chapter 10: i love food-wait, my food!

She stared at Nico as they walked. He refused to look her in the eyes, always staring at either the floor or Minos. She wasn't used to this new shady Nico.

Minos came to a stop after twenty minutes or so, turning with that cruel light in his eyes. "You heroes need your rest, so take it. You have five hours."

He disappeared into blue light, leaving the demigods alone.

Hoa turned to Nico. "That guy is sus as hell."

Nico looked at her questioningly. "What's wrong with him? Don't use the term 'hell' about him. Also, what does sus mean?"

She flushed. "Uh... Sus is a term for suspicious, and if you don't know what's wrong with him, well... He's King Minos, Nico. He was one of the Biggest Bads in Greek Myths. I don't know how you trust him."

She watched as he sighed and stood, brushing off dust from his new aviator jacket. He drew his new sword, the midnight black blade sending a dark aura through the room. "Do you want to spar? I need to learn how to use this."

Hoa frowned, staring at the sword. "Ghost Dickhead has a point. We're both human, or at least part human. We need rest."

Hoa looked into his chocolatey brown orbs, and he stared right back. His face softened as he leaned closer, but stopped himself. Her heart beat as he drew his body closer. 

She raised a eyebrow, confused. "Nico? You good?"

He seemed to snap back into reality, looking away from and marching to the other corner of the room. He sat down, arms holding his knees to his chest as he stayed there, unmoving. 

The daughter of Deimos looked at him questioningly. Nico started taking bigger breaths, and she realized that he fell asleep.

Sighing, Hoa slowly walked over. She rummaged through her bag and found two hoodies, one red and the other black. She took the red one and put it over herself, rolling the other up. She grunted as she gently readjusted Nico, one hand around his back and the other around his legs. His arms uncurled around him as she pushed them away, moving them to his side before straightening his legs. The small hoodie was placed under his head, and voilà.

Her face was covered in red as she curled up right next to him, back to back. Their breaths filled the room as she dozed off, and strangely, she felt warmer right next to the cold body of Death Boy.

~•~•~

When the daughter of Deimos woke, Nico was already up, rummaging through the bag. He gave her a curt nod as she walked up to him, rubbing her eyes. In the backpack she saw some small snacks, most of which she recognized from trying to study modern-day foods. She picked up a large bag of barbeque chips and tore it open, not being civil in the way she devoured her food. 

Nico eyed her cautiously as he glanced at the bag label. Noticing this, Hoa asked, "Want some?"

He looked cautious and curious at the same time, hesitantly reaching a hand out to grab from the bag. She blushed as she moved a bit closer, allowing further access to the food. He took one and cautiously nibbled on it, eyes slowly widening. "This is good."

She smiled. "Wait 'till I take you to all the fast food chains."

"Fast food?"

"You'll see. Maybe we can stop by McDonald's along the way to wherever we're going."

"McDonald's?"

"Patience, Nico. Patience."

They ate in comfortable silence as Hoa decided to make a move, resting a head on Nico's shoulder. He stilled, but didn't push her away like she expected him to. She buried her head into the crook of his neck while he was frozen, breathing in and out. He began to relax, continuing to eat the chips and handing her some that she ate. She nestled on further, sighing as she gave up her chips. He wrapped an arm around her, hooking it under her shoulder as they sat there.

Suddenly, Nico pulled away. He was red-faced as he casually grabbed another chip. Hoa raised an eyebrow, and he chin-pointed to a spot where blue light was shimmering. Minos appeared, walking into the room and ushering them up. 

"You can't sit here all day. Get moving," he said to Hoa, then turned to Nico. "Good morning, master."

She sighed, leaning her back against the wall, looking away from him to try and conceal her rage. What have I ever done to you?

A hand placed itself on her shoulder. Nico gave her a reassuring look, steering her towards where they were going.

They followed Minos, turning at corners and choosing a path at forks. Nico's hand had a gentle but firm grip. Over time, it moved to around her waist.

After what felt like forever, they reached the surface, where it was midday. Minos stopped at the exit and turned towards the two, Nico subtly dropping his hand before Minos could see his affection towards Hoa.

"I cannot guide you in broad sunlight, so you will have to take care of yourself, master," he said. "Along the way, make sure that you get an offering to the dead. Should you summon someone, an offering is required."

"Thank you, Minos," Nico said. 

He disappeared into blue mist as he looked at Hoa again. "What were you saying about that McDonald's?"

~•~•~

They found out that it had been a few months since they left camp and that they were in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hoa recognized the area, so she dragged him to the Golden Arches.

Inside, she decided to eat simple. Hoa got a Quarter Pounder for herself and a 6-Piece Chicken Nugget Happy Meal for Nico since he didn't know what to order. Once they got their food, he took a bite of a nugget and his eyes bulged.

"Why didn't I know about this earlier?" he exclaimed, taking a dip of ketchup that Hoa opened for him.

"Have you tried their barbeque sauce yet?"

"Huh? What's that?"

Needless to say, Hoa had to get up and get more food. She got a 10 piece for the two of them to share as well as another five Happy Meals for the "offering" Minos said they needed, making a mental note to show Nico what Coke was. Mentally, she thanked Phobos for the money.

They two ate together, just chatting as normal. Once they finished, Hoa held all the food as they walked around Las Vegas, appreciating the view. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something familiar. Down a left turn, a familiar neon flower entrance glowed brightly as a bellhop called out to her. A sign was displayed the whole thing. 

Lotus Hotel and Casino. What the fuck?

Her happy smile faltered. She began to speed up, quickly looking away, but it was too late. Nico saw the sign and pointed. 

She panicked for a second, but instead of begging her to go, he simply said, "I've been there before."

She raised an eyebrow. "So have I. When were you there?"

He looked confused. "Maybe a month before Westover Hall. Why?"

"Do you know what that place truly is?"

"It's a hotel?" he said, giving her a what-are-you-talking-about look.

"It's a time warper, Nico. I went there after I got to America from the Vietnam War, because some idiot thought it was a safe place."

"Prove it."

Hoa looked at him. "Sure. What's the year right now?"

He rolled his eyes. "Easy." He told her the year.

"And what year did you enter the casino?"

He thought about it and stopped. "No way."

"Yes way."

"But... what..."

"It's ok, I went through it too. You'll be fine, I promise."

"Wait—you were there?"

She gave him a sad smile. "Once I got to America after World War II, I was sent to the Lotus Hotel and Casino, up until two years ago."

"You're younger than me?"

"What?"

He narrowed his eyes. "I got there during World War II."

Her eyes widened as her mind processed his words. "Shit, I am."

Finally, Nico cracked a smile for the first time since leaving the Underworld. "So... chronologically, you're younger, but biologically, you're older. Wow."

She coughed. "Anyways, Annabeth, Grover, and specifically Percy, snapped me out of my trance and took me under their wing. I went to camp straight after I got out, being chased by skeletons sent by my own father because he sucks."

"Like the ones that Percy sent after me?"

She hesitated. "I don't think he would have done that to you. His fatal flaw is loyalty, so he would never to anything to deliberately harm anyone from Camp. They probably followed him to camp and they reached him at the wrong time."

"That's a coincidence," he said sarcastically.

"Demigod luck is terrible, Nico. But demigods only have each other, being stuck between two worlds; the godly and the mortal. The gods hardly acknowledge us, but in the mortal world, there are monsters in disguise."

"What are you trying to say? Go back to camp? Trust each other?"

She thought for a second. "Trust each other is a good one, but I guess I'm trying to tell you to trust Percy. He gets himself into shit a lot—"

"What?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, most of the time that boy is as stupid as fuck. Percy fucked up one time and accidentally trapped Annie and Grover in waterbeds."

"Huh?"

She began to tell him the Adventures of Percy Jackson, telling him all the times he fucked up during his whole life. Nico cracked a small smile when she mentioned the waterbeds, and he started laughing when she mentioned Ares.

"How many gods did he annoy?"

"Soon, he's going to piss off every single one. Mark my words."

He smirked at that. 

"Anyways, his fatal flaw is loyalty, and I know that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Bianca. As fucking stupid as he is, he wouldn't do that. Don't hold grudges, okay?"

He looked down. "Okay. I'll try."

They walked in silence until they saw a small convenience store, with Hoa buying two packs of Coke. 

Nico frowned. "Why are you buying so much food?"

She silenced him with an ice cream sandwich.

They paid, leaving the store and settling down on a bench. Hoa cracked open a Coke, almost chugging it down. Nico watched her curiously, eyeing the drink. "What's that?"

She showed him the label. "Coca-Cola, or Coke for short. You can try some, if you want."

Nico looked suspicious for a second, before slowly cracking one open. He took a sip and his eyes widened. "This is good."

She smiled. "One of Percy's favorite drinks. He likes it blue."

He spat his Coke out, the drink almost as quick as a jet. "What? Blue?"

She laughed. "That kid likes all of his food and drinks to be blue. I don't know why, that boy is goofy as hell."

He smiled, then it faltered. "How come I didn't see you in the Lotus Hotel and Casino?"

She thought about it. "I usually played shooter and luck based games, so I always stayed in those sections."

"Yeah, I never played those. Which shooter games did you play?"

"Anything that was open. I never looked at the names."

"Oh."

~•~•~

Soon, nightfall came as Nico directed Hoa into a graveyard. He called Minos, the blue light flashing once more.

A figure began to take place as Minos appeared, that sinister look not fading one bit. He directed a look of disgust towards Hoa, one that she sent back at him.

He turned Nico. "Master, you brought offerings, correct?"

"Offerings like what?"

"Food and drinks work best, Master."

Nico looked at Hoa with pleasing eyes, though she couldn't tell what he was asking for. She played the safe game and pretended she didn't notice, turning to Minos. "You're taking my sodas?"

"Precisely."

"Seriously? This is perfectly fresh Coke. Can't we go out and get something else?"

"I'm afraid not, Hoa Pham."

"I bought McDonald's for this!" she cried. "Why can't we use that instead?"

"It's not enough," he snapped. "Are you participating or not? Either way, your food and drinks will be taken."

Nico gave her a pleading look, silently begging her to agree. Reluctantly, she answered.

"Fine."

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hi im madi, your loyal author ♥️ 

NICO GET MCDONALDS FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! :D

hes gonna be obsessed now lol

and for those who are curious, hoa is a refugee from the vietnam war who was taken to the lotus hotel and casino. she got out during the lightning thief, and has stayed at camp ever since. she and annie are also besties, which is why hoa knows so much about percy's stupid moments.

and also, if ur curious about the skeletons, its because hoa couldn't go on the quest in the lightning thief, so she had to split off and go to camp by herself, with dear old dad sending skeleton warriors after her to be annoying.

deimos sucks

how was the chapter?

also, what are some questions of your own?

anyways, tysm for reading this crappy book! 😃