"Absolutely not."
Felix crossed his arms, standing in the main hall of his palace with that stubborn set to his jaw that the rulers had come to recognize meant an argument was brewing.
"Felix," Verdant said patiently, "you've been working nonstop for weeks. You need a break."
"I don't need a break," Felix insisted. "I have responsibilities. People depend on me."
"Your people will be fine for three days," Frost pointed out. "You have an entire council. Administrators. People you trust to handle things."
"But what if—"
"What if nothing," Gale interrupted, grinning. "We're kidnapping you. Again. But this time it's for your own good."
Felix's eyes narrowed. "You can't kidnap me. I'm more powerful than all of you combined."
"Then come willingly," Solaris suggested with his gentle smile. "Three days. Just us. Away from responsibilities and stress. Don't you want that?"
Felix opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. He did want that. He wanted time with them without constantly worrying about his realm. But leaving felt wrong, irresponsible.
His hesitation must have shown on his face because Raven stepped forward, his red eyes soft. "Your council has been running things smoothly for two thousand years with your guidance. They can handle three days without you hovering."
"I don't hover," Felix protested weakly.
"You absolutely hover," Frost said. "It's endearing, but you hover."
Felix's lower lip jutted out slightly in a pout. "I don't hover."
"There's that pout again," Gale said with delight.
Felix's pout deepened. "Fine. THREE days. But if anything goes wrong—"
"We'll come back immediately," Verdant promised. "Now go pack."
"Pack what?" Felix asked, confused.
"Clothes? Personal items?" Solaris suggested.
Felix waved a hand dismissively. "I can create whatever I need."
"Humor us," Frost said. "Pack a bag like a normal person taking a trip."
Felix grumbled but disappeared into his chambers.
Twenty minutes later, Felix emerged with a small bag and immediately walked directly to Frost's side, pressing close to him.
Frost blinked, looking down at Felix who had basically plastered himself to Frost's arm. "Felix?"
"What?" Felix said, his voice slightly muffled as he leaned against Frost's shoulder. "We're dating now. I'm allowed to touch you."
"I'm not complaining," Frost said, though his usual cold composure had cracked into something fond. "Just surprised."
"Get used to it," Felix muttered.
They teleported to the Council Chamber—neutral ground—and from there would split off to spend time in different territories. But the moment they materialized, Felix immediately latched onto Solaris instead, wrapping his arms around the Light ruler's waist from behind.
Solaris made a soft, surprised sound. "Felix?"
"Mm," Felix hummed, his face pressed between Solaris's shoulder blades. "You're warm."
Gale was grinning like he'd won a prize. "Is Felix being clingy? Is this happening?"
"I'm not clingy," Felix said, not moving from where he was essentially using Solaris as a personal heating source.
"You're literally clinging to him right now," Raven pointed out, amused.
Felix tightened his grip on Solaris. "Shut up."
Verdant chuckled, his ancient features warm with affection. "I think we've discovered a new side of Felix."
"There's no new side," Felix protested, finally releasing Solaris only to immediately gravitate toward Gale, tucking himself under the Sky ruler's arm. "I'm exactly the same."
"Sure you are," Gale said, wrapping his arm around Felix and pulling him close. "Totally the same. Not at all adorably clingy."
Felix made a disgruntled sound but didn't move away.
Day One: The Ice Territory
They decided to start in Frost's territory—specifically, a private residence he maintained far from the main palace, a beautiful structure of ice and crystal overlooking frozen mountains.
The moment they arrived, Felix shivered despite his power making him theoretically immune to temperature.
"Cold," he complained, immediately attaching himself to Raven, who ran warmer than the others due to his Dark magic.
Raven wrapped an arm around him automatically. "I thought you couldn't get cold."
"I can't," Felix said, burrowing closer. "But you're warm and I want to be close to you. Problem?"
"No problem," Raven said, his usually menacing features softening completely.
Frost watched this with his calculating gaze, then disappeared briefly. He returned with a heavy cloak made of frost-fox fur—white and impossibly soft.
"Here," he said, draping it over Felix's shoulders.
Felix looked down at the cloak, then up at Frost. "I don't need—"
"I know," Frost interrupted. "But it's mine. And I want you to wear it."
Something shifted in Felix's expression. He pulled the cloak tighter around himself, burying his nose in the soft fur. "It smells like you."
"Is that a good thing?" Frost asked, one eyebrow raised.
Felix nodded, his mismatched eyes peeking over the edge of the fur. "It's nice."
They spent the afternoon in comfortable domesticity. Frost's residence was beautiful but surprisingly cozy, with a large fireplace that burned with blue flames. Felix immediately claimed the most comfortable couch, wrapping himself in Frost's cloak like a burrito.
"I'm keeping this," he announced.
"It's yours," Frost said simply.
Felix's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
"Really," Frost confirmed. "Though I expect you'll steal more of our things anyway."
"I'm not going to steal—" Felix started, then stopped, looking guilty. "Okay, maybe I will."
Gale laughed. "At least you're honest about it."
Evening came, and they gathered around the fireplace. Felix had somehow acquired one of Solaris's shirts—when, none of them were sure—and was wearing it over his own clothes. It was too big on his slender frame, the sleeves hanging past his hands.
"Is that mine?" Solaris asked, amused.
Felix pulled the sleeves over his hands, looking defiant. "Maybe."
"When did you even—"
"Don't question it," Raven advised. "Just accept that Felix is apparently a clothes thief now."
"I like how they smell," Felix admitted, his pale cheeks flushing slightly. "They smell like all of you. It's... comforting."
The confession was so genuinely vulnerable that all five rulers felt something warm settle in their chests.
"You can have whatever you want," Verdant said softly. "Our clothes, our time, our attention. All of it."
Felix's flush deepened. "Don't say things like that. It's embarrassing."
"But true," Solaris added.
Felix made a frustrated noise and buried his face in Frost's cloak. "You're all terrible."
"You love us anyway," Gale said confidently.
Felix didn't deny it.
As night fell, Felix became even clingier. He moved from person to person, seeking contact—leaning against Verdant while they talked, playing with Gale's hair, sitting in Raven's lap, holding Solaris's hand, resting his feet in Frost's lap.
"You really are affectionate," Frost observed, his cold fingers absently massaging Felix's feet through his socks.
"I've been alone for two thousand years," Felix said quietly. "I'm making up for lost time."
"Take all the time you need," Solaris assured him.
Felix fell asleep like that—sprawled across all of them in various ways, wearing Frost's cloak and Solaris's shirt, comfortable and safe and utterly content.
The five rulers looked at each other over his sleeping form.
"He's precious," Gale whispered.
"He'd kill you for saying that," Raven whispered back.
"Worth it," Gale insisted.
Day Two: Rising Tensions
They woke to find Felix had migrated during the night and was now using Raven as a pillow, still wrapped in Frost's cloak. His pearl-white hair was messy from sleep, spreading across Raven's chest in iridescent waves.
Raven, for his part, looked completely content with this arrangement, one hand absently running through Felix's hair.
"Morning," Solaris said softly, not wanting to wake Felix yet.
"He's been awake for ten minutes," Raven reported quietly. "He's just pretending to sleep because he's comfortable."
Felix made a disgruntled noise, not opening his eyes. "Traitor."
"You're adorable in the morning," Raven said.
Felix's eyes snapped open, mismatched blue and gold glaring up at him. "I'm not adorable. I'm powerful and terrifying."
"You're wearing my cloak like a blanket and using Raven as a pillow," Frost pointed out. "Adorable."
Felix sat up quickly, his hair even more disheveled, and crossed his arms with a pout. "I'm going back to my sanctuary."
"No you're not," Gale said, moving to sit beside him. "You're going to stay here and let us pamper you for two more days."
"I don't need pampering," Felix protested, but he was already leaning into Gale's side.
"Clearly," Verdant said with amusement.
They spent the day in the Ice territory, and Felix continued his pattern of stealing clothes. By noon, he was wearing one of Verdant's earth-toned tunics over his own pants, still wrapped in Frost's cloak, with one of Gale's scarves around his neck despite not being cold.
"You're collecting us," Solaris observed.
"I'm not collecting—" Felix paused, looking down at himself. "Okay, maybe I'm collecting you. But you all offered!"
"We did," Frost agreed. "I'm just amused by how quickly you've claimed pieces of all of us."
Felix's expression turned shy. "It makes me feel close to you. Even when I'm not touching you directly."
The casual intimacy of that statement made all five rulers want to bundle Felix up and never let him go.
But as the day wore on, something else started building. The casual touches became lingering. The glances grew heated. The space between them felt charged with something electric.
Felix seemed to feel it too. He'd gone quiet, his usual sarcasm replaced by something more intense. When Solaris brushed hair from Felix's face, Felix leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering closed.
"Felix," Solaris said softly.
"Mm?"
"Can I kiss you? Properly this time?"
Felix's eyes opened, meeting Solaris's amber gaze. "Yes."
Solaris leaned in slowly, giving Felix time to change his mind. But Felix didn't pull away. When their lips met, it was soft and sweet and made Felix's breath catch.
When they separated, Felix's face was flushed, his eyes slightly dazed. "Oh."
"Oh?" Gale repeated, grinning.
"That was..." Felix touched his lips, looking stunned. "Can we do that again?"
Solaris laughed and obliged, this time pulling Felix closer, the kiss deeper and more confident.
The other rulers watched with varying degrees of interest and want.
When Felix and Solaris finally separated—both breathing harder—Felix immediately turned and pointed at Gale. "You. Now."
Gale's grin was brilliant. "Demanding. I like it."
Felix's kiss with Gale was different—playful and enthusiastic, with Gale's hands in Felix's hair and Felix laughing against his lips.
Then Verdant, whose kiss was gentle and grounding, his ancient patience making Felix melt against him.
Then Raven, whose kiss was intense and made Felix gasp, his fingers clutching at Raven's dark clothing.
By the time Felix turned to Frost, he looked thoroughly kissed and slightly overwhelmed.
"You don't have to—" Frost started.
Felix grabbed him by the front of his shirt and pulled him down into a kiss that was surprisingly aggressive for someone so much smaller. Frost made a surprised sound but responded immediately, one cold hand cupping Felix's face.
When they finally broke apart, Felix looked dazed and happy and completely wrecked.
"Okay," he breathed. "We're definitely dating."
"Was there doubt?" Raven asked, amused.
"No, but now I'm sure," Felix said. He swayed slightly, and Frost steadied him.
"You alright?"
"More than alright," Felix said, his voice dreamy. "I just kissed five people and it was amazing and I might need to sit down."
They ended up on the large couch again, Felix in the middle, still wearing his collection of stolen clothes. But now the atmosphere was different—heavier, warmer, charged with new intimacy.
Felix had started playing with Verdant's hair, his fingers gentle and methodical. His eyes were half-closed, a small smile on his lips.
"What are you thinking?" Solaris asked.
"That I'm happy," Felix said simply. "That this is nice. That I could get used to this."
"You better," Gale said. "Because we're not letting you go."
Felix's smile widened. "Good."
Day Three: Comfortable Domesticity
The last day was spent in Solaris's territory, in a sun-drenched villa that was warm and bright and everything the Ice territory wasn't.
Felix had added one of Raven's dark shirts to his collection of stolen clothes and looked absolutely ridiculous wearing Frost's white cloak, Solaris's light-colored shirt underneath, Verdant's earthy tunic over that, Gale's scarf, and Raven's dark shirt tied around his waist.
"You look like you robbed all of our closets," Frost observed.
"I did," Felix said without shame, curling up in a patch of sunlight like a cat. "And I'm not giving anything back."
"Keep them," Solaris said warmly. "They look better on you anyway."
Felix preened at the compliment, which was adorable.
They spent the day doing absolutely nothing important. Reading, talking, napping in the sun, stealing kisses when the mood struck them. Felix was constantly touching one of them—holding hands, leaning against someone, playing with hair, resting his head in someone's lap.
"I've created a monster," Verdant said with amusement as Felix tried to simultaneously cuddle with three people at once.
"A cute monster," Gale corrected.
"I'm not cute," Felix protested, his voice muffled because his face was pressed against Raven's shoulder. "I'm powerful and—"
"Adorable," all five rulers said in unison.
Felix lifted his head just enough to pout at them. "You're all terrible."
"You love us," Solaris reminded him.
"Unfortunately," Felix muttered, but he was smiling.
As evening approached and they prepared to return to Felix's sanctuary, there was a bittersweet quality to the atmosphere. These three days had been perfect—no responsibilities, no crises, just them and their new relationship.
Felix had grown quiet, clinging to Frost's arm.
"What's wrong?" Frost asked.
"I don't want it to end," Felix admitted. "These three days. I know we have to go back, I know I have responsibilities, but..." He trailed off.
"But you wish we could stay like this," Verdant finished gently.
Felix nodded.
"We can do this again," Solaris promised. "Take breaks. Spend time together away from everything. This doesn't have to be the only time."
"Really?" Felix looked up hopefully.
"Really," all five confirmed.
Felix's smile returned, bright and genuine. "Okay. Then let's go home."
Home. He'd called the sanctuary home, but the way he looked at all of them suggested that home was wherever they were.
As they teleported back to the underground paradise, Felix wearing a ridiculous collection of stolen clothes and looking happier than they'd ever seen him, the five rulers knew something fundamental had shifted.
They weren't just dating Felix anymore.
They were his. And he was theirs.
Completely and irrevocably.
And despite how insane it was—six people in a relationship, five of them territorial rulers, one of them an omnipotent creator of a secret sanctuary—it worked.
It really, actually worked.
Felix had stopped feeling alone.
And the five rulers had found someone worth more than all their territories combined.
They'd found each other.
And that was everything.