The Sun and The Sea

BONUS PERPOLLO (ANGST BC GABE EXISTS)

~Apollo POV, maybe a month or so after the previous bonus chapter. Also, TW for mentions of Smelly G*be and child abuse~

Even us gods need to sleep sometimes.

As my boyfriend, who is also a god, proves extremely often. He still goes to sleep every night, and, well, who am I to tell him that he doesn't need to? He's cute when he sleeps.

That sounds creepy.

It's not like that.

Stop it.

So, when Percy starts tossing around more while he's unconscious, I usually leave him be. While I was always curious, I never really pushed. He was a former demigod, after all. Demigods were plagued by nightmares all the time. I'd seen him have them before, so it wasn't as if it was surprising to me.

That didn't stop me from worrying.

Tonight, though, it was worse than usual. His face was scrunched up, and he kept mumbling nonsensically, occasionally making a soft noise of fear or jerkily rolling over.

"Mh- stop.. tch-" his expression contorted, and even while sleeping, he seemed to be panicking. His breathing was speeding up, and he was shuffling around, the previous 'soft noises of fear' developing into quiet cries.

What the fuck was he dreaming about that was making him cry while unconscious?

"Seashell. Wake up." I leaned down, nudging his shoulder and sitting up. "Perce? Wake up. It's just a nightmare, c'mon."

More incoherent grumbling, before he jolted violently, making me yelp in surprise.

Poseidon's flip-flops, his hands were cold.

Before I had the chance to attempt to wake him again, he bolted into a sitting position while muffling what I presumed would be a scream.

"Seashell?"

"I- 'pollo-" his breathing quickened and became shallower, and he scratched at his wrists, thankfully not doing too much damage, as his nails were short.

"Hey, shh, breathe for me, okay? Count to 3 on your inhale, and then to 3 on your exhale." I took his hands in mine, rubbing circles into his palms with my thumbs.

Slowly, his breathing evened out, and the eyes that I had grown to love lost their panic-stricken look. He rubbed the aforementioned eyes, wiping away the few tears that had slipped out before placing his hands back in his lap.

I watched with concern. What could I do without triggering another panic?

" 'm sorry.."

"I- what? Seashell, no, this isn't your fault."

"Still sorry."

"Shush."

"Okay."

I blinked in surprise. Where was the sassy comeback? The obstinateness? Where was his Percy behaviour? Oh gods, was an eidolon possessing him?

I glanced down at his fidgeting hands and frowned, tugging them into my own, going back to rubbing circles into his palms.

"You okay?"

He nodded.

"I need words, Perce. Please."

"I'm fine."

"When people say that, they're usually not."

"Hmph."

He shuffled forwards, settling his head on my chest and curling up a little tighter next to me.