Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

He wasn’t really sure how he ended up at the (ex) Apollo manor, for fucking dinner no less. But the kid had insisted, said he’d wanted to thank him somehow, and to formalise the alliance or something. He was pretty sure the kid was reaching pretty fucking hard for an excuse, but whatever. Finn had come too, plus the guys they’d planned on going on the test expedition tomorrow - some bullshit about it being easier if they met in advance. Loki’d been invited, but she’d been a bitch about it and refused, so he’d been kind of surprised when Aiz asked if she could go. And then Tiona’d jumped on too, so they had to get before things got any more stupid.

He had to admit though, it was a damn nice place they’d got now. Way better than that rickety old church.

“Master, you made it! Oh, um, thank you for accepting our invitation everyone.”

Finn laughed. “There’s no need to be so formal, we’re all adventurers here. Though its nice to deal with someone who wants to do things properly.”

“Well, it’s my first time doing anything like this, so maybe I went a bit overboard- Oh! Um, Aiz! I wasn’t expecting you here.”

“I… wanted to apologise…”

“Huh?” Yeah, seriously, what?

“The minotaur… that was our fault…” She was still hung up on that?

“Um, that’s been bothering you? Honestly, it’s fine. In fact, if you hadn’t, I’d probably have never met you or Bete, so in a way it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“...Really?” Really?

“Uh huh.”

“Tch, it was that dumbass over there that fucking spooked them in the first place, so if anyone should be apologising its her.”

“Hey, Argonaut says its fine, so its fine, right?”

“Honestly, please don’t worry about it. And you helped me train too Tiona. Um, I don’t think they’ve finished cooking yet, so if you want, I can show you around?”

“It’s probably not that impressive next to where you live, but…”

“But its a fucking massive upgrade for you.”

“...Yeah. It still feels a bit weird, honestly. Oh, we’ve not filled it yet, but we remodelled in here to have a far east bath! We wanted to do something to make Mikoto feel at home, since she converted to help us with the war game.” 

“Oh wow, like a hot spring? I’ve always wanted to try one!”

“I’ll check, but you can probably use it if you want Tiona. Oh, and out round the back Welf moved his forge here. Lili took a room, but she says its a secret project and wont let us see it yet.” Of course the tour had turned into the kid gushing about his friends. Literally no one who’d ever met him would’ve been surprised at that. “It still feels a bit empty here, honestly…”

“Surprised you don’t have people beating down the door to join now.”

“Oh, uh, we did, but…”

“Ah. Hestia’s debt, was that it?” Huh? The fuck did Finn know something he didn’t?

“Aha… ha, um.” He glanced guiltily at the knife at his waist. Ah. “It doesn’t affect the familia, but, um, we kind of found at at the same time as everyone else and people might have got the wrong idea a little.”

“I can understand that. Loki causes us a fair bit of trouble too.” Damn right she did.

“Oh, it’s no trouble! She was just looking out for me, even though she really didn’t need to do something like that… Um, anyway, should we head to the dining room? It should be nearly ready by now…”

Tiny tits had put her best dress on. He didn’t know who she was trying to fucking impress, but whatever. Goddesses. 

“Bell, you kept me waiting so long!”

“I’m sorry! I was showing them around!”

“Hmph. Running around with all these girls behind my back, how could you?”

“G-goddess!” It was actually hard to tell if she was teasing or actually that fucking jealous.

“And Wallenwhatsit too! You better not be here to steal my precious Bell!”

“Goddess, please stop shouting at the guests!”

“...Fine. But I have my eye on you.” The kid looked fucking mortified, but that was fucking nothing compared to the shit Loki put them through every damn day. And Aiz didn’t have any clue what the fuck was happening. The look of relief on the kids face when the food came in was priceless.

“I hope you all enjoy it, these are mostly dishes from my homeland…”

“It all looks delicious, and I’m sure it tastes just as good. Did you make all this yourself, miss Mikoto?”

“I had some help from miss Lili.”

“Ah, that would be you, yes? A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” Aw hell. He hadn’t thought of that. Finn and his stupid delusions.

“I’ll tell my sister if you try anything.” And suddenly he was glad to have the dumbass along. Finn coughed.

“Well then, perhaps we should do the proper introductions, and then dig in? Your captain of course has met them all already, but for everyone else. Arcs?"

"Understood. I'm Arcs. I'll be leading the Loki familia contingent for this mission." The guy had tried to get him to teach him some martial arts moves a while back, but he didn't have any time for someone with a stick that far up their own ass.

"Um, I'm Line... I'll be helping with supporting and healing." 

"Yo, nice to meet ya! Name's Lloyd! Me and the bow'll keep anything off ya back!" Fuck, couldn't the guy ever shut up for once? He acted more like an amazon than a half-elf, and was just as bad at taking a hint.

"Cynthia." He didn't know much about the hume bunny, and he didn't really care. She kept to herself, and that was the way he liked it. He was pretty sure she was some kind of mage though. The stick kind of gave it away.

He zoned out a bit after that. Way better things to do than listen to a bunch of weaklings yap about plans to deal with shit he could handle in his sleep. But he could feel the eyes boring into him. He pushed himself up with a sigh, and sauntered out to the gardens.

“The hell do you want then?”

“Hmph. You’d be that rude to a Goddess in her own home?”

“Damn right. Ain’t gonna be soft on you just ‘cause you ain’t Loki. Sure as hell got comfy here quickly.”

“Well, it’s a nice place, once we got rid of all the paintings he had of himself.” There was an awkward silence.

“Oh, fuck’s sake, just spit it out already!”

“I was working up to it!” she snapped. “It’s not like I want to thank you!”

“Then don’t, I don’t give a shit-”

“No.” And there was enough force in that no that he finally bothered to turn and look at her. “I might not like it, but if it wasn’t for you I’d have lost him forever. So… thank you.”

“Bullshit. He did that himself.”

“Maybe. But you made him realise he could. The night before… I’d never seen him like that before. Not just wanting to win, but knowing he could. He smiled at me, like he was saying ‘I’ve got this’, and… I believed him. How could I not? But… I think I might hate you, just a little bit.” The hell? “Because it wasn’t me who gave him that smile. It was you.”

Ah. “So you’re jealous.”

“I’m supposed to be his Goddess, but it feels like all I can see is him running to you.”

“Well, the fuck are you supposed to understand him? You’re a damn Goddess. End of the day, you’re just like the spectators in the bar. You got a big bet on him, and you’re cheering, but you’re never gonna fucking know how he feels when he’s being a man with everything on the line. ‘Cause you ain’t risking shit.”

“That’s-”

“Completely fucking true. Things go to shit, you can just roll the dice again. Worst case you go back to whatever boring shithole you came from.” He lowered his voice a little. “You saw what it’s like in the dungeon, a’ight?”

“Yes-”

“But you didn’t feel it. We do. Every fucking day. Tch, not like I can give him a falna though. Fuck knows I wouldn’t put up with that bitch if I could.”

“Hmm. Maybe he was right about you after all.”

“The fuck’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing. Just that maybe I’ll get over it if you visit once in a while after all.”

Fucking Goddesses.

He waited for her to be well gone before he slunk back to the group himself. Finn was still there, still hashing shit out or whatever, with the kid looking more and more like an awkward third wheel between him and the shrimp. And with tiny tits helping the eastern girl clean up, seemed as good a time as any.

“Oi.” He jerked his head at the smith, motioning for him to follow.

“Hmm? Surprised you’re talking to any of us besides Bell.” Bete rolled his eyes as they stepped out into the corridor.

“None of you were shit in the game.” And that was the best they were gonna fucking get out of him. “You make his gear, right? You got his measurements?”

“Yeah, but I’m not giving them. You said it. I make his gear.”

“Oh, fuck off. I just want to get him a congratulations gift, that so fucking wrong?”

“Guess not. Why not get me to make it then?”

“ Because you make all his shit, dumbass. ‘Sides, don’t you have shit to make already?”

“Hmm. I’ll give you that. Fine. Showing favourites there though, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t fucking train the rest of you.”

“Train me then.”

“Fuck off.”

“Heh, so you are playing favourites.”

“What are you two talking about, master?”

“Nothing, just some guy talk.” Huh. Hadn’t expected the smith to cover him that quickly.

“Oh, right- wait! I’m a guy too, why’d you stop when I came over?”

“Tell you when you’re older.” Maybe he should have felt bad for joining in, but honestly? This was fucking hilarious. He could see the kid’s face going red as he tried to work out what they’d been talking about.

“Hey, don’t worry Bell. You’ll get there one day. Anyway, catch you later. I’ve got some work to do before the trip, better make a start on it.”

"Oh. Right. Um, I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yeah. Night Bell." 

There was an awkward silence. He groaned. "Look, just fucking spit it out already."

"Um... Did you really bet that much money on me?"

"I'm not doing fucking handouts."

"No! No, it's not that. It's just... I can't even imagine that much money. I was... just wondering what you were going to spend it on." Ah. Yeah, he was starting to see what the kid really wanted. He wanted a snapshot of life at the top.

"Well, paid off the loans I'd taken out to pay for my shit. After that... Well. Floated the idea to the bitch about getting my own place."

"You don't want to live with your familia?"

"Fuck no. You might like being around people, but I prefer my own fucking space. Never get a minute's peace in that shithole."

"It's funny. I've been really excited to be around everyone more, but I guess the novelty wears off after a while?"

"Fuck knows for you. You're small, you're actually friends with them. I don't even know the names of half the trash in mine."

"...I wouldn't have minded seeing it once you were in."

"What-? I never fucking said I never wanted to see anyone ever. I just wanna be able to tell them to fuck off when I'm done with them. You better fucking come and visit, you fucking paid for it."

“Really? Thanks bro!”

What.

The fuck.

A side glance at the kid told him he’d already turned bright red, with his head buried in his hands.

“I’m sorry! It just slipped out!” The hell kind of slip was that even supposed to be? How off his head did he need to be to see him of all people like a brother? He levelled his best glare at the kid, who let out a slight squeak. Ah, he'd seen that stance before. Right before the kid had bolted after Aiz had saved him from the minotaur.

Anyone else and he might have managed it too, but it sure as hell wasn't going to work on him. He jerked, but it was too late - Bete already had him in a headlock he wasn't getting out of any time soon. He leaned in close, his voice low and menacing. “Bro, was that? You sure you wanna give me a pass like that to do all sorts of shit to you?”
The kid squirmed in his arm. “I’m sorry, I’m- Wait. You’re… not mad?”
“Mad? It’s weird as fuck hearing you call me that, but it’s your head that got hit. And you never asked my opinion on calling me master, what's the fucking difference now?”

“Sorry master- Wait, do you not like that either?”
Bete levelled him his flattest look. “You think if it pissed me off I wouldn’t have beaten that shit out of your mouth the first time you said it?”

“Yeah, you’re right… And I’d just have to make you accept it then, right?”

The kick sent him sprawling down the hall, but by his standards it was barely a shove, and both of them knew it. The kid was starting to sound dangerously like he knew him.
“Don’t push your luck. And shouldn’t you be prepping? You leave tomorrow.”

“Lili has everything under control already.”
“That the prum? She was the one who planned the war game, right?”

The kid looked at him in surprise. “How’d you know master?”
He scoffed at the stupid question. “She’s the one talking to Finn. But even without that, it’s not like the plan was gonna be you. When the fuck would you even come up with it, you were with me the whole time? Your smith has got too many hammers up there for that shit, and it wasn’t gonna be your plus one.” A question he’d squeeze about some other time. He lowered his voice a little. “And that little trick of hers was what the whole plan hinged on.”

The kid paled a little. “How did you-”
“I’m not a fucking idiot. You don’t have more than one supporter. Don’t fucking piss yourself, I’m not gonna spill.” There was a small sigh of relief, cut off when he was roughly pulled closer. “But that ain’t the problem. You’re supposed to be the captain here, ain’t ya? No, I don’t give a shit that she’s the brain here, that’s fine. Even if she’s the planner, you’re meant to be the leader. And a leader doesn’t piss off when his people need him. You got that?” He should know. He should fucking damn well know. The kid nodded. “Good. Now get your sorry ass over there and do your job.”

“R-right!” He’d just about managed to get his game face on when Tiona pounced him. …Yeah, probably wasn’t much he could do to prepare him for that. He caught Aiz staring… at him? He cocked his head quizically at her, then sighed and gestured her over more overtly when she utterly failed to register the first attempt. Airhead dumbass.

“What is it…?” Really. 

“You were the one staring at me, don’t give me that crap.”

She didn’t say anything for a while. Too long. If she could get some fucking social skills that’d be great, rich as it was coming from him.

“You’re… really close. With Bell.”

“What.”

She paused again. She really was shit at this, wasn’t she? “You seem… happy. I’m glad…”
“Shut yer trap.” If he didn’t know her better, that was the kind of crap that’d give him hope. “Why’d you even come here? You barely said a word the entire time.”

“I… wanted to. I’m not sure why…” He was about to call here, rightly, a dumbass, when to his shock she kept talking. “When I see you talk about him, it makes me happy… but sad…” 

“You have any idea how little that actually explains?”
“Sorry…”

He sighed. “Tch. Ain’t like I expected anything else from you anyway. You even spoken to the kid since we got here?”
“He’s… avoiding me.”
“Wha-” This instinct to insult her was cut off by his own brain this time. Now that she said it, the kid had done the rounds plenty of times, but he never really seemed to approach Aiz. Just Aiz. He shrugged. “That goddess of his seems to have it in for you for some reason. Maybe he’s just trying to keep the peace. Tch, you want me to distract them so you can get to him?” Ugh. He felt weird even saying it, so he was almost glad she shook her head.
“No… I don’t want to cause him trouble…”

“Whatever. Ain’t like you won’t see him around. Doubt he won’t ever show up at your place again. So make up your fucking mind what you want to say before then.” If she couldn’t even do that much then what was the fucking point? 

“Ah, there you are.” Oh. Finn. Must have finally been done. “I think we’re just about wrapped up here. We shouldn’t overstay our welcome.” Aiz nodded, though she seemed… sad, again.
“Aww, do we have to?” The dumb broad was loud as ever.
Bete grumbled under his breath, then raised his voice. “Oi, this lot are pissing me off. I’m crashing here!”

“You absolutely are not!” The goddess’ shrieking was exactly what he’d hoped for - fuck, if only it was this easy to get under Loki’s skin.

“Yeah. Take it back, you’re even louder.”

He didn’t bother saying goodbye, any more than he bothered waiting for the rest supposedly leaving with him. That was all way too much noise for one night. …So why had a part of him been disappointed when she’d said no to his joke? Tch. Maybe he really was going soft. Nah. It was just so rare anyone showed up actually worth his time that he couldn’t help get at least a bit invested. That’s all it was. All it had to be.

…Bro, huh? That was a word he hadn’t heard in a long time.