Afternoon settled lazily over the valley.
Sunlight poured through the wide windows, warm and unhurried, painting the living room in soft gold. The steady sound of the waterfall outside mixed with the slow rhythm of breathing.
All four of them were sprawled across the living room like casualties of comfort.
Kael lay flat on the rug, one arm flung over his face, boots discarded without care. Riven occupied the corner of the couch, sitting upright even in sleep, arms crossed as if ready to wake at a moment's notice. Juno—very much a man, despite his softer features—had claimed the other end of the couch, legs stretched out, head tilted back. Ash sat slumped near the armrest, half-leaning, half-fallen asleep.
Peaceful.
Then the smell hit them.
Warm. Rich. Comforting.
Something sizzling gently. Something toasted. A layered aroma of spices, oil, and bread that reached straight into the gut and pulled.
Kael was the first to stir. His nose twitched.
"…No way," he muttered.
Juno inhaled sharply, eyes fluttering open. "That's not a dream."
Riven's eyes snapped open next, sharp and alert despite the nap. "Food," he said simply.
Ash woke last.
The moment the scent fully registered, his eyes opened and his stomach growled traitorously. He pushed himself upright, running a hand through his hair.
"…Did Lunaria cook?"
As if summoned by name, quiet footsteps sounded from the kitchen.
They all turned at once.
Lunaria stepped into view.
Silence fell—heavy, absolute.
He carried a tray of freshly prepared food, steam curling upward, the scent intensifying with every step he took. His expression was calm, almost absentminded, silver hair falling loosely around his face.
But no one was looking at the tray.
Lunaria was dressed differently.
He wore a loose, off-shoulder crop top that slipped lazily down one side, exposing smooth skin and the elegant slope of his collarbone. The fabric clung lightly before ending well above his waist. His shorts were short—dangerously so—barely covering half of his thighs, leaving long, pale legs completely exposed.
Bare.
Unarmored.
Untouched by battle scars.
They had never seen Lunaria's legs like this before.
Four mouths opened at the same time.
Kael slowly lifted his arm from his face, stared—and froze.
"…I think I'm still asleep."
Juno sat up so fast the couch creaked. His eyes widened openly, unashamed. "Since when do you look like that?"
Riven turned his head away after exactly two seconds, clearing his throat. "That outfit is… impractical."
Ash didn't move.
Didn't blink.
His brain stalled somewhere between off-shoulder and bare thighs. Heat crept up his neck as his gaze betrayed him, following Lunaria's steps far longer than it should have.
Lunaria stopped mid-walk.
"…Why are you all staring?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.
Juno ran a hand through his hair, laughing under his breath. "Lunaria, you can't walk out like that and expect us to function."
Lunaria glanced down at himself, then back up. "It's warm," he said simply. "And these are comfortable."
Kael groaned dramatically and rolled onto his side. "This house is cursed."
Ash finally turned his head away, clearing his throat far too loudly. "The food smells good," he said quickly.
Lunaria tilted his head, faintly amused, and set the tray down on the table. "Eat before it gets cold."
As he turned back toward the kitchen, sunlight traced the line of his bare legs, smooth and unguarded.
Juno exhaled slowly. "I am suddenly very awake."
Riven nodded once. "Same."
Kael stared at the ceiling. "I've fought monsters less lethal than this."
Ash pressed a hand to his face, heart pounding, trying very hard not to think about how easily Lunaria had dismantled the entire room without lifting a weapon.
From the kitchen, Lunaria hummed softly, unaware—or perhaps pretending to be—while the aroma of food filled the house, and the afternoon peace quietly collapsed into something far more dangerous.