He and Carlos looked battle-worn, but my... his white-and-blue armor with that one-sided cape sure made him look irresistible.
They carried several large bags filled to the brim on their backs, which made all sorts of noise when they landed.
Before I could close the distance, Anna was already on him. "Dad! We look the same now!" She hugged his face and then grabbed it with her tiny hands. "You love it?"
Ouch. He looked wounded. "H-how could I not, Princess..." He looked in my direction, then to Nifa and the others responsible. "...After all, we look the same now."
Mother raced past him, jumping on the patiently waiting Carlos. "Hahaha... sorry we're late!"
They embraced, and I jumped on my husband as well.
"Don't... say... anything... until... tomorrow... morning... deal?"
With each word landing on his lips, he didn't answer, just passionately pulled me close, and we got lost in his return. How I missed this, but...
"I don't blame you," he suddenly stopped, leaving my mouth open like a fish. "After all, it's not like you have some... parlour trick up your sleeve and somehow done this to yourself and the Princess."
He looked at the slowly disappearing Nifa. She was actually physically getting smaller.
"They begged me to! And barely paid anything besides... parlour tricks... really?" She dared to add that last bit under her breath, loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Hmm, our bad. I'll personally make sure you're paid in full... for all you've done."
He finally let it go and left a terrified Blessed, who finally started growing to her original size, then returned to my lips. I felt it more than saw Nifa being comforted behind us as the others pushed closer and shook our returnees' hands.
"Zephyr, you look tired, son."
"Master Zephyr! I'm glad you returned."
"In the name of House Martell, I'm innocent."
"In the name of... why did you stop defending me?"
"Why stayed the extra day, brother?"
"...I'll tell you everything. We have plenty to say." He put down Anna and took a better look at the crowd. "We'll start once my brothers return. Manata, go get them."
Manata Emil ran out like a man on fire.
We went further inside, and Carlos put the sacks on top of the table. "No. No. Soon." He laughed at little Ciren, who was about to ask what was inside them, and ruffled her new golden hair.
He took his hand back. "...I see you had fun as well. Our parents send their regards and may soon visit you here." He sounded sarcastic, and she mirrored his smile.
"I guess they must... after meeting big brother Zephyr." She reflected her brother's smile.
"That's my girl."
They must have had a complicated relationship with them. But from their words...
"You made quite the impression, huh?" I had my arm around his neck, resting my fingers on his chest.
He played innocent. "Medium."
Carlos, who was holding Mother's hand above the table, took his eyes off her. "Medium?!"
"Don't you have news, Em?"
He was smitten in less than one second. But soon smiled and pulled out a wrinkled paper. "I'm officially... divorced."
(SLAM)
...He threw the paper down on the table, making the sacks rattle with what must be precious metals inside. He looked right at my mother. "Dear Seline, I'm far from p-perfect b-but will you do..."
He couldn't finish because my mother, like Eli, was a decisive woman. She took him down, chair and all, with a very public kiss.
""" HOOOO...YEAH! """
The mission was complete.
In this very happy moment, while everyone jumped on the newly formed couple, I felt his fingers on my leg.
"I never done it with a blonde," he whispered as he was licking, almost eating my neck.
Luckily, no one saw me or heard me making those shameful sounds. I adjusted my ass until he got hard as a rock.
"...What about a blonde... holy lady?"
"...Very well." He stopped my hips and shook his head a little. "We shall see if that color is a winner or not."
"God is good." I smiled into his mouth.
Our kisses weren't interrupted, and we ended up a little heated again, so we congratulated the happy couple a few minutes late.
"Good job, Carlos. Take care of her, or..." I just pointed politely at a waving Zephyr next to me. "...you know."
"I shall do my absolute best. In fact..." He reached inside his pocket, but...
Zephyr stopped him. "Now? Are you kidding me? It's like you want to end up... well, up."
We shared some confused looks, but at least they understood each other. Carlos slapped his own forehead as if he remembered something important.
"You're right, of course! It's not nearly grand enough! Thanks, Zeph."
"Fuehh! Hahaha!!"
"AHAHAHA!!"
They laughed like maniacs, and we sat back down.
I had to give up my seat to our daughter, who had had enough. "I want my sovereigns." She asked with open hands.
"No. It's... Ugh, you're hopeless. Big brothers, I'm done waiting also for my souvenirs."
Ciren and Anna extended their hands. Just in time for a trio of men to burst through the door.
"Big Brother!!"
"You're back, thank Ehlite!"
"I brought... them... back."
They embraced each other in a group hug and noticed the glued-together couple.
""" EYYY!! """
After another round of applause and congratulations, we finally all seated.
"Let's do gifts first. Carlos, go on." Zephyr motioned to his friend.
The man stood up and slowly emptied a few sacks onto the table. It was more treasures than most humans ever laid eyes on: rings, bracelets big and small, necklaces, small and big colorful gems. The white ones looked dull, but the nice colored ones were very pretty. Scrolls, drawings, maps, and paintings were mixed in, along with a white pair of daggers with large blue stones in the pommels.
Zephyr emptied his own bags to top it. They were full of figures and carvings of animals and monsters, dozens of individual bags of colorful candy cubes looking delicious and soft, and more jewelry—all bundled together, some rings rolling off and away as they spilled from the table. By the time the noise finished, it was more wealth than half the city of Malai.
""" Go nuts. """
They said and sat back down with almost identical smiles and watched the frenzy begin.
I wanted nothing of this lot, pretty as it was. I had my treasures. I walked past all of them and sat back on his lap. I did point at the daggers. "Aren't those... for your new armor? By the way, I want one."
It looked sturdy and yet comfortable. I knew he disliked all armor that prohibited his movement, yet he didn't take this off, and quite frankly, I didn't want him to.
"No, first time seeing them." He shook his head, didn't even notice them until I pointed it out.
We both looked at the Carlos/Seline melt. Their faces were smushed together. Carlos picked them up and offered them to him.
"I know you dislike gifts and especially jewelry, but I hope you accept this."
He extended them, and Zephyr refused them.
"No! I mean... why always useless shite with you? I—I can't do this. The best present I received came from some cockroach who barely even knew me." He patted his chest, then looked confused and pointed at the stones. "What the hell is this!? Giant gemstones!? Why would that be practical in a battle!!?" He really didn't like it but turned sugary at the end. "By the way, my dear rival, when did you see me use weapons?"
It was true. Last summer, he sometimes used swords but never liked them. With his ability, weapons were ornamental at best.
Carlos almost cried and didn't answer the rhetorical question, but Mother was there to comfort him.
"What cockroach?"
I ignored the man who wouldn't listen and would suffer greatly come summer and his birthday. He took a deep breath and addressed the crowd, still sampling and playing with the treasures now all over our kitchen floor.
"Alright, let's start. People, take a seat."