PJatO || Apercy || PJatO || Apercy || PJatO || Sun-in-Law || PJatO || Apercy || PJatO || Apercy || PJatO
Title: Sun-in-Law – Polympians Event 2024
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/m, established relationship, family fluff
Main Pairing: Apollo/Percy
Side Pairings: Tyson/Ella, Paul/Sally
Percy Jackson Characters: Perseus Jackson, Tyson, Ella, Sally Jackson, Paul Blofis
Godly Character: Apollo
Own Characters: Ariana Jackson, Laura Jackson
Summary: Polympians Prompt: family focus. Apollo had lost so many over the span of his life, but for the first time, he had a real family to come home to, and he was grateful for it.
Sun-in-Law
Polympians Event 2024
Apollo loved getting mail. Letters and packages addressed to him. It was a silly thing to find joy in, he was aware – he was the god of the sun, music, prophecies, medicine, he'd seen and caused so much that was magical, inspiring, ever-lasting, impactful, yet here he was, giddily staring down at their electricity bill. Mister Apollo Jackson. Followed by their address. That was, his and his husband's address. Because he was Mister Apollo Jackson now, husband to one Percy Jackson.
He'd had so many fake last names over the years, to pose as a mortal when falling in love, to try and be a normal man and not a god, but none of them had been real. This was the first time he had a real last name. His husband's last name. He'd taken it when they had exchanged their vows.
For the first time in forever, Apollo had a life. A normal life. A husband, a house, bills, neighbors, even a job (technically, he was Doctor Apollo Jackson, but oh well). He did things the way every normal mortal being did. Neighborhood barbecues, Sunday family dinners with his in-laws, meeting his husband for lunch whenever possible, preparing lunch bags for their daughter.
"Are you staring at your name with a stupid smile again, sunshine?"
Apollo jumped ever so slightly at his husband's voice. A blush lit up the Sun God's cheek. Sometimes, it felt like Percy had prophetic abilities of his own. How could he possibly know?
"I'm just getting the mail, sea star," Apollo called back, quickly getting the rest out too.
When he entered the kitchen, he found his beautiful, amazing husband in the middle of preparing dinner. Percy Jackson was stunning. Even as a retired hero, still athletic, well-trained, his eyes the ever-sparkling endless depth of the sea, his very, very kissable lips pulled into a teasing grin.
Percy was the greatest hero their world had seen in so many centuries, he'd been wooed and beloved by countless demigods and gods alike. Yet Apollo was the one who could count himself so lucky to be loved by the demigod. And for the first time, Apollo was allowed to love. Percy didn't get turned into a plant, or a constellation, or die otherwise. No, he was so strong, he could hold his own against any god – or titan, or giant, as proven in the wars.
"Papa! Papa, look!"
Apollo's attention was drawn away from his captivating husband and down to their daughter. Well, in all technicality, she was Apollo's granddaughter – a daughter of his son Asclepius, the god of medicine, her mortal mother having died when she was still very little. Too little to be at a Summer Camp, too alone to be abandoned. Percy had fallen in love with her so fast and so hard, it had been his idea for them to adopt her, and it had warmed Apollo's heart. Now she was theirs. Little Ariana Jackson, her fathers' pride and joy. Smiling at her, Apollo knelt down next to her.
"Oh, that's a pretty picture, sweetheart," Apollo smiled as he looked at the crayon drawing.
He smoothed down her wild, dark-brown hair and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, making her giggle. They had made a beautiful home together, him and Percy. A normal home. The kind Apollo had only ever gotten to dream of. Yes, he still had his duties on Olympus, but especially after his father's unjust punishment, Apollo had few qualms not being as diligent. If he king of gods thought they could do without him, then who was he to argue.
What had started out as a punishment had in the end been what drew Apollo and Percy close and even after Apollo regained his godhood, they remained friends. Apollo kept dropping by, visiting Percy at college, annoying Percy, hanging out with Percy, falling in love with Percy. It was a bit ironic, perhaps, that what had put them together in the first place had been Apollo fighting to get his place on Olympus back, only for him in the end to more or less give it up willingly. What mattered here was the choice. This was his choice. His choice to be with the one he loved.
Yes, he would like to take Percy to Olympus. Make him a god, know him immortal and protected. Not as long as Paul and Sally were alive though. Percy refused to leave the mortal world as long as his parents were still on it. So they compromised, and Apollo had come to live here, live a normal, mortal life with the man he loved, until Percy was ready to accept godhood and move on.
It had started out as a compromise, Apollo could have never anticipated how much he would come to love it. Love this life with all its facets, fall in love with all the small, mundane things.
"If you don't mind, how about setting the table before everyone gets here?"
"Ri—ight," Apollo got up again and walked back to the kitchen. "Sorry, our adorable daughter is very, very distracting. Setting the table now, my love."
There was a particular, little smile he always got when calling Percy 'my love'. Leaning in, Apollo kissed his husband's cheek before he went to set the table out in the backyard for eight. Their house had a beautiful, large garden with a pool – Apollo did not marry a son of Poseidon to then not spoil him with a sea-water pool; he may lead a mortal life right now for the sake of his husband, but he was still a god and he was going to spoil his consort! The garden though, admittedly, was mainly pretty thanks to Apollo's half-sister Persephone. One of his favorite half-siblings, the two were close. The beautiful garden had been her wedding present to them.
"Ba—abe, doorbell," was screamed at him about twenty minutes later. "I would, but chicken."
Apollo huffed out a small laugh at that and hurried back in, after one last glance at the table. Cutlery, plates, napkins, he'd also prepped and served the salad already. Looking good. Pleased, he went to open the door for their guests, offering a bright, sunny smile.
"Mom, dad! So good to see you."
Paul Blofis winced at that. "I told you not to call me that. It's just… weird."
Next to him, his wife laughed and elbowed him. "Fairly sure that's exactly why he's doing it. Hello, Apollo, it is good to see you too. How are you boys?"
Sally pulled him into a warm, loving hug. She had a gift for those. And for making people feel like family. Coming from an awkwardly broken home himself – an affair of Zeus', which of course meant his parents didn't raise him together, and which also implied the anger and disdain from his dear stepmother – he had been very overwhelmed by how warmly he was welcomed into the Jackson family after he had started dating Percy.
"Hi, Polly, where's my brother?" Laura asked, already pushing past Apollo. "And my niece!"
The young Jackson deeply admired and loved her older half-brother. She liked Apollo too, but only after she got her Percy hugs in. Grinning amused at her, Apollo pointed toward the kitchen and she zoomed right off to attach herself to Percy's waist like a clingy octopus. It should be more awkward, that Percy's sister and Percy's daughter were only a few years apart, but Laura had been absolutely psyched to be the older one for a change, and she took being 'best auntie' very seriously. As soon as she had enough Percy hugs, she turned her attention to little Ariana.
"Brother!" Tyson greeted him loudly and enthusiastically.
Apollo grunted as the cyclops hugged him hard and lifted him off the ground by a couple inches. Percy's brother had fully accepted Apollo into the family and was very happy about how happy Apollo made Percy. Apollo gasped for breath once he was put down again. Cyclops hugs were tight. Next to Tyson, Tyson's fiance simply smiled at him and waved. Ella was a good one. She worked closely with Rachel a lot, and Apollo in return still worked with his chosen oracle, so on occasion, he also spent time with Ella, outside of Jackson family events.
"Okay, that's everybody. Let's move this party to the backyard, I already set the table."
On their way to the backyard, they of course paused in the kitchen so everybody could properly greet Percy and also Ariana. The little girl giggled delighted as her uncle Tyson lifted her up onto his shoulders, her tiny fingers reaching out for Ella to pet her feathers.
"Hey, mom," Percy's voice was muffled by his mother's shoulder. "How are things?"
"Exhausting," Sally's eyes landed on Laura. "Half the time, it feels like I am too old to go through all of this again. I should be in my grandma era."
"You are rocking the grandma and the mom gig," Percy grinned at her. "And you know, whenever you and Paul need a break, me and my hubby are more than happy to babysit my awesome sister."
The hubby in question also grinned and offered a thumbs-up to Sally. He indeed was always willing to babysit Laura and help out in any way he could – he always had, at first in an attempt to endear himself to Paul and Sally, but by now, simply because he loved them. Because they were his family.
"Dinner smells delicious, Perce," Paul offered a smile, patting Percy on the shoulder.
"Ye—es, and I am starving," Tyson pushed past them so he could help carry something out.
Percy laughed at his brother and motioned at everything that was ready to go. Everyone picked something up, so they could finally get to dinner. Sunday family dinners were so important to them all. Once a week, they made the time to eat together. Sally and Paul alternately hosted these dinners with Percy and Apollo. Apollo took his seat at one side of the table, next to his husband, with Sally and Paul opposite them, Tyson and Ella on one side and Ariana and Laura on the other.
"How is school, Laura?" Apollo asked his sister-in-law.
She wiggled her nose at him and frowned. "I do not care for math."
Percy choked on his food, laughing hard. Concerned, Apollo reached over to pat him on the back. Sea-green eyes looked at him, sparkling with love and amusement. Once he was calmed down again, Percy leaned in to kiss Apollo on the cheek, ever so softly. Apollo knew why. Because Percy loved how much Apollo cared about their family, that Apollo didn't just love Percy, his consort, but the whole package deal of Jacksons (and Apollo really thought that Paul should have done as he did and taken the Jackson name when him and Sally had gotten married. Tyson went by Jackson too).
"I'm afraid you will need math to finish school, princess," Paul chuckled, patting her head.
"But I don't wanna finish school," Laura's frown deepened. "I've decided that I will work at the forges with Ty! And Ty never-ever went to school at all!"
Apollo laughed at that and leaned back, letting the mortals at the table take this one, because things were different for him, as a god, and for Tyson, as a cyclops too. Tyson was working at Poseidon's forges. Ella was working as a librarian in New Rome. And Percy, well, Apollo's amazing husband had followed Paul and Chiron's steps and become a teacher. Apollo loved that, loved seeing Percy with the kids. His hand reached out to link fingers with Percy, while the Jacksons tried to convince Laura that school was important, actually (a tough point to argue with two teachers). A soft smile spread over Apollo's lips as he watched the family he loved so dearly. His family.
~*~ The End ~*~
Author's note: Family screams Apollo to me, for some reason, I just really want to give that guy a family that loves him!