The night passed uneventfully and come morning, both men were well rested even after only a few hours of sleep each. William was even more thankful for the encounter with the noble after a night in that bed. The two packed up their camp and continued on their way, the morning chirping of birds a symphony in the canopy. The smell of earth permeated the air as they walked, and the sun’s god rays kissed their skin when they passed through.
The two spent the walk chatting about small things and William made sure not to mention any fights in the past or future in their conversation as he didn’t want to risk John getting emotional again over the previous day. It was about noon when the duo returned to Greenwell. William didn’t wait to call his party together to explain the happenings of the past day to them.
Jane, after hearing about what John did, walked over and patted him on the shoulder as she said, “It was them or you John, you did what you could and the pair of you lived for it. Give yourself some credit.”
John was dumbstruck red, something that William thought he’d never get to see.
“Um...thanks, Jane, I...killed people and you didn’t judge me for it. That...means a lot,” John replied, struggling to find his words.
“When you compare yourself to him, your actions are a drop in the pond,” Jane said, pointing to William.
William put on a shocked face as he said, “You wound me dear sister, I merely did what any noble hero would do.”
All of them, Wallace included, gave him questioning looks.
William sighed, “Okay, so maybe the way I went around it wasn’t the...purest, but hey, you can’t argue with results. I’m like the bandit pest control service.”
“I honestly think you see it that way with how you wade through them,” Jane replied, rolling her eyes at him.
Wallace listened to the rest of the events and had a frown at it’s conclusion, prompting William to say, “You have something on your mind don’t you?”
The war veteran looked at William who was holding Stacey’s hand and nodded, seeming to consider his words before he said, “This noble and the people in yellow. Their group could be dangerous, more so to us than the bandits. We should probably avoid explaining that particular encounter to the locals, just in case it leads to future trouble.”
Everyone agreed with the sentiment just as Armine approached and grabbed onto William’s other arm.
“Welcome back you two, we were starting to get worried,” She said, with a relaxing tone to William’s ears.
William smiled at her and said, “No need to worry about me. Worry about anyone that tries to take me out.”
She quirked an eyebrow up at that, “Why would I worry about strangers?”
“Uh...don’t worry, it’s a sentiment from our world.”
“Your world sounds weird.”
William chuckled at that, finding her confusion slightly amusing.
Everyone eventually went about their business with Wallace and William staying behind to quietly discuss things.
“Good to have you back, Lad. When you were gone, some bandits attacked the logging site, but the group defending was able to push them back. It seems that the team formations we used are effective in open battle at least, but I can’t say for how well the tactic scales up when battles get bigger. Three of ours were injured, and two bandits were killed. I’d call that a good result for an untested group. Normally three injured would be concerning, but with healing magic now existing, death seems like the only real concern.”
William felt both relief and concern. The bandits they fought were nowhere near the logging site, so overall bandit activity must be getting higher. He was greatly relieved that another group had made their first kills as it would harden them further for what was to come. He was still concerned and couldn’t shift his bad feeling.
“Wallace, was their anything odd about the bandit attack?”
The older man took a few moments, lost in thought, but nodded in the affirmative and replied, “It seemed to happen right around when the defending groups switched shifts. If it wasn’t for the change happening a few minutes earlier due to decent punctuality, things may have gone worse.”
It was sounding like William’s concern had came to life and so he decided to tell Wallace about his suspicions of the Duncans. William’s explanation of his theory to his surprise didn’t shake Wallace.
“I had my own suspicions, Lad. We can’t do anything with them for the moment unfortunately, we have no conclusive proof,” Wallace finally said.
“Killing them would solve the problem.” William thought briefly before he forced those thoughts from his head. He wouldn’t become that ruthless, at least not until he had more provocation or reason.
“Well, let’s just keep an eye on them for now, though if it does turn out that they sold us out, I’ll get rid of them,” William said, conviction and finality in his tone.
The pair didn’t converse for much longer as Wallace wanted to get back to doing leadership things. William asked if he should shadow Wallace for the rest of the day to learn more, but the older man shook his head and told William to go and get some proper rest. William did want to go and set his new bed up in his shed.
William got back and set up the new bed. He was pleased to see it set up, but a little bit annoyed at the lack of space in the shed for anything else. His gear and that of his girls would fit on the floor fine with them able to move around a little, but the bed took up most of the real estate in the room.
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He stripped down to just his pants and lay down on the bed, smiling at the sensation of magically enhanced fluffiness caressing his skin. He heard the door open and close again as he watched Stacey enter with a warm smile and an excited look at the soft bed.
William chuckled slightly and patted the space next to him. Stacey didn’t hang around before she stripped down to her undergarments and got into bed with him. She cuddled up into him and he ran his fingers through her hair as she clutched his arm and chest.
“I worried about you, William. I feared that you were hurt, you and John both. Trouble always seems to find you and I fear that one day the trouble will be too great.”
He kissed her on the forehead making her sigh contentedly as he replied, “I don’t intend to let myself stagnate in ability. Once this bandit stuff is done, I’m gonna check out a higher level region and would like to take our party with me for it. Staying here will stunt my growth in levels.”
“We, as in the rest of us aren’t strong enough yet for that though William, and I don’t want to hinder you.”
He stroked her hair at that and she leaned into his hand, enjoying the touch. He didn’t see his party as a hindrance in the slightest and was just hoping to power level them in a new region. He supposed that he could just do that in the region that they were presently in, and the upcoming battle would probably contribute a few levels to the survivors, making the process go by rather quickly. He could wait for that long at least.
“You and everyone else will get more strength, just as I did and will continue to do. You can lean on me until you feel strong enough. Think of the adventures we can have out in the wider world Stacey.”
Stacey smiled at that and nuzzled into William further. It was nice, cathartic comfort.
She tilted her head up to look at him as she said, “New sights and new adventure is exciting, and I smile thinking about what we can see and do. Spending that time with you would be bliss, minus monsters, harsh terrain, and long journeys of course.”
William smirked at the honest response, finding it quite adorable. She gave a faux grump at his expression before chuckling quietly into his chest.
They lay there in silent comfort for several minutes until William broke the silence, “What made you want to be with me?”
It was something that had been on his mind for a while. He wasn’t complaining, but was curious at the reason. He also wondered why it only came about when Armine started getting bold.
She looked at him warmly before laying her head atop his chest, saying nothing.
He started to panic, worrying that he blew it. She giggled then, confusing the fuck out of him.
“I can feel your heart beating faster. Sorry if I scared you. It’s a long story. May take some time to explain,” She said, running her other hand in circles on his mid-riff.
“I’ve got the time now. We’re also less likely to be disturbed by anyone, the sooner we start.”
“Okay, well...it never started out that way,” She said, seeming to shift slightly, as if nervous.
“I remember over the years of being friends with Jane, seeing you around your house as a loner, distancing yourself from everyone. The truth is...I understood that sentiment, having been a loner for a long time.”
William was shocked and ashamed at how little he knew about Stacey. He mentally cursed at himself. He put his arm tighter around her shoulder and side so that his hand rested around her hip.
Stacey shifted to fit his hand better before continuing, “I was an orphan and taken in by the Smiths. Life was good until I turned ten. My foster parents were the best and my true family. I loved being their kid and it all went well...until it didn’t.”
William sensed a tragic backstory coming up and he was not proven wrong.
“They died in a car crash. A big truck flipped in the lane beside their car, crushing them and the car. Instant.”
She looked up again, wiping a tear from her eye as she brought the hand on his mid-riff up to his face, cupping the cheek.
“roll on a few months and I meet Jane, now living on my own having the house managed by a government scheme. She befriended me as I apparently reminded her of you as being a loner. She wanted to fix that.”
Guilt hit William then, the guilt of abandoning his sister in all but name. He didn’t deserve her, but would do what he could now to build a better future.
Stacey paused briefly, seeming to be lost for words.
She found them about half a minute later, “It always upset me to hear people bad mouth you for being different, not fitting into the norm. Jane disliked it too for a while, but at some point, she just didn’t try to defend you.”
William saw her eyes searching his. It was most likely to see if he was angry, upset, or indifferent. William just sighed and looked up at the ceiling for a pregnant moment.
William eventually spoke up again, “I don’t fault her, or my parents. Not any more, anyways. I used to, but since being thrust into this world, I get to live the video game fantasy…somewhat at least, and get to bond with my family. I can’t say I’m truly over it, but we have all the time in the world now. No nine to fives, no expectations, just existence and striving to make something of ourselves in this new world.”
Stacey caressed his cheek with her soft, silken hand as she smiled and replied, “That did make me happy to see, the healing with your family I mean. I think that there was always a kindred connection between us, even if we never spoke. A loner to loner respect if you will. Then when you came here and suffered what you did, only to keep us all together, I felt something else. A warmth, drawn to you. I felt safe near you, and feel safe still.”
The two were holding each other tight now, feeling each other’s warm skin pressed together, their breathing a constant of warm air touching the other’s skin.
Stacey curled up further, clutching him firmly as she whispered, “Safe like this.”
William kissed her forehead then decided to ask his second question, “Why did you wait until Armine made a move on me and not sooner?”
Stacey laughed deep, the mirth dripping from her voice.
It took a few moments for Stacey to calm herself enough to say, “Honestly? Because I didn’t want to be second to her. I admit, that I found the whole idea of sharing you irritating at first, but then when we...started, something awoke in me, and I got excited. The best part being I get to have you. I don’t mind if you want to share our bed with other’s just so long as I’m your number one, the one who has the majority of your heart.”
William felt some relief at the words. Polygamy was apparently commonplace in GAEA, but he always wondered how someone from the Earthen norms, particularly western norms would truly feel about it. William had fantasized about a harem and had long felt that if someone had enough care and passion to share it between other partners, then why shouldn’t they? The issue with the concept was the feelings of parties B and C not liking the other’s existence. In this case, he was lucky that it turned out Stacey liked the feel of a lady as much a she did. Armine had explained it one night that many people in GAEA didn’t have a sexual preference between male and female. William didn’t expect to get so lucky with another Earthling. On a side note, it was weird as fuck thinking of them as Earthlings, like they were the aliens. Then again, they technically were.
“You are my number one, Stacey. Even more so after what you’ve said. I’m lucky to have you, and I’m sorry for any future upsets I may accidentally cause.”
She chuckled slightly and kissed him on the lips before pulling back and saying, “That’s the nature of relationships right? You have me, I’m yours...and temporarily Armine’s when she puts that tongue to use.”
She had a bashful and sheepish look on her face, prompting William to reply, “Yeah a real tongue...twister.”
He winced a the joke but Stacey giggled and slapped his shoulder lightly. He didn’t expect her to then roll on top of him and kiss him again, pausing only to say, “How about some alone time with just us?”
It wasn’t a question, as they lustfully gazed at each other before giving the bed a proper, catholic christening.