Work Text:
Spontaneously chaotic
Everyone apparently agreed that Apollo, had grown a lot in his time as Lester, Even saying that he would come to visit constantly, However, How could've any of the half blood believe that? Of course this good, not healthy, questioning is not a "all of the half bloods" matter anymore, it's just Will, Kayla and Austin, that cabin has been so quiet for so long, And gods above, How much everyone hated it, Being quiet wasn't very Apollo's like and neither was his children's
He never really had bothered to come before. What would even make a difference now? Some demigods died in the conflict surely, Will would miss every single one and regret for every single life he couldn't save, although that would be sufficient to change the
heart of a god? After the countless deaths Apollo may seen in his immortal life?
Will can't say that he hadn't been hopeful that his dad would say a "hi I'm alive and you all too" on a very awkward voice at least once a year, After all, They all been though a lot in the whole Lester Papadopoulos thing, Yet the true answer to everyone doubts was the only the Demeter's daughter, Meg, Cleary expected, Well maybe Chiron, Dionysus and half of the camp had the same conclusion as her, Okay, Maybe just the cabin seven was doubtful, Apollo was indeed very clingy the whole affair.
The first of many incidents, Was on Kayla's first birthday after the battle with Nero, Apollo spontaneously appeared at the cabin door, At a freaking unholy hour, Along with his lopsided smile and a good looking green cake, He let out a genuine nervous laugh "Hi Sweetheart, Happy birthday beautiful girl, also hi to y'all, Kiddos" the cabin was dead silent, Until everyone screamed, Austin swears that he even heard screams that weren't coming from any of them
Will still not sure if everyone screamed because their dad was there for real or because he used a old slang, But both seemed very good reasons, And one of those was particularly terrifying
Apollo looked a little panicked, Kayla was in a confused sleepy mode but she managed to mumble a sweet "Thanks you, dad" as he handed the cake to a half asleep Austin, her smile was wonderful to see, Will says that the first time she smiled this wide was when she first entered the cabin, That i may add, Was full of excitement, Loud noises, and some weird looking plants, He smiled back, pride on his face, Apollo was literally glowing when Kayla simply called him dad
He scratched his head with one of his now free hand, 'What was he holding anyways?' Was the shared thought by the single braincell in the group, Confusing enough, Will stared, The little furball in Apollo's arms barked, A dog pup, Kayla and Austin were instantly amazed and very awake, Now the cabin had a pet to look after..Nico wouldn't leave the cabin anymore.
The second incident happened a month later, In a seeming normal summer night, Merlin barked happily as The Three sun siblings tiredly cheered, Merlin was stalking a pretty butterfly, Nico jumps of Will's bed and catches the dog before he jumps the window after the insect, handing him over to Kayla, The animal protests with very mad woofs woofs
A noise is heard, Nico dashed at the noise source with his terrifying "i will hunt you down" face to scare off the probably Stroll twin, Person or animal it may be, He suddenly stops, Glanced at Will and gestures to the thing "Is this... normal?"
Will took a peek still standing at the door, There was... His amazing deity of a dad, Sat in the counter at 4 AM on a Sunday night eating a smelly cheese and cucumber Sandwich, Will is still horrified of this very day, maybe the time when his dad didn't visited or ate strange sandwiches at dawn would be missed, oh shit, he made a couple of those.
Apollo stares at the pair like a startled cat, his right hand holds a knife, With the other he ate the culinary monstrosity he created, "Hey boys want a snack?"
Nico took a bite "This...made me regret existing, Will come here, Take a bite."
"You think I'm a dumbass? KAYLA, AUSTIN, DAD BROUGHT SNACKS"
"Wait...you all should be sleeping"
"Not happening"
"I'm a bad dad"
"The worst" Nico says bitting the sandwich again.
this started to be a routine in the cabin, 'Bad sandwich night with dad' Happens every Sunday.
Infirmary
The third occurrence was right after a mission in the underworld, Will was badly wounded, That day the boy narrowly escaped death, With the strange but not unwelcomed help of a kindred Spartan soldier soul.
Will can remember the soldier's words pretty nicely, even with all the blood loss involved "put the sword down, I'm not going to harm you, Sunshine" He didn't answered, People who have had a concussion shouldn't complain where the help comes from but demigods shall not trust into a random soul in underworld, right? Well, he did trust in that soldier, just because he couldn't stay on his own feet any longer and maybe because those purple eyes were way too kind to do any harm.
Will woke up several hours later, Austin told him that dad appeared out of thin nowhere, claiming he would help and wouldn't accept no as a answer
Chiron did try intervene, Mentioning that he shouldn't involve himself in the demigod's mission business, Apollo nodded at the centaur, after that, though no one expected in that situation, He calmed down, Softly comforting Austin, Nico and Kayla.
"What's the first step to solving any problem?" He asked, Will remember hearing that one, However, Didn't thought it was Apollo talking, How could he?
"Don't panic" both siblings repeat what every single doctor of the camp is told by the counselors in the very start of infirmary's work
"And why is that?" Apollo asked in a low tone, His words were steady and calm while the siblings healed Will wounds
"Because we know more than we think we do" He smiled at the affirmation, Nodding proudly.
Nico, who was convicted at staying at Will's side refusing to leave the room, got coerced into getting treatment for his own wounds by the now more confident siblings.
Chiron doesn't know how but Apollo helped them without getting involved directly, He never seen a concussion and some broken bones heal that fast, If Apollo just being present in the room really helped he never said anything, after some hours Will woke up still drowsy
Apollo sat on the edge of the bed "Just be call me next time, Alright Will? I swear I will be there for you. "
A couple of bright purple Hyacinths stood in desk beside the bed, Strangely enough no one could tell how they came to be there, maybe a camper left them here but forgot to say so Apollo thought as he watched the flowers with a familiar sense of apricity like hope, Will would be okay, This time he wouldn't lose someone dear.
The fourth strange incident happened after a argument with some camper when he was playing capture the flag, there was Will was alone murmuring curses to himself and then he appeared, Apollo glanced at his son in a silent understanding, not strangely enough for the demigod, Will was very comfortable with sharing problems with his dad, Maybe he was finally accepting that Apollo could actually be here for quite some time.
Will swears he doesn't know how it ended up happening, There was he, Driving the sun chariot for the day, Apollo was on the backseat cheering every time the boy didn't ran over any bird, the nice day ended with both helping out the Demeter's kids planting some seeds, and even getting some unprompted music lessons from Apollo
He said the music would help the plants grow, That didn't seem to work, But Meg enjoyed herself a lot, Will laughed the while time, Joy spread across his face 'Maybe that's how normal people feel when they spent time with their parents?' Will thought.
Merlin barks excitedly trying to bite Will's ankles while he writes in a colorful book, Austin can hear Nico losing his mind at Merlin's cuteness, Kayla steals the book from Will hands.
"C'mon, Will, what you're even writing?" The blonde deadpan at her, She chuckles looking proud her stealing tendencies "Now come to socialize like a normal person"
"I'm just... Recording all the times dad appeared at the camp, they're important i swear, when he stops doing so i want to make sure that it actually happened"
Nico stares them "He doesn't believe that Apollo will actually keep visiting someday and is writing on his diary, There is even post-its on it"
"Is a fair worry, And... It isn't a diary anyway!"
"So it ALL need to be recorded in a book?" Kayla pet Merlin's soft belly, the pup seems to be having the time of his life with both Kayla and Nico "Even his bad taste at food?"
"Yup, Along the fact that he appears at dawn like a cryptid"
Austin picks the book from Kayla "Dad wouldn't stop visiting, He knows it would make we sad and some things are good to remember so I'm writing those."
"He knows?" Kayla jokingly frowns
Austin gestures at Will "Also Will is dad favorite so no way he would stop the visits"
"What? I'm not! Dad doesn't even have a favorite"
"Yes you are" both Kayla and Austin say in unison
"No, there is no thing as a favorite" Will argues
"Keep telling yourself that" Kayla gives Will a coffee mug
"Can you three stop bickering already?" Merlin barks at Nico who chuckles "I came to the conclusion that he only one on their right mind in this room is Merlin, Everyone else is out their minds"
Will takes a sips of his coffee "Are you including yourself in that?"
A blinding light surrounds the room "What's up?" he smiled cheerfully, Nico swears that Apollo was actually smirking, Will looked at him in disbelief, Something tells Nico that Apollo is very aware of the previous situation
The group ended up having a great afternoon with him and Meg, Meg was accepted as one of the Apollo's cabin residents with ease, they even have a little unicorn statue and all, Will could agree that having Apollo around was comforting, Strangely comforting, He wonders if he will get used to it someday, probably not.
Bonus scene : Infirmary
"And you Nicholas, Go rest already" and there they will go again, Friendly bickering as always.
Nico chuckles "You're not my dad and that's not my name"
"C'mon, I'm serious, It be no no good if Will wake up and he discovers that you didn't rest a little bit"
"At least i ate something, I'm not that unhealthy to you two freak out over it"
"A Mc Donald's happy meal doesn't count as a actual meal"
"So why we call it happy meal?"
"You're insufferable"
Apollo glanced at his unconscious son body with a fragile sense of pride, Of couse he wished that the boy didn't got hurt so badly, But he knew that he didn't had a say in that, This wouldn't be the first neither the last time a demigod would get hurt in a mission.
Nico was seated besides the bed, Visibly tired but was too stubborn to go rest properly, Mostly because he was terribly worried with his boyfriend, he looks at Will as if he was the very monster that had wounded the other, His hand played with will hair carefully.
He looked at Apollo with fondness, The god presence was growing on him with the time, And then Will opened his eyes abruptly.
Will looked startled, His breath was heavy and his eyes didn't focus anywhere, Without a single second thought both Apollo and Nico brought Will closer, hugging the boy so he wouldn't either get up or move around.
Everything was so heavy, Will's vision was blurred and messy, He tried to keep his eyes open with all his energy but he couldn't.
"Will you… still be there in the morning?" Will whispered seeming terrified of the simple thought, No one was sure to who he said that, Apollo and Nico hug him tight murmuring quiet reassurances,
"Of course" Apollo says softly and Will finally let himself go back to Morpheus's Dreamland,
Glancing at eachother in a quiet agreement, Both move away from Will carefully, Slowly laying him on the bed, Apollo sighs in relief, Getting up he looks at his son again "I will be back in the morning, I swear upon Styx i will"
Apollo stares at Nico "What you think about dares, Nico?"
"No, Nope, You won't trick me into healthy habits, Will already try that and he failed."