—
What was Ottarl doing during all this?
Previously:
"Ottarl… take this."
"A crystal ball, Lady Freya?"
"Yes. You know what to do."
During the fight:
*Bell dives down the hole*
"After him Ottarl! Don't miss a thing!"
"Yes, Lady Freya."
*Ottarl jumps down the hole with the thingy*
"Yes… yes… good! More to the left!"
"As you wish, Lady Freya."
"Yes! Now go to the other side!"
"As you wish, Lady Freya."
*Ottarl runs around with the ball in his hands like a ESPN cameraman*
"ZOOM IN! ZOOM IN NOW! OMFG HE LOOKS SO F$% $* HOT!"
(It's definitely not because I forgot about him then couldn't power scale to make the fight a little bit more even)
—
"There they are."
Bell smiled as Ais pointed in their direction. Just a little bit further ahead of them was the small crowd of adventurers.
"Ais?! And Bell!?"
As they neared the encirclement, an excited voice rose to greet them. A small mob of people were making their way towards them, their smiling faces offering respite and relief to the wounded pair.
"You guys made it! Oh my g-"
Tiona's voice was cut off as Riveria pushed past her, taking long purposeful strides towards them. Her emerald eyes cut through the air, sending a shiver down their spines.
Is she mad!?
"M-Miss Riveria?"
"Riveria! Wait, it's not his fau—"
Fwsh.
Their voices were cut off as the tall elf swept her arms around them, pulling them both into the folds of her flowing robes.
"A-ah…"
"…"
This is… nice…?
"You two… are in so much trouble…"
Ais close her eyes, weakly smiling as she leaned her forehead into the embrace. Bell on the other hand nervously looked back and forth between Riveria's shoulder and their comrades behind them.
"Lets get you guys fixed up."
~ One healing session later ~
"O-Ow! Lefiya!"
Bell cried out in pain as Lefiya wrapped her bandages soaked in medicine tightly around his arm.
"Oh don't be a baby, it doesn't hurt that much."
She's still mad, isn't she…
"T-thanks… for helping me, Lefiya."
To his surprise, she didn't yell at him or reject his thanks. Instead, she only pulled out the next set of bandages and nodded.
"That's the job."
They sat in silence, besides the occasional wince of pain from Bell.
"Although…"
He paused and looked up, surprised at her gentle tone.
"…I'm glad you're in one piece."
Bell blinked twice, watching as the girl continued to work without meeting his eye.
"Thanks…"
"Ahem."
Another voice caused them to turn their heads to see Finn waiting just a few feet away.
"Bell? Can I speak with you?"
"U-uh, yes, captain! "
Lefiya raised her eyebrows at him as he stood nervously.
"You're so dead."
She mouthed the words with a stone cold expression.
I know that already!
Finn led Bell a bit away from the encampment, taking him on a slight walk around the perimeter of the area.
"It's been quite the eventful day, hasn't it?"
"Yes, captain."
"So…"
Finn sighed as he stepped forward, his eyes sweeping the barren landscape as he moved.
"Am I… am I in trouble… captain?"
Finn laughed lightly, his arms shaking in their casts where they lay folded across his chest.
"Heh… I guess you are, huh?"
Bell turned his eyes to the floor.
"The first thing that I have to say to you is…"
The boy braced himself for the worst.
"…I'm glad you're safe."
Oh…?
"That is my job. Keeping the Familia safe."
They stopped at the edge of a slight cliff, looking down the small drop below.
"So… I think you can understand that when one of the members I'm tasked with protecting disobeys orders to stay behind, or charges the enemy alone, or tackles an enemy down a pit, it makes my job rather difficult."
"I'm… sorry…"
He had no words, no excuses. He failed to control himself, and he put the expedition at risk with his actions. It was simple to understand.
"And so… it is with a heavy heart, that I must reprimand you."
Oh no.
"O-Okay, captain…"
"Your punishment is…"
—
"Bell…?"
Ais found him alone, walking dejectedly through the camp. He lifted his head, turning to face her with sunken, hollow eyes.
"What happened?!"
"T-The captain…"
He fell to his knees before her.
"D…Dish duty…. and bathroom duty… for the next 2 months…"
She stopped mid-lean, and straightened up, pulling her hand to cover her mouth.
"…"
"…Ais…?"
"…pfft…"
He looked up in surprise.
Is she…!?
"Ha…hahaha!"
Despite trying to hold it in as well as covering her lips with her hands, the girl had burst out laughing.
"A-Ais!"
His heart fluttered as he heard her. It was one of the only times he had heard laugh, and the first time so loosely. Her shoulders shook up and down, her hair danced down her back, and her lips curled upwards into a wide smile.
She's beautiful… and yet… why am I annoyed…?
"I-It's not funny!"
He jumped to his feet.
"Hah…s-sorry… I can't...hah… s-stop…hah… laughing…!"
Like a bell, the girl's voice rang out through the camp, drawing stunned stares from those around them.
She halfway turned away from him, attempting to hide her face as she wiped away the beginnings of tears welling up in her eyes.
"Cough."
Ah!
Once more, Captain Finn appeared behind them, startling the two and interrupting their little moment.
"Ais…? I've been looking for you."
He turned his blue eyes to her, a mildly amused smile on his face.
"Let's go on a walk… I'd like to talk to you for a minute."
All color drained from Ais' face as the captain beckoned her forward. Needless to say, she stopped laughing right away.
"…pfft…"
"Bell!"
—
"I'm jealous."
Tione crossed her arms as she pouted, watching as the captain went on a walk first with Bell then again with Ais.
"What? Why?"
Her sister lay on the ground next to her, stretching her arms above her head as she rested from the previous fight.
"They're monopolizing the captain's time!"
"He's punishing them… ya know…"
"Yeah, and?"
She clasped her hands together as she watched Ais hang her head in despair in front of Finn.
"I wish he'd take me on a walk… he'd look at me with those blue eyes and scold me for getting in trouble… "
"Huh… maybe you should go get in trouble then…"
"…"
"Wait. I didn't mea-"
"Sorry! Can't talk, something came up!"
Tiona jumped to her feet, just barely in time to see her sister run off towards a certain werewolf sulking around the outskirts of the camp.
"Oh no…"
"Ohhh Beeetteeeee…..!"
Tione's singing voice carried through the camp as she skipped over to her poor unsuspecting victim.
"LET'S FIGHT!"
"What the— Tione!? What are you doin—! Hey!"
Wack.
Tiona pressed her palm into her face as she heard the first punch landing straight in Bete's face.
"You're so dead you stupid amazon!"
"C-Captain! Quick, Tione and Bete are fighting again!"
Tiona spun as she heard an unfamiliar supporter shout out for the captain, who in just a moment came jogging through the camp to break up the fight.
"It worked?!"
—
"What's with those two?"
Lefiya shrugged as Riveria gestured to Ais and Bell sitting nearby, their faces both pale and downcast.
"Punished."
"Ah."
Riveria turned to look at a rather worse-for-wear looking Bete and a beaming Tione skipping to the end of the infirmary line.
"…and those two…?"
"Punished."
"Ah."
Makes sense.
—
It wasn't panning out to be a good day.
I was knocked out… me…! By a worm!
Bete scowled as he left the infirmary - for the second time that day.
And then that stupid girl comes after me looking for a fight?! And I gotta do dishes with bunny brat for three days?!
He cursed as he dug his hands into his pockets, kicking a small rock and stomping it into dust.
"Goddamnit…"
It really wasn't a good day.
"Uhm… excuse me…"
Who the hell…!?
"What."
He spun around to find the source of the voice.
Who…?
"Ah…! I uhm… I just…"
What was her name again…
He stared at the girl in front of him.
Lina… Lisa… Le… Lee something...?
"Spit it out, glasses."
Glasses…?
It was the first thing that came to mind - her round glasses.
"Ah! Yes, so, uhm… I just thought that maybe you were hungry…. So…"
She held out a small plate of food.
Food…?
"It's from the mess hall, er, tent…"
"…alright…. thanks…"
He took the plate from her with a slightly quizzical look on his face,
"O-Okay then! Uhm… see you later, then, I guess?!"
"Yeah. Bye."
With that, she bowed and ran off, her face flustered and slightly red.
What was that all about.
Bete sighed as he looked down at the food. His stomach turned slightly, growling as the smell of the freshly made dinner reached his nose.
Well… a little wouldn't hurt…
It really wasn't a good day.
But it wasn't all that bad either.
—
"W-wait up!"
A certain adventurer's voice reached his ears, causing him to turn around. Behind him, a familiar white haired brat was waving and making his way towards his group.
Really…?
He turned to look at his captain.
"Make it quick."
Ottarl grumbled and nodded, letting Allen stop for a moment to let the boy catch up.
"What."
"A-Allen… uhm…"
"Spit it out."
The cat man spoke curtly, his tail flicking back and forth in irritation.
"I… I just wanted to say thanks…"
"Hmph… don't thank me, I didn't do anything."
Stupid kid.
"That's not true!"
He looked at him indignantly, his eyes brimming with a shining youthful innocence.
He looks… different.
"You… your training… it ended up helping me when I needed it most…!"
Allen raised an eyebrow at him. His tail fell still.
"Is that so…?"
The boy nodded.
"Then if that's all you wanted to say, then get out of here. Scram."
He watched as Bell dropped his head dejectedly, his eyes darkening as he began to turn around.
Goddamnit… this stupid brat…!
"…nice job…"
"H-Huh!?"
Bell snapped his head back up upon hearing him speak.
Shit..!
"Nothing! Fuck off!"
Bell smiled and nodded before bowing and running back to his camp.
"Stupid goddamn fucking kid making me… fuck!"
He let out a chain of swears as he half jogged back to catch up with his group. As he fell in with Ottarl and the rest, his neck burned as he felt their eyes staring at him.
"…"
"Not a word."
He snapped as the others around him walked in silence.
"…nice job…"
A voice whispered out behind him, immediately met by a wave of snickers and light laughter.
"I'll kill you."
Silence.
—
Bell returned to the Loki Familia encampment with a skip in his step and a smile on his face. The makeshift infirmary was almost empty by now, with only Lefiya and Riveria cleaning up their medical supplies. Across the empty space, Gareth took off his Kiss the Cook apron and closed up the mess tent.
It's about time we left, huh?
He turned, looking once more around the 59th floor.
"Not much to look at, is it?"
It was Tione. The older sister of the Hyrute twins stepped up next to him, bandages covering her arms and hands.
"Yeah… it's all just… kinda different than from what I expected."
"So much for an exciting first trip to the Deep Floors then, eh?"
She poked him with her elbow.
"You should've seen it before the big one burned everything to a crisp."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, this placed used to be a jungle type floor."
Bell turned his head in surprise.
"What? A jungle?"
Tione smiled as she spread her arms out before her.
"Yup! This entire place was covered with these huge leafy trees - sort of like a super dense forest, but wet. It was super humid and hot, as if the air itself was wet."
"Wow… and the spirit… destroyed all of that alone."
That was the truth of what he had stepped into. Attacks on the terrain altering scale, unparalleled strength that would shift the very earth beneath them. Before joining the familia, Bell never would've been able to imagine what lay below his feet.
But now… I was able to follow the others down just like that.
"Something bothering you?"
"I guess so."
"What's up?"
Bell smiled as he gripped his hand into a fist.
"I've made up my mind. I'm gonna get strong enough to come back down here with you guys in the first group!"
I won't just sit back and let them carry me down!
Tione laughed at that.
"Heh, well then, you better keep on training - we're not planning on slowing down and letting you catch up that easily!"
He wouldn't have it any other way.
"Yo! Tione!"
Tiona waved from the camp, shouting out for her sister.
"I guess we're going, then. Our advance group is moving up first, so see you on the surface!"
She smirked as she turned to join Bete and Tiona in the first group that would carve the path back up to safety.
"Yeah, see you."
Just like that, they were off. Bell watched as the first group left, waving back to the Twins as they began their ascent.
"Hey."
"Oh, hey Ais."
He did a double take.
"Wait, Ais?!"
The girl appeared next to her like a ghost, her static expression as always staring at him blankly.
"Hmm?"
"What're you doing here? I thought you'd be in the advance group?"
She looked down, lifting her leg up slightly.
"Riveria didn't want me to push myself… and I also broke my sword, remember?"
Bell glanced down at the cast around her foot, then at her empty sheath.
"Oh. Yeah."
"Yeah… Tsubaki wasn't happy about that one."
Ais pulled her mouth into a thin line as she recalled the Cyclops' yelling.
"She kept shaking her head and calling me a monster for somehow breaking an unbreakable blade…"
How did it break anyways?
Bell laughed slightly.
"It is an impressive feat, if you think about it though."
She turned her blank stare to look at him.
"Ahah…. Anyways… so, what group are you going to be in then?"
She smiled.
"Well… actually, I thought that I'd go up with you."
Bell felt his heart skip a beat.
"R-Really?"
She nodded. At that moment, he could've sworn he never felt happier.
—
"Whew! We made it to the 18th floor!"
After a full day of traveling, they had finally made it back to the safe floor. Along the way, Bell once more took up his endless spree of gawking at each of the 50 something floors they passed through. Every new monster they caught a glimpse of, every strange item they came across.
It was rather... cute...?
Like watching an excited child at the Monsterphillia, his eyes widened and shining, his lips curled into a beaming smile.
Am I using that word correctly...?
Either way, the walk up was far from boring. She herself, as always, kept dialogue to a minimum. But, with the boy accompanying her all the way up, she found herself talking much more than usual.
As they stepped back into the familiar crystal light, Ais stretched her arms above her head and let out a sigh of relief. Next to her, the crowd of supporters and smiths halfheartedly cheered as they approached the rest site.
It's already getting dark… which means…
She looked up ahead, spotting several tents already put up as well as torches and sentries surrounding the encampment. As the arrived, Finn was already waiting for them. All the members of the advance squad were either running around with boxes and supplies or busy setting up tents.
"We're a bit tight on space since some of our supplies got… melted… by the Virga below."
Finn gestured to the empty camping space around them.
"So we're unfortunately going to have to ask you guys to share tent space to make sure everyone can get some rest."
Ais lifted her head at that. Turning her eyes to Bell, she noticed that among the equipment strapped to his back, a tent wasn't one of them.
Oh… huh.
—
