Reading is Fundamental

VII - Percy - Elton

Warning: Crass Language. Discussion of trauma and child abuse, physical and sexual.

The memory cut out.

Percy's mouth fell open in shock.

Will?! No! What? No... but- Oh. OH. But- ohhh.

How the hell had he not noticed? Now that he made the connection, the similarities were incredible. The knack for medicine, the constant singing, the absent dad, the personality of an actual cherub- it all fit.

Apollo stood up. Percy could hear his heavy breathing from several feet away.

Oh no. He was Elton's absent father, the one whose disappearance had triggered the abuse.

The god of music left the room and Percy found himself quickly following.

"Hey, man, lets just take this slow," he reasoned, as they walked down the hallway, "just take a minute to let it sit, think things over. We really don't need to rush into this. It's a sensitive topic, and I know Elton- shit, Will, I know Will would really appreciate it."

Apollo made no sign of hearing him. He kept walking.

At this point, Percy's dramatic 'my-childhood-was-shit' reveal was inevitable, but at least he might be able to save Will from the same fate.

"And I'm sure Will has told the future you, he just hasn't gotten around to it this time. Really, he's a big kid now, and..." They reached the main chambers.

"Will Solace," Apollo boomed.

Said demigod snapped his head up. "Yes?" he asked, looking rightfully worried.

Apollo was about to continue, but Percy grabbed his wrist. The god looked back in either shock or annoyance. Probably both. "Don't do this in front of everyone," he whispered.

Will watched them both with wide eyes.

Then, miraculously, Apollo gave him a tiny nod. "Will," he said, his voice lowered enough to almost pass for human, "come with me."

Apollo turned away and the demigod looked at Percy. He shrugged.

Elton started to follow them, but then Nico stood up as well. "What's going on?" he asked, looking between the three of them worriedly.

"Don't worry about it," Percy said. "We're just going to go and talk over here. Nothing dangerous."

Still, the son of Hades wasn't soothed. "Talk about what?" he asked, walking over.

Percy gave him an odd look. Why was he so up in arms about this? He glanced back at Elton. "It doesn't matter."

Nico gave him an affronted look. He looked at Elton as if expecting him to back him up.

But Will was just as confused as the rest of them. Nico's face went dull like he had just realized something important. Then, somehow, he started to blush. "Sorry," he muttered, stepping back. "Sorry, I just for- sorry."

Percy gawked. He had no idea his cousin was capable of blushing, let alone losing hold of his words in a fit of nerves.

It seemed Apollo and Elton were thinking the same. Nico walked quickly back to his seat, head down and cheeks burning.

The sun god's rage had been muffled by the bizarre nature of their interaction, but it was quick to return. He grabbed his son by the wrist and dragged him roughly down the hallway.

They stumbled for a minute before Elton came back to his senses. "Ow!" he exclaimed, looking at his father with confusion, fear, and a bit of anger.

Apollo stopped so suddenly they almost ran into him. He turned around, pale and frantic. "Styx, I'm sorry," he babbled. "Are you injured? Are you in pain?"