Chariot of the Sun

Chapter One | Waking Up

A/N - Hello everyone! Welcome back! Before we begin, I just want to get a few CW's out of the way (as I'm afraid that's something I didn't handle too well with my past stories). This story will contain content either featuring or mentioning: EXTREMELY dubious consent, strong language, cults (handled in a not well-researched or well-depicted manner and more of just a loose plot device), abduction, and of course, gods being gods (Apollo is an evil, sadistic FREAK in this). If anyone reads the full story and realizes I missed a warning, PLEASE let me know. The story is not too explicit, but it's important to me that you are all aware.

ALSO! For context! We're going to pretend that this is an AU where Annabeth and Percy were never romantically interested in each other and never dated. Percy is also comfortably bisexual. Annabeth plays basically zero role to the story but it feels like that should be made known to avoid confusion. With all of that out of the way, please enjoy the story everyone. :)

Percy's eyes fluttered open.

Gold.

He was sprawled in a plush bed of decadent, silky gold sheets. Groaning, he pushed himself up onto his elbows. Gods, it felt like he had been asleep for a decade.

He froze.

Where in the name of Hades was he?
Panic began to seep in as Percy quickly realized he couldn't remember. He couldn't remember where he was, couldn't remember what he had done last night, couldn't remember what he had done a week ago. His mind was a blank slate. Again.

Frantic, Percy stumbled out of the bed, falling onto his knees. His bare knees. Percy looked down at himself only for another sweeping wave of confusion to wash over him like a tsunami. Gracing his body was a mid-thigh length white chiton, elaborately embroidered with beautiful golden stitching. On instinct, Percy felt for Riptide, only to realize he had no pockets, possibly the worst case scenario.

Unsteadily hobbling to his feet, Percy searched the room for a mirror. The room itself was elaborate, gilded and gaudy with jewels and golden decor. He first saw a door, which he decided to note for later but not attempt to escape yet before he regained himself, until his eyes landed on a full-body mirror framed in gold.

Glancing towards the door once more, he clenched his fists and made his way over towards the mirror. His appearance wasn't anywhere near unrecognizable, but something felt off to say the least. For starters, now that he was standing, he realized just how short his chiton really was, immediately serving to add self-consciousness to his confusion. He then noticed how peculiarly groomed he seemed, his eyebrows plucked into perfect arches, his face shaved smooth, his dark hair falling in pristine, silky curls over his forehead, his hands and apparently bare feet well manicured. As he examined himself further, he began to lay his eyes on one golden touch after another - dainty chains piercing his ears, twin cuffs secured around his wrists, an anklet resting comfortably above his foot. Most jarring out of everything, however, were the dark tattoos gracing his arms. Tribal tattoos banded around his left bicep, and his right bicep bore an intricate inking of what appeared to be a sun. His wrist presented the phrase: Ο ήλιος μας, ο σωτήρας μας, ο κόσμος μας, in small print. Percy realized quickly that it translated to Our sun, our savior, our world, from Greek to English. The ink was clearly not new.

"You're awake."

Percy stifled a gap as his eyes landed on the reflection of the god standing behind him.

"Apollo," he whispered.

Shit. Fuck. Shitfuck.

Just like that, it all began to trickle back. He had been on Olympus... for the Winter Solstice?.... yes... he had wanted to leave... Apollo had been there...