The Hidden Pillar of Olympus (PJO Male Reader Insert)

Curiosity

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Ares was waiting for us in the diner parking lot. 

"Well, well," he said, "You didn't get yourselves killed."

"If I were to die, I wouldn't give you the satisfaction of having it be because of you," I replied.

Ares gave us a wicked grin, "Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. You looked good on TV." 

Percy shoved his shield at him, "You're a jerk." 

Annabeth and Grover caught their breath.

Ares grabbed the shield and spun it in the air like pizza dough. It changed form, melting into a bulletproof vest. He slung it across his back.

"See that truck over there?," He pointed to an eighteen-wheeler parked across the street from the diner, "That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas."

The eighteen-wheeler had a sign on the back: 'KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL:HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS.'

Percy said, "You're kidding."

Ares snapped his fingers.

The back door of the truck unlatched.

"Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job."

Ares slung a blue nylon backpack off his handlebars and tossed it to him. Inside were fresh clothes for all of us, twenty bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of 'Double Stuf' Oreos. 

Percy was about to say, "I don't want your lousy-"

"Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover interrupted, giving him his best red-alert warning look, "Thanks a lot."

I looked back at the diner, which had only a couple of customers now. The waitress who'd served us dinner was watching nervously out the window, like she was afraid Ares might hurt us.

She dragged the fry cook out from the kitchen to see.

She said something to him.

He nodded, held up a little disposable camera and snapped a picture of us.

"You owe us one more thing," I said turning back to Ares, "You promised Percy information on his mother."

"You sure he can handle the news?," He kick-started his motorcycle, "She's not dead."

"What do you mean?," Percy urged.

"I mean she was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death. She's being kept."

"Kept. Why?"

"You need to study war, punk. Hostages. You take somebody to control somebody else," Ares explained.

"Nobody's controlling me." 

He laughed, "Oh yeah? See you around, kid."

Percy balled up his fists, "You're pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues." 

Behind his sunglasses, fire glowed as he glared at Percy.

"We'll meet again, Percy Jackson. Next time you're in a fight, watch your back."

He revved his Harley.

But before he took off, I materialized one of my blades and stabbed it into his front wheel, "No, You should watch your back, Ares."