Chapter Text
“Belle I’m just gonna run over to the pharmacy and bring some lunch back too. Anything you want?”
“Oooooh, there’s a new sandwich shop in Lumina Square, near the HIA HQ. I’ll take any chicken sandwich and iced tea they have.” Belle asked while being wrapped up in the thickest blanket with only her head popping out like she was a human burrito. It had only been a few days still since the nightmare but nothing had happened since. The two lovers had mostly just been watching all the movies Wise had brought over along with Belle’s guitar and other assortment of things.
This was actually to Zhu Yuan’s surprise knowing Belle always needed something in her hands. Even when she was watching movies, Zhu Yuan noticed how Belle always would rhythmically tap her fingers on the couch arm rest or on her leg but not because of impatience or boredom but it was just a natural habit. But these past few days, she would sit still, lay on Zhu Yuan’s shoulder or on the couch cushion. Perhaps she was just drained from everything that’s happened but it did cause a little worry for the Captain.
“Alright, I’ll be back soon!” Just as Zhu Yuan was about to open the door, Belle raised a very valid question.
“No goodbye kiss?” The manager tilted her head and hid her mouth with her fluffy white blanket while she fluttered her eyelids.
Zhu Yuan grinned as she turned around to find the human burrito trying to appeal to her with those serene blue eyes of hers. She walked over and leaned in to give the woman what she wanted but before that, the captain had a question.
“Now just what are you after now, hmm?” Zhu Yuan chuckled knowing her girlfriends tendencies like the back of her hand.
“Weeeelll, there is a new limited time dessert stand opening up near said sandwich shop...”
“I would have gone if you had asked normally, you know?”
“A little incentive never hurts.” Belle’s huge smile revealing her pearly whites had Zhu Yuan smile in kind. It was a quick kiss but one that reminded them of their intimacy.
“See you soon captain~ ?”
“Mhmmm.”
Belle couldn’t help but notice the skip in Zhu Yuan’s step as she left and right after she closed the door, her phone buzzed with the notification of a text.
“u ok?” The distinct minimal character count, straight to the point messages could only belong to one aloof shark thiren.
“we passed by the shop and ur brother said u were on ‘medical leave’ “
Belle quickly responded “Yeah sorry! Im just dealing with some health issues right now and the doctor said to stay far away from ‘work’ for now.”
“Did you need anything?”
“lynn wanted you to show her the rest of the song on guitar”
Oh my god, I forgot! They’ve been asking for help with learning a song for their band
“Ahhhh, I forgot! Im so sorry, I can record the cover for it in the meantime!”
“dont worry, everyones saying 2 get well soon”
“bye”
Belle sighed when she read Ellen’s last messages, her hand dropped to her side. But it wasn’t long before her phone went off again. This time, a call from her usual clients.
Nicole?
She picked up, “Hey-”
“MAAAAAAANAAAGEERRRR!!!! This can’t be the end!!! We still have so much to do! So many leaderboards to beat!” Billy’s voice roared through the phone speakers, so much so that Belle had to pull the phone away from her ears.
“We still haven’t finished that movie marathon, you can’t go yet...”
“GUYS, come on now! Hey Belle....”
“Hiiiii guys, where’s Nekomata?”
“She’s off teaching some bandits a lesson apparently but she’s wishing you a speedy recovery too.”
“Well if you need a proxy, Wise is holding down the fort.”
“You know that’s not why we’re calling Belle.”
“Yeah I know, thanks guys but I’m fine really. It’s just some R&R and I’ll be back before you know it.”
“If you say so, then I guess it’s alright. Where are you even staying? We can bring some stuff over.”
“Well if you’re okay making small talk with the Captain of the Criminal Investigation Squad then come right over.” Belle grinned knowing what Nicole’s answer would be.
“WHAT??? You’re sick and those nefarious police officers have you locked in captivity??? Not to worry Manager! We’ll-”
A metallic thud came through the phone, probably Nicole’s briefcase being introduced to Billy’s forehead.
“Owwwwww.”
“Anything else we could do instead?”
“Oh, you could pay for my medical bills-”
“Ohhh Bel-zzt, we’re going in-zzt Hollow, talk--zzt soon”
“Riiiggght, bye Nicole.”
Belle looked down at her phone. Call Ended. She didn’t even try to turn off her phone to keep up the act.
“How can someone that selfless be this much of a penny pincher?” Belle spent the next few minutes replying to everyone who had sent her a message. Turns out she had met quite a few people in the past year.
But after she finished, she turned to her left and looked at her guitar. Zhu Yuan had set it up right next to the couch where Belle could easily reach if she so desired. Pretty similar to her own room she noted. Thinking back to Ellen’s messages she picked up the guitar, sat the body on her lap, and strummed the strings.
Hmm? That’s not right.
She adjusted the tuning and strummed again.
What? No way it’s already bunk. Wise knows how to transport it, and I even tried out the next day. Ughhh... come on.
She adjusted again and again but it was never right, not too far to give up but never close enough for satisfaction. After minutes on end of this, Belle decided it was just better to come back to it another time.
She grabbed her crutches and decided it was time for a bathroom break. Belle was used to navigating her way around so it was business as usual. Probably a little easier considering the feeling in her legs was coming back slowly so holding herself up at the sink was an easier task.
As she was washing her hands, she noticed there was something in her left eye. She tilted her head every which way and then pulled down on her bottom eyelid finally. The bottom of the sclera had turned black, the veins a bright green. She rubbed her eye again and again but nothing changed.
What the hell? There’s no pain...... but considering everything before. This has to be related. Alright let’s just stay calm, it’s not really there. It’s all in my head... as well as a lot of other things but it's NOT real. It’ll come and go like everything else.
Belle sighed as she grabbed her crutches and exited the bathroom.
“Maybe I did need a break, this is getting ridiculous. These dreams and hallucinations are a little much. Ugghh...Maybe I should actually look into upgrading, it’s been six years already.”
As she laid back down on the couch, Belle found herself wanting Zhu Yuan to return already. Speaking of, the captain of the Criminal Investigation Squad had been doing some analysis of her own on the train ride to Lumina Square.
Zhu Yuan leaned back against the plastic blue train seat and began to ponder on some of the recent information she had learned, especially the “school” that the siblings had attended in the Old Capital.
Thinking back on it, they said their teacher was a researcher at an academy, and they were her assistants outside of classwork. Even though Wise said it was pretty advanced himself, that's still a little much isn’t it? That sounds more like a university than a middle school.
Zhu Yuan wasn’t one to pry into affairs outside of work, she had clear boundaries about work versus personal life even if her reflexes would betray her sometimes. Maybe sometimes she was more analytical than a typical person, but never to the point that anything was a “case” that she could work.
She would never want to betray her girlfriend’s trust by just snooping around into her past without saying anything. And It makes total sense for Belle to be reluctant to talk about things. The woman has been through alot, but it still gnawed at the back of Zhu Yuan's mind. The thought that if she didn’t learn more, it could turn into a much larger problem.
Zhu Yuan arrived at Lumina Square and conveniently, JC Pharmacy was a literal 10 steps to the left of the train station exit. The captain was very familiar with this store seeing as how it’s also located right next to the NEPS station in the area. It’s great to have something that close when you have to hunt for stomach medicine for a particular Lynx thiren.
Cough medicine, eye drops, pads, Fever reducers, heat and cold packs.... That should be everything, whatever happens I think I have one of anything at least. But wait, is there anything for massages? Actually, there should still be some oils in the apartment that Belle brought over from Old Duyi.
While Zhu Yuan went through her mental checklist of buying every remedy imaginable and occasionally evaluating how good Belle was with her hands, the Section 6 Deputy Chief had noticed her in the store.
“Hello Ms. Zhu Yuan, it’s been a while hasn’t it?”
Zhu Yuan quickly lifted her head to meet the voice next to her. She had been so focused on her preparations that the sudden sound startled her a little.
“Oh, Ms. Tsukishiro! It has been a while. Sorry I was just lost in thought...but I didn’t think I’d run into you in a pharmacy during the middle of the day.”
“Oh I’m just doing my typical stock-up of things for the team. Some stomach medicine, bandages, and ointments.” Upon further inspection, Yanagi saw Zhu Yuan wasn’t in uniform. Rather she was in a navy blue Pubsec hoodie and with some worn gray sweatpants. But from the looks of it, Zhu Yuan herself didn’t seem sick.
“Day off today?”
“Well it’s more like having a reason to use my vacation days.”
“In a pharmacy?”
“My girlfriend’s on medical leave so I’m taking care of her. I’m just here to pick up a few things...or a lot. Can never be too prepared.”
“Oh my, I wish her the best then, hopefully it’s nothing too serious.”
“Thank You, I hope so too.” Zhu Yuan checked her phone for the time. “Sorry, I gotta pick up lunch too after this but can you tell Miyabi I said Hello, I’ve been meaning to catch up with her too.”
“Will do, see you around Ms. Zhu Yuan”
“You too.” Zhu Yuan waved goodbye to Yanagi as she left the store. She went and picked up the sandwiches from the new Breaded Belief truck. Right after that was picking up the deserts.
Zhu Yuan only ever saw Belle eating sweets from the 141 convenience store. Popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, those kinds of things. Zhu Yuan herself didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, so she just picked whatever the clerk recommended.
On the way back to the apartment, her thoughts were still occupied with trying to organize her thoughts of the whole situation.
Their school still brings up a few questions, what was Carole researching? And were all students getting that level of education from that age? There shouldn’t be that many places that could fit that description. Maybe Miyabi would know more about these things.
Zhu Yuan made a mental note to herself to make sure to call Miyabi at some point as she approached the door to the apartment. As she opened the door, she found the manager fiddling with a custom keyboard at the desk Zhu Yuan moved to the living room for Belle. It put a smile on her face to see Belle wasn’t completely down in the dumps.
Zhu Yuan put all of the bags she was carrying on top of the Kitchen counter when she heard the clack of the crutches tap along the floor approaching.
“Hey, I didn’t really know what to get so I just bought whatever the clerk recommended. I hope that’s alright.”
“Wow! You really brought back a whole rainbow of stuff, just how much did they recommend?”
“I asked for whatever was the most popular, but it turned out most of the lineup was popular I guess. But before that, we have to eat first anyways.”
As they sat down for lunch, Belle with her sandwich in hand, turned towards Zhu Yuan to ask something seemingly harmless.
“Hey, I don’t have something in my eye do I?” Belle pulled down her bottom eyelid on her left eye to show Zhu Yuan
“Noooo, there’s nothing there. Is something bothering your eye?”
“Yeah it was kinda irritated but I think I got it out then.”
“Well if it happens again then I probably have something for it, I kinda brought back everything I could think of.”
“You know she only said to rest right?” Belle chuckled a little at the thought of Rapid Response Medic Zhu Yuan having every base covered.
“A few weeks is a long time! And if you got sick or worse then how would you be able to recover properly?”
“Okay okay, I get it! I have a professionally trained medic at my disposal.” The couple laughed, lightening the mood instantly and returning to their usual state of affairs. Belle wasn’t in any shape to help doing the dishes so went back to the desk and continued to work on her keyboards. The rest of the day was quite normal, but Belle did have some reservations, especially considering that the next day was her weekly checkup.
And so the fateful day arrived, Gabi had decided to see Belle first, alone then Zhu Yuan afterwards in order to make sure she got proper answers.
“So one week later, have you been experiencing any of the previous symptoms? Hallucinations? Ringing in your ears? Or maybe anything new? Nausea? Loss of appetite?”
“I had a pretty rough dream the same night I left the hospital. Kinda similar to that stuff at the concert but after that, nothing really.”
Gabi pondered for a second, she rested her chin on her hand. “And your legs? Feel anything again?”
Belle was able to show off a little bit of movement, twirling her feet somewhat and some tiny swings of the leg but nothing major.
“So business as usual then.” Gabi got up and took a reflex hammer from one of the shelves, and sat back down in front of Belle. Just a little tap to see if her nervous system was recovering at all. Luckily when the tip of the hammer struck the knee there was a small swing immediately after.
“Lucky for you, it doesn’t seem like there's been any damage to the rest of the nerves. And whatever that was last week, it seems like it was a temporary shock to the system.”
Gabi sighed and sat back in her chair. “As much as I claim to be your doctor, there’s not much that I really know about that device of yours beyond the surface. What started as just an implant that I handed to you is now just a black box to me. There’s not much I can do besides watch and pray. I’m not even sure I could even take that out of you safely.”
“Gabi...”
“I’ll do what I can Belle, but any fix, any change, or any upgrade is gonna have to be from you.”
“You know I’ve actually been thinking about that. I miiiight even have someone in mind that could help.” Belle proclaimed proudly, knowing that if she needed it, she could probably pull in Grace to help her out.
“Dios mio, now imagine if you had the chance to put that brain of yours into actual research.”
That proud smile Belle was wearing immediately shifted to a downtrodden frown. “Well it’s not like we have opportunities to do that anymore Gabi.”
“I know. It was wishful thinking on my part.” Gabi’s wry smile just drove it home how much they’ve really lost. They’ve maintained, updated, and upgraded Helios Academy’s crowning achievement all by themselves. So much so that one of them even turned what was supposed to be her mobility aid into an enhanced receiver for it and stuck it in her spine. That’s not something most people can do, let alone most of the researchers from the Academy.
But therein lies the problem, going back to that same field is just pointing a huge spotlight on them. They can’t afford that kind of attention if they were going to continue pursuing the truth of Hollow Zero’s creation.
“Well, I’ll see you next week then. You’ll probably be able to move around again in the coming week, albeit very slowly. So remember to exercise those legs as best you can in the next few days. And Belle, if anything happens, and I mean ANYTHING, you come to me okay? I can at least help with symptoms.”
Gabi handed Belle back her crutches and guided her back up from the chair she was sitting in.
Belle hesitated for a bit, she had hidden yesterday’s incident with her eye and the unusual tuning of her guitar. Fortunately, the next morning when she checked in the mirror, the black blemish was gone. And she was even able to re-tune her guitar back to her liking before she and Zhu Yuan left for the hospital.
“...Thanks Gabi, really.”
“Anytime. Now you can send in your partner on your way back.”
“You know she’s doing a great job right?”
“I know, I just need to verify myself. It will be quick I promise.”
Belle raised her eyebrow but ultimately it was pointless to fight her over it. “Just don’t bully her.”
Gabi waved her fingers as she sent Belle off, and then approached the distinguished Captain, the pride and joy of the New Eridu Police. Gabi sat Zhu Yuan down and pulled up her chair.
“So has anything happened at all? That girl has a bad tendency to downplay any real issues relating to her as I’m sure you saw last week.”
“She did have a pretty bad nightmare the night of the whole thing, but outside of that I haven’t seen anything really. She hasn’t even taken any of the painkillers, She’s playing guitar and back to assembling keyboards.”
“Well I’m glad I’m hearing that from you as well. I’m sorry I’ve asked a lot of you”
“No no please! I’m glad to do it! She means so much to me, I honestly would have been spending most of my time worrying at work anyways.”
“Haha, I’m glad she’s found someone nice.” The statement made the Tomato woman blush like her namesake but quickly composed herself again, she had a question to ask.
“I’m sorry if I’m imposing but do you know anything about the school Belle went to?”
“Hmmm..... Carole, their teacher, never really talked about her work or rather if she did it was only about those two and what bright kids they were. They were her pride and joy. But I’m sorry, I don’t really know more than that.”
Then what was Carole’s full name?
The question was on the tip of the Captain’s tongue but she felt that she felt that it wasn’t right, everyone just wanted for Belle to get better. It wasn’t the time or the place to push on questions like that.
“Please don’t worry about it, that was more than enough.”
“Thank you Ms. Zhu Yuan. Hopefully that girl will continue to listen to her doctor.” Zhu Yuan chuckled a little.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she rests.”
“Then I will see you next week then along with a certain someone.” Zhu Yuan nodded as she left. When she got back to the lobby, she found the manager patiently waiting for her return, almost as if she was worried.
“Oh hey, she didn’t strong arm you did she? No interrogations?”
“Just what do you think happened in there? She was very polite!”
“If you say so.”
“Oh come on you, let’s go get lunch.” And off they went, a little date in Lumina Square to take the edge off things. A “quaint” spicy hotpot lunch that Zhu Yuan was too proud to admit that it’s still too spicy for her. Belle trying to yoink Tarshi’s guitar to show him how to actually play whatever he was trying to pass off as music. Running into that Boba tea shop employee who definitely needed a day off.
Later at night, after that eventful afternoon. The two decided to continue plowing through that massive box of movies that still remained. This time it was blasting through the series of second rate cop movies where Zhu Yuan was thoroughly enjoying the ridiculousness of each of the protagonists thought processes.
Although Belle was enjoying hearing her girlfriend’s commentary on how she could use the experience as references, she felt a sudden uneasiness in her stomach.
“Hey, I’m just gonna go to the bathroom real quick. You can start the next movie, I’ve already seen that one.”
“Okay, I’m just a shout away if you need me.” Belle smiled and nodded in return and made her way to the bathroom. Zhu Yuan noted the hastened and irregular clacking of the crutches but by the time she looked over the couch behind her, Belle was already in the bathroom.
Belle slowly lowered herself and pushed each crutch towards the wall behind the toilet as the respective hand grabbed each side of the toilet bowl. Her head was hovering over the pristine porcelain. And then it just came in waves, the nauseousness, the dizziness. She could feel the contraction of her stomach but nothing came out. She tried her best to at least muffle her retching, but the next few minutes were brutal.
Once the dry heaving stopped, she still was breathing heavily, whatever strength she had in her condition had left her body. And then she noticed her sweat, at first she thought it was just of how hard she was struggling in the moment but she felt a heat that was insufferable. Somehow in the middle of winter, she was in a sauna. Zhu Yuan had turned up the heat a little so Belle was really only wearing one of her various long sleeved shirts but it was baking her alive. She clawed at the collar of the shirt with one hand trying to keep herself up with the other. Her fingers clutched at whatever leverage they could grab and pulled. And pulled. She tossed the shirt to the side, she was drained.
Fuuuck, was it something I ate? God...I just need some water on my face....
Belle was only in her bra and some gym shorts she stole from Zhu Yuan. Beads of sweat were running down her back, she passed her right hand over her shoulder to see how sweaty her back was but her finger tips were met with the feel of that special plastic polymer running along her spine that only she really knew. She let out a deep sigh.
It was smooth to the touch and slightly warm. The plastic would take on the temperature of her skin in any weather condition so its malleability was always consistent and divided into sections so a singular piece wasn’t trying to follow the movement of the spine.
Most of the technology was buried deep in the mechanical vertebrae itself so it followed the regular contour of her back fairly well allowing her to wear bras and any clothes without hassle. Although since the device was matte black, wearing light colors or slightly transparent clothes was a no go if she wanted to keep it hidden without a layer on top. The device covered most of the surgery scars from cutting her back open, but there were still visible reminders of her injuries on her lower back.
Her head turned towards the sink, knowing it was not the time to get lost in thought, she propped herself up and extended an arm towards the countertop. Once she had a grip, she pushed herself up, but she was not ready for what was waiting for her in the mirror.
That blemish she once saw had completely taken over her left eye. The sclera had gone completely black and the iris was a bright neon green. Almost looking if she had taken on the eye of a bangboo. And now it was surrounded by sporadic appearances of copies of the eye glitching in and out of her vision.
And right under she noticed a piece of skin on her cheek that had started to peel, but there was no flesh under. No, it was dark and metallic, inhuman . Her hands gripped the countertop as hard as she could, denying all urges to pick at it. She turned her head down towards the sink.
It’s not real, it’s all in my head. This isn’t happening! I’m still in Zhu Yuan’s bathroom. We were watching some cheesy movies....It’s all fine!
“Turning tail are we?” Belle’s vision snapped back towards the mirror only to be met with a smug grin and she knew she definitely wasn’t smiling in any form.
What the....
“Look at you, a little labour and you’re all shriveled up! Was sitting in a chair all day that hard?!”
.....Shut up.
Belle lowered her head again.
“Struck a nerve? You should be directing all the negativity towards those who framed Carole! Not Me! Buuuttt, does that realllllly matter?”
I’m not listening.
“Carole Arna! Genius inventor of Helios Academy’s most prized possession! Researcher, Teacher, Mother..... Killlllller....”
Don’t Listen. Don’t Listen
A knock on the door.
“Nobody really cares who did it anymore do they? They just wanted someone to point the finger at. And are they ever gonna believe the word of her daughter? The daughter of the woman who destroyed the old capital?!”
Don’t Listen. Don’t Listen. Don’t Listen. Don’t Listen. Don’t Listen.
Another knock. “...le?”
Belle gritted her teeth, her hands were trembling with how tight she was gripping the sink.
“Oooooohohooh. Look at that! Getting angry?”
DON’T LISTEN. DON’T LISTEN. DON’T LISTEN. DON’T LISTEN. DON’T LISTEN. DON’T LISTEN.
“Belle? You okay in there? It’s been a while so I just wanted to check up on you.”
Belle turned her head towards the door, Zhu Yuan had been knocking for a bit. And when she turned back towards the mirror everything had vanished, all that was her face contorted by her anger.
“Uh Yeah.... Sorry, lunch really didn’t sit well with me today.”
“Oh no... was the hotpot too spicy?”
“Maybe it was...”
The door opens.
“Oh my god, Belle. You’re sweating!”
“It reallllllllly didn’t sit well.”
Zhu Yuan watched Belle carry herself back to the couch then turned her head back towards the bathroom. There was nothing but the smell of air freshener. When she returned to the couch as well, Belle was practically sinking into the pillow, she looked so drained of life.
Zhu Yuan sat back down next to her, and took her hand, passing her thumb along Belle’s fingers.
“Hey everything okay? Anything I can do?”
“No, it's fine! Ugh, I’m sorry... I’m just really tired”
Belle cupped her face with her free hand and dragged it down. Zhu Yuan scooted over right next to Belle and Belle leaned her head on Zhu Yuan’s shoulder in kind.
“I’m here Belle.”
“....Thank you.” Belle moved her hand so her fingers could interlock with Zhu Yuans. They stayed like that for the rest of the night until they went to bed.
A few days later, Zhu Yuan was cleaning up around the apartment in preparation for the arrival of her mother who had insisted on seeing the two today. Wise had called earlier, giving Belle an update on the status of both businesses, with Fairy chiming in with some critique on Wise’s performance as of late.
The buzzer rang.
“That must be Mom, I’ll go let her in! You just take your time Belle!”
Zhu Yuan stepped out to go greet her mother on the bottom floor and take her up.
“Even during your vacation, you’re wearing that darned dress shirt!”
“Come on Mom, it’s not even the same one.....”
“Oh whatever, but enough about you. How is she?”
“She’s been getting better pretty quickly, she gets tired often but you’re just gonna have to see.” Zhu Yuan noticed the bag her mother was holding, it was rather large and she recognized the logo on the front of the bag.
“Mom, what do you have in there?”
“I brought lunch!” Zhu Yuan’s Mom handed off the bag to her daughter.
“We could have ordered something, and besides do you even know what she likes from Waterfall Soup?”
“Have some faith! Of course I do! I got her the Red Chili Beef Noodles.” Mom Yuan placed a hand on her chest proudly waiting for her daughter’s response.
“What?? How?”
“She’s the one always eating the peppers from your plate, don’t think I don’t see everything.”
Zhu Yuan furrowed her eyebrows but nothing could be done now, might as well just move on. Zhu Yuan opened the door to her apartment and both of them took off their shoes before entering. There was the sound of footsteps slowly approaching, but they were no longer accompanied by the rhythmic clicking of crutches. Mom Yuan’s favorite future daughter-in-law came into view, albeit at the speed of their great grandmother but approaching nonetheless!
When Belle left the bedroom, she heard the bickering of mother and daughter, and it put a smile on her face hearing how lively it was already before they even entered the apartment.
But she was not greeted by the appearance of her lovely girlfriend and her mother entering the apartment. Instead, there was that damned Ethereal Knight wearing her lover's clothes and now joined by a well dressed new contender. That fiery red spiked mane put the Knights collar to shame. Blazing and Brilliant, it contrasted against the Ethereal’s skull, charred and resembling that of a large feline's skull. But the teeth were largely exaggerated, one could see where the knight got it from.
Oh come on.
“Belle! Oh don’t move honey, I’ll come to you!” And so came charging in the Queen of the Ethereal Jungle.
Wait! Wait! Wait!
The creature hugged Belle tight, the mane rubbed against her face but it didn’t burn. Rather it was quite cool on her face. Belle was so stunned that it took her a bit to collect herself and reciprocate the hug.
“It’s good to see you Mrs.--”
“Mom.”
“...Mom.”
“MOM!”
“I’m kidding!” The Lioness turned back to Belle “...for now.” Then she let out a hearty laugh that Belle nervously joined in with.
It’s okay, I can do this.
“Alright, I bet you’re hungry but not to worry! I brought something you’ll like.” The knight placed the bag on the table, while the mother brought around the extra chair.
As Belle sat down, the Knight passed her her bowl and it just hit her in the face. The smell was repugnant . It was the same container she recognized from her favorite noodle shop but the odor was making her nauseous. She tried her best to keep it down.
The two sat down and removed the top off their bowls Belle couldn’t recognize what was in them, and she didn’t want to know.
“You okay dear? You look rather pale. Are you alright?”
“No no, I’m fine. It’s just been a while since I had something from here.”
The Knight looked up immediately, meeting Belle dead in the eye. “We still have some stomach medicine if you need it. I can go get it.”
“No really! I’m fine!”
Belle removed the lid from her own bowl, and that just let out the stench even more. When she looked down, it was just an unrecognizable mess of things, and the color of the broth was a shade of red she did not want to acknowledge.
But she started hearing the noises that would push her over the edge. The squelching and loud chewing. The slurping and the sloshing. She didn’t dare lift her head to see what was happening. But looking down left her staring down at her own bowl of horror.
The noises continued, closing her eyes just made it worse.
The smell was still there, permeating.
And then it just all came out.
Belle fell to the floor, vomiting. The two Ethereals jumped out of their chairs and came rushing to her side.
“Belle!” They yelled in unison as they approached the woman. But she swatted them away, getting them to stay back.
But when Belle turned around, all she saw were two faces she’d grown to love. Both of them reaching out their hands to help her. The spikey, red haired lady that had shown her so much love and welcomed her immediately before even seeing her. And that honest to a fault, kind and endearing captain that she knew and loved, she was swatting them away like some feral animals.
“....I’m so sorry.”