A/N You almost didn't get an update today; it's been hectic. But here we go...
It's pretty short, so sorry.
The journey back to camp was slow and painful. Being unable to summon anything to help, Nico had to carry the still snoring Will into the car himself. It then took half an hour to convince Badger and Snake that they'd be fine in the car and that it was not going to try and eat them: apparently, neither of them had ever been in one. Then, Badger cried that they'd need to sign out of the hotel... all in all, they left a good four hours later than Nico had planned.
When he was not sleeping, Nico was bombarded with endless questions from the endlessly curious Badger. Fortunately, Snake did by say much and merely gripped her brother's hand. He did not think he would 've able to handle two sets of questions.
He ended up telling them his life story. Or highly edited parts of it, anyway. He neglected to tell them his exact feelings for Percy, and ignored too the months he'd spent listening to no-one but his own, self-loathing brain, and Midas' manipulative voice. Instead he told them about how he'd mastered his power, and all the cool things Camp Half-Blood could offer them.
I sound like a cheesy advert, he reflected.
They had reached Manhattan before he was stopped. He had been explaining about the Titan war (not in any great detail. He didn't want to scare them that much), and had got to the point where the Gods had arrived, losing badly to Typhon, when Snake let out a small whimper. Someone on the street nearby them cursed loudly as several crates fell into the road. A lorry ahead swerved and tipped over, blocking the street, and a car a few lanes back suddenly burst into flame. An old lady lost control of her dog - a massive great dane, easily reaching Nico's stomach - and it bounded through the street market, knocking stalls and people all over the place.
The traffic was going nowhere fast, so they all got out of the car and Nico clapped his hands, causing the black limo to sink back into the ground. Then they were swamped with people. Chaos reigned around them, and the noise and the mass of bodies pressing in and the voices and the stink of exhaust fumes made Nico's head spin. He clutched Will's sleeping body with one arm and Snake's elbow in the other, and looked about wildly for somewhere quiet to escape to. Nothing.
Then the white haired girl spoke. "Walk forward ten paces, then go left."
He stared at her. She sounded not only perfectly calm, but also as though she could see what was happening. He looked at Badger and the boy nodded.
"She's good in times like this."
He could ponder that later. He took ten hesitant paces forward, then turned dubiously to the left. After a few more paces, they reached a by road: still crowded, but marginally less so.
They followed the road. About half way down, Snake shrieked, "Watch out!", and shoved him roughly aside.
A heavy box of fruit landed where he'd been standing.
How did she...?
There was no time to worry now. Muttering a confused 'thanks' to the girl, he let her lead them out of the crowds. The quieter the streets became, the less Snake said, until when they reached a deserted road, she had returned to her old, unconfident self. He was able to recall Jules-Albert and clamber laboriously back into the car, dumping Will unceremoniously onto an empty seat.
Zeus, but the boy was heavy.
Snake muttered a sleepy "sorry," and, resting her head against her brother's shoulder, fell asleep. Badger followed suit, leaving Nico to wonder how it was that a blind girl was able to navigate perfectly in unchecked chaos, through a place she'd never even been, and what she could possibly have to be sorry about.
A/N So as I said, shorter than usual. But important things.
Thankyou, xxXThalico-loverXxx, for being nice and awesome.
A hint, seeing as no-one has correctly guessed Badger and Snake's parent. Will mentioned them a few times during his narrative. I welcome all guesses and reviews!
~Fi