Disclaimer: SAO and is subsequent characters are owned to their respected parties. PlainStoryTeller's fanfiction "A Second Chance" and its subsequent characters belong to him.
(Opening Theme is Endless Tears by Ayane)
2000 Hours – April 13th, 2024 – Aincrad 50th Floor – Vega's Weapon Laundering
"Thanks for taking care of me when I was… No, no. That sounds pathetic… Did I thank you for the soup already? If so then thanks again… No, that just…" Bellona practiced talking to a wall in Vega's room.
For the past two days, Vega had been taking care of her: Helping around the house, making sure that she was only going to focus on resting up. Now, feeling better, Bellona thought of thanking the younger woman for taking care of her. When she thought of the idea at first, Bellona had immediately dismissed the idea. But after some thinking, it was only fair to do so.
But living as a mercenary tends to make one anti-social.
Worse yet was whenever Bellona's headaches. Perhaps it was due to her own inactivity in the house, but her headaches started to get worse. Vega had gotten her some virtual medicine to help relieve the pain, but she always refused. Certainly the human mind was an easy thing to manipulate, just like the Virtual Reality world that they lived in as of now, but the usual minded Bellona refused.
Another side effect of Vega's presence was the growing feeling in her chest. Before, she could not relax or live "normally" without slaying a large number of monsters or midfield bosses on different floors. With Vega now as an inevitable part of her life, the growing void feeling was nearly halted. For the first time in some time, the usually stoic woman had felt vulnerable. Dependent. Weak.
The black haired mercenary growled, frustrated at her own idea as she flopped her body back on Vega's bed. In the time that she was still captive in Vega's household, she had decided to train on other skills relating for any normal soldier. Sword Skills such as Searching, Detection, Night Vision, Listening and even X-Ray Vision were in her main slots as she kept them on at all times.
A light knocking came from the door as Vega's voice came right after. "Bellona? You still awake?"
"I haven't gone anywhere if that's what you're wondering."
Vega giggled as she opened the door. With a happy smile she walked over to her innate and placed her hand over the woman's forehead.
"This is a game. It would work in the real world, but not here." The mercenary huffed.
"But it does feel like it's doing something right?"
"… I guess." Bellona looked to the side. She had admitted that it had a cooling effect to herself but she wouldn't say it often.
"Well, you seem better. And with the customer rush gone… Do you want to just go for a walk?"
The Cobalt Mercenary looked at the younger man with her usual stoicism. "Why?"
"I don't see why not. I mean we haven't really gone anywhere in some time, so why not now?" Vega replied as she played with her thumbs. After a while, Bellona was able to figure out the personality quirks of her warden. She always played with her thumbs whenever she was unsure or nervous about something. For some reason, this always gave Bellona's head throb but nothing too unnerving.
"… I see. Let's go then." Bellona got herself up as she brushed the clothing she had on. Vega's eyes beamed with joy as she skipped over to the closest. Opening the door with gusto, she grabbed a pair of short pants and two shirts as she tossed them at Bellona.
"What's this?" The black haired woman said as she looked down at the clothing. A casual dark blue shirt with orange strips down the sleeves.
"Some clothes for going out. Duh." The redhead answered as she started to take off her shirt. Bellona only blinked as she saw the undergarments of her warden. A casual pink laced bra.
"Uh huh. I have my own clothing mind you." Bellona said as she continued to look at her captor.
"And they are dull. Don't you have anything for just a casual day?" Vega asked as she aimlessly removed her pants. A matching pair of panties. Bellona just shook her head.
"You already know what a usual day for me is." The shopkeeper gripped the creases of her shorts pants and stubbornly stomped over to Bellona.
"And that is why you need to relax!" She said cheerfully, pointing a finger at the taller woman. "You need to lighten up a little."
"We are prisoners in a cage, where the cage's bars are starting to become blurred with reality."
Vega puffed up her chest as she jabbed her finger at Bellona's chest. "And what about yourself? You really can't deny that we are living here and now can you?"
"…"
"Well?"
Bellona sighed as she lazily took off her shirt and tossed it away, causing Vega to look away.
"… It's not like you haven't seen my nude before…" Bellona said, not unkindly as she noticed Vega's motion.
"But still…" The mercenary shrugged as she continued to strip. Vega quickly finished putting her pants on.
"So where exactly are we going?"
"Nowhere. Just… Walking around." Vega made the first move to the door and downstairs as Bellona followed just behind.
Heading through the shop and to the outside, Bellona looked about the city of Algade. The cities lantern lights all glowing against the darkness of the night. Players and NPCs walked about, coming back home from whatever activity they were doing in the virtual world. As players talked with one another, Bellona listened in to the people. Their joys and happiness reached out to her.
But Bellona did not feel a single thing. Attempting her best at looking genuinely happy, she followed Vega around as the two women walked about the inhabitants. Casual smiles and nods were exchanged between another at Vega while others had seemed to step away from Bellona.
"This was a terrible idea…" Bellona remarked.
"Because of your 'Orange Player' status?"
"You know the Army's propaganda machine is. All oranges are murderers. Red players."
"Is it any different from how real life is?"
"No it really isn't. The individual is smart. People however are dumb."
Vega didn't comment as she continued to walk with her companion down the cobblestone streets. Coming close to the Central Plaza the two noticed more players warping in from the frontlines, their cursors appearing above a blue flame as their bodies emerged.
"Ahh, we haven't eaten yet have we Bellona?"
Bellona's stomach growled in response. "Do you know any place to eat?"
"I'm surprised that you don't know a few player owned restaurants or even a few dives."
"I don't think a person like you would be welcome in such places."
Vega stopped as she turned back to Bellona. "So you would prefer if you went to a proper diner?"
Bellona looked to the side and gave a hesitant nod. As Bellona looked back at Vega, she saw her giggling, holding her stomach and mouth.
"What? I am being serious…"
"I… heehee… Never expected something like that to come from you." The Cobalt Mercenary lowered her head as Vega continued giggling. After a few seconds, she stopped.
"Alright, alright… Well. I know a few restaurants we could go to. What exactly do you want to eat though?"
"Steak… Or pasta. Something like that… And some beer too."
"Hmmm… There is a player run restaurant near the exits of the city. We could go there."
As Vega started to walk in the direction of the restaurant, she saw something that she never thought she would see from Bellona in a long time. A smile.
2015 Hours – Aincrad 50th Floor – Talia's
"Follow me." said an NPC waiter as Vega and Bellona followed right behind. The low dining light of the restaurant gave a cozy feel as players alike ate their food in peace. It was not a high class restaurant but it did have some sense of formal wear, like Cold N Hot back in Boston, Massachusetts.
Taking the seat that the waiter gave them, the two women sat down, dropping down their menus as the food provided by the restaurant appeared in lists. Vega clapped her hands and rubbed them. "It's been awhile since I ate outside."
Bellona on the other hand, gazed over at the menu. Some were in regular terms while others were in Aincrad terms. Blinking to wet her eyes, the mercenary turned to Vega.
"What you getting?"
"A chicken pot pie. You?"
"… I think I will get what you are getting."
The waiter returned, smiling. "So how about some drinks and then the orders?"
"I have orange juice and the chicken pot pie." The shopkeeper returned the smile.
"An Aincrad beer. And chicken pot pie."
The waiter looked at Bellona for a few seconds as her AI routines did an age check on the player. Giving a smile, the waiter nodded and said, "Alright, I'll be back with your orders soon enough."
Bellona watched the waiter walk away when she noticed Vega giving her a blank stare. "What's up with you?"
The redhead snapped back to attention as she said, "Oh nothing. Just… Gazing out."
"Uh huh." Bellona was unconvinced as the waiter returned with their drinks. "You are searching for something. Perhaps someone. What is it?"
"I do have something on my mind but… Well…"
"Well?"
"… It's something that I cannot talk about. At least not yet."
The Cobalt Mercenary shrugged as she started to drink down her beer. The bitter taste soothing her smoothly. Taking continuous gulps, she placed the glass down on the table with a satisfying clunk.
"Woah. You better not drink that beer too fast." Vega warned as she started to slip at her orange juice.
"I will not get us kicked out on my behavior if I become drunk if that is what you are thinking." Bellona gave a defiant huff. Vega giggled as she gave a small smile. "Huh, you? Drunk?"
"Before this game I was a senior at Boston University. I know my limits of alcohol."
"But how does the game mechanic work here?"
"Partial agonist increases in the bloodstream to increase a feeling of drunkenness. It works…" The waiter returned with another tall glass of beer as Bellona took it and drank.
"Like this?"
Bellona gave a slight smile as she placed the glass on the table again. "Very much so."
"And your limits are..?"
The black haired woman raised an eyebrow, her demeanor changing with a slight grin on her face. "Enough… If you want to challenge that."
"How would five tall glasses be for you then?" Vega leaned in, grinning a cat-like smile.
"Bring it."
2215 Hours – Aincrad 50th Floor – Vega's Weapon Laundering Shop - Bedroom
"I… Think you drank too much." Vega said as she carried Bellona's body to her bedroom.
The female mercenary muttered something incoherent as she groggily sprawled out on the bed. Her eyes were hazed over with a drunken stupor while the rest of body was relaxed. A slurred smile sprouted on face as her face carried a red color.
"Heh. I am up in Vega's room…" she muttered.
The redhead only sighed as she started to undress for the night.
"And now for everybody's favorite sport."
Bellona started to undress as well, though lazily and uncoordinated.
"Drunk babysitting…" Vega walked over to Bellona and helped the woman remove her dress clothing.
"Thank you…" The drunken woman said as she immediately went back to laying on the bed.
"Aren't going to change into sleeping clothes?"
"Why?"
Bellona flailed out on the bed as she faked snoring. Vega could only sigh as she laid down on the bed as well.
"Just what am I going to do with you?"
Silence filled the room as both women looked away from each other. Vega looked at the ceiling, waiting for a sarcastic response from Bellona but nothing happened. Shifting uncomfortably, Vega turned to see Bellona's face staring at the ceiling. To the ordinary person, it was usual stoic face, but to Vega, watching over this person for the past week or so, was able to see something else. Her usual stoic was masking something. Whatever that something was, Vega couldn't figure out what it was.
"… I was thinking that you would be kicking me out." Bellona said, her voice surprisingly sober.
"Why is that?"
"… No reason. Goodnight."