REMEMBER MY CHEM EXAM THAT I'VE BEEN STRESSING OUT OVER CUZ I KNEW I FAILED??? Well it just got graded and I totally failed that shit BUT!!!! My grade dropped from 99% to 91% SO I STILL HAVE AN A WOOHOOOOOOO 🥳🥳🥳🥳

(also the whole class failed so I feel even better lmao)

"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" APOLLO'S SOBS ECHOED THROUGHOUT the floating island of Delos.

His nymphs who were scattered around the island all collectively winced at the noise. He had been wailing like this nonstop for the past few months now and it was a miracle the island hadn't sunk to the ground from the additional weight of his tears. He had quite literally cried a whole river that now circled around his palace like a moat.

"He's so loud!" One of the girls complained.

"The island is going to flood at this point," a dryad sighed.

"I should've listened to my mother when she told me to work for Lord Dionysus instead," a rock nymph groaned. "I could be at a party right now."

While the nymphs all around spoke out about their grievances, Apollo was sobbing out on the balcony of his palace, his glistening tears dripping down to the growing moat around his home.

"UWAAAAAGHHHH!" He wailed once more, throwing his head back in despair.

Misery. He was in utter misery and it all started two months ago when he was given that fateful message from Hermes: Percilla, daughter of Poseidon, had married their uncle Hades and was now his wife and the new Queen of Helheim. Not only that, she had gone missing during the wedding night.

This is worse than when Daphne turned herself into a tree to get away from me! Or the time Coronis slept with that lowlife, Ischys! He internally cried out.

His favorite uncle had married the apple of his eye and Apollo's life was in shambles. His favorite uncle! Hades! He was conflicted. On one hand, Hades was his favorite uncle and he deserved to have a happy marriage after his first one fell apart! But on the other hand, Percy was the love of his life and it wasn't fair that his uncle snatched her first!

He should be happy for them... but all he could do was weep over the unfairness of it all.

"And now... now she's missing," he sniffled, before opening his mouth to let out yet another agonized wail. "UUUAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!"

Perhaps Hades was doomed to have a terrible married life similarly to how Apollo's love life was doomed to end in tragedy. Hades' first wife, Apollo's elder half-sister, had become an empty shell of herself throughout their marriage, and now his second wife had gone missing during their wedding night. For such an amazing god, he wasn't very good at keeping his wives.

"Apollo."

"What if she's dead...?" He weeped over the railing of his balcony, his tears falling into the ever-so-growing moat surrounding his palace.

"Apollo."

"What if she got devoured by one of those horrid beasts in Helheim?" He continued to despair.

"Apollo!"

"Oh GODS, what if she eloped with another man?!" He cried out, falling to his knees. He could picture it now, another god whisking her away during the night of her wedding to Hades, never to be found again.

"APOLLO!" The voice behind him rose in volume. "Stop being dramatic and stand up, you fool! I need your assistance urgently!"

Still on his knees and gripping the stone railings, he feebly turned his head to face his twin sister.

"Beloved sister," he sniffled. "Please, leave me be. I need time to grieve."

"The six foot tall moat surrounding your palace tells me that you've been grieving more than enough," she crossed her arms, irked. "Stand up, brother. I need your help. One of my maidens has fallen ill."

He waved a dismissive hand, the other one busy wiping away his tears. "Have Asclepius deal with it."

"This is something I would prefer you to handle," she replied. "It is a mysterious illness."

"Wait," he realized something. "Nymphs cannot fall ill. Perhaps she's been cursed. If that's the case, then I cannot help you."

"She is mortal."

He fell quiet, brows furrowed. Then he finally rose to his feet and turned to her. "A mortal? You have not taken a mortal under your wing since the times of Ancient Greece. Obviously, they are not a spirit since they can't fall ill anymore... Have you been visiting Midgard without father's permission?" He crossed his arms, giving her a disappointed look—and the last time he had been disappointed in her was when Orion was around. "Sister, you know how father and I feel about you mingling with those barbarians."

"Pot calling the kettle black. Should I remind you of your own human lovers?" She rolled her eyes. "And no, I have not been to Midgard, so cease your accusations. The maiden I speak of is a... special case. She currently resides with me in Valhalla, but she is alive."

"What is a living human doing up here?" Apollo cocked his head back in confusion.

"I'll explain later, just not here," she said. "Now will you please come with me? I need you for this."

Apollo nodded begrudgingly. As much as he wanted to remain here and cry his heart out, his sister needed him and she rarely ever came to him for his help on anything.

Together, they teleported to her camp which was located in the bottom half of Mount Olympus, where it was just lush forests and wildlife. The nymphs working around the campgrounds all bowed in respect at the twins' arrival.

"This way," Artemis murmured, leading him to a tent. "She's resting here."

Apollo followed after her, frowning when he couldn't detect a single presence coming from the tent. But he remained quiet and continued walking anyway. They stepped inside and that was when he realized that there was someone inside, but he hadn't sensed her at all, and only knew of her existence because he saw her first.

The body of a young girl laid on a plush bedding, her head turned away from them so he couldn't see her face. All he could see was messy black hair strewn all over the pillow and brown skin with a concerning grey tint to it. Even as he stared down at her, he still couldn't sense a thing from her, but he at least knew the girl was alive since her chest was slowly moving up and down.

He took a few more steps closer and his eyes widened in recognition.

"Percy?" He whispered in disbelief. He whipped his head to Artemis. "Is this really—?"

"Yes," she whispered back, not wanting to wake the girl. "She's been staying with me for a little over a week now. She's... had quite the journey back in Helheim."

He knelt down at her side, golden eyes staring down at her skin. Her once healthy tan had lost its radiance. "What happened to her?"

"I do not know," she shook her head. "Everything was fine and she wasn't complaining about any illnesses. One day, she went to bed as did the rest of my nymphs, but the next morning, she did not wake up. She remained asleep for a whole week and woke up only an hour ago. I had her eat and drink, and she fell back asleep again. That was when I came to you."

"Her presence is completely hidden from me," he stated.

"Courtesy to the bracelet," Artemis informed him, motioning to the curious looking bracelet around her wrist that reeked with seiðr magic. "It's Loki's."

"Loki?" Apollo hissed. "What is his involvement in this?"

"A surprisingly helpful one," she mused. "Loki was the one who helped her escape her wedding night with Hades. This bracelet helps hide her presence from the gods completely."

"Wait, what?" Apollo felt like he was getting whiplash after whiplash. "Escape? You mean... Percy—"

"—Did not wish to marry Lord Hades," she finished for him. "The marriage was entirely against her will. It appears our half-sister and our aunts have gotten very crafty."

She explained everything Percy had told her to her brother; about how Hades had forced her to swallow twelve seeds from a cursed pomegranate, about how Persephone, Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hera had arrived at the impromptu wedding, and Yue Lao's role in binding Hades and Percy as husband and wife through his eternal red cords. And how Percy managed to escape through Loki's assistance.

When she finished retelling the story, Apollo was grinning from ear to ear, and literally glowing too.

"What are you smiling for?" She squinted, eyeing him suspiciously.

"This is the best news I've heard in months!" He whispered excitedly. "She doesn't love Hades back! Oh Artemis, that means I still have a chance!"

"Are you serious."

"I shall become the best second husband ever!" He proclaimed

"She's also married to Lord Anubis." She deadpanned.

"I shall become the best third husband ever!" He corrected cheerily. Then it finally clicked in his head what she just said. "Wait, what?"

"You didn't let me finish explaining," she sighed, shaking her head. "After Loki helped her escape, she ran into Lord Anubis of the Egyptian Pantheon. He tricked her into marrying him and they moved in together. She's been spending the past two months with him and his daughter, Lady Kebechet. She didn't learn until the end that she had been married to him this whole time."

His smile froze.

"And then," she went on. "She managed to trick Anubis into freeing her soul from Hades' curse and with Lord Ra's help, she was able to escape Helheim and reach Valhalla. That was when she started living with me."

"She's married to Anubis?" He whispered, horrified. "That—that uncontrollable mongrel of the Egyptian Pantheon?"

"Apollo," Artemis' eyes flashed in warning at the disrespect. "Be careful of how you speak about him. He is far older than us, older than even our parents."

But he clearly didn't care about that. "That filthy little dog," he hissed, venom evident in his voice. "How dare he!"

"Quiet," she hissed, his raised voice accidentally causing Percy to stir in her sleep.

Apollo quickly clamped his mouth shut. The twins watched Percy anxiously as she turned to her side, mumbled something incoherent but otherwise remained asleep.

"Enough about Lord Anubis. There's nothing that can be done about that, or her marriage with Hades," Artemis sighed. "I did not bring you here for gossip. Please brother, help her."

His expression turned serious. He nodded. "Of course."

He was about to bring his hand up until Percy started stirring again. Both siblings froze. Her eyes finally fluttered open. They could see her eyes weakly looking around the tent before eventually landing on them.

"...Oh, morning guys," she mumbled.

"It's midday," Artemis corrected her, offering her a small smile. "It's good you're awake though. You're just in time for lunch. I'll go grab some soup for you. Brother," she shot him a look before leaving the tent.

"Hello, dearest," Apollo beamed, flashing her his pearly white teeth. "My sister came to get me, said that you were in need of healing. May I?"

Percy frowned with uncertainty. "...Okay."

"First I'm just going to see what illness you've contracted," he began, holding his hand out and letting it hover over her body. "...Hm?"

He frowned to himself.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I... there's nothing," he murmured. "Can you remove the bracelet for just a second, Percy? Maybe that's what's intercepting my ability."

"Okay..." She slipped it off real quick. Apollo did his thing, but his shoulders sank in defeat. She quickly slipped the bracelet back on. "Did you see anything?"

"...This isn't possible," he muttered under his breath. "I sense nothing."

Percy gulped. Shit, she thought. Shit, shit, shit. If Apollo couldn't see what was wrong with her body, then this pretty much confirmed it: it was her soul and it was starting to break. Any day now the first crack would come.

Artemis entered through the tent flaps, holding a bowl of hot soup. "Lunch," she announced. Percy sat up and took the bowl from her. "So?" Artemis turned to her brother. "What happened?"

Apollo was looking plenty worried now. "I don't know why she's sick. I couldn't detect a thing—even with the bracelet off. I mean, I could tell that her body's being inflicted with something, but I can't see what."

"What?" Her face fell.

"This is not possible." He muttered again.

"Could it be a psychological thing, perhaps?" She suggested.

"I should be able to sense that too," he shook his head. There was a look of frustration in his expression. "I'm missing something, dammit..."

"Can you still heal her regardless?" Artemis questioned.

"I will try, of course," he replied, but as confident as he sounded, Percy could detect the worry in his voice. She couldn't blame him for his doubts, and she could only hope it would work. Her soul hadn't broken yet, but it was getting there, so maybe she could still be healed... even for just a little bit.

Please work, please work, please work, she mentally prayed.

Her body started to glow brightly, followed by a warm sensation surrounding her. It didn't burn her, but it was a welcoming warmth instead, a much preferable heat compared to Ra's boiling presence. She breathed out softly, feeling lighter than before. That awful ache and weakness started to slowly ebb away from her body, and when the glow died out, she realized that her skin had returned to its natural healthy shade without that god awful grey tint.

Oh, thank gods, she thought with relief. She didn't know how long this would last, something told her that this relief would only be temporary, so she wasn't going to let it go to waste.

"I feel better now," she sighed. She looked up and shot Apollo a grateful look. "Thank you," she said earnestly.

His shoulders sank in relief, "Oh good. So I can still heal you. Yes... it does appear that you've gotten better. I can only hope it stays that way..." Though he had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't.

The twins left her to eat and rest. They stepped out of the tent and entered Artemis'.

"So?" Artemis asked anxiously.

"I fear the effects of my healing won't last," Apollo said seriously. "Something is very wrong with this."

"Could it be something that she got from Helheim?" She suggested, worried.

"I don't know. I've never seen anything like this before. I can't seem to pinpoint what's wrong," he frowned, brushing his rose gold hair back. "Perhaps I can try to see further..."

Artemis stayed quiet, realizing what her brother was trying to do: use his abilities over foresight to see into Percy's future.

Apollo closed his eyes and focused, as if he were in a trance. The pensive frown on his face grew and grew. When he opened his eyes, the golden glow in his irises dimmed. He looked shaken.

"Brother, what did you see?" She asked immediately.

"Nothing," he breathed out. "I saw nothing."

Her eyes widened in alarm. "You mean... she will perish?"

He shook his head, looking uncharacteristically stressed. "No! I would've seen it, but I saw nothing, sister. That cannot be possible."

He started to pace around her tent, worried and deep in thought.

"What does that mean?" She asked.

"I don't know, it's never happened before!" He threw his hands up in the air. "I don't like this. Something is very wrong here. I'm missing something, but what could it be...?"

He suddenly stopped pacing and turned to her.

"Let me take Percy to Delos." He said.

Artemis looked uncertain. "Brother..."

"I beseech you, sister!" He pleaded, stepping forward to grasp her hands. "Let Percy stay with me where I can heal her whenever she falls ill again. In the meanwhile, I will try to figure out what is amiss."

She thought carefully about this. Usually, she would never let one of her maidens off to live with Apollo because then they'd lose that maidenhood within the first night. But with the way Apollo was behaving and how serious Percy's condition was... she was beginning to lean towards acceptance. Apollo could heal her whenever she fell ill, and he was the god of knowledge, she knew her brother would exhaust every resource available to find the answers to help the girl.

"Alright," she agreed. "But her virginity better be intact once all of this is over, or so help me, brother..."

"It will!" He squawked. "Cross my heart and hope to die!"

"Would you be willing to swear it on the River Styx?" She challenged.

He blanched. "Ah, well, er..."

She rolled her eyes. "I knew it."

"You make me sound like a predator!" He sputtered in offense.

She narrowed her eyes and listed out all of his previous victims, "Cyrene, Dryope, Creusa*—"

"—I couldn't help myself!" He whined. "I had urges and they were beautiful maidens. How could you expect me to stay away?"

"You're hopeless," she grumbled. "I can't believe I'm really putting that child under your care..."

"I promise I won't do anything wrong!" Apollo jutted out his gold-painted lips in a pout that probably would've worked when he was baby and not several millions of years old.

"Stop that," she scowled, shoving his face away with her hand. "You look ridiculous."

He made a pitiful whining noise that made her roll her eyes.

"I will leave her in your care, brother, but be warned..." She lowered her voice. "One wrong move, and you will have Lord Poseidon, Lord Hades, and Lord Anubis after you. Our father cannot help you. Should you tarnish her purity before either of her husbands can, they and her father have the full right to unleash their wrath on you."

He shuddered at the mental image that popped into his head. Facing the might of Poseidon was one thing, but the combined fury of him, Hades, and Anubis? That was not a pretty picture he wanted in his head.

He nodded profusely. "I won't do anything untoward," he vowed. "I'll take care of her health and try to learn what's going on. That's all I'll do."

"You will not say or do anything inappropriate."

"I will not say or do anything inappropriate." He nodded.

"You will not creep her out with your artwork."

He gasped, "My artwork is not—"

"—Apollo." She narrowed her eyes.

"I will not creep her out with my artwork," he grumbled.

"And for the love of everything, you will not watch her in her sleep." She stressed out.

"But sister!" He complained.

"I mean it, Apollo," she said firmly.

His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Oh fine. I will not watch her in her sleep..."

I'll give it 24 hours before he breaks his promises, she inwardly rolled her eyes.

They gave Percy some time to finish her lunch before returning to her tent. Apollo was quite literally glowing with happiness. He was so bright that the poor kid had to squint her eyes just to keep herself from getting blinded.

Artemis nudged him with her elbow and mouthed at him to lower the brightness down.

"Oh right," he whispered back. The glow decreased into something fainter and safer to look at. Regardless, he was still all grins as he addressed Percy, "I have wondrous news! You're moving in with me!"

He spread his arms out in joy, gentle rays of sunlight circling around him.

Percy stared at him blankly. "What?"

Artemis couldn't help but snort at the lackluster reaction.

But that didn't dampen his spirits. "You're moving in with me!" He exclaimed once more, making jazz hands.

She turned to Artemis and with that same blank look, repeated, "What?"

The elder twin sighed. "It is as he said. I've decided that it's best to transfer you to my brother's care. While your diagnosis remains a baffling mystery, he is at least capable of healing you whenever your illness flares up again."

Percy's eyes widened in alarm. No! She didn't want to leave the campground! In here, she had a beautiful pond to swim around in, cute deer to tend to, and she was surrounded by the most sweetest nymphs ever! It was everything a girl could need in life!

"And," Apollo started to add, her dread mounting. "I have also decided to dedicate my time to figuring out just what ails you! I've never been stunted by such a peculiar case before. It's been a while since I've done any manual research. This shall be interesting."

Oh no. The last thing she wanted was anyone else finding out about the whole 'soul issue' and getting suspicious as to why it was happening to her in the first place.

"Um, that—uh—that's not really necessary, you don't have to go that far," she smiled anxiously. "I'm feeling loads better anyway! I think you've completely cured me, so—"

"—Oh darling," he simpered, placing a hand on his chest. "Look at you, trying to put on a brave face for my sake. You truly are an angel."

She blinked rapidly. "Um... no, I—"

"—But I won't allow myself to be charmed!" He said dramatically, closing his eyes for added effect. "No, my sweet, I will uphold my duties as the God of Healing and find out what's causing you such turmoil and I will cure you, I swear it!"

Please don't swear on the River Styx, please don't swear on the River Styx, she chanted in her head. For your own sake, don't you DARE swear on the River Styx!

Whether he was going to or not, it didn't matter since Artemis spoke up next, "Brother, can you please just get to it?" She sighed in exasperation.

"Of course!" He lit up. "Well, Percy, it's time to go!"

She sighed in defeat. "Can I at least say goodbye to every—"

He teleported themselves away before she could even finish her goddamn sentence. Figures.

She looked around. It certainly hadn't changed much since she had last been here. His garden still took up most of the island and his palace was as huge and glittery as always. Though she did notice that his fountain (which she still thought was more appropriate to be called a community pool) had some disgruntled looking nymphs cleaning it. In fact, a lot of nymphs here looked pretty miserable...

"And we're back on Delos!" Apollo grinned down at her. "It's been a while since your first time here, hmm?"

"Ah, yeah," she let out a reminiscent sigh and shot him a sarcastic smile. "I sure remember it; you kidnapping me, me summoning my dad, him nearly squishing you like a grape... good times."

His grin turned more sheepish as he chuckled nervously, "Y-yes, good times, haha..."

He placed a hand on the small of her back and started leading her forward. As she walked alongside him, she realized that he was silently healing her as well, recognizing the warm sensation of his healing power coursing through her body. She shifted guiltily.

"You don't have to keep healing me, you know. It's okay, I'm fine right now," she said.

"I don't mind!"

"I don't wanna tire you out..."

That made him laugh. "Oh darling, gods can never get tired. That is a feeling that only lesser beings experience." It clicked in his head a second later that he had just technically called her a lesser being and he quickly scrambled to correct it, "N-not that I'm calling you a lesser being! I meant, uh, er—"

"—It's cool," she shook her head.

He still looked pretty guilty about it. "I'm sorry," he apologized, sounding uncharacteristically feeble. He cleared his throat, his confidence returning quickly. "But! Look on the bright side! Once you ascend, you won't ever feel tired ever again!"

Just hearing the 'a' word made her inwardly shudder in disgust. She laughed weakly. "Yeah..."

She tried to distract herself as they drew closer to the palace.

She had only been to the Island of Delos twice. The first time, she had only ever experienced the pool, and the second time, she had woken up inside his house. This was the first time she was actually getting a closer and better look of his palace.

She had to admit, it was definitely one of the most beautiful and colorful palaces she had ever seen. His palace was entirely made of gold, but there were large splashes of other colors that equally stood out. Lush green climbing vines grew on the lower half parts of some of the palace, with arrays of colorful flowers blossoming from it. Gathered behind his palace stood towering cherry blossom, pink dogwood, and mimosa trees which supplied a pink background. His roofs were painted a pastel blue, lined with pastel orange and yellow like a sunset. All together, it made a beautiful and vibrant piece of architecture. If Anthonius were here, he would've fallen to his knees in awe at the brilliant color scheme alone.

Then she looked down and saw something new.

"I don't remember a moat being here," she commented.

"Oh those are just my tears," he explained nonchalantly.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," he said quickly as a bridge of brilliant bright light formed before them, allowing them to cross.

He ushered her over.

They entered his palace, which was just as beautiful inside as it was outside. Apollo began to give her a tour of the place. He showed her the foyer, the gallery room, the entertainment room, and so forth. Almost everywhere they went, Percy saw disgruntled nymphs, but they started to look a bit hopeful with her arrival, as if they were expecting her to do something great (she had a feeling it had something to do with the moat of tears outside—she could only hope they weren't expecting her to be his therapist or something).

"And here is your room!" He finished the grand tour with a flourish, opening the double doors and revealing a familiar room.

"Oh, hey!" She smiled in recognition. "This is the room I stayed in last time!"

He nodded excitedly. "Mmhmm! I remember you saying you liked it, so I kept it exactly as it was for you."

"Thanks!" She stepped into the room, marveling at the beauty of it. She hadn't been lying back then, it was a really pretty bedroom.

As she looked around the room in awe, Apollo watched her with rapt attention. So far, everything was going splendidly. Percy was not only enamored with everything, but her health was still in tiptop shape. It had yet to plummet, and he could only hope it would stay that way for a while.

‧₊˚✩彡𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟‧₊˚✩彡๋ ࣭ ⭑ ࣭ ⭑

The first day on Delos was going... surprisingly well. She had assumed she would have to spend her time trying to fend off Apollo's advances, but he was actually being quite the gentleman, much to her great relief.

Dinner with Apollo was going great too. Soft music played in the background and his grand table was laid out with food—all with great nutritional value as he had professionally added. Chicken with crushed harissa chickpeas for vitamin C, vegan lentils with soy and ginger tofu for a good heart, and turkey-stuffed peppers for low carbs.

And for dessert, sugar-free Victoria sponge cakes to keep her blood sugar levels low—not that she ever had a problem with her blood sugar levels, though it was the thought that counts.

"Are the other nymphs gonna join us?" She asked curiously as she munched on some stuffed peppers.

"Nymphs?" He asked.

"Yeah, the nymphs," she nodded. "The ones here in Delos?"

He blinked and then made a sound of realization, "Ohhh, the nymphs!" He said, as if remembering that they existed. "No, of course not! Why would you ask such a silly question?"

"Aren't they your girlfriends or something?"

He choked on his chickpeas. "G-girlfriends?"

"Yeah. The nymphs back in Artemis' camp said that you had a whole harem," she mentioned casually. "Don't they eat with you? You can invite them, I don't mind. Your table's huge."

"I don't eat with them," he replied, flabbergasted at the thought of eating meals with them in the comfort of his abode. Sure, he drank wine and partied with them a little bit, but eating with them like he was taking them out on a date? Absolutely not.

She gave him a disappointed look. "...You don't eat with your girlfriends?"

"Th-they're not my girlfriends!" He sputtered in disbelief. "They work for me! They're just servants!"

"Servants that you sleep with," she pointed out.

"Y-yes..." He answered through gritted teeth, cursing his inability to lie. Sometimes, he really hated being the God of Truth.

"Dude... you sleep around with your servants?" She shook her head and took another bite of her food.

She thinks I'm a whore! He inwardly cried. That I'm no different from my father! I mean, it's totally true, but it still hurts!

While Apollo was having his hundredth mental breakdown, Percy was savoring the taste of the food, their conversation from mere seconds completely wiped from her head.

"This is really good," she complimented, enjoying her fourth turkey-stuffed pepper. "Did one of your chefs make this or is this something that you just magically made up? Can you give me the recipe? Oh, and this song is really nice too, I like it."

"Er, thank you!" He replied, though he was a little baffled by her swift change in subject. Now that he thought of it, she wasn't very good at sticking with a single topic. It reminded him of ADHD, a very common disorder amongst humans, but the idea of a godly child having such a human disorder was laughable.

When dinner and dessert was over, Percy was finally able to rest in her new bedroom. After exiting the bathroom to change into her nightdress, she nearly jumped when she spotted Apollo still standing at the doorway with a hopeful look on his face.

Apollo beamed. "Would you like me to sing you a lullaby? My kids love my lullabies!"

"Um... no thank you..."

"How about a bedtime story? One year olds love bedtime stories!"

She inwardly cringed at the reminder that everyone here saw her as a one year old. This is so embarrassing! She thought.

"I don't really need a bedtime story either..."

But his smile didn't waver. "Then I'll tuck you in!"

"Please don't—"

But naturally, like all gods, he didn't listen to her. He picked her up like she was a Barbie doll and gently placed her into bed, bringing the covers up to her chin. He patted her on the head, and she could feel a discreet burst of healing magic cast onto her. She softened up at that, realizing that he just wanted an excuse to secretly heal her without noticing.

"Goodnight, Percy," he smiled.

"Goodnight," she smiled back.

"Sweet dreams," he said, then added, "Unless a satyr invades them again. Perhaps I need to—"

"—I'll be fine," she assured him. "You worry too much."

"Well, you are someone that I'm in love with who has a mysterious illness that I cannot diagnose that could possibly lead to your downfall, and I have a horrible track record of everyone I love dying, so..." He trailed off, smiling tightly.

"...Okay," she grimaced. "I see your point. I'll alert you if anything's wrong."

He beamed, lighting up the room. "Wonderful! In that case, I can finally leave you be. Just call out to me if you need me."

With that, the lights in the room dimmed until they were finally gone. Apollo's presence had disappeared too, like a light being extinguished. She was completely enveloped in darkness.

Slowly, she closed her eyes and succumbed to sleep.

She didn't know how many hours she remained that way, but she opened her eyes several hours later, a familiar ache and weariness seeping into her bones. She couldn't see through the dark, but she could tell that her skin had gone ashy and clammy again.

"...Apollo," she rasped, her own voice sounding feeble.

He was at her side in an instant, a small light returning to the room. She could see the worry in his face as he held a hand up to heal her.

"'m sorry," she mumbled, feeling bad for relying on him so much.

"Shhh," he smiled gently. "It's fine, my sweet. Go back to sleep, I'll take care of things."

His glowing hand stroked her hair back, soothing her back to sleep.

Sleep returned to her once more. 

— author's note —

* Yeah those are Apollo's rape victims. Not so fun fact, but there's actually a whole wikipedia page about mythological rape victims and Greek Mythology has the longest section for female AND male victims 

More Percy in Love and Deepspace by QinZiYan! The second one is blonde!Percy btw. Also, they're both Pinterest videos (which I can't post on Wattpad chapters smh) so the links are in the comments -->

Memes from i-have-homework-but-i-still-here:

Fanart and memes by spicytunayumm:

(the one haired dude above is Baldur lol. Baldur x Percy ship name is officially called Balcy)

(context for ^, june-august is mating season for jackals 😏😏😏)

Beelcy fanart by recordofragnarokfan2:

Beelcy fanart by uniir:

Percy made in Dress to Impress by botanicalgoddesslee: