My story | PJO x male reader

Chapter 37: The boatman

When I woke up this morning I didn't think stabbing a 7 foot giant would be what I was doing but, you know, life throws curveballs.

Almost as soon as my sword went through his skin he exploded into gold dust, covering us from head to toe.

"Y/N!" Annabeth's strained voice yelled across the room. 

I looked up and saw Annabeth still being stretched.
"Sorry." I ran over and cut the ropes.

"You look taller," Percy said as I pulled her off the bed.
"Very funny," Annabeth said. "Be faster next time."

That's the thanks we get?

I heard footsteps behind me and saw Percy walking over to Crusty's sales desk. On the bulletin board behind it, there were multiple advertisements for Hermes Delivery Service, and another for the All-New Compendium of L.A. Area Monsters. Under that was a bright orange flier.

It read, "We are always looking for new talent!" With the DOA logo right beneath it and, in smaller text, its address.

"I guess we know where we're headed," I told everyone
"Come on," Percy said.

"Give us a minute," Grover complained. "We were almost stretched to death!"
"Then you're ready for the underworld," Percy said. "It's only a block from here."

_______________________________

Valencia Boulevard. A normal-looking street, that is until you pass the black marble building that had, written in golden letters, DOA RECORDING STUDIOS. Even then, you could still argue it was normal until you read what was on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING. Yeah, that's not normal.

The moon was out, thankfully. Which meant that my hand wasn't bleeding anymore, same goes for the cut on my chest. It was completely quiet except for the honking of car horns and the wind sweeping through the area. Inside the building, however, it was brightly lit and full of people and sitting behind the security desk sat a strong-looking man with sunglasses and an earpiece.

Percy turned to us. "Okay. You remember the plan."
"The plan," Grover gulped. "Yeah. I love the plan."
Annabeth said, "What happens if the plan doesn't work?"
"Don't think negatively."
"Right," she said. "We're entering the Land of the Dead, and I shouldn't think negatively."
I silently laughed at that.

Percy fished in his pocket and pulled out the three milky spheres that he was holding when he emerged from the Santa Monica water.

Annabeth put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Percy. You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine."

She lightly kicked me and gave Grover a little nudge.

"Oh, yeah!" Grover said. "We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem."
"Yeah," I chimed in. "We'll be in and out before the sun comes up."

Percy just looked at us with a thankful expression. I tried to put my best "We got this," look on.

Percy slipped the pearls back into his pocket. "Let's whip some Underworld butt." Also, yes, I still make fun of him for saying that.

We went through the glass doors. Muzak played softly through hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, with every seat occupied. Speaking of which, the room seemed to be overflowing with guests. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out windows or waiting for the elevator. Everyone was like statues in Aunty Em's garden, just standing still and doing nothing.

I saw Annabeth focus on a guy in the corner, dressed like a pilot. She then straightened as if she saw a ghost. I know, bad choice of words, huh?

I focused on the man and the weirdest thing happened. The weird thing was that when I looked at him through my peripheral vision he seemed to look normal, but if I focused on him I could... see right through them. That caught me off, guard.

The security guard's desk was a raised podium, so we had to look up at him.

He was tall, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matches his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag.
"Your name is Chiron?" Percy asked.
The man slowly leaned across the desk and stared at Percy. He had a sweet but condescending smile.
"What a precious young lad." His voice was weird. It was like if you mixed British with... honestly, I still don't know.
"Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur."
"N-no."
"Sir," he added
"Sir," Percy repeated.
He pinched his name tag and ran his finger below the letter. "Can you read this, mate? It says C-H-A-R-O-N. Say it with me: CARE-ON."
"Charon."
"Amazing! Now: Mr. Charon."
"Mr. Charon," Percy said.
"Well done." He sat back in his chair. "I hate being confused with that old horse-man. And now, how may I help you little dead ones?"

Honestly, I didn't think we'd get this far, evidently, Percy didn't either. He quickly looked at Annabeth expectantly.
"We want to go to the Underworld," she said
Charon's mouth twitched. "Well, that's refreshing.
"It is?" she asked.
"Straightforward and honest. No screaming. No "There must be a mistake, Mr. Charon." He then looked at me, as if he was analyzing me. "How did you die then?"
I quickly remembered the pilot that I saw entering the building.
"Plane crash," I said, a little too fast.
"All of you?" He asked. "No parents?"
His eyes bore into me.
"No," I said. Trying to keep my voice level. "Orphans." He only nodded.
"Well," he cleared his throat. "I don't suppose you have coins for passage. Normally, with adults, you see, I could charge your American Express, or add the ferry price to your last cable bill. But with children... alas, you never die prepared. Suppose you'll have to take a seat for a few centuries."
"Oh, but we have coins," Percy said as he set three drachmas on the counter, part of the stash Percy found in Crusty's office desk.
"Well, now..." He licked his lips as if we just put a steak on the table. "Real drachmas. Real golden drachmas. I haven't seen these in..."
His fingers hovered over the coins.
C'mon just pick it up.
Charon then looked at Percy. "Here now," he said. "You couldn't read my name correctly. Are you dyslexic, lad?" Damn
"No," Percy said. "I'm dead."
Charon leaned forward and took a sniff. "You're not dead. I should've known. You are godlings."
"We have to get to the Underworld," Percy insisted.
Charon made a growling sound deep in his throat.
Immediately, all the people in. The waiting room got up and started pacing, agitated, lighting cigarettes, running hands through their hair, or checking their wristwatches.
"Leave while you can," Charon told us. "I'll just take these and forget I saw you."
He reached for the coins but Percy quickly snatched them back.
"No service. No tip." I'm surprised he had this much confidence.
Charon growled again- a deep, blood-chilling sound. The spirits of the dead started to pound on the elevator. Ok, I'm scared now.

Evidently, someone else was. I looked down to see Annabeth's hand gripped on my wrist. At least my forearm gets a break. I looked up at her face and gave her my best "It's gonna be fine" face. Honestly, I was probably more scared than her but I feel like, if I panicked it would have been 10x worse.

"It's a shame, too," I heard Percy say. This guy is either really brave, smart, or stupid. "We had more to offer."
He held up the entire bag from Crusty's stash, took out a fistful of drachmas, and let the coins spill through his fingers. Ok, he's smart.

Charon's growl turned more into a desire-filled purr. "Do you think I can be bought, gosling?" Hopefully.
"Eh... just out of curiosity," he continued. "How much have you got there?"
"A lot," Percy said. "I bet Hades doesn't pay you well enough for such hard work."
"Oh, you don't know the half of it. How would you like to babysit these spirits all day? Always 'Please don't let me be dead' or 'Please let me across for free'. I haven't had a pay raise in three thousand years. Do you imagine suits like this come cheap?"
"You deserve better," Percy agreed. "A little appreciation." Clink. "Respect." Clink. "Good pay." Clink. With every word, he put another gold coin on the counter.

Charon quickly glanced down at his Italian jacket, as if imagining himself in something even better. "I must say, lad, you're making some sense now. Just a little."
Percy stacked a few more on. "I could mention a pay raise while I'm talking to Hades."
He sighed. "The boats are almost full, anyway. I might as well add you four and be off."
He stood, scooped up our money, and said, "Come along."