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He hates water. Although he hasn’t always hated it; even though he cannot swim, he was never terrified of water before. But he is now.
He has nightmares frequently, and they’re always the same. Nightmares about the time he nearly drowned as a kid, except this time Dhurke isn’t there to save him, and nightmares about being trapped in a cave as it fills with seawater, clinging to a piece of drift wood to keep afloat, and wondering if he is going to drown in this awful place, all alone…
When he awakes, Apollo just lays there, staring into the darkness, his heart racing. It takes him a few seconds to work out that he is breathing, that he isn’t drowning, and that he’s safe.
Even though he never makes a sound, Athena’s emotion-sensitivity wakes her up, alerting her to Apollo’s pounding terror. And they always end up spending the rest of the night cuddling, until Apollo’s emotions have settled enough to let them fall asleep.
Although the nightmares aren’t the only way his hatred of water hits him. Even seeing large bodies of water is enough to set off flashbacks. It’s embarrassing, but it happens sometimes.
Such as one day when he and Athena are walking through the city, and reach a long bridge.
“Are you okay?” Athena asks.
“I’m fine,” he says, smiling.
And he thinks he is.
Because when he steps onto the bridge, all he can see is the river, the vast, deep, imposing river, and then…
Sinking beneath the water. Barely afloat. Please, someone help. He’s so tired. He can’t keep his head above the water. He’s gonna drown…
“Apollo!” Athena says, hands on his shoulders. “It’s okay, you’re safe.”
And he collapses into her hug, the images of drowning refusing to leave his mind.