Percy Jackson woke up to someone singing in his bathroom.
Not just singing—full-on belting like it was Broadway meets Coachella in there.
And the voice? Okay, it was amazing. Like...painfully beautiful. Like the sun had a vocal range and decided to audition for The Voice.
He groaned, dragging a pillow over his head.
"Mom," he called. "Is there a stray opera singer in our shower again?"
No answer.
The singing stopped abruptly. A moment later, the bathroom door creaked open.
"Ah," said a voice. "You're awake. Wonderful. Now I can explain things."
Percy sat up slowly. "...Explain what, exactly? Who are you?"
The guy standing in his doorway had golden hair, looked about twenty, wore nothing but a towel, and had the kind of face sculptors probably cried over. He radiated warmth—not metaphorically. The air around him was warmer.
"My name," he said with a theatrical flourish, "is Apollo."
Percy blinked. Then blinked again. "...Nope. Try again."
“I’m not joking. I’m Apollo. Former god of the sun, music, poetry, and—”
“Nope. Out. Get out of my house.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because Zeus bound me to you as punishment. Our souls are now intertwined.”
Percy stared. “...You’re joking.”
“I wish I were.”
Silence. Then:
"Why me?" Percy demanded. "Out of literally everybody, why me?"
Apollo hesitated.
“Because,” he said softly, “you’re the only one who never asked for power... and never let it break you.”
Percy wasn’t ready for that answer.
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New story idea, tell me what you think. I don't know why I just love Perpollo