After getting her pizza, Aura sat down next to Fenix, who was chatting with Caster,
"Should we meet up here again tomorrow?" Fenix asked.
Caster took a bite of his pizza before replying,
"That sounds fun, but I should see if Mirror wants to do something first."
Fenix seemed to understand and started eating too.
"I played a game in Mirror's room," Aura blurted. Fenix glanced over at her, making her heart flutter nervously.
"It has a cool feature. We should play it together!" she continued.
He finished chewing, then drank some water.
"Wouldn't you have more fun without me?" he mumbled.
His statement left her dumbfounded, and before she could reply, Shade said,
"Alright, this is my favorite movie I'm about to play, so if you don't like it... Shut up, I didn't ask for your opinion."
The lights dimmed, then a movie was projected onto the back wall of the room.
Aura bit her lip, and her stomach twisted, making it hard for her to finish her food.
The movie was full of explosions, car chases, and jokes that made everyone else laugh. Aura barely noticed any of it.
Around the time that the credits began rolling, Panther strolled into the room.
"Oh... everyone is here... I thought it was still just the guys," she commented.
The lights flickered on, and Aura frowned at her, so Panther put her hands up defensively and said,
"Don't get the wrong idea, I was just bored and wanted to ask Shade to do some training with me."
After Aura turned away, Panther sighed with relief, and Shade walked over to her.
"Training? I thought you were looking forward to a break more than anyone," he commented quietly.
Panther fidgeted and stared at the floor.
"... I know, but... I got so used to training with you," she muttered shyly. Shade couldn't think of a response and simply stared at her.
"...You're... confusing," he stated in a low tone. It was at that point that Flow and Veil finally arrived.
"Look who's finally back!" Caster shouted cheerfully. Veil laughed and walked over. He held Flow's hand, and she trailed behind him quietly.
"Sorry. Things took longer than planned," Veil explained as he sat next to Caster and tugged Flow down into his lap.
"It's fine, I'm just glad you're here," Caster replied, with a wide grin. "Mirror told me you and Aura unlocked a special transformation in Tinka's game."
Veil nodded,
"Yeah, and the next time you have time, I think you should try entering the game at max power," he suggested.
"She mentioned that you had a theory about that. I would do it tomorrow, but the backlash effects from powering up might linger too long," Caster commented, while folding his arms and rocking on the chair's back legs.
Veil sighed.
"I agree we should wait," he mumbled while hugging Flow's waist and pulling her in close.
She squeaked softly. Trying to distract herself from the sudden closeness, she joined the conversation.
"I c-could heal you," she offered softly.
Caster laughed loudly.
"No way!" he chuckled a little more then added, "We can't have one of the healers tired because I did something stupid like going all out to play a video game."
She frowned.
"But thanks! After we finish our first mission, we can try that," Caster said in a friendly voice.
Flow's expression softened.
"How did someone like you end up with such a kind girlfriend?" Caster pointed out. Flow stiffened, worried about how Veil would react, but then he laughed and replied,
"I know, right?"
"Flow, I just want to tell you something. I've been friends with Veil for ten years, and I've never seen him be so affectionate with anyone," he closed his eyes before saying, "I know he can be a lot sometimes, but as his friend, I'm glad he's found someone he cares about... well, you know romantically. For a while there, I thought it would never happen."
Flow's pulse accelerated, and Veil huffed.
"I'm barely twenty, isn't it a little early to have given up on me?" he noted.
Caster shrugged, then his smile faltered, and he leaned in to whisper,
"Also... why did you brainwash Shade?"
Veil snorted from trying to hold back his laughter.
Flow blinked in surprise.
"What happened to Shade?" she muttered.
"I... just stopped him from saying anything that you might find embarrassing... I was satisfied hearing your true feelings, and I didn't want to push it," Veil explained, but Flow still struggled to understand what he meant, "Shade! Come here!" Veil yelled.
He was still talking to Panther near the exit, but he stepped away without any reluctance.
Once he was close enough, Veil looked into Shade's eyes and said,
"I release you, but don't say anything unnecessary. If Flow gets upset over something you say, I won't stand for it."
The pressure in his skull disappeared, and Shade sighed with relief.
"Don't worry, I won't say anything. I promise," he assured, then he swiftly returned to Panther.
"... Did you have to do that to him?" Caster commented. Veil turned his gaze to his friend and rested his head against Flow's back.
"I got everything I needed from a single sentence. I only wanted a little chaos. It wouldn't have benefited anyone else to know what he heard."
Caster rocked his chair a few more times before replying,
"I guess I don't need to know, I'm just glad Pierce didn't reprimand you or anything."
"Why would he?" Veil inquired, and Flow flinched, knowing the answer.
"... Well... I know you well enough to know you've done something. There's not a force on Earth that can stop you from doing whatever you want," Caster answered smoothly.
Vision sat on the other side of Veil and flicked his forehead.
Veil furrowed his brow, Vision smirked in return.
"You should have stopped by before running off to your girlfriend. We got worried," the elder brother remarked. Veil pouted and contemplated for a moment.
"... Alright, my bad," he replied with only a hint of bitterness.
Aura followed Fenix as he got another slice of pizza.
"Could you come to my room after this?" she whispered. Fenix hummed.
"That... would be risky. I'm trying to give you space, and being alone with you in a private room..."
He groaned and set the pizza back down.
"You might be perfectly fine just talking... but I'll be tempted. It's hard just to think about. I might actually lose my mind in that situation," he added quietly.
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and headed toward the exit.
Aura stood there stunned, but once he vanished from view, she rushed off after him.
Fenix was nowhere in sight, so Aura hurried to where she assumed he'd be: his room.
She knocked on his door, and when he didn't answer right away, she thought she might have come to the wrong conclusion, but a while later the door creaked open, and she entered to find Fenix lying across his armchair and staring up at the ceiling.
"I... I'm sorry. I came without thinking, do you want me to go?" she mumbled.
"No, that's the problem. I never want you to be away from me. I could handle it at first, but... it's gotten harder."
Aura frowned, but Fenix continued,
"I actually felt fine when it was just the other guys and me... but the longing came back stronger than ever the moment I saw you again."
Aura squeezed into the chair with him.
"... Get up," he mumbled coldly.
"Our lives were different. I've been thinking about it all day. You accidentally killed your parents the day you got your powers, and after that, you were forced to become a child soldier."
She leaned back against his chest.
"Witnessing just how ruthless you can be was frightening, but I'm not scared of you."
Fenix's breath caught, but he let her continue.
"I miss you too... I hate this distance too. I thought it would take me much longer to come to terms with everything, but I'm more afraid of losing you than anything else."
She felt his body relax, and his temperature gradually increased.
"What makes you think you'd lose me?" he asked, while gently hugging her close.
"Well, I was the one who asked for space... and I can tell you were having a hard time with it," she mumbled.
"Aura..." He took a deep breath. "Yeah, it's frustrating trying to control every impulse I have toward you... but if it's what you want, it's worth it. I'll do anything for you. I'll give you all the time you need. I'm just worried about hurting you... or making you resent me," Fenix confessed quietly.
Aura giggled and pecked his jaw.
"That's it right there... even if you'd do what's necessary in a war, I know you don't get joy out of it... and I know you love me. You can't undo the past, and I shouldn't keep letting something that only happened in a simulation come between us... but could you do me one favor?"
Fenix's face was crimson, and he nodded slowly as he gazed down at her.
"If there's any other solution... don't kill anyone," she whispered.
Fenix hugged her tightly.
"I promise," he assured. She snuggled up against him and sighed with relief.
"Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me for that," Fenix replied, and Aura chuckled lightly.
"I love you," she said. His heart soared, and she could feel it pounding against her back.
"I love you too," Fenix replied shakily... and his breathing got heavier.
"So... I'll ask just to be sure... I don't need to hold back anymore?"
Aura's heart rate quickened, and she cleared her throat,
"Hold back a little bit... until we meet up in my room later," she answered barely above a whisper. Fenix kissed the top of her head.
"I can do that."