Chapter Text
/It is not enough…/ Hera whispers brokenly. /We are not enough…/
Apollo snarls, teeth sharpening into fangs as he fully shifts for the first time since they found their children. Behind him, he hears them gasp.
/No! He is our brother! He has survived an endless amount of torment at the hands of creatures who should never be allowed to see my light again! He has survived that torment and he lives! He is not just a survivor, but a fighter, and he will keep fighting!/
He slams his claws onto the bed and pushes himself to his full height.
/I will not allow my brother to die!/
Behind him, he hears the children start to say something.
So he approaches them.
He swallows.
And drops to his knees in front of their children.
“Please.” He says quietly. “We need your help. I need your help.”
Will stares at him, eyes wide and shaking as if he has seen a ghost.
“What-” His voice is small but gentle and yet, still very fearful.
He blinks and clears his throat. “What do you need us to do?” He asks.
“Pray.” Apollo says simply. “Pray to Hermes, so that he will live.”
Luke, who has been strangely silent throughout this whole time on Olympus, jerks his head up to look at Apollo, and the God sees anger, disgust, disbelief, shock, annoyance, and worry all warring on his face.
“Are you serious?!” He demands. “You want us to pray for him?! I thought you were healing him!!!”
“Luke!” His brother snaps.
“My healing is not enough.” Apollo says honestly and Luke closes his mouth with a snap.
“How?!” Will demands, looking shocked and horrified. “You're the God of Healing!! You should be able to heal your brother!!”
“He is doing all that he can.” Aphrodite interrupts. “But right now, Hermes is fighting something Apollo can not heal.”
Will looks confused. “What-”
“Sometimes.” Apollo says gently. “When my healing is not enough, all I can do is pray. Pray to my father, to the entirety of Olympus, and to the stars above that they will give me the strength I need to heal the sickness, illness, or injury I am facing. Or I pray directly to Fate itself. I pray for its mercy, that the person I am healing will live.”
Will hesitates and looks around at his friends. “...So all we have to do is pray?” He asks.
Apollo nods. “Please.” He whispers. “Please pray for him.”
Will swallows.
And nods.
“Alright.” He says softly. “We will.”
“Will-” Luke begins to say.
“Shut up, Luke!” He snaps.
There are tears in his eyes.
“We'll talk about this later!”
Luke flinches, but bows his head.
“Fine.” He mutters.
Apollo sighs. “Thank you.” He says.
He walks back over to Hermes and takes a deep breath.
/I have convinced them to pray for Hermes./ He tells the Olympians. /Let us try this again./
He places his hands on Hermes’ chest and closes his eyes. /Almighty Fate, please let this work./ He prays.
Then he forces every part of healing power he has into his brother's form.
~~~
It is often that, while healing, he will often hear the prayers of mortals calling for his aid. Whether it is a slight moment of inspiration, or a moment of his time healing, he is happy to aid the mortals.
…except this prayer, the one that he hears now, is not from the mortals.
It is from his son.
/Lord Apollo./ He says. /I have no idea if you can hear me. And I personally think that what I am about to say is very stupid. But if you can, then there is something you should know.
I have your gift of healing./
Apollo nearly stops healing right then and there. Nothing has changed with his brother, he is still on the edge of fading, but he wants to turn around and look his son in the eyes and see the truth for itself.
/I don't know everything that is going on here, or what the truth even is about this place, but I am very afraid.
I just… I don't want to see another person die. I don't want to see a God die.
I guess what I'm saying is…
Take my mercy. Take my belief in you and use it to heal Lord Hermes./