Disclaimer: I do not own DanMachi or any of Omori's original characters, nor do I make any profit off of my writing.


Bell had heard many sayings revolving around time slowing to crawl. Aiz, as luck would have it, has not.

"Watch paint dry? Wherefore wouldst I watch paint dry?"

"It's a figure of speech."

Aiz blinked. She didn't understand that in the slightest. She tasted the words on her tongue. Figure of speech? What?

Sensing her confusion, Bell turned away from the large pot. "A figure of speech is just like.. a saying that is used in a non-literal sense. It's rhetorical."

"Sayeth what one means, that ist what I thinketh, why must others speaketh in these riddles?"

Bell bit back a hiss when the pot started boiling over, his hand already making its way toward the dial on the side of the magic crystal stove. He'd already been watching it for most of the day, occasionally adjusting the heat to keep the pot at a gentle simmer or skimming the top of the water to remove the film that formed. He reckoned somewhere around seven hours had passed by now, but he hadn't really been keeping track.

He had to do a few pitcher runs just to keep the bones inside the water from being exposed. They needed to stay submerged, that was a very key point in the recipe book he found.

He glanced over at Aiz once more, shrugging slightly to himself. "I can't really say, it's just something people do."

"Hmmph."

He really hoped that 'hmmph' wasn't her being mad at him. He didn't want to upset her! She had just asked how his day had been – or rather, 'hast thou enjoyed thyself?' – and he had answered truthfully. Boiling bones for eight hours was about as entertaining as watching paint dry.

One glance over his shoulder proved that, in fact, Aiz wasn't mad in the slightest. Her cheeks were puffed out in an exaggerated pout and her arms were held hilariously straight, little hands balled into fists at the end. What gave her away was the little mischievous twinkle in her eye that he caught from time to time.

He rolled his eyes good-naturedly and took a step away from the pot, spinning around to face the girl whilst leaning back against the kitchen counter.

To say he had been hesitant about her coming to see him on his day would be an under exaggeration. The thought terrified him. It wasn't as if he was currently living at the height of luxury or anything. He loved his familia and he absolutely adored his goddess, she was all he had left in the world.

But the basement of a crumbling church is far from the place you want to show your love interest.

Aiz had been rather insistent about it all and with Hestia out and about for whatever it was she was doing; he found no reason to deny her. To think it had only been three days since they'd first met in the dungeon. They had become fast friends, with Aiz having no other person she was willing to speak normally around and Bell having just about every reason under the sun to go along with it.

Quality time with his rather massive crush? Sign him up.

(Add in that cheek kiss that he was still trying to wrap his brain around and he was more than happy to spend the day researching junket and boiling bones.)

He jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the pot. "Those should be finished cooking relatively soon. After they're done, I just need to strain it out through some cheesecloth and cook it a whole lot more."

Aiz pouted, for real this time, at the deadline. She hadn't thought it would take this long; she certainly didn't remember her mother slaving away in the kitchen. Junket had always been a favorite of Aiz's, though she supposed it did make sense her mother insisted it be a rare treat. She must have been working in secret to get it done for the little girl on her birthdays.

It made Aiz miss her all the more.

With that impatience came a wave of guilt. Bell had been doing all this work.. just because she had asked him to? He really was a sweet guy.

The boy standing across from her sobered up when the pout fell from her face. "Aiz? What's wrong?"

She shook her head softly as she gazed at him, her golden locks shifting over top her shoulders as she did. She'd opted for a longer dress today, far more comfortable without so much skin showing. Her current one was not unlike the one she often saw her mother in. Nobody really knew she owned it, nor did she parade it around town. It was one of the rare possessions that she kept in her 'spartan' room (or whatever Riveria calls it).

"Thou have mine thanks. I hadst n't known this would be so time-consuming, I wouldst not have asked it of you had I. I thank thee verily, Bell Cranel."

To emphasize her point, Aiz bowed lowly at the waist, her hair cascading down and exposing the back of her neck to the cool air.

Carefully, Bell pushed himself away from the countertop and made his way to the girl's side. He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and slowly pulled her upright, smiling at her when she met his eyes. "There's no reason to thank me, Aiz. You said this was something you would enjoy, I'm more than happy to do it. My day has been more relaxing than I've experienced in a while."

He would be lying if he said he wasn't curious himself. Sugar was never something he cared deeply for, especially not with his diet back home in his village. His grandfather and he had lived mostly off what they could grow themselves, only occasionally bartering for their neighbor's crop to add some variety.

From what he could tell, Aiz seemed much the same way. She'd spoken a lot when she had first arrived at his home, talking about the foods of Orario and how she wasn't used to them. He found himself agreeing readily, though to a lesser degree.

Either way, this dessert was something she apparently loved. He was rather excited to try some for himself when it was done.

His words only seemed to incense the girl more, one of her feet stomping petulantly into the stone floor. He should probably be worried about the cracks spider-webbing away from her toes and the way the ceiling most definitely shook, but he was far more scared of the more immediate threat.

"Why," her eyes narrowed as she turned to face him, "thou shalt accept mine apology and help."

The rookie adventurer swallowed thickly. He was fairly certain his life flashed before his eyes right then and judging by the slightly uncomfortable sensation in his pants, he may have pissed a little too. It was at moments at these that he turned to his grandfather's advice.

'Bell, if you ever anger a woman, do whatever is in your power to fix it. If you allow their fury to fester, they may very well finish their transformation into the inane bats they are.'

He was a bit of an asshole.

With that mindset in mind, Bell squeaked out a 'right!' and quickly ducked underneath her arm, retreating to the couch on the far wall. He sunk into the old cushion and found himself frowning when the couch creaked in a sound eerily similar to the noise he'd made in his fright.

Aiz watched him carefully for a moment before ultimately deciding she'd scared him enough and plopping down beside him. She smoothed out the fabric of her dress before pulling her feet up beside her and tucking them to the left, away from Bell.

Her golden eyes found purchase on his face as he glanced anywhere but her. She took the opportunity to scan his features, finding herself rather enchanted by his kind features. It wasn't something she saw a lot in this city, especially not in her fellow adventurers. It was a nice change, if not a worrying one. Would Bell be okay in the dungeon? She knows he can be rather bold and brave; he'd proven as much when he proposed to her the day before. But could that translate to monster slaying?

She didn't know.

From what she'd seen of him fighting kobolds and war shadows, he had potential. Past that, though, she didn't know. Glancing around his 'home,'Aiz came to another worrying conclusion. He had nobody to teach him how to survive, how to fight. He was all alone.

Unbidden, memories of her first few months in the new age came up, of her own fears and worries in this big city all alone with no idea where her parents were. She was surrounded by strange people who stared at her whenever she spoke and forced her to eat foods she'd never seen before.

At some point during her silence, Bell had gotten up to begin the next step in making junket. The slow draining of the water-filled the quiet room, becoming the backdrop for Aiz's continuing memories.

She'd gotten lost in the city more than a few times. She had heard stories of large cities as a kid, but one as large as Orario? It was unbelievable. She came from a small village and even then, her parents' home remained on the outskirts. The winding streets; the tall, stone buildings; the blistering heat that only worsened as the day wore on and the rocky city continued to soak up the sun's rays. It was all so unfamiliar.

She– she actually didn't know all that much about Bell and his past. That would need to be remedied.

"Bell?"

He hummed as he worked, a quiet acknowledgment and permission to go on.

"Wherefore have thee cometh to this city?"

The steady trickle of water stopped as Bell tipped the pot up and glanced over his shoulder toward his visitor. Soon enough, he began again. "I grew up in a village with my grandfather, we worked as farmers, but he always told me stories of the continent's greatest heroes." He gave a helpless shrug as he worked, gently placing the large pot atop the burner as he watched the last of the liquid drain through the cheesecloth. "I guess I've kind of always dreamed of wanting to be a man like them, a hero. I came to Orario to do that."

Aiz couldn't say she was expecting that. Her cheeks warmed at the notion of him being her hero. The very thing she'd all but given up hope for. Perhaps she could train him for the role? It was a bit odd and more than a little backward, but despite her strength, Aiz knew Bell was simply better. Not as a warrior (certainly not), but as a person. He had the potential to surpass if he worked hard enough.

It was.. nice.. thinking she could have that dream again. The one where everything goes right, and she gets her mother back with her hero at her side. She found she quite liked the idea.

"And?"

He turned and gave her a funny look, his mouth putting up a valiant effort to suppress the smile that threatened to bloom. "And what, Aiz?"

The girl simply rolled her eyes with a smile of her own. "And doth thee still wish it?"

Sheepishly, he rubbed at the back of his head, gracing her with a closed eye smile. "I guess I kind of do, more than anything really. It's all I've ever dreamed about." His rubellite eyes opened once again and met her own. She found the eye contacting searing, her skin felt unbearably hot, and yet she was perfectly content to bear it. Something about his words seemed to have a hidden meaning that she didn't quite understand. Perhaps it was one of those.. what did he call them? Figures of speech?

Aiz hummed in mock thought as she regarded him with a curious eye, her face was tilted away from him so that he could only see the golden iris of her right eye as she glanced at him through her long lashes. He found she looked rather coquettish with that look; it made his skin crawl in a way he enjoyed. "I think thee will maketh a wonderful hero."

He blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"Wherefore art thou sorry? No wrong has been done."

He gave her a strange look before shaking his head and dispelling the thought. Aiz must not have understood what she was saying, there was no way she thought he of all people, would make a good hero. She had been the one to save him, after all. If anything, it was her that would make a wonderful hero. He may have given up on catching up to her before asking her out, but that doesn't mean he had no intention of chasing her down regardless.

The large pot was placed back atop the burner, the murky liquid slowly rising in temperature as it sat above the flame. From this point on, all that was required was a series of reductions to slowly drive off the excess water. Then he'd just need to stick it in their meager-looking fridge and hope the tiny thing was strong enough to cool the liquid overnight.

He turned back toward Aiz's still worried eyes and gave her a small smile. "It is just another figure of speech; it means somebody doesn't understand what you said."

Her mouth opened with a silent 'oh' as she nodded in understanding. "Well, I meant that I think thee wouldst be a fantastic hero, given thee had the training."

".. "

".. "

".. "

Aiz cocked her head to the side as Bell opened and closed his mouth. "Thine mouth is open, art thou trying to disguise thyself as a fish?"

"Uhh.. "

"Oh! Thee doest wish to disguise thyself, I shall playeth along fain. Thy foe shalt never see it coming!"

It was reassuring to Bell that no matter what happened, Aiz would always be an airhead. He can't say he was expecting her to be so forthcoming with her approval of his dream. It was honestly a bit of a shock. In the end, he found his mind asking himself just one (rather important) question. Why does Aiz think disguising yourself as a fish would be a good means of sneaking up on a foe?

So, he asked her.

"Fie! Wherefore wouldst a person approach water willingly?"

Bell blinked. He could think of a whole awful lot of reasons for why somebody would approach water. To drink, for one. To swim, was another. Apparently checking for enemies should now be added to that list as well. The real question was, why is Aiz so adamant that nobody would go near water at all?

"I shalt not speak of it."

Odd.

Aiz let out a sigh before deciding to steer the conversation away from such bothersome areas. "Do thee have a trainer? No? Confound it all, very well, if thee shall have me, I shalt train thee."

"You will!? I mean.. " Bell subtly coughed into his hand, dispelling his momentary excitement, before reasking his question. "You would do that for me?"

The smile Aiz gave him would forever be one of his favorites. "Of course!"

The first-class adventurer rolled her eyes fondly at his overwhelming excitement, a warmth spreading throughout her chest as she watched him flit about the kitchenette merrily. As if she would have left him to his own devices, he was her friend (and potentially more), she would not risk him in such away. "I hadst a mini-expedition with mine familia first, it may be some time ere I can come, lest I sneak away."

A comfortable silence enveloped the odd duo as they stared at one another with small smiles. Each pair of eyes, ruby and gold alike, were alight with glee as they scanned the other's face, seemingly content to just be in one another's company.

Bell wasn't exactly sure what he'd done right to for everything to be going this, bar the minotaur, everything had just been wonderful since he entered the city. Granted, he could have could without being thrown out onto the streets by familia after familia, but even those memories couldn't put a damper on his high spirits now.

In truth, Aiz felt much the same. She'd never been the best of people, she recognized that. She was hateful, scornful and she pushed away everybody who cared for her. To a degree she still does.

But with Bell? She felt better about herself than she ever had before and she wants to be even better. Not stronger. Just better. She wants to be a woman her mother will be proud of once she's rescued. Her familia had noticed the sudden change, from the small smiles she bore throughout the day to the slight skip in her step. It wasn't much of a change, just the barest inclines of the corners of her mouth and the most minuscule of bounces, but it was there.

Neither of them truly felt worthy of the other. One was a pinnacle of strength in this city of adventurers, the other was a beacon of light for those delving into the dark. Neither believed they measured up to the other's strengths whilst completely ignoring their own.

They'd get there eventually.

"Hey, Bell?"

He didn't stop smiling down at her from the kitchen as he hummed an acknowledgment.

"Can thee stop thy cooking?"

Bell blinked, his head tilting to the side as he furrowed his brow. "I suppose, why do you ask?"

"Is't not obvious?"

".. no?"

Aiz's cheeks were rosy as she chewed on her lips, her fingers clenching in her lap as she did. She wished Bell would have just realized why she wanted him to take a break in cooking. She didn't have the same confidence he did when he proposed yesterday, it would be far easier if he just took control. Instead of explaining further, she asked another question. "Are thou hungry?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "I guess I could eat, but I don't really understand why– "

The maiden groaned as she stood up and marched over to the boy. "Did the heat from thy water melt thy brain? Art thou senseless? Shall I check thy ear for goop?"

"Uhh.. "

Aiz bit back a growl as she jabbed a finger into the boy's chest, switching back to her 'normal' (emphasis on the air quotes) accent. "Are you an idiot, Bell? I am asking if you would like to have dinner with me, but if you're too d– "

She cut herself off as Bell brought her into a hug, all of her anger dissipating as she all but melted into his arms. Her head found purchase on his right shoulder, her face tilting up, so her nose fit just perfectly along his throat. His skin was warm and she reveled in the heat for just a moment as she let out a contented sigh. Bell's chest rumbled as he chuckled. "I would love to have dinner with you, Aiz. I just thought we were planning on doing that tomorrow."

"And if I wanted to do it today and tomorrow?"

He smiled. "Then we can have dinner today and tomorrow."

She hummed noncommittedly but did not move to separate from the embrace, soaking in the last remnants of warmth.

"Hm." She gave his chest a few light pats. "Good hugs." Ignoring her pounding heart and Little Aiz's loud protests, the golden-haired swordswoman eventually pulled back, a soft smile on her lips as she caught his hand and pulled him toward the door. Bell followed dutifully, a dumb smile stretching his own face as he did. He just couldn't help it. She looked beautiful!

Her shoulders and collar were exposed with a carmen neckline, only a pair of small white straps rising up around her neck from somewhere Bell refused to think about, lest he risk hemorrhaging. There were a few light lilac accents on the white dress. One such strap encompassed the top of the gown, stretching around her shoulders, another swept down her breasts in a way that he couldn't help but notice what he'd pointedly been ignoring. A few more accenting lines ran down the length of the dress and around the end of the sleeves, separating the different sections.

The gown went all the way down to her ankles – far longer than her typical clothing – only a small bit of skin peeking out beneath its folds. She'd also abandoned her tall leather boots for a pair of nice sandals. They reminded him of some he'd seen in his grandfather's closet. Long cords running from one side of the sandal to the other. If they were in the same design as those he'd seen before, he was confident that those cords would continue up her legs, wrapping around her calves a– gah! He really needed to focus.

Aiz tugged him along, pointing to a building ahead of them and speaking with a noticeably unaccented voice. It was a shame really, he found he quite preferred it when she was feeling safe enough to speak normally. It wasn't that he disliked the quiet and reserved girl she became in public, quite the contrary, he just noticed how she didn't actually seem to like not speaking. She merely struggled to mind her voice and worried over what people would think if they heard how she normally spoke.

Bell couldn't quite say he understood the fear, it was really just an accent, but he also didn't mean to press. If she was scared, he was sure it was for a valid reason, he could find out when the time was right.

The hostess standing at the front gave the two of them a funny look before dutifully bringing them to a table and thanking them for coming. Bell mourned the way their hands would have to separate once they reached the table, but as luck would have it, Aiz had no intention of letting go. So, like a couple of lovestruck idiots, they leafed through the menu with a single hand.

Bell wouldn't trade it for the world.