Floor 19

"GRAAHH!"

Bell had just finished cutting down the last of the monsters that stood in his way. Sheathing both of his daggers into their holsters, he began making his way around the floor.

It was just him today. He wasn't down here for profit, no quest, no assignment. This was personal. He needed to be alone for his first time back in the dungeon. He couldn't really explain why, even to himself. Everyone in his familia offered to come with him, but he refused, insisting that he needed to do this alone.

Bell felt like a failure. All his training, all his hard work, and still he wasn't strong enough. The dungeon had chewed him up and spit him out. If it hadn't been for the Xenos and his friends, Ryuu and him would have died on Floor 37. He had to get stronger. No, had to be stronger. For her. He would never let anything like what occured in the Water Capital and the White Palace happen to anyone else he cared about, ever again.

"Ryuu…" Bell was thinking about the beautiful elf who made him feel like he had walked right into a fairy tale book whenever he looked at her.

"I wonder how she is today? Maybe I should have asked her?" Bell was deep in thought as he cut down more and more monsters that spawned in front of him.

"I couldn't have though, Syr was right there! I know Ryuu asked for some time in order to explain to Syr our "situation", but I just hate hiding things from her, from everyone."

Bell hadn't exactly been open about his relationship with Ryuu to his familia members. But he knew the reaction that his friends would have. Most of them would be fine with it. Welf would have his back, so would Mikoto. He was pretty sure Haruhime would be okay as well. However, Lili and Hestia would throw a fit. Hestia might even forbid him from ever seeing Ryuu again. He hated that thought. He wanted to keep his familia and Ryuu, but if it came down to it, if he had to make a choice, then he knew who he would pick. Ever since the Safe Zone, Bell had made his decision, and his resolve couldn't be stronger.

"Well I suppose I don't have that much room to judge Ryuu when it comes to telling Syr...I really am such a hypocrite." Bell chuckled to himself.

He looked around, noticing that all of the monsters in his immediate vicinity had been taken out. Bell contemplated going further into the dungeon, but then the threats of a certain healer echoed in his head. So he decided to turn around and go home. Before he left though, he made a decision.

"I am going to tell Hestia and my familia, they deserve to know." Bell resolved this in his head.

With that, Bell began to work his way up to the surface, his thoughts focused on how best to tell everyone the news.

Back at the Hostess of Fertility, Ryuu was discussing everything that had happened down on Floor 27 and on Floor 37. Syr was phased by the full extent of what happened to Ryuu and Bell down there. The hopelessness and trauma they both endured was overwhelming to hear about, even to an immortal goddess.

But she didn't care. Everything she had heard still did not justify Ryuu going behind her back and seducing Bell. The survivor's bond crap wasn't gonna cut it.

Then Ryuu started talking about the Colosseum.

"He came back for me Syr, he should have left me to die, anyone else would have." Ryuu started to recount the events that changed her forever.

"He had no plan, no motive, nothing he wanted in return. He just wanted to save me. He just didn't want me to die, even when I wanted too." Ryuu continued.

"I saw bits and pieces of him flying off of his body as he clawed his way towards me. He was a hero Syr. My hero. He grabbed onto me to shield me from the blast from the inferno stone, pulled me from the ruble, and then carried me to safety."

"And then uhmm..." Ryuu began to trail off, a wild blush appeared on her face.

"Then what happened?" Syr responded, desperate to know why Ryuu was acting shy all of a sudden.

"Then we made it to the Safe Zone..."

Ryuu and Bell were both practically naked.

Bell was holding Ryuu in his arms, essentially spooning her, and the warmth was comforting. She had never been so embarrassed, yet so happy at the same time. They were so close that they could hear each other's heart beats, in fact they were in harmony with one another.

However, she couldn't help but scold herself. Repeatedly she reminded herself how this wasn't right. That the boy who held her belonged to Syr. That she would never be able to face her friend after this. That she didn't deserve this feeling of love that was growing in her chest.

"You're so slender and soft… it makes me realize you are a woman."

Ryuu's heart skipped a beat.

"It's like...I understand that feeling now, when a man wants to protect a woman."

"...you're very sly, Mr. Cranel"

At that moment, Ryuu wanted to do nothing more than turn around. To meet the eyes of the man who put his own life on the line to save hers. The man who had taken on countless beatings, so that she wouldn't have too. The man whose broken body now gripped hers, comforting her, providing her love and warmth.

But her elven pride and loyalty to Syr fought against that urge. They told her not to, they told her never to turn around, because if she did, things would never be the same.

"I will cherish you forever Mrs. Ryuu...I promise." Bell stated, as he held her even tighter.

Ryuu couldn't take it anymore. She uncrossed Bell's arms from over her chest and she pulled herself quickly out of Bells embrace.

Bell was shocked. He didn't understand what happened. Had he said something that offended her? If so, then he needed to apologize immediately.

"Ms. Ryuu i'm so sorr-mhhhh"

Bell's ridiculous question had been cut off as Ryuu pulled him in for a passionate kiss.

They embraced each other once again, but this time, facing one another. Ryuu's naked chest now planted firmly onto Bell's.

The only thing going through Ryuus head right now was Bell. Her hero. The only man she had ever allowed to hold her hand. A man she could truly respect. The one who had restored the justice within her. The one who had fought a Juggernaut for her. The one who carried her when he had no strength left to stand. The one who refused to let her die.

Bell Cranel deserved everything Ryuu had, and she intended to give it to him.

Bell was conflicted at first, but quickly gave into the kiss. Ever since Floor 27, something had changed within Bell. Ais Wallenstein was on his mind less and less and Ryuu was occupying the space that Ais once held. To be completely honest, it had always been this way. In the rare moments he shared with Ryuu that were not under life and death circumstances, he had always viewed her like this. He couldn't help but imagine himself by her side in the same way that he pictured himself with Ais.

Bell knew what was happening...he was falling for Ryuu Lion.

Ryuu was incredible. She was so smart and brave. Incredibly powerful as well. And of course she was beautiful, maybe the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The blessing on his back burned as he continued to kiss Ryuu. He knew that if he wanted to stop this, now might be his only chance, before they went too far…

He didn't even hesitate.

Bell Cranel continued to kiss Ryuu, more passionately than ever before. Their situation wasn't ideal. One of his arms was wrapped in the goliath scarf, and her leg was still broken. But they didn't care. They needed this. Needed each other.

Bell and Ryuu didn't know what was gonna happen next. They could easily die as soon as they left the safe zone. All they knew was that if these were their last moments of peace, then they were going to enjoy it...

And enjoy it they did.

"That all of it Syr, that was everything." Ryuu had just finished telling her every detail she could recall of her trip down to Floor 37 with Bell.

"..."

"Syr, please, please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you...I never meant to fall in love." Ryuu looked down, ashamed and afraid that she had lost her best friend with her selfish actions.

"..."

"Syr….please say something...anything! Even if you have to yell and scream at me, it's ok. I deserve it." Ryuu pleaded with tears in her eyes to the silver haired waitress.

Syr did not respond.

Instead she simply got up, and left the room. Not saying a word. Leaving a crying and distraught Ryuu behind.

Before any one of her coworkers could pull her aside and interrogate her, Syr bolted out of the pub and headed straight for the Tower of Babel, she needed some time to think...

Or rather, Freya did.

Fryea had returned to her throne atop Babel. Overlooking the whole city, she contemplated her next move while drinking a glass of red wine.

All of her hard work, all of her planning, it had all just come crashing down right before her eyes. She scolded herself for being weak, for being indecisive, for not taking Bell by force the second she laid her eyes on him. She knew he would be popular with any lady who spent more than 3 seconds with him. She was so sure that her persona as Syr would be more than enough to sweep Bell off his feet.

But she was wrong.

Next to Ryuu, the Sword Princess, or hell, even that renard, "Syr" was plain, boring, and bland. Even their time at the orphanage wasn't enough to elevate Syr in Bell's eyes.

"It's just not right! It's just not fair! He wouldn't even be where he is today without me! He wouldn't have even met Ryuu if not for me!"

Freya began combing through every interaction she had with Bell as Syr. Should she have been more forward? Should she have kept Ryuu on a tighter leash? Should she have poisoned Lili or had Ottar destroy the Hestia Famillia in a War Game? It was driving her insane! Where did she go wrong? Why couldn't Bell see that she was right here all along?!

"AHHHHHH!" Freya screamed as she slammeed her cup into the ground, the glass shattering on impact, scattering across the room, while the wine stained the floor beneath her.

Freya stood there, seething with anger, regret, and pain, as her feet laid soaked in the blood red wine.

Hearing the glass shatter, and the screams of his goddess, Ottar came rushing into the room, believing his deities life to be in danger, ready to slay any potential threats to her safety. However, upon seeing that Freya was in no immediate danger, but rather in a state of anger, and distress, he simply came over and bowed before her.

"What is your will, Lady Freya?"

Freya was silent for a few moments. Contemplating what she wanted to do. This situation needed to be handled delicately, and discreetly.

"Ottar, have Allen tail Bell and Ryuu, he is to observe their movements only. He is not to hurt either of them in any way. When he is done, have him report back to me."

"By your will it shall be done, Lady Freya."

With his orders in hand, Ottar went to go find Allen to give him his new assignment. Freya remained in her quarters, sitting back down in her chair, she continued to ponder the situation.

Under normal circumstances, anyone who laid their hands on Bell would already be dead. He was her Odr. She had already developed contingencies to take care of Ais Wallenstein when the time came. But this changed things. Freya couldn't bring herself to kill Ryuu, couldn't even bring herself to truly harm her. She was her best friend. Part of her wanted too, part of her really wanted too, but she kept that side in check. She was granting Ryuu and Bell mercy for the time being. Not only for her sake, but also for its sake.

See, she knew something that no one else in all of Orario knew, thanks to another one of her heavenly gifts. This knowledge was one of the only things holding her back from an all out rampage.

The knowledge that there was new life that was growing inside her best friend.

The child of Bell Cranel, and Ryuu Lion.

Freya just couldn't bring herself to jeopardize its safety. After all…

She was the Goddess of Fertility.

Authors Note:

Hey everyone. I hope you enjoyed the second chapter of my story. The overwhelming support from you guys has been nothing short of lovley, and I really appreciate it. Please feel free to leave some comments about what you think of the story so far, and if you guys have any questions, dont hesitate to ask. :)

May be 2-3 more days until I upload again. I have a season finale of Danmachi to watch a dozen times. Anyways, thanks for reading.