Sorry for the long wait, I had to rewrite some parts and RL got in the way a few times. But fret not. Also if you're wondering if Percy and the others will be in this story... just wait they are coming I think their in the next chapter so just be patient.
As for other things, yes Remigio is nine years old, granted he doesn't act like it at times. In the current time line this is a bit before the first book comes out.
"" means Italian since there is more English spoken here than anything.
No father and son group could of gotten off to a better start than this one. It seemed that ever since Remigio had recovered that the boy was trying to go at his father's throat. It took Remigio about two weeks to finally recover and to be able to sit up and move, but once he was able to speak again he had been demanding. There was arguing and shouting and even curses flung at the god in white who simply knew not what to do other than throw water on the grease fire when he mentioned that he was in fact a god.
Charon wasn't sure what had had done wrong more or less what was wrong with his son. Surly the kid knew that he was the one who took care of him while he was injured. He made sure that he was well fed and even had a good bath and had clothes and a room for him to stay in for the time being. He had tried to converse with the boy when he was well enough in order to find out just how he came to be in the underworld and yet all those questions went unanswered if not half answered.
The god growled in annoyance, was it the fact that the child was wanting to go back to his grand parents? Was it something about his mother?
"I think your overthinking it brother," a sleepy voice said from the other side of the desk making Charon look up with a somewhat tired yet annoyed look on his face as he spotted his brother Hypnos looking down at him.
"Oh and I'm sure you can do better?" he asked with a huff as he sat up and fixed his jacket.
"One I'm older than you and*yawn* I happen to have my own kids already." the sleepy brother of Thanatos said with a sleepy smile on his face.
If Charon's eyes were visible behind his shades he would be rolling them in annoyance. "And if I remember Mate, all of your kids are still with their mums sleeping away the day." he added making Hypnos smile and chuckle some.
"All but Morphous, but he does his own thing." he added in before yawning again. "Besides if you don't want to keep him here you can always just go and send off to camp." he mentioned off hand as he seemingly pulled a pillow from out of nowhere as his younger brother looked at him with a cold face.
"And send him off into what? If you haven't forgotten, your kids don't attend more or less have a place to really stay at there." Charon snapped as he frowned disapproving of the baby blue pillow that was on his desk. He stood up and shoke his head. "Besides that camp is only meant for 'their' godlings," he said with a hiss at the disapproval. Charon started to move off to the elevator as his brother simply lifted his head from the pillow to watch him wander off.
"Okay so you have a point, but I would of offered my cabin if you know…" Charon stopped and looked back at the other god who gave a small grin as his wings flicked a bit.
"And who was the one that got kicked off the counsel?" the younger brother asked as he looked at Hypnos who made a face. "Our only representative for us and what happens? You get yourself kicked off because you went along with Hera's plan." Charon grumbled as he pulled out a card key and slid it into the slot. Though Hypnos frowned and went to follow after his younger sibling.
"Hey, how was I suppose to know what was going to happen?" he asked back as Charon stepped into the elevator as Hypnos followed along.
"I'll give you that, but running to mum?" Charon jabbed making Hypnos pout back.
"That wasn't part of my plan and besides I was still young," Hypnos said though he could feel that his brother was rolling his eyes at him. "Anyways I'm not the one who hasn't figured out why his kid hates him." he added making Charon stop yet slowly look back at his brother who smiled a bit smugly.
"And I'm sure you know,"
Hypnos frowned and leaned against the elevator door keeping it from closing making sure not to chuckle out loud as he watched him hit the button once again. "In fact I do, " Hypnos said as he could feel Charon glaring at him. " Morpheus has been looking into him. Which reminds me, you should hurry up and allow the rest of us to see him. You know before everyone decides to come over." His eyes kept drifting to his brother's face which remained the same. A moment of annoyed silence drifted between the two before Hypnos decided to speak again. "So anyways what were those coins for?" he asked off handed.
Charon was silent for the most part as he looked at the steel gray walls of the elevator as his older brother spoke to him. Yet a dry swallow was heard by Hypnos who cocked his head only to have his brother push him back and out of the door for the elevator to close. "It was for the future," he said in a grim voice as he hit the button for the doors to close leaving his brother out in the lobby without a single word for good bye.
Yet the sleepy god yawned and held his pillow close as he looked about the room spotting that there were still many souls waiting to pay for their fee and to be tooken to the underworld which without a doubt Charon was at mulling around in. "Maybe the kid is up?' he mused out loud as he went over to the wall that was behind the podium and knocked on it as if trying to find a secrete door in the wall. At first it seemed useless until he hit one spot and gave a lazy look as a door opened up seamlessly from the wall showing a annoyed looking Remigio who seemed to have just woken up due to his hair and tired expression.
^"Who are you?"^ Remigio mumbled as he looked at the odd man who looked like he was ready for bed. But seeing how he just woke up it took him a few moments to notice that there was a large set of wings on the guys back.
"Ahh there you are," Hypnos said with a small smile as he came up to Remigio who looked at him a bit worried as he was approached by the winged man. Yet unlike his father he couldn't understand him and moved to close the door. "Wait no, don't close the door," Hypnos yawned as he caught the door before the young boy was able to close it.
Remigio backed up even more not knowing who or what this person was that was intruding into his apparent father's home. He wasn't sure of a lot of things and this man was one of them, but as he tried to back up he felt sleepy and shuddered trying to fight the urge. Giving in and almost falling over, Remigio was lucky as the god of sleep managed to get a lucky catch. "Ohh a bit more willing when asleep, well come on then I'm taking you outside of this place. It's too bright to sleep." he said as he shifted the boy in his arms and left with him out the doors of the DOA without even a message for this brother.
When Remigio finally came to he was slightly chilled by a steady breeze. He was outside and surrounded by people walking around and chatting while minding their own business as kids ran about smiling and laughing while their parents made sure to keep track of them. He was set down against a palm tree, his clothes smelling now of sea salt instead of the dull air of his father's home.
It was nearing sun set and the people were still coming out in waves; some inline skating, others skateboarding down the walk ways as others stood in one place showing off tricks and stunts which drew in large crowds. There was no stopping of people who came and even as Remigio stood up, he couldn't see the end of the crowds not even when he jumped. Music boomed out from a stereo that someone was walking with, playing some unknown song that Remigio had never heard before.
The night life was seemingly starting up and surfers were heading out past him to the waves that were crashing on the shore as everything seemed to becoming more and more lively by the second.
"Hey kid, lose the get up and chill!" a slightly less than sober woman shouted as she pointed to Remigio as two friends were trying to take her off the sandy beaches.
Not sure on what she had said Remigio looked down at himself not sure what she was pointing at but noticed something. Everyone was wearing shorts and t-shirts if not bathing suits like the woman and sometimes something that would of made his grandmother scream and shout. Yet he was wearing a white long sleeve shirt and pants meant for a cooler temperature and not the one he was currently in.
He wasn't sure what to really do, but seeing no one that he knew more or less anything that seemed to come at him he started to stray from the palm trees and walked over to the board walk. Walking down the boardwalk by himself, he stole a look at every little thing and managed to check out a few side shows without being a bother to anyone.
This place was nothing like his home town of Rieti, neon lights took over the sky here and while the streets were not made of stone they were padded with wood and if not black asphalt which seemed to take over the land. People were loud and mixing and singing as if it was a celebration to be out on the beach as food was being served and passed out among friends.
Remigio bumped around place to place looking here and there for anything and everything that he had never seen before. But after a while his stomach got the best of him making him swallow and look around for food. He didn't remember the last time he had eaten, he wouldn't lie but his dad wasn't that bad of a cook. But eating in his room made him a bit homesick, he missed the family getting together to eat a large meal while the back door was open so allowing the cool air to come inside as well as the neighbors music.
Walking slowly down the street and thinking about home Remigio barely noticed that he was straying from the beach. Heading down the road he watched as people were waiting in long lines and or laughing drunkenly with friends. Things here we're just so different than from home. But as he made his way down the streets of Malibu, he started to draw the attention of the local cops who agreed that any nine year old who looked out of place in the area was out of his class.
"Hey kid!" one officer called as his partner moved the car up some as he went up to Remigio on foot as to not scare the kid. "Where's your parents?" he asked as Remigio kept walking not knowing that someone was speaking to him. Though it wasn't until the cop moved in font of him making him stop and look up at him. "Hey there, I'm not going to hurt you buddy." the cop said with a smile as he went to get eye level with him making Remigio back up.
He quickly frowned and looked at the officer confused before he tried to go around him not knowing that the other was trying to help him. ^ "I don't understand."^ he said as he tried to walk away only to have the cop move ahead of him once again.
The cop was at lost on what to say, as he didn't understand the kid but wasn't going to let the kid keep roaming without his parent around. Motioning for his partner to call it in, Remigio found frowned and snapped at the cop as he went to grab the edge of his shirt to keep him from wandering off.
^"Let go of me!"^ he shouted as he struggled leaving the other cop to look at his partner who was also confused. They could do to try to keep the kid calm and hopefully have him speak in a language they knew, but at the rate that the nine year old was going that wasn't going to happen any time soon. Radioing for help, they tried to find someone who knew what the kid was saying as Remigio was still struggling and shouting to get free.
The cops grew nervous with what to really do as they were starting to get odd looks from evening crowds.
"Wait the bear!" one cop shouted as he rushed to pop the trunk and pulled out a stuffed bear and his lunch box. If the bear didn't work maybe they could use some food? While his poor partner was getting kicked and shouted at, he came over and pushed both the toy and the bag of chips in front of Remigio who stopped and looked at the offering confused.
"It's okay. We're not going to hurt you." the officer said in a calm voice as he offered a smile to the boy who looked at him and then back at the items. "It's going to be alright, go ahead and eat, we're going to find your parents okay?" he said only to smile as Remigio took up the toy and the chips and looked at them unsure.
As Remigio sat on the curve eating the chips and watching the cops who were keeping an eye out for potential parents who would most likely be running around looking for him. Though it wasn't long for the cops to notice that the usually 30 minute wait had turned to an hour and then into an hour and a half with no sign that anyone was looking for the boy.
"We should head in with him," one officer said as he took a glance at the darkening sky which was starting to bring out the other groups to the area. Even with Remigio sitting between the two officers, every time someone screamed or shouted made him look around unsure. Not once had Remigio seen people act this way in such large groups while the cool clean air turned sour and smoky. "He's starting to get skittish."
The other officer sighed and nodded his head as he stood up making Remigio look at him "We're going to go to the police station." he said slowly as he managed to get Remigio to stand and walk with them over to the car. Though when it came to sitting in the back seat Remigio started up once again. The hard plastic seats were uncomfortable and the plastic and metal fence placed in between the seats did not help on making the back seats even more inviting.
Eventually though, Remigio was in the back seats, to his dismay, and they were driving back to the station in silence. For it being Remigio's first time in a car (and a police car at that), he wasn't too thrilled about it . The seat belt was too big and it pinned him to the uncomfortable seats while during each turn he slide ever so slightly on the hard plastic. The real kicker though was the unusual swaying motion that made his stomach churn. Luckily they lowered the window for some fresh air to get inside but Remigio still groaned feeling sick.
Once they got to the local station they had to rush to open the car door for him to rush out and throw up.
^"I hate driving,"^ he coughed only to have his back rubbed before being lead inside the station where the main officer on duty came out to meet them. While the officers spoke, Remigio found himself being watched by the secretary who smiled at him.
"Are you hungry?" she asked with a smile though Remigio simply looked at her before laying down and using the bear that was given as a pillow. Moments later he was being offering a microwave dinner which was new to him, but at least filling. Devouring the instant potatoes and the tough item called 'meat' which was chewed about twice as long than needed, Remigio huffed and curled up on the bench once again and was about to force himself to sleep until someone finally came around and said something he could understand.
A middle aged man dressed as if he was to go to the store came to sit next to Remigio and within a few awkward moments got him to speak to him.
"Okay his name is Remigio Bianchi, and he's from Rieti, Italy." the translator said with a smile though it made the cops confused as to just how he ended up in the states alone. ^"How did you end up here in California?"^ he asked with a smile though Remigio blinked and cocked his head confused.
^"California?"^ he said slowly and clearly confused even as the man before him tried to explain to him where he was at. But all he could do was shake his head clearly not having a single idea on where he was at. He knew about the Americas like any other student in his class but the names of their states and cities was something that simply wasn't covered.
The man sighed and shoke his head as he moved on though the cops clearly thought that something wasn't right if the kid didn't even know what state he was in more or less where he was even at. ^"Where's your parents?"^ he asked
Remigio looked at the man before looking off to the side with a shrug.^ "I don't have a mother, but I don't know where my dad is at. I think he might live here in California, I've heard him speak like them before."^ he pointed out as he motioned to the cops. ^"I just woke up on the beach under a tall tree."^ he explained not knowing the proper name of a palm tree.
After some more confusing talk and even some confusion looks between the translator and the cops it was a good guess that the kid was perhaps kidnapped by this tired guy who was knocking on the kids door. And that his father was a guy who was perhaps in the hosting business if he always wore white suites. But since the kid wouldn't tell them how he got to the states more or less if he had papers that someone packed for him it was quickly settled that the kid had been swooped up from his grandmother's place back in Italy and brought over. Maybe even kidnapped by his father.
As Remigio kept asking questions, he found out that things were not going to end as he wanted. He wanted to be on his way, not stuck at the station, and started to look around for a way out. There was something about what they were saying that made him nervous, but as a nine year old there were things he didn't understand, even if they said it in his own language. Lying about the bathroom he was surprised when they escorted him to one and was left to do as needed. While it did put a damper on somethings for him, he smiled at the fact that there was a small window, just slim enough for him to get through. Locking the door he was soon forging his way to the window and forced his way through only to struggle with the screen.
"Hey what are you doing in there?" the escort asked as he could hear grunting as Remigio tried to force himself through the window. The cop knocked a few times more before shouting for the translator to come over to talk to the boy who was now hanging half in and half out of the building as he was starting to have problems with his hips getting past the opening. Grunting and pushing himself with his one free arm he struggled until he got the second one out and pushed some more only to yelp as he felt someone grab his leg.
Remigio shouted out in panic as he realized that they had managed to get in and started to kick and struggle some more which allowed him to finally get through the window and fall to the ground with a solid thunk. But as he laid there resting and feeling his skin burn from being rubbed wrong he was forced to push himself up and start running as the sounds of running footsteps took over the quiet city life. While they shouted for him to stop and even tried to use the translator to stop him Remigio just kept running until he soon lost not only the cops but also himself.
With midnight just seconds away Remigio struggled to find life the further he went inland and was soon walking the streets alone and watching his back as stray creatures made their way here and there. His company was only the street lights, through a pair of head lights flicked on ahead of him causing him to stop and shield his eyes as their high beams blinded him . The quiet sounds of a car sneaking closer to the blinded demigod caught Remigio's attention as he tried to back up from the road until he bumped into a store front . He could simply feel his eyes watering from the sheer brightness of the lights and struggled to shield them and keep moving on.
"Hey guys look at what we have here!" someone said in a lose accent that made Remigio even more confused.
Remigio shifted until his back was fully against the wall and swallowed as the lights didn't ease up until two sets of shadows fell onto him allowing him to slide his eyes open ever so slightly.
"Awe he looks lost, hey you know what we do to lost kids?" a different voice asked as Remigio had a sinking feeling in his gut. He started to back away ever so slightly as he still couldn't see where he was going.
"Hey don't run off on us, we're just wanting to help." the first voice laughed as Remigio started to back up even more . The men moved closer as Remigio backed up even more only to have his wall give way as he fell back into an alley. Now in true danger and an escape path Remigio hurried to his feet and took off as he could hear the men rushing after him.
"Hey come back! We didn't even introduce our selves yet!"
Remigio ran as fast as he could as he had a feeling that if he was to be caught by them that it wouldn't end well. The alley way split and Remigio turned to the right as he found himself in another alley way before moving down another in hopes to escape .
"Hey come back we just want to play!" one shouted as their footsteps started to fade further away from Remigio. Remigio for the meantime took to the streets being weary of any and all cars and was doing a good job until he was spotted by a cop car and groaned as he took off running once again. For the nine year old the night was filled with running around and looking for hiding places until he managed to settle for the night in an abandoned house allowing him to sleep well into the next day in a closet .
Out of all the things that Remigio had been woken up by a large heavy wet tongue was just about the last thing that he expected. Groaning with a bit of annoyance he grumbled a few words as he rolled over only to be licked again and then gassed with what had to be the worse smell ever in his life. Shooting up, and awake, Remigio covered his mouth and nose trying not to gag at the foul smell what was being breathed on him. He wanted to gag at just how strong the smell was but the sight before him stopped him from doing so as he looked at the large black dog that was trying to cram it's large head into the closet to sniff and lick him.
^"Down, stop,"^ he said as he tried to push the large head back though he got a startling woof which caused him to back up against the wall stunned. ^" No barking."^ he muttered as he went to scratch the large dog's snout making it bark happily mush to his displeasure and wag it's large tail behind it. He wasn't sure what it was but so far it was being friendly to him and at the moment he was needing at least one thing to be friendly until he figured out where he was at.
The large hellhound whined and barked a bit more as it rolled onto it's back as it wanted to pull it's new pal out of the closet though it was destroying the room even more. Rolling onto it's feet, Remigio scooted back into the closet as he found that it was trying to paw him out only to break the door to the closet and lick him a few times before picking him up and carrying him in it's mouth as if it he was a duck.
^"No, let me go! Put me down!"^ Remigio said struggling as he felt himself slip between the teeth of the great hound who acted like it was carrying around some grand stick in it's mouth as it recrashed through the house that they were in and wander out into the street . The whole time with Remigio shouting and cursing at it to put him down before he settled and soon started to muse as to why no one was attempting to help him more or less spot the large dog with him in it's mouth.
^"Oh you made it home, are you okay?"^ Charon asked as he looked up from his podium as his son wandered in looking like a wreak with a large more than happy hell hound behind him.
Remigio shot his father a look as he noticed that the shaded man simply looked at him for a bit before going back to his work. ^"And you did nothing to help other then send some large dog after me?"^
^"Actually no, I think he just happened to find you instead of some other monster."^ Charon added as he shifted his glasses and went back to work on the soul before him. Though Remigio just shot a look at his father once again, he was mess his clothes were a mess with a combination of slobber and dirt as well as a stain or two of either blood or grease on them. With bags under his eyes it was quite apparent that his jet lag was not over. His hair was disheveled as it stuck in odd places from drool which did nothing for his attitude at the moment. Yet the hound went and licked him once again making him arch his back as his hair was now forced to stand on end as it dripped with drool.
Unknown to Remigio as he glared at his father his eyes darkened almost like his father's before he huffed and started ranting. ^"I've had it, I get kidnapped have the police and strangers after me for three days while I'm being used as a stick by that dog and you don't even bother!"^ he shouted as he paced back and forth unknowingly making the other souls turn their attention to him and get nervous. Which also got Charon's attention as he watched his son pace back and forth in a angry little rant. ^"I've been lost and starving and you didn't even try to look for me! And whats with the coins?!"^ he shouted as he reached into his pocket and tossed the few he found on the ground though the carpet muffled the sounds. ^" And what am I suppose to do with these? What was I suppose to use them for? They don't even look like the stuff they use here for money!"^ he shouted as the souls were starting to pace around. ^"Did you even notice I was gone?!"^ he shouted not hearing his father coming up to him with a plain look on his face. ^"Do you even care that I'm here?! If not I'll leave and…"^
^"And what?"^ Charon asked as he stepped in front of his son with a stern look on his face as his hands were tucked into his pant pockets. ^"Where are you going to go? You've been gone for three days, that's more than enough time for someone like you to find someone and tell them to take you back to your grand parents shop. "^ He said as he looked down at his son allowing the youth to see his reflection in his glasses as well as notice that something was different about his eyes. ^"As for those coins, it was your mother's idea. She wanted you to have some incase you was to ever happen to her. Which so far all that you've done with them is toss them on the ground in your rant. You're suppose to figure out how to use them on your own."^ he said in a slightly harsh tone. The once pumped up Remigio was now looking up at his father now lost to say on the subject. ^"As for the past three days, what do you think I was doing this whole time?"^ he asked as Remigio remained quiet . ^"You are a child who is half mortal and half god, essentially a godling. If you would allowed me before my idiotic brother jumped in to explain what I could you would of known that I can not go and send out help when ever you need it. You would also know that the self crowned king of the gods has his rules about interference with mortals. Which everyone basically breaks."^ he tacked on huffing some. ^" You're not suppose to be here, but I allow you to stay because you 'came' here."^ he added as Remigio started to look at the ground now as he could hear the strain in his father's voice. ^"I could of told you what you needed to know now that you're here, instead of being tossed out into the city like so. You were lucky to come back in one piece with a family member instead of being nothing more than a soul like most godlings!"^
Charon watched his son as the news seemed to be sinking into him. ^ "Now, pick up this mess and go get cleaned up ."^ Remigio said nothing but nodded his head as he went to pick up the coins that had weighted down his pockets from the past days. Once they were all picked up he walked past the souls with out a word and managed to find the door and went into the living area of the building as Charon watched before sighing. "As for you get out of here and go torment some other Godling." he said as the hell hound whined some before lowering it's ears and tail and walking off. "I swear, your going to ruin the carpet at this rate." he grumbled as he rubbed his forehead only to spot a coin that was left forgotten on the floor. With out a word he simply went over and picked it up and looked at it.
"I'm sure he'll get it, you don't need to worry." he said as if he was talking to some unknown person who was hidden in the shadows. Yet his form flickered lightly before he sighed and pocketed the coin before heading back to work.
…
The house behind the main office remained silent as the only one in it was Remigio though after a while a few items started to move about as a few souls were working cleaning house as well as working in the kitchen prepping food for both their current master as well as for the child that was now home. Working silently on the food the only time that anything was said was when one entered Remigio's room and went to set the tray of food on the bed after waking the boy.
At first Remigio thought that the his father had come in with the food but seeing another ghost he sighed and guessed that his father didn't want to see him at the moment and slowly shifted in bed to eat. The food once again was wonderful though for the young demigod it was a bit bitter seeing how he was being given all this stuff and yet he threw such a large fit because of it. Finishing the meal he thanked the soul and curled back up in bed giving a weary look at the box before closing his eyes to rest.
The next day, Charon was sitting in the den he was taking a small break when he noticed that his son came out of the bedroom and had spotted him.
^"Yes?"^ he asked as he set the Olympian times down. Remigio fidgeted on spot but he at least tired to look up at his father after messing up like so.
^"I'm sorry,"^ he muttered as he looked up at his father momentarily before looking back down. ^"I …"^ he said before stopping as he looked at the ground not sure what to say or do. He could leave and go back to his grandparents and face their wrath. ^"Can I stay if I help you?"^ he asked in a small voice making Charon twitch a smile.
^"And why would you want to do that? Didn't you want to go back to your grandparents?"^ he asked as he set his full attention on Remigio who looked up at him before shaking his head.
^"They don't like me. I'm not like mom."^ he admitted sadly as he looked at the floor not sure what was going to happen now.
Charon remained silent as he looked at his son. Once again he was caught in a odd place that he had never thought that he would be in. His son was looking at him for some kind of help, something that he couldn't give him fully. He didn't have the power needed to sway the counsel to his side if they were to find out about him being here. There was very little that he could do if Zeus found out that he was allowing him to stay. If he stepped outside with the King of Gods in a mood then Remigio would be no more. He would have to stay either here in his realm or in the underworld to remain safe, normally not a normal place for a godling more or less child.
A sniffle and hiccup drew Charon's attention as he spotted Remigio trying hard not to cry. ^"Please, I'll do anything just to stay here."^ He pleaded as he tangled his hand in his hair in attempt to keep himself from crying out loud for something to be done.
Charon sighed, he could be risking his only son's life but Remigio was begging to stay and work for him. ^"Stop crying,"^ he said softly as Remigio tried to stop. ^" I'll let you stay and work for me. You'll be protected against Zeus while in my realm and in the Underworld. But if you leave either realm you'll be on your own, and there would be nothing that I can do. You understand? "^
Remigio nodded his head as he wiped his face off with his hands, ^" Good now get cleaned up and go eat, I'm going to go settle a few things."^
Sorry for being so long, but like I said next chapter should have Percy at least being mentioned.