percy watches the way the muscles in her arms move with vague interest.
"Are you okay?"
The sun gods head turns slowly towards the slightly older god. "I'm perfect, 100% sunshine and lollipops. Never before have a felt this amazing like" his arms raise slightly before collapsing back onto his outstretched legs in exhaustion. "Wow. I feel like I could write and produce a symphony-"
"Yeah, I get it smart arse." Apollo gives her a sardonic grin while Percy realises if he was ever going to escape it should have been then. "You're the epitome of health." The sun god struggles on the floor for a few moments before his sister takes pity on him and tries to help him up.
"Get off me." Artemis cringes back before rolling her eyes and helping the sun god up anyway.
Percy can't stop his shocked reaction to the scene towards him, when Artemis once again looks towards him he however regrets the look on his face. Quickly he allows his features to go back to a blank and neutral one so that none of the gods in the tent suddenly feel like skinning him alive.
He has never seen such a terrifying and awe inspiring look in his life.
This is why I should never get on a gods bad side.
His adrenaline has suddenly kicked up from a ten to a fifteen.
He doesn't know if he says it because of his adrenaline, if it's his natural sense of curiosity mixed with his ADHD or maybe Apollo really didn't heal his head properly. Who knows what the reason is but suddenly Percy opens his mouth and word vomits everywhere.
"Why are you two so pissed at each other?"
Percy swears that all sound stops. So far he can't even hear the hustle and bustle of the hunters outside or even the occasional truck on the road outside. He gulps far too loudly and attempts to sit a little straighter against the pole in a sad attempt to look more imposing and important then he actually is.
"How dar-" Artemis starts, her voice holding the barely contained rage and irritation that Percy can feel in the room around him.
She is barely a foot away from Percy before Apollo intervenes.
"Sis." his hand grips onto the goddesses shoulder. "Later."
Once again the goddess frowns and folds her arms over her chest, her fingers tap against her skin in a pattern that reminds Percy of Leo and his Morse code.
Apollo turns to him quickly, his natural tan slowly repatching along his skin. The wrinkles that had once appeared along his skin making him look old and withered slowly recede back into his skin giving him back his beautiful and youthful appearance.
Maybe it's a part of Zeus' punishment?
He watches the sun god quizzically for a few seconds.
"We need to take him in." Artemis mutters looking back at the demigod, her eyes bore into his. Eventually Percy has to look away flinching under the steely gaze. "The sooner we do it the better."
Percy's stomach drops and his pulse quickens. He has never felt this terrified before in his life. He doesn't want to go in, believe it or not but Percy wants to eventually die. He can't really imagine living on past his friends and family, he really doesn't even want to imagine it.
And Annabeth, his sweet and beautiful girlfriend, the girl that every guy dreams of. He can't just give her up and move on. He doesn't think he could ever really do that.
"I will take him." Apollo mutters turning around to look at the demigod. Percy frowns right back at the god, his eyes looking like violent seas in the middle of a storm
"Brother…"
Apollo blinks once slowly, Percy can see hurt in the gods' eyes or at least Percy thinks it's hurt for all Percy knows that could be Apollo's happy face.
"I can still do it." He growls back at her looking over at her in a mild disgust, Percy is suddenly doubtful if the god can really do anything let alone take him straight to Olympus. "I'm not completely crippled."
"Are you-"
"Dammit, I said I would do it so I will do It." he growls back spinning on his heel and facing the smaller goddess.
"Fine." Artemis grunts back with a smirk. "Then let me accompany you."
"Oh I really don't think that is necessary." Apollo replies back.
"Oh but dear brother, I believe it is."
"How about you both untie me and I will accompany myself back?"
"Shut up." they growl in unison their eyes never leaving each other's faces.
Percy grows a little more terrified.
Their silence continues for another few moments as they stare each other down. Now Percy doesn't have any siblings on his mother's side, and well far too many on his father's side, but he is pretty sure that if his mum had any more kids then he too would have shared one or two moments like this. Maybe not to the same extent as two godly twin siblings who are almost like Ying and Yang but it sure as hell would feel like it.
"You don't trust me." Apollo mutters taken aback by the sudden revelation.
Artemis is silent as she watches her brother gauging his face for his reaction. "Should I?"
Apollo laughs and to Percy who has seen a lot of maniacal monsters, the laughter reminds him of a creature that seems unhinged, like something that has already lost everything and has nothing more to lose. The thought sends a shiver through his spine.
"Haven't we both been through enough for you to trust me?"
"Yes but this…"Artemis throws Percy a weary gaze one that Apollo catches. "Complicates things."
Apollo stiffens and returns his gaze from the demigod and back towards his sister. "I wouldn't hurt him."
Artemis smirks a little and chuckles. Before her face once again turns into a blank stare. "Not intently I know."
Apollo growls louder than a hell hound on the trail of a demigod. "You know I wouldn't."
"Hyacinth?"
Apollo growls again and takes a step towards his twin and with a sudden movement he pushes her. Percy is completely bewildered and almost chokes on his tongue. Artemis for her part doesn't move an inch and instead stands stock still and watches her brother, her eyebrow twitches.
"Don't you dare." Apollo grunts his fists clench beside his legs as he casts his sister a wayward glare. Artemis is still silent and unmoving but her eyebrow twitches a few more times. "You promised me once before. You promised me you would never bring them up again."
"And we promised to take him to Olympus when found."
"Yeah and I will."
"I am no fool, Apollo." Artemis sighs.
Percy sits back against his pole and fiddles with the chains behind his back; Apollo takes a step back with his eyes still focused on Artemis. After a few more moments of silence he takes another and another almost like clockwork he inches his way towards Percy.
"I have to do this." He replies. Percy counts to three before Apollo takes another step towards him.
The son of Poseidon is silent and watches the god with trepidation. Part of him doesn't like where this is leading. The other part loves it and can't wait to get out of this, because hey, so far anything is better than that one way trip to Olympus.
"No." Artemis moves quickly until she is standing almost on Apollo's toes. "We have to take him to Olympus. We can't afford another strike against our name. Especially not you."
Apollo looks away from the goddess and back towards the demigod. "I have to."
"Have to what?"
"I have to take him." Apollo inches closer towards Percy.
"Take him where?" His hand his on Percy's own skin, the skin prickles in response.
"Apollo? Where are you taking him?" Artemis grinds out through clenched teeth.
Percy looks up towards the god with a sudden feeling of loathing in his gut and a worried smile. Apollo simply winks in reply. The chains binding Percy's wrist start to feel loose. He wriggles his hands around a little more.
"I'm sorry sis." Apollo sighs looking back at Artemis. "But this is just something that needs to be done."
"Apollo?" the warning is in her voice as her hand reaches out to grab the sun god, but Apollo for his sake is slightly faster than his sister and shifts out of her way.
"See you later, sis."
A hand clenches over Percy's shoulder and suddenly he feels the world slip out from under him as wind whooshes past him. In the distance he can hear Artemis call out Apollo's name.
Something hard and pointed jabs into the small of Percy's back. Almost exactly where his Achilles heel had once been, which seems more prophetic then incidental.
His head ends up in no better condition as it bangs onto asphalt and then proceeds to bounce twice from the sheer force of the fall. Percy groans out loud and rubs the back of his head in pain, that little pinprick of pain that was left over from before now feels as if Mrs O'Leary has been tap dancing along the base of his skull. The pain is nowhere near as painful before but Percy figures his head will hurt for days.
Slowly he opens his eyes and takes in the scene around him. He is in an alley, and alley in some sunny, hot and humid place, an alley that is in-between a bar, judging from the smell of spirits, beers and vomit and a Thai place judging from the stray noodles hanging loosely out of a bin and the half eaten chilli that is resting beside him.
"Gods that's disgusting." he groans pushing himself up off the ground with great difficulty.
"Gods dammit."
Beside him a bin moves and an even louder grumble is heard behind it followed by loud and imaginative curses that range from Greek to English, Percy, who just so happens to understand most of the curses, raises an eyebrow at the gods' extreme use of the words Goat and bladder.
He swears that Apollo just may have joined the navy at one point of his extremely long life, because gods, Apollo can certainly swear like a sailor.
"Apollo?" His voice catches in his throat and he is forced to cough as what feels like, and what he hopes is just dust, settles in his mouth. It's an uncomfortable experience. One that Percy wants to never again feel so long as he lives. He spits the dust out of his mouth and coughs again as he tries to clear his throat.
"Present." A voice grumbles from directly behind the demigod. Percy jumps in response and twirls around removing his eyes from the bins in front of him, where he could have sworn the god had landed from their impromptu…whatever the hell that was.
Apollo stands just behind him, a hand on his side as if he has just caught a stitch while the other is placed firmly against a handrail that Percy suspects he had first landed on in the initial confusion of the not-so-soft landing.
"Wh-where are we?" the demigod spins on the spot. He regrets the movement immediately as his head spins and his stomach churns at the unneeded movement.
"Best guess?" Apollo asks standing straight, or as straight as he can possibly stand after his use of power. "In an alley way somewhere in Miami."
Percy gawks. "Miami? As in Miami, Florida?"
Apollo pouts slightly and looks up to the left as if trying to remember a road map. Before he shrugs and looks back down at the demigod. He smiles his old grin, but Percy can see the pain written all over his face. "Not really where I was expecting to land but," the god shrugs his shoulders in an offhanded gesture. "Hey at least we landed in the right zip code."
"Wait-What?" Percy wonders if half of his mind is still stuck somewhere at the Hunters Camp.
Apollo is silent for a moment, Percy wonders if he is also feeling as nauseas and ill at ease as he is. "Let's go to a bar."
"Uh?" Percy starts but he doesn't get another word in because suddenly he is quite literally being hauled and dragged away by the sun god and onto the busy street.
People take their time to stop and stare at the duo as they strut their way down the street. Well mostly people stare at the model A-Grade man and the homeless looking kid that is dragged along behind him.
Apollo thrives in the sunny and humid environment as the sun blares down on them and gorgeous women that have Percy stutter and blush run up to talk and flirt with them, a few bat their eye lashes at Percy but he ignores them with a frown. There is only one woman for Percy and she is at Camp Half-Blood safe and waiting for him.
Apollo takes his time to talk and flirt with each of the lovely women, while Percy tries his hardest to not look at them all too directly. Annabeth could easily beat all these girls in looks and personality.
"Anyway ladies." Apollo starts an arm lazily looped around Percy's shoulders as he drags the younger male into and then away from the foray of women. "But me and my charming" he squeezes Percy's bicep once. "Friend, must be off. Places to be and people to do."
Percy rolls his eyes at the implication but decides not to say anything out loud, just in case his head gets bitten off.
After a few more encounters with people in various degrees of sobriety and modesty, how do some bathing suits even classify as bikinis? Apollo suddenly stops and looks up towards a building people spill in and out as people talk loudly and with much gusto about everyday things.
"Let's go in here."
"It's a bar."
"So…" Apollo drawls casually flicking his eyes towards Percy with a strange grin.
"So, I can't go in."
Apollo looks taken aback. almost shocked as to why Percy, 17 year old, legally a minor Percy, is not allowed to enter a bar. "Why?"
"I'm too young."
"And technically I'm too old." he laughs with a shrug and pulls on Percy's arm. "C'mon. One drink that's all I ask."
"Then what?" Percy asks, his voice break slightly as an overbearing man bangs into his shoulder, the man stumble past him but not before shouting out a long and slurred apology. Percy shrugs it off but Apollo gives the man's back a heated glare.
"Then" he says turning back towards the demigod an easy going smile still on his face. "we will figure out what we are going to do."
"What?"
"Details," he brushes it off with a hurried hand gesture. "Let's go."
Percy is practically pulled into the bar and past the man at the door who smiles and waves Apollo in like he is an old friend before gesturing him towards a group of drunken girls he sets the two off with a wink not even giving Percy a second look.
"Man," Apollo cries into Percy's ear he can only just hear the sun god over the intoxicated voices and the top 40 playlist playing over the stereo "This place is off the hook."
Percy can't really help but disagree. Who knows maybe because he had never been to a bar or a club, or even because he had never been drunk, sure he has had a beer here and there. He has saved the world on more than one occasion and when he got home after Paul had happily passed him a beer and his mother had turned the other cheek, because hey one can't hurt right?
Because it's not the drinking that makes Percy feel uncomfortable and it's not the drunken mass of people who laugh and talk obnoxiously and would grind on anything that strayed too close. Its crowds.
But he doubts he could ever feel comfortable in large crowds after everything he has experienced. Sometimes walking down the street can give him anxiety.
But the crowd doesn't frighten him so much, what frightens him more is Apollo's arm looped lazily around his shoulders and the fingers that are tapping out a melody on the other side of his chest. He would laugh at the entire fucked up situation that is his life but that would only depress him.
The plus side is that the god attached to him is probably the only reason why no monsters have really taken advantage of the situation to snatch up the lonely demigod with the strong scent.
"See those stairs?" the sun god says pointing towards the stairs in the centre of the room just in front of what Percy thinks may just be a dancefloor. People walk up and down the stairs dancing and shouting out the song lyrics.
He nods once in reply, he just wants Apollo's arms off him and to be at least seven miles away from him. "Meet me up there." Percy smiles slightly before nodding once more. This is probably the best chance to escape he has and by the gods he needs this opportunity, all he needs is for Apollo to turn his back on him and Percy could quite easily slip off into the crowd and run. "But," Percy looks up towards Apollo who is looking as serious as Malcolm when you tell him Chicken nuggets are better than Mac' n 'Cheese. "Remember I will know if you leave."
Percy frowns and clenches his jaws before nodding again. He turns around towards the stairs without another moment's notice, Apollo watches him walk up the steps with an appreciating gaze. A gaze whom Percy can feel, but the demigod refuses to allow the god to see his uneasiness. He just hopes the god isn't really looking where Percy thinks he is looking.
Stepping past a group of people who seem to be more sober then drunk he smiles kindly at them and urges on forward. Upstairs seems less noisy and more open, something that has Percy visibly relax.
He is halfway up the stairs when he first smells the salty sea air that sends a warm shiver down his spine, he smiles a little more and continues up the stairs casually avoiding an intoxicated woman who glares at him for being in her space.
"Whoa." His shoulders drop as if releasing all of the pent up tension that has been building over the past few days as well as the tension that had been mounting ever since he started up those steps and first felt Apollo's gaze on his, well... yeah you know.
The roof is simple really and maybe that adds to the beauty of it, along the sandstone tiles sits tables and chairs that overlook the beautiful Miami skyline. Behind him sits a long bench with various different types of stools that Percy thinks should look really strange but it only adds to the beauty. But it isn't the stools or the long bench that has Percy gaping in awe; it's the scene behind the bench. The crystal blue waters off the Atlantic Ocean.
'I should bring Wise Girl here.' He thinks in wonder. 'Well after I sort all this out that is.'
"Beautiful isn't it." A voice sounds from behind him. Shocked Percy swivels around and faces the sun god who is smiling brilliantly out at the horizon. Percy looks from the sun god to what is in his hands. He is holding two colourful drinks in tall glasses with little umbrellas and pieces of orange and pineapple on the side of the glass.
"Uhhhh?" He says pointing towards the drink in the gods hand with a frown.
Apollo hands him one of the drinks with a raised eye brow and a wink. "This is for you~."
"Uhhh?" Percy tries again taking the drink from Apollo's hands, he eyes the drink in concern for all he knows Apollo has drugged the drink. He looks back up at the sun god and frowns in confusion. "Remember? I'm underage."
Apollo continues to smile and shrugs his shoulders. "You and I both know that this wouldn't be the first time you have had a drink."
Percy frowns and takes a tentative sip of the drink. Apollo watches him; it only makes Percy feel even more uncomfortable.
"Let's sit!" Apollo suddenly exclaims placing an arm around Percy's bicep once more and dragging him towards the bench overlooking the ocean.
Surprisingly the roof is almost deserted in comparison to the rest of the bar just down the stairs which was almost completely filled to capacity with grinding masses and drunks.
"So why are we here?"
Apollo shrugs and looks around the rooftop once more before looking back at his partner. "Well, why not."
"Uhh? Maybe because I have a bounty on my head? Because it seems that for whatever reason you all keep screwing up my life and forcing me into these even more fucked up situations." Percy sighs loudly and runs a hand through his head. He eyes his drink carefully almost tempted to have another sip of his drink.
Apollo doesn't break his smile, something which Percy is a little grateful for well also a little creeped out by it. Who knows if he pissed off the sun god enough he might just throw him off the top of the building and there would be no more Percy, but so far all the sun god is content with doing is drinking his cocktail and creeping out the sun of Poseidon.
"Man, I am too tired to even deal with you in a pissy mood right now." Apollo sighs leaning back a little on his stool. He picks his drink up and takes a long sip eyeing Percy carefully. "Just take another drink and chill. I'm not here to rush you back to daddy dearest." he puts his drink down and frowns thoughtfully. "Even if it does bring me back to number one on his favourite's list."
Percy held in the scoff. There was no way in Hades that Apollo could be Zeus' favourite child. Percy bet that deep down Apollo knew that too.
"Well?" Percy raises his arms to just above his head and slaps his thighs loudly. "Then why am I here?"
"What would you rather be back on Olympus?"
Percy stays silent and moodily looks out along the horizon. He feels almost close enough to touch the water and he wishes he was.
"My point exactly, sunshine. We are here because, while I really want to take you to Olympus and put this charade to an end. I can't, not really."
"And why is that?"
"Because. Fate is telling me otherwise."
"What?" He turns around to face the god.
"You need to meet someone."
"What?"
"Listen, babe. This is not by my choosing. I'm just doing what Fate is telling me to do." Apollo sighs out. He takes a long draft of his drink.
"What?"
"You really have a way with words don't you?" Apollo smirks, patting Percy's shoulder in mock affection. "I can't explain it too much but you need to acquaint yourself with a small group of people first." Apollo takes another sip of his drink; it makes a long squelching noise that has Percy shiver slightly.
"I need to what?"
"You will figure it out. You going to finish that?" Percy shakes his head and watches as Apollo eagerly snatches the drink off him. "Anyway, seeing as I need to be elsewhere; before daddi-O and the lil sis find you, by finding Me." the god shakes his head and raises his hands shaking them quickly. "But fair warning gorgeous, next time you have a run in with a member of your 'extended family', you will be caught. And I know that." Apollo takes another drink and smiles warmly at the grouchy looking son of Poseidon who by now is trying not to give Miami a 9.2 magnitude earthquake.
"You can't know that." He grits out through clenched teeth. A group of people have just arrived on the rooftop and seem far louder than the roofs other occupants.
"Bet I do, gorgeous." Apollo moves closer and closer towards Percy's face, so close that Percy starts to relive his fear of claustrophobia and just when Percy thinks Apollo is going to kiss him, like actually kiss him, the god brings his drink back to his lips and takes a long luxurious sip he smiles mischievously at Percy before vanishing in a bright light that has half the roof top squeal in surprise and confusion.
"What was that?" A woman asks staring at the spot in confusion.
"Solar flares man I'm telling you." Percy replies before turning back around on the spot and facing the horizon once again.
"This seat been taken?" another voice asks. Percy jumps slightly before spinning around the other way towards the man.
"Uh no. I was just leaving anyway." Percy replies going to stand.
A comforting hand is placed on Percy's shoulder; Percy looks at the hand with confusion. "No please stay." Percy looks back up towards the owner of said hand in irritation.
"Listen man, I'm flattered but, you are not my type." Percy tries to stand again, but is pushed forcefully back onto the chair. Irritated Percy goes towards his pocket to pull out Riptide.
He doesn't care if the guy can see through the mist or not, but he just wants Riptide in his hand for comfort reasons. And just in case this guy is some kind of monster. "Oh boy, I've had better offers." the guy sits down and Percy finally gets a good look at him and he thinks the man is telling the truth, because holy cow he is stunning.
Percy blushes slightly and shakes his head quickly to dispel the thoughts.
"But you might want to hear this offer."
"Offer?"
The man smiles a crooked smile. "Follow me and try to keep up. You're scent is enough to attract enough monsters that even you wouldn't be able to handle." The man gets off his seat quickly and looks back expectantly at Percy.
Percy bites the bottom of his lip and frowns. "And why should I follow you?"
The man chuckles and rubs the back of his neck; Percy swears he hears a girl swoon behind him. "Let's just say I've been in similar circumstances."
Inverse Psyche: I'm really keen to write Percy in front of the council, however I can't really write it till a little bit later. Hope you really enjoyed this chapter. :)
a1993: Cheers for the review. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
Fallen Angel of Olympus: Hey man thank you so much for reviewing I really appreciate it. Yeah the Pegasus is really overused but I can't really think of another animal to be his symbol of power, unless I simply think of another animal later on to use.
No problem haha I love it when you go overboard and give me all this information. It really is brilliant and really helpful. I would really love to know what site you got that information off though because I feel like that page would be ridiculously helpful and interesting.
Thank you so much for reviewing once again and I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
E (Guest): Hey thank you for the review, I really appreciate it. I don't know if I would make Thalia quit the hunt, but then again I can't exactly say no because I may have her quit the hunt. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)
prince of the seas: Cheers man, Hope you enjoyed. :)
monkeybaby: Hey man cheers for the review. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
Lady Knight of Masbolle 101: Wow thank you so much for the review I loved it. Zeus is very trigger happy and there really is no way that Percy can't be punished for running away from the Olympians, especially with what he has done to Apollo which I am trying to hint at but not outwardly say what his punishment was but you could probably guess what the punishment was. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)
fantomfaire: Hey thanks for reviewing man. I really appreciate it. haha yeah I love writing the twins together. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter. :)
Ginocide02: Thank you so much for the review I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and sorry about all the cliff hangers. I like to do that when I write chapters. Yeah Pertamis will be a while down the line but it will be there. :)
UPDATESOON (Guest): Hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
PancakedSNG: Thankyou so much for the review, I am trying to make this story different from others. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
StarofFeanor: Yeah Thalia is badass. Thankyou so much for reviewing I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
Guest: Hahaha don't worry, there will certainly be a lot of Percy/Aphrodite in this fic; however that will be after he becomes a god which won't be for a while but I hope you enjoyed the fic. :)
PoseidonPrince: Thanks man, hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
FlyingPig (Guest): Hey man, thankyou so much I really appreciate it. Your reviews always give me a massive ego boost (something I probably don't need) but thank you so much once again. Yeah I am trying to work on speeding things up a bit but I really want to make this story kind of but not really an epic so it will be a slow burn, but I will try my hardest to make the story more interesting for you because most likely it's not just you finding the story boring :/ But anyway I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
Akberthepegacorn (Guest): Cheers for the review I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
An oni mouse (Guest): I'm so so sorry about the ridiculously long wait but stuff got in the way. Anyway hope you really enjoyed this chapter and I'm glad you are enjoying this story, well so far anyway. :)
FanFiction589: Hope you enjoyed. :)
MonsterPhantom: Hey man cheers for the review it's really appreciated. Hope you enjoyed. :)
Guest: hahaha sorry mate, life got in the way. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)
pertamis always (Guest): Hey man thank you so much for the review, but I really do hope you enjoyed this update. :)
Guest: Cheers man, really appreciate it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :)