And So, Bell Became a Hero Volume 2
DISCLAIMER: Danmachi belongs to its respective owners. Everything that occurs in this story is of my own creation and the characters abide by the fictional laws in the setting.
Author Note: If you'd like to support me, please consider joining the dis cord server (42SQENPj54) or supporting my Patron (IreJasmine)
Chapter 19: And So, The Pieces Started Moving
Part 28
Bell gave a long kiss to Rose before she left for work, a kiss he gave with equal fervor to Shakti when it was time for the level 5 Captain to leave too, the later promising to return at night with news about her God's response to the Hestia Familia's decision, and to spend more time with her official boyfriend.
That left Bell once again alone in the apartment with Alicia, though this time there was a lot less awkwardness between them, even less was left after Alicia raised the bridge to her own flag by asking Bell to do her elven family tradition, one that despite reminding her of the scars left across, and inside, her body, also brought her closer to Bell and his protective nature of those he cared.
For the golden-haired elf, feeling Bell arms around her as their breathing synced and she whispered her chant, was becoming something that she looked forward to everyday.
And if possible, every night.
However, the intimate moment ended much too fast, and it was time for Bell to get back in track with his journey to become a hero. There was quite a lot he had to do; however, he would not be doing it alone this time.
Bell asked for Alicia to accompany him, he didn't even get to finish asking the question when Alicia all but dragged him upstairs and questioned him about which dress would suit the occasion better.
He was honest in saying that all the dresses would look good on her, Alicia blushed at his upfront honesty, and he asked for her to wear the most comfortable one. What he hadn't expected was for Alicia to undress in front of him, again, without nothing to cover her body like the last night.
Alicia's naked back was towards him while she searched for her dress, and Bell looked at the blackened scar on her skin.
"Alicia?" Bell quietly called out her name, the golden-haired elf hummed in acknowledgement, "Have you put on the medical ointment today?"
Alicia froze, her head slowly turned around, and a guilty smile appeared on her lips, "I… forgot."
Bell recalled Riveria words about Alicia being a bit forgetful at times and snickered as he grabbed the ointment from the box, he'd last seen it be, "Here."
Alicia stared at the jar in Bell hands, and she bit her lips before she looked at Bell's amused gaze, "Could you apply it for me this time?"
Bell blinked, gulped, took a deep breath, "Are you sure?"
Alicia nodded, "I… want us to become closer, and I need to get used to your touch…"
Bell noted how vulnerable Alicia became at that moment. He knew actions were enough for Rose and Shakti to prove his feelings, but that was not the case for Eina, and now, Alicia too, "I want to grow closer with you too, but if you feel we're going too fast, don't hesitate to tell me, please."
Alicia gave him a grateful, tender, smile, "Thank you, Bell, I will."
With that said, Bell set the jar on a box at waist level, took a generous amount of ointment into his palms and slowly approached the naked Alicia who covered her breasts with one arm, and lifted her right arm above her head to give him full access to her right side.
Just before Bell applied the ointment to her skin, he recalled some tips his grandfather gave him about a similar situation, and Bell quickly blew hot air into his palms, and the ointment in them, for a few seconds until he felt it was warm enough.
The tip worked wonders, for Alicia blissfully sighed once his palms touched her side, and Bell methodically lathered the ointment across the entirety of her scar. "You're beautiful, and soft…"
His whispered compliment brought another blush to Alicia's cheeks, a compliment she knew was said to uplift her confidence of her new appearance. "You're… too kind."
Bell smiled and the moment he finished applying the ointment, Alicia grabbed both of his hands and placed them over her hips, "Alicia?"
Alicia shushed him and closed her eyes.
Bell patiently waited for Alicia to finish whatever she was doing, her honey-colored eyes alerting him that she was done, and the smile on her face let him know that she was successful in whatever she had attempted.
"Your touch doesn't make me feel weird anymore."
Oh, "That's good?"
Alicia giggled, "Yes, but please don't touch me by surprise, okay?"
"Warn before touch, got it." Bell recorded the note to his brain, Alicia giggling again before she whirled around to finish changing into her dress. He called it a dress only because it had a skirt, but the upper side was more akin to a body suit.
Long sleeves, light brown in color, with a high, tight, collar left unbuttoned down to the middle of her chest and exposed a generous amount of cleavage, the tightness hugging her curves just right and the skirt reached mid thighs and flared out behind her to her calves.
"You look beautiful."
A beaming smile was the response to his compliment.
- 0 – AsBBaH – 0 –
Unlike Alicia, Bell did not have fancy clothes to dress up with. His only saving grace was his worn-out brown coat that covered the dirty black shirt he wore underneath, the same couldn't be said for his pants that had several tears from overuse.
What made Bell's heart flutter was that Alicia didn't hesitate to take his hand once the two left the apartment, he'd expected for her to put some distance between them in public, especially with how worn-out he looked, but she perished that thought by giving him a tender smile before interlocking their fingers together.
"Where are we going?" Alicia asked once they had made some distance from the apartment.
"We'll visit my contracted smith," Bell gave an apologetic smile to Alicia while rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, "All my equipment is broken, and… I… Broke your sword in the fight."
Alicia giggled, "That you did, I'd say it was a fair price for saving the damsel in distress, no?"
Bell couldn't help smiling back, "And I would break it again, as many times as needed, to save you."
Alicia's cheeks flushed, "I- I see, are these the kind of words you use to seduce Lady Riveria?"
Bell spluttered, "I'm not seducing anyone!"
"Doesn't seem that way…" Alicia smiled in a way that let Bell know she was only playing with him.
"Please don't tease me too, I have enough of that with Rose and Miss Kat," Bell quietly bemoaned.
Alicia giggled again, "I can understand why, your reactions are too funny."
Bell grumbled under his breath as Alicia continued laughing at his expense, he looked grumpy but in reality, he was extremely glad that Alicia was smiling, laughing even, and had all but forgotten the events from yesterday.
He had originally thought of asking more about what happened yesterday to her but seeing how happy and carefree Alicia was right now, he couldn't bring himself to ruin such bright emotions.
"Ah, Alicia?" Bell thumbed the back of the golden-haired elf's hand, "My contracted smith's a human guy, will you be fine…?"
Alicia gave him a troubled smile, "He's not a weird person, right?"
Bell shook his head, "I don't think so, he's very down to earth."
"I'll… think about once I meet him, then. I don't have problems if it's for weapons, but equipment is a bit…" Alicia trailed off and Bell understood why.
Alicia was getting used to his touch, and all it took was a near-death experience, with several vulnerable, and emotional, moments shared between them before she was comfortable enough with touching him out of her own will.
It would take another miracle for Alicia to be comfortable enough to have Welf craft her equipment.
Bell's uncanny luck presented itself in the shape of a mocha-skinned woman furiously tapping her feet, arms crossed, at the closed doors of Welf's workshop. An angry scowl on her face, one that left her face as soon as Bell and Alicia approached her enough that she distinguished them from the regular folk.
"Good morning, Miss Tsubaki," Bell greeted the mocha-skinned woman first, shortly followed by a quieter Alicia.
"Heya! Been a while since we last saw each other," Tsubaki greeted with a strong smile, surprising Bell by slinging her arm across his shoulder and pushing the side of his face into her bosom, "Can't believe you haven't visited me for my special service, Welf hasn't scared you away from me, has he?"
"Ahaha," Bell awkwardly laughed as he tried to disentangle himself from Tsubaki's grip, but surprisingly enough, she had more strength than he did, "Nothing of the sort, I've just been extremely busy lately, and my Familia didn't have enough valis until recently to request your special service."
"Until recently, eh?" Tsubaki grinned, "That means you do, now, right?"
Bell gave her a matching grin, "Yep!"
"That's good, now," Tsubaki leaned down to whisper into Bell's ear, "What are you doing with an elf from the Loki Familia?"
Not low enough for Alicia not to hear, though, and she replied between narrowed eyes, "I'm accompanying Bell to his errands."
Tsubaki released Bell's head, finally, and matched Alicia's stare, "An elf, and a human? Scratch that, you, and a human?"
Alicia visibly bristled at that, and she grabbed onto Bell's elbow and pulled him back, his arm finding its way in between the golden-haired elf's cleavage, "Yes, is that a problem?"
Tsubaki continued staring through narrowed eyes for a few seconds longer before her lips almost split apart with the giant grin that appeared on her features, and the mocha-skinned woman surprised both Bell, and Alicia, by swooping in and giving Alicia a hug, "Well, I'll be! Never expected I'd see the day you would get past those reservations of yours!"
"Miss Collbrande! Stop," Alicia tried to tear herself away, not because she didn't want to stop the hug, but because Bell was caught in the crossfire.
And his head was nestled between the two women's rack as they struggled back and forth.
'Heavens doesn't hold a candle to the wonders of the Earthly world, my boy! Rejoice!'
If anyone asked him what it felt like to be trapped in such a heavenly prison, Bell would freely explain the wonderful sensations down to the very last detail, however, that is only if he was asked.
Such wonderful feelings were better when kept to oneself, after all.
"What the hell's the ruckus out here!" The workshop's door snapped open, and out peeked the red-haired man Bell had been looking for, "Bah, why I'm not surprised its you, or you." Welf grumbled at Tsubaki first, then at Bell.
"About time you opened up, you dunce!" Tsubaki released Alicia, and Bell from his heavenly prison, to give Welf's skull a solid smack, "I've been waiting for you to open for the past hour!"
"Argh, why do you even hit me! Didn't we accord you would arrive in the evening!?" Welf angrily replied, rubbing the throbbing spot on his head.
"We did?" Tsubaki blinked, then guffawed loudly, "Ahaha, must've forgot…"
"This woman…" Welf grumbled, and finally moved past the doorway to greet Bell, "Hey, been a while."
Bell shook his head to return to earth, gave Alicia a quick, and reassuring, rub of the thumb on the back of her hand, before he greeted Welf, "Yeah, sorry about that, been a bit busy trying not to die the last few days."
Welf snorted, "I can see that."
"Before we continue," Bell scratched his cheek awkwardly, "I've got to apologize for something…"
Welf could already see where Bell's words were going, and the main braced himself by reclining against the doorway, "Go on."
"So, uh, I might have, uh… Broke the spear… and the swords… and the daggers…" Bell sheepishly summarized and Welf instantly clutched his heart in pain.
"Urgh, do you know how much effort I put into those!?" Welf half-shouted, half-whispered.
"Yep, they're one of the reasons we're alive," Bell pointed at himself, and at Alicia who looked down at the reminder of her near-death experience.
Welf blinked, "You did something crazy again, didn't ya'?"
Bell shrugged, "I did what I believed was right, and I would do it all over again if it ever occurred."
Tsubaki and Welf felt they needed a lot of contexts behind those words, especially with how Alicia's face exploded into an atomic blush, and she tried to hide her face by burying it on the laughing Bell's back.
"Definitely did something crazy," Welf shook his head bemusedly, "Come on in, you can tell me all about your idiotic feats while we go over our business."
Those words said, Welf invited in all three guests, and they made themselves comfortable in the red-haired man's workshop, as comfortable as they could with the several piles of discarded creations from said blacksmith who scoffed in disdain as he passed said piles.
Once the four were as close as they could get to the cluttered counter, Bell started his explanation of what happened the last few days and gave Welf another heart ache when he learned of how his weapons were broken.
"So, one moment they're in my hand, and the next they're gone, reduced to atoms." Bell sheepishly scratched his cheek.
"Urgh, what the hell's an atom even!?"
Bell laughed at the blacksmith's sorrow, an emotion that was quickly swept when both Welf and Tsubaki made the connection between what Bell was telling them and the rumor of the 'white-haired savior' from the Monsterphillia event.
Tsubaki felt stupid for not realizing it sooner since she knew Alicia had been involved in quite the big ordeal from the God Goibnu himself during one of their friendly drinking contests.
What Tsubaki wasn't expecting was seeing how the normally man hating Elleaf looked for Bell's comfort by grabbing, and leaning, onto him as he explained what occurred in the arena to them, and how useful Welf's creations were.
The 'Cyclops' was further surprised by how Bell immediately noticed Alicia's discomfort at the memories and didn't hesitate to bring her closer towards himself and lend her his presence in however way Alicia felt she needed.
If that wasn't enough, when Alicia almost exploded in anger after learning of Welf's surname after the blacksmith had properly presented himself to the new member of the Hestia Familia, and a possible new customer, Bell had easily soothed the elf's anger with some whispered words and a pleading look.
"For what it's worth, I swore I would never craft a magic weapon with my Crozzo blood."
Tsubaki hated hearing Welf's vow, but this time she kept quiet about how stupid it was due to it helping calm down Alicia, and somewhat regain her trust, one that was solely given simply because Bell trusted Welf.
For Tsubaki, it was quite the eye-opening experience to see how the rumored 'savior' lived to the hushed rumors, and guiltily comparing his attentiveness to the rock-headed attitude of her junior.
It was easy for anyone to see how strong the friendship between Bell and Welf was, what with the white-haired adventurer being brutally honest with naming the faults of the weapons Welf had already labelled 'failed projects', or how the blacksmith actively named some of those faults on his own and explained what he'd been trying to go for with every creation.
While Welf and Bell spoke, Tsubaki threw her own two cents here and there, as the true voice of experience between the three, her output was the most important one and, unlike when she spoke with Welf alone, was regarded in higher importance and not discarded by the inexperienced blacksmith's fickle pride.
That left Alicia to stand beside Bell, quiet, and watch how the other three interacted. Bell had whispered for her to trust him when she had exploded in anger, to see that Welf was different from whatever precognition she had of him, and as the three continued speaking, she could see that Bell words were true.
As a Crozzo, Welf should've been able to imbue the concepts he wanted into his weapons very easily with his Crozzo Blood skill, yet here he was, renouncing his surname and doing his absolute best to master his craft through his own sweat, and blood, rather than use the cursed blood all elves hated to a degree.
Alicia would be lying if she said she didn't feel Bell betrayed her when she learned of the Blacksmith's lineage, but her current trust in Bell was a lot higher than her disdain for a past she wasn't personally affected by. There was bad blood between the Crozzo's and the Elves, but it was history that Bell most likely didn't know, and Alicia couldn't blame him for that.
Thus, Alicia decided to continue trusting Bell regardless of the past, after all, the past was already set in stone, and she couldn't change anything from there.
That was not to say she would request Welf to craft equipment for her, something that she left quite clear after Bell and Welf finally finished reviewing the failed creations, and they started talking about what the Hestia Familia would be needing in the near future.
Welf jotted down for Bell what monster drops he would need and from which floors for Bell's new request and went to the back to bring Bell the short spear he'd already requested.
Tsubaki approached Bell then, slinging her arm over his shoulder and mushing his cheek against her bosom again while Alicia continued looking around the store.
"So, are you going to request something from me too, this time?" Tsubaki asked with a confident grin which Bell matched for a second before it fell as he glanced at Alicia. Tsubaki noticed this, yet before she could ask, Bell already started.
"Actually, I know you said you wouldn't craft equipment for anyone else but me, but could you consider crafting equipment for Alicia?" Bell asked.
Tsubaki frowned, and she painfully rubbed her knuckles over Bell's hair, "I said the discount was available only to you, I never said I wouldn't craft for anyone else, and yes, I can. It will be expensive, though."
"That's great," Bell widely smiled, "I was worried we would take a long time finding someone she would feel comfortable with."
Tsubaki frowned again, "I heard something bad happened to her at the arena, is it related to that?"
Bell nodded, his face rubbing Tsubaki's chest, "I think it's best if she tells you herself, since you two will be working together and all that…"
"Hm… You've… grown," Tsubaki glanced at the backdoor Welf disappeared off to, "I wish he would've done the same…"
"Tsubaki?"
"Don't mind me," Tsubaki released Bell's head, "I'll tell Alicia about this."
As Tsubaki walked towards Alicia, Bell thought about what could've made the normally headstrong woman act like that, though he didn't have much time to ponder that thought as Welf returned with Bell's last order.
The proud blacksmith presented the weapon with a wide grin, one that grew wider when Bell gave his approval of the finely crafted weapon after giving it a few test swings and thrusts.
The trident looked the same as the previous version, except obviously, was a lot smaller than it. Silver in color, three prongs at the top with the middle one being smaller, and whereas the previous version was over two meters in length, this one was a meter long.
The new size made it easier for Bell to use with one hand yet was also long enough to employ with both hands.
What Bell wasn't expecting was for Welf to give him a new curved dagger, blade silver in color with a gray handle, something he made from the remaining materials after forging the short trident.
Bell was glad that he wouldn't need to look around for a secondary weapon anymore.
Bell kept chatting with Welf for a bit longer while Tsubaki explained Bell's request to Alicia, citing that if she had any problem to take it with Bell instead of her, as it was the white-haired man's decision, and Tsubaki was only going along with it.
And so, armed with proper weapons, Bell felt like he was ready to tackle on the dungeon again, but today would not be the day just yet. There were other things he, and Alicia, still had to do, and the next in line was one he was, and wasn't, looking forward to.
- 0 – AsBBaH – 0 -
Part 29
It took a while for Bell to convince Alicia to accept Tsubaki's as her new blacksmith in charge of personalized equipment, during that time Bell learned that Tsubaki had helped Welf craft his new weapon, the short trident, by giving the novice blacksmith the missing materials and watching over his shoulder as he crafted the weapon.
Welf grumbled that he would've been fine making the weapon on his own, his stubborn pride and words made Tsubaki's smile drop a little which Bell caught, though she played it off by scoffing and giving a solid smack to the back of Welf's head and reminded him that he should only be proud of his customer returning alive thanks to his weapon, and not of the weapon itself.
After that interaction, Bell bid goodbye to the two bickering blacksmiths since he had no more errands to deal with concerning them, just before he left Tsubaki told him again about where her workshop was located so he could accompany Alicia for her first order, or his own special offer, it was up to him.
Bell thanked her, again, for her generosity and had his face mushed one last time against the side of her breast while she rubbed her knuckles on his skull.
For a woman with such a tough profession, Tsubaki's body was very comfortable to be pressed against.
Not that he would ever say it out loud, obviously, at least not if he wasn't asked, his innocent honesty always got the best of him when he least expected it, after all.
The next stop that Bell grew more fearful of as Alicia walked alongside him, holding his hand once again, was the Pantheon.
Not because he was supposedly famous, something he was extremely doubtful of since nobody recognized him, or Alicia, as they walked towards the Guild, but because Eina, his second lover, was there, and he had no idea how she would react to his appearance.
It was during moments like this that Bell realized that he could truly do with Rose doing something behind his back. Such thoughts prevailed in his head up until the moment he was standing in front of the Pantheon's doors, and had it not been for Alicia holding onto him, he would've been walking back and forth thinking of how to apologize to Eina.
Obviously, his luck didn't give him such a chance to prepare himself.
"Bell?" The distinct soft voice of his half-elf lover came from behind the two, and Bell stood ramrod still as a gloved hand grasped his shoulder and forcefully turned him around, "Bell!"
"Um," Bell awkwardly smiled, "I'm sorry?"
Eina's eyes watered but after a single blink, her face turned into an angry scowl and she grabbed a fistful of Bell's shirt by the neck, and wordlessly dragged him inside the pantheon alongside Alicia who felt both amused, and reproachful, at Eina's actions, and emotions.
Again, Bell was the focus of attention inside the Guild's lobby as his advisor dragged him through the seas of parting adventurers amusedly laughing at his expense until he was out of sight after being thrown into one of the many private booths.
Just before Eina entered the same booth, she gave a short greeting to Alicia, expressed she was glad to see her looking fine, and asked the golden-haired elf if she could wait outside while Eina spoke (imbued the terror of a woman's scorn) to Bell. Alicia already knew of Bell's and Eina's relationship, and she easily agreed to Eina's request since she knew how much the half-elf must've been looking forward to having a moment alone with Bell after everything he went through… for her…
Luckily, for Alicia, such commotion drove a certain werewolf out of her post and Rose beckoned Alicia to join her while she waited for Bell.
On the other side of the door, Bell barely had a moment to prepare himself once he was pushed into the private booth before Eina entered after him, and the half-elf grabbed onto the front of his shirt, painfully pushed him against the wall, then grabbed his face and crashed her lips against his.
Confusion made way for concern when Bell saw the tears start falling from Eina's eyes, and the way her lips trembled as she pressed her body against his made Bell's heart tremble painfully, thankfully, there was no opposition from Eina as Bell brought her into a reassuring embrace.
Eina separated from the kiss first, took of her glasses to look directly into Bell's apologetic eyes, and whispered, "I… I missed you."
"I'm sorry it took me this long to get back to you," Bell replied, pressing another chaste kiss to Eina's lips.
Eina teared up again, "I thought I lost you…"
Bell shook his head, "I promised I would always return to you, all of you, no matter what." He rested one hand on Eina's lower back, and the other gently cupped her cheek which she leaned into, "I'm sorry for making you worry so much, thank you for putting up with me…"
Eina half-laughed half-sobbed, "You're going to be the death of me, Bell Cranel."
Bell carefully wiped the remaining tears from Eina's face, while doing so he noticed the half-elf was wearing the earrings he gifted her, "I've missed you too, a lot."
Eina sniffed and released a long breath, a little bit of anger entering her voice, "Then why did it take you so long to come see me?"
"So much has happened," Bell smiled apologetically, "I promise I'll make it up to you, however you want."
"… Then… tonight," Eina's long ears turned reddish, her lips gently resting over Bell's, and she mumbled, "give me your love."
0 – AsBBaH – 0 -
Bell sat on the booth's couch with Eina comfortably sitting on his lap, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck, while Bell explained why it took him so long to meet Eina.
Eina was aware of Bell's action during the Monsterphillia since she was the one to help Lady Hestia deal with the mess their Familia was involved in, and because Rose had also explained everything that occurred while Bell was recovering, including the damage to Alicia's body and the golden-haired elf's addition to the Hestia Familia.
However, hearing the thought process behind Bell's actions led Eina to understand that she not only needed to worry about what could happen to Bell in the dungeon, but also what could happen to him outside of the dungeon, especially now that he was in the sight of most Gods.
Bell admitted he was glad that Eina hadn't reacted with more anger than she initially did, only to feel extremely bad when Eina said she was angry, but she understood that Bell already lived a dangerous life, and she decided to lo- stay by his side despite that.
Saying 'I'm sorry' would be an insult to both, Bell's decision to continue being an adventurer, and Eina's decision to stay with him despite that. So, instead, Bell brought Eina into a long kiss to thank her for always worrying for him, and to reassure her that he would always come back, no matter what.
Sadly, as much as Eina wanted to remain seated on Bell, and be dotted over by him, there was a lot of paperwork he had to look over as the Hestia Familia's Captain, not only that, but he also had to be brought up to speed about the issues Rose already mentioned to him a few days earlier.
Eina took a few minutes to gather all the paperwork before placing it on the table, and Bell chuckled when she made herself comfortable in his lap again, his arms circling around her waist as the two looked over the papers.
First, and foremost, the Hestia Familia was no longer under the New Familia Protection laws which exempted them from being taxed the first year or getting involved in War Games. The addition of Eden Voluptas, a level 3, and Alicia Forestlight, a level 4, into Hestia's Familia, along with Bell's achievements and endorsement by certain Gods raised the rank of the Hestia Familia all the way up to Rank D, which also meant that they would need to do at least one exploration before the six month's mark from the moment of obtaining the Rank up.
That also increased the tax they would have to pay by year's end, the total sum being 4, 000, 000 Valis for Familia Rank D.
"How did we even get to Rank D so fast!?" Bell whispered into Eina's ear, making Eina shudder and grab onto his thighs tightly.
Eina recited from memory, "Great Lord Ouranos decreed the Hestia Familia be raised to rank F for Bell Cranel's following deeds, rescuing an important Guild Member, delivering the monster core of an Infant Dragon, participation in the Monsterphillia, defeating the mutated monster in the Arena and saving the lives of several Gods, and mortals." She gathered her breath as Bell blinked several times and continued, "Great Lord Ouranos also decreed Bell's Cranel's feats, and level ups, are to be kept secret due to his irregularity, with only the personally involved parties to be aware of these."
"Eina, is this normal?" Bell frowned; his voice filled with concern.
"No, Bell, it isn't." Eina fixed her glasses and reclined back into Bell's chest, "There's no record of Great Lord Ouranos being so personally involved in any adventurer's life like yours, at least not available to me, and I believe it might be due to Lady Hekate since all these decrees came after Lady Hekate spoke with Great Lord Ouranos."
Bell could see where Eina's guess came from, and it was an easily believable one, "If only Miss Kat was around to confirm our guess."
"She's gone?"
"For a while, she'll be tending to some personal obligations outside of Orario," Bell explained.
Eina frowned, "Lady Hekate's truly an irregular Goddess too, most Gods have to report to the Guild before leaving Orario…"
Bell jumped at that, making Eina shudder again as a certain part bumped against her rear, "We're not in trouble for that, right?" Bell quickly asked.
"N-no," Eina breathed deeply, "The Guild owns an artefact which monitors the entry and exit of the Gods, if nobody has informed me of Lady Hekate's leave, there's no trouble for you, or it was already approved."
Bell sighed in relief, his warm breath tickling Eina's ear again and making her fidget in his lap, "That's great… We already have enough to worry about…"
"What do you mean?"
"Some bastards made fun of Alicia and after the Loki Familia helped her, they threatened her with a war game." The anger Bell kept hidden since last night surfaced and his fingers dug into Eina's side.
"Ahn~ B-Bell!" Eina immediately covered her mouth with both hands, "Hands!"
"Ah, sorry," Bell apologized and eased his fingers open.
"I-it's f-fine," Eina coughed into her fist, "I haven't received any War Game notice yet…"
"They must be thinking whether to push through with it or not, then," Bell sighed.
"What Familia was it?"
"I… Haven't asked Alicia yet, but someone from the Loki Familia will supposedly pass by Rose's home later to tell me the details."
"Please tell me the details tonight so I can prepare if they come."
Bell nodded, "Thank you, Eina."
Just then, a bell rang in the Pantheon, one signaling it was midday which meant a shift change for the Guild members, and lunch break for several others. It also meant Eina and Rose were free for up to the next two hours since they worked the morning shift.
"Eina, will you have lunch with us?"
His response was Eina turning on his lap, enough that her bosom pressed against his chest, and she delivered a solid confirmation kiss that lasted long, long enough for both breaths to become ragged, for Bell to forget where they were and help Eina climb into his lap properly, her legs coming to rest on either side of him as she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and continued the kiss.
Seconds turned into minutes without anyone there to stop them, Bell's vigor poked Eina through his pants to which the half-elf released a shuddering breath into the kiss and started grinding against it; her desire for Bell that hadn't been tended for the last few days and festered with her worry pushed aside her usual meekness and drove her to seek more of her lover's affection.
Bell received Eina's enthusiasm and returned it in kind, his fingers glided over her thighs, around her sides, down her lower back until he grasped her toned rear and nestled his fingers into her supple rear; Eina moaned louder into the kiss, her lips parting the slightest bit which gave access for Bell's tongue to explore her meet and greet hers.
Again, Eina's fingers tightened around Bell's shirt and her breath grew more ragged, her movements became a little too wild and she toppled backwards. Bell had been too focused on dotting over Eina to realize they were falling forward, and only the sudden exhale of Eina's breath as her back hit the table alerted they were in a different position.
Bell withdrew from the kiss to look down at Eina, "Are you okay?"
"Please don't stop." Eina ignored his question, her hands looped around his neck and pulled him down to renew their kiss.
Bell's surprise at Eina's assertiveness allowed the half-elf to explore Bell's mouth with her tongue before he regained his bearings and resumed dotting Eina with more of his affection, the new position with her back pressed against the table and her legs locked around his waist gave him more access to her body which he put to good use by sneaking his hands under the half-elf's shirt, tickling her waist, belly, and sides sensitive skin.
Little by little Bell and Eina cared less and less about where they were; Their partner's and the feelings they were evoking in one another being their only focus, buttons started popping, and Eina's vest and shirt gave away for her white underwear to be moved aside, her heavy breast were seized by Bell's hands and made her moan louder as her partner had his way with her chest.
Eina's hips started grinding against Bell's hardened vigor again, an erotic whine rumbling in her throat when Bell's fingers teased the skin around her creamy tips, a whine which turned into a full-blown moan when he pinched her nipples between his fingers.
"Mo-more!" Eina hotly begged into his lips, and arched her back from the table to give Bell even more access to what was his, and his alone, and he restated his ownership of it by trailing kisses over Eina's neck, her head tilting up to give him access to her throat while he continued downwards until his mouth found a certain spot on her chest, a spot with a slightly different skin tone from how often he sucked that very same spot.
And he did it again, renewing the mark while Eina pressed his face deeper into her bosom.
Bell took his sweet time making sure the mark was there again, and once it was done, he placed several fluttering kisses around it to let Eina know. She guided his face towards the tips of her breast, her back arching further, and another rumbling moan left her when Bell's mouth captured one of her creamy peaks.
The sensations slowly, but surely, became too overwhelming, and with a sudden gripping of Bell's hair and another echoing moan, Eina's uniform dampened and teased Bell for being unable to find his own release.
Not that he was looking for it, as he was more concerned with making sure Eina knew he truly missed, and wanted, her. It was totally not because he was young, or his gramps being a pervert, or Rose and Shakti teasing him during the morning, or Alicia unknowingly stirring him by her tendency to undress in front of him, or Tsubaki rubbing his cheek against her pillowy breast earlier…
Oh, who was he kidding! There was only so much Bell could hold himself back from before snapping, and Eina's fervor was the straw to his hungry desires.
A hunger that almost blew up when Eina back returned to the table, her heavy breasts heaving up and down, gaze fluttering and face inviting Bell to take it up a step further, only for a knock on the door to freeze them both on the spot.
"Sorry, is this booth in use?" A muffled nondescript voice came from the other side of the door.
Reality crashed down on both again, and they were reminded of where they were.
"Y-yes!" Eina shouted as Bell helped her sit on the table.
"Ah, okay, sorry."
The half-elf sighed in relief, and when she looked at Bell, saw he was having a lot of trouble calming down, and as much as she would've wanted to take care of his trouble then and there, the Guild was definitely not the place to do so.
At least not without the proper preparations.
"Bell," Eina called his name, and his crimson gaze fell on her, "Tonight, I promise."
Bell could work with that, and with several deep breathes, was back to normal, albeit slightly bothered, "Hai."
Eina fixed her clothes back in place, asked Bell for one more simple kiss, before she gathered the paperwork into their binder, and the two left the private booth. For anyone who saw the two, they would confuse Eina's flushed face for anger and Bell's aloft attitude for remorse.
That was not the case for Rose, and even Alicia, when the four met.
"I'm guessing you'll be spending the night with us, Eina?" Rose teased with a knowing smile whereas Alicia gave Bell a troubled, and thoughtful, look after taking his hand again.
And so, Bell left the guild, both hands held by an elf on either side, and a bemused werewolf purposefully swaying her hips in front of him during their walk back home for a well-deserved lunch.
- 0 – Chapter End – 0 -
Author's Notes: Yaaaay, new chapter, yaaaay, today's my birthday (April 14), yaaaay! Sorry for the delay, been both busy, and resting, at the same time last week. I truly want to finish the novel version for Vol1, yet there's still so much I want to add to it, lol…
ALSO! I've updated last chapter (Rose-Side Story) to add Misha Flott Omake at the end, I'll also be editing later tonight my response to some reviews from this chapter and previous ones.
Until the next update~
- Jas / Shiiva