He should've moved first. Aiz was weaker than he had ever experienced. Against someone above his level, twice in fact, he knew that aggression and speed was the key. However, his feet remained rooted, as if filled with lead. His grip was weak on his blades. His right shoulder slumped ever so slightly-
He barely snapped his right sword up, eyes wide in a panic. Wiene yelped, stumbling backwards as the tip of Desperate almost took her eye out. He gritted his teeth, trying not to flinch by the resulting wind blast that almost sent him flying over. Aiz twitched at his action, a split second of breathing room given to Bell for him to steady himself again, blocking her path once more. Both of them breathed in at the same time.
No matter her mental state, no matter what was going on in that head of hers…Aiz wouldn't warn him twice. She was serious about this. Even with his blades shaking, he raised them, facing Aiz' steady arm.
"Wiene, no matter what, stay still."
The Wind Princess clicked her tongue, her sword arm twitching. Bell didn't hesitate to dash forward in a straight line. Aiz reacted faster than him however, stepping to the side, rearing back her arm. With his feet pushing against the ground, he immediately slid into her aiming path once more, raising his palm. Both grit their teeth, as they unleashed their magic. A storm clashed against the spear of fire and lightning, splitting in half and ruining the walls in this district path. Some of the wind still kicked Bell backwards. Suppressing his own beating heart at the sight of such magic, his eyes widened when he saw Aiz nowhere on the ground. Without even looking up, he cut upwards in a scissor motion. He was unable to finish the attack however, as two soles stepped onto his blades, balancing on them like a faerie dancing across a lake.
Bell grit his teeth as he saw Aiz use him as an aiming platform. More wind than ever before gathered in her blade, an unyielding look of mercy aimed at Wiene, before she roared and swung her arm with full force. Yet the Xenos remained rooted, shivering in fear, but with an obedient expression. Seeing that, Bell roared as well…and let go of his blades as he took a step back. With the midswing she performed, Aiz couldn't do anything but lose her balance, her wind moving out of control, with no second arm to balance herself with in mid strike. She struck the ground, landing on her sling, causing her to bite down a scream of agony. Just as she rolled around, her back on the ground, Bell moved onto her, pressing his body down her hip while pushing her down by her right shoulder. He struggled to reach Desperate, trying to kick or slap it out of her hand, but her moving arm was too swift. She raised her arm above her head. He reached out, trying one more time to take the weapon of her hand.
But with a small jump with her hip, aided by Tempest, he was forcefully shoved off. He rolled with the force, grabbing his sword in the process and spun around as fast as he could. His neck almost broke with the speed his cheek was slapped with the blunt side of Desperate, despite him moving with the blow as fast as he could. To his surprise, Aiz didn't aim for Wiene this time, instead demonstrating why she held the moniker of Sword Princess in the past.
His fingers ached in agony as they tried to hold onto Homebringer. His lungs screamed to make Aiz stop in any way possible, as all the oxygen in his body burned up just to keep him moving. His mind become blurry from the exhaustion, as his feet were forced back, step by step, with Aiz intend on knocking him out. To get rid of an annoyance? To give mercy so that he wouldn't have to see Wiene die? Either way, as his vision darkened ever so slightly, he could still see her as a light in the tunnel.
Even with that distorted expression, of anger and other emotions, even with those wild swings with her other arm in a sling…Bell couldn't help but think of Aiz as one of the most beautiful people he's ever met. Despite her balance being off, her motions being stiff at times, it was more than enough to push him back, her experience with a one handed weapon showing that even if her mind was in disarray, her body wouldn't betray her. Bell didn't know how his expression looked like as their swords locked, as Bell was forced down his knees. But whatever he looked like, it caused Aiz to bite her lip as she pressed down, with but one arm.
"Why?"
Why what? So many whys she could be asking, so many whys that went through his own head. Ever so slightly, Aiz turned her head. His eyes widened before he growled and shoved her blade to the side. She almost fell over before steadying herself, but Bell jumped with his knee first, hitting her in the stomach during her own descent. She coughed violently and stumbled backwards. Bell blinked before biting his lip. She had to have internal injuries if that weak attack was enough to cause such a reaction. It begged the question from what. He doubted the Xenos used poison or anything the like and usually would cause external injuries.
Internal implied some sort of magic or martial arts. He shook his head. He had to focus for now…and answer her question.
"I already told you…!" Bell cleared his throat, which was incredibly dry as he watched Aiz straighten herself up. "They are people! They…they are my friends!"
Immediately, Aiz shook her head before coming at him again. A cut against his cheek, his limbs, here and there, draining even more of his energy.
"It doesn't make sense. How are they your friends? They're-" She stumbled over her words, her flurry of stabs slowing down enough for Bell to circle around her. "So what if they are people? They are still-"
"Don't call them monsters," Bell muttered, spreading his arms open. It was a foolish move, making him wide open for an attack…but he refused to let Wiene feel alone for even a second, who sniffed, yet tried to remain steady throughout this entire fight. Aiz growled at the sight of his actions, cutting the air with her sword as if cutting through something unsightly.
"Their forms and instincts are that of monsters! Who is to say they won't give in, to hurt others…you?!"
He could only try to imagine it. The loss they felt with Tiona was crippled. The agony of losing Familia members to Evilus during the Dark Age. Unthinkable incidents in Aiz' own past that created such hatred for anything that didn't look human. He couldn't ever understand, the closest image he had in his head being the day he lost his grandpa. But even if he couldn't understand, was unable to reach the heart of this problem…
He sheathed his swords, causing Aiz' eyes to widen. Even if he was incompetent like that, nobody should be paying for this. Not Wiene. Not Aiz herself. He put a hand on his chest.
"Aiz, that's what all people have. That…that thing inside them, that wants them to hurt others." He shook his head slowly. "They… they aren't special."
The sadism of the Night Queen. Gods that played with the mortals for their amusement. Fanatics that would destroy themselves to hurt others. Even Bell himself felt that ugliness inside of him, when he decided to kill someone, that slippery slope beckoning to go further, to remove more threats to those he loved.
"You're wrong."
"I'm not. Evilus. Other criminals. Even us. We all have those urges to hurt others."
"You're wrong!" Aiz shouted this time, her voice hoarse.
"Why?!"
"You just are!"
She exploded forward, wind swirling around her blade as she chopped it down like an executioner's blade. Bell's instincts screamed at him to dodge, to avoid the certain death awaiting for him. But instead he grit his teeth, and allowed the white veil to cover him as he raised his hands. His body slammed against the ground, imbedding it into the street. Yet even with his bones creaking and screaming, about to break, he held onto Desperate…no, the hilt of it, his fingers grasping Aiz' hands.
"Aiz…please stop. You're the one who's suffering from all this."
He coughed out blood, smiling sadly at the girl who stared at him with shaking, wide eyes. Stumbling backwards, she dropped her sword, still looking at Bell.
As if she couldn't believe what he was saying. As if she was someone to deserve his concern. She clutched her head, letting out a whine before shaking it violently. Bell swallowed his saliva, pain blossoming in his heart. Did he really not notice this? Her…her suffering? He didn't know why she was in such pain. He didn't know why she stared at him with such tearful eyes, with such refusal. All he knew was that he felt regret…and that he had to help someone in need of help.
"You're better than this."
"You don't know me!" Aiz screamed, tears flowing from her eyes as she violently shook her head.
"I know enough." He winced as he slowly stood up, pointing at himself. "I managed to dodge your attacks after all, right?"
"That-"
"You are honest to a fault. I'm not just talking about fighting. You always take the most direct path to victory," he said gently, interrupting her. He shook his head a bit. "But you're also awkward. Sometimes you don't know what you are doing, as if you are new to social stuff…"
She couldn't help but gape at him, the words he uttered not fitting their conflict at all at the moment. Using that chance, he pushed on.
"You might look emotionless, but deep within you care for others. Want to help them." His voice shivered, from pain and overflowing emotion, hope entering his voice. "You aren't an unfeeling killer. You-you aren't just a weapon, no matter how much you want to be one! I believe that…you and everyone else…can get along someday. So please…stop making that expression…! You don't want this either! Stop forcing yourself and pretending that you do! That you are in any way okay right now!"
Silence stretched out between them, only the erratic breathing of Aiz filling the air. It was as if light flickered on and off in her eyes, fighting between the desire to destroy monsters and the desire to just cease. Yet it was neither of the humans that would tip the scales. Bell felt movement behind himself. Slowly, Wiene stepped forward, gently pushing against him. Aiz let out a quiet snarl, her eyes darkening…only for the girl to drop down to her knees, head pressed against the floor.
"...I don't want to die…! I don't want anyone to die…!" She choked on her own tears as she looked up. "I…I don't know what I should do to convince you, but…!"
She looked down, at her own claws…before grabbing one of them. She hissed as she started to pull, causing Bell's eyes to widen, as he moved down to his knees to stop the girl.
"Wiene, what are you-"
"Stop."
The two of them froze. They looked up, only to see Aiz having walked up to them. Looking down on them…on Wiene. With the sun looming behind her, her face was unreadable by the shadow it cast.
"Look me in the eyes," she whispered. Wiene did so, sniffing in fear. In hope. A myriad of emotions that made no sense, but were completely in tune for a little girl facing danger, unable to know what to do. Bell couldn't help but wrap his arm around Wiene, hugging her to keep her steady. Then, Aiz closed her eyes, her hands forming fists…before she turned her back on them. Wiene blinked, unable to comprehend what happened when Aiz picked up her sword and sheathed it.
"Go."
"Aiz…?"
"Just go!" Aiz screamed, not facing them at all. Bell blinked, before smiling, unable to help himself. Picking Wiene up, against her worried objections, he lowered his head deeply.
"Thank you…!"
He wanted to stay. To talk this out more. But he didn't have the time. The Xenos were still in danger. Thus…he was determined to have a proper talk when this is all over.
Not as enemies, but people that could understand each other. Thus, he ran off, as fast as he could.
Meanwhile, Aiz looked up at the sky, tears still flowing out of her eyes like rivers.
She did the right thing. She didn't become worse than a monster. She didn't become like…it. That would tear apart a young child's life. A girl that had eyes like hers before she turned to darkness. He didn't betray Bell's faith in her, as misplaced as it was. For a moment, Aiz could feel like she lived up to that belief of his for a second.
So why didn't she feel right?
She remembered. His arm wrapping around the girl. Him standing up against her, no matter the odds.
Ah…that was right…She didn't feel right…because after all that, she was still ugly inside. Jealousy. Anger. Hate. She collapsed down to her knees Desperate in its sheath clattering against the ground.
This wasn't fair. She covered her face with her hands. as she sobbed into her palm.
Why wasn't she in that girl's place?
Why wasn't she saved back then?
/
Gros hissed, earning him concerned looks from his brethren. He waved them off, rubbing against the burns and cuts of his chest, covered with some cloth as a makeshift bandage. He took in a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air despite their hurried steps, flaps of wings or other means of movement. He glanced back, at the direction they came from before shaking his head.
...That captain of theirs…She really was a weird one. He hoped she would be alright, down there in all that filth. Not that he particularly cared for the humans, but he wouldn't wish his worst enemies to be stuck in all that sludge. It wasn't like he would feel bad if that Bell child cried for her loss. Definitely not. He snarled, shaking his head before patting Lido on the shoulder.
"Lido, you still moving in the right direction?"
"I'm following the map, not to wo-"
"I'd stop here if I were you."
They slid to a stop, tensing up as they raised their weapons, artificial or otherwise. They visibly relaxed when they saw Hermes, alongside his captain and a few others in the alley they were in, the god leaning against the wall. Yet at the sight of their allies, Gros couldn't help but not feel as relaxed as he should be. He shared a glance with Rei and Ranye, both nodding at him.
Rationally, they should be at peace that their allies were with them…so why did his Xenos instincts scream at him that something was wrong?
"You always were one of the more mistrusting ones. Should've listened more to those instincts to be honest."
As Hermes adjusted his hat, hiding his eyes from view, Lido tilted his head at those words.
"What are…you…?"
It was then that they got a proper look on the path ahead, of the plaza that was in front of Babel...and a heavy weight dropped into their gut, as hope shattered into pieces in their mind.
"No…!"
Bell hugged Wiene close to his chest, disbelief written all over his face…as he was utterly surrounded. Not just by the Loki Familia, but many other adventurers. Kojiro and Haruhime, unconscious in the ranks of the adventures, held as prisoners. On the rooftops, on the ground, all over the place. It was then that Gros smelled the air and clicked his tongue.
The net was wide. Very wide. He'd assumed if he were to fly up now, he would be seeing a wide range formation, to cover as much ground as possible, but close enough to Babel to converge on that spot with swift speed. In the chaos of their movement, of the distractions, he assumed that Fels was unable to spot the spider's trap, no offense to Ranye, before it was too late. And indeed it was, the alchemist' hands shaking as the truth settled into his mind. He believed they would be baiting the enemy to Daedalus Street with enough noise being made. Alas, as he was busy with his own role, he didn't realize that many would leave the grounds of Evilus, instead taking up their position around Babel, to be ready for the trap to spring.
To make matters worse, three individuals flew through the air and landed right next to Bell. The girls blinked at him before taking in the situation around them. Kaguya snarled as she tightened her grip on her swords.
"Shit, I was afraid this was going to happen…!"
"Wait, the plan was to let them escape through here?!" Alise shouted, wiping some sweat from her forehead. As if that wasn't enough, Finn alongside the other elite arrived on the field. Bruised, exhausted, but very much still combat capable.
"Yes, but that plan is completely shot now!"
Their path to escape was completely cut off. The distractions not enough to hide their true intentions to flee. Or…Gros turned to Hermes, his claws and teeth bared at the god.
"What did you do…?!"
In response, the deity smirked underneath his hat.
"Just as planned."