𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚔𝚒𝚍 - percy jackson x oc

004

IV - WHAT IS LOVE?

THE NEXT DAY, the three campers found themselves in a car wash in Denver.

"It's seventy-five cents," Grover muttered. "I've only got two quarters left. Valeria?"

"Nothing."

Luckily, Percy came through and handed over a quarter from Medusa's.

"Excellent," Grover smiled. "We could do it with a spray bottle, of course, but the connection isn't as good, and my arm gets tired of pumping."

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked.

"Iris-Messaging," Valeria explained. "It is mostly for the gods but if Iris—the goddess of rainbows—feels like it, she will help out half-bloods as well."

"You summon the goddess with a spray gun?"

"Unless you know an easier way to make a rainbow," Grover said as he turned the hose on. Water sprayed out and the sunlight caused a rainbow to shimmer into existence.

"Drachma." Valeria held out her hand and Percy placed one in her palm.

"O goddess, accept our offering," she said before throwing the coin in. "Half-Blood Hill."

A moment later, they saw Luke's back overlooking the field from the Big House.

"Luke!" Percy yelled.

"Percy!" Luke grinned as he turned around. "Is that Valeria, too? Thank the gods! Are you guys okay?"

"We are alright. We were hoping Chiron—" Valeria said.

"He's down at the cabins." Luke's smile fell. "We're having some issues with the campers. Listen, is everything cool with you? Is Grover all right?"

"I'm right here," Grover adjusted the nozzle and stepped into the frame. "What kind of issues?"

A fancy car pulled up into the next stall and started blasting hip-hop, specifically Insane In The Brain by Cypress Hill. The entire car wash facility shook from the noise.

"Chiron had to—what's that noise?" Luke called.

"Grover, come on," Valeria said. "We shall take care of it."

"What?" Grover looked confused. "But—"

"Give him the nozzle and come on!"

Valeria had an idea. She smirked at the satyr. He was already nervous from her expression alone.

Valeria snuck up on the all-black car and saw the driver of the car was still inside. She pulled open the back door and snuck in, knowing the music was too loud for him to hear.

The driver did not notice her presence and continued bobbing his head to the music. She leaned up and took his car key before returning to the back.

Valeria began tapping her fingers on his headrest. She noticed a little Puerto Rican flag dangling from the car mirror.

The man seemed to have heard the tapping and turned down the music to hear it better.