It was around 8:30 in the morning when Bell heard the knock on his door, and when he opened he was surprised to see who it was.
"Daphne?"
"Hello Bell." She simply said.
"What can I do for you?"
"I need to go shopping, Miach and Nazza are busy and still awkward; and Cassandra said that she had other plans to deal with. So that leaves you."
"What abou-" Bell was about to mention Hestia but then realized that Cassandra probably didn't really have any plans and this was his first real chance to talk and spend time alone with Daphne.
"Alright. I'll meet you outside then."
"So what are we shopping for Daphne?"
"There's quite a few things, Miach asked for a few herbs and spices. lili wanted a box of cookies from a local bakery. And I need a few things myself."
"Alright, where to first?"
"We'll go and get the herbs first." She said in a tone that said she really didn't care much for his company.
'Boy This is awkward, I need to do something.' Bell thought, with a mental sweat drop at what he should say.
"So, how do you feel about the new soon to be party member?"
"I can't really say, we'll see soon enough though."
"Well he seems like a nice guy, I have hopes he'll become an important member to our dungeon party, but more importantly I hope he can become a friend to us." Bell said trying to get some more conversation going.
"Right." Daphne simply said.
"Hey, he might just surprise you, I certainly did didn't I?"
'Crap, that was stupid of you Bell!.'
"Sure, but he's not a prince from a different world."
Bell Just sighed lightly as he just resigned to the effort as he had noticed that they had already arrived at the first stop.
"Yeah your right. But still, he may just surprise us."
"Well as I said, we'll just have to wait and see won't we."
"So now that we got the herbs, are we going to go shopping for your things?"
"We're already here."
Bell looked up and saw a general goods shop right next door.
"That's embarrassing." Bell simply said rubbing the back of his head.
"Wait here I won't be long."
"Do you need help?"
"No. I need some personal items." She simply said, and Bell had enough sense too know not to delve deeper into that territory.
Now that he was alone, he could think too himself without the worry of trying to get Daphne to open up to him.
'Man, what am I going to do? Maybe it would have been better if I didn't come and asked if Hestia should have come instead. Then again, we both know Cassandra wanted this to happen. "Sigh" I am supposed to be a son of Lucis and a Royal and I can't even think of a way to talk to a woman. But, what can I do?' Bell thought as he failed to notice that he was being called.
"Bell!" Daphne shoved his shoulder a bit and it did the trick.
"Ah, sorry Daphne, I was in thought about some things."
"Yeah you were." Let's go get those cookies now."
'In improvement! Maybe this will be the starting point.. sigh but once again, what am I going to say?'
"You know, I've already come to be comfortable with goddess Hestia' presence in our home, but what do you think about her?"
"She's a goddess, I'm sure she'll find her first familia members soon."
"Yeah, but sometimes I wonder, should we try and help her? You know, promote her name to people?"
"No Bell, I don't think we should, that's a personal matter for her." She said still focusing dead ahead.
Daphne' POV
I had heard Bell sigh, another one that I didn't care for but when he called my name.
"Daphne"
I didn't know what came over me, ahh wait. There it was, that tone, the tone that reminded me that Bell was of Royal blood. His tone was stern and full of authority. It still amazed me how it's like night and day. And all I've seen was him being anything but a Royal, yet when he showed it, we all knew immediately that he meant serious business.
Turning to look at him I actually expected too see a stern and regal look on his face, I knew from the start of that tone that he was tired of my cold shoulder. I suppose I did feel some guilt about the way I've treated him. And I haven't done a very good job at trying to fix that like I promised Cassandra, yet when I looked at him, his face was not what I expected. I expected stern and seriousness, yet what I saw was.. warmth, and softness on him.
"Come with me."
He said, still using his authoritative tone and I could only do just that. It amazed me how I didn't even try to protest. Was it his tone? Was it something all Royals had? Or was it despite being ordered too follow, I could tell in my bones, my soul even, that he held no ill feelings, and that there was even some kind of.. scared?worried? Unsure undertone that I could not recognize?
I followed him for ten minutes. No words were said during that time. He had lead us to one of the many parks Orario had, it wasn't busy yet as people were still waking up so it was fairly private.
He told me to sit on a bench and what he did still surprises me when I think back on that moment.
He crouched down in front of me and he took my hands into his. HIM! A Royal took my hands, I was shocked. Of course later it would hit me more about having someone of Royal blood take my hands. In truth it reminded me of the stories my mother used to read to me. It was my favorite thing in the world, me sitting in bed with her as she read the stories of the brave knight or prince who came to the rescue of the maiden.
But when he did that too me, I was just shocked silent. Yet his voice broke me out of it. It was stern, yet there was a softness to it as well.
"Let's not fool ourselves Daphne, we both know Cassandra wanted us too try and get along. And I have done what I can to try and make a friendship with you."
As he finished saying he gave me a gentle smile as he squeezed my hands gently.
"Tell me, what it is that keeps us from being friends; is it something that I've done? Something that you don't like about me? I know you said you were shocked and surprised with how I dealt with those Soma familia members, but.. I think it's something else."
His words cut deeply into me. And for some reason I just told him everything without hesitation. Was this my way of making it right? A show of trust? Most likely, and yet I couldn't comprehend why I was completely honest with him. But.. but it felt right.
"I-I have no reason to treat you the way I've done Bell. I am so sorry, all that you've done for us. The friendship you given. The times you've saved all our lives.
I don't understand why my heart was beating so hard, why I was so scared to say these words but I remembered Cassandra, all I did for her, all that she's done for me.
"Me and Cassandra didn't willingly join Apollo Familia, they hunted us down for months. Finally we gave up and joined but.. The captain of Apollo Hyakinthos Clio lead the hunt because he was.. "in love with me."
When I said those words Bells face become solemn.
"For months I rejected and refused his attempts but.. H-h-- He threatened to rape Cassandra. If I didn't give myself to him."
My fists tightened on Bells hands but he also tightened them as well.
"At that I finally relented.. It wasn't until later on that I couldn't hide it from Cassandra. He-he was... particularly.. rough and I couldn't move well without her help. T-that's when she found out. I couldn't even look at her. I just felt so ashamed that she had to find out. I'll never forget the look of horror on her face Bell. I can't imagine what she must of felt. But-but she was safe, and that was all that mattered to me."
I said those words. And it felt.. liberating; as if a weight had been lifted. But then I was brought out of my thoughts when Bell let go of my hands and he cupped and cradled my face. I instantly felt hot all over my head, but, he just rubbed his thumbs under and to the sides of my eyes. I had been crying. I-I had no idea. As I looked at him, still blatantly blushing mad, he just looked at me and gave off the kindest and warmest smile I've ever seen. Third only to my mother and Cassandra.
"I can't imagine what you went through, but knowing that you're still walking tall and proudly. You're one Hell of a woman Daphne. and To know that you had to go through that makes my blood run cold. But you don't need to face your past and pains alone Daphne. You have Cassandra and myself to help you, so don't be afraid to share your burdens with us, because we'll stand with you no matter what."
All I could do was give a quick laugh as I just buried my face in his stomach and hug him.
Back to normal POV
"You're a hell of a Man Bell." Daphne Said, however she could never have known the look of conflict on his face as he just returned the warm embrace; tears threatening to fall from him.
After the two friends had a few more minutes to themselves and just sitting on the bench with no words being spoken, Bell got an Idea.
"Hey Daphne, I've found a little cafe on main, a couple days ago, why don't we go there and get some breakfast?"
"That Sounds like a great idea." And with that the two went to the place.
"Here it is, Cafe on Main." Not the most unique or clever name, but it looks quint enough." Bell said as the two went in.
It was a classy feeling, it was bright and cheery, with plenty of windows, the place had three tables full of customers as the cafe specialized in Breakfast and Lunch. The two went to a quiet corner and the waitress went to the table.
"Welcome, what can I get the two of you?"
"I'd like some orange juice please." Bell said, with Daphne ordering coffee.
"And too Eat?"
With the orders done the two had some more time too grow their new friendship.
"So tell me more about yourself Bell. We know the big stuff but what about your personal life, what were your parents like?"
"Oh there's so little too tell yet they do hold a lot of things. My Father was actually a well respected doctor. He and my mother were actually childhood friends." He said getting a surprising look from Daphne.
"Yes, one of the biggest blessings we have is we are free to choose who we want to marry. There are noble houses but we've never had a marriage between them, it's sort of a "golden rule" but my father was the personal physician to her. I actually get most of my looks from him. He loved mom a great deal."
"My father always told me I maybe a copy of him in looks, but I am a perfect copy of my mother, personality wise."
"Really? That's kinda surprising." Daphne said just before she saw the waitress arrived with their food.
"My mom, she was like a god to me." Bell said taking a drink as Daphne looked at him waiting for the explanation to his words.
"Busy else where. And as I said, dad loved her deeply, but perhaps too accepting of the roll she had to go extra miles." He said smiling, yet a bit forlornly.
"She actually ascended the throne when her father and brother were killed by Daemons. Her rise to being monarch was met with some scrutiny as there were some who believed a woman with absolute power wouldn't lead our nation well."
"As a result she ruled from the halls of the citadel, away from the eyes of our people. As I remember, only me and my father were the only ones who saw her face as she liked to dawn a mask at public duty's. And man, that was a badass mask too." Bell smiled as he remembered.
"I can't imagine." Daphne could only say. Oh she could guess and understand at some of the duty's of a monarch, but that seemed about the best thing to say.
"There were times I wished I could have spent more time with her, father wanted the same as well, but.. like I said he knew what he was getting into. She would always take the time though to have dinner with us, that may have been simple and small, but those were times where we could truly be family without the life of royalty taking prominence."
"What about you Bell? What do you want?"
".."
".."
Bell simply said nothing at those words; Daphne could tell he was in deep thought at her words.
"I uh.. I have to admit, to me and I'd wager a good amount of money with the rest of the Familia that you've certainly "adapted" and taken the life of an adventure of a destitute familia pretty well."
"I-I-I don't know Daphne, all my life, has been groomed and preparing me for the life of Rule and to fight, and also to understand that one day I'll be called to fight Ardyn, I thought that was going to be me, that I would finally be the one to end our curse when I fought him. But now that I'm here in this world. I don't know why Shiva sent me here, and in all honesty I suppose I haven't completely accepted it, I've been keeping myself occupied so much. The only other time I've truly stoped to think about things was with my Guild advisor Eina." Bell said as he had another rare moment to stop and think.
The mood was quickly turning at that so Bell quickly took command of it.
"Cough"
"So tell me more about you Daphne. I've told you mostly everything, now it's your turn." Bell finished.
"Well, as you know I grew up in the Empire, though I said once to you that me and Cassandra both did, my mother raised me as my father who was in the army died from a monster attack defending a village. When I was five."
"For a couple years it was hard, harder still on mom. But she would always take the time to read to me stories at night. They ranged from fairytales to even history books if she wanted me to go to sleep fast." She said laughing at the end.
"She made ends meet scraping here and there doing odd jobs, thankfully dad had enough money to help mom start up her passion, she opened up a little cake shop. It wasn't much but it brought food to the table, and more importantly, for me was that she was happy doing it."
"I met Cassandra when I was ten. She walked into the shop, hair messy and unkempt, rags for cloths and only seven Valis to her name."
"She grew up an orphan, the orphanage let her go, the kids would bully her due to her visions as some of them scared them senseless. Mother saw this and took pity on her. She immediately took her in and cared for her and on that day I gained a sister."
"We both got along instantly and we both liked books, I liked the stories while she liked the more educational kind. The great library of Alexandria was where we would spend a lot of time together."
"So what happened that caused you both to leave?" Bell asked.
"Apollo himself happened." And that was all.
Bell getting ahold of his anger at the name asked her something different.
"If Apollo never happened would you have still lived with your mother? Or if he and his Familia were gone, would you have her move here?"
"I think we'd have stayed in Alexandria, but I would like to have her live here if I didn't have to worry about..."
"Have you ever written her?"
"No. Not even Cassandra, she doesn't even know if we're alive or dead. Daphne said heartbroken at saying that, though Bell understood plenty as too why.
"Well since your with Miach why not start now." Bell said smiling at her look of realization as breakfast came.
I'll end it here. Took a long time for this one to finish.
What took so long was writing out the conversation between Bell and Daphne. All I wrote just didn't feel right, and even this feels half done but it's the best I got.
Enjoy~~
