Ford fell from a great height, the air rushing past her ears defining her. The ground came toward her at an incredible speed, and before she hit the ground, she woke with a start. She was breathing heavily, her body glistening with a cold sweat, and her heart racing. She looked at the time, it was one in the morning, and she decided to get dressed and go outside to get some fresh air.

She stood outside her tent and took in a deep breath of fresh air. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Lilly sitting by the fire with some ants in her hands. Ford made her way over and sat next to her. Lilly turned and gave her a tired smile, “Havin’ trouble sleepin’?” she asked.

“Yeah. Just a nightmare.”

Lilly nodded and asked, “Wha’ happened in it?”

“I fell.”

“You had a bad dream abou’ fallin’?”

“It was a long fall. Dreams like that are why I’m afraid of heights.”

“Ye’re afraid of somthin’?” Lilly chortled, “I never would’ve guessed.”

“Hey, I have fears too.”

“Like wha’?”

Ford rubbed the back of her neck nervously, “Heights and spiders,” she finally blurted out.

“Ha! Heigh’s and spiders?! Tha’s hilarious.”

“Hey, don’t make fun. The fear of falling from a great height is a legitimate concern, and spiders are creepy.” Lilly continued to laugh then Ford asked, “Alright, laugh it up. What are you afraid of?”

Lilly stopped laughing and blushed, the tips of her ears turning red, “Drowin’,” she mumbled.

“You’re afraid of drowning?” Ford asked incredulously.

“Basically swimin’ in general. Any sufficien’ly large body of wa’er.”

“And why are you afraid of drowning in water?” Ford asked enjoying herself.

“Because I nearly drowned as a kid. So, my fear is justified unlike yer fear of heights, which came from bad dreams,” Lilly defended herself.

Ford nodded and after a moment of silence said, “In my world, when you have a bad dream about falling, according to psychology, it means I’m afraid of losing control.”

“So, yer not afraid of fallin’?”

“Oh, I am, but I’m also afraid of losing control of my life. I guess. Though I think that ship has already sailed.”

“Probably,” Lilly chortled, “why are you only having these dreams now?”

Ford looked down at the ground, appearing solum, “The adventurers caught up with us two days ago when we first stopped to level grind,” Ford said, looking at her shaking hands as she remembered the feelings from that day, “I killed them, all of them. I showed no mercy as I slaughtered the people who got injured in my first attacks or those who tried to surrender.”

Lilly scooted closer to her and said, “So, ye killed some people. So, wha’? ye’re just goin’ to give up? Let them kill you?”

“No, I wouldn’t-”

“Then there’s nothin’ ye could’ve done differen’ly. Ye’re still goin’ to wish to brin’ back the people who died, righ’?”

“Yes, but-”

“But nothin’. You did the righ’ thin’.”

“But I enjoyed killing them!” Ford blurted out, “I thought it was fun. Just another game to play. When I finished, I couldn’t believe what I did, but thinking back on it, I enjoyed killing those people,” Ford fell silent for a minute, “Does…does that make me a monster?”

Lilly wrapped her arms around Ford and whispered into her ear, “It doesn’ make ye a monster.”

“Why not?!”

“Because you are in control of your body righ’ now and not trin’ to kill everythin’ in sigh’.” Lilly said, forcing Ford to look her in her beautiful light blue eyes.

Ford nodded, closed her eyes, and pressed her forehead against Lilly’s. They sat there like that for a couple of minutes, enjoying each other’s company. Then an urge stuck Ford, she couldn’t explain it, but she opened her eyes to look into Lilly’s again. Without a word between them, Ford kissed her, and she kissed back. Lilly’s lips felt soft and supple, she tasted like strawberries for some reason.

Ford pulled her in closer feeling her tongue wrap around Lilly’s, before she could go further Lilly pulled away pushing Ford back. Ford looked at her, slightly confused with the heavily blushing Elf, then she said, “I-I got to wake Gimble up for his watch.”

“Ah, right. Of course, go. Get some sleep,” Ford said letting go of Lilly and feeling her face burning red.

Lilly got up and left in a hurry, woke up Gimble, who slept in a granite tent Max made for him, then disappeared in her tent. A few moments later Gimble wandered over and sat next to her. He leaned over and asked, “Is Lilly alright? She looked really flushed when she woke me.”

Ford nodded, “Yeah, she’s fine.”

“Are you alright? You look really flushed too.”

“I’m fine too. Thanks for asking,” Ford answered, feeling her blush growing. Gimble nodded, pulled out his Grimoire, and began to read. Ford almost stood up, but stopped when the weight of a small metal head rested itself on her lap. She smiled and began to scratch behind Ace’s ears deciding to stay up a little bit longer.

***

Samael’s wine class broke in her hand as she lost control of her grip, watching the screen, “It-what-I thought! Is it happening?!!” she managed to stammer out.

“I think it is,” Tanashi groaned.

“Oh, don’t be like that! Love triangles are always so juicy, don’t you all agree?!”

The rest of the Gods mumbled mixed answers, then Drake said, “I never liked them. They always get… messy.”

“I would have to agree,” Shurma said, “I still remember the mutilation one.”

Samael shivered as she recalled that particular scene, then Zee said, “What? I was young then.”

In an effort to change the subject Samael said, “Well there’s got to be someone who agrees with me. Finn, you like those, right?” Finn tapped his fingers together not answering, “Finn! You like those, right?”

“Well, I…sometimes like them,” he admitted hesitantly, “just not this particular one.”

“WHAT?! WHY NOT?!?”

“Well, it’s-” Finn sighed, “I just don’t see it. I don’t see what either of them like about each other.”

Samael crossed her arms, puffed out her cheeks, and leaned back in her throne, “Well, then we’ll just have to see how it works out.”

After a few moments of silence Guargen said, “I like the love triangle.”

“I know right!!” Samael said excitedly looking over at the giant with a big smile.

***