The Shattered Heart of the Sea - Adopted

~ Chapter 5 ~

Third Person POV

Artemis was conflicted. On one hand, she knew that Apollo deserved to know. But on the other hand, it should be Percy's decision. After debating for a while, she decided to give him something.

"I've known Percy longer than I've said I did. I know a lot about him that other people, not even his mom, Thalia or Poseidon knows. This is one of them. When triggers happen, he can regress some years. He doesn't want anyone to know because he's afraid they'll judge him.

"Oh. Well. You can go talk to Poseidon big sis. I'll stay with Percy," Apollo said, still hugging Percy close.

"Did you just admit I was older?"

"Yes."

"Wait. Did you only say that so you can hang out with this version of Percy?"

"Yes."

Artemis stared at Apollo stunned. She did not think he would admit that. She looked from Apollo to Percy who was still laying there redder than a tomato.

"Percy?" Artemis asked. "Are you normal again?"

Percy nodded his head and looked down.

"Percy? Are you okay? You gave us a scare earlier," Apollo said softly.

"I'm fine," Percy said looking down.

"We both know that's a lie. God of truth, remember. The council wants to talk to you about whatever happened earlier," Apollo said.

"Perce. I think it's time you tell them. And if you don't want to, I can for you," Artemis said.

Percy nodded and tried to get off of Apollo's lap. Before he could, Apollo stood up with a blushing Percy in his arms and headed to the living room where Poseidon and Hestia were waiting.

"Are you okay son?" Poseidon asked.

"Yeah, dad. I'm okay."

"Okay. Can we get an explanation now?" Apollo asked.

Hestia and Poseidon sat on one couch while Artemis and Apollo sat on the one opposite with Percy between them.

"Okay. So. I've known Percy since he was four. He's known about the gods and everything since then too. What I say next, no one is to know a thing about. Percy is a little. He has been for a while. He has certain triggers that I can get him to shift almost immediately and he has some that he's learned to control," Artemis explained.

"Son. Come here," Poseidon said. "What caused this to start?"

Percy looked down and muttered something.

"We can't hear you, Perce," Hestia told him.

"Gabe," Percy said.

"Who is that?" Apollo asked.

"I can't do this. I'm going to lay down," Percy said.

Percy left the room going back to the infirmary. Everyone turned to look at Artemis who sighed.

"Gabe. Gabe Ugliano. He was Percy's stepfather. He used... he used to beat Percy. Percy would let him do it as long as he agreed never to touch his mother. Over the years, it got worse and worse. Worse beatings and worse punishments," Artemis explained sadly.

"Did he... did he ever?" Poseidon started.

Artemis looked away and nodded her head.

Apollo jumped out of his seat and headed down the hall, leaving Artemis and Hestia with a sobbing and distressed Poseidon.

"Percy. Are you okay?" Apollo asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Can we skip the whole I'm sorry this happened to you and do you want to talk about it thing? I don't want to talk about it. I want to forget everything. Can we just get this council meeting over with? I want to go to sleep."

Apollo nodded. He reached out for Percy's hand and when he grabbed it he pulled him into a hug.

"You don't want to talk about it right now and I respect that. But at some point, we need to. And we need to discuss some other things later," Apollo told Percy.

Percy nodded and they walked back into the living room. Poseidon pulled his son into a hug squeezing him to death.

"Let's get this council meeting over with. And Percy, you need to talk to your friends," Hestia said.

They all walked out of Apollo's temple and to the throne room. When they entered, all talking came to a halt and everyone looked at the newcomers.

"Okay. I speak for everyone when I say that we need to know what happened for you to hurt three Olympian goddesses," Zeus said.

"Sorry," Percy said looking at the floor.

"It's okay Percy. But what happened? I felt all of your loss and pain," Aphrodite stated.

"I felt something hard for me to place," Hera said.

"I felt a sacrifice given at the same time I felt that your sense of home was gone," Hestia said walking to the hearth.

"After I finished my quest I went back to camp. I felt that something was wrong and when the campers and legionnaires were glaring at me, I knew I was right. I tried to find my friends but I couldn't so I went to the big house. After eavesdropping for a while I realized that I didn't hear Annabeth. I went to an alcove that only the two of us know about on the beach. When I went inside, she was there kissing Vivian Starstrum. So I ran. I ran to the hearth and tossed the ring I had into the fire," Percy said with no emotion.

The Olympians looked at him wide-eyed.

"Are you okay?" Hermes asked.

Percy gave them a little smile and nodded.

"I'm sorry for what's happened to you little hero," Hera said.

"It's fine. But if that's all, I need to get back to camp and talk to my friends," Percy said.

The Olympians nodded. Zeus flashed Percy back to Camp Half-Blood in front of his cabin. He walked inside to see all of his friends spread around the cabin.

"Percy. You're back! Are you okay?" Nico asked, hugging Percy.

"Yeah. I'm fine. But I do want to explain everything to all of you," Percy told them.

They nodded and all crowded around his bed. Percy took a deep breath and started his explanation. He told them everything. Yes, everything. By the end, they all were crying.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Jason asked.

"I didn't want you to leave me because you thought I was weird or something. Other than you guys the only people that know are my dad, Aunt Hestia, Artemis, the hunters, and Apollo. Artemis and the hunters have known since the beginning and everyone else found out today." Percy told them.

"I can understand you telling everyone else, but why tell Apollo?" Hazel asked, confused.

"No reason," Percy said an octave higher and blushing.

"Percy, are you blushing?" Piper asked.

That just made Percy blush harder.

"Oh, my gods. He is," Leo exclaimed.

"Percy. Do you have a crush on my dad?" Will asked surprised.

"No!" Percy exclaimed, still blushing and stuttering.

"This is gold," Leo exclaimed.

"Are you going to tell him?" Will asked happily.

"No way. There's no way a god would like a mortal like me and let's not forget my other problem," Percy said sadly.

"Percy. Apollo wouldn't judge you. But if you don't want to tell him then we'll respect that," Frank told Percy.

Percy nodded and yawned.

"Okay, Percy, go to sleep. We'll see you for breakfast in the morning," Thalia said.

After everyone hugged goodnight, they left Percy and went to sleep thinking of ways to get Percy to admit his feelings to Apollo.