I came back before I said I would. Sweet, huh? I am so excited! So the fun parts start here...Let me know what you think. Also, the myth about Chione in the previous chapter was all true. Check it out, it's pretty easy to find.

Apollo had decided to be a 'good' person, because Percy was genuinely, painfully nice and good and he would never forgive Apollo if he decided to do it his way. That is, if Poseidon left any pieces.

Which meant no more stolen kisses (Zeus and Poseidon were both watching Percy like a hawk now, which would embarrass Percy if he actually knew and they would kill Apollo if they knew) and absolutely no stalking. But it did mean making Percy fall in love with him.

Apollo did what he usually did when he needed help: he enlisted Hermes' help.

He didn't ask Aphrodite or Artemis for help because not only would they not help, they would actively hinder his plans and try to 'protect' Percy. What a ridiculous idea.

He went to Hermes and said, "We should hang out, me, you and Percy Jackson."

"Percy Jackson?" Hermes frowned, getting surprisingly serious. "Apollo, don't do anything stupid. I mean it. He is not one of your random conquests."

Great. Apparently even his best friend was on Percy's side.

Apollo wanted to correct Hermes, this isn't just another silly conquest. This one will be mine for eternity, no matter what I have to do to get him.

But that would not help his argument.

"No, no," Apollo changed gears. "Just for fun. I think he deserves a fun night out."

"Are you sure you are up for that?" Hermes asked cautiously. "You have been frying mortals left and right."

"I can't say for certain I won't fry any more, but I won't do it in Percy's sight. Or somewhere it can lead them back to me. Besides, he has been helping me calm my temper."

Hermes looks to him surprised, then chuckles. "Always with the impossible, that child." He said fondly. "And well, you won't show your temper in front of Percy? Good enough for me. Does tonight work for you?"

They hadn't asked for Percy's approval beforehand so they manage to crash land during his job.

But well, that cute little apron looks just adorable on Percy, so everything is worth it.

They go and calmly get seated and watch Percy stand at the cash register, looking bored and irritated. Which was a surprise because the place was packed.

He jumps up to help another waiter who is carrying three dishes at once, but the waiter just walks away with a smile and 'I got this, man!'. Percy huffs in irritation.

Another waiter scurries towards them, looking a bit frazzled. "Hi, I am Andrew. How may I help you tonight?"

Apollo lets his sunglasses melt off, showing his fiery eyes, then let them slowly turn to his calm blue. Hermes to his side is trying to tame his two snakes. They are not in 'original form' but it's not hard to guess who the two of them are. "Just get us Percy Jackson."

Andrew nodded frantically, eyes wide as he bowed so low he almost touched the ground. The other diners and wait-staff look towards them in fearful reverence but before they can decide what to do, Percy Jackson walks towards them.

"I got this, Andrew. How about you handle the cash register?" Andrew nodded quickly and ran out of their sight.

Percy didn't bow to them or anything, just slid in the spare seat gracefully.

"Percy," Hermes said with an amused smile. "Have I told you how much I appreciate you lately? No bowing, no foot-licking, no pleas for help. Just good old-fashioned friendship. I like it."

"Why don't you tell them to stop?" Percy questioned.

"Oh, they wouldn't do it any way," Hermes said evasively. Apollo didn't call him out.

They might not do it any way, but they would never even try it. They had a fearsome reputation and nobody would be giving it up easily. All the boot-licking and the pleas and the sacrifices were right up the gods' alley.

They didn't need them, the humans. The eldest gods and Titans had been around before humanity had ever even been fashioned from clay by Prometheus. Even after they had been made, it would take a long, long time before they could have made sacrifices and temples.

Even after that, humans had been almost extinct several times in between and they had just perked right back up. Like cockroaches.

So yes, they didn't need them, but that wasn't to say they didn't like it.

"Anyway, how about a fun night out?"

"I am on the clock."

"You don't seem to be doing much," Apollo pointed out but then immediately wished he had kept his mouth shut.

Percy however did not take offence. "I am really not. Nobody lets me help at all. I am thinking of quitting, but the last job I quit was over 4 months ago and they are still paying me even though I have left them many messages and even gone done in person to talk to them."

"You are annoyed because you are getting payed?"

"No, I am annoyed because I keep getting payed for nothing. Nobody lets me work and they still fork over the money. I don't need charity."

"Why do they keep doing that?"

"Apparently, I saved the world and I am a hero. I go out for groceries but someone else has already payed for me before I can say anything. The cashier waves me off when I go to get something. My house was a gift from the Romans, which I was willing to accept because apparently every serving Praetor when they retire is gifted one. But it just keeps getting ridiculous."

"Most people would like that."

"I did not do all that people said I did. There were so many other people who helped and they deserve the credit for that. Usually, I was just there, in the middle of everything. But that isn't to say, I did it all. I mean, everyone still keeps calling me the Prophecy Child, but that wasn't my sacrifice. It was Luke's. And it's just not fair that people keep forgetting that."

Apollo stared at Percy as he passionately ranted, too absorbed to even notice the two of them.

And Apollo thought almost desperately to himself, this is why I adore you Perseus Achilles Jackson. You shine so bright, brighter than the stars and the sun up above, I would know.

What the Hades, it's not like he could hide it from himself much longer. He had to accept it, at least in his own heart. He had serious actual feelings for Percy Jackson, as in he actually loved him.

"Alright," Hermes brought him back to the present. "Are you coming with us or not?"

"Depends," Percy said slowly. "What does a fun night mean?"

"Booze, drinks and girls. And guys. Usually at the same time. Dancing. And well, after drinking and drugs, it gets a little wild so we're never quite sure how it goes but we usually wake up in weird positions. And I am not just talking about sex." Apollo stopped to take a breath. Percy was staring open-mouthed wide-eyed at the two of them.

Thank me, I did not go into details about the nymph or well, anybody's any other conquest. If this is enough to break him…

There is a silent, awkward pause as they all try to avoid staring at one another. This has just blown up spectacularly.

"I am underage," Percy finally manages to get out. "My mom will kill me."

"How would she know?" Apollo asked.

"She will know." Percy insisted. "Moms are magical. They always know." Which is just cute.

"No, no," Hermes said, seriously. "Percy is right. He is a little young for drinking right now, and it would be irresponsible of us to do it."

Apollo stared at Hermes. Since when do you care about irresponsible?

Then thought: Luke Castellan. And then realized why Hermes looked a bit older, almost 29-30 instead of his usual mischievous teenager. He felt paternal towards Percy Jackson. Luke was gone, but Percy was still here.

Apollo felt his mood worsen. Was there anyone not against their epic love story?

"I know," Hermes said thoughtfully. "We can go to a mall."

"What do you do in a mall?" Percy asked.

Both gods stared at Percy. "Haven't you ever been?"

"Have I ever been in a crowded place where I could be monster buffet and be easily trapped?"

"Mall it is then."

Getting Percy out of there was a breeze. Hermes started with, "We need Percy for-"

And the owner bowed low and said, "Yes, of course, milord. I understand." Percy blushed at their behalf, embarrassed. Apollo and Hermes did not say a thing though.

Percy wanted to go get his wallet and credit card and get changed. "I am not going in this uniform. If it's a fun night, I should wear something fun."

Apollo alarmingly thought of Poseidon's idea of 'fun' t-shirts and Hermes must have been thinking the same because he hastily said they could buy one on the way.

"I still need my card. And I left my wallet behind. I usually never buy anything on the way so I rarely keep it on me. Just some loose change in my pocket."

"We can buy you whatever you want," Hermes is quick to assure him.

"I have one chance to actually buy something with my own money and you still won't let me use it."

"No, because we are literally Olympian gods and saying money is no trouble is an understatement. We have more money than the richest economies in the world. Besides, we are getting late here."

Hermes went to 'his' store, that is to say his first stop was Hermes.

"We have to buy Percy a shirt first," Apollo reminded Hermes before he could go insane again. The god had adored the idea of having a store by his name so much he had gotten them insane deals and kept them from sinking even when times got rough.

"Right, okay." Hermes said sheepishly.

Apollo got him through the first clothing store they saw and before he could assure Percy they could somewhere else if he didn't like anything here, Percy had already picked one. "This one," he decided as he pointed to a simple blue t-shirt.

Hermes and Apollo looked at him, perplexed. "Why this?"

"It's blue," Percy shrugged with the same logic a toddler uses when he goes shopping.

"Do you have anything designer? Like suits and jackets? Stuff like that?"

"Why would I have anything like that?" Percy asked perplexed. "I never need them. Well, I did buy a suit for mom's wedding but a monster swiped at it on the way home so..." Percy shrugged.

"What would you wear on the solstice meeting?" Apollo asked.

"What I always wear. A camp t-shirt and jeans. Though really, I think the bigger question is which camp t-shirt should I wear so I don't get labeled a traitor?"

"How about you wear a nice suit?" Hermes said insistently.

"One, it is difficult to fight in them. Two, they are going to get ruined fighting whatever it is that I am fighting."

Hermes looked at him with an exasperated glance, like he was being deliberately difficult. Percy shrugged back helplessly. It's not like he could help it.

In the end, Hermes and Apollo did their best to help even when Percy kept saying no to everything good (Why are you buying me expensive things? They are all going to get ruined-No, not that one either!). Finally, they sent him off to one side and picked up a few pairs of jeans and t-shirts and a couple of suits.

"You shouldn't have done that," Percy implored to them again. They both looked at him in exasperation.

"Okay, okay," Percy rolls his eyes, feeling a bit uncomfortable by the way they were throwing money around. He had never grown up in the sort of money that could ever make him take it for granted. "What now?"

"My store," Hermes decided enthusiastically, and with a flick of his wrist sent out the clothes to Percy's room in New Rome. In the end, they shopped for a good hour buying various expensive and as Percy pointed out 'useless' luxuries.

Percy perked up when they passed a candy store and they brought insane amounts of candy.

Apollo takes the excuse to stuff his mouth to not have to participate. He can stare unabashed at Percy as he talks about something or the other.

It's not about what he is saying, it's about the intent passionate expression on his face and the way he gestures with his one hand, the other holding onto his bag of candy.

What is so special about him? It's nothing quantifiable, that is for sure. Sure, he is beautiful and he is a terrifying warrior. He is brilliant and ruthless on the battle-field and kind and loyal to his comrades off it.

But he is nothing like any of Apollo's other conquests. He does not understand arts and he is not a good singer and he does not look at Apollo like he has hung the stars and the moon.

Apollo still can't stop staring at him.

Percy starts drooping when they sit down to eat, tiredly eating his food in slow lethargic movements. "This was fun," he told them, tired but content.

The trouble started half-way through dinner.

"Percy? Percy Jackson?"

Percy looked up to see Jonathan Christopher Williams. "Jonathan?" Percy said in surprise. He got up and accepted the hug, smiling almost shyly in a way Apollo had never seen before.

Then he glanced behind him and looked awkward. It would be rude to not introduce them but they were gods. Jonathan was an ignorant mortal. This was a recipe for disaster.

Percy shook off his trepidation. "Jonathan, these are my cousins. Um-"

"I am Fred," Apollo is quick to take over. "And this is Alan." Hermes flashed a quick-sliver smile.

Jonathan sat down in the spare seat without prompting. Apollo's mood worsened, his domains rattling uneasily. Hermes froze and glanced his way, eyes wide. Not here, they seemed to say.

Apollo let loose solar flares. They would hurt and burn, not much but enough to let his anger out. And he had been thinking up a new disease. But he wouldn't lose control here, where Percy could see it. He smiled coolly, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Oh, hi," Jonathan seemed absolutely disinterested in them, though he did flash them a cursory smile. His pretty teeth, his black hair, his striking blue eyes. The worst was the way Percy looked at him, almost something bashful and shy in him, the way Percy Jackson was never around other people.

"I thought you had to move back to France."

"I did. I moved back though after grandma died." And oh gods, his accent. Sweet mother Rhea. If this were any other time, he would already be in Apollo's bed or on the way there. But now? Now Apollo just wanted his petty mortal frame slowly disfigured and ruined, his eyes sick and lost.

Maybe he could flay him alive, Apollo thought casually, like he had done to that satyr. But that would be a bit unoriginal. He had already done that once before after all. And this one deserved his undue attention.

"Really? Why was that?" Hermes tried to participate through his mounting worry.

"I had someone to get back to," Jonathan said, glancing to Percy in a way that left Apollo no doubt what he meant. Percy looked surprised, but in good way. Apollo broke the steel spoon in his hands underneath the table.

And what do you know? A new disease. He was starting to get a little bored of his own unoriginal ideas. If he was to destroy, he should do it in style.

"I looked for you," Jonathan said. Where had they even met? This was a simple boring mortal. How could he have ever met Percy Jackson? "But you had been expelled."

"Again," Percy laughed.

School, of course. Apollo tried to control himself. He had to make Percy Jackson fall in love with him, it would not do to smite mortals he seemed to like and make Apollo the villain. But it was so difficult. He had rarely been denied things in his entire immortal life. Whatever he didn't get, he took as was his birthright.

His eyes turned from a soft guileless blue to a fiery red more befitting the god of war.

Percy seemed to sense something was wrong; he looked up to his flaming angry eyes and blanched. Hermes looked a little desperate now.

"Jonathan," he said hurriedly. "I have to go. Mom, you know how it is. It was great meeting you though."

Jonathan did not let it deter him. He grabbed Percy's hand and hastily scribbled a number out in bold ink. "Call me. Anytime." Percy tried for a smile, but there was something like worry in his eyes. The world around them was crackling with the force of a god's wrath.

"Bye, Alan. Bye, Fred," he smiled sweetly at Apollo.

Too late, Jonathan, Apollo thought darkly. He had sealed his fate when he touched Percy. An innocent coy smile would not save him from eternal damnation.

The last chapter regrettably did not get much response. I hope you guys can be a bit more generous this time around? Please review and let me know what you think.

Guest: Yeah, I understand what you mean. Short chapters mean an abrupt end just when you start getting deep into the story. Unfortunately, like I said, I've already a fair bit ahead, almost 20k words actually and they are already divided into chapters. Those chapters end just where I want them to, sometimes at cliff-hangers, sometimes new chapters mean a shift in tone of voice that I needed. What I can do however is start uploading twice a week instead of just once a week. I mean, I've already written a fair bit ahead so I can try that and I hope that will make you feel a bit more connected to the story plot.