ever since percy showed up, you had taken him under your wing.

it could get embarrassing and maybe a little weird, as you were only maybe a year or two older, but you next felt such a paternal instinct when it came to him.

you were there for every quest, every cry, every meal, and honestly, you were scared to leave him. your years of being a camper at camp half-blood were coming to an end as you grew older, and before you knew it, you were meant to leave in about a month. you've been trying your best to convince chiron or mr. d to let you stay longer, but both gave weird answers that left you with just having to wait until your last day to see what they did with you.

being a child of apollo, you were born with music and smarts engraved in your brain. ever since you got the news that you were going to have to leave, you couldn't help but start to write songs that may or may not not have been dedicated to the boy who you considered your son, or your little brother if that made it less weird.

it was nearly midnight, and you still sat beside the lake, your lips sore from having been playing your flute for hours on end. your eyes focused on the sheet music you had written that sat on the ground in front of you, your head hurting with the stress of wanting to figure out this song so bad. sure, you could play pieces of it, but the excitement of hearing it all together made you rush through and work yourself up.

you weren't going to show percy the song, that would just be cheesy. but, the song still meant so much, especially if you would be the only one who knew the meaning.

you were in your own world, the sounds from your instrument filling your ears enough for you to not hear the footsteps behind you. you saw someone sit next to you out of the corner of your eye, but you didn't look at them until you got to a part that just irritate you more. you put the flute down and huffed after messing up yet again, finally looking at percy, who was now sat next to you, tired but listening.