Percy was eighteen when his vision turned gray.
People normally lose their color vision near the beginning of high school, around fourteen or fifteen. But Percy had made it two months into his senior year. He had been starting to wonder if he even had a soulmate.
Annabeth had gone colorblind during the war with Kronos, and Percy had been disappointed when the Argo II showed up in New Rome and Annabeth had introduced him to her soulmate, Piper.
But Annabeth still was and always would be Percy’s best friend, so as soon as he realized what had happened, he made a rainbow (which was significantly more difficult when he couldn’t see the colors) and Iris Messaged her.
“Percy?” Annabeth asked from the dorm room of her boarding school.
“Annabeth! It happened!” he said.
“What–?” Her eyes widened in realization. “The colors?”
Percy nodded enthusiastically.
“Percy, that’s great!” she enthused.
“Now I just need to find them.”
“It shouldn’t take too long,” Annabeth assured him. “It usually doesn’t for demigods. You might already know them. Maybe they’re at camp.”
“Will you be going this weekend?” Percy asked.
Annabeth nodded. “Yeah, I–“ There was a knock at her door. “I need to go, Percy. See you this weekend?”
“See you this weekend,” Percy said as she swiped a gray hand through the gray rainbow.
.
Percy didn’t think his soulmate would be mortal, but he still spent the rest of his week making eye contact with as many people as he could at school, just in case.
When it came time for him to head to camp for the weekend, Percy was nervous. It was strange to be nervous going to a place that felt like home to him, but he knew that he could find his soulmate that weekend
So as Percy spent his time at camp, playing capture the flag, singing campfire songs, and teaching sword fighting to the younger campers, he kept an eye out for his soulmate.
After a few weeks of splitting his time between Camp Half-Blood and his mom’s apartment, Percy started to lose hope.
“It took me years to find Paul,” his mom encouraged. “These things late time.”
“It even took me a few months to meet Piper,” Annabeth said. “Besides, we haven’t been to New Rome in a while.”
So over Thanksgiving break, Percy and Annabeth made their way to California to visit the Roman camp.
Percy was happy enough to see his friends again that he almost forgot about his own soulmate, at least until…
“I lost my color vision last week,” Hazel said. “It wasn’t gone very long though, because it came back as soon as I saw Frank.”
“Congrats, guys,” Percy said.
“You’ll find your soulmate soon, too,” Hazel assured him.
Percy hoped she was right.
.
Percy was staying at Camp-Half Blood over winter break. More campers were there than in the past weeks, though the camp was still less full than summer. But Percy was happiest to see Rachel.
There was no real way of knowing, but Rachel always insisted that she had no soulmate, which was probably good for the Oracle. Percy liked it because it meant she had little interest in discussing his soulmate.
It had been something of a hot topic at camp when they learned that one of the heroes of Olympus was looking for his soulmate, so it was nice to get some reprieve with one of his best friends.
“What do you think?” Rachel asked Percy as she was finishing up her latest painting on the wall of her cave.
It looked to be of a figure riding a pegasus. The style reminded Percy of Ancient Greek vases. “It’s good,” he said, “but you know I know nothing about art.
Rachel smiled anyway. “Thanks, Percy.”
Percy watched as Rachel washed off her brushes.
“You know, Apollo’s visiting right now,” Rachel eventually said.
“He is?” Percy asked.
Rachel nodded. “He stopped by here before he went to spend time with his kids. He’ll be at the campfire tonight.”
“Huh,” Percy said.
Apollo had been surprisingly tolerable – even likable – since his time as a mortal, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise that he was visiting.
“Yeah,” Rachel replied, and the conversation moved on.
.
Percy was actually looking forward to the campfire that night. After all, it wasn’t every day that the god of music himself led the singalong.
So when Percy arrived at the campfire, he was immediately enraptured by Apollo’s singing, even though it was an absolutely ridiculous camp song. The fire was tall and golden. It seemed the camp, especially Cabin Seven, was in good spirits.
Percy squeezed onto a bench next to Annabeth and peeked over to watch Apollo. It seemed the god noticed Percy looking, because he turned in his direction and–
Oh.
Percy’s breath caught as he looked into Apollo’s eyes.
His blue eyes.
Percy fled to his cabin, ignoring Annabeth calling his name.
.
A few hours later, Percy heard a knock on his cabin door. It was past curfew, so unless Annabeth had decided to sneak out to see him…
There was only one person it could be.
Percy considered ignoring him, but eventually decided to answer.
“Apollo,” he said.
Apollo smiled. “Percy.”
Percy stepped back to let the god inside. Once they were both seated, Percy on his bed and Apollo on an empty one, Percy asked, “What do you want?”
Apollo looked hurt, which Percy supposed was understandable, but seemed to shake it off. He said, “I’ve had soulmates before, but I don’t think colors have ever looked brighter than they do right now.”
“I don’t want a god for a soulmate,” Percy told him.
“What can I do to prove myself to you?” Apollo asked.
“You can’t.”
Percy settled himself into his bed like he would to sleep and closed his eyes. He didn’t know how long he waited, but when he opened them again, Apollo was gone.
.
“Why don’t you just give him a chance?” his mother asked.
“He’s a god,” Percy said.
“But hasn’t he been better?”
“I won’t be able to give him what he wants.”
“How can you know that?” his mom questioned.
“Mom,” Percy said desperately, and she dropped it.
.
Percy stepped out of his school to come face to face with a god. He ignored him and kept walking.
“Percy!” Apollo called after him.
“Why are you following me?” Percy demanded.
“Why are you so desperate to be rid of me?” Apollo countered.
Percy didn’t respond, but turned to glare at him.
“What would you have me do?” Apollo asked. “Shall I make you a throne of hyacinths and crown you with laurels?”
“I’m not Daphne or Hyakinthos,” Percy said.
“No,” Apollo mused. “Even they could not compare to your beauty.”
Percy’s breath caught. “You don’t want me.”
“I do.” Apollo stepped close and gently cupped Percy’s face with his hand.
Percy turned his head away.
“Please,” Apollo begged. “Please, just one date. Nothing more.”
“Just one?” Percy asked.
Apollo nodded.
“Okay.”
.
Apollo and Percy sat in a cozy coffee shop a few blocks from Percy’s school. Apollo had gotten them each a drink and a chocolate croissant. On the way, they had kept their conversation light, talking about camp, school, and Olympian drama.
But now that they were seated, Apollo reached across the table and grabbed Percy’s hand. “I’ve never seen eyes as beautiful as yours,” he said.
Percy blushed. He replied, “I mean, they’re the same as my dad’s.”
Apollo smiled at him. “Yours have a different look to them. Full of strength and compassion.”
“Um, thanks. Yours are nice too.” And they were. Apollo’s eyes were as blue as the sky on a sunny day, and while they looked ancient, something still lingered from Apollo’s time as a mortal.
The god’s smile widened, then his face dimmed somewhat. “Why are you so intent on refusing me?”
“You’re a god,” Percy said.
“Have I not proven that I can change?”
Percy nodded. “Yes, but your cabin is still one of the biggest at camp.”
Apollo recoiled, pulling his hand away. “You think I’d be unfaithful? Why would you think I’d want anyone else when I’d have you?”
Percy remained silent.
“Why? Percy, why?”
Percy’s eyes were fixed on a point above Apollo’s head. “I wouldn’t give you what you want.”
Apollo looked desperate. “You’re what I want, Percy. Do you not want me too? Tell me you don’t, and I’ll leave you in peace.”
Percy hesitated. “It’s not the same.”
“What isn’t? Tell me, Percy,” he pleaded.
Percy finally met Apollo’s eyes. “I’m asexual.”
Apollo blinked. “Why should that change anything?”
“I’m not going to have sex with you,” Percy stated.
“Okay?” Apollo looked confused.
“So?” Percy questioned.
“So?”
“Haven’t you changed your mind?”
Realization seemed to dawn on Apollo. “Perseus, I would be abstinent for an eternity for you.”
“Really?” Percy asked.
“I don’t need sex to be happy, Percy,” Apollo said gently. “I just want to spend time with you.” He paused before adding, “And kiss you?”
Percy grinned, blushing slightly. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Apollo confirmed.
“Okay.”
.
A few months later, Percy was walking hand in hand with Apollo in a park – Percy didn’t know where, but it was beautiful – when Apollo said, “I don’t know how I’ll stand to lose the colors this time.”
Percy stopped on the trail to look at him. “What do you mean?”
Apollo smiled sadly. “When a god’s soulmate dies, their colors go away until they meet their next soulmate. Most are fortunate enough that theirs are immortal, but…” Apollo trailed off, then looked at Percy adoringly. “This is the first time I’ve seen color in centuries, and I meant it when I said that they’ve never been so beautiful.”
The two continued walking, neither speaking until Percy suddenly said, “You know, my dad offered to make me immortal.”
“And you refused,” Apollo said.
Percy nodded. “But he’ll offer again.”
“Percy, I can’t ask that of you.”
“You haven’t asked it of me.” Percy continued more softly, “But I’d do it, for you.”
Apollo stopped and closed his eyes. “Percy…”
“Do you not want me?” Percy asked.
Apollo turned and looked at Percy seriously. “You know that’s not true. But you don’t know what you’re offering.”
“Eternity,” Percy said. “Eternity with you. Right?”
Apollo inhaled sharply. “You don’t want that.”
Percy faced Apollo fully and took both of his hands. “I wouldn’t mind eternity if it was with you.”
“Percy…” Apollo started.
Percy interrupted. “I love you, Apollo. And I’ve thought about this. I want to do this for you. I don’t want to leave you for Elysium. Okay?”
Apollo nodded, smiling softly. “I love you, Percy.”
And they continued walking down the path.
