Both Eyes Open

I didn't sign up for this.

*blinks, looking up, the fierce illumination around him dimming* Kayla… *looks down at Michael and back at her hopelessly, as if he was the child* 

Daddy… *kneels down next to him, leaning against his side as she takes one of Mike’s hands, tears falling from her eyes* I love you too. But you’re not leaving me. You can’t.. You can’t! *doubles over, sobbing*

*continues to kill monsters, blinking hard* 

*gives a weak smile, trying to reach for Apollo's face with his free hand, but it falls to his side, his eyes then glazing over* I-I'm... I'm warm. *his body goes limp, announcing that Michael is gone* 

I didn't sign up for this.

*as a doctor, he knows Michael cannot be healed from this, but doesn’t want to admit it* It’s not…that’s not…you’re going to be alright cupcake. Hey, hey, stay with me. C’mon, you’re good. You’re good. *his voice cracks, but he starts to glow so brightly, monsters are avoiding him for fear of being blinded*

Dad! *tries to shield her eyes from the light, but continues to go closer, feeling it on her skin* Dad, please! *tries to keep herself from crying, hands trembling*

*averts his eyes, more because it hurts to see them upset; Mark rides around and kills monsters trying to get to the family* 

*tears up, only feeling worse when he hears Kayla* I love you. Both of you. S-so much. Okay? 

I didn't sign up for this.

*catches him in shaky arms, just before he hits the ground; his voice comes out strained* I’m here. 

*tries to swallow, his body trembling* D-dad... I'm sorry. But at least... at least this time, you'll know. *tries to smile* You'll know what happened to me. 

I didn't sign up for this.

*is already nodding, bounding up on the balls of his feet; at this attack, Apollo forgets to move, just staring at it* Michael? Michael? *looks up to where it came from in panic*

*Khione lets out a sharp laugh before disappearing, leaving Michael to fall back, his skin turning white* D-dad?

I didn't sign up for this.

*while Michael starts shooting, he reels as a flash of dread takes over him, a kind of premonition of a future event, though he doesn’t know what* I- what? That’s good! Good job. *peeks his head into the cabin* Remember kids, focus. Think light, think anatomy, think energy. You’ll be fantastic. *smiles wickedly as he strikes the surrounding monsters with his arrows* Maybe I should go check on the infirmary too.

*smiles fondly at his father* Go. I need to find Freddy. They're gonna need you at the infirmary with-- *a shard of ice impales Michael through his back, causing him to inhale sharply, his eyes losing focus* 

I didn't sign up for this.

*scowls* ‘Tis just a scratch’ is the most overused line in film history. Along with ‘I am your father’ and ‘They’re taking the Hobbits to Isengard’. *scorches the surrounding area, buying them a few seconds so he can heal him and pull him back up again* So easy to kill… *the thud of an arrow impaling a hell hound emphasises his words* But so many…

*takes a few deep breaths, nodding* I know, but I'm fine, really. *gets up and immediately goes back to shooting monsters, then helping a few younger campers get into the Apollo cabin* They've set up healing here, and the infirmary. *his eye twitches* We're going to need it. 

I didn't sign up for this.

Not true. Anyone can sing. Unless of course you’re mute. But even then, they sing with their heart. *dramatically places his hand over his heart, drawing his sword with his bow in the other, and advancing on a group of gorgons, swinging it expertly, killing them all within seconds; spins around grinning before hearing Michael and his smile freezes* Michael! *chokes, scrambling over, wrapping his arms around him and lowering him to the ground*

*chuckles weakly* I-I'm fine. Just a scratch. *smiles up at Apollo* Don't worry. 

I didn't sign up for this.

*turns serious for a moment* But it is. Always live in the moment, no matter what it is, cupcake. *twitches on a grin again, sparing a moment to put a hand on his shoulder* Hey, that was a good shot! The eye is fun. *shakes his head* You haven’t even seen fire yet… *gets distracted for a moment as he hears the short rendition of Radioactive from Percy and Poseidon* Oooh, sing-a-long’s…goodness gracious, great balls of fire! *sends the approaching empousai up in flames, the one behind her going up as well*

Sing-a-longs. I can't sing. I didn't get that ability from you. *smiles a bit, turning around and meeting a monster face to face; it rakes its claws down Michael's shoulder, cutting into him and causing him to cry out. Michael barely manages to just grab an arrow and shove it through the monster's chest, killing it* 

I didn't sign up for this.

We can do another take if you like! I’ve got a whole other range of tricks up my sleeve! I could do the fire slide, which is like a water slide, but on fire. Because I’m fireproof. *casually shoots a ball of flame at a lame monster, sending it up in ashes* My clothes aren’t always though, which can lead to awkward eventualities, you know what I mean? *fiddles with his bow, winking at an empousai* I don’t know. Been a little busy in the Middle East recently, so haven’t been keeping my best eye on camp. Or my other eye for that matter. I regret it now of course… *sighs and restrings his bow effortlessly*

*looks around camp, his heart shattering as he sees demigods falling along with monsters* This can't be happening. *shakily shoots a monster through his eye* Just keep doing the fire thing. But be mindful of your clothes. 

I didn't sign up for this.

*slides in, scraping the grass into mud, and shoots a following hell hound* Sorry, kid. My bad. Your mother was a wonderful woman though.

Well, that's one way to make an entrance. *shoots a monster trying to hurt another camper* How did this happen? They couldn't just... enter camp without inside help. 

Um...

*promptly squishes it with his hi-tops, then sits down on it for good measure*

*blinks, then slowly sits in front of him* Thanks dad. 

Um...

Her? Oh, her. Her…well, about that… *clears his throat* No, never mind. The point is, she’s never going to hurt you again, okay? 

Yeah. Okay. *still staring at the ice, as if it might attack him*

Um...

I didn’t think I really was….I’m sorry?

Yeah. Well. I'd better go. Enjoy camp. *leaves hurriedly* 

Um...

*winces* What’s it to you?

I’m just curious. Did I hit a nerve?

Yeah well, you don't need to know my life.

Um...

Oh that’s too bad. Do you have a lot of friends?

No. I don’t.

Do you get lonely?

*winces* What's it to you?

Um...

Oh that’s too bad. Do you have a lot of friends?

No. I don't.