Big Brother Earth Bender in Danmachi

by Curiosity44

A lighthearted and fun story of a man thrown into the world of Danmachi with the memories of a past life re-awakened and a certain red haired goddess to literally catch him as he fell. Willingly or not. Slight AU world for whatever changes I make. Lighthearted themes. Single Pairing. Fast Romance.

1. New Beginnings

AN: EDITED.

Another Danmachi fic! This one will be very lighthearted, focusing on character interactions, some lighthearted crack, and some good ole earth-bending fun. I actually intended for it to be a one-shot, but it got a bit too long for that.

Shoutout to my awesome Betas, Plum and Phoenix; you guys are fantastic free labor.

Fic Warnings:

-Fast romance.

-Single Pairing.

-Lighthearted Themes.

-I have very little interest or knowledge in the canon timeline. This is going to be my AU spin on the world. Expect characters to not be 100% to what their canon aspects portray.

-Have some fun :)

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Disclaimer: I only own my own original content and my balls, nothing else.

Story Start.

Chapter 1:

The city of Orario.

The city of adventures.

The city where cultures and races clash.

The city where the divine resides.

And the city where the ideals of the strong collide.

It's a city of wonder and opportunity. Just as it's a city of evil and debauchery.

It takes all comers and creates its own harmony. A flow that people learned to live by.

The city once held an extraordinary fate, a fate that would revolve around a young, naïve, and brainwashed child. He would grow, events would happen, and the world would be pushed forward regardless of the resident's desires.

It would have rocked the massive labyrinth city to its core, and each of the eight districts surrounding the great babel tower would have been affected.

But this is not the story of that fateful one. No, this is not even that universe.

For this is a similar one, an alternate one, one that could have followed such a path if not for a single element.

That element was a man.

A man currently looking over the city from the open window of a comfortable room.

Sitting on a wooden chair and leaning against the open window of the room, a young man around the age of twenty stared outward with a gentle smile as his chin rested in his palm.

A sole gleaming green iris eye rested on his handsome face framed by the dark rust-colored hair that hung down to his neck.

The bangs of his hair slightly fell down the left side of his face, partially covering the scar underneath. A sharp line going across an empty eye socket. The eyeball having long been destroyed and removed through medical procedures.

The man wore a simple cotton shirt and leather pants that clung to his muscular frame.

He stood 6'3 with broad shoulders. His frame was more prominent than a swimmer's but smaller than a bodybuilder's. One that was not built out of desire but necessity.

A necessity proven by the numerous scars adorning his frame, including the two raw bullet wound scars over his chest. If someone saw his frame, they would assume he had a hard life, perhaps a past slave or prisoner.

But it wasn't the hard life one would usually assume for this world. No, the young man was not originally from this world at all, but a different universe entirely.

And this was his story.

00000

1st person POV.

Staring out over the bustling cityscape, I couldn't help but smile.

It was beautiful.

It was special.

And it was…free.

'Freedom...'

Very few people understood the true value of freedom until you go a lifetime without it. The freedom to choose, to walk your own path, to be your own person.

But alas, the world was never so kind.

I chuckled at that thought.

My name is Azad. No, that's not my original name, but it's one I recently chose myself. After all, I'm in a new world and finally have the freedom I so desired.

I always wanted freedom, ever since I was young I wanted it, but I never truly understood how much I wanted it till I died.

And it was not because I attained some form of enlightenment. No, it was because I met god.

Or at least, some kind of being that called themselves A god, not THE god. It was confusing, but I shrugged and let it go, I had died already, and I stopped caring.

That's when the god opened my eye, so to speak, and gave me hope once more.

Apparently, according to god, when a soul dies, they are reincarnated based on their karma. It's like rolling a die, and the more positive karma you have, the better your chances of a better next life. And vice versa with negative karma.

But for those whose karma was closer to neutral, it's really a 50/50 type of deal and can go either way. It might not be a great or bad life, but somewhere in the middle.

But here's the real kicker.

The system, which is automatic as far as I was told, had a few rules built into it.

The one that applied to me was that if a soul rolled a neutral die three times in a row and had a negative leaning turnout each time, they became entitled to some slight benefits to give something back.

For me, that meant two things.

One, I get all the skills of my three lives, and two, I get sent to a random world with my current body.

Thankfully, the choices for the random world were tailored to be worlds I would enjoy living in, no matter what my conditions would be.

For the first part, I had an interesting result.

Turns out my first life was as a Dy Lee agent in the world of Avatar. It gave me some objective vertigo since I had seen the anime in my third life.

I regained the memories of my time as an orphan trained and brainwashed as an agent with the skills I learned then, and even my memories of Earth-Bending.

When I asked god about it, he told me that I would be able to retrain myself to use the skills I once had, but it would depend on the world I was sent to. Different worlds had different power systems, after all, and I could respect that.

What I couldn't respect, was that I was killed by my own superior, who wanted to cover something up. Betrayed after all the years of service.

My second life was my first taste of freedom but nothing noteworthy. I was again an orphan, but I died early on due to a war going on in my home country. I was too young to understand and died in a bombing attack. All I learned from that life was what true hunger and desperation felt like and what the brief feeling of freedom had tasted like.

My third life, the one I just came from, followed the trend.

Again I was an orphan, this time with at least the knowledge that my mother was a prostitute who abandoned me. But this time, I was on planet Earth and caught the attention of a mafia group looking for recruits to brainwash.

I never even had a choice in the matter and got indoctrinated. I wouldn't say my life was hell, but it was caged. I was stuck as a mid-level mafia member and had to follow orders even if I bent the rules to help people out when I could. I even lost my left eye in a street skirmish between rival mafia groups.

Some punk got a lucky slash with a knife and took out my eye, leaving a nice long scar. I had to get the ruined eyeball removed, and my fucking boss made me pay for it out of my own pocket.

So much for loyalty. Still, I made a decent life for myself. Did my work, fooled around with women, and wasted my life away in a job I could never escape.

But it's how I died that pissed me off. I took two bullets in the chest to save my boss. Even now, I don't know how that happened.

Did I move in front of him on instinct? Or did he move behind me as a human shield? My gut told me it was the latter.

Anyway, that's how I died for the third time and activated my chance in the system. Three shitty lives from the start without falling into negative karma despite my experiences, leading to an opportunity for something better.

I got a fancy lottery wheel to spin and ended up landing on the world of Danmachi. A world I had a decent idea of from anime I watched in my downtime.

Some asshole kept yelling at me that I must be related to a guy named Gildarts, and after months of hearing the same shit, I knocked the guy out and took his laptop to see what he was talking about.

Turns out he was right.

In realistic terms, I could have passed for the younger brother of Gildarts from Fairy Tail. I got into anime from watching that one, and Danmachi was on my list.

Unfortunately, I didn't get past the first season as I wasn't into how it was going. Not to bash on the kid Bell, but it wasn't my thing to watch him fumble around. Godspeed to him, though.

After my world choice, a nice portal opened up in the void I was in, and god asked me an innocent question.

At least, I thought it was one at the time. 'What do you want to do?'

I thought about it for a moment and answered honestly. 'Not fully sure. Join a Familia maybe? One that doesn't cage their members and supports them all the way without a risk of getting stabbed in the back. Hm… I could always check out Loki's group, she seemed supportive and intelligent.'

God's voice answered back in a chipper tune, and I could have sworn there was a twinkle in his eyes. 'Is that so? Why don't I give you a hand, on the house.'

There was definitely a twinkle. 'What do you meaaaaa….aahhhH!'

That was the end of our conversation as I was cut off midway by the portal enlarging and swallowing me before spitting me out a few dozen feet in the air.

Oh, and it seemed god didn't choose to heal me since I was still revitalized in my bleeding body from the two bullet wounds in my lungs that cost me my last life and slowly choking on my own blood.

Real asshole, that guy. Thankfully, my fall was softened by the perfect timing of a red-headed 5'5 goddess.

'OOF! WHAT THE FUCK?!'

'Gah! Don't yell in my ear short stack!'

'Who you calling short you bastard!'

'You….'

'How dar…oi? Are you all right? Oh your bleeding, wait, your bleeding! Oi! Riveria!'

That's how I entered the world and met Loki, the goddess of mischief, fire, and magic.

When the big G said he would give me a hand, he literally meant it.

I blacked out in Loki's arms, which I might add was strangely soft for such a flat surface, and woke up two days later in the Loki Familia infirmary. They had apparently taken me back with them by Loki's orders, and considering there was no general hospital here, I was thankful for that.

What I was conflicted about was that they had to use a high potion to heal me. My lungs were too filled with blood, and I was drowning, so a regular potion couldn't save me. Apparently, there was a cooldown time between drinking potions.

Neat info to learn. Anyway, I was conflicted since that was one hell of a price tag, and I was kind of broke. Thankfully, I was saved, in a way, by Loki's visit that night.

00000

~A little over a week before~

I had only been awake for an hour and was sitting up in the infirmary bed with my chest wrapped in bandages when the door was thrown open with a bang.

Thankfully, I was the only one there. In fact, I didn't see anyone aside from the teen cat girl who introduced herself as Anakitty, or Aki for short, who had told me to rest more before she left to get some food.

I raised a brow toward the open door as a ball of energy charged in. "Oh good your up. Good morning sleeping beauty~."

I absently pointed a thumb at the dark window. "It's night."

The short redhead's brow twitched. "It was a figure of speech."

"Your figure is leaving me speechless." I couldn't help my retort; it was instinctual.

The shorty froze for a moment before a dark and sinister chuckle came from her. "Huhuhuhu, so you want to play kid? Game on."

She walked over and plopped down on the bed before looking at me, and I got my first close-up look at her. I obviously knew who she was. Loki, the goddess with the perfect ass from the anime.

She had slightly lighter reddish hair than my own in a simple ponytail with red eyes and was dressed like a tomboy in jean shorts and a shirt that showed off her stomach.

And while I observed her, she observed me back with her narrowed eyes. "Hm…"

I focused back on her face at the sound of her humming. "See something you like?"

She chuckled and waved her hand. "Eh, maybe, maybe not. A couple more years on you and you might just be a perfect toy."

I rolled my eyes playfully; I had been around enough women in my last life to know she was testing the waters. "Thank you. May I have your name mistress?"

She coughed in surprise for a moment before laughing. More like cackling. "Kakaka I like you kid; names Loki and you owe me a new shirt. Oh, and a high potion."

I titled my head in confusion. "I get the potion but why the shirt?"

She scoffed. "You covered mine in blood, blood is a real pain to wash out you know!"

I nodded my head in understanding; it really was a bitch; I had to learn the trick from an old Asian woman. "Seltzer water and lemon for blood."

Loki was the one to raise a brow this time, and I coughed into my hand. "I mean, I'll do what I can to pay you back, but thank you Loki, I mean it."

She chuckled and waved her hand. "It's fine but aren't you a bit too calm about almost dying? And I didn't get your name mister."

Her eyes narrowed a bit at her question, and I held my arms up in mock surrender. "Easy firecracker, it's just how I am, I guess. I stopped caring too much about sudden changes a while ago. And names Azad, call me Az; nice to meet you."

She bristled at my nickname but accepted my hand when I reached out for a shake. "You're lucky your cute or I would have shown you why people don't mess with Loki."

I tilted my head again. "Because of your beauty?"

She growled at me, and I chuckled. "Hey, the best jokes are the ones with some truth mixed in."

She growled for a second more before she began laughing. "Heh finally someone who gets it. I like ya Az, haven't seen many silver tongues around in a while. Azad means freedom if I'm not mistaken. What's your story?"

I shot her a queer look. "Just going to ask like that?"

She shrugged and kicked her legs. "I prefer being blunt if possible. Word games are fun and all but it depends on the topic."

I could understand the logic in that. "Fair enough, well, not much to tell really."

She waved a hand lazily and laid on her side over my legs on the bed with her head propped up on an elbow. "Why don't you start from the beginning and get to why you fell from the sky covered in blood on me."

I winced at her dry tone. "Yeah, thanks for the save there by the way."

The corner of her mouth curved up. "Don't mention it, now out with it, and I'll know if your lying just as I know Azad isn't your real name."

I shrugged at her accusation, but internally I couldn't help but wonder how far the 'lie detector' gods have went and where her own skills came in. "It's not that I was lying to you, but I chose my name. I always liked the ring of it, and when I gained my freedom, I wanted to start fresh with a new name."

She didn't say anything, and I took it as a sign to go on. Honestly, there were plenty of ways to mix truth and lies to make a story, but I really didn't need to make it complex, so I used the partial truth and summed up my lives in one.

I told her I was an orphan taken in by a human-run criminal organization far away from Orario. Trained and brainwashed for my youth until I snapped out of it when I grew older but didn't have the chance to escape.

How I accepted my fate and followed orders while wishing to be free. And then how I was betrayed in the end and injured while thinking I was going to die as I fell to my death.

All true points, just taken out of context and without deep explanations needed for specifics.

"Thankfully, I had a soft landing. I thought I had died for a second there when I got a glimpse of you before passing out."

Loki silently listened to my tale, and I knew she could see there were holes in my story, but I mixed in enough truth to make it at least 70% believable for her.

She smirked and put a hand on her cheek in a mock blush at the end. "Oh my~, thought you saw an angel, huh? I can understand your confusion."

She puffed out her nonexistent chest, and I couldn't help but poke fun at her again. "Do angels live in hell around here?"

She froze, and her haughty look cracked like glass before she narrowed her eyes at me. Faster than I could blink, a palm slapped down on my bandages.

"Gah! Damn it woman!"

"Oops~, my hand slipped."

I shot her a look as I held a hand over my chest and wheezed out. "Touche."

She held her head up high and sat in my lap while chuckling. "That's right mortal, don't mess with this goddess."

I smirked slightly as the pain faded. "Who said I was messing with you?"

"Hm?" She tilted her head at me.

"I think you can pull off the devil look well; real sexy, you know. Much better than some angel." She stared at me for a moment, and I held her gaze as two red eyes stared into my single green one before a smirk grew on her face.

She placed a gentle palm against my bandaged chest. "I think I'll keep you. You still owe me for the shirt and high potion though."

I chuckled and leaned into her touch. "I can think of a few ways to pay you back."

She leaned forward a bit more and purred. "Oh~ why don't you enlighten me."

Our heads drew closer and…

"Loki-sama I brought the…hiiii!"

The cat girl from earlier walked in carrying some food before she froze at the sight of us and tripped.

Loki and I didn't move except turn our heads to the poor cat girl on the ground before looking at each other and shrugging with a laugh.

"Maybe next time Az." Loki hopped off my lap and stood up, sending me a seductive smirk as she turned.

I smirked back and nodded. "Next time then. Oh and Loki?"

"Hm?"

"Got any room for a stray in your Familia?"

Her smirk widened as she studied me for a moment before walking off. "I might. Get healed up and we can talk Az. And Aki, are you alright?"

The cat girl picked herself up with dropped ears and sagged shoulders. "I'm fine…."

It would have been cuter if she wasn't covered in food, but it definitely made Loki and I laugh. I ended up getting out of bed, internally thankful I still had my pants on, to help the poor girl clean up.

Loki smiled and ditched us with the excuse of being busy, which was easily seen through by Anakitty, but Loki was long gone with her laughter ringing off the walls.

*Flashback end*

00000

It had been around ten days since that night, and I got settled into the Loki Familia manor in the meantime while I healed up.

As I didn't have a Falna yet, my healing speed was pretty standard for a human, or really even above average for a human healing from bullet wounds to the lungs.

I could thank the high potion for that. Apparently, they work much faster and more efficiently on actual adventurers as the Falna fundamentally changes their bodies. I took it as if the Falna made partial gamer bodies, so to speak, and didn't think more about it.

While I healed, though, I didn't sit still and moved around the manor. It was a massive castle at the northern wall of the city named the Twilight Manor. Apparently, it used to belong to the Zeus Familia, but Loki seized it when she and Freya kicked out Zeus and Hera from the city.

They were real nasty Familia's, from what I heard from others, but the castle was renovated to make it a new home for Loki while all the statues and random crap got sold off. It was a beautiful castle and really did have a pleasant active aura to it.

I explored the place by day and helped out where I could as I introduced myself to various members. The Loki Familia currently wasn't all that big. I learned from others that the Familia lost a portion of their leading members a few months earlier, along with the other big Familia's, and everyone was recovering.

I never really got deep into this world's timeline, but I recalled a few things from skimming wiki pages. The time I arrived in had been around the end of that arc where Bell's aunt or something attacked and died. Something like that.

I didn't really know the story there and didn't care. I was in the city years before canon, and I was okay with that. The city was less chaotic in this period and more relaxed. I did meet the main members of the Familia, though.

Gareth, the stout and stocky good-natured dwarf. The guy practically tossed me into a wall when he smacked my back good-naturedly. And then he kindly peeled me from said wall. Real heart of gold on that one.

I spent a night sharing some drinks with the guy and speaking casually. I wasn't a match for him drinking-wise, but thanks to past experience, I knew how to pace myself.

Riveria also welcomed me. She was stoic but in a no-nonsense way rather than rude. She was practically the den mother around the place as she got people moving and reeled in Loki on a leash.

She was the one who performed first aid on me when I arrived, and I thanked her for it. I would have to get her something nice as a gift.

Finn was every bit as short as I imagined he would be. The older Pallum was a straightforward but intelligent guy. He had just reached level 6 this year, along with the other two.

I did get some pointed questions from him, but I really didn't mean anyone harm and had my own skeletons in my closet that he didn't pry into. It seemed I passed his itchy thumb test since he welcomed me after my short interrogation session.

I didn't blame the guy either; he was the captain of his Familia and needed to know if I was a danger to his family. Especially since he was new to the role.

The big three of the Familia had just died this year, and Finn, Gareth, and Riveria were doing their best to fill those shoes.

Noir, Dain, and Bara.

Those were the three names I was told for the big three. They were actually lower leveled than Finn, Gareth, and Riveria, but they were the leaders due to age and experience. They were the teachers who helped many others in the Familia, and they gave their lives in recent events.

It was one of the reasons I was being welcomed so readily, they needed some talent, and apparently, Loki and Finn had a good feeling about me from what I was told. I thanked them for that; it always feels nice to be appreciated.

The only other notable members from the anime I recognized were the teens Raul and Aki, currently at level 2. And Ais, the currently nine-year-old chibi level 3. She was a scary little chibi.

Stoic as all hell and moved around faster than I could blink, but innocent and friendly nevertheless. She was like a chipmunk, and I couldn't help but pat her head when I met her.

Of course, there was also Loki.

The woman practically stalked me, and it was hilarious. The chemistry between us was crazy, and I think we both took great amusement in making others uncomfortable through our sexual tension though we never made a move on that.

Just teasing, flirting, and joking, but we spent time talking and getting a feel for each other. She apparently had a lot of free time on her hands, which I pointed out, and got another slap for my sass.

There were others, around two to three dozen people, all told, and most of them were support members rather than direct-line adventurers. They did various things throughout the day, and the castle was always bustling with activity, so I helped out where I could and got around. People were more or less friendly and always welcomed a helping hand.

I also took a couple strolls into the city itself. Not too far from the castle, as I was still recovering, but I didn't need to go far.

The city was split into eight slices like a pizza with Babel tower at the center, but each slice was a mini city of its own.

The northern slice where the Twilight manor stood was bustling with stores, markets, and all kinds of things. I didn't get any strange looks, and no one really bothered me, but I did get a few catcalls from some friendly Amazoness's.

I smiled and made small talk with them before moving on. While I admit I was a bit of a man whore in my previous life as I considered it a short escape from my caged life, I wasn't interested in having a lay in this life just yet.

Not only was I in unfamiliar territory, but I also didn't know which of these women were adventurers or not. I'm well aware that people quickly lose control during sex, and well, if one of the partners has super strength compared to an average human, then death by snu–snu becomes a real possibility.

It didn't mean I couldn't introduce myself, making investments for the future and all.

It was a freeing experience. A new city, new races, a new name, and a new world.

I was never a huge anime guy, and I understood my reality, so I took this experience at face value and treated it like my new reality. I didn't think this was a game with the Main Character and NPC's; I treated others like I would want to be treated and absorbed the atmosphere of my new life.

I was Azad now.

I picked the name because it meant freedom, unrestrained, and liberated. It was everything I desired for three different lives. Well, two, really, since my second life was relatively short.

You might think having memories of more lives was confusing, but it really wasn't. It was just like you remembered a portion of your life that came before the one you did remember.

And my first life wasn't exactly full of emotion. I was an emotionless assassin earth bender in a time way before canon. 'Heh, the canon version of the Dy Lee were watered down from what we had used to be. The idea that the whole corps was relegated to a single man's personal army is such a joke.'

The Dy Lee were the emotionless and brainwashed blades of the earth kingdom who carried out missions throughout the land. We were the elites, not a boy scout group.

Out of twenty orphans brought in for training, maybe five would make it while the others died. It was brutal, but I never honestly had the freedom of mind to ponder it with all the brainwashing.

Looking back now, it was hell, but that's all in the past. I didn't care for what I once was or even what I had been in my third life as a mid-group mafia member.

This was a new life where the old ones couldn't touch me, and I was damn near sure going to live it to the fullest.

A life of excitement, growth, and freedom.

To get started on that, though, I needed to gain a Falna, which meant I needed to join a Familia, which meant I had to track down that mischievous goddess with the perfect ass and get her to drip some blood on me.

….

You get what I mean.

I stood up with a sigh and stretched my limbs. 'Ahh~, let's go get the ball rolling. Flirting with a beauty and getting a Falna sounds like a wonderful way to spend my day.'

00000

As Azad left his room to search for Loki, he was unaware that said goddess was currently having a meeting about him at that very moment.

Sitting in the private meeting room, which was really just the conference room next to Finn's office furnished with some couches around a big table, Finn, Gareth, Riveria, and Loki were going over Azad's file.

"I'm telling you, the guys fine~; trust me Finn." Loki was lying sideways on the couch and waving her hand.

The four of them met twice a week unless there were special situations to discuss various things about the Familia. It wasn't simple running a top-grade Familia, and a lot of management went into it.

And the topic today was about Azad, or Az. "I'm not saying he's not fine Loki, I'm just making it a group decision is all. Riveria, did you do the background check?" Riveria nodded while leaning back into her seat and hugging a staff between her arms.

"Yeah, the young man is clean. You said he grew up in a human based criminal organization but that's like finding a needle in a haystack. Far away from the city and without a god running it? There are hundreds like them around the continent, no one really keeps track. The guy doesn't have a bounty and no one recognizes his face. He's either from really far away, or his group wasn't that big of a deal."

Gareth added in his two cents. "Or it was kept that quiet."

Riveria and Finn raised a brow at him, but Loki caught on. "He did say he worked as an assassin, right? Can't say your all that good if your name and face were known."

Finn nodded at that. "And he said they trained him and many others from a young age, so it couldn't be a small time group."

Riveria shrugged. "Be that as it may, he still has no Falna, and this group had no god, so no matter how many members it held, it's small time for us."

The others nodded while Loki laughed. "She got it in one. The guys fine and I like him, let's get him in the family."

Riveria dropped an annoyed glare on her. "And how much of that choice is because the two of you are practically screwing each other with your gazes whenever you meet?"

Loki choked while Gareth and Finn laughed. "She's got a point Loki."

"Damn near have to cut through the air with an axe, get a damn room will you."

Loki narrowed her eyes and stuck her tongue out. "Bah! I'm just having some fun."

The others rolled their eyes and ignored Loki jumping up and pointing fingers. They didn't really care who she slept with as long as it didn't make them uncomfortable.

Finn stuck his head out the door and called for the nearest member to bring Az to the room; Aki called back that she would handle it.

"So we're all in agreement then?"

"Yup~. I'm gonna get me that ass one way or another."

"He's well mannered, polite, helpful, and has a relaxing aura, I approve."

"Aye, he's got a sharp eye on him, I expect him to grow like a rocket with a Falna if he is dedicated to it."

The other three threw in their points, and Finn nodded. "Good, now we just have to tell him. I feel like we have a talent with this one; my thumb is itching on that point."

Loki's eyes flashed, and her smirk widened. "Oh~, who said pies don't fall from the sky, eh?"

The others flipped her off and delved into other topics while they waited. But all of them were interested in just what kind of Falna Az would receive. Unique talents and lives birth unique Falna, and the last natural talent they found was Ais.

00000

Walking through the halls with a gentle smile on my face, I closed my good eye and just felt my surroundings. Ever since I woke up in this world with memories of my first life, I had been attempting to connect with the earth element.

It was practically second nature to me in my first life that I could move the earth with a small gesture. Earth bending, or any bending from what I was taught, works on three core principles.

First, one must connect with their element. You must feel it, embrace it, and understand it. The deeper the connection, the less exhausting it is to move the earth. Each element had a different vibe, frequency, and meaning.

Second, you had to understand your Chi or inner energy. You need to feel it within you. It is the source of our life and the energy which we would pull from to bend the elements. The deeper and more potent your Chi, the longer and more powerful you can bend.

And third, you must have a calm and imaginative mind. The more calm and controlled you are, the better the control of your bending. The more wild and erratic, the less control you have, and you can even fail to bend at all. Further, you require a solid imagination to mentally envision what you wish the earth to do.

These three were the fundamentals by which I was taught and lived.

For the first one, my connection to the earth. I found it fascinating how Toph 'saw' the world through seismic sight. We were taught early on to feel the vibrations of the earth to sense movement, but she took it to a much higher level that I was very interested in learning. Losing an eye is a great motivator to enhance your senses.

On this front, I could still feel my connection to the earth. I could feel the strength of it beneath my feet, the vibrations of the dozens of people in the manor echoing on it. It was nothing like toph; I couldn't actually sense anyone in specific or see anything. It was a simple connection to the element itself, and it set my soul at ease.

One of the very few pleasures I was granted in my first life was just that. The ability to connect with my element and feel it soothe my soul like a mother's embrace. The earth element brings a sense of safety and stability.

You feel grounded and centered. Your values and beliefs are rooted in the core of your being. You strengthen your connection with the earth by building on your soul.

In contrast, when your beliefs and values were weak, your earth element was weak, and your connection was dulled.

The more genuine you are to yourself, the deeper the connection stands. Feeling such a connection was what always brought me peace. 'Ever since waking up here, my connection has never felt stronger.'

I spent around three decades as an agent, and in all that time, I had built a core on false beliefs and values; it weakened me, and I knew it, but I had no choice.

Currently, my core values are just as my name was. To be free, liberated, and unrestrained. To grow, prosper, and experience. To stay true to myself.

To be a boulder and not let thoughts of the past or the future sway me. I would stand firm. It felt right, my soul felt right, and my connection was deepened from the moment I named myself.

Then came my Chi, or inner energy.

It felt different now, changed from what I recall it feeling like long ago. 'God did say my bending would be adapted to the world I enter, so I wonder how it works now?'

My inner energy was feeble at the moment. Like a tiny pebble compared to the solid boulder I once held. 'It seems I must start from scratch. Seems fair to me.'

I had a different body from my first life, so I couldn't complain. My current body was what I had in my previous life, and I was pleased with it. It was always nice to be the bigger guy back on earth. Here I was still relatively tall and big, but it was much more casual with the various people around the city.

Hell, that guy Ottar was over seven feet tall.

Anyway, as for staying calm, I think I'll be just fine. My freedom goes a long way toward that confidence, and my constant connection with the earth just reaffirms that. An incredible cycle that built on itself.

The calm I held in my first life was a forced one built from years of remaining emotionless. Now it was as easy as breathing. I could sit and meditate for hours on end in peace.

And as for imagination, I had numerous memories from anime to pull on to work with, far more than I ever could imagine long ago.

However, no matter how deep my connection was, I still needed the energy to actually perform earth bending.

Sure I still knew the fighting style, the movements, the exercises, the techniques, and the weapon styles, but they were all built around moving the earth in tandem. My inner energy was tiny, and there was a feeling of a missing link to access it.

I was broken from my thoughts when I felt a stronger vibration coming closer. I stopped and waited as Aki broke past the corner ahead of me. "Ah, there you are Az. Loki-Sama wants to meet with you, can you come with me?"

I nodded with a smile. 'Convenient.'

"Sure thing Aki, I was looking for her anyway, lead the way." She smiled with a wave and turned back the way she came as I followed.

We made small talk as we walked until we reached a set of doors on the top floor, where Aki knocked before sticking her head in. "I brought Az."

"Let him in Aki, thanks for the help."

Aki opened the door for me, and I whispered a quick thank you before entering to see Finn, Gareth, Riveria, and Loki sitting on some couches and looking at me.

There was a strange tension in the air that I approached with complete seriousness.

"Yo." I waved a hand and walked in with a smile, shattering the air and making Loki and Gareth smirk.

"Kakaka, see, this is why I like this guy!"

"Gahaha, I agree with you there."

Riveria and Finn just sighed while the former waved back, and the latter pointed at a seat on the couch next to Loki. "Come sit down Az, we were talking about your application."

"Sure." I plopped down next to Loki and sent her a wink that got me a toothy smirk in reply.

It's not that easy to wink with one eye, but those perceptive enough could see it.

I turned back to Finn and spoke up. "So whats my evaluation? Am I getting the boot or hand?"

This time even Finn smirked. "Your casualness is refreshing Az, but I think we can all agree it's a hand in this case."

As I opened my mouth to respond, a foot was stuck in front of my face. "Or I could be a boot if that's your thing."

My eye followed the foot back to Loki's smirking face, and I casually lifted a hand, put it on said foot, and pushed it down to rest on my lap. "Time and place dear."

She pouted and threw her other foot up, and sat back while I ignored her to address the twitching Finn. "In that case, I'll gladly accept the hand Finn."

I stretched out my hand as I said it, and he clasped it with a relieved face. "It will be nice to have more leveled heads around here."

Loki narrowed her eyes at him. "Oi, what the hells that supposed to mean Finn."

A staff came down and hit the couch next to her head. "It means we have someone else to reel you in."

Riveria narrowed her eyes on her menacingly, and Loki shrunk her head back in fear and kept silent.

I gave Riveria a nod of respect, and she smirked. It takes skill to reign in someone like Loki.

"I'll do my best Finn."

"That's all I can ask for."

Loki rubbed my leg with her foot. "I'm hoping for your best as well~."

The other three groaned, and I rolled my eye with a smile that was matched by her own.

I turned back to Finn and didn't engage her for the moment, it was fun playing the game with her, but a gentleman must understand the time and place. "So, with that said, I wanted to discuss some things with you."

Finn raised a brow but nodded, and I went on. Raising a hand, I rubbed my chin and spoke bluntly. "I'll be honest with you all, despite how I may come off, and I really am happy to be here, I do have some issues mentally with my past. I'm not perfect, and I wanted to ask for a few concessions before I gain a Falna."

I addressed them all but faced Finn, and I waited for him to nod before continuing. "As you know, and I'm sure the others have learned by now, I have had a colorful past."

Finn went to speak, but I waved him off. "It's fine man; I didn't plan to hide my past from the top of the Familia. I only ask that it stays with you four for now. I'm hoping to walk into the future without being shadowed by my past."

He didn't hesitate to nod. "I appreciate your understanding Az, and you have my word that I won't speak of it to anyone outside this room without your permission."

The other two spoke up as well.

"As shall I. One's past is theirs to tell unless it becomes a danger to those around them."

"Aye, no amount of booze will loosen my lips."

I chuckled and thanked them before we all turned our gazes to Loki, who was leaning on the armrest and poking me with her feet. "Don't look at me, my entertainment aside; I never have and will never betray my family. I might be known as the trickster, but that's not my actual divinity. I'm the goddess of mischief, magic, and to a minor degree, fire. No matter how much trouble I enjoy causing, I will never endanger my Familia for it."

She met my eye with her own, and I saw a steady amount of steel behind them.

'One only knows the true value of trust after they had been betrayed. Plus this isn't the Loki of earth, this one does not hold the same myths as the one back there. This is the world of Danmachi, not earth.'

I tucked away those thoughts and nodded to her before turning back to Finn. "I thank you all. Now for my request, I have no reason to believe I will be betrayed, but my scars are a bit fresh at the moment. I request that outside scheduled events for the Familia, I can be given freedom to explore the dungeon as I please."

There was silence for a moment after my words before Finn answered. "You wish to solo the dungeon?"

I nodded resolutely. "I have long since heard of the dungeon and the Falna system. The beneficial growth one gains from a solo adventure is incomparable to those who choose safety with a group. I say this not out of arrogance or mislead pride, but I am a warrior at heart. I wish to test myself, push my limits, experience the edge of the blade, so to speak. I was ready to face death when I was betrayed, I am ready to face death now. Life or death, I shall not live in fear of the unknown."

I took a breath and let them digest that before adding in. "I don't mean it to be permanent. I will join events if it is asked of me and help where I can, but at least until Rivira I wish to remain solo. It will give me time to work through my scars and get to know all of you better. Trust is not built in a day after all."

I said my piece and waited for their answer. From the corner of my eye, I saw that Riveria looked like she wanted to say something, but Gareth stopped her with a gesture. Finn had a hand on his chin in thought as he held my gaze.

There was a tense silence before a force was exerted on me. The air chilled, and my hair stood on end as the image of Finn was superseded by a much more terrifying and imposing appearance. My finger twitched at the feeling of killing intent focused on me, and I was reminded how this small figure became the captain of the leading Familia in this city.

The pressure bore down on my shoulders, but I felt my connection with the earth steadying my mind, and my shoulders remained firm. I was the earth, the earth was me, and the earth does not bend. It cracks, craters, and fractures but does not bend. I would break before I bend. I stood firm before the psychological pressure before it faded a few moments later.

Finn sighed as he looked at me. "Very well. Your will is firm and I can see that I will not be able to persuade you."

"Finn!"

Riveria spoke up, but Finn raised a hand. "I know Riveria. Too many early adventurers walk to their graves due to arrogance but you just saw for yourself. His words were not hot air."

Gareth nodded and reached over to smack me on the shoulder while I internally winced. 'Stop trying to shatter my earth man!'

"He is strong of mind Riveria, a warrior prepared for the consequences must walk his own path or his potential will be hindered." Riveria shut her mouth with a frown and crossed her arms but ultimately stayed silent.

Loki hadn't said anything but just watched on with a serious look while Finn added in. "However, even if I allow it, you are still a member of this Familia, and every life in it is my responsibility. I have a few points you must follow if I am to allow your request."

I waved my hand for him to go on. "First off, you must take the courses we hold on monsters and dungeon information for the area applicable. At level 1, you must learn everything before floor 13 before your clear. On level 2, it's up to floor 24.

This is something that all members must take every time they level up. We are supplying not just the basic information the guild would provide but our own information gained from our own members."

"Understandable. I will gratefully study."

He nodded and continued. "Secondly, for your first trip into the dungeon, one of us shall accompany you. Not to help you but observe. If we clear you, your free to continue. This evaluation will happen on every level up to make sure you're ready and not growing overconfident."

"Mn, I can see how that happens, very well."

"Finally, you must go to the log room every time you wish to leave to log how long you will be gone for. We check the book daily and if anyone is gone over the time they wrote down they planned to be out, we send a party to investigate and rescue if necessary. The cost will come out of your pockets if the fault lays on your head."

"Fair enough, I see no issues with that."

Finn nodded. "In that case, I accept your request. I understand what you're going through, the feeling of betrayal is ugly and often life changing. I can only hope that trust can be built with time and you come to see us as family."

He leaned back and looked at something out of sight. "Every Familia is different. The divine's have personalities just as mortals do, and they run their desired Familia's in various ways. Despite Loki's carefree attitude, she has always cared deeply for the wellbeing of our Familia, and through her, we came to care for each other. Our responsibility is to our Familia first, and all others second. We take care of our own. For good or bad."

He snapped back to the moment and chuckled. "Sorry, got lost in my thoughts for a moment."

I didn't interrupt his little moment, but I smiled softly at the gentle look Loki sent him and the smiles on Gareth and Riveria's faces. Their Familia had taken a significant blow this year, with the oldest and core members losing their lives to save the others, and with it, they were reminded of their values and bonded closer together as a family. "You make a good captain Finn."

He smiled sadly at my words. "I do the best I can."

I reached over to clap him on the shoulder. "That's all anyway can ask for. Now, how about I officially join the group, eh?"

Loki was quick to jump up, reading the mood. "Hell yeah! Take your clothes off, momma wants some~."

The mood was shattered as Finn and Riveria groaned while me and Gareth laughed. She sent me a wink and made a come hither gesture with her finger while walking to the door.

I gave a nod to Finn, who smiled and waved his hand. "You're in her hands now man, fair warning, she can be possessive."

I chuckled and waved over my shoulder while walking out. "I can live with that."

00000

After Loki and Az left the room, the other three sat in silence for a moment before it was broken by Riveria. "Should we have stopped them?"

Finn shook his head. "No, it's not our place to say something."

Gareth nodded. "Aye, what she or him do in their private lives is their own choices."

Riveria lifted a finger. "I know that, but we all know how stressed out Loki has been these few months. I just don't want her to do something she would regret."

Gareth grunted. "Ha, she will be fine. In fact, she needs this. A chance to destress and have some comfort. Az is a good young lad. A steady head and a firm heart even if scarred by life. Plus he seems to enjoy playing with fire gahahaha."

Finn cracked a smile and nodded. "He's right. It's not only Loki, but all of us have also had a tough few months. With the old guard gone and the responsibility on our shoulders, its left us stressed and depressed. Loki was hit the hardest. She had known them the longest and watched them from the start. But even with that, she is Loki. A terrifying brain lies behind that foolish act. She might do something stupid in the immediate aftermath, but now? It's been months. She is fine, but like Gareth said, she needs this."

Riveria sighed and dropped her finger. "She's going to eat him up."

Finn and Gareth blinked before laughing loudly, and even Riveria cracked a smile. "Aye, the lad has a tough road ahead of him."

"Yeah, he's in for a ride for sure. But I thought you didn't care for him?"

Riveria scoffed at the question and leaned back. "I never said that. I was just upset at the prospect of a green adventure wanting to go solo from the start."

"I raised points why I accepted it."

"Aye, and he isn't technically green to danger, just the dungeon life."

Riveria narrowed her eyes at them. "I know, that's why I held my peace. You gave perfectly reasonable conditions and I can't exactly be angry at him. He gave solid and logical reasons for his request. I just don't like the concept is all."

The other two smirked at her. "I'm glad to see you care for our new members Riveria. It's a big change from how cold you once were to everyone else."

"Gahaha, he's got you there you know."

She grumbled under her breath and gave them the finger, but that only made them laugh harder. The three had been a group for many years now, and they could open up a lot more in private. "Shut up, and I plan to personally oversee his education on the dungeon."

Her eyes flashed with a fierce light, and Finn held up his hands in surrender. "Don't let me stop you; he's all yours."

He silently raised a flag in respect for Az's future challenges.

Gareth did the same and took some pity on him. "And I'll handle the first dungeon trip."

Finn nodded in thanks. "I appreciate it guys. With all these new responsibilities I just don't have the time I used to."

The other two nodded sadly. "Don't worry about it man, you can always count on me for support."

"We rely on each other Finn, never forget that."

He smiled genuinely and reached under his desk to bring out a bottle. "Thanks guys, how about a drink to celebrate a new recruit?"

"Seems appropriate."

"You won't hear me saying no gahaha."

The other two shook their heads at the dwarf in amusement as Finn poured the drinks. "Cheers. To the growth of our Familia and to the fallen."

Gareth raised his glass. "Aye, and to the amusing things that will come from our newest member."

Riveria raised her own with a smirk. "Let's hope he survives the night first."

The three laughed and drank.

There was a moment of silence before Finn pitched a final question. "Think his Falna will be unique?"

Riveria shrugged. "It's rare for anyone to have anything special from the start. Ais was an exception with her…unique situation."

Gareth rubbed a hand through his beard in thought before answering. "His past is colorful enough for something to pop up. We can all attest to how our past affects our Falna activation."

The other two nodded.

Finn awakened his unique skill years before getting his Falna. Riveria was a magic user before receiving one as well. And Gareth was hardier than most other dwarves, even without one.

There were two types of people who had something beyond the average on their Falna when it awakened.

Those with innate abilities from their race and those with troubled pasts. They were all interested if anything would come out of Az from the start.

But they didn't expect an answer tonight. They all drank and didn't expect a response till the morning, at least.

Not with how those two were practically fucking with their eyes since their first meeting. Almost everyone in the Familia wanted to yell, 'Get a room already!' but no one had the guts to say it.

Not that she really would have cared. Loki does what she wants; everyone knew that.

00000

I followed Loki for a few minutes through the halls as we made small talk and flirted as usual, but there was an underlining tension that was rising as we walked. By the time we reached a large set of doors leading to her bedroom, we were practically leaning into each other as we walked.

She opened the door and smirked at me while licking her lips. "Come on in, the waters fine~."

She even added a sensual sway to her hips as she walked in that had me shaking my head with a smirk while following after her and shutting the door behind me. "You're a massive tease you know that?"

She laughed and plopped down on her bed. "Hehehe, damn straight. It's a lot of fun to wind people up and see them squirm. Makes it real hard for them to focus."

I chuckled and walked up to the bed. "I can imagine they get real tight-ly wound up."

She smirked toothily at me, and before I knew it, I found myself judo-flipped on the bed after she grabbed my shirt.

It wasn't painful but sudden. "Feisty huh?"

"I like a man who knows how to play~."

I smirked back at her as she mounted me and straddled my waist with her more petite frame. "At least take me out to dinner first."

She licked her lips. "I think I want to skip to dessert."

I reached a hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and cup her cheek. "That doesn't sound healthy."

She leaned down closer. "I don't know, it seems to be growing on me." She practically purred that word while grinding her hips gently.

"I can see why; it's quite enticing." My hands slid down her back gently as my fingers trailed her spine, getting a pleased hum in response before landing on the twin peaks of her perfect ass.

She leaned down with her hands to the sides of my head to put her mouth next to my ear and whisper. "Seeing you pass Finn's test without flinching was really hot~."

She bit my ear playfully, and I growled in reply before, with a squeak from her; I flipped us over, so I was pinning her down with her thighs around my waist and my hand on her bare thigh. "I aim to please."

She laughed in delight and wrapped her hands around my neck. "Kekeke, I knew I liked you. Now let's see if you can pass my personal test~."

Her legs wrapped tightly around my waist while I bent down and gently kissed and bit her collarbone before trailing up her neck. "I didn't know there was another test."

She lightly moaned in appreciation before responding. "It's a bonus test, comes with its own rewards."

Her hands went under my shirt and scratched along my back, leaving red lines in their wake. "Is everyone offered this test?"

Her nails on my back dug in deeply for a second and drew a slight growl and a bit of blood from me as she pulled her mouth back to my ear. "Not even remotely."

She bit my ear slightly harder this time, and I gripped her bare thigh tightly before turning my head to match her gaze. There was a strong will held in those brilliant rubies clouded with lust and desire. "I'll need to make sure I pass then."

Like magnets being drawn together, our lips smashed into each other with fervor. Our hands roamed each other's bodies as we drank in each other with abandon, tossing and turning over the sheets as we fought for dominance over the kiss.

After a few minutes, Loki growled into my mouth, and there was a flash of light in the room before I felt a breeze and suddenly felt much more intimately connected with her. Cracking open my eye, I broke off the kiss and noticed our clothes were missing.

Loki shot me a smug look and flipped me over to pin me down while I was distracted. "Goddess of magic~."

Her dripping core ran along my hardened length, and I groaned at the feeling. "Useful trick."

She smirked and reached back to grasp my shaft with an incredibly soft hand. "Oh, you have no idea~."

She playfully rubbed my tip against her lower lips, making me growl and buck my hips slightly without success.

Her teasing expression was smug to me, and I sat up to smash my lips back against her own in retaliation. At the same time, I put a hand on her lower back and pressed down, slowly impaling myself in her. She was long since wet enough to skip third base, and neither of us was in the mood for it at the moment.

She gasped, moaned, and laughed into my mouth all at the same time before breaking off to take a shuddering breath. "Ah~! Yeesssss~, hehehe your fun to rile up ya know? Mnnnn…"

She ground her hips and sunk herself lower, taking in my full length with a gasp.

I couldn't help but groan at the feeling as well. "Fucking hell that's tight, your dangerous woman."

She giggled and bit my lip. "You don't like danger Az?"

I pressed down hard on her lower back and connected our groins to each other as we both moaned at the feeling. "Like it? No. I love it."

We matched toothy smirks. "Then, let's have some fun."

"With pleasure."

The two of us attacked each other like starved animals in heat. Her moans, breath, and words egged me on like nothing I had felt before, and I gave it all I had, drawing on the years of experience from my previous life.

But for whatever experience I thought I had, she left me in the dust.

It was a struggle for dominance and pleasure, and two hours later, the two of us lay panting under the sheets with her draped over my chest like a satisfied predator with her hair sprayed out around her.

We were taking deep breaths as we cooled down for a moment. It was insane. Our chemistry was out of this world. From the first moment we met, the tension was there, and it built over the weeks I had been healing and chatting or flirting with her, but it finally exploded, and it was a hell of an experience.

"Wow."

"Keke, damn straight. I caught myself a stallion."

I chuckled and looked down at her as she rested her chin on my chest and looked back. "So did I pass the test?"

She hummed with a smirk. "Hm… I don't know."

I raised an amused brow. "Oh?"

She playfully bit my chest. "Yeah, I think I'll have to evaluate you some more, make sure you really know your stuff, ya know?"

"Heh, I'm happy to oblige my dear goddess."

I growled the last word playfully and felt her giggle against me. "Hehe, I knew I liked you Az."

She pulled herself up a bit to lean in and peck my lips. I traced a hand gently along her back. "The feelings mutual. That was some scary chemistry you know?"

She smirked and nodded. "I know. I've been watching you the whole time and it's crazy how well we click."

I hummed at that. "Have you felt like that before? I can't say I've clicked this well with someone before."

She laughed and playfully patted my cheek, making me fake bite her finger. "Your young Az. Not by human standards, but to me, you are. Still, it's a rare time I find someone like you. Less than five in my time, all in all."

She hummed and spoke honestly, telling me of her experiences. "The first two when I was young and curious. I clicked with them more out of innocence and curiosity than a real connection. The third was a fun ride; she ignited my interest in the same sex, but we kept it casual, and eventually, the chemistry faded. The last two were during my time down here, a man and woman who ended up, much to my amusement, getting hitched together.

Most of them were short but sweet times, and the last one was over a century ago. So it's not that it's impossible to find, but very, very rare.

Everything else was just occasional flings, but I tended to be attracted more toward females in the last few decades. That is, until you, of course."

I hummed back and let my hand trail down to her perfect ass and gently fondle it while getting an appreciative moan from her. "So you don't mind that I'm a man?"

She laughed and hit my chest playfully. "Ha! Not at all Az, not at all. I said I preferred women, but I'm bi; most immortals are after a while. Plus, I know from experience just how rare chemistry like ours is. There was no way I wasn't gonna get my fill when I realized it."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her ear on my chest. "And you? What's your experience?"

I let my hand wander back to her back and answered honestly. "Hmm… not as colorful as yours for starters."

She bit me, and I laughed. "Easy you. I can't really say I ever clicked with someone before. You know my past, and by the time I was old and intelligent enough to break through the brainwashing, I was already heavily intertwined in my path. No escape and no hope allowed to me. All I could do was trudge on and try to distract myself, so I turned to smoking and sex. They were a momentary escape, a second of peace, but otherwise meaningless.

So while I fooled around with plenty of women, I can't say it ever truly gave me pleasure. I had never clicked with a woman like I did with you since our first meeting. It was almost instinctual, to be honest. Fast, cut right through the bullshit, playful, fun, and to the point. No dancing around one another for months or years on end.

Like two animals in mating season stumbling on each other."

She laughed and pulled her face back up to my own. "Are you calling me, a goddess, an animal in heat?"

I lifted my head and kissed her. "Yeah, a real predator in the sheets."

She groaned at my bad joke and bit my collarbone. "You were on a roll until that one." I laughed and slapped her ass playfully. "Ah~, Someone's excited. Who's the real animal in heat here?"

I kneaded her cheek in great satisfaction before replying. "Why don't we go for round two and find out?"

She smiled wide and trapped my hardened length between her thighs. "I thought it was round three?"

"Who's keeping count?"

It was an hour later before we took another break, our bodies covered in sweat with satisfied groans coming from both of us. It was only then that I recalled our reason for coming here. "You know, I think we might have missed something."

Her hair was wild, and she was half perched over my body as she cracked an eye open at me. "Hm? I'm not in the mood for backdoor stuff."

I flicked her nipple with a chuckle. "Not that. For now."

Her eye shot open more before she laughed loudly. "Ah! Hahahaha wow, I completely forgot."

I laughed in turn and kissed her palm. "Heh, I can't blame you. It was just so easy for my mind to wander."

She smirked and pulled herself entirely on top of me. "Easy there stallion, get my engine going, and I might just forget a second time."

I lifted a hand to her cheek and smiled as she leaned into my touch. "What if I want to make you forget a third time? Or a fifth? Or something beyond?"

She cackled and bit my thumb before pulling it into her mouth. "I think that needs testing."

"Your insatiable."

"You love it."

"I do."

Her ruby eyes met my single green one, and a moment of unspoken understanding passed between us. With smiles on our faces, she slapped my chest. "Flip over lover boy, before I forget again."

She shuffled off me, and I chuckled while turning around to lie on my stomach. "You know, I never imagined a day when I would hear a woman tell me that, and I would actually listen."

She laughed and straddled my back while leaning forward and whispering devilishly. "Oh~ Theres sooo much I could teach you~."

I turned my head and gave her a playful glare. "Behave you."

She stuck out her tongue at me maturely. "Bah, ruin my fun."

She said it, but I could tell she was joking. She just wanted to banter. I hoped.

I rested my head on my chin and waited but was forced to look back again when instead of my back, I felt a hand grabbing my ass. "Oi."

A grinning Loki ignored me to stare at my ass. "Sorry, momma wanted to enjoy the goods."

I rolled my eye and rested my head again. "I'll never understand you women and your fixation with male asses."

"Heh, you love my ass don't you?"

I nodded without hesitation. "Damn straight I do. I've always been an ass man and that's perfection right there."

She laughed and wiggled her butt against me. "Good, never forget it. And it's the same feeling for me, I'm an ass girl. I enjoy both spectrums and both sexes have good and bad ass's. Don't worry, I'm enjoying what I'm seeing."

I shrugged. "As long as it's only looking and surface level touching, do what you want."

"Oho~ I planned to. Now, where was I?"

"You were about to give me a Falna so I can level up, live longer, reel you in when you cause mischief, smother you in attention, and screw your brains out for the next millennia."

She nodded. "Right, hole in one."

She slapped my back, and we both laughed for a minute before she calmed down and began the Falna process. "Kekeke, I never expect any of my children to truly reach the end. Sure I believe in them, but I've never had anyone over level 6 under my banner. Mortals come and go; I've come to accept that fact. What matters is living in the moment to your fullest and making the most of the time you have."

I hummed at her words. "Wise words. I didn't expect that from you."

She slapped my back again. "Oi."

"Hehe easy, I was just joking. But what if I want to live longer? To see how far I can go and enjoy my freedom to my heart's content."

She didn't answer for a moment as she kept working. "It's not simply a matter of desire, Az. The Falna extends the lifespan the higher the level, but very few ever reach that high. The danger also rises exponentially the higher you go. You need luck, skill, brains, talent, and above all else, time.

Mortals simply don't have that time. Their bodies grow old, old injuries stack up, and they slow down before eventually giving up or dying in the process. Some things just weren't meant to be." She spoke with a defeated sigh, and it irked me inside.

She had seen it happen dozens of times, and logically I knew it made sense, but it still irked me. I reached a hand back to gently grasp her legs and turned my head to meet her ruby eyes. "Perhaps one day, we can come to trust each other enough to truly believe that chance is real."

I didn't really know why I felt like saying that, but I did, and it felt right to me. Her eyes widened slightly before a genuine smile grew on her lips. "Mn."

Then she slapped me again. "Don't turn around; you will make me start over."

I chuckled and conceded. Behind me, I heard her mutter quietly as she reached her thumb to her mouth. "Prove it to me."

She bit down on her thumb, and a drop of golden ichor landed on my back as a new value took root in my core. A fundamental of what my earth bending stands on. 'I will prove it to her.'

A glow was birthed on my back as runic lines and lights were projected off of it. A warmth spread like a sapling taking root in my back and sprouting into an intricate tree that spread through my being.

I gasped at the feeling. It wasn't physical but spiritual, something on the same plane as how I sense my connection to the earth and my pool of inner energy. The drop of blood bloomed a young tree whose roots poked through my earthen soul and firmly took root before it began to slowly nourish my being.

My inner energy, the tiny pebble of revolving energy, whether it be Chi or Mana, was expanded and fed by the roots of the tree. Something changed in my soul, and it felt like something had clicked into place. 'So that's why I couldn't bend until now. God said my bending would be adapted to the world I enter; this is what he meant.'

I instinctively knew I had just gained the final component to successfully bend the earth again. "Az?"

Loki's concerned voice called out to me, waking me up from my trance, and I realized my whole body was tensed up.

I relaxed my body and called back. "I'm fine. That was… fascinating."

I could hear the confusion in her voice as she replied. "Wha? You're not supposed to feel anything."

I chuckled at that. "Heh, well maybe I'm special."

She didn't reply, and I turned my head back to see her eyes narrowed at my back. "Loki?"

"Shush, let me read." I complied and let her be.

Minutes passed as I heard her mumble.

"What is this symbol…."

"No, but, what?"

"This….huh…"

Finally, she spoke out loud. "Az."

"Yes?"

"I think we need to talk." She summoned a paper from her desk and slapped it on me.

"Ok? Good or bad talk? I was rather enjoying your company so I hope it's not that kind of talk." I turned my upper body and found her face slamming into my own with a passionate kiss.

She pulled back a minute later and licked her lips with one hell of a sensual expression. "Not that kind of talk, you're not getting away from me that easy. Now shush and listen to me."

"Good to know." I dumbly nodded, a bit dazed from that intense kiss, and she chuckled at my expression before pulling the paper off me. I leaned against the headboard, and she sat back against me on my lap and shoved the paper in front of my face.

"This is what we need to talk about."

I blinked and regained my senses before shooting her a look. "Did you just…"

"I did."

"With a kiss?"

"I did, I'm that good. Now shut up and read Az." I chuckled and did so. It didn't take more than three seconds to see why she was spooked.

[Name: Azad

Sex: Male

Age: 62

Race: Half-human, Half-Earth Spirit

Level: 1

Strength: I0

Endurance: I0

Dexterity: I0

Agility: I0

Magic: I0

Magic:

Developmental Abilities:

Skills:

Earth Bending - Manipulate the earth as its bender. Removes ability to learn magic.]

"Ah." That was my intellectual answer to what I read.

"Yes, ah, now, anything you want to tell me, Az?" She tilted her head back so her ruby-red eyes were staring at my face with a great deal of curiosity and interest.

I raised my finger and dropped it before raising it again. "Just…just one moment, let me think about this."

She hummed and ran a hand along my chest moving southward. "Sure~ take all the time you need~."

I shot her a disgruntled look as she clearly didn't want to let me think, but I did my best to ignore her incredibly soft hands roaming to think rapidly. 'Age and Race are my issues here. God said my bending would be adapted to the world. Does that mean I was made a half-spirit through the process? Or does it have more to do with my age? Perhaps it's due to my memories of my first life. The world of the avatar has very close ties with the spirit world.'

I grunted as her hands reached my groin and thought faster. 'It's very possible benders have enhanced souls and spirits were connected to them in some way to allow them to bend. The human and spirit world were just two sides of the same coin. Was I half spirit in that world? Or perhaps it's just one component. Three lives tied and compressed into one new fourth life. I retained the injuries and body from my third life, so it's logical to assume I gained more than just memories from the first life. I didn't have much of anything to gain from the second, so my theory was lowered.

Either way, whether through that first life or through god's intervention, my age has accumulated all my three lives. It says I'm 62, but I'm still youthful and looking 20, as I did when I died last. Not only that, but my connection to the earth has been more pronounced than ever, without even being able to bend. Both these factors are likely connected to me being a half spirit.'

I jumped a bit as she grabbed my boys and sent me a mischievous look while biting my chest and grinding her hips.

"Loki…."

"What? Having trouble thinking? Why don't we brainstorm together~."

I narrowed my eye at her as her eyes practically flashed. 'Damn this seductress.'

I leaned forward to bite her collar as my hands went around her front to tease her cherry nipples. Contrary to how people think of her, she does have breasts, just very small ones, and her nipples are very sensitive.

She moaned into my ear, and I felt myself harden between her thighs. "Is this your plan for information gathering?"

She laughed and tilted my head to the side to lay a gentle kiss against my lips. "No, but this is a much more fun method than the boring version. Your easy to rile up and I find it adorable."

I growled and kissed her back before holding her tightly against me and sitting back against the headboard.

She hummed appreciatively in my arms, and I laid my chin on her head.

We enjoyed the moment for a minute before I spoke. "I have secrets Loki."

She didn't hesitate to answer. "I know."

"I can't make myself speak of them right now."

"That's ok."

"I'm afraid."

"That's normal."

I picked up the paper that was put aside and held it in front of us. "I don't know what to tell you."

"Tell me what you want to."

"You would trust me?"

"You have given me no reason not to."

I grumbled a bit, and she moved her head to look up at me while placing a hand on my cheek. "Tell me Az, have you lied to me so far?"

I shook my head. "No. Bent the truth a bit on my history but all of it was applicable to me. Anything else? Full truth."

She smiled gently. "I expected it to be that way. I wouldn't trust someone with a troubled past who said everything 100% upfront. I AM the goddess of mischief. I practically invented how to be sly and how to use a silver tongue. Your skillful bending of the truth was a turn-on for me. But you never lied, and I find it adorable that you think I wouldn't trust you.

I would never let someone join my Familia if my instincts said no. For you? They told me to strap you to a bed and ride you till the sun rose the next day."

I felt like grumbling, but the sheer emotion she gave off wouldn't let a smile fade from my face. I chuckled and raised a hand to her cheek. "Aren't your instincts a bit too free and quick? I'm drowning in your energy and I can't help but want more. You're like a force of nature woman."

She cackled and kissed my palm before resting her back against my chest again and stretching like a satisfied cat. The fact that this did wonders for her body and my eye was not lost on her from her smirk. "You should know this about me by now Az, and if not, you will learn quickly. I do what I want. Fuck the world. Fuck others' opinions. Fuck their mentalities. I'm Loki, and I'll do whatever the hell I want.

As long as it doesn't bring harm to my children, of course. But in my personal life? I'll do what I want. I'll have fun playing the fool, make a mess of things, cause chaos for fun, and follow my heart. Mischief isn't necessarily good or bad; it's just finding stuff to do for my amusement.

There was a time I gave in to the darker aspects of it, but I'm old enough to be able to control myself. I own my divinity, not the other way around. Some other gods are slaves to their divinities, and it's an insult to the rest of us. They are children who lack control and will."

She turned herself around on my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck. "So if I want to ride you till the sun rises, I'm gonna do it even if I have to drug you~."

I coughed in surprised laughter at that. "Did you just admit to attempted rape?"

She slapped my chest with a playful smile. "Nothing so vulgar dear. I don't need to drug a man to get him in my bed, it would just be something to make sure you can…keep…it…up."

She popped the P on the last word, and damn if I wasn't hard before that moment, I was rock solid now. I shook my head and leaned my forehead against hers. "A force of nature indeed."

She cackled. "One with the best damn ass around."

I gave that ass a playful and highly satisfying slap and got a heated look from her in response.

"You won't see me arguing on that."

"I would be insulted if you did."

We looked at each other and laughed before I asked something else. "So what does that make us?"

"Hm?"

I sat back and pointed a finger at her and me. "Us, what are we now? Was this a casual fling for some stress relief? A date that skipped dinner? A marriage proposal? You're the first goddess I have ever slept with, both in body and soul, so you tell me Loki, what are we here."

She hummed and looked at me, but it took a minute before she answered. "I will admit, I needed this. I really fucking did. These last few months have not been pretty, and I lost some of my oldest children all at once."

I saw her shoulders sag, and I brought her in to rest her head on my shoulder while I rubbed her back. "I heard about them. Noir, Dain, and Bana, right?"

Her arms wrapped around me, and she nodded. I could tell she needed someone new to get this off her chest too. "Yeah….

It's not the first time I lost a child. But since the founding of my Familia decades ago, I had never had anyone around as long as those three. They were practically my founding members, and they had stuck it out through it all.

They were the teachers and leaders for the rest of my Familia and very dear friends to me. I was proud of how they went out, something I know they did with a smile. They were getting old, and none of them wanted to pass from old age.

But it still hurt. It was sudden and painful. But I had to be strong for my Familia. If I broke down, who were my children supposed to rely on, you know?"

I felt some tears hit my shoulder, but I didn't say anything about it. Just continued to rub her back and let her speak. "Tell me about them."

She hugged me tighter and began speaking once more. For close to half an hour, she spoke. Telling me about some of the fun times, the hard times, and the moments that made her proud.

Through it all, I asked pointed questions to keep her engaged and laughed with her through some of the stories, but I comforted her all the same. Everyone has feelings and struggles; having a divinity doesn't change that.

And if a goddess stays strong for her Familia, who is she supposed to rely on to stand firm? I was happy to be that boulder for her.

Through the short time I spent here, and the fiery passion that wafted off of us from the moment we first met, I had been learning about her. Getting to know her. We talked, flirted, joked, and spoke freely.

And now, even with us having fucked like rabbits, the interest and desire had only grown stronger. So I found it enjoyable to learn more about her. To hear more of who she was.

When she finally finished speaking about the past, she sniffled and rubbed her eyes before leaning back and laying a petite hand on my chest. "Phew… I really needed that."

She leaned in and gave me a soft kiss with a genuine natural smile. "Thank you Az."

I leaned in myself and kissed her back. "Anytime Loki. I'll always be here when you need a rock."

She chuckled and bit my collarbone. "Don't get cheesy on me ya handsome stud. You trying to steal my heart too?"

I chuckled and winced. "Ow, damn, was your parent a tiger or something. And who knows, I might just want to attempt a robbery."

She leaned back in and re-wrapped her arms around my neck. "Is that so? I guess I'll have to call the guards."

"They won't be able to help you."

"Why is that?"

I smirked at her. "Because the only one who can stop a thief is another thief."

She laughed and leaned into me. "Hahaha oh, I knew I like you for a reason."

"I aim to please."

"You do indeed."

She wiggled her ass on my groin again to punctuate her words, and I couldn't help but get hard again. I didn't engage, though and just held her for a moment before I spoke. "So I'm a half spirit."

She scoffed and lightly hit my shoulder. "Yeah, I know."

I chuckled at her casual answer. "I'm apparently 62, but I look 20."

"Spirits are immortal, half and quarter ones have been reported to live for millennia."

"My Magic slots seem locked for good."

"Half breeds gain special traits from both halves. Good or bad can carry over, but the stronger the species, the stronger the trait. It's very likely your potential for earth bending traded away your potential for magic. It will probably be the sole source of your magic stat."

"And my human half?"

"Growth speed. All humans have a natural boost to growth speed and adaptability as a tradeoff for their weak bodies and minds."

I pulled back and gave her a look. "Don't you know a bit too much about this topic on such a short notice?"

She rolled her eyes and smirked at me. "I'm old Az, don't make me repeat that. Plus, I recently had a reason to look into spirits. And no, it's not you."

I nodded my head and spoke honestly. "It's Ais right?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I caught a dangerous gleam. "How did you come to that conclusion?"

I held up my hands. "Easy firecracker. I've spoken with her before. I felt a connection to her beyond words but couldn't put a finger on why that was. She also has a connection with spirits right?"

She held her stare for a moment before sagging and giving me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. She's someone I hold very dear and I tend to be overprotective of her."

I put a hand on her cheek and pulled her into a kiss. "It's fine. I don't hold it against you."

She nodded and leaned into my touch with a soft smile. "She holds a connection to wind. I won't say more than that as it's not my story to tell. Just as your story is not mine to share beyond the other three. They know about Ais as well but no one else does and we plan to keep it that way."

"You won't see a leak from me. I now have my own race to conceal as well." She smiled and nodded. A secret was best kept when both parties had something to lose from it getting out.

She poked me with her finger. "Sooo~, anything else you want to tell me?"

I chuckled and play bit her finger. "For the moment, I think we learned enough about my past. One day, when our bond is strong enough, I'll tell you everything. But that will be you and only you. If you believe the other three are trustworthy, you can share my race and age with them. It will help explain my future abilities and help them see I'm not a foolish youth. But the rest is between us."

She nodded with a smile. "I can wait, I like a good mystery every now and then. And don't think it's one sided. If our bond is strong enough I'll share some of my own past with you as well. Immortality teaches you many things and time flows without end. The divine are not the same today as we were millennia or more ago."

I leaned in and brushed my cheek against hers affectionately. "I'm sure your tales will be more interesting than mine."

She smirked and ground her hips again. "Don't you know it~."

I chuckled, and we enjoyed some kissing and petting again for a few minutes before I realized something. "You know, I'm going to be around a long time."

Her smile turned downright predatory, and before I knew it, I was pinned to the backboard. "Your right. Let's make the most of it."

She closed in on me. "Don't you want to take it slow and enjoy the ride?"

She straight-up cackled. "Kakaka, my dear Az, who wants to take the slow ride when the fast and long one is soooo much more fun~."

I tried to raise a finger, but it was shot down like a hot air balloon facing an F22. "Stop talking and fuck me."

Looking into her intense eyes, I decided then and there to fuck it. What the hell did I know anyway. Our lives were ours to choose what to do with. Fast or slow? Fuck the norms; we would follow our instincts and desires.

Until the sun rose the following day, we did our absolute best to break her mattress, and when the sunlight shined in through the window of her room, the only thing illuminated by the light was a torn-up bed with the sleeping forms of a larger man sprayed out with a drained but satisfied look and the more petite woman curled up like a happy cat with a bright glow resting atop him.

It was the start of a long, loving, and chaotic relationship that would screw over anyone who wanted to interfere with it.

It was the end of the first chapter of the trickster and the earth bender.

Chapter end.

AN: Thoughts?