It was about 0615 the next morning—fifteen minutes before Greed's internal clock. Around this time, Belle had woken up first for once, stretching her slender arms up and over her head—her yawn was just as pretty as she was; completely nude as the covers fell off her perky chest.
She opened her eyes after her stretch and admired the sunlight that was entering these gothic quarters. Though the curtains were black, they were sheer enough to light up the room with the day's morning rays. She smiled, canted her head up, and closed her eyes again for but a moment, taking in a deep breath and loosing it. "What a beautiful morning."
Right then, she heard another girl stretch and yawn just as she did in the same room. Right next to Belle was Greed, still asleep, and on the other side was… which she barely noticed until now.
"Ugh, I hate how early I wake up sometimes… What a pain."
Belle blinked twice as she saw this girl there. Her hair was black and short, with bangs that rested over her eyes, and the underside peekaboo a dark olive green. When she opened her eyes, they glowed a deep emerald green. Her ears had many piercings, from her earlobes all the way around her helix on both ears. Her skin was a perfect off-white as she casually wore nothing but an oversized white shirt; the silhouette of her slender, petite body was shadowed through it by the light from the windows next to her. She had tiny moles—one under her left eye, one on the outer part of her left arm, and one on her inner right thigh. The shirt she wore was oversized, and didn't seem like it belonged to her…
"Oh, hello… You're Jo, right?" she asked shyly, "What exactly are you doing here with… us?"
She looked back at Belle with one eye open; her teeth were jagged—a common physical trait among most Black Wolf members.
"Hmm… You didn't call me by my full name. I like you already, princess," Jo said with a nonchalant tone.
"I don't remember you being here before… Um…"
"Before you guys fucked? No, I wasn't here for that, luckily."
Belle blushed and squealed a bit as she straightened her slender arms and waved them in front of her in Jo's direction, "Y-Y-Y-You don't have to say it like that! Mmm…"
Jo raised a lazy brow to her as she licked her snakebite piercings on the bottom of her mouth, "You don't gotta be so prude, princess, it's not exactly a secret…"
"I-I-It's not that! I—you—"
Jo inhaled and exhaled so slowly. "Here…" She said as a thick green tail whipped out from under the sheets and began digging into the pile of clothes next to her on the floor.
After a few seconds, she pulled out a badge with a portrait of her that looked unironically the same as the constant R.B.F. expression she had on at this time—and all the time. The badge emitted on a digital screen that had seen better days. It displayed stats and her rank within the Black Wolves and the Valley Kingdom.
Belle observed the badge, still confused about why she was showing it to her… "Wow, you're not only the Black Wolves Ace 1, but you also work directly under—"
"Not that, princess… look at the bottom section…" Jo interjected, pointing a slender finger with a painted olive-green nail down below the screen.
As Belle followed and continued to investigate it, she said, "Um… age eighteen? Sorry, I'm afraid I don't understand…"
Jo sighed, "Trynna' tell you I'm old enough to cuss, princess…"
"Oh… okay…"
"I'm also old enough to have se—"
Belle squealed again and interjected Jo before she finished her sentence, "D-D-D-Did you!— After we!?—"
Jo face-palmed, "No. Why would I?— I'm just saying!"
"But what does that have to do with anything!? Why would you bring that up all of a sudden!?"
Jo didn't say anything to that. She changed the topic instead, "Anyway, I simply just came in after you two were done and made myself comfortable. It's my night after all… Not sure if you knew that or not… but don't worry, I'm not mad."
"Your night? What do you—?"
Right then, Belle remembered that Ophelia and Star used to come in and out of these quarters on different days, but that was before she and Greed started dating… She began to wonder if this was what Jo had meant.
"Oh, right, you're new here, so you might not know… You might be from another Guild, but we usually take turns sleeping with GG… I mean Greed… Depending on the day. Don't ask me why, it's just a thing."
"You all?"
"Yeah… For different reasons than others," she implied, "and if you were away or haven't seen him for a day or more, you get dibs that same night if you two were finally at the Den at the same time… so… tonight was my night. As I said, I'm not mad or anything, but just something you should know—"
"We're dating." Belle let out a sigh; she was getting slightly uncomfortable hearing the whole thing… But she understood. With Greed having lost his memories of her at the time, it only made sense he would have intimate relations with other women… still…
Jo's expressionless face took a full one-eighty at this time; it was as if she were having a hard time processing what Belle had just said, "Dating?" Repeating it to herself, it was an odd word to hear, especially in Greed's case.
"GG's dating someone? Like, actually dating? Huh… so that explains this then, thought you were just another fling from another Guild that fell under his charms…"
Fling… Belle thought to herself, from another Guild… had he done this before outside of the Black Wolves?
"Didn't think he'd be able to pull the princess of the Valley," Jo sighed again, this time a sigh of approval; however, "Guess that changes things, I suppose I'll leave then."
Feeling bad, Belle held her hand out to her, "N-No, I didn't mean to kick you out. You obviously didn't know, you've been gone for about four months… If you two were close, I wouldn't want to take that away from you, but…"
She struggled to put her words together. This was definitely an awkward situation.
"It's okay, princess. I get it. I'm the one intruding here. I'll take my leave. I'm awake now anyway… Might as well make use of all this Keeperforsaken energy…" she said as she continued speaking as if she was without any energy at all.
As Jo got up from the other side of the bed, she started walking around a few steps, her thick, green dragon tail following effortlessly behind her. But she was stopped by Belle once more with a question—more out of curiosity than anything else, "You two never… um… You know?"
"What? Fucked? You can say it, princess, I'm an adult now as I just showed you…" Jo replied, and Belle blushed.
"I just turned eighteen four months ago…" Jo stood still past the edge of the bed, her dragon tail resting behind her bare, off-white legs. She was barefoot with her small toenails painted that same olive green that matched her fingernails, peekaboo, and eyes, "But answers no. I see him as a big brother, of sorts. I just sleep better when I sleep next to him. It's better than sleeping alone sometimes. So, he lets me now and then. It's like a comfort thing—not like those other two bimbos. I just want to feel… safe, is all."
Belle let out a sigh of relief. She thought it was sweet. Oftentimes, she did the same with Alice before, especially given her past.
"I was too young for him at the time anyway, so rest assured, princess, we've never done anything…" Jo continued to walk to the door, and Belle watched her the whole way before she grabbed the doorknob and ended with, "But I'm eighteen now… There was a part of me that was hoping to get lucky today…"
Belle blushed and reacted first with a blank stare. "What?"
Jo giggled with the most expression anyone has ever seen on her before responding, "Just kidding, princess. You really are a prude, hehe…" Jo remained in place, staring below Belle now so long that Belle had barely noticed until it was too late, "Anyway you're quite confident not covering yourself in front of me. I just barely turned eighteen… my virgin eyes!" she teased as she playfully raised her dainty hands to her face, peaking with one eye from behind the windows of her fingers, waiting for Belle's reaction.
Belle squeaked out a small peep and blushed as she grabbed the covers and covered her breasts, which she finally noticed were exposed the entire time.
Jo giggled mischievously, "You're so cute, Miss Belle. I see why he fell for you. Take care of my big bro, would you? He acts tough, but he's actually a big baby sometimes. He doesn't just console me when I need it. It goes both ways. Deep down, he's someone worth trusting with that kind of comfort… Even if he is an ass sometimes. Seems you already know that though… Sorry, I'm rambling… I'll just—"
"No. Thank you, Jo."
"For what?"
"Watching over him when you could. From the moment you met him."
She gave Jo a gentle smile that sent goosebumps rippling across her whole body. Jo was fairly good at hiding her feelings behind her expressionless face, but at this time, she couldn't help but feel the praise she had gotten coursing through her. Her thick green tail even flopped from the floor, to which she grabbed it and left the room almost immediately.
As the door behind her closed, she looked back for the last second and gave Belle her best attempt at a smile back. And just like that, the door shut, and she was gone.
The time now was 0628. And Greed had finally begun to wake up. Unaware of the conversation the two girls had just had.
***
Today was one of the rarer days where everyone, not only was present, but was also already awake. The time was about 0647, and around this time, the boys were about to go for a jog, and they had a special guest jogging with them today.
"Think you boys can keep up with me?" Belle said confidently as she stretched. She wore one of Greed's oversized white t-shirts, tied in a bun to her side and exposing her toned, rosy stomach, very short pink gym shorts just barely above her butt, white crumpled long socks, and running sneakers. Her platinum-white hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a baby-blue cap to finish it off.
"It's not a race, princess… but you know what, I'm happy to see you with us—and that outfit is… Cute." Greed said flirtatiously.
"Hey, I go running all the time, most mornings with Toto, I actually really enjoy it. It's also a fantastic way to get some good cardio in!"
"Spoken like a true athlete who doesn't run." He teased.
"Are you doubting me?? Fine. Last one back has to do an extra hundred pushups when we get back before breakfast!" She said as she dashed off at a speed hardly worth calling 'fast.'
"Shall I let her win, Captain?" Brand asked.
"Nah. Don't go easy on her. She's the second most powerful mage in the Valley… Though she doesn't act like it. Don't take her lightly," he replied. "Just… when you're almost back… pretend you stubbed your foot or something and let her pass."
"Stub my foot. Ten-four! I shall make it the most dramatic, convincing, authentic, genuine improvisation she has ever seen! I won't let you down, Captain!"
"Alright, it's not that serious."
While they went for a jog with Belle leading the charge, Yuna followed behind. Back home, the girls stayed and worked out in the home gym.
***
Jo headed to the home gym wearing a gray super-cropped sweater that revealed her chest and a black sports bra underneath, black sheer tights, white crumpled long socks, and sneakers. She met with Ophelia and Star there, ready to train legs.
"Well… This energy isn't gonna burn itself…" she sighed, "Seriously, this is such a drag…"
"Hey, Annie! Let's have a good early workout today!" Ophelia said, calling her by another nickname that was also acceptable to her.
She was wearing a blue sports bra, blue bicycle shorts, and running shoes. Next to her was Star, who was the least energetic of the three, as she never usually woke up this early or ever had the need to work out. She wore a loose white off-the-shoulder cropped shirt with a pink sports bra on the inside, pink gym shorts, and some kind of black and white high top sneakers.
"We're not gonna run, are we? I don't wanna run…" Star said miserably.
"No, silly… but we are starting on the stair-master today!"
"UGH!!" Star uttered a prolonged groan, slouching her shoulders and dropping her arms, while Jo simply sighed with furrowed brows and hands on her waist.
"Wish Miss Princess could join us, but she wanted to go on a jog with the boys. Probably wanted to run alongside her lover… They're so cute together! Huuu… Makes me kinda jealous." Ophelia said.
"You're telling me… I lost my bed privileges with GG this morning…" she sighed, "I shouldn't have slept so much while on the road."
Ophelia gasped, "Poor Annie! It's okay, there's plenty of fishies… swimming… all over… the… um, what's the saying again? anyhoo, you get it right?" giving Jo an unwanted hug all the while.
"You're so smothering… Whatever, GG said he's getting me something later today when we go to the Valley…"
"Hm? What are you two going to the city for? Can't be a date… You know he and Belle are together, right?"
"It's not a date!" Jo snapped, "Don't you know? Geez, you're such an airhead, Ophy. I'm reporting to the Arcane King; he's back in the Kingdom as of today. As for GG…"
At this time, a small icy figure poofed in from out of nowhere right on Jo's shoulder. It was about the size of a toddler, with short, stubby arms and legs and small wings resembling those of a baby dragon. Its head was bigger than its body and was the shape of a dragon's skull, and its body looked as if it were made entirely of ice.
"Well, gooood morning to you, ladies!" it said, in a high-pitched, ethereal voice.
"Yeah, no thanks," Jo said as she poofed it away the second it came to be, closing her hand in the air like it was never there to begin with.
A few seconds passed, and it poofed back in view again, this time in front of her, flapping the small wings on its head. "M-M-Miss Jo! How dare you! That was extremely rude!"
"I don't care, Nyx… Keeper, this is why I suppress your presence so often… You're probably the reason I'm so tired all the time—minus the fact that you draw from so much of my mana—you're extremely annoying."
"You can't just keep me prisoner in your aura! I-I'm one of the Seven Spirit Gods—" Poof!
Jo sighed again, her furrowed brows slanting even more, "That should keep him suppressed until at least after the workout."
It was then; Ophelia grabbed her by the shoulders, and Star grappled her in a headlock from behind. Jo's face was that of unamusement all the while.
"Why would you do such a thing to that cutie, Annie?" Ophelia wailed.
"Bring back Nyxie now or I will snap your head, Jojo!" Star fumed.
"No." Jo replied flatly.
At this time, a fourth entered the home gym. She was wearing a white mesh oversized sweater, airy and sheer enough to see her bright green sports bra inside, which matched her bright green gym leggings. Her ankles showed as she wore low-top sneakers to finish off the attire, with her blonde hair in her traditional pigtails, as she always wore them.
"There she is! Oooo, lookin' cute, missy! Glad you could join us! You feeling better, hun?" Ophelia said to her.
Alice nodded to her, blushing a bit as she did in response to her question, "I'm fine… Just needed some rest, is all."
"Rest too much, and you'll end up like Miss Grumpy Pants, or even Miss Lazy Shits over here…" Ophelia teased, gesturing a thumb to both Jo and Star.
"Now… Back to what you did to poor Nyxie!"
"Um… Nyxaroth… I mean, Nyx, he's in my Pink Room, so you don't have to feel too bad about him."
In another dimension, Nyx floated in a large, pink room full of cheese puffs. Big and small, the puffs kept appearing one after another in front of him through pops of pink clouds and stars.
"This place…" The reflection of his hollow eyes revealed the glorious dessert snack appearing in multitudes in front of him. "IS AMAZING! WOOO!"
Back in the gym, Alice said shyly, "Anyway… I—I've never really worked out before, so… I'm looking forward to it."
"Great! Let's get started then!" Ophelia said eagerly to all the girls now as she led them all to their own stair-master. The home gym was spacious and let in a lot of light, with the windows reaching from the ceiling to the ground.
After their morning routines, they had a hearty breakfast cooked by Code and enjoyed each other's company for the next two hours.
Code, flabbergasted, yet again by who in the Den was drinking all the milk. It seemed that every time he decided to buy a new batch, he was left with only half a carton. He still blames either Star or Havoc for this every time, never finding out who did it—if it even was them…
At this time, Belle had checked on the Arabella maids and catered to them in their quarters while Greed and Jo got ready to head into the Valley Kingdom.
***
Greed stood in front of the wide open entrance of the Wolves Den with Jo next to him in their Black Wolves attire. Belle stood on the 'inside' in her traditional, exposing Golden Rose outfit.
"I got word from Daz. He said after his meetings today, he will send mages here later today to fix the Wolves Den front entrance and double doors. You should thank him in advance, okay, my Greed?" she said to him, almost motherly.
"I understand," he said back nonchalantly as Jo stood there pigeon-toed with a blue popsicle in her mouth. "So after all that begging, he's not making a personal stop? He's making other mages do a subpar job at what Sirus could do?"
"You know for someone who acts like they don't care half the time, you sure are picky with the way you want a favor done."
He closed his eyes and sighed, "We'll be back before dinner, 'kay, babe?"
Jo perked when she heard the end of that sentence. She thought to herself, confirming Belle's earlier words, We're dating…
"Babe…" she said under her breath; glancing from where she stood with those sparkling emeralds of hers.
"What, Jojo? You need something?" Greed asked.
"Stare…" she voiced the action. Staring at his mouth…
"You listening?" He pressed, but still no response.
Right then, she took the blue popsicle from her mouth, saliva trailing from the tip of it, and shoved it in his mouth.
"Wharr thuu!" He pathetically sounded.
When Belle saw this, her eyes widened, and she quietly squealed to herself in thought while trying to keep a straight face, EEEK! J-J-J-Jo! What are y-you!?
She watched with a lazy, devious look, making a soft smile as she watched Greed choke.
"Sorry. My hand slipped…" She said, turning to Belle with emotionless eyes; carrying on that soft deviant smile like she had read her thoughts.
What is this? Is she… asserting dominance? To me? Belle thought to herself, still shuddering from Jo's sudden act.
"Jojo! What the fuck!?" Greed shouted, popping the popsicle out of his mouth at last.
"Isn't the flavor good?"
"What?"
"The flavor. It's Mist Blueberry from the Mist Flower Fields. I picked them and mixed them to make popsicles. I thought you've always wanted to try this flavor?"
"Is it really?" He ended up saying, the flavor of the popsicle finally settling on his tongue, "Damn, it is pretty good… Can you make me another?"
"Of course. Anything for my GG… Here… just keep this one. I'll make myself another," Jo said, again glancing over to Belle for her reaction. Those stale, haunting green eyes were stabbing into hers.
She is… She absolutely is! Belle thought once more.
At this time, she harnessed her composure, unwavering and solemn. She darted over to where he was without a second thought. Time slowed only for this moment, when Jo and not even Greed knew she was there. She was so fast, and if the sunlight beaming down on us was her spotlight, it was unapologetically hers for the taking.
Smooch! The sound of Belle's kiss on Greed's lips smacked like it was the only sound, pushing out everything else to the side and claiming to be heard by all who witnessed… in this case, Jo.
Her eyes beamed, and her jaw dropped, gaping as she took in the sight of Greed and Belle locking lips. They reflected on her, in contrast to what she had done prior. This was not how it was supposed to go down, she thought. But there she was, so fast—so… beautiful.
So pretty… An accidental thought in Jo's mind, forcibly pushed out from the depths of herself that she almost uttered out loud—at the tip of her tongue.
Belle released her lips from his. Her saliva lingered from her release, connecting them.
"Let's go already… You lovebirds are making me queez…" Jo said, pulling his arm, separating him from Belle. She led the way, dragging him behind, grumbling to herself all the while.
When she looked back to Belle, she stood there playfully with her hand over her mouth, softly concealing her true intentions from Greed but not to her.
"Make sure you come back before dinner… I'll have dessert ready in your quarters after…" Belle said lastly, wanting Jo to hear every word.
She did not just imply—
"You know what that means," Belle added, like it was her who could read her thoughts.
Jo ground her teeth. Her eyes, where she once displayed those lazy emerald greens, turned into a pale white out of smitten rage along with a tightened forehead. As she stomped out with her arm still locked on Greed's, she huffed to herself and then to him like he had some fault in all of this.
"Hmm, that was a good flavor…" Belle said to herself, her hand still daintily over her mouth as she saw them out.
***
Greed:
Once we were within Valley Kingdom walls, Jo and I took the detour route to the Arcane King's castle, checking out vendors and shops along the way. She even tried on some clothes at some apparel shops, and I was forced to give my opinions.
She valued my opinion with her sense of style for some odd reason—I hardly thought my opinion on the matter was worth anything. If she had really wanted style advice, she'd ask Ophelia or Star, but mine was the one she wanted… We were early anyway, so I guess this was one way to pass the time.
Jo was surprisingly awake and full of energy despite her usual disinterested attitude. Much like Havoc, Jo possessed two sides to her personality. She was either extremely tired and sleepy, or possessed with energy that she absolutely had to burn no matter what. It was just the opposite of his—with Havoc sleepy and sarcastic in the morning to noon, and then hyper and brazen in the afternoon to night; Jo was hyper-focused during the morning and exhausted before noon until night. I went on a mission with both of them once, and they basically switched personalities throughout the day.
Jo was an anomaly that was naturally born with more mana and magic as an infant than even a Captain from another Guild—and dare I say, she potentially even matches Belle's level right now. Before Alice came into the picture, Jo was the youngest and was called the prodigy of the Black Wolves.
Her origins were unknown. Aside from the time Asura had me recruit her at a town in the Sky jurisdiction because of what she had done there… Since then she has become a nice edition to our misfit crew. And in terms of outcast, she was of an endangered breed called Dragonkin.
When word got around to the Arcane King about her strength, he made her one of his select mages. Now she goes on high-ranking solo missions on behalf of the Kingdom, which she gets paid handsomely for as well. If anything, the reason we weren't completely dead broke as a Guild was because of her.
We were here today to report back from one of those missions. And for some reason, the Arcane King had requested to see me as well…
"GG, you're spacing out again. You need some sugar?" Jo asked, holding out her blue popsicle at me as we finally proceeded to the Arcane King's castle after many detours.
"No, I'm fine. Just chillin'. Don't mind me, okay?" I replied, releasing my view of the Valley's sky.
"I can tell when you're 'just chillin' and when something is really bugging you. I've studied your attitude quite thoroughly, you should know…"
I tilted my head slightly to her and raised my brow in response.
"For example, when you're 'just chillin', the direction of your face is forward, you have this expressionless, nonchalant look on your face, your hands are in your pockets with your thumbs hanging out of them, and you have certain swagger when you walk that says 'fuck off, or get fucked'—to which I just leave you alone,"—she blushed and looked away with the popsicle on her lips, making a puffed expression with her cheeks—"and when you have something on your mind, which is clearly bugging you, you look up at the sky and remain there, your hands are in your pockets fully, and your demeanor says 'I'm not paying attention, and there's nothing you can do about it'." She composed herself and finally withdrew the popsicle to her mouth, speaking in a bit of a muffled tone with it there, "That's my assessment of you at least."
I smirked at her, put a hand to her head, and patted gently. When I did this, she made a small noise—like a peep—and blushed even more now than she had already been, "You're very observant. That's my Jojo."
She swatted my hand away and snapped, "D-D-Don't you get friendly with me now, you fuckin nerd! You have a girlfriend now, don't you?"
"Belle? Yeah, what about it?"
She flustered and misinterpreted what I had said, "Stupid… So, that's the game you're gonna play? Am I just… a side-thing?"
"What?"
"It's nothing, forget about it." She ended, realizing I had no idea what she was getting at.
"All I did was pat your head… And speaking of side… I'm just grateful to have you by my side. That's all." A light smile followed my words in her direction.
"S-S-Stop doing that!"
"Doing what? I'm just your awkward big bro," I tilted my head and looked at her with soft eyes. I had no idea the effect it had on her… She whipped her head back dramatically, completely flustered like that gesture alone was enough to send her off.
"GG, please don't look at me like that ever again…" she said, turning her head away from the sight of me—red as could be.
"Geez… Now I'm confused. Here I am just being nice for once, and you throw it away like it's nothing. Is this what my kindness has amounted to?"
"Your kindness!?"
"All I've ever been was cool to you, and now you're rejecting me—just like everyone else…"
"Are you gaslighting me!?"
We went on like this until we finally arrived to the Arcane King's castle. The huge white and gold doors opened for us with escort mages ready to lead us to him. The grand hallway, crisp with its black and gold intricate floor design, which resembled thunderclouds, leading to the room where we had the Kingdom's Guild meeting. And the room next to it where we fought Syemore… It was all pristine as if that battle had never happened and the walls and ceilings were never destroyed. Curious, given that Sirus had his Assembly magic taken from him… ever since the Arcane King had come back, things were looking a bit too "back to normal".
We walked past the grand hallway, deeper into the castle where I had never been, and were guided to large, matte-black double doors. The color was different from the white and gold of the rest of the castle and more closely matched the black and gold of the floors. As we arrived, the escort mages stood to the sides, and the doors opened on their own, allowing our entry. The room was dimly lit, only by large candles evenly spaced on the right and left sides of us, trailing all the way to the far end, which was a large gold-and-black table with a black chair, facing away from us. Though I stood there awkwardly, Jo was unfazed. This wasn't her first time coming here after all.
When the matte black doors completed their sway, a voice said, "Well…? You two coming in or do you need escorts to walk you inside as well?"
The voice was male. Young in sound, but with a hint of wisdom that said 'I've seen it all' even without him having to utter the words. He sounded as if he was Asura's age, but the years were good to him and carried an easy weight behind it that wasn't forceful.
He spun around in his large black chair and looked at us with those hazy gray eyes. Eyes experienced with the days like he had never spent a day dwindling and always progressed until he got to where he was—leading all the Valley with merit on his belt. I had almost forgotten that, just the other day, Ryo had told me this meeting would happen—but still… I couldn't shake this odd feeling…
He looked almost unreadable even though he watched us with such a simple, easygoing smile, "Good to see you back JoAnne, First Ace of the Black Wolves." He shifted his eyes to me now, "And you there, Asura's stand in, Acting Captain Greed—I've heard a lot about you in the most recent days." His gaze fixated, unwavering like he was trying to tell me something more… It almost felt like a warning as he said,
"It's a pleasure to formally meet you, at long last."