"Speaking of unsettling," Emily perks up with that dangerous glint in her eye that usually precedes chaos, "wait until you hear about Brax's latest obsession with Marvel movies. Tell them, Luci."
Lucian groans. "No."
"Tell us what?" I ask, already grinning at his discomfort.
"He's been practicing his Thor impressions," Emily cackles. "Complete with cape and everything."
"It's a cloak," Lucian corrects automatically.
"Don't forget the hammer," Sable adds, smiling now. "What was it he kept saying?"
"'I am worthy!'" Emily booms in a terrible accent, raising an imaginary hammer. "While wearing one of Lucian's designer bathrobes as a cape—I mean,cloak."
"That was a $900 bathrobe," Lucian mutters darkly. "Pure Egyptian cotton. Now it smells like burnt ass hairs and disappointment." His expression suddenly shifts to pure devilish glee. "Though not as much disappointment as when I caught someone getting rather... patriotic with our resident shapeshifter. Tell me, Emily, does he really embody America's ass when he's wearing the Caps face?"
Emily's face flames redder than a fire hydrant. "I—that's not—"
Wait.What's going on—
"No,"I gasp, staring at my best friend. "Em, you didn't. Please tell me you didn't bang a demon while he was cosplaying Steve Rogers!"
"He has very convincing shapeshifting abilities!" Emily squeaks, burying her face in her hands. "And those shoulders! Have you seen those shoulders?"
"I cannot believe you fucked a demon wearing Captain America's face," I wheeze. "What happened to 'I have standards, Dani'?"
"Have you SEEN Chris Evans?" Emily peeks through her fingers. "Those are very high standards!"
Lucian is practically vibrating with glee. "Don't forget the part where he kept quoting 'That IS America's ass' at very... specific moments."
"I hate you all," Emily groans, covering her face. "Especially you, asshole. I know where you keep your limited edition Pokemon cards."
"Touch my holographic Charizard, and they'll never find your body."
Oh. My. God.My best friend is hooking up with a literal demon. And not just any demon—a shapeshifting demon with a thing for superheroes.
Mental note—Corner Emilylater with a bottle of tequila and demand every single X-rated detail. Starting with whether his... patriotism... extends to all parts of his anatomy.
For research purposes, obviously.
"You're just mad he pulls off the cape better than you," Emily fires back, fully committed to tormenting Lucian.
"Again, it's acloak," Lucian holds up a finger. "And second, I look fabulous in everything. Even that time, I had to wear bell bottoms in the 70s."
"Please tell me there are pictures of this." Sable perks up, her earlier fear almost forgotten.
"Absolutely not," Lucian says, while Erik simultaneously answers, his voice calling from the hallway, "Third drawer of my desk."
"Dick!" Lucian yells. "I thought we agreed the Disco Era was off-limits! You Emo Crusader Extraordinaire!"
I can't help the pure and genuine laugh that bubbles up from my chest. This. This right here. All of us together, safe and whole. Emily plotting chaos, Lucian being dramatic, Sable slowly coming back to herself, my brother rolling his eyes but smiling, and Rhyland...
His arms tighten around me as he feels my happiness radiating through our bond. His chest rumbles against my back with quiet laughter as Lucian continues his tirade about brotherhood and betrayal.
"I love seeing you smile," he murmurs against my ear, low enough that only I can hear.
"Look at them," I whisper back, watching Emily demonstrate what she claims was Lucian's signature disco move. "We're all here. We're all okay. For once, nothing's trying to kill us or end the world."
"Yet," he adds, but I can hear the smile in his voice.
