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It came as a surprise to Apollo when Percy asked him to teach how to play the guitar. They had been sitting in Percy’s room, a rarity as Apollo felt distinctly uncomfortable with Sally Jackson’s judging gaze (because she knew what kind of lovers gods made first hand), but she and Paul were out for a date and Percy was on babysitting duty. Estelle had fallen asleep while they were watching some Disney princess Apollo didn’t care for, but endured for the sake of spending time with Percy. He was expecting a bit more in return after Percy carried his sister to her bed. While it wasn’t exciting, Apollo was happy with gentle kisses shared in the bed too small for two men, and sweet words they shared, they would have other chances and more privacy another time.
That was when Percy had sprung the idea of learning how to play the guitar. Apollo was shocked to say the least with the request. “You don’t have to make excuses to spend time with me, you could just ask.” He wasn’t expecting Percy to look hurt at what was intended to be a sarcastic reply for what he assumed was a sarcastic question, two things that Apollo knew his boyfriend to be a connoisseur of. “I’m not asking to spend more time with you, not that I don’t want to… I’m actually asking you to teach.” That got Apollo to sputter a little before taking a moment to think.
He knew that Percy was no healer, his ability to rejuvenate and heal limited to himself alone with water contact only. And he definitely was no archer, Apollo had tried that already. He had been so excited to go shooting from the sun chariot with his boyfriend, alas, Percy would only hurt innocent civilians if they were to attempt that. Percy had a nice voice, but not much for singing, he struggled to adjust to the tunes and detuned easily, even if he enjoyed humming and mumbling along to the songs. Apollo thought he made the best sounds when he was not singing but when he was otherwise occupied. Not to mention, Percy never showed any interest in Apollo’s rather diverse set of domains, poetry and education least of them all. This was a shock, one that would make Apollo elicit a dramatic gasp if he wasn’t sure Percy would not read it as more unwelcome and ill timed sarcasm and kick him off the bed.
He looked around the tiny room, quite dim with a cheap, whale shaped night light painting it in shifting colours as it went through the RGB rotations. He could see clearly even through faint lighting and changing hues. There were posters stuck on the walls, nothing new for a teenager or young adult, Apollo had come to learn, his cabin had also been covered in them, a ranging array of artists, a significant amount if them were his children. Percy’s seemed to be themed a bit more specific. No jazz or classical there and pop making rather small appearances that he could count on his fingers. An old poster of Linkin Park stood faded but proud above the headboard. Apollo was reminded of when rock first hit the scene and later on alternative rock styles emerged… While Percy was never flashy, not that he could afford to be growing up the way he did, there was something very distinctly rock and grunge scattered all over his room and sprinkled over him. Something about the chipped navy of his nail polish and the new chunky rings he was able to buy with his recent barista job. There was punk hidden in the messiness of his hair and the tears on his clothes… And the dreaded way he liked to layer the band t-shirts he picked out from vintage sales and thrift stores with long sleeves or plaid shirts.
Apollo felt a bit stupid that he never noticed before, not this explicitly at least, dismissing it as Percy being a skater boy without so much interest in music, when the reality was in front of him this entire time. And Apollo rarely felt stupid, with knowledge being a part of his vast array of domains. “Anything specific you want to play?”
Percy looked up at a Metallica poster, a band with harsher sounds compared to Linkin Park or Bon Jovi that was hanging next to it on the wall. “I am not expecting much… I never played any instrument before… My mom liked some rock, I would like to play some songs I grew up with, but if I can play just a few songs from my playlist I would be happy.” Apollo looked around at some posters, including one of Slash’s solo album. “there are some one big goals hanging around.” Even Apollo was astonished at the sounds his son could make, truly gifted with music, even if his other skills like archery were a bit flabby, Apollo was still incredibly proud. “I know…You know what? I’ll be happy if I can play Happy Birthday to Stella on her next birthday.” That got a chuckle out of Apollo and he gave Percy a peck on the lips. “With the god of music as your teacher, you can aim a bit higher than that.” Percy smiled back, eyes glittering at the prospect of learning for once.
There was something so exciting about teaching Percy how to play he guitar. They had to go the proper way of course, Apollo would not have his boyfriend jump to playing an electro guitar without some good classic knowledge as a base. He would do this properly.
Something inside of him burned with the interest Percy was showing to one of his domains, especially one that was rather dear to him. It wasn’t that he hadn’t taught any of his previous lovers, he had always enjoyed teaching those who sought to learn. But this was a tingling feeling in his essence that he hadn’t felt perhaps since he taught skills to Hyacinthus. Nostalgia hitting him with loss and sadness, one of his greatest loves haunting him eternally, yet there was something special in the way that his feelings for Percy were reminding him of his past so strongly, dredging up the memories of the few times he loved to much that it was engraved to his essence. Music had always carried so much emotion, a way of expressing oneself, carrying all the feelings one could not describe. Apollo hated playing requiems almost as much as he cherished them.
Percy’s choice in music, now that he had shared his playlists with Apollo was a mix. Lots of different types of punk, rock and metal. Sounds leaning towards the heavier side with the occasional break of something unexpected like nu-metal or symphonic metal. He also had other playlists with more pop sounds and some rap but his preferences were clear with which one he played on repeat. The contents of the songs covered a wide array, a lot of anger and individuality expressed in them, that Apollo knew Percy carried inside him despite his rather carefully crafted mask of nonchalant sarcasm and goofy remarks. There was a lot of nuance and sadness in the playlists too. It fit Percy well with how raw and expressive rock music could be while also fitting his brand not giving a shit.
Apollo decided to pick Cordoba Rodriguez for him, a beautiful guitar that looked simple yet produced wonderful notes. Perhaps not the best for the sounds that Percy wanted to make but it would do for a good start. It was not a guitar for a beginner and one that would make Percy hesitant to even touch it if he knew the price but he didn’t and Apollo wouldn’t let his lover touch anything that didn’t fit his own standards. To him, this was a humble guitar with good sound to start with, he would make a guitar for Percy himself later if they pursued the lessons further, and that would be nothing less than the best, carved by the god of music himself.
Percy had long and slender fingers, that Apollo always knew would be perfect for music, perfect for playing a guitar. The grip he had on the neck of the guitar, as unsure and loose as it was, looked natural even if it needed some adjusting. He seemed to be nervous, Apollo was not sure why. He was making Apollo feel self conscious, too. How long had it been since he did something like this with a lover? He was often taken by people who were good in the arts, particularly music and poetry, but it had been a while since he had taught it to someone he was in love with and taught someone so new to it.
He shook off the nerves, gods didn’t feel nervous, especially in their own domains, no matter how in love they might be. He gently adjusted Percy’s hands, feeling the callouses from using a sword, all in the wrong places for playing the guitar. Perhaps his fingertips would also callous, leaving a mark of Apollo and their time together. He explained the strings and the notes, guiding the slender fingers to the correct location and let Percy strum and test each sound. It was unsure and the first few strums did not sound good but as they both seemed to relax, each note grew more confident. He loved when Percy was confident, it was too attractive and Apollo had to hold it in if he wanted to be a good teacher, the best teacher.
After a few sessions Percy could correct his fingers by himself. He learned quick when he was invested, but Apollo wanted to take some of the credit as well. Especially as Percy was able to string together the notes to play some simple tunes now. They didn’t have long enough sessions for Apollo’s taste, he would love nothing more than take Percy to his palace, ignore mortal wastes of time like college, and just make music with his lover all day long. He cherished the time they spent together, it almost felt like a ritual for his sake, his lover practicing something so close to him, his essence. Perhaps the limited time they had for it between all other duties and responsibilities added to its value, a notion that Apollo had come to appreciate after his short stint as a mortal, he savoured every moment.
By the time Estelle’s birthday came Percy was much more advanced than playing Happy Birthday. It had been the first song he learned, his first goal, and one he had advanced beyond rather quickly. The look on his face was absolutely worth it though. Percy was beaming, especially with how happy Estelle seemed. For once Sally seemed to fully approve of something Apollo had done, percy looked so happy and it was all Apollo cared about, rather uncharacteristically unselfish.
And in private Percy had showed off something he had been practicing by himself. He had been trying to learn Anastasia in private, as romantic as he would get he said, which Apollo did not believe for a second. He was not quite there with the solo, Slash was a high bar, but the opening had been solid. Percy was wild enough to break the law run to Mexico for love, even if Apollo doubted he was that love, and he drove Apollo more than crazy enough to do it for him. At least Percy had enough foresight to do his little show when he was not staying with his parents and back to his flat in New Rome for college.