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Apollo leaned against a wall as he waited for Percy to get out of class. He ignored the gawking stares of the students who exited the lecture hall, his attention focused on a green-eyed young man. “Percy!” Apollo called out waving his arm in the air, hoping to catch Percy’s attention, “Come here, come here!”
For a brief moment, Percy looked like he wanted to pretend he didn’t see or hear Apollo, but after a second, he rolled his eyes and made his way towards the sun god. “What are you doing here, Apollo?”
Apollo snorted, “You know, technically I’m an Olympian, don’t I deserve more respect? The teasing lilt to his words undercut the admonishment. Apollo’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, looking much too similar to his brother, Hermes.
Percy rolled his eyes again in mock exasperation, “Fine. What are you doing here, Lord Apollo?”
Apollo laughed and swung an arm around Percy’s shoulders, pulling him close, “I need your help.”
Percy blushed at the sudden close contact but quickly shook himself out of his embarrassment when Apollo’s words registered, “Oh no. No, no, no! You can’t pull me into whatever thing you have on your whim. I have a life you know, it’s not just centered on completing whatever small quests you gods have for me. Besides, there are plenty of campers who desperately want a quest. Why don’t you ask them?”
“Come on,” Apollo whined, “Can’t you do a favor for a friend?”
“Sure,” Percy easily replied back. “Where is he?” The son of Poseidon ruthlessly continued just as Apollo’s expression brightened. Percy even pretended to look around, his hand visored over his eyes.
Apollo clutched his chest, “How cruel, Percy!” But Percy saw none of Apollo’s theatrics as he walked away. The sun god, noticing that Percy was attempting to escape him, proceeded to cling to Percy like a limpet, his feet dragging as he hung off Percy’s smaller frame.
Percy sighed, giving up on getting Apollo, “What do you want, Apollo?”
The sun god glowed, resembling the star he pulled across the sky, “You’ll help me?!” Apollo’s expression was bright, boyish. Percy felt the corner of his lips twitch up.
“Yes, I’ll help you. Now hurry and tell me what you need before I change my mind.”
Apollo grinned.
A few moments later, the two found themselves a hundred or so feet above a deep lake. Percy instinctually clung to Apollo, “What the hell, Apollo?! How about some warning?”
Apollo shrugged, “Sure thing! Careful on your way down!” The sun god then proceeded to drop Percy, who gave a short scream of surprise and terror, before a loud splash was heard. Percy resurfaced a few seconds later, a viscous glare on his face. “Alright, I’m gonna need you to dive down in the lake and retrieve one of my arrows for me!” Apollo called out from the safety of the sky.
Percy glared, “You brought me to who knows where to retrieve your stupid arrow?! Don’t you have, like, an unlimited supply?”
The god tutted and wagged his fingers, “Oh Percy, my young, naive friend. It’s not just an arrow, it’s one of my plague arrows. It fell out of my quiver when I was doing some tricks on my chariot.”
Percy’s eye twitched as his fingers jerked towards his pocket, as if to uncap Riptide. He stopped, took a deep breath, and once he no longer had the urge to chop off the head of a certain sun god, he uncapped Riptide, this time for his own protection as he dove down deep. The arrow was relatively easy to find. It gave off a faint glow that stood out against the dark vegetation and rocky surfaces. Percy grabbed the arrow, being careful not to accidentally nick himself. He resurfaced another few minutes later, the arrow clutched in his hand.
“Here,” Percy said as he handed over the arrow, “I don’t know why you didn’t ask a naiad or another water spirit to help you?”
Apollo retrieved his arrow and vanished it safely away, “If it was a normal arrow I wouldn’t have minded, but this is a plague arrow. I can’t risk any other god or spirit being tempted to use it.”
“Aren’t you afraid I would be tempted?”
Apollo shook his head, “No, I know you. You’re not that type of person.”
Despite himself, Percy blushed. He awkwardly scratched his cheek, “Well if that’s all you needed from me, can you send me back?” Apollo grinned, and easily pulled Percy out of the water, drying him with the warmth of the sun before Percy even had a chance to do it himself.
“I’ll do you one even better.”
The next moment, Percy found himself sitting in a diner, a burger and some fries placed before him. The sun god only had a milkshake in front of him. Apollo leaned his head against the knuckles of one hand while the other reached over to steal a few fries off Percy’s plate. “Normally, I would bring people to fancier places than this, but to my knowledge, you’re more of a casual diner type.”
Percy nodded, “Sure, and thanks for the food.” The two continued their meal in relative silence, occasionally broken by a few questions here and there, usually consisting of Apollo asking Percy about how his life is going. And Percy’s disapproval of Apollo constantly stealing his fries.
“If you wanted fries, you should have ordered some for yourself!” Percy cried out as he tried to pull his place away.
“Fries always taste better when they’re someone else’s!” Apollo rebutted, crying in triumph when he managed to grab another few. “Besides, the fries go so well with the milkshake. Here, try some!” Apollo offered the milkshake, only to rip it away just as Percy was about to dip the fries in, “What are you doing?!”
Percy defended himself, his fry still raised midair, “You told me to try some!”
“You need to first drink the milkshake to clean your palate!”
“Fine,” Percy said, rolling his eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time today, “Get me a straw.”
“Just drink from mine.” Apollo offered.
The trend continued.
Every couple days to every couple weeks, Percy would find himself agreeing to another one of Apollo’s ridiculous requests and upon finishing, find himself enjoying a meal with the sun god. It happened so gradually, Percy didn’t even realize it. It started with the restaurants, then came the flowers, and then came the small gifts.
Percy felt flustered, because even if he didn’t want to admit it, he found himself falling in love with Apollo, the god who has a garden full of lovers.
But Percy couldn’t help the way his heart skipped a beat every time Apollo smiled at him. The sun god was so much more than the easy going god he portrayed himself as. Even if he was known as one the more fickle gods, he was only kind and caring when he was with Percy.
One day, Apollo appeared just as usual with a request, “Percy! I need your help!”
Percy rolled his eyes, more of a habit at this point than actual annoyance. “Fine,” without waiting for Apollo to finish his sentence. Upon agreeing to Apollo's request, Percy found himself sitting on a blanket. There was a picnic basket, two wine glasses, a bottle of wine, and lit candles. In front of him was one of the most beautiful sunsets Percy had ever seen. The sun’s light shimmered over the ocean’s waves.
“I need your help.” Apollo said, continuing where he left off, “I’m in love with you and I need your help. Will you let me love you?”
Percy blushed. “Yes,” he answered.
Afterwards, nothing much changed between them. The only difference being that instead of Apollo popping up with random “requests” he showed up to take Percy on surprise dates. Though, there were times when Percy thought he caught a look of guilt on Apollo’s face, but it was gone so fast it was hard to tell.
His friends were worried, rightfully so. His friends warned him of Apollo, of his tragic love life. They wanted him to be careful. But Percy loved Apollo, and it was too late to tell his heart otherwise. “I love you,” Percy whispered before falling asleep, his head resting on Apollo’s chest.
In his slumber, he didn’t hear Apollo’s breath hitch.
Apollo fucked up.
Apollo knew he fucked up.
It was never supposed to go this far.
He was never supposed to fall in love.
Apollo held his head in his hands, lost in thoughts when Hermes appeared, “Hey, Apollo! How’s it going? How far are you along with our bet?” Apollo jerked his head up and stared at Hermes with a complicated look in his eyes.
“Let’s call off the bet, Hermes.” Apollo said, his words coming fast, almost frantic. “Let’s just call it off.”
Hermes looked a little ticked, “What are you talking about? You’re the one who said you could do it! Why are you backing out now?” The messenger god peered at his older brother from under the brim of his hat, “Don’t tell me you went and fell in love?”
At Apollo’s guilty expression, Hermes’ expression morphed into shock. “You did! You went and fell in love with Percy Jackson!”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen!” Apollo cried, his voice desperate. “I didn’t mean for it to happen,” he repeated, “But he’s different. There’s something about him that’s so easy to love. He’s kind and generous. He’s loyal and protective. He wants the best for those he loves. Hermes, he told me he loves me.”
“Apollo…”
“I fucked up Hermes,” Apollo admitted, “I fucked up. I thought it would be easy to seduce him and get him to sleep with me. I never should have made that bet.”
“Bet…?” A chillingly familiar voice called out.
Apollo jerked his head up, only to stare into Percy’s confused face.
“What bet…?”
Hermes flashed away, a look of pity thrown at Apollo before he vanished.
“Percy, let me explain.” Apollo desperately reached out, only for his hands to fall away when Percy sidestepped his attempt. There was a look of dawning realization on his face. His expression started to shutter, as the insecurity Apollo worked so hard to drive away came rushing back.
“What bet, Apollo?” Percy’s voice cracked, tears threatening to spill over. Percy’s arms wrapped around himself, as if in an attempt to protect himself.
But Apollo only whispered, “Please…”
“What bet?” Percy repeated, his voice no louder than a whisper.
Apollo desperately reached out once more, grabbing Percy’s hands. He held tight, even as Percy struggled to pull away. For all of Percy’s strength, his mortal strength was no match against Apollo’s godly one.
“Was it all just a lie?” Percy asked, his voice shaking.
“No,” Apollo cried, “No, it wasn’t.”
Percy tugged his hands free, his tears finally spilling over. “Unfortunately, I can’t believe you, not anymore.”