Bonus Content - Charon POV

Hey everyone!

The votes said you wanted Charon's little bit from the end of Chapter 10, so here it is, in all of its emotionally-difficult glory.

Charon and Hades are in some ways the most similar of the ROs, but it's really fun to write these scenes where they're grappling with their emotions, and realize how different they really can be.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

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Charon is silent for the trek, occupied by a swirl of thoughts more difficult to escape than an actual whirlpool. Now that there are more than thirty consecutive seconds to sit with their thoughts… they seem to have acquired a lot. Or rather, the ones that had first occurred to them, on the return flight, are now flooding back.

"Um, Charon... you're not mad at me or anything, are you?" Persephone’s voice is tentative; she sounds like she isn’t even sure she should be asking, much less of the answer.

A momentary spike of panic stabs his chest. "No," he replies, lifting his eyes to meet hers much too quickly. "Of course I'm not. It isn't… that. Please rest assured of that much."

They don’t want her to think that, of all things. How unaccountably cruel would it be, to allow her to suppose that she has done something wrong, when all of the wrong rests, as it ever does, with him?

After several more minutes, they arrive at her door.

Charon pauses, setting down the gifts he carries next to it for now, then turning to face Persephone as she follows suit. Their lips part, then close again with a dissatisfied hum. It's another long moment before he finds the right words. Or at least, words that will suffice for now.

"I… was wondering," he admits softly. "If it… is truly possible for you to be happy like this. In the Underworld. It is a question that has vexed me before, but I'm sure you understand why it has such heightened relevance now, of all times."

In some ways, it is the question. Here they are, after all. She has chosen to spend the majority of each year here, and he cannot help but see ahead to a future where she regrets that deeply. Where the shine, if ever there was any, has worn off, and she is only cold and lonely in this place.

But her tone is easy, confident. Warm.

"I know I can be happy here. In no small part because of you, Charon."

They wonder if she knows. That her smile could melt glacial ice. That this very sort of sentiment is the exact reason he worries the most. But it’s not something easily put into words, and as much as he wants to press her, to ask after it, to get that far-future result right now so they can do their best to put it right—in some things, there is no rushing to the end.

Charon takes half a step towards her, before drawing to a halt, frowning. "I… am glad you're here," he admits. The only thing he can imagine saying instead. "The thought of—I only ever meant to give you a choice. I didn't wish to form my own opinions about the results of that choice, but it seems that, in remaining indifferent to you, I have… rather spectacularly failed. The idea of an eternity without your company has come to sound quite intolerable, if I may say so."

And then, to his utter befuddlement, she takes a step forward herself, completing the motion he had inadvertently begun and wrapping her arms around his middle.

Charon stiffens with their surprise, unsure at first what to do.

Reciprocate, you utter fool. Give her some tiny modicum of what she deserves!

They force their muscles to relax, and their hands tentatively move up to rest on her back, just a light touch, just a brief one. If they allow this to become about what she deserves, after all, there will be entirely new problems to contend with. Complications they don’t especially want to think about, right now.

Releasing a quiet sigh, they drop their hands, stepping back and clearing their throat. They still need an answer, after all.

"I don't think it sounds great either," she admits with a soft huff. "Fortunately, it's not something we have to test out." She seems, as always, so very assured. Not loudly, but quietly. Softly.

"It is not," Charon murmurs, nodding to themself. Best just to try and accept it. However… unsettling all of this might be, in a strange way. None of it is her fault.

Hemming again softly, he reverses his earlier step by taking one backwards. "In any event, I have taken too much of your time. You are meant to be resting, so please… get some sleep, or whatever suits you. There will be other opportunities to speak later, should you wish it." A pause, and then, "I would, naturally."

"Sounds good, Charon," she replies simply, offering a smile. The fatigue is visibly beginning to pull at her, after all. He has to go.

So, with a polite dip of his chin, Charon takes their leave.