"You think we're related to Death?" EX asked in a disbelieving, arms crossed over his chest. "How did you jump to that conclusion? Because as much as "child of Death" might say, it can't say anything about blood relation!"

"I know it's true, because it's in official records." Said Doc, holding up a book no one noticed he had. His tone faltered a bit as he explained. "Well "official, official," it says Xuan was blood adopted by Death in his personal diary."

"And the plot thickens!" Solidarity exclaimed, which earned him a light slap in the arm from Netty. "Hey! Am I wrong?"

She huffed. "No, but you can at least consider EX and X and how they're feeling."

They looked over to the two Void's to see EX looking at the painting again, just looking. Not doing anything, not saying anything, just looking at it. Xisuma on the other hand had taken the diary and was now looking through the section Doc had directed him to.

Solidarity looked back at her. "I don't think they even hear me say anything."

And they weren't. Both were two focused on their tasks at hand. Be that productive, or non-productive. "We should have seen this coming." EX finally says, eyes still on the painting.

"In all fairness we really should have."Xisuma agreed as he flipped through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. "Not only are Void's known to get involved in some weird stuff, but add a Grian on to that and it gets timed by a thousand."

"Sounds about right." Netty agreed, the others in the group agreeing with her. "Also shouldn't we be looking for Death?"

"He won't spawn back for two more days." X explained as he finally decided to sit down on one of the armchairs. "So we might as well search this place and learn as much as we can. Plus I really want to know all about my ancestors' time here, from what I've read so far it's quite the experience."

"Really?" EX asked, finally turning away from the painting.

"Yeah! Apparently on his first day there he not only destroyed his room because he was spooked and let out a magic burst, but also managed to spill a potion of poison all over the brewery floor!"

EX let out a bark of laughter, and the rest of the room soon followed along after a few seconds of silence. And once the laughter died down Doc looked back at the painting, and an idea to continue the laughter formed in his head.

"Hey guys, look at me!" He moved to stand just like Xuan Void was in the painting. "And feast upon two right eyeless good looking men!"

"Two? I only see a creeper and a right eyeless good looking man." Bdubs snickered, making a point to hide behind Keralis to avoid the full wrath of Doc's glare.

"Say that to my face you coward!"

And so they were off. Doc chasing Bdubs around the library, Joe playfully tripping them both up if they got too close to where he had migrated to Xisuma's side. Though he soon stopped as the two ran up the stairs and to the second floor.

"How are you feeling?" X asked Joe. By now the other people had left for other parts of the library, Doc and Bdubs still running around the second and third floor (which they somehow hadn't noticed before), leaving the two alone to themselves.

"I'm feeling okay." The poet shrugged, resting his head on the others.

"Don't lie to me Joe." Said Xisuma, tilting his head up, which made Joe move his head, to look at the glasses wearing man. "Anyone who looks can see how you feel about all of this, like it's your fault."

"Why ask if you already know the answer?" He asked, but there was no bite behind it.

X sighed as he moved himself to look face to face with the other properly. "Because I wanted you to come to me yourself. But we're past that I see. Now tell me, how do you really feel?"

"Awful." Breathed out Joe, his hand finding X's to steady himself. "I feel like so much of what's happened could have been avoided had I just told my parents about the vow. Maybe then I could have protected him better. And now he's in Fallacy's hands, and god knows what'll happen to him now."

"We'll save him, don't worry." Xisuma soothed, thumbs rubbing gentle circles on Joe's hands. "And then you can protect him all you want, then we can all protect him."

A shaky sigh left the poet. "I know we will. I can't help but think of what Iskall and Mumbo are going through right now, this is the person they love someone they care so deeply about."

X hummed his agreement. "Yeah, they were both so shattered when we all found out. I don't think they did much but hide away and keep to themselves for the first few days. I mean they were there, but they stayed quiet and mostly closed off." He held onto Joe a little tighter. "I don't ever want to imagine what they're feeling, much less actually feel it."

"And you won't have to." Hummed Joe, running his fingers through X's helmetless hair. "I don't think anyone will ever have to feel it again once we're done."

"That's the plan." Agreed the admin, leaning into the others gentle touch.

The two of them stayed like that until Doc came down and flopped down over X's chair, still panting slightly and completely ruining the moment. All though Xisuma was quick to throw him off, the damage was already done.

"Sorry! Was I interrupting something?" He asked innocently, his crooked grin flashing up at the admin and poet. "Well anyways we found a fancy hallway that we think might lead to where Death will be."

"We also think we might have found blankets and pillows we could use to sleep on." Python added as he walked into the room with a light purple blanket in hand.

"And I have dibs on the dark green one!" Called Bdubs from the second floor, where he was holding a big fluffy green blanket with Keralis holding his own baby blue blankets.

Natty walked out with a big warm gray blanket and handed them to Joe and Xisuma before then also giving them some pillows. Behind her Martyn walked in with a light green blanket, and Solidarity and his yellow blanket followed after. Last in the group was EX, who walked in with a smirk and two bundles. He handed the first to Doc, which was followed by a pillow, and then moved to a different part of the library that was still close by. And Doc's eyes widened as he saw the black felt of the albinos blanket and then looked down at his bundle with wide eyes. "No."

Everyone looked at him curiously, but as soon as they saw the hot pink color they burst out laughing. "No! I thought I said I wanted the black one!"

"Ya snooze you lose!" Bdubs sing-songed, grinning ear from ear. "Should have been faster!"

The creeper hybrid was about to run up the stairs, but decided on just glaring at the builder. "Well at least I break 6' foot! And my blanket is way fluffier than yours!" And he wasn't lying, the pink one was the fluffiest and softest.

"I'm not short!" Cried Bdubs indignantly as he leaned over the railing. "5'10 is a perfectly reasonable height!"

Doc laughed before turning around and burrowing into the blanket, only leaving his dark brown hair out. Soon everyone followed his lead and snores filled the room. At the corner closest to the armchair they'd been sitting at Xisuma and Joe lay curled up with each other, neither asleep and both enjoying the other's company.

"Hey." Joe looked over at Xiusma after the Void spoke up. And with a smile X continued on. "We're close to winning. Just a few more steps and then a bit of planning, and then this'll all be over. We will have him back."

"He won't be better just because we saved him."

"We're Hermits, aren't we?" At the poet's nod he continued on. "And one thing we're good at is solving the impossible and fixing the destroyed. And if we're determined enough to do that, then I'm sure we can be even more determined enough to help Grian through it all."

"Long live the Hermits!" Joe playfully cheered, a smile pulling at his lips. "The family of anyone!"

Xisuma laughed lightly and cheered, "Long live the Hermits!" back which made the poet next to him laugh too. The two happily talked to each other until they both fell asleep huddled together, that night everyone slept soundly and peacefully. With not even a flicker of a bad dream in sight.

I guess you could even say it's Void of negativity.

<Let there be fluff! Let there be fun! Let it be puns. Anyways, I'm back into full swing again! I have all my one shots (au's and angst galore planned there) sorted out and so is chapter 49. and man, I can't believe we're nearly 50 chapters in, or that it's almost been a year since I started this book! Time really does move quick, huh?Anyways, I have to go take out the trash so I'll leave this here now. 

So stay safe and have a wonderful time everyone!>