Disclaimer! Listen to… uh… "Clips That Minecraft Speedrunners Don't Want You To See" by Allister?
"So, who's gonna carry the kid?"
"The one who asks, old man."
Gareth sighed like he wasn't already intending to carry their wayward brother-in-falna. With his enlightening conversation over, he walked towards the unconscious boy. The magnificent battle –Gareth would bet that the kiddo is gonna level up- ended not too long ago.
"How's he, Riveria?" He nodded at the boy laying on some cloth. After it was confirmed that he wouldn't wake up she began giving him first aid. Her magic worked too, if not for the torn clothes and bloody grime caking him he wouldn't have guessed that he just killed a Minotaur.
"Stable. Give him rest and he should be up soon." With that said she got up, patted her knees, and nodded at Gareth.
Taking that as permission, he leaned down, bundled up the kid, and hoisted him into a princess carry. Looking around he saw more than one smirks and teasing glints in eyes. He looked down sympathetically at the sleeping boy.
"Sorry about this." Gareth knows that the younger executives won't let him live this down anytime soon.
Still, the boy is strange. Fighting the Minotaur by himself, Concurrent Chanting, every ability maxed out without exception, the magic he used, and Gareth is fairly sure that they've yet to see everything.
Oh, and apparently he is a Loki Familia member as well. Just where did Loki-sama scrounge him up?
Though Gareth has a few ideas. At first, he thought that the boy originally belonged to another Familia before joining their merry band. But that doesn't make any sense to him. The boy is powerful and he'll only get stronger from here on out. Add the whole Concurrent Chanting and that odd magic and no Familia would let him go.
But the other option is that Loki just found him in a random alley.
No, the boy is confusing. But does it really matter? The kid is part of their Familia.
He looks around the ragtag group of executives trudging beside him and notes something rather strange.
"Ais? Where did you find that feather?"
Waking up to soft humming is not something Bell Cranel has experience with.
He never knew what he was missing out on before, but now he wants to wake up like this every day. Alas, it doesn't change the dull throbbing in his… well he can't really pinpoint where. It just hurts everywhere.
Now, the question is why does he-
A rush of memories washes away his quiet confusion.
Oh.
Oh.
Hm.
Yeah, that- that would do the trick.
Huh. He beat a Minotaur.
Neat.
Hmm, he can still feel everything that matters. Either he is in Valhalla or out of the Dungeon. Based on his pain and the dusty smell of some flowers in the air he'd chance that this isn't Valhalla. Plus there is something very warm and soft in his hands.
He remembers no Valkyries coming to take him to the great halls either. Shame, he would've liked to see Loki-sama dressed in armor.
Maybe he should open his eyes for real this time, instead of just peeking and closing them with a hiss. What can he do? It's bright here alright?
Slowly blinking awake the first thing he noted was the ceiling. It was around as interesting as the dust in the air. But it must be said that it isn't a ceiling that he thinks belongs to his home. Not like he knows all the room's ceilings but he is willing to bet on it.
Based on the sun that was shining into his eye through a hole in the side of the curtain he'd say it was pretty early, somewhat after he'd usually go to the Dungeon. Speaking of early, he is very hungry and thirsty. Let's not even talk about the morning breath taste in his mouth. Fortunately, there is a cup of water just on the side of his bed, illuminated by the same traitorous sun that shone his eye out like some divine instrument. His left arm stretching for it –left because his right is far too comfortable- left him to stare at the bandages around it. They look clean like they were just changed. He doesn't see a speck of blood on them so that should be a good omen, right? Oh well, stressing himself out because of some bandages won't sate his thirst, or wash away the horrid taste for that matter.
As he slowly slurped away at the surprisingly, and heavenly, cold drink he took the room in.
It most certainly looks like a place someone would put sick and injured people in, if slightly disused. Four comfortable-looking beds plus his own line the wall, all with their own nightstands. The room is spacious but not horribly so, probably because of all the things in here. Opposite every bed is a nice window with a curtain drawn over it. Still, the light finds some way in and shines at the dust slowly dancing in the air. The whole room gives off a cozy, if drowsy, morning air.
'Now then,' he put down his empty glass, 'what's holding my hand?'
Slowly looking to his right, as if whatever captured his hand would burn off his face if he looked at it, he came across an adorable scene that brought a smile to his face. Without a second thought, or even a first, his only free hand started playing with the tussled red hair of the Capturer of Right Hands.
'You are drooling, Loki-sama.' He didn't say it aloud, in fear of interrupting her sleep, but simply used his sheet to gently wipe it off. His smile widened when her nose scrunched up endearingly but she didn't wake thankfully. Instead, the soft and sleepy humming only intensified. He spent the next few minutes playing with her hair, trying to flatten the disaster of a bed hair before giving up and simply running his hand through the silky hair as his mind wandered like the dust in the air.
He is… proud. Proud that became a hero for that group. Proud that he defeated all those Hellhounds. Proud that he fought against that Minotaur even when a part of his mind –the part that helped him survive the streets- constantly screamed to run.
'What is braver, to have no fear or to fight despite it?'
He won. He is alive. He isn't a coward.
His smile widened once again as a thought crossed his mind, 'Who knows, maybe I leveled up as well.'
Wouldn't that be nice? A step closer to standing beside his Familia's best. Some of the strongest people in the entire world, people that Loki-sama adores so much. People whom he calls his Familia.
His eyes snap up as a click sounds from the door to the right, followed by a soft creaking noise. In comes a figure that feels familiar. Strange, grandpa would shame him if he forgot someone like her.
She freezes for a moment when their eyes meet before her eyes flicker to the sprawled form of his Goddess. He isn't quite sure if it was his sleepy mind or something else but he would swear she smiled for a moment.
She mouthed a "good morning" and walked around the bed so she could sit on his left. He simply nodded, not trusting his voice nor wanting to break the ephemeral silence. Speaking of silence, he couldn't even hear her steps now that he thinks about it.
He watched as she looked over whatever bandages she could access with a cool gaze even as his hands have yet to stop playing with Loki-sama's hair. Incidentally, this leads to the discovery that he actually has bandages on his head as well. And torso. And legs.
Where does he not have bandages?
She smells like books…
"You are in luck." Her voice was somewhere above mouthing the words but below actually whispering. It seems that she doesn't want to break the atmosphere either.
When he shot her a confusing look she sighed and elaborated, "I was there during your fight. I was mostly able to heal you, nevertheless, my magic doesn't substitute natural regeneration. After I was done my friend carried you here."
Oh, "Thank you," he bowed as deep as he could without waking up Loki-sama, "but where is 'here'?" He tilted his head.
"In the Twilight Manor. The Medical Wing to be specific." She glanced down at his left hand and this time he knows he didn't imagine the twitch of her lips.
Lips that look very soft-
'Nononono, no, absolutely not! I'm not going there! She doesn't have lips, she doesn't have lips!'
Instead of dwelling on such vulgar thoughts, he looked down at the hand that seemed to gain sentience. He couldn't help the smile that spread across his face when he noted the small braid that wasn't there a moment ago.
"How are you feeling?" Her voice snapped his attention away from undoing the braid before Loki-sama woke up.
"…Sore everywhere."
"You hesitated."
"Did not."
Her supremely unimpressed stare told him how much she believed his lie.
"Let me rephrase that question, where does it hurt the most?"
"…My legs."
He barely finished the answer before the blanket was pushed out of the way.
"What kind of pain?"
His ears burn in embarrassment but her no-nonsense tone of voice helped him, "My legs feel like a giant bruise. Well, more than the rest of my body does. But it's okay! I had worse, I'll sleep it off."
For some reason the look she gave made him feel like a scolded child despite that she didn't even open her mouth. It's just a hunch but he has a feeling that he isn't the first to say that.
Maybe she is a nurse? She looks rather at home in here, the Medical Wing. Oh well, let's ask.
"Excuse me, but are you a nurse?"
She jumps so high up in the air that it's a wonder that she didn't hit her head on the ceiling. The potion she just got from a glass cabinet fell out of her hand. He watched in slow motion as a look of comical horror spread across her face. She dove for it in a maneuver he could only describe as 'desperate.
In the end, her hands caught the potion.
At the same moment as her forehead caught the nightstand.
He kids you not, the wood cracked under the impact. The only effect being her slightly ruffled hair.
Her head snapped to him so fast he could her neck crack.
"…Pardon?"
…
"Pff-"
Both of them blinked at the other in bewilderment. Then, as one, looked at the shaking form of their Goddess that tried, and failed, to keep herself still. Failing that, she whipped her head back and laughed uproariously. So much so that under their bemused eyes she would've fallen off her chair if not for Bell's quick reflexes.
"Sorry- pff- I- I didn't mean to break your bonding." She wiped a tear from her eye and looked at their collective embarrassment with clear amusement.
Even though he wanted to curl into himself Bell noticed that the nurse's (?) cold look of professionality was only broken by the beet-redness of her ears.
"Loki," she positively hissed, "do you not know it is incredibly rude to eavesdrop?"
"Sorry, sorry, I just couldn't help myself. Would you forgive this Goddess of yours, Riveria?"
The world muted around him as Loki-sama dropped the equivalent of a Monster Rex in the conversation.
Riveria.
Riveria Ljos Alf?
Princess of Elves?
Nine Hell's Riveria?
That Riveria?
'I just asked the greatest magician in the world if she is a nurse.'
Dumbass.
'I won't argue, I'm the shame of the Familia.'
…Are you okay?
'Just end my suffering.'
"Rabbit?"
"Yes." His voice was something akin to a death wheeze even though the dead look more alive than him.
"Did you enjoy the care of our resident nurse, Riveria-tan- geh!" She barely finished her sentence before a cuff to the back of the head silenced her.
"Leave the boy alone, Loki. He looks dead enough without your teasing."
Unfortunately, before his soul could find rest in whatever hell he deserves after calling Nine Hell's Riveria a nurse it was caught and crammed back into his body.
"You ain't escaping me yet Rabbit!"
Riveria, freshly done with their antics, cleared her throat to catch their attention. Fortunately, it only took… a few times to make them focus on her.
"Now that you are awake I believe introductions are in order." She dipped her head and held out a hand to shake, which he took, "My name is, as you might know, Riveria Ljos Alf, Vice-Captain of the Loki Familia. Currently level six with the alias Nine Hell." She smiled lightly, "Welcome to the Familia."
He smiled as wide as he could as he bowed as deep as his injuries and the bed allowed, "Hi! I'm Bell Cranel," he scratched his cheeks with his now-free left hand in embarrassment and mumbled, "I'm level one. I- uh- I'm a member of the Loki Familia. Please treat me well?"
Their moment was, once again, broken by Loki who let out a snort-giggle.
"The both of you are so awkward I can't-" and that was the extent she could go to before she fell back into laughing. This time Riveria didn't even bother with her.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Bell." She stood up with a nod and moved to the door, "However I must take my leave as I have business to attend to."
Barely managing a wave before she left he was left alone with the slowly calming Loki.
"Bell."
Oh no, oh nononono. He knows that tone of voice.
"I have the strangest feeling that I should scold you." This feeling might or might not have strengthened after he paled and stiffened until he resembled a particularly white rock, "But first, walk me through what happened. Top to bottom."
And so he did. Starting from his simple everyday dive into the Dungeon, how he investigated the screaming he heard, the whole debacle with the Hellhounds, and how he lost his last potion.
And the Minotaur. Let's not forget about that.
Loki, of course, called him out on his bullshit about jumping into the sea of Hellhounds. She roasted him so much about the whole 'Heroic Sacrifice' moment that it left him blushing up a storm. However, when he got to the battle against the Minotaur she simply narrowed her eyes. But when he finally looked her in the eyes he straightened out at the look of quiet pride in her eyes.
All in all, she simply sighed, ruffled his hair, and pinched his nose.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
"That's for making me worry." She let go of his nose and let him rub it before smirking, "So, quite the impression you made on your senpais. I'd say I'm the more dramatic between us but I'd be lying."
"…So it was them?"
"Hm?"
"I- uh- I don't really remember much about the end. There were some vague shapes and an amazing kukri but…"
"Not much more, huh?"
"Yeah."
" 'least Tione'll be happy about you praising her babes."
'Jörmungandr? So it was hers? I should thank her.'
As he averted his eyes they caught a bundle of white on his nightstand. Loki-sama must've noticed his gaze as she nodded at it.
"Go on, lil' lucky charm."
He needed no more prompting as he took it into his hands. It's slightly heavy, around twice the weight of his… knife…
Oh.
Holding back a snob with a sniffle –under the bemused eyes of Loki- he meticulously unwrapped the cloth.
He blinked, all thoughts of his dear knife pushed away, as the bundle revealed itself to be an awfully familiar horn and a Magic Core of a monster. Although, the Minotaur's horn looks different. It looks like iron heated from the inside with its dull red glow but when he tentatively poked it, it was cold enough to make him shiver. When he put it back down next to the Core he was surprised to see not only the horn glowing richer but the Core pulsated quicker as well.
'I suppose both are from the Minotaur then.'
"Ya like it?"
He hummed happily, mind not even there to register her words. Plans and dimensions of a new weapon forming before his mind's eye. There would be something poetic about making a knife from Minotaur horn.
He blames Loki-sama for his dramatics.
A flick to his forehead brought him back down to earth.
"Can ya walk?" She nodded at his legs.
"Of course, Loki-sama." With that said he stood up-
And almost fell.
"Oops, guess not." She said while holding him by the torso. It seems like she has no problem with carrying all his limp weight. Incidentally, this put his face into the crook of her neck.
'Fire and…chaos? How can anybody smell like chaos?'
"You done smelling me? And here I thought you're a Rabbit, not a wolf."
"Sorry!" He flew back into his bed with a flaming face.
She waved him off with her trademark grin even as she walked towards the door, "I'd tease ya more but I got paperwork," she said the word with so much palpable disgust that for a moment he thought she'd barf, "to do. Rest up kiddo, you got to introduce yourself to my favorites. Without, you know, playing 'Who can punch harder' with a Minotaur." And she left.
…Does- Does that mean he needs to talk with others? As in, multiple people at the same time? Also, favorites? Definitely the executives.
The executives who saw his mish-mash of a battle. He is proud of it, mind you, but something is embarrassing about your superiors seeing you fight to the death.
Great, like he isn't anxious enough about calling Nine Hell's Riveria a nurse already.
He slumped into his pillow.
'Unbelievable.'
"Oya? You awake boya?
He shot up from his bed and glanced at the short figure in the doorframe.
"Ah yes, I woke just a bit ago."
"Perfect!" He clapped jovially and moved to his bed, "Ya must be famished! We'll go to the kitchen!"
"Ah, I don't think-"
"Nonsense! Young'uns like you need food to grow strong!" With that said Bell was grabbed by the scuff of his neck and swung to the intruder's shoulder like a sack of potatoes before he realized what happened.
The only thing holding a scared squeak in was his pride… that and the mental exhaustion that comes with Loki-sama. He can't even muster up a decent blush.
"So, how are ya?" The intruder –whose name Bell yet to know- asked, unbothered by Bell's steady bounce caused by every step.
"Well." he is getting tired of people asking the same question, "Sore and hungry." The sore part not helped by the rock-solid shoulder digging into his stomach.
"Perfect then, no? Food straight from the kitchen is heaven-sent after a hard-fought battle! And if you find some ale in your cup then no one needs to know." He chuckled jovially in a way that made Bell relax. He likes this guy.
Though the part about alcohol made him green around the gills. Surely, he can hold back this time?
Bell noticed how his impromptu kidnapper stopped for some reason. Glancing up, his lips quirked into a smile as the man looked both ways shiftily before knocking a pattern into an unassuming wall. Bell's raised eyebrow soon turned incredulous as a vague door shape appeared on the wall before it opened so dramatically that Loki-sama would have approved. Hell, there was even smoke and mysterious murmuring!
The, apparent, door opened just enough for a stranger to poke her head through the crack. Her eyes narrowed and wildly glancing around a moment before, softened as she took in Bell's hijacker and they nodded at each other. After a moment, she looked down and caught Bell's curious eyes.
Raising an amused brow, she asked the-stealer-of-Bell-Cranel, "Is he the kid everybody been talkin' 'bout?"
"Yeah, decided to bring 'im here. Growin' boy and all that."
A moment of staring match –that Bell has a feeling carried a conversation- and both were let in. The glare of light made Bell scrunch his eyes shut for a moment. But when they were opened they grew as large as Bell's awe.
The whole kitchen –if it can still be called that- was three times the size of his living room and kitchen put together. Everywhere the eye could see were tools for cooking, stoves, pots, ingredients, and an entire wall just for fridges! He could even see a walk-in freezer!
The noise hit him a second later than the sights. A wall of noise he could barely decipher slammed into him. Clanks of pots, orders, slushing of soup, hurried footsteps, and the sure crackling of fire. People bustled from one side of the room to the other like a well-oiled machine.
And the smell. O, the smell! It makes his mouth water!
Bell snapped back to reality when he was gently lowered to a chair. His kidnapper –really, what's his name?- took a laid-back seat on the other side of the small table. All around him workers buzzed but left the table's general area alone as if he was in a bubble.
Before he could open his mouth, a blur jumped on the table so hard it wobbled and would've fallen if not for two sets of hands stabilizing it.
The blur…meowed?
"Ah, hey Purrsdóttir." The man reached out to what Bell finally realized was a cat and pat its head.
When the cat turned curious eyes towards him he felt the need to introduce himself, "H-hi, I'm Bell Cranel." And he –like the idiot he is- held his hand out for a handshake. Before he could feel appropriately like a fool the cat took his hand, unbothered by the booming laughter of the man still petting it.
"That must be the first time I've seen someone shake Purrsdóttir's paw!" The man laughed even as Bell turned red.
Deciding to take his mind off his blush he noticed the odd name of the cat currently licking his hand. His eyebrows furrowed as he mumbled, "Daughter of Purr?"
"Oh? You know?" His eyes snapped to the man's curious expression.
He nodded and started petting the cat- Purrsdóttir, "Mm-hmm, Loki-sama taught me a bit." He mumbled, trying not to be overwhelmed by the whole situation.
He didn't notice the man's expression soften and nod at his answer.
What he did notice was the sudden clatter of plates put down on the table, closely followed by another set slid right to his face, stopping just before it crossed the edge of the table. It must also be noted that Purrsdóttir got a bowl of fruits that she quickly started to devour.
He didn't notice that though. No sir, his attention was pulled to the meal that smells, and looked, more delicious than he had ever made.
"Thanks, Andhrímnir. I owe ya one."
His attention got pulled back to reality by the deep voice of his captor conversing with a man twice Bell's height and thrice his width. Though credit where it is due, the mass was no fat but heavy muscle. Bell almost snorted when he noticed the dirty 'Kiss the Cook' apron fitted for his size.
The man snorted like a bull, "Ya, I'll jus' add it to the res', Gareth."
Bell's stealer- Wait, Gareth?
'Bona-fide Dwarf, brown hair and eyes, laid-back, and strong.'
Gareth Landrock?
Top executive of Bell's Familia?
'Elgarm just kidnapped me!' He thought, gleeful in a way only a child could be. His earlier mortification about calling Nine Hell a nurse stopped him but now he can fully enjoy his very slight hero worship.
Unfortunately, it was at that moment that his stomach decided to make itself known by a roar loud enough that Bell swears the sounds of the kitchen stopped for a moment.
Before his soul could leave his body both men in front of him laughed from their bellies, with Andhrímnir patting Bell on his back. Well, 'patting' is a weak word. More like softly breaking his spine.
"A' leas' ya'll eat well!" He laughed and with a final hearty pat on his shoulder, and a nod to Elgarm, he disappeared into the sea of workers.
'How can someone as big as him just up and disappear?'
A clatter of wood on wood brought his attention to the two, rather heavy, mugs slammed onto the table by unseen hands. The liquid –something made of honey going by the smell- sloshed dangerously in it but didn't spill.
"Cheers." Elgarm held out his own mug over the table with expectant eyes.
"Cheers." He tried not to mumble nor stutter as he clinked their drinks together.
No more words were said as Elgarm nodded, satisfied, and dug into his meat after a mighty gulp of his cup.
Bell looked into his wooden mug, sniffed it, and was immediately assaulted by the nauseating memories of his first hangover. He almost pushed it away but the need to be a polite guest won out.
It's… not as strong as he thought it'd be. It is definitely honey mead but not even close to as strong as he thought.
Huh, strange. Elgarm has a reputation for liking his drink so Bell expected something heavy enough that a sip would floor him.
Not giving it any thought, his attention was pulled back to the delectable meal in front of him.
Wasting no more time, he dug into the pleasantly hot meat.
After the first bite, it didn't take long to devour the plate. A combination of deliciousness, hunger, and the atmosphere made quick work of it. The drink admittedly helped, the honey taste tinged with alcohol made the mead and meal work together wonderfully.
A few minutes later he leaned back on his chair with a satisfied smile. Really, it's a small miracle his stomach still looks flat even after eating as much as he did.
"Liked it?"
He looked back up to Elgarm as he finished his last bite and nodded with a smirk.
"And here I thought getting kidnapped by a hairy man would be worse."
Elgarm snorted into his cup as he leaned back in his seat, " Tis no kidnapping. Jus' bondin' betw'n brothers."
With that said Elgarm leaned closer to the table and held out a hand.
"Gareth Landrock's the name, kid."
Bell mirrored him and shook Elgarm's hand. Before he could introduce himself the man's hand tightened painfully. Bell, remembering Grampa's lessons, didn't back down and used all his pitiful Level 1 strength to match Elgarm's. After a moment of silent staring between them, he nodded and lessened his grip to something less bone-crusher and shook it once.
Bell almost sighed in relief but simply introduced himself, "Bell Cranel, sir. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir."
"Bah! None o' that Sir nonsense!"
"Gareth-san, then."
"Gareth."
"…Gareth."
"Good kid. Now," El- Gareth leaned forward, curiosity brimming in his eyes, "why don't ya tell this old man about your adventures? Starting with the Minotaur."
Bell paused for a moment, undecided whether to blush, as he is wont to do, or puff out his chest.
No.
He shouldn't- he won't feel embarrassed about his battles. They are medals to be worn, just as scars are trophies. No fighter should be ashamed about continuing to live.
And so, with a proud smile and a sip of his cup, Bell Cranel regaled his tale once again.
"So, let me get this straight-"
A snort sounded from somewhere in the crowd followed by a loud mutter of "Nothing you do is straight." That got a ripple of chuckles from the people and a blush of annoyance from the speaker.
"So let me get this straight." She stressed her point through the laughter, "you, a measly stick of a Level 1, decided to just feckin' jump into a bloody pool of at least a few dozen Hellhounds to… what, save a few dumbasses?"
"Yeah."
The incredulity on her face didn't lessen, if anything it grew before she regained her wits and continued, "and then, after, you know, not dying like a normal person who doesn't piss on the Fates' faces, you stumble into a fuckin' Minotaur-"
"The Minotaur stumbled into me-"
"Lemme finish dammit!" she snapped over the bit back laughs around the table. "You fuckin' ran into a Minotaur, and instead of- I don't know- getting your head smashed into tomato paste, you decked it into submission?!"
"That's… about right."
"Fuckin' hell kid," she fell back into her chair like a puppet with cut strings, "Oh, and you did this after wasting all your potions." She looked up with an 'I'm in awe of his idiocy' kind of laugh.
"…Maybe?"
"Madman, Madman I tell you!"
And that was the moment everyone in the kitchen exploded into laughter. Really, where else can you find this kind of entertainment but at 6 AM in the kitchen?
Bell got no less than seven hearty slaps on the back –but who counts them?- that almost broke his spine. And that's only for this story.
He dares not telling them how he got a Grimoire.
A pat on his shoulder heavier than the previous ones brought his attention to a still chuckling, teary-eyed, Gareth trying to gain enough air to speak.
"I knew it'd be amazin'!" Gareth leaned on him and finally caught his breath with the last chuckle, "man, ya sure know how to draw in people, eh kid?" He nodded at the positively cackling kitchen staff gathered around the table.
And, yeah… he has no idea when they got here. He was somewhere in the middle of his tryst with the War Shadow when a hand ruffled his hair –and scared the Falna out of him. It was at that point that he noticed the hubbub of the kitchen quietened significantly and how many were trying to listen in as discretely as they could. Which wasn't very discreet but the thought is what counts, right?
Still, it wasn't like he was opposed to more people knowing about it… even if he did feel a tad embarrassed.
Before he knew what was happening, people crowded around them. Bringing seats, leaning on the worktables, or just standing around the table. He was asked to retell the whole thing with the Minotaur and the Hellhounds. And it wasn't like he was going to say no to that. As he said, he didn't mind telling them.
He blames Loki-sama for his story-telling tendencies.
Plus, it's not like he added outrageous details to it like he heard a few do in the Hostess of Fertility. No harm done, just some fun.
"Aight people!" Andhrímnir's clapping brought attention to himself, "we ain't getting' paid to jus' stand! Get back to work! Those early worm bastards'll get here soon!"
The staff, grumbling, and cursing moved back to their tasks. But only after a few more pats and hair ruffles.
'What's up with people and my hair?'
Hmm, now that he thinks about it's almost breakfast right? He doesn't want to go back to being bored yet… and Loki-sama said she'd be doing paperwork. What if she didn't eat yet? What if she's hungry!
Oh no, he can't let that happen!
"Bell? You comin'?"
"I'm sorry Gareth but I want to make breakfast for Loki-sama. She is hard at work."
Gareth raised an eyebrow before shrugging, "Sure kiddo. Want me wait?"
If Bell is being honest he really wants him to stay. He doesn't like new places and new people, much less both at the same time. But Gareth must have other things to do. Being a Top Executive is no joke. Even if Bell has no idea what they actually do besides adventuring.
"You don't need to. I'll just talk with Andhrímnir if I can use the kitchen." Bell shrugged, trying not to seem like he desperately wants Gareth to stay.
It didn't work, "Then I wanna stay. Can't say no to that, aye?"
"…Thank you."
"No problem kiddo."
Finding Andhrímnir was easy, what with his size. Asking for a small workspace and some ingredients was just as easy, if terrifying. Bell promised to himself, and Andhrímnir, to not make a mess so he was allowed work in the corner.
As he made himself comfortable Gareth did so as well. For a man that has a tendency to fade into the background he sure speaks a lot. Oh well, not like Bell minds it. There is something relaxing about talking while whipping up some nice pancakes since he knows she likes them.
"So you like weapons?"
Bell almost dropped the plates when Gareth asked a question as they walked toward Loki-sama's office.
Blushing to the tip of his ears, he whipped his face towards a very amused Gareth.
"What? Was that s'pposed to be a secret?"
Bell pointedly looked everywhere but Gareth for a few seconds before slumping, "am I that easy?"
Gareth's amusement was palpable in his voice, "Nah, not at all. It was only, what, your every second sentence? At leas' Tione'll be happy, I swear that girl likes kukris as much as Finn." He grumbled under his breath so grumpily that Bell almost snorted.
"I'm sorry if I annoyed you, there is just something… I don't know, primal about blacksmithing? I'm sorry if I don't make sense but-"
"-hitting searin' hot metal that could melt you fingers off with a big ass hammer feels like being a badass? Kid, you don't have to explain it to me."
"Were you a blacksmith, Gareth?"
"Nah, I wasted away in the caves. Hated it with all my guts but I had a friend in the forge. Why Loki though? If ya wanted to make overpriced sharp sticks then got to Hephaestus. Or Goibnu but if ya asked me then I'd go for the hot babe rather than the old fart."
Bell choked on his laughter.
"What? Am I lyin'?" Gareth grinned and patted Bell on the back.
"No- no!" He caught his breath, "you- you get it wrong!" He wiped a tear from his eye before schooling himself, though a little smile played on his lips, "Loki-sama… Loki-sama was the first in Orario to help me. She," he gulped, previous light air turning heavier, "she helped me when I was a street rat. She looked at me, a scrawny stick with the dirt stuck on him pulling half his weight, and didn't hesitate to feed me, give a home, and a family I could be proud of, you know?" He scratched his cheek, looking as far away from Gareth as he could, "So when she told me how expensive equipment is I thought 'This is it, this is how I can help her'." He straightened himself and looked at Gareth for a moment before closing his eyes and scratching his cheek again, "Plus I thought blacksmithing was cool ever since I saw one work back in the village."
A silence descended upon the two, only their echoing footsteps in the suddenly far-too-empty hallway to accompany them.
And, as usual, Bell started panicking.
'I shouldn't have said that!' He screamed in the relative safety of his mind.
"I- I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" Before he could spiral into further apologies a hand firmly gripped his shoulder. After a dry gulp, he glanced up at Gareth.
In his eyes a certain glint –the kind Gramps had when Bell first brought back a hunted rabbit- that made him feel uncomfortable. Still, he didn't dare to look away, he couldn't.
"You are a good man, Bell. Never apologize for that." Gareth smiled and ruffled his hair until it stood every way conceivable, "If ya ever, and I really mean ever, need help find me, aye? Now," a harsh pat to his back had Bell straighten out and stumble a bit, "pancakes ain't good cold." And he walked to the wall. Before Bell's confused eyes the wall opened similarly to the kitchen's hidden entrance.
Bell continued to just stand there with a throbbing back, stupefied to the happenings in the last few… well ever since Gareth broke into his room.
And then his parting words registered.
His head whipped left to right, trying to find Loki-sama's office. In his panic, he walked forward-
And smashed his head into a wall.
'Ouch!' He messaged his red forehead and glared petulantly at the… wall?
No wait, it's a door.
A large one at that. Really, Bell never saw a functioning door this tall. Rather ornate too, made with a design that makes him think of Tricksters' Hideout. When his eyes moved to the right side of the door he suppressed a snort.
There, on a piece of paper stuck to the wall, read:
DO NOT DISTURB UNLESS YOU BRING:
BOOBS
COFFEE
WINE
FOOD
AIS
The best thing about it is that it was written in crayon.
Well, he got two of the five. And, no Loki-sama, wine isn't healthy in the morning.
Chuckling slightly, he knocked on the door and called out, "Loki-sama? I brought you breakfast."
"Rabbit?!" He jumped slightly when he heard muffled clattering before it silenced and she called out, "Come in Snow White!"
Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the door without a creak.
The room is pretty if you asked him. Deep green that reminded him of summer trees spotted everywhere, from the color of the walls to the rug in front of the deep brown table. Surprisingly, a decent number of bookcases covered the walls from top to bottom on one wall. On the other were what seemed to be mementos. Chipped swords, broken shafts of spears, ragged robes, half of a horned helmet, and many more that feel like they have many memories to them but he simply doesn't know enough.
"You done, Rabbit?" Loki-sama's voice next to him brought him out of his rumination. Blushing again, he nodded rapidly and put the tray of goodies on the coffee table between the door and the work table.
"Ohhh!" Loki-sama clapped her and smiled brightly, "~pancakes~ Ya, spoil me rotten, Rabbit!"
"No, no, Loki-sama, this is nothing."
"~I never said you should stop~" She grinned up at him before her eyes turned curious and she offered up a bite, "ya ain't eating anything?"
He scratched the back of his neck, "I already ate in the kitchen."
She rose an impressed eyebrow, "Ya found it?"
"Finding it is a strong word."
Her brow raised higher and a smirk played on her lips.
"Well, uh, there might have been kidnapping involved."
"Ya know I won't stop till you tell how that happened in the thirty minutes I left ya alone, right?"
"Of course." He slumped into the sofa and pointedly ignored Loki-sama's chuckles.
Nevertheless, he filled in the silence while she ate.
"Unbelievable Rabbit." She suddenly declared with an amused shake of her head after taking her last bite, "that'll be your alias when I have my way."
"Please don't."
She chuckled and leaned back on the sofa with a pat on her belly. It was at that moment that Bell noticed her different attire. Instead of the usual blue tomboyish basically-underwear-with-sleeves-and-a-hood, she wore in the morning, this time it's rather simple. A white office shirt buttoned from the second button until her belly button, black office pants that go down to the middle of her shins fastened by a brown belt.
She looks-
"You look very handsome today, Loki-sama." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could realize what he was thinking.
Loki-sama, for her part, simply paused mid-bite.
And smiled.
He only had a moment to regret every decision that led to this point.
"Oh? Is that so?"
From one blink to the next, her voice whispered in his ears. Somehow, someway, she leaned over the coffee table and captured his shoulder. He would've flinched back in surprise if not for the fact that he stopped breathing the moment her breath warmed his skin.
"Handsome, am I?" He couldn't see her face but the smirk was evident, "You know," the hand no holding his shoulder started playing with his hair, "handsome is not something I'm called every day." She chuckled airily into his ear, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say his whole body shuddered, "So this is how you like your girls?" She tugged lightly on his hair, just enough to tease him.
"Don't worry-" She pushed him up against the sofa but he cared not.
How could he, when he is acutely aware that she isn't wearing anything under her shirt? How could he, when he is acutely aware of the second button doing barely enough to hide the tantalizing view?
"-I like my boys cute." And pecked his ear.
He couldn't handle the burning of his lungs anymore and gasped. She sat back with a victorious grin while watching him choke on his spit. Coughing, he tried not to focus on her chuckles or the uncomfortable tightness of his pants.
Coughs abating, he crossed his legs in a way he hoped wasn't suspicious.
"Now then," she slammed down the last drags of her coffee, "daily fun had," she smirked at his burning face, "it's time we get down to business, capische?"
He straightened up, burning blush calming into embers. He had a feeling something like this would happen ever since he woke up.
It's time to decide his position in the Familia.
"But first," she stretched and jumped up from the sofa, "Let's update your status."
Blush slightly intensifying, he nonetheless nodded and took off his shirt while lying down. A moment later she straddled him and he tried focusing on something other than her glaring softness. If not for that then this would've been a perfect moment to… calm down if you get what he means.
In the end, the way to distraction came in the form of his previous stats copied down on a piece of fine paper.
"I know ya like comparing them. I dug it up for ya."
"Thank you." He replied absentmindedly, memorizing his previous step on the ladder of Adventurer hierarchy before remembering something he has been thinking about until Gareth stole him.
"Uh- um- Loki-sama?" His horribly meek voice stopped her before she cut herself, "Could- uh- could you- um- you said you could witness how I got excelia, right?"
She hummed, "Yeah? What about it?" She sounds like she has a decent idea about what he wants.
Try as he might, he couldn't open his mouth to answer.
Fortunately, he didn't need to.
"Do you want me to watch?"
"…Yes please." Because he might have told her about it but she wasn't there. He fought even when he wanted to run like a coward.
He needs to know if she would be proud of him.
Trying to wet his parched mouth, he instead focused on the paper in his hands before he panicked. Again.
Bell Cranel
Human
Level 1
Strength: B730 - S982
Endurance: B772 - S980
Dexterity: A800 - S989
Agility: A835 - SS1090
Magic: I0- I56
Skill:
[Liaris Freese]
Fast growth as long as the user fights.
The strength of the effect is equal to the user's will.
Magic:
[Loki Barn]
If the user sings a song of great importance to them this magic activates. They, and allies in a certain radius, gain a temporary boost to every stat besides Magic. Depending on the Verses the strength of this Magic may vary.
[Lágr Galdr]:Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa, fley ok fagrar árar.
[Baldr Afli]:Fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri.
[Loki Barn] Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa, fley ok fagrar árar.
Fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri.
halda svá til hafnar, hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva
mann ok annan.
[Lágr Galdr]: 100 points.
[Baldr Afli]: 200 points
[Loki Barn]: 500 points.
Should the user use this Magic to its fullest potential total Mind capacity is halved.
He… still can't believe he has magic similar to Nine Hell's.
'Loki-sama was sure blown away, huh?' He chuckled lightly, he won't forget that day till the day the bells toll for him. Not that he can claim otherwise, the moment he processed it he fell in love.
However, before he could list all the reasons his magic is amazing he felt Loki-sama bury her head into his hair and place a small kiss on it. Blushing to the roots of his hair, he almost whipped his head back but her muffled voice stopped him.
"When-," her choked voice so full of emotions stilled him, blush long since forgotten, "When you take your last breath after the greatest battle you can imagine I will take you to the Great Halls myself." He'd deny it till he turned into dust but he could hear her sniffle a bit,"I swear upon my name, Bell Cranel."
He hummed lightly, equal parts feeling it appropriate and not knowing what to say. Still, he needs to say something.
But the truth is always the best answer.
"I believe you, Loki."
A simple declaration- hell, not even that.
Just a simple truth.
A simple fact.
Bell Cranel will always believe Loki.
At that moment he could not know what he set off.
They stayed like that for what he'd peg as minutes but could be seconds or hours for all he cares. They didn't move, Loki-sama simply breathing heavily and sometimes planting more kisses in his hair. The kind that made his smile widen and his toes curl in happiness.
In the end, all good things must come to an end. With a heavy gulp and a final peck, she sat back up.
"Ya sure know how to make me proud, huh?" Her voice returned to the smirky quality that could only spell chaos, though he could feel the heaviness hidden behind it on his skin, "You are a feckin' beast, Rabbit. Here ya go," she handed him another parchment, "proof."
Bell Cranel
Human
Level 1
Strength: S982 - SS1146
Endurance: S980 - SSS1220
Dexterity: S989 - SS1095
Agility: SS1090 - SSS1337
Magic: I56 - D502
Skill:
[Liaris Freese]
Fast growth as long as the user fights.
The strength of the effect is equal to the user's will.
Magic:
[Loki Barn]
If the user sings a song of great importance to them this magic activates. They, and allies in a certain radius, gain a temporary boost to every stat besides Magic. Depending on the Verses the strength of this Magic may vary.
[Lágr Galdr]:Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa, fley ok fagrar árar.
[Baldr Afli]:Fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri.
[Loki Barn] Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa, fley ok fagrar árar.
Fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri.
halda svá til hafnar, hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva
mann ok annan.
Should the user use this Magic to its fullest potential total Mind capacity is halved.
"Fi- five hundred Magic?!" His voice made a rather accurate impression of a tea kettle. He shot back up as he frantically memorized the sheet, not even noticing Loki-sama's legs in his lap.
"Oh yeah, that too."
"That too?!"
"Right, forgot to tell ya… surprise! Ya can level up." She grinned at him, a hand coming to flick his nose that made it scrunch up before he processed what she said.
"Le- level up?!" Correction: His voice achieved Ultimate Tea Kettle form.
Loki-sama laughed and poked his face with her socked feet, "Don't be so surprised. It'd been comin' for a while. Ya just needed the last push."
'That…that makes sense.' He knows that people can level up the moment they achieve rank D in at least one stat but only if they have enough high-quality Excelia.
But still… he can level up!
He smiled down at the paper, 'another step closer.'
One step. One single step closer to them. The heroes of old, the heroes of now. His Familia.
One step.
More than enough for now.
"But five hundred?" He mumbled to himself as his eyes fixated on his Magic.
His seat dipped as Loki-sama leaned on him, halfway into his lap, "ya forgetting something, Rabbit." She flicked his ear that turned red at her closeness, "ya only won 'cause of that."
"…Because I was desperate?"
"Kinda. More like a combo of your bullshit Skill, Magic bein' your lowest, and the magic boosting so many people at once. Probably."
"Huh."
"Yeah. So," she grinned with full teeth, "wanna level up?"
She hadn't even finished her sentence by the time he showed his back, "Yes please!"
She chuckled but she cut her finger once again. He could hardly contain his giddiness as he felt his back warm up. Not a moment later he felt something like fresh spring air run through his body.
But… it stopped?
"Ohhh!" Loki-sama sing-songed behind him, "Not bad. Ya got some options Rabbit."
'Options? oh!' It only took a moment to remember Developmental Abilities.
It took another to understand that he is getting a Developmental Ability! And he can choose!
"Really?! Really, really?"
"Yep, ya got two. Either ya get [Hunter] or [Luck]. Ya know what [Hunter] is, right?"
"Of course! It makes killing monsters I previously killed easier. But what is [Luck]?"
"I got no fuckin' idea!" She chirped, "So which? Just for your info I'm, like, seventy-percent sure [Luck] is a rare Ability. From what I get it's as it sounds, makes ya lucky."
And isn't that a good question? He started humming a random melody as he thought over his options. For one [Hunter] is simply good. In the Dungeon, one must take every chance to survive and [Hunter] gives around half of them. Additionally, it would be fairly easy to level it up. Just do the same as before.
On the other hand… Well, he is curious. [Luck] doesn't exactly sound like it needs an explanation.
Well…
Luck is a skill too, right? He doesn't know how lucky he was until now but winning a Grimoire is nothing to scoff at.
Even if he doesn't remember much of that night he still has a good idea of what happened.
"I'd like [Luck] please!"
"Ya sure?"
"Yes please."
"Gotcha."
The previous feeling of a refreshing breath returned full force. But this time it didn't stop at his spine. Slowly but surely it spread from his back until his entire body felt like a cozy morning on a white winter night.
'No wonder people like leveling up. Is this how it cats feel when they purr? I want to purr too.'
He doesn't even notice Loki-sama's quiet "what the fuck" while he tries to memorize this sensation.
Slowly, like waking up next to the warm hearth, the feeling leaves him. The only reminder of it was Loki-sama's soft warmth at the base of his spine.
The quiet scratching of a pencil against the paper on his back lulls him deeper for a minute.
"Here ya go kiddo."
Opening his eyes –when did he close them?-, he takes the status paper and looks it over. The resetting of his stats was expected but he still feels his heart stutter. The new section saying Developmental Abilities is a bit odd looking but he'll get used to it.
It isn't until his second reading that his mind activates and notices it.
"Loki-sama?"
"Hm?" Her voice sounds just above his head and it is only now that he registers the curious sensation of Loki-sama laying on his back. Her hands interlocked in his hair and her head resting on it, no doubt looking at the paper. He doesn't know where this newfound need for skinship came but he isn't complaining.
Even if it makes… calming himself rather… hard.
"Is that a new skill?"
"Oh my, it sure looks like it." Her deadpan voice is accompanied by her legs swaying in the air.
"…huh. I can't decide which I like more."
Loki-sama snorts and rolls off him to sit on the other side end of the sofa. He slowly sits up, wide eyes not leaving the paper in his hands. He only reacts when Loki-sama puts her feet in his lap again.
"Holy-" he can't finish his sentence as it turns into an incomprehensible squeal halfway.
Bell Cranel
Human
Level 1 - Level 2
Strength: SS1146 - I0
Endurance: SSS1220 - I0
Dexterity: SS1095 - I0
Agility: SSS1337 - I0
Magic: D502 - I0
Skills:
[Liaris Freese]
Fast growth as long as the user fights.
The strength of the effect is equal to the user's will.
[Hvítr Járnsmiðr]
User can create personalized items relating to battle.
The user can temporarily use skills relating to the creation of items.
Development Ability:
[Luck]
Increases one's luck.
Magic:
[Loki Barn]
If the user sings a song of great importance to them this magic activates. They, and allies in a certain radius, gain a temporary boost to every stat besides Magic. Depending on the Verses the strength of this Magic may vary.
[Lágr Galdr]:Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa, fley ok fagrar árar.
[Baldr Afli]:Fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri.
[Loki Barn] Þat mælti mín móðir, at mér skyldi kaupa, fley ok fagrar árar.
Fara á brott með víkingum, standa upp í stafni, stýra dýrum knerri.
halda svá til hafnar, hǫggva mann ok annan, hǫggva
mann ok annan.
Should the user use this Magic to its fullest potential total Mind capacity is halved.
The next few minutes were spent with Bell's happy noises that could cure cancer and Loki-sama's amused eyes following his head as it whipped between the paper and her face.
Before long his happy giggling calmed into a beaming smile and light humming.
Loki-sama clapped her hands, "Now that we're all nice an' ready it's time to talk about your position, Bell."
He straightened up in his seat and focused on Loki-sama.
"I want ya to be a Second String." She held up a hand to stop his nervous questions.
"Before ya go all 'I'm not strong enough' and 'I'd just held 'em back' or shit like that I want ya to know I don't give a fuck." She leaned forward, idly tucking a wayward strand of his hair behind his ear, "You're too fuckin' valuable to waste away with the no-names."
He frowned.
She rolled her eyes, "I love my kiddies to bits but I got my favorites. I don't have time to waste on unambitious fools sittin' on their comfy asses. I ain't gonna sugarcoat it, you're too weak to be a Second String yet." He winced but didn't refute her, he is weak. That's why he needs to get strong, "But, even if ya were only half-decent and only got that nifty Magic of yours I'd still let you into there. Slap on that your spirit, your Skills and skills, your cuteness, and I got myself a new favorite." She shrugged, "Plus it ain't like ya'd be the only exception I made. The last one was Lefiya-chan and that's 'cause there is literally no one better for the Fairies."
"But…" he still wasn't convinced. He'd be the weakest there, what if he- "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link." So he decided to use her own words against her.
"Then it's a good fuckin' thing ya ain't a chain or link, no?" She smirked at his disgruntled face but continued taking apart his weak defense, "And even if ya were, wouldn't a link that strengthens the whole chain be strong even if it's weak?"
"That makes a disturbing amount of sense, Loki-sama."
She snorted, "No respect for a poor goddess like me these days I swear."
He chuckled and leaned back, hands idly massaging Loki-sama's feet. An action that earned him quite the sum of brownie points. Not that he'd know.
"And what would they say?"
"Nothin' that'd change my mind."
He sighed but didn't refute her words, Loki-sama is as stubborn as a mule sometimes.
"The Executives?" That's a big concern of his. The Executives are the main fighting force of the Familia, the wall that protects them. Their job is to take down the strongest opponents. However, the Second String is responsible for anything that might crawl through the cracks. They have to be just as mentally strong as the first line because they aren't as physically strong. The Second String supports the Executives as much as they support the unranked members.
And yet he almost ran like a coward from a Minotaur of all things. He didn't, he knows that, but if not for it blocking the entrance…
There are many things worse than a Minotaur.
How would he react then?
Would he run?
Would he stay?
Would it matter?
Loki-sama snorted, and for a moment it felt like his doubts flew away, "Ya should worry 'bout them the least." At his confused frown, she elaborated but not without a flick between his eyebrows, "Ya forgot who watched the fight?" Her tone softened, "Did ya forgot who carried you back? They were there from the start, kinda. They watched you bleed and scream and win. They watched you offering your soul to that old crow and be judged worthy. They watched you kick open those big-ass doors and step back 'cause you weren't finished yet." She grinned at his wide-eyed look, "Congrats, Rabbit! Ya lit a fire under their ass."
"So," She held out a hand, "will you accept the burden of their expectations?"
Oh.
Oh.
Well-
Uh-
-What's he supposed to say to that?
…
He would've snorted at that particularly dense thought if not for the butterflies filling his stomach and throat. Would've, if he wasn't lost in the ephemeral painting of Loki-sama grinning down at him as the sun hit her back.
He took her hand.
But really, what else can he say but-
"I do."
"Where are they?" Riveria's question broke the relative silence of the room. As if her impatient foot tapping wasn't already.
"No idea." Finn, as usual, was the picture of patience even while he dodged Tione's increasingly desperate flirting attempts. While she tried her best to decide between being smooth and being faithful to her racial tradition of taking her man he examined the meeting room.
'Well,' he conceded in his mind, 'calling it that is a little excessive.' It's really nothing more than a random break room that Loki likes. He has to give it to her, these chairs are very soft. Hmm, maybe he should get one?
Tiona, as usual, took up the corner bean bag with Ais. They seem to be talking about heroes once again and, curiously enough that he sharpened his ears, comparing the still unknown-named boy to them. Tiona -rather endearingly if you asked Finn- started calling the boy Argonaut.
Of course, that led Bete to scoff and get into an argument on the way back from the Dungeon.
Shame on him though, Finn caught him almost calling the boy Argonaut as well. It's always nice to have blackmail material.
But it isn't like Finn doesn't agree with Tiona. The boy admittedly got his blood to boil in a way it hasn't since he last leveled up. That fight and the emotions he could feel on his skin is not something that will be forgotten soon. Not by him and not by those who watched alongside him.
But who is the boy?
That is the question plaguing him since the battle. Little after the celebrations of a casualty free, and successful, dive died down the first thing he did was find Loki and ask her.
She simply smirked and told him if he wants to know then he should find out himself. That actually gave a lot more answers than one would expect.
The words she said were the same as his when he found Riveria and Gareth. It became something of a game between the two of them. Whenever he brings home some strays and she asks him about them he always answers the same.
'If you want to know, Loki, then you should find out yourself.'
The joke's on him though, whenever she does the same she gives the same answer to his question.
So Loki finds him interesting and decided to bring him home. Not for the first time and not for the last.
So he did the next best thing, question the people around the Manor.
They had no idea there even was a new member, much less someone that fit his description. So that's out.
He searched through the paperwork –even the ones that he entrusted Loki with to complete- to find nothing. No mention of a transfer from another Familia, no extra expenses for a new member, not even a mention of some flash War Game. Nothing. So paper trails are out as well.
And that was the moment he got a hunch. One of those hunches.
It forced him to go down memory lane. Quite literally.
That's how he got there. To the Hideout, a place that makes his heartache and flutter at the same time. The moment he laid his eyes upon it he felt his soul leave along with his breath.
It looked the same as he remembered. Well, that's not quite true. It looked a lot blurrier but that was just the dust.
But even then, he could feel that someone lived there. So he gathered the courage that named him Braver and opened the door.
He still had the keys, he just simply couldn't let go of the weight hanging from his neck like boulders. He wonders if the boy knows how many memories and souls reside in these wooden halls. How many expectations burdened the pillars once, so long ago? How the Goddess and Palum always knew that the many rooms would be filled to the brim for the simple fact that there was no other choice.
The boy lived there.
Sometimes Finn wonders if he knows about the memories and souls filling the place.
Loki let him live there.
And suddenly everything made sense.
The boy triggered her Sight.
The same sight that led Loki to the street rat that became Finn Deimne.
That…changes things,
He almost chuckled to himself, 'Understatement of the decade.'
To say Finn is curious is an understatement. It isn't new that someone catches Loki's passing interest. But to let that interest live where the Loki Familia began? That is new.
A loud shout drew his attention away from his thoughts. Refocusing back on the world around him, he smiled lightly as pandemonium broke out between Tiona, Tione, and, predictably, Bete. Searching through his memories, his smile widened.
'Seems like he couldn't hold his mouth again, huh?'
However, before a fight broke out once again, the door clicked open. Six heads snapped to it, only to let out a disappointed sigh as instead of the People of the Hour only Gareth stepped in, one arm hidden behind the door.
"Sorry, been kept away." He brought his other hand out, "Cookies?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Knew ya'd useful for somethin', old man!"
"Oi! I ain't old!"
"Sure, sure."
Finn chuckled to himself and leaned back in his chair. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Riveria doing the same. Exchanging a look, both smiled at the chaos brewing.
Not that they would have it any other way.
However, a tuft of blonde hair bobbing caught his attention. Raising an amused eyebrow, he watched as Ais disappeared into the chaos on one side and came out on the other in a blink, unruffled. Though he noted the batch of five cookies in her hand, one already halfway through disappearing into her mouth.
She took a seat beside him and munched on her bounty. He caught her eye, raised an eyebrow, and looked between the still-warm cookies and her a few times. After a moment of deliberation, she -with great reluctance might he add- took one and gave it to him. Chuckling to himself, he took it and bit into it.
'Good girl.' He pet her head.
However, a distraction in the frazzled form of Gareth slumping down into the chair beside his prevented him from basking in the content chipmunk that is Ais Wallenstein.
"You are late, old friend."
Gareth raised an eyebrow as he smoothed out his beard, "Late?" He looked around theatrically, "I ain't seein' Loki nor Bell."
That caught his attention, "Bell? The Argonaut?"
"Aye. Visited him in the wing, showed him the kitchen, fed him, got him to tell me about 'imself, he charmed the staff, got Andhrí to let him cook, and made Loki some pancakes."
"…Sounds like an interesting morning."
"Aye." Gareth's head bobbed.
"And what did you find?"
Gareth paused and narrowed his eyes at nothing in particular. After a moment he blinked, wet his lips, and looked at Finn seriously, "He is a good man, Finn. Nothin' like what you are thinkin' of." He leaned back in his chair, "I think ya'd like. 'Cause I sure do." He chuckled to himself in a way that had Finn smile along.
Finn opened his mouth-
"Fucking cradle-robber!" Their eyes snapped to Bete at the other side of the room before a half-eaten cookie impacted Gareth's face at subsonic speed. Finn watched, with the unsurprised eyes of someone that interacts with the Familia daily, as Gareth fell over and bring the armchair with him.
For a moment silence reigned supreme.
Then the door swung open with all the power of a divine kick.
Lo and behold, Loki.
"Mornin' motherfuckers!"
And behind her was an incredibly apologetic white-haired and rapidly paling boy –Bell. For some reason, Finn feels like the name fits him.
"Good morning to you as well, Loki," He paid no heed to Riveria's sigh of motherly exhaustion, "and Bell, if the grapevine is to be believed. I'm glad we could finally meet outside of the Dungeon." He held out a hand to the boy who looked like he couldn't decide if he'd rather be anywhere else or if he is in paradise.
"Y-y-yes sir!" Bell positively squeaked out but clasped his hand. Finn had to hold back a smile as he heard Tiona giggle, "It is a great meet to honor you- wait."
He could hear Bell's mind screech to a halt.
Not a moment before he could bite down a chuckle did the sisters' quiet amusement lose whatever subtlety it had.
"Pff-" The table housing the three troublemakers exploded into infectious laughter. Quickly followed by Gareth's uproarious guffaws and the slapping of his thigh. Although Finn isn't sure, he could feel the amusement rolling off both Ais and Riveria. And if his ears aren't lying then he heard them chuckle as well.
Not like he is any better, though he stopped at a light chuckle. No need to embarrass the already mortified boy anymore. Rather impressive too, he never saw someone go through the stages of grief so quickly.
Finn grasped Bell's hand firmly to bring him back to the here and now, "Finn Deimne, your captain. It is a great meet to honor you as well, Bell."
Taking the way out for what it is Bell shot him a grateful, but interestingly no less scared, look and gripped back surprisingly firm for someone so light. But then again, Finn is the perfect example of 'looks can be deceiving'.
"Thank you sir. My name is Bell Cranel, I- uh- I'm your subordinate?"
Finn brought the boy closer so his whisper wouldn't be overheard over the new round of laughter, "Only introduce yourself with your rank and Familia if it's serious business. Lest you risk coming off rude."
Bell's eyes widened for a moment before the earlier scared look lessened, overtaken by gratitude, "Thank you, sir."
"Call me Captain."
"Thank you, Captain."
He reached up and patted the Bell on his shoulders, "Make no heed of it."
It was at that moment that Loki –whose gaze followed the conversation intently- chose to make herself known, "Come one, ya two!" She tugged them to their seats. Incidentally, the two newcomers didn't have one until now. Thus Loki, in a moment of what must be either genius inspiration or her ticket to the 'Who's the Densest?' competition, chose to stuff the both of them into a love seat. This action got no less than three raised eyebrows.
Their lonely pair soon joined their brethren on the forehead when she casually draped herself over him. Although, the thing to catch Finn's attention is that Bell didn't seem surprised or embarrassed in the way he expected. Indeed, his body language indicates that it is more along the lines of people seeing them and not Loki basically melding their bodies together.
'Hmm?' Finn's well-practiced mask proved its ability once more as not even a muscle was out of place, 'Well-'
Loki stood up with great flair, thriving in the sisters' wolf whistle, "Are ya ready?"
'-if nothing else-'
"No? Then let's begin the p-p-p-party!"
'-this meeting is going to be interesting.'
WOHOOOOOOOO! 11K baby!
How did you like it?
Okay, so, since I still have your attention I want to talk about some things.
First of all, I decided I want to make this fic to be one of the top 3 DanMachi fics on FFN. Please help?
Second of all, I know this chapter almost took a month to complete. However, this time it was intentional… kinda. I'll be changing the update schedule –which was once a week for you newcomers- to one chapter a month. But, as you can see it, these chapters will be much longer and full. I don't know if you readers fill the same but I feel this chapter has a lot more content to it. What do you think? Please tell me! I also like this much better since I won't feel horrible if I don't write for a day since I can just complete it the next day, or even the next week.
Also, did you notice how I used the word 'Button' three times in a sentence? Because it sure does fuck with my beak. Alas, I couldn't think how to make more sense of it soooooo it stayed. I'm sorry for your blood crying eyes.
Speaking of Loki –cough!- a little talk about the status update scene. A reviewer kindly asked if the Gods could see the story behind how their children got their Falna. Since I read 'And so, Bell Became a Hero' –I recommend it to everyone- a few weeks ago I literally couldn't help myself from writing it. I'm not exactly sure if this is canon or not, but it is canon in my fic. Plus it gave me the green light to write a Soft™ and Tender™ moment between the duo.
Speaking of the status. Both Bell's Magic [Loki Barn] and Skill [Hvítr Járnsmiðr] have been an idea even before the first word of this fic. I know, I know, it is only Riveria that can do chant connection in canon but I frankly don't care. My fanfic, my rules. [Hvítr Járnsmiðr] will be expanded upon later… like starting from the next chapter until around the end of this fic probably. Also, I'm incredibly –I'm joking- disappointed that only one reviewer notice the little thing I did with [Luck]. I always found it slightly weird that Bell got it despite there not being any reason for him to get it even though it is a Developmental Ability. I decided to expand on it by making Bell more Luck and Unlucky. See point one, the Grimoire. See point two, the last chapter.
Also, did you like the little –or not so little- hints and scenes with Loki and Bell? What about Riveria? Gareth? The little look into Finn?
What about the kitchen and the many secrets of the Twilight Manor? You couldn't tell me Loki isn't the type of person to stuff a perfectly good manor full with secret tunnels, entrances, rooms, and whatnot! …Blame that on me being an HP fan and obsession with Hogwarts.
Anyway!
In the immortal words of NeonZangetsu and Atlas-
Review, would you kindly?
Author, out!