Chapter Text
The stale air of New York City usually just smelled like exhaust and yesterday's garbage to Nico di Angelo. But tonight, as he and Will Solace rode in Jules-Albert's sleek black car, a different scent prickled at his senses: death. Not the lingering, familiar kind that always clung to him, but something sharper, more… active.
"They're close," Nico murmured, the scent growing stronger. "A weird death smell. Not like anything we usually run into."
Jules-Albert, ever the stoic zombie chauffeur, navigated the labyrinthine streets until the scent became overwhelming. He pulled to a stop in front of a blind alley. Standing within its murky depths were two figures, their presence almost vibrating with an unsettling energy. It was clear they were waiting for them.
As Nico and Will stepped out, a palpable tension filled the alley. The two strangers immediately went on guard, their eyes narrowing. Chuuya Nakahara and Dazai Osamu. They could both, through their uncanny abilities, sense the "otherness" of the demigods – something akin to their own supernatural nature.
"They reek of death," Nico stated, his voice low and dangerous. He instinctively reached for his Stygian iron sword, but as his fingers brushed the hilt, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, the world tilting precariously.
Dazai’s eyes, sharp and intelligent, were fixed on Nico.
Nico felt nauseous, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. Then, a voice echoed in his mind, alone: "Leave us alone."
The voice was ethereal, but laced with a clear warning
Then resonating for all to hear, the dame voice. Coming from Dazai’s mouth now: "You will regret it if you so much as try to hurt us."
Will, his focus entirely on Nico's sudden distress, he was swayed on his feet, reaching out a hand to steady him. "Nico, are you okay?"
"Let go of your weapon," Dazai continued.
"No!" Nico tried to argue, gripping his sword despite the overwhelming dizziness.
A persuasive command, potent as any Charmspeak, then flowed from Dazai's lips, resonating deep within them all: "Let Go Of Your Weapons."
Nico's fingers uncurled from his sword, the weapon clattering to the ground. Even Chuuya, despite his apparent resistance, felt his fists unclench.
"Who are you?" Nico managed, the question more a gasp than the usual demand.
"No one," Chuuya replied defensively, stepping slightly in front of Dazai.
Suddenly, a piercing screech tore through the air from behind Nico, who stood with his back to the alley's opening. Dazai barely spared a glance at Chuuya, but the redhead was already glowing with an intense, crimson light.
He lunged forward, a blur of motion, directly at the source of the shriek. Nico could only raise his hands to shield his face as Chuuya soared straight through the monster, which exploded into a shower of golden dust. Chuuya floated gracefully back down, landing beside Dazai as if he'd merely stepped out for a stroll.
Nico and Will exchanged a look ‘They protected us’
"My name's Will," Will said, extending a hand in a gesture of peace. "And this is Nico."
Nico merely grunted, sounding as gruff as ever.
"We're from a camp for demigods, my dad is Apollo, and Nico’s is Hades." Will continued, trying to bridge the gap. "It's a refuge for children with powers like yours. You're children of a god."
"I ain't that guy's kid!" Chuuya exclaimed, his eyes flashing with indignation.
"I'm not anybody's kid~" Dazai sang, a teasing lilt in his voice, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Will and Nico shared another confused glance: What guy? Not anybody's kid?
"There are no monsters there," Will pressed, hoping to persuade them. "You'll be safe."
"We can handle them ourselves," Chuuya retorted, crossing his arms.
"But you'll be safer there," Will pleaded, emphasizing the word. Most demigods were easily convinced once they understood monsters couldn't follow them to camp.
"And there are others like us," Nico added, his voice unusually soft, almost pleading. He felt a pang of concern. They're definitely living on the streets, he thought, a strong desire to get them to safety settling in his gut despite the death that they reeked of.
Chuuya and Dazai exchanged a silent glance. They knew they were running out of both money and time.
‘It would at least be a bed’ they both thought.
"Do you have free food?" Dazai asked, his voice unexpectedly casual, almost as if he were just curious. They could handle the dangers of the streets, but food had indeed begun to become scarce.
"Yes! Everything is free, food and a bed!" Will exclaimed, seizing the opening.
"Okay, we'll come with you," Dazai finally agreed.
"No strings." Chuuya added immediately, his eyes narrowed.
Nico and Will exchanged yet another look. ‘They're weirdly in sync’
"Of course there are no strings," Will said, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "We just want to help you."
"Great! I'll shadow-travel us back," Nico announced, already shifting his weight, trying to slip more shadow magic past Will than he was allowed.
"No! You know the rules!" Will interjected sternly. "We're using Jules-Albert."
"Fine," Nico pouted, a sigh escaping his lips.
Nico whistled, a sharp, two-fingered sound. Chuuya and Dazai's eyes darted around, even more shifty than before, trying to spot this "Jules-Albert."
A sleek black car seemed to warp into existence, the air above the asphalt shimmering with extreme heat distortion until the vehicle solidified into view.
"Yo!" Nico called out to the zombie butler in the driver's seat. Jules-Albert merely gave a slight nod in response.
"He'll drive us to Camp Half-Blood," Will explained.
Nico and Will strolled over to the car, Nico naturally taking the passenger seat, Will settling in behind him.
Chuuya walked a step behind Dazai, who stretched out a hand to touch the car's sleek surface. He sent out a faint pulse of detecting magic, but all he got back is ‘It's just a normal car’
He stared at it and its occupants for a few seconds, Chuuya watching him expectantly.
Dazai carefully opened the back door. Chuuya walked past him and got in, positioning himself as far away from Will as possible.
Both Nico and Will were thoroughly confused by their cautious, almost wary, movements, but they let it play out. Jules-Albert, meanwhile, remained still, ready to start the car on Nico's command.
Dazai, still watching everyone in the car with unsettlingly wide, whale eyes, finally slid into the back seat, settling himself comfortably in Chuuya’s lap before closing the door.
‘Well, if that's what they want, whatever’ Nico and Will thought.
Nico nodded to Jules-Albert, who smoothly started the car. As the vehicle began to move, Chuuya's hands instinctively shot up to grip Dazai's waist.
‘Cuuuute!’ Nico and Will both thought.
"Wanna tell us your names?" Will asked, his voice gentle, trying not to overwhelm the two.
"Dazai, at your service~" Dazai purred, a confident smirk playing on his lips.
"Chuuya," the other boy offered, his tone clipped but equally self-assured.
They both sounded oddly confident, despite clinging to each other like wet kittens.
As the car began its two-hour journey, Nico and Will silently reviewed what they knew so far about their strange new passengers:
They both have powerful abilities.
They are intensely protective of each other.
Chuuya seems to know his godly parent?
Chuuya is a formidable fighter.
Dazai has Charmspeak.
Dazai doesn't have parents?
The drive was mostly silent, filled only with the hum of the car and the unspoken questions hanging in the air.