The room devolved quickly, Arik groaning into his latte as Orfeo poked at him with relentless glee, Cecil slipping in barbed remarks with surgical precision.
"You'll collapse before the first council session," Cecil murmured, voice cool.
"Better than you, you insufferable…" Arik started.
"Boys," Orfeo interrupted brightly, smirking as he leaned into the armrest. "Don't fight. We all know I'll be Emperor one day."
That earned a stunned silence before Arik nearly choked on his drink, Cecil's brow arched with cutting disdain, and Orfeo grinned wider.
Across the room, Gabriel exhaled slowly, brown eyes soft but gleaming, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. Damian caught it, leaning back in his chair with his glass in hand, golden eyes warm with something rare: amusement and pride bound together.
"Three menaces," Damian muttered, voice low but edged with laughter. "And somehow, they're all ours."
