After yet another near death experience, both at the hands of field artillery, and legitimately walking into a trap set by none other than Lilith. Lily was at a breaking point. Not psychologically, but rather she could no longer deny the fear she felt for Zane the moment he joked about nearly getting his heart removed by a tier V Horde King.
The party was still in the Humvee on the way back to Gravestone when Zane made such a comment about his own life as if it were utterly worthless. And in doing so provoking a strong and unexpected response by Lily, who, while normally quiet about the group affairs, outright shouted that Zane's dark sense of humor towards his own existence wasn't funny in the slightest.
"That's not funny Zane! Your life is worth more than you think! Have you ever thought how any of us would feel if you got yourself killed like that!?!"
By now everyone else was already well accustomed to Zane's sense of self degradation, expected when it came to humor. They thought nothing of his remarks, and Elena even joined in with some playful ribbing, saying how Zane thought he was so tough after becoming a Horde King, but practically shit himself in the face of true power.
And it was because they all understood Zane's sense of humor, and how it was a coping mechanism for how he just nearly died. The other women in the group all stared at Lily in surprise when she expressed such a serious sentiment.
Zane was driving, and thus could not look back at the woman who appeared much younger than she really was. But he could tell by the reflection in the rear-view mirror that she was pouting while crossing her arms.
Of course, Zane was still trying to calm himself after coming face to face with a powerful entity, one that could probably make him lose his life with a single thought. And because of this, his response was not as calm or rational as it normally would be.
Instead, he outright interrogated Lily in front of her peers, and with a particularly hostile tone in his voice.
"What the hell is your problem, Lily? We take you into this group, and treat you as a friend. No dare I say family. We provide the greatest sanctuary we can offer and for the most part you act indifferent. Always keeping yourself at arm's length from us.
Which was fine at first when we barely knew each other, hell I was cautious of your intentions for approaching us as well. But we have fought side by side for months now. We live together; we eat together, and we sleep just a few rooms down from one another.
Your treatment towards me these past few weeks has been as if I don't even exist. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me! So why now? Why do you suddenly care when I make a joke about nearly losing my life?"
Elena who was sitting next to Zane was about to try and calm Zane down, when Olivia grabbed her shoulder from the back seat and shook her head. She wore an expression which silently conveyed the sentiment that this was good for both Zane and Lily.
And naturally, Lily became flustered over Zane's outright attack on her. Why was he yelling at her when she seemed to be the only one who actually cared that he almost died just now? It was aggravating, so much so that she began to tremble and cry a little.
"I mean.... I have no problem with it, if you don't. Besides, who is going to arrest me under suspicion of being a lolicon? The police?"
Lily couldn't help but wipe the tears from her eyes as she broke out into laughter at Zane's crude joke. The man outright admitted her appearance was unbefitting of her age, and would probably get him in trouble for being with her in the old world. Which was her deepest insecurity, and yet he did so in a way that helped her ease the pain she felt towards it.
In between her fit of giggles, she couldn't help but express her thoughts about the man. One that caused all the other women in the car to break out into a smile.
"You are such an asshole, you know that?"
Upon seeing the young woman engage in playful banter with him once more, rather than continue to avoid him, and her feelings towards him. Even Zane could help but chuckle as he retorted to the woman's remarks with another joke.
"Really? And here I thought I was the quiet kid all this time...."
Of course, Lily had a witty retort to this, which she expressed in between her laughter. The joke she made ended up making all the other women in the vehicle laugh along with her.
"You would be the quiet kid, you teenage edge lord!"
A scoff which feigned offense came from Zane's mouth as he pulled up towards the gates of Gravestone, be made one last remark before being waved into the settlement. One that helped end whatever tension had existed between him and Lily permanently.
"Edgelord? That's going a bit too far, don't you think? I always considered myself more of like that of cringey anime protagonist!"
Lily laughed so hard at this response that she let out a slight snort. Something which caused everyone to mock her. But even then, she couldn't help but get in one last jab as the armored Humvee they all drove in parked inside the mansion's garage.
"You even look like one! You stereotypical anime protagonist looking mother fucker!"
Ultimately, the group would retire within the confines of the Bunker Complex for the remainder of the night in a much better mood than they had been in when they escaped Elysium. Whatever come their way, they were a happy family.