Spiral of Ants

Friend?

This takes place long after Ezra successfully catches Apollo, and Apollos followers rescue him. One of these days I'll write a cohesive story and write everything in order. That day is not today.

Apollo had never been able to remember a lot. But he was beginning to wonder if that was only because he never had anything to remember. He had never been in any one place long enough to connect with someone. He had never had a friend.

That night though... that was something he remembered. The night he learned there were people who worshiped him. The night those people saved him from a very evil place. He remembered every detail. Even months after the event.

—

Asiel was walking home from work when he heard it. A voice he thought he'd never hear again.

"Asiel! Hi!" a pink-haired god called excitedly as he rushed over to Aseil's side.

It had been almost a year since Asiel and the others had rescued Apollo, their god, from an evil lab. Almost a year since they found out that Apollo... wasn't exactly what they expected. He didn't know he was a god. And he had a very limited ability for memory. Which made it all the more surprising that Apollo remembered him. By name.

Asiel stopped walking for a moment, a little shocked and admittedly, very starstruck. After a moment he finally found his words ''A-Apollo. You r-remember me?" It felt odd, calling a god by just his name to his face as if they were friends or something, but Apollo had only recently found out he was a god, and never gave them any more formal way to address him.

The god grinned "Of course I do! You and the rest of your group" Apollo said before the smile softened a bit. It took on almost a somber tone. "I remember... everything about that night. For better or for worse. And I'm still as thankful now as I was then"

"Really?" Asiel asked, a little surprised "I thought you uh... struggled with memory." He said, hoping he wasn't being offensive. The last thing he ever wanted was to offend his god.

Luckily Apollo seemed to see nothing wrong with the statement "I did, and... I do. Still. But I think I've just never had anything to remember. I don't think I've ever had friends before"

Wait, was Apollo implying... "A-are you saying you see us as friends?" Asiel asked.

Apollo's grin widened again "Of course I do! You all were so nice to me. I'm still trying to wrap my head around... what I am, and I still don't understand why you all worship me... but that night was the first time I've ever felt like I was cared for. And I care for all of you. I... I think that's friendship, right?" Apollo asked, his brows furrowing as he asked the question, seeming to genuinely wonder if that's what friendship was. Like a child trying to make sure they read a word right.

Asiel couldn't help but grin. Apollo was his friend. He wished his mom were here... he wished she could see this. "Yeah, I think that's a good description of friendship." He said, feeling a little giddy.

"Uh... me and some of the others are actually meeting up tonight. If you're not too busy... w-would you wanna join?"

Apollo lit up "I'd love to! Thank you so much for inviting me!"

Asiel couldn't believe it. Apollo would be attending one of the followers of Apollo's meetings.

—

Asiel had offered to let Apollo hang out at his house until it was time to meet up at the diner, and Apollo more than happily accepted.

The god was currently sitting on Asiels sofa, looking curiously at the shrine on the mantelpiece. Asiel couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, despite the fact that Apollo didn't seem like the type to judge.

The shrine held a few runes that had been passed down in Asiels family, some pink candles, a small tapestry with the eye and tentacle symbols Asiels great great grandmother had made. It was nothing big, but Asiel had always loved it.

"Is this about me?" Apollo asked curiously. As Asiel had figured, his tone held zero judgment, but Asiel couldn't help but feel a little sheepish.

"Yeah. My family has believed in you for more generations than I could count. A lot of... extended family thinks you're just an obscure myth though. So everything that's been passed down in the family was given to me"

"Oh wow... so I've had... What did you call yourselves?"

"Followers"

"So I've had followers for a long time now...?" Apollo asked, seeming a bit surprised.

Asiel nodded "Yeah. I can only trace my family's belief in you a couple hundred years back, but there's evidence people have been worshiping you for thousands of years"

"Wow... I still can't believe I had zero clue"

"I mean... in your defense, it seems like being stuck in a mostly human body hasn't been too easy on your mind. If you don't mind me saying though, you seem a lot more... here then last time we talked"

Apollo lit up and looked at Asiel "you really think so?"

"I do"

—

Asiel wished he had a camera to catch the look on everyone's faces when he and Apollo came over to their usual booth in the diner.

Apollo smiled and waved as the group seemed to almost fall over each other to make enough space for Apollo and Asiel to sit down.

The god took a seat "It's so good to see you all again!"

Jason finally recovered after a long moment and spoke up "It's great to see you again too. Have things been okay since...?"

Apollo nodded "Yes, the Hunters still find me every once in a while, and now I um... I'm aware of it now, which can be a little scary. But they're not difficult to get away from. Have they bothered you all since?" Apollo asked, sounding a little worried.

Ella shook her head "No. We were worried at first but I think they decided we're not worth their time"

Apollo relaxed "Good. I really want to thank you all. Not... just for saving me, but for giving me something to remember. I still struggle with remembering a lot of things, but never you guys. I never forget you all and what you did for me"

Jason smiled a bit "Of course, what kind of worshipers would we be if we weren't willing to save you from some evil lab?" He asked

"Wait, I thought you guys were followers?" Apollo asked, tilting his head.

Aseil couldn't help but laugh a little "We are. It means the same thing."

"Ohhh. Sorry, still new to this" Apollo said sheepishly.

"It's okay, we'll help you" Aseil said before smiling a bit "That's what friends are for, right?"

He could practically see Apollo's eyes light up at the word friend being used. As Apollo thought it was an honor Aseil considered him a friend, despite the fact that Apollo was the god.

As odd as it was, that their god really didn't know what he was and was so... down to earth, literally and metaphorically there was something incredibly enduring about it.

Apollo nodded happily "Right"