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Percy always was someone who made the best of things. That wasn’t to say he was overly optimistic, just… opportunistic? Was that the right phrase? He was a realist with a logical sense of using everything he had to its fullest potential.
Zeus was not one to be denied. He was definitely not one to be denied twice, by the same person, about the same thing. It was his pride in the line. He could deal with the first time. The first time he was denied an immortal champion for Olympus (an immortal hero they could use for whatever quest suited their needs), he graciously allowed the choice to be made by Perseus Jackson.
The second time, when the hero said ‘no’ again? He hit his limit. Who was this hero that denied him twice? No. If he did not choose, Zeus would choose for him.
And despite several of his fellow deities trying to stop him, he struck Percy. And when blood started leaking from his eyes, nose, and ears as a side effect, it was no longer a bloody crimson. Instead, a pure, golden ichor. Percy instinctively teleported to the farthest thing from Olympus, a small island in the eastern Pacific.
It was a week before he came to terms with it. By then, Percy had gotten ahold of his powers. To an extent. He still shattered glass doors sometimes if he shut them a little too abruptly, still accidentally read some mortal’s minds, but his eye colour no longer flickered and faded into different shades of blue and green, sometimes even ranging into purple and yellow. He no longer started walking and randomly floated a few inches off the ground. When he was startled, he didn’t turn animals into seaweed or palm trees.
It was more than a week before he could stand his reflection though. Percy had liked to think he was moderately attractive before he became immortal. Now, all his tiny imperfections were gone. He looked like a marble carving, and he hated it. He hated how his nose was perfectly straight, even after it had been broken in fights way too many times to not be a little crooked. He hated how his hair was always a perfect styled muss, never crazy or frizzy. He hated how his skin was clear of any blemishes or how under his eyes was bright and had no dark circles or bags. He hated how his scars had all disappeared.
He hated it. He hated how everything he prided himself on that made him human, was gone. All his scars, scars that proved he was strong enough to survive whatever the world threw at him, gone. Everything was gone.
After two weeks swimming with the sea creatures, basking in the sun, and sleeping in the sand watching the stars, he finally teleported home.
Sally was sympathetic. She knew that this was something Percy never would have wanted. But there was a little glimmer of happiness. She at least didn’t have to watch her son die before her.
Annabeth was sympathetic too. She said she supported him. At least for the first few months. Then she told him she just couldn’t do it. She wanted to grow old with someone. Have kids. Sit on a porch drinking sweet tea while holding hands. And now that he would be eighteen forever, he couldn’t give that to her.
Percy smiled and told her not to stress about it. He totally understood. That didn’t mean he didn’t summon a couple bottles of tequila and get absolutely shitfaced with Leo that night to try and stave off the inevitable sobbing.
It worked with his family and friends for a couple of years when he could still pass as twenty or twenty one. But when it was June and Estelle was graduating highschool, she told him she didn’t think it would be the best idea if he came. Just because the mist might not be enough to stop people from seeing an eighteen year old.
The most helpful were Poseidon and Apollo. They were the ones who joked that at least Percy could have them for all eternity. They were the ones who taught Percy how to use some of his newly acquired powers, especially when on Percy’s five year immortal anniversary, he woke up with midnight black, feathered wings.
Percy was someone who always saw a silver lining.
He hated being immortal. But he made the best of it. He studied at countless universities and got so many degrees, it was crazy. Law, medical, psychiatric, mathematics, teaching. Even, to his father’s glee, Marine Biology. Percy learned a few languages, finding that his dyslexia subsided a little as an immortal, though it was still present. Russian was the easiest to learn. Then Mandarin, followed by Spanish. He even learned a few dead languages. Lemnian, Old Norse, and Pictish. Surprisingly he became better friends with Annabeth’s cousin, Magnus after they had broken up. He still called every so often and they chatted in Norse sometimes. Magnus was immortal too so there was that little bit of camaraderie.
The thing he put most to use though was something else entirely…
•••
Apollo walked into the Fairmont hotel in Banff, Canada and stopped in his tracks.
This was one of his favourite mortal hotels in the world, with his penthouse suite and the amazing view from the top floor. He knew that there was often a musician employed to sing or play an instrument at the lobby, especially if there was a super important guest checking in. Which, Apollo was, but he knew this wasn’t for him.
But he had to stop in his tracks. Because the beautiful, melancholy notes of the cello that was playing a tune unlike anything the god of music had heard before. He had listened to many songs, and this one was the first one of the past three centuries that hit him this hard.
Apollo hadn’t even noticed his mouth dropped open until the last vibrato of the note had ceased.
He simply had to find the mortal who played this. Just as he caught sight of a black suit and a dark, styled bun, the cellist started another song. This was nothing like the last piece. It was beautiful, that was certain, but it was simply happy. Serene. Nothing like the harsh, honest, bittersweet notes he had been mesmerised with before.
He slowly circled to get a better look at the cellist's face and when he did, he nearly gasped. There, in all his immortal beauty, was Perseus. His sea green eyes were closed as his fingers danced up and down the fingerboard, pressing on the strings and pulling the bow in harmony. His body rocked along with the bow and his lips twitched with a hint of a smile as the climax of the song came.
Apollo simply watched with rapt attention as Percy pulled the bow fast on the last note, an F Sharp, and opened his eyes. Sea glass met sky and Percy ‘s mouth gaped but his lips (perfectly full and rosy, he might add) quickly pulled back into a happy smile.
Percy, not taking his eyes off Apollo, silently gestured with his head to sit on the chair next to him. His eyes did all the talking.
Play with me?
Apollo easily returned a lopsided smirk and summoned a violin case. He sat and looked to Percy in a silent question. The new immortal nodded.
Percy pulled a note on G, keeping a steady whole note beat. After a few measures, Apollo began with he melody. It complemented the rich cello. Soon they were playing in harmony, their eyes never leaving each other. They had only distantly noticed a small audience gathering from the lobby and the bar.
They finished the impromptu piece and were startled by the sudden applause. They smiled and slightly bowed in their seats until most people were gone. There was just one wman left. She was probably in her late sixties or seventies and had a kind smile that crinkled her eyes. If the two weren’t so focused on each other, they would’ve noticed something odd.
“How long have you two been together?”
Percy stilled. Apollo shot him a quick look and smiled slyly. “I’m a lucky guy. This one has been with me for eight years.”
“Ah. You know my husband and I used to look at each other the same way. Of course we weren’t nearly as musical as you two but when we would have breakfast or read together it was always that sort of look. Have a nice day, you two!”
Apollo smiled a genuine smile. Percy was still for just another moment before he smiled too. “Thank you, Ma’am! Have a good day!”
She turned back from where she was walking away and gave a little wave which they reciprocated.
“So…” Apollo began. “The cello?” Percy blushed. He didn’t know how that was possible since his blood was golden now.
“Actually the Saxophone and Piano too. Something to keep me busy and the dyslexia doesn’t fuck with the notes so I can read the music well enough.”
“Ah. You know…” he trailed off, quirking his eyebrows. “Music is one of my domains. And I am thoroughly impressed with your skill. I think you would be an excellent addition to my followers!” Percy snorted.
“You are the one who is impressed! Maybe you should be one of my followers.”
Apollo chuckled. “Touché.”
Their eyes met again and the quirk of their lips mirrored each other in a gentle upturn. They smiled at each other, completely enthralled.
Mary watched from the bar and smiled, shaking her head at the two musicians. More than any other pagan pantheon, Greek immortals were so full of love.