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Percy felt strange. His mind was focused on the sun god.
Apollo had been a constant presence, after his Trials.
Finding him at Camp, along with his children, was a normal occurrence, as was seeing him at Camp Jupiter talking to some of his inheritance.
He knew his children better now, and he also spoke with other demigods, especially those who had not yet been recognized.
And, since Percy traveled a lot between both Camps, he spent a lot of time with Apollo.
As he studied in a bar in New Rome, as he taught the demigods in the arena, as he introduced the demigods to their new world, Percy often found himself interrupted or accompanied by the god, to the point that, when he wasn't with him, he felt empty inside.
At that moment, Percy was watching a girl, rescued from a difficult situation at home, finally begin to open up to her peers.
It had been a long process, but Percy was proud of her.
"Percy!" Apollo's sunny voice made him smile spontaneously, as the demigod turned and watched Apollo sit next to him. "How's my favorite demigod?"
"Tired, too tired to do any quests for you." Percy replied, teasing the other, expecting and not being disappointed by the pout Apollo wore.
"I would never send you on a mission, Percy." Apollo grumbled, "I thought you knew."
Percy rolled his eyes. "Just tell me what you want, Apollo."
Apollo smiled, looking at the girl too. "She is the daughter of Ares, right?"
Percy nodded, looking at her. "She wasn't well. She struggled a little bit to trust again, but she's on the right track, I think."
"She is." Apollo smiled. "How did you know?"
"What?"
"That she was in such a situation? The signs were hidden very well."
"She gasped." Percy whispered. "The lady had approached her to offer her a drink, and she gasped . She expected to be hit ."
"How did you know? Maybe she was just immersed in her thoughts and the lady had scared her." Apollo murmured.
"Because that's the reaction I had." Percy replied, looking at Apollo.
Percy's eyes filled with tears, which he tried to hold back them.
He didn't want to appear weak . Apollo would see what Gabe already knew, and Percy would be alone again.
And then he felt the god's arms hold him, a kiss pressed to his forehead.
When the warm lips of the sun left his skin, Apollo made their foreheads meet, humming. "It wasn't your fault, Percy."
Percy swallowed. "Mom married him to keep me safe from monsters. From gods. From this world."
Apollo looked at him. "It wasn't your fault anyway."
Percy looked at him, his eyes bright and huge. " No ?"
"No. You didn't deserve it, Percy. Neither of you did." Apollo whispered, pressing another kiss to the boy's forehead and then holding him tighter.
One of Percy's hands rose to grip the hem of the god's shirt.
And, finally, Percy cried for the pain he had felt because of Gabe Ugliano. For the pain that both he and his mother had had to endure.