Belle
Belle was not a total stranger to drinking, but she wasn't someone who went to bars. Nor was she someone who bought alcohol to have at home. There was the occasional post-success party with the Cunning Hares and that was about it- and that one time she got really drunk with Ben Bigger and the bear thiren crew of Belobog- that had been a wild night.
So: Belle knew she was getting drunk. Both from the general giddiness she felt and the way her vision was kinda just… off. But she wasn't fully aware of just how strong the nitro was, or how much drinking was routine for her new best and nicest and prettiest friends ever: the Sons of Calydon.
When Belle heard Burnice say to Lycaon: "You and Lighter should totally fight…" Belle thought that might be one of the greatest ideas she'd ever heard.
Her Lycaon? Fighting that guy over there?! Mr. I'm-So-Cool-With-My-Glasses? Yes! All her new friends would see how great Lycaon was! Which is something everyone should know! And they should be jealous that Lycon was with her, Belle, and not them!
"A sparring match? Great idea!" said Caesar the Overlord, flexing her bicep. "I got dibs on the winner!"
Belle looked hard at the biker queen, her head turning a bit faster than normal. She was really young. Maybe younger than Belle was, but Belle couldn't be sure. And Ceasar was pretty. Really pretty. And buff! Her thighs could crush Wise's skull, easy.
Though why would her brother's head be between Caesar's legs and not Nicole's?
And… why was Belle even thinking about this?! Like… at all? Gross! Belle shook her head physically to get rid of the mental image and only managed to make herself slightly dizzy.
"While the Lady Burnice's suggestion surely has merit, I must decline," said Lycaon, being his usual stick-in-the-mud work self. "A casual sparring match would require my full attention, and I must use that foremost for the security of the Lady Belle."
Belle thought she saw disappointment on the faces of her new friends, and she herself was disappointed, too. She was fine! She was safe! What was going to happen way out here in some po-dunk town in the Outer Rim?! There was no way Daemon could possibly know where she was.
And Belle really wanted to see Lycaon kick ass! And she was currently in the mood to shout it to the sky.
"Serve my needs, Lycaon!," said Belle, almost shouting. She gained the bemused and surprised attention from everyone in the area- and a look of dignified shock from Lycaon.
"And I need you to kick that guy's butt!"
"L- Lady Belle!" said Lycaon, sounding as scandalized as when she'd grabbed his tail not so long ago.
Burnice had a very wide toothy smile that made it seem like she had just won ten million dennies; Lucy was scowling at her with little effect. Meanwhile, the Overlord seemed oblivious to the differing opinions between her two subordinates and was quite obviously pleased. She laughed in approval.
"Hey! Hey! There you have it, Lycaon," said Caesar. "What do you say, Lighter?"
Lighter pushed himself off his railing, his red scarf billowing softly with the motion. "A scrap with a bodyguard of Victoria Housekeeping? Sounds interesting."
Belle looked to Lycaon and found him to be looking directly at her. He didn't seem angry with her, exactly- but perhaps somewhat exasperated. His tail flicked and one of his ears twitched. Belle thought he just needed a little more encouragement. She winked at him and gave what she thought was her most dazzling smile.
Lycaon stared at her and then sighed in resignation. He turned towards Lighter. "Very well. I accept."
Burnice danced from foot to foot, obviously excited. "Yay!"
"Let's get to it, then." Lighter nodded at Lycaon, took off his sunglasses, and then tossed them to Lucy.
"Hey!" objected Lucy, catching them on reflex but looking angry about it. "Don't just throw things at me! Lighter!"
But Lighter had already hopped the railing of the bar and landed in a puff of dust on the ground below the platform. He seemed to only have eyes for Lycaon now. He smiled. Belle thought he was rather handsome- not as handsome at Lycaon, of course. But not terrible to look at…
"Shall we just go in the street a bit?" said Lighter, stretching one of his elbows with a game smile on his face.
Lycaon nodded, unbuttoning his butler's vest. "As you wish, Master Lighter." He folded the vest into a perfect rectangle in a half second and set it gently on one of the empty bar stools, then he adjusted the leather straps which secured the sleeves of his white button-up.
He was so formal and cool, thought Belle. She was bubbling with excitement. She'd only ever seen Lycaon fight when she was about to die, or something. But this was a chance to see him in action while she was safe to enjoy the show! A fun tension build as the two men walked out into the street.
"Terms?" said Lycaon, turning to face off with Lighter.
"Huh?" said Lighter.
"The customary rules of duels in this place."
"Oh! Oh, right! Uh, we don't really have any of those," said Lighter.
Lucy yelled out shrilly from her bar stool: "No killing or maiming!'
"Oh yeah. Thanks, Lucy!" said Lighter, a genuine smile on his face. "But those go without saying. And to be sure, I won't use my gauntlets. They have engines in them."
"In the interest of equity, Master Lighter, please do use your gauntlets with the engines," said Lycaon. He lifted up one of his legs at the knee and the mechanized components of his shin opened up to reveal its inorganic nature. "My legs have engines, and I am not at liberty to remove them."
"Well, now! A full-on, for-real match!?" said Lighter, his voice taking on a tone of excitement. He took metal gauntlets off his hip and placed them on his hands. "All right, then."
"Yes. And I wish to end this quickly, Master Lighter," said Lycaon. "I do hope you won't find it rude if I skip the customary 'feeling-out' portion of this bout?"
Lighter grinned, raising his "Guest's preference."
And they were at it! Belle was taken aback by the lack of ceremony. It was like Lycaon and Lighter both knew they were ready to go and they- went! Lycaon jumped forward, a foot darting out in a stretching kick. Lighter batted it aside with a slap of one of his gauntlets, and then his right fist punched forward in a counter blow.
Lycaon avoided the blow with a quick spin that he turned into a new kick. His leg's engine fired briefly, accelerating his body around, and Lycaon's shin caught Lighter in the side- Lycaon's knee then bent easily and his shin bounced off Lighter's body, pulling the blow and canceling most of the impact. Pulled or not, the strike still sent Lighter stumbling off balance and he laughed at himself.
A point was scored- by Lycaon obviously! Yes!
The fighters reset, Lighter grinning and still chuckling. He returned to a ready stance, and Lycaon again stood in his languid sort of butler pose. Kicks vs. Punches! What was better?
Caesar leaned forward on her barstool. "Whoa! Lycaon got one on Lighter right off!"
"Lighter never expects his opponent to be good enough to hit him," said Lucy with a high-pitched grunt. "Arrogant."
Burnice just had her hands on the countertop and was hopping up and down in place, her pigtails and skirt bouncing with her excitement.
Belle was filled with pride and wonder as she witnessed her Lycaon be admired by the Sons of Calydon. He was so… so cool! And he was… hers! All hers! None of these women here had any chance with him, because Lycaon was hers! Belle remembered their morning together in the hotel room and a surge of desire came roaring out from somewhere behind her waistline. Maybe after this was over, they could get out of here…
Lighter was the one to advance this time, cautiously moving towards Lycaon with his gauntlets up like a wall in front of his face; the classic boxer's pose. Lycaon's right leg popped up and push-kicked at Lighter's face, but Lycaon's cybernetic foot clashed against Lighter's gauntlets and the attack was easily defeated.
But it was as if the blocked kick was a signal, both fighters exploded into action.
Lycaon turned on his heel, the engine of his other leg igniting with a whine of thermo-jets, his secondary attack sped along toward Lighter's shoulder. But Lighter was already crouching, one gauntlet rising slightly, his neck leaning- and Lycaon's kick deflected off and over the top of Lighter's head. Lycaon spun instantly, intending another kick, but Lighter surged forward, his punching gauntlet barking out fire briefly to propel a metal fist into Lycaon's solar plexus as Lycaon came back around.
Lighter's punch bounced off Lycaon's chest, the blow pulled and not followed through, but Lycaon still staggered backward, slightly hunched over, his ears flat on the top of his head. Sharp teeth visible in his grimace of pain.
Belle yelped out in shock despite herself. Oh! Lycaon!
Wait… what the hell was she doing?! What was she watching?!
Lycaon was getting hurt! Again! Because of her! …AGAIN!
All of Belle's joy instantly transformed into guilt and regret. What had she done?! This little fight hadn't even needed to happen! But SHE had told Lycaon to do it! As if getting almost blown up and shot and sliced with a flaming sword wasn't enough for Lycaon- she'd made him do this, too!
"Whoo! Lighter!" yelled Burnice.
"It's a bad match up," said Caesar. "Lycaon's forced to use his legs because of Lighter's gauntlets. No way he's punching through those with bare hands. If Lighter gets in close, there's no way he can lose."
Lucy harrumphed. "He should have done that from the start."
Belle pressed her palms to her cheeks in dismay. Caesar was right. Kicks vs. Punches?! Well, obviously punches were better because in order to kick, Lycaon had to give up half of his footing! And while Lycaon had fists with which to punch back, Lighter's gauntlets meant he basically had a wall of steel in front of his face at all times!
She didn't care who won anymore! She just wanted it to be over and Lycaon to not be hurt. Could it be over right now?! She wished it was. Her eyes began to water and she fought to blink away sudden tears.
Wait! She could end it! She could end it right now! Belle's impetus towards action surged past her nitro-deadened inhibitions and she shot out of her bar-stool at a sprint, clomping past a surprised Lucy and Ceasar, and leaping down into the dusty street, running towards the fighters.
"STOP IT! PLEASE! Don't fight anymore! Mister Lighter! Lycaon! Stop! I'm sorry!"
At Belle's first shout, which was more a screech, both Lycaon and Lighter froze and looked in her direction. As she ran towards them, their fighting stances dropped and Lycaon immediately began walking towards her. Bell felt instant relief. Then, she felt like the ground was moving under her slightly. She felt light-headed. The world spun. She felt herself stumble.
The next thing Belle knew was that she was kneeling in Lycaon's arms. What happened? Did she faint or something? Or just stumble? And-
Her stomach suddenly rebelled against her. A surge of acid traveled up Belle's throat and there was nothing to be done but turn her head away from Lycaon and vomit onto the street. Belle heaved out most of those shots- the nitro burning twice as bad on the way up as the way down.
"I concede the match, Master Lighter," said Lycaon above her, his big hand rubbing Belle's back. "Thank you for the spar."
Caesar's voice could be heard in the near distance. "This is like… right out of 'The Gladiator of My Heart'."
"Ohh yeah!" said Burnice wistfully. "That manga was so good…"
Belle would feel a great deal of shame if her mind wasn't entirely focused on the sensation of a second heaving. Her gut contracted, the nitro surged up her throat again. She didn't want to vomit again! It hurt! Couldn't she be done alr-
Hurrrk!
"Let's ah- let's call it a draw, eh?" said Lighter.
"You are too kind," mumbled Lycaon, as Belle tried to spit out the last of the bile in her mouth.
Suddenly, Lycaon's hand appeared in Belle's field of vision and there was an uncapped flask in it. Belle accepted the offering and sniffed the contents- it smelled of plain water and steel. Belle drank gratefully, swished her mouth, and spat. Her head was pounding all of a sudden. Was this a hangover? Just from that?
"Overlord!" called out Lycaon as he took the flask back from Belle and handed her a handkerchief next. "We are grateful for your warm welcome, yet our day has been long. May we take our leave and avail of the nearest lodging?"
"...what?!" said Caesar with obvious confusion.
"He wants to take Belle to her room," said Lucy with a roll of her eyes. "Since she's sick."
"Oh! Oh, well- yeah sure, Lycaon!," said Caesar, then more conversationally to Lucy: "This reminds me of the first time you drank nitro, Lucy. Remember?"
"Shut up!" said Lucy with a blush.
Caesar laughed. "Well, take them to the barracks then, won't you, Luce?"
"No, no, no, no," said Burnice, again bouncing. "The cottage! The cottage!"
"But there's only one bed in the cottage," said Caesar.
"Exactly!" said Burnice. "I'm sure that's what they want!"
"All right," said Caesar. "The cottage, then, Luce."
Belle would have been embarrassed by the banter if she hadn't been kneeling in Lycaon's arms, in the street, over her own vomit, wiping her mouth, her head pounding. There was too much to be embarrassed about to worry over lewd insinuations.
She sighed as Lycaon took the handkerchief away from her and then almost immediately offered her a package of mint gum. She blinked at it in surprise and then took a piece. The refreshing taste of the gum banished the last of the vomit's lingering malaise from her mouth.
Lycaon really did think of everything. He always knew how to help her. Belle felt a soft surge of… giddiness and comfort. She loved that he cared for her like this, even after she'd been such a stupid fool.
Belle chewed the gum as Lycaon helped her to her feet, a single thought now dancing in her head.
Maybe… maybe she just… loved Lycaon?