A giddy energy washed through her, because Val had just overpowered Tavras in a magnificent way. If she could do this to a god as strong as Tavras, maybe she could recreate this effect against a lot of other gods and goddesses too.

From behind, Foofy picked himself and came over with a snarl.

"Off," Val snapped, though her tone lightened at once.

Moments ago, Foofy had been in excruciating pain because he had risen to Val's defense. If he still wanted to growl at Tavras as he slept, then he probably deserved that.

"Good Foofy." Val took to praising him instead.

In the end, she wormed her way out from Tavras's head and gently let him rest along the floor. The tile was hard—an unwelcoming place for anyone to sleep. Glancing around the empty apartment, they did not exactly own anything to make the floor more comfortable.

Hastily, Val rummaged through the things that Tavras had bought. It was all food-related stuff which was to be expected of him. While he napped, Val should make herself useful and buy some more things that they would need.

Though she did not want to violate him in his sleep, she quietly hovered over his unconscious body with the intent to rob him. Her hands dared to pat over his pockets to find where he had put his money. The fact that pockets were located at an intimate spot along the hips only made her feel creepier.

As professionally as possible, she found what she was looking for and slipped some cash back into his pocket. In the event that Tavras woke up while she was out and wanted to go somewhere that required money, Val did not want to make him navigate another trip to the bank.

"Come on, Foofy," Val whispered. "We are going shopping."

The door shut quietly behind them, and the two of them went out on the town alone. Purchasing any pieces of furniture was beyond her, but she could get some basic things that they would want for tonight. Namely, Val went out to buy pillows and blankets.

Just as they had taken Foofy into the bank, coffee shop, and convenience store, Val kept Foofy with her everywhere that she went. Not many people said anything, and those who did were shut up with a short, "He's a divine beast." Val beamed at how the people on the Summit could respect a divine dog traveling alongside his immortal human.

At any rate, she purchased the bedding that she had desired and headed back.

In the apartment, she found Tavras still sound asleep on the floor. Tiptoeing over to him, Val knelt beside him. Today, she was being creepy far too many times around Tavras. Despite that, she was just trying to be nice, so she put a new pillow under his head and also spread a blanket over him.

"Sleep tight." Val held out a hand to pat the side of Tavras's head, but her fingers stopped in midair.

Touching him like that would be inappropriate. Despite how attracted she felt to him in his helpless sleep, she already knew that he did not return her affections. He would not want her to touch him in any way, least of all in a sweet, caring manner.

Val leaned against the counter, since she decided to hang out on the floor here with Tavras. It was her fault for putting him to sleep, so it would feel weird to just leave him here. Besides, she did not know exactly what to do here in New Gate. Val enjoyed catching up with everything on her phone, though she often glanced up to take in Tavras with the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Every look that she stole of him sleeping made her feel guilty and all the creepier.

Her imagination wandered to places that it should not. If only her feelings for Tavras were mutual, she would want to nestle alongside him, maybe even hold him. Just because he was an old god, that did not make Tavras impermeable to the stressors of life. Since the oil spill in Gon, he was not himself anymore. It was evident that he could use some support right now, but sadly, Val could not be there for him in that way.

As if to scold Val for her naughty thoughts, Foofy laid down between them and stared at Tavras intensely.

"He is fine," Val whispered to Foofy. "Tavras is not going to try to hurt us anymore."

Foofy did not let up his watch.

Time passed as she continued to scroll on her phone. When the afternoon aged and Val got hungry, she made food for herself and scooped Foofy a cup of kibble. It was much later in the evening when Tavras stirred. The sky outside had turned dark by the time that he awoke.

"What?" he started to ask. Propping himself up on one elbow, he asked, "Why am I on the floor?"

"I kind of put you to sleep."

"Oh. That's right." Tavras looked at the pillow beneath his head and the blanket that he was wrapped in for some long, scrutinizing seconds. "Where did this come from?"

"I went shopping."

"I see." A long while passed before Tavras said, "Thanks, Val."

"Yeah, of course. You're welcome." Her hips rocked on the floor as she shifted her weight awkwardly.

Tavras laid his head back against the pillow and tugged the blanket closer to his chin. "Also, thank you for not fighting me before. I have been a bigger ass than usual as of late. I do not take any joy in killing mortals, yet here I am, one of the vengeful gods." His voice trailed off, and he did not say anything else.

Val did not know what to say to him. The difference between herself and Tavras could not feel any more stark. She really did not understand him or what he must be mulling over in his head right now.

The silence between them was stifling, so she made herself say something. "You know, if you do not like killing people, you could just not do it."

"Wow. Thank you for your insightful analysis. I never would have thought of that on my own."

Val scrunched up her brow and pouted her lips. "It really is that simple."

"Maybe in your mind, it is."

Another pause held between them which marked the end of that conversation. They would get nowhere talking about Tavras's decisions, aside from picking a second fight if either of them agitated the other enough. Instead of going down that path, Val asked, "Would you like me to make something for dinner?"

"No. Your cooking tastes bad."

"Hey! That was when I was stuck cooking over a fire. I can cook perfectly well in a kitchen, thank you very much."

Tavras got up from the floor and started walking away with his pillow and blanket in his arms. One end of the blanket dragged on the floor, in part. "You can make whatever you want for yourself. I am not particularly hungry. I just want to sleep more." He moved to the short hallway in their apartment which branched into three rooms: two bedrooms and a bathroom. "Did you pick a bedroom already?"

"No," Val said. During the day, she had scouted out the entire apartment with Foofy, but neither of them had laid claim to anything.

"In that case, I pick this one." Tavras opened the nearest door which happened to be the bathroom. He started to walk inside but quickly realized his error. "Nope. That would be the bathroom. As much as I like the water fixtures, I am not going to sleep in there." At his own joke, Tavras could not even manage a lame chuckle. Despite keeping up with his silly disposition, his voice lacked its usual, lively cadence. He moved to the next closest door and said shortly, "Goodnight, Val."

"Goodnight, Tavras. Sleep well." She lifted her hand in a little wave which was lost on Tavras.

The door shut after him rather firmly, just short of a slam.

"Well Foofy, I guess we should get some sleep too." Val picked herself up from the floor and smiled down to him weakly.

Foofy trotted after her as loyal as always.

Normal people might want to stay in a hotel for a few days while they looked for an apartment and moved some things into their new place. For both Tavras and Val, having a legitimate roof over their heads was a vast improvement to the island that they had lived on before this. She kind of wondered if Tavras would prioritize buying furniture tomorrow, or if they would continue to live in a barren apartment.

In the other empty bedroom, Val chose a place on the floor to sleep. She curled into the blanket that she had purchased for herself, and Foofy lied down close at her side. Together, they shared the pillow, partly because Val tugged and pulled on him until she got him to snuggle closer to her.

"Goodnight Foofy."

The Dobie took on a steady pattern of breathing almost immediately. He seemed to be sound asleep, while Val lay here awake, unsettled and worried about Tavras.