"Ugh...why is it that the handles are the one thing that I struggle with." Hephaestus muttered to herself as she narrowed her one good eye at the heated slab of material before her anvil. Gazing at it from different angels as she took her hammer and chisel and began to aim it.
"What's worse is the type of weapon it is. If it was just a regular length sword or bigger then it would've been easier. Well, no point in complaining about this. Gently..."
S L A M !
"PHAE! I've come back to visit you!" Freya said cheerfully as she slammed open the door to her workshop with such force the door left an indent on the wall. Startling the redhead as she fell over and dropped her tools.
"At least knock before you come in! And already!? It's barely been two days since last time!"
"Don't you ever get hot in this place? Good thing I brought you something to drink while you work on my Bell's weapon!" Freya said as she held a basket of diffrent bottles and two cups in her other hand, one for her and Hephaestus.
"And you're just going to ignore me...*Sniff* Is that Easter Lemonade Tea?" Hephaestus blinked from the well scented aroma coming from the bottle that Freya opened and began to pour in the two cups.
"Take introduced me to this drink before and I find it quite refreshing. Like it? Come on and relax in your easy chair. Today you're just working on the handle guard right? You can finish that quick so why not take a break?"
"How did..nevermind." Hephaestus said as she took the cup filled with tea from Freya and moved her cushioned recliner closer to her own chair. Both now sitting across one another with a small stool between them acting as their table.
"Soo~ Any progress in getting your familia to stop looking down at the floors?" Freya said as she had her leg over the other and watched as Hephaestus actually looking somewhat pleased by her question.
"Let's just say some are now needing to go to a chiropractor and will be facing up for a while now. So that's progress even if it was caused by their dumbass."
"Progress is progress i suppose. Though it's a loooooonnnnnggggg way before your children can even grow a brain to come up with a proper name for a weapon." Freya smirked as Hephaestus jerked a bit and pointed a finger at her.
"My children may be idiots but they're not as bad as the other morons when we do the naming selection for-"
"Super Maximum Broad Destroyer." Freya said as Hephaestus froze, turning practically into a stone statue as she saw her shocked expression.
"The Wand of Unlimited Power of Execution." She continued, smiling as the now stone Hephaestus was cracking after each name she was listing.
"Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon, with a nice finishing touch." At this point Freya was in near hysterics in her head as she watched her friend cracking and looking like she wanted to die because of her children.
"And currently from what I remember Hedin helping Bell find, Pyonkichi." She stated as now she watched the stone cracking out as Hephaestus was completely red in the face. Squirming and covering herself with both hands. Immediately shaking her head side to side.
"HNNNNNNNGGGGG! Why are my children such bigger idiots than the gods...ESPECIALLY THAT LAST ONE! HOW!? HOW IS HE EVEN WORSE THAN THE GODS NICKNAMES! WELF YOU MOROOOOOONNNNN!" Hephaestus screamed atop her lungs to the ceiling as she collapsed back into her chair.
"I take it that you have your own wild child as well? This, Welf Crozzo. It's nice to see you have at least one child you worry over for." Freya said as Hephaestus eye's widened and looked at her in terror.
"Did..did your child get-"
"Before you go about accusing me of whatever you're concocting in that head of yours. No, I'm not planning to take away your apparent boy toy." Freya said before she could even accuse her of anything.
"When Hedin and Bell went about with Helun and Loki's Amazon. Seeing his armor both of those boys said this and immediately bought it: 'It's light, well suited for him/me and good and cheap. Though the name kinda sucks.'"
"Well...at least his work is getting sales. But still, he has so much potential. I don't want to see him waste it away." Hephaestus moaned as she stirred her drink in hand all while Freya took a drink from hers.
"He has the talent doesn't he? To create Magic Weapons. Given how many years that family hasn't been able to create one that would be something worth to see." Freya admitted before turning back to her friend with a dull look in her eyes.
"But you're an idiot to try and push him."
"Oh and like you'd know how to deal with a stubborn idiot!?" Hephaestus bit back bitterly as in response, she was given a smugged look by Freya. It was as if an arrow struck her again through the chest and blood now trickled out of her lips.
"Us dammit..."
"You forget who's in my familia. He's a boy. They have their prides in this as well as their reasons. The only way you're going to see him break out of his shell, is with another idiot fights him about it or gets through to him. Thats how it was at first with the Gulliver Brothers when they joined me."
"They fought each other? Well, they're brothers so that makes sense. But Welf isn't too close to anyone aside Tsubaki maybe. Sure he has some, but he's often a loner." Hephaestus said as to humor Freya about her little suggestion to break her child's shell and do better.
"Well I could always have Bell and him meet and travel together in the dungeon. Maybe Bell can be his friend and it would help him make some new ones aside the ones inside my familia. That or he can fight him out of his stupidity."
"Absolutely not! I heard what that rabbit did to Loki's captain!" Hephaestus yelled as she crossed her arms in an X and looked at Freya with a worried look.
"Fighting is the cure for stupidity."
"And practically endanger the Crozzo line! Or worse! What kind of guy goes below the belt!"
"One, for Loki's captain he was doing it for the Amazon girl's pride and honor. Honestly what kind of man that does that to her won't take responsibility! And two, it was that or I have Ottar and Allen rip his manhood off."
"...Fine I'll look past that because Finn was being a bastard. But I don't want that to happen to Welf!"
"Bell may act like a child but he isn't an idiot. It's often odd seeing him being the smart one of the bunch at times. Especially when it was the Brothers that were acting like idiots..." Freya muttered before bringing her cup to her lips for another drinks.
"Oh don't you start acting smug and stopping there. You're already here and brought the drinks. So tell me."
"My how bold. Aren't you going to offer me dinner before i open my mouth for your pleasure~?"
"Silence your slutty tongue you she devil!"
"Well, you can speak from experience. Fine I'll hold my 'slutty' tongue for you later. Right now let me recall when Bell was actually the smarter one of the bunch with the brothers." Freya said as she smiled at the red pouting look Hephaestus was giving.
[Flashback Start]
It was during the week where Bell was still being prepared before entering his first dive down in the dungeon with a party. The very same which Berling even made that offer to Bell. Injure him, and he would join his party and take him down to deeper floors only once.
Having served under Freya's familia for years, it wouldn't be a surprise if he had his moments of doubts and regrets.
But making that bet with Bell...was one of the biggest regrets he made. Deciding that fact, after the first day he suggested that offer to him.
"Guys you gotta help me!" Berling shouted as he slammed the door shut behind him. Gasping for air with sweat running down his forehead as he looked at his brothers, with the same face as his looking at him with confusion or dull looks.
"Did you do something stupid with Hogni again? Or did you piss off Ottar while he was busy?" Alfrigg, the oldest of the four, asked with a raised eyebrow as he put down the book he was reading.
"Come on Alf, he isn't that stupid like Allen. But you look like shit. What happened?" Dvalinn, the second oldest asked as he was coming out from the bathroom and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Wait...was this because of that screaming from Bell earlier?" Grer, the last and youngest of the brothers, said in realization Berling and Bell were connected somehow.
"Y-Yeah...I kinda bet him if he could land a scratch on me or catch me, I'd help him get down to the lower floors on the first day he gets back to the dungeon." Berling said as his brothers could only blink.
"That's why you're worn out? He's a Level 1. He shouldn't be that hard to avoid." Alfrigg said as his collar was then pulled, and he felt himself shook back and forth rapidly.
"You'd think that! But it was terrifying! He was persistent and hid in the strangest places!" Berling said as he yelled at his older brother while the two other ones tried to pull them apart.
"E-Easy there Berg! You don't wanna get Alf mad right?"
"Yeah cus the last time that happened was what ended us getting bounties and that Lunoire girl from the Hostess to nearly hunt our asses down before she joined us." Grer and Dvalinn said as Berling had let go of Alfrigg.
"Believe me...after just now I'm kinda doubting I'll win this bet. Fucker had hidden in the tiny bathroom cabinets and came at me with a knife while I was in the stall!" Berling said as Grer and Dvalinn looked at him in horror and Alfrigg blinked and looked disgusted.
"That's nightmare educing now! Thanks a lot Berg!"
"...I'm gonna board up our bathroom cabinets before we hit the hay."
"Disgusting! He came in you on the stool! Better question, who goes into a stall and doesn't lock the damn door!?" Alfrigg said as he leered at Berling, watching now the three of them looking terrified.
"You guys gotta help me avoid that kid when you see him. Otherwise, who knows what kind of creepy crap he could pull next!"
"Wait a sec why should we help you!" Dvalinn asked as he pointed a finger at him. With Grer nodding with him and Alfrigg shaking his head and looking irritated.
"Think of it this way. He sees any of you without your helmets or different clothes than whatver I wear, he's gonna target you instead." Berling said with a calm expression as he had his hands together and pointed them at his brothers.
A few seconds passed by for them. Before the other three brothers skin soon turned paler and paler. Grer was already chattering his teeth and looked absolutely horrified. Dvalinn soon picked his helmet from his bed and strapped it on. Grabbing his hammer in the process close to his chest.
Alfrigg slowly walked towards Berling and soon punched him atop his head. Seeing him now wincing and squatting on the floor as he looked up to the oldest of them.
"Fine. We'll help get him off you for a while. But if this ends up blowing up in our faces then you're on bathroom duty for the next month."
"Thank you!" Berling said as now the brothers began their planning and idea into play. Being which they would wear Berling's set of armor and clothes for the rest of the week until this game of Bell's ended.
DAY ONE: of which, was put into testing. As Grer walked about in Berling's armor in Folkvangr. Looking about where Bell could be coming from. Staying cautious and walked slowly as to prepare to run away and see if this could fool the boy.
"Right...lets see what Berg was saying about him popping in weird place-"
"HHRRRAHHHHH!"
Immediatly panicking at the sudden warcry, Grer tightened into a ready-stance and looked around him. Until he looked down at the floor and noticed that a shadow was overcasting his. Looking up and quickly moving to his left, he avoided Bell suddenly diving on top of him.
"Damn! So close to body slamming you!" Bell said as he landed in a squatted position and rolled to the side.
"How the hell did you do that!?"
"I climbed on to the ceiling and waited for you to come by. Kinda hard since I was losing grips on my knives every couple minutes." Bell said as he stood up and stretched a bit before taking his knife from the floor and looked at Grer.
"But the ceiling is like 20 feet above us! How in goddess's name did you even-"
"Soo...where's your brother Berling? What did you guys mix up your clothes?" Bell said before Grer could even question him. Making the youngest Pallum brother blink beneath his helmet and looked at Bell for a moment.
"Did that fall give you brain damage? You're the one that's targeting me till the end of this week for-"
"Nah. You're not Berling. Well, the armor is but you're Grer right?" Bell said, now believing that he wasn't his target and confident it was who he said it was.
"H-How could you even tell? And, yeah the armor thing is what I could grab since my ass of a brother is washing anything dirty of ours at the moment." Grer said as to give off an excuse why he was wearing Berling's armor.
"Come on, it's not that hard. I mean, you guys are quadruplets, right? You might all look the same but you guys are completely different. It's pretty easy for me to tell the difference." Bell said as he sheathed his knife away as Grer took off his helmet and looked at Bell with widened eyes.
"H-How?! We have the same face, voice, height almost everything is the same with us!" Grer exclaimed as he saw Bell smirking and pointed at his own set of eyes.
"Well for one, your eye colors are way off. You got red eyes like mine. I know Berling's is green. The other two I assume are different as well." Bell said as Grer palmed his own face. Forgetting to have put contacts on to make it at least convincing.
"Also, from what I remembered when first meeting you guys, you were the shortest one of them and act a bit cranky at times." Bell said as he put his hands behind his head and watched as the youngest Pallum brother clenched his teeth and scowl at him.
"Huh!? I'm not the short one! That's Dval!"
"See! You're acting cranky~ Plus I noticed it by seeing your guy's helmets. Your's was just a little bit short in height compared to the others."
"W-Well...Didn't you think maybe I was slouching that-"
"Meh, well sorry about scaring you then! I'm gonna go hunt your brother still. Hopefully you won't have to share clothes with him for a while! I'll ask if your guy's laundry is done while I hunt!" Bell said as he ran off elsewhere, leaving Grer to look absolutely bewildered and ruffle his own hair in confusion.
The THIRD DAY, was just as odd for the brothers. After hearing how Bell could easily detect them differently made things much more difficult for them. Now needing to have their eyes covered with a black vail inside their helmets so they could see, but no one would see their eyes from the outside.
Adjusting his helmet, Dvalinn wandered the halls in the evening. The setting sun shining from the outside peered through the great manor's windows. Basking the inside in a warm orange glow, with shadows covering many of the halls and items in darkness.
"I swear to Hades if Allen ate my snacks again, I am going to make him eat a brick of obsidian. This would be the third...gods...damn...time he's pulled this shit on others." He muttered as he oh so wanted to savor his own snacks after having to deal with his brother's idiocy and this bet.
He halted as he detected something lurking behind him. Grabbing his brother's spare axe he carried on his back and now on guard he turned. To only see the shadows and the rest of the hallway behind him.
Behind his helmet, his eyes leered. Peering in the shadows casted by the sun to see if anything was a miss. Falling his stance, but still holding the large axe in hand. Never taking his gaze off from the hallway before him.
"Okay, I know I sensed something off. And nothing can hide in those shadows or behind any of the furniture. What the hell's going on?" Dvalinn muttered as he turned his back and continued walking to where he was headed towards.
The Dining Hall.
Once inside it's large abundance full of the finer dining tables and chairs. Chandeliers hanging from its lavish ceilings. The furniture practically shining. And the kitchen having an open view to all that would eat inside this lavish and relaxing hall.
Noticing the curtains to the hall was closed, he initially thought this to be a mistake. Until he did recall that the staff had done a bit of cleaning lately and thought them covering the windows was to prevent dull color to come to their furniture and leave any watermarks on their glass wears.
Walking pass the tables in the dark, he made his way back into the kitchen. Turning towards the back end of the kitchen and kneeled down to the floor. Opening a floor tile as inside was a small crate.
Taking it out as he opened the crate, pulling out his hidden stash of snacks and wrapped pastries and sweets. His mouth watered as he couldn't help but lick his lips and slurp the drool in his mouth that was forming.
"Ah my sweet cinnamon rolls how I need you so. Note to self, steal money from Berling to make up for doing this bullshit." Dvalinn said as he closed back the crate with his sweets and snacks inside. Placing the tile back before standing up.
A clattering of a ladle was heard, as now Dvalinn became tense. Raising his axe as he clutched the crate underneath his arm. Glaring beneath his mask as he looked around the kitchen for anything.
"Allen? Is that you? You fuck if you're here for my snacks I will kick your balls worse than the kid did on Baptism!" He roared in a protective rage for his sweets as the sounds of other utensils falling echoed the kitchen.
"I am going to kick your ass Allen!"
"Not before I take this..." A voice called in the dark, as Dvalinn's eyes widened in horror. Clutching his fingers, feeling nothing on them. Waving his arm about, no weight on him. His teeth grinding against one another as a eerie growl escaped his lips.
"Who...no. WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!?"
"It's not where I am. But rather, who I am." The voice called behind him, as Dvalinn slashed the axe behind him. Only knocking down more kitchen utensils and pots. Compleatly missing flesh he meant to cut down.
"I am the shadows of the world..."
SLASH
"I am the assailant of the world's evil.
CLATTER
"I am the terror, that quacks in the night."
"QUACK!"
SLASH
"Wait a minute...was that a live duck?"
"I am vengence!"
SHATTER
"I am the night!"
"Just shut the hell up and-gah!" After slashing once again, Dvalinn did indeed felt something was cut. Something soft as it landed on the floor in a splatter. Leering his eyes to see in the dark, what he saw made his knees collapsed.
"No...no no no! Not this! Anything but this!" He said as he grabbed the thing he did cut appart. Feeling hot liquid falling from his hands and the crumbling soft mounds that of flesh. The stench of what he cut, caused him to hyperventilate.
"W-What are you to cause me to do this!" He roared as a small match was lit before him. From the glow of the fire, he could only see a pair of deep red eyes staring into his helmet's eye slits.
"I'm Batman."
"W-Who-"
"HYAAAAAHHHHH!" Dvalinn was then tackled and fought against his attacker. Rolling out of the kitchen as he felt him slamming his attacker against the furniture. Rolling and tumbling around the dining hall until the sound of cloth ripping caused both to stop.
The sun setting light glowing and illuminating the room. As now Dvalinn was on top and choking his attacker. To be surprised that it was Bell. Covered in melted cinnamon glaze and crumbs of pastry around his neck.
"YOU! I WILL GOUGE OUT YOUR-"
"Damnit aga-ack! Again! Are ggck, you guys just crap with laundry skills!" Bell chocked out as he pushed Dvalinn off with his foot and gasped for air. Coughing and hacking as he tried to breathe.
"W-Wait a second how!? You can't see my eyes! I'm wearing his clothes and armor. How the fuck did you tell the difference!" Dvalinn said as he forgoes his anger towards Bell and now was more irritated, he was found out instantly.
"*GASP* H-Haaahhh...Mghmm. K-Kha! T-Those snacks, a-aren't Berlings. He, gah, he prefers sour snacks like...those um...fried potato slices laced with lime powder. And that's not his hiding spot for snacks." Bell explained as now Dvalinn definitely wanted to strangle his brothers at this point.
"Oh gods damn it...I'm gonna kick Berg's ass and I'm gonna kick your ass for ruining my snacks!" Dvalinn yelled as he pointed his axe at Bell who raised his arm.
"Hey! Okay that was on you and me. You were swinging around like an idiot in the dark! Besides, five second rule!"
"Like I can eat crumbs now!"
"You were the one choking me with the cut rolls!"
Before both of them could argue, they heard the sounds of coming footsteps to the hall. Both eyes widened as the sound came closer and closer. Turning to one another in fear as they noticed the mess they made.
"If you get us out of this, we're even."
"I get around in the crawl spaces. That should fit both of us and get out of here quickly! Go, go go go go go go go!"
"Wait, what the fuck are we gonna do about this mess!?" Dvalinn asked as Bell turned back to him, before bringing out a marker and flicking the cap off with his thumb and pulled out a sheet of paper.
As the two hurried into the crawl space Bell used to avoid Dvalinn's slashes. They crawled and remained silent. Not before pausing at the sudden cry of anguish coming from Heith and Helun. And then the sound of Allen's name being called for bloody murder did the two share a snickering laugh.
DAY FIVE AND SIX were the oddest days for the eldest of the brothers, Alfrigg. The past week Bell had hunted and identified his other brothers with ease and was close to catching Berling a few times. But whenever he saw him, Bell wouldn't acknowledge him or just stared for a moment before looking for Berling again.
This was somewhat good for him, and yet there was a sinking feeling in his gut that something was off. Nearly an entire week gone by before the deadline would end. But the rabbit boy didnt even try to attack him. Maybe his brothers were enough of a distraction.
Talking this to account, he found himself sitting out in the steps of the outside garden. Looking over at the wide grassy fields and flowerbeds and other decorative plants their familia had. Relaxing as he slumped down his shoulders and let out a breath of air.
"I need a vacation.."
"I need to get to the dungeon soon."
Alfrigg nearly jumped out of his place on the steps as he saw Bell sitting next to him with a drink in hand. Looking out at the garden. Bewildered the fact he didn't even hear him coming close or sitting down.
'Is this what Berg mentioned? Him pulling off some creepy crap.' Alfrigg thought as he looked at the kid and saw him turning his head his way.
"Oh hey Grer. Taking a break? Don't worry I know it's you under there so I'm not gonna do anything. For now." Bell said as
"For now he says..." Alfrigg muttered as Bell looked at him once again and let out a 'tsk'.
"Again you guys are stuck sharing clothes. Is your older brother that much of an idiot to mess up laundry. Which one...Alfrigg right?" Bell said as that made him stiff and bit his lip under his helmet.
"Yeah..thats the oldest of us. But its Berling that was supposed to do the laundry."
"What did he get pushed into doing it because Alfrigg messed up again?" Bell said as Alfrigg was beginning to get irritated. But held himself back as to not reveal himself.
"Y'know. Mind answering me a few things I gotta know about your brother? I've only ever heard about him from Hogni and what Allen talk about. So there's not much I know about the guy and haven't met him in person one on one."
"Well...what do you wanna know about him?" Alfrigg said as he was now curious of what Bell was interested in.
"Well I wanted to know if a rumor was true about him. According to Hogni, he has this one habit where if someone stands behind him, he can take a piss." Bell said bluntly as he thought he heard something shattering around.
"W-Well...I think it's because we've been through some harsh times in the past. And had to be on guard a lot. So him freezing up is just probably instinct on his part." Alfrigg said trying to defend himself, not wanting the truth out that he can't pee if someone is behind him.
"Allen also said that he freezes up because his dick is smaller than his little brothers." Bell said as Alfrigg was gritting his teeth and snarling.
'Fucking Allen! You ass I will tie you up and leave your pathetic limp dick body in the Pleasure District doused in aphrodisiac and let that bitch Freya's women rape you sideways!' Alfrigg thought as his fist was shaking.
"Dunno why that idiot was trying to tell me about his dick and how small it was. I think ether Allen is trying to compensate for his own tiny dick, lying out of his ass or...nope. Nothing nevermind." Bell said with a horror strucken face as he turned away looking a bit nausious.
"What, what about Allen?"
"Nope...can't say. It's...frankly its too disturbing to even think that."
"Tell me what it is! What is that fucking cat implying to you about Alfrigg." He said as he pulled Bell's collar and brought his face to meet his helmet.
"I think that Allen might be gay for your brother and wants his dick..." Bell said with a straight face as now it was as though the color drained from Alfrigg's body. Letting go of Bell as the boy stumbled back and looked at Alfrigg with a blank stare.
Before finally the dam was broken.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT FUCKING DUMBASS EVEN SUGGESTING! ME GAY!? HE'S GAY!? GAY FOR ME!? THIS BETTER BE A GOD DAMN JOKE ON HIS FUCKING PART! NO WAY IN HELL AM I LETTING HIM TAKE MY DICK!" He bellowed out in rage and in embarrassment at the idiot cat as he was snarling and shaking his fist.
Soon realizing his blunter, he turned to see Bell looking at him. With a god damn smirk on his face as he tried to cover it up with his hand.
"I can't believe you bought that. Hogni was right...you are an idiot."
"...I'm giving you five seconds to run."
"Fine. But first...*INHALE* HOGNI! I BROKE HIM! HE ADMITTED HE WANT'S ALLEN'S CAT DICK! YOU OWE ME 5000 VAILS!!!"
"I DIDN'T AGREE TO SHIIIIIT! I'M GONNA KILL YOU AND THAT DAMN ELF'S ASS! FUCKING ALLEN! I BLAME YOUR ASS!"
"ALL MEN BE AWARE! ALFRIGG'S ON THE HUNT FOR ASSES! COVER YOURS BEFORE HE TRIES TO PUT HIS DICK IN THEM!"
"I'M NOT GAY GOD DAMN IT!"
"BUT YOU DIDN'T DENY THE ASSUMTION EARLIER!" Bell yelled out as laughter and destruction sounded about around the manor. The members looking at the running rabbit and the beserker of the brothers.
Many of them laughed and jeered at the innocent joke and many were in on it. As the girls yelled at Alfrigg to leave their cute rabbit member alone. Saying that he was too young for him. Others claiming that its Alfrigg that should be the bottom or had passed out from nosebleeds at the word of Alfrigg coming out of the closet.
[Flashback End]
"H-He tricked Alf of the Gulliver Brothers to reveal himself? And was able to know it was a different brother each time they tried to distract or take his attention away from Berling?" Hephaestus said astonished as Freya laughed at the telling of her story.
"Oohhh yes~ I was very amused when Alfrigg was trying to persuade the others he was straight. Even though they knew he was. But it was quite the sight to see him returning from the Pleasure District with only his boxers on and covered in lipstick marks."
"Just what is he...already making impressions in your familia. He's such a wild child that one Freya." Hephaestus said as she slumped back in her chair as she finished polishing off the metal for the handle of the weapon.
However, she failed to notice the worried look on Freya's face when she mentined "Wild Child".
"Well, I feel that with Bell it's best for him to go about it on his own. Set his own pace and methods of growing. And it's not like he's alone, what with his father joining by his side and my cute Helun joining in!" She chimed as Hephaestus set the handle piece aside and looked at her.
"By the way...is it honestly true that Hedin is his father?" She asked with much interest. As Freya smirked and looked at her face. Practically dying to know the truth.
"That's for Hedin to know and the rest of you to find out on your own~" She said as she stood up from her seat and left the office once again. Leaving Hephaestus until next time she would visit again with hopefully another interesting story to tell about her Bell.