𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒, apollo

𝐱𝐢𝐢. i learn a thing or two about glory

"YOU CAN'T SLEEP?" A voice asked, coming closer. I sighed, shaking my head.

"I also stole you some toiletries from the camp store." I lifted my eyes to meet Luke's, "Thanks."

He just shrugged, "Don't worry about it. The campers here, they're mostly good people and they will soon realise you are too. You're just a bit... unusual. But in the end, we're all extended family. We take care of each other."

I nodded. After a moment of silence, I spoke, "I used to have insomnia almost all my life. That's why—" I swallowed. "That's why I'm not, you know, sleeping."

I looked around the cabin as I felt him sit down beside me on the indoor campfire. "Nightmares?" I heard him ask and shook my head, "Haven't had them since ten probably."

"It's okay if you do," He shrugged. "Intense, recurring nightmares. We all have them, it's fine if you do."

"But I don't."

He chuckled at my stern voice, "Well, they're normal here. And the daydreams, and the ADHD, and the dyslexia." I raised my brows as I looked at him.

He sent me a smile and continued, "Taken together, it's almost a sure sign. The letters float off the page when you read, right? That's because your mind is hardwired for ancient Greek. You must have noticed in museums or some old books that you can read, you can understand."

I nodded. What he said was true. I understood the book that Apollo showed me. And his and Grover's curses. Now that I think about it, the school trip where I saw the wishing well, on Apollo's sculpture, his name was written in ancient Greek too.

"And the ADHD — you're impulsive, can't sit still in the classroom." I nodded as he continued, "That's your battlefield reflexes. In a real fight, they'd keep you alive. As for the attention problems, that's because you see too much, not too little. Your senses are better than a regular mortal's.

Of course, the teachers want you medicated. Most of them are monsters. They don't want you seeing them for what they are." I let my eyes fall onto my bag where my ADHD meds lie. Probably should throw those out, never liked them anyway.

"Demi-gods just process reality differently than mortals do. For the first time in your life, you're just like everyone else."

I chuckled, "Am I?" His expression changed, "Our parents don't define us, Bridget. We are not like them."

"The unclaimed children..." I trailed off. "How does that work? Why do gods just— ignore them?"

Luke shook his head, "Spend too much time trying to figure out why the gods do whatever it is they do, you'll drive yourself crazy."

I scoffed, "It's not fair."

"No, it's not." He agreed.

Suddenly there was a commotion outside and we quickly stood up, heading out. We were met by Percy and Annabeth along with some other kids that I didn't recognise.

One of the girls suddenly pushed Percy to the ground, making Luke intervene and slightly push her back, "Hey, knock it off, Clarisse. It's like his first day, come on."

I sighed, going to help Cy, "Could you not embarrass us on the first day that many times?" His eyes went wide as he accepted my help, "She pushed me!"

"Womp, womp," I mumbled.

He nudged me and we both turned around to face the said Clarisse, "Wait, so these are the kids that killed the Minotaur. Is that right?"

"Yeah," Percy answered, looking at her a bit suspiciously.

She chuckled, "I'll bet. You want attention around here, dummy? Be ready for it when it comes."